What Hartford Gonna Do With All That Junk?

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Cities and counties float bonds to pay for things. Different agencies rate those bonds. Now, Hartford, one of the formerly wealthiest cities in America’s wealthiest state has the distinction of holding junk bond status.

And yet, while Illinois squirms in the agony of the unknown, another municipality that as recently as a month ago was rumored to be looking at a bankruptcy filing, the state capital of Connecticut, Hartford, no longer has to dread the unknown: on Tuesday afternoon, S&P pulled off the band-aid, and downgraded the city’s bond rating by two notches to BB from BBB-, also known as junk, citing “growing liquidity pressures” and “weaker market access prospects”, while keeping the city’s General Obligation bonds on Creditwatch negative meaning more downgrades are likely imminent.

“The downgrade to ‘BB’ reflects our opinion of very weak diminished liquidity, including uncertain access to external liquidity and very weak management conditions as multiple city officials have publicly indicated they are actively considering bankruptcy,” said S&P Global Ratings credit analyst Victor Medeiros. Hartford has engaged an outside law firm with expertise in financial restructuring. Officials also mentioned that the city would initiate discussions with bondholders for concessions to implement a debt restructuring if it didn’t receive the necessary support in the state’s 2019 biennial budget.

S&P also said that Hartford may be downgraded again if the state passage of a budget is significantly delayed, or if the city were not to receive sufficient support in a timely manner that would enable it to manage liquidity and allow it to meet obligations in a timely manner.

Make room in the roost. The chickens are back.

There’s a reason for all this. There’s a reason why our States, cities, counties, and territories are going utterly bankrupt. It goes beyond financial mismanagement and the economic cycle (which we’re supposed to be riding high now). In a word, the reason is “communism.”

They don’t officially call it that but that’s just what it is. From each according to his ability to pay, these locales have taxed the daylights out of the productive. And they give to each of the unproductive according to his needs via the welfare “services” looted from the taxpayers.

The taxpayers notice this and resent it. They are further burdened with co-existing with those non-productive elements, who rapidly move in to take advantage.

The payers take their wealth and abilities and leave. The cities are stuck with a surly, lazy, uneducable, and criminally disposed population. There’s your “very weak diminished liquidity” problem.

One may notice, if one looks around, that this sort of thing is spreading. It would seem unsustainable because it is.

“Collapse” and “reset” come to mind. The questions are: “When?” and “How?”

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NBC / Somebody’s Pinterest.

Somebody Had Six Mass Extinctions and all I got was this Lousy Climate Hoax

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The Guardian reports that Earth’s sixth major Extinction is currently underway. We, having missed the opportunities to halt the last five, have only a limited time to act.

A “biological annihilation” of wildlife in recent decades means a sixth mass extinction in Earth’s history is under way and is more severe than previously feared, according to research.

Scientists analysed both common and rare species and found billions of regional or local populations have been lost. They blame human overpopulation and overconsumption for the crisis and warn that it threatens the survival of human civilisation, with just a short window of time in which to act.

The study, published in the peer-reviewed journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, eschews the normally sober tone of scientific papers and calls the massive loss of wildlife a “biological annihilation” that represents a “frightening assault on the foundations of human civilisation”.

Prof Gerardo Ceballos, at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, who led the work, said: “The situation has become so bad it would not be ethical not to use strong language.”

Previous studies have shown species are becoming extinct at a significantly faster rate than for millions of years before, but even so extinctions remain relatively rare giving the impression of a gradual loss of biodiversity. The new work instead takes a broader view, assessing many common species which are losing populations all over the world as their ranges shrink, but remain present elsewhere.

I remain somewhat skeptical of all this. Part of that is born of the knowledge that “we” have experienced this five other times. Then, we couldn’t do anything as we weren’t around to do it. Somehow things recovered. Nature.

They did not associate human blame with those previous events. Therefore, in the interests of general socialism and white guilt, I will, here:

Earth’s five previous mass extinctions

End-Ordovician, 443 million years ago

A time-travelling white man with an arsenal of atomic bombs caused a nuclear winter which begat an ice age.

Late Devonian, c 360 million years ago

Descendants of the time-traveler over fished the seas while simultaneously dumping crude oil into them.

Permian-Triassic, c 250 million years ago

Caveman fracking in Siberia killed off 95% of the bio-population. More support for “the Russians did it” theory.

Triassic-Jurassic, c 200 million years ago

An insidious plot by latter cave-dwellers to over-populate the world with their dinosaur pets. Aerosol cans and combustion engines played a large part.

Cretaceous-Tertiary, 65 million years ago

An even more insidious plot by the earliest humans to rid themselves of dino competition via over hunting. Paved the way for the current extinction project.

The other part of my “denial” comes from the constant “solution” always proposed by the hoaxers – in a word, “communism.” I was surprised this article didn’t cite some call for higher taxes or restrictions on the civilized. Maybe even they’re getting tired of craving what obviously never works.

Anyway, I was moved somewhat by the plight of the lions. I never knew they were once native to Greece.

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Guardian/PNAS.

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Perrin on Patreon – the Progress Begins

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Just the other day I launched my Patreon page.

I actually got my first real, live patron and I didn’t even have any material up. Thanks to THE Safari Man! A longtime reader, here, has the high honor of being the first to take the next step, there.

You too can come along: Support Perrin on Patreon.

I just put up my first two substantive posts. One is a video and one is a blog article link. Both were released just today. I am working on that first great paid feature piece. It’s going to be a commentary (with some advice) on Education in America today.

Those of you, here, will be able to see a preview. The goodly Patrons from Patreon will get the whole thing. Membership has it’s advantages…

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Please join the revolution.

Law Schools go Full SJW

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This isn’t good for the legal profession. Actually, the law itself is all but dead. The active practice is in shambles both ideologically and in terms of operation. But the following represents a blow to the underpinnings of basic legal education that will be hard to recover from.

Howard University Professor of Law Reginald Robinson has been found “guilty” of sexual harassment. His offense was asking a question on an exam.

A college law professor has been found guilty of sexual harassment because he gave students a test question about a bikini wax.

Reginald Robinson included the question in a test for students at Howard University in Washington D.C. in September 2015.

It described a hypothetical situation in which a person sued a beauty salon claiming to have been touched inappropriately by a therapist after falling asleep while undergoing a bikini wax.

The question asked whether a court would support the person’s claim against the salon owner as opposed to the therapist and if it would even be upheld given that the person had consented to the somewhat invasive wax on their genitals.

Two students complained to the university. claiming that the question made them feel as though they had to reveal if they had ever undergone bikini waxes themselves.

They said they did not like the use of the word ‘genitals’, according to The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE).

A lengthy investigation was launched and on Thursday, it concluded that Robinson was guilty of sexual harassment.

As a result, he has to undergo sensitivity training, have all of his test questions screened by another member of staff and his classes will be supervised.

The university also warned that he could face termination if other students complain about him.

The university in Washington D.C. found Robinson guilty of sexual harassment after a lengthy investigation.

Robinson is outraged by the university’s decision which he said stops him from being able to properly educate students.

‘My case should worry every faculty member at Howard University, and perhaps elsewhere, who teaches in substantive areas like law, medicine, history, and literature.

Why? None of these academic areas can be taught without evaluating and discussing contextual facts, especially unsavory and emotionally charged ones.

‘I also can’t prepare my students adequately for legal practice if I can’t teach them new developments and require them to read unedited, unfiltered cases,’ he said in a statement.

The university did not respond to DailyMail.com’s request on Sunday morning. A spokesman for FIRE slammed its findings.

‘Robinson’s test question clearly does not constitute sexual harassment.

‘Howard’s overreaction to a simple hypothetical question is a threat to academic freedom and a professor’s ability to effectively teach students,’ they said.

Here’s the “offensive” question:

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Daily Mail / Reginald Robinson.

The subject matter may sound a little silly and even “skanky.” Please rest assured that at least half of all real life civil cases may accurately be described as such. This case, this exact question, is bound to happen somewhere in America if it hasn’t happened already. The real plaintiff will probably be (is) another SJW.

These are the pathetic, demented souls that complain of everything. Then they complain about their complaints. They’re everywhere now, including law schools. That’s the funny part (or another funny part).

Robinson is a full professor; he’s been teaching since 1991 and at Howard since 1994. He has tenure. He’s also a black man. He researches, writes, and teaches extensively about “race theory” and the law. This would seem to be the ideal liberal combination for any law professor in 2017. Then again, he also teaches Business Law and actually has the insane idea that he’s supposed to equip his students for the real world.

Any shrieking, blue-haired, malcontent that can’t handle the word “genitals” won’t fare so well when it comes time to examine in court, in-depth and with a medical examiner’s testimony, the internal autopsy photographs which document exactly how the five-year-old murder victim died. I’ve been there and done that. That sort of thing turns cast iron kettles to say nothing of stomachs. The SJWs will have to be revived by paramedics and rushed to the safe room (surely coming to a courthouse near you).

But coloring books and play mats won’t be able to save what little is left of the legal profession if this kind of bullsh!t is allowed to stand. F.I.R.E. (a likely hate group by SPLC standards) is on the case.

With or without F.I.R.E., Robinson should sue the school. And every other normal law student should implead himself as a third-party plaintiff. This utter nonsense threatens the integrity of every JD granted by Howard. It screams that the graduates are not prepared to leave kindergarten, let alone enter the demanding arena of the juridical combat.

And if a tenured black professor, who actively advances “race theory” can become an SJW target, anyone can be a target. Except, maybe, those who bait the crybabies. By the way, this harassment story reminded me: I didn’t know “harass” was one word until the Clarence Thomas debacle. Ha! Get it? Harass. Her-a…? ??? Eh well.

Seriously, it’s time to drive these pitiful nuts out of the schools, the HR department, out of everywhere of importance, and back into the play pens of make-believe.

For a better understanding of how these losers operate and how to deal with them, please buy and read SWJs Always Lie by Vox Day.

And please Join and Support Perrin over at Patreon!

They Hate Your History but Want Your Money

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A short video from the beach (per request):

Perrin Lovett Show / YouTube.

The subject matter, if any, was sparked by This Article from Saturday’s Tampa Bay Times. It’s about the Rays’ hating of American history and their desire for a new (expensive, taxpayer-funded) stadium.

I call it “replacing one monument with another.” And I think I was a little off on the cost – the Marietta Braves new stadium cost Georgians nearly $700 million. Like Cerno says, “stop supporting people who hate you!”

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Tampa Bay Times.

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Top Ten Things To Do In The Summer Heat

This isn’t even the hottest summer. But, needing a quick post to keep things going while I beach it, I give you my definitive list of “fun” summer activities from last summer.

perrinlovett's avatarPERRIN LOVETT

Summers in the South are always warm yet often unpredictable. Some are blazing, burning, horribly hot. Others are mild, they pass into Fall with little fanfare. This one is what I call a slow summer; it seemed to ramp itself up out of nowhere and now, barely halfway through, it’s just hot. Constantly hot. 99 degrees with high humidity hot. I am officially over this season and ready for Autumn.

712851dc748eeee785e1b8d80f3c13cfPinterest.

Being as such, I give you a fun list of things to do in the sweltering heat of July and August:

  1. Sweat. A lot. Outside. Inside. Early in the morning. Late in the afternoon. Better drink plenty of water (before it evaporates).
  2. Stay inside all day pretending it’s snowing outside. Yankees have cabin fever. We develop something similar. It’s really not that bad out there but one gets so comfortable in the air-conditioning. Then, stepping outside, it feels so much…

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Is Our Children Learning?

Throwback to build on this morning’s theme. Also a primer for what’s coming to Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/perrinlovett) soon. – P

perrinlovett's avatarPERRIN LOVETT

“Rarely is the question asked: Is our children learning?” So inquired President select, George W. Bush to a crowd in Florence, South Carolina, January 11, 2000. The politicians obviously are not learning. But is … are the children? A new international study doesn’t look too good for youngsters in America. The study is massive, 384 page PDF download but here it is.

The 2015/16 Index of Freedom  of Education concentrates on the availability of “non-govermental” education. The rankings are deeply hidden, starting on page 315. The mighty United States, which ever one knows is the freest place on Earth, is in a tie with Hungary for 17th place. Who knew Hungary was the co-freest place on the planet.

This study is concerned with educational opportunities outside of the mainstream of “public” “schooling.” That would include private schools, charters,community, parochial, family schools, tutoring and home schooling. Most global education studies…

View original post 971 more words

The Schools, Failed or Failing

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Another Gary North column! North points out the near-utter failings of government primary and secondary schools. He finds it interesting that some liberals are now giving up in the same despair that took hold with conservatives eons ago.

Conservatives have been irrelevant to the educational process in the United States ever since the end of World War II. Their constant laments have changed nothing. Hirsch should learn from their experience. There is no reform of the public schools that will make them better. They will continue to erode academically. The American Federation of Teachers will continue to run the show in their tenured security until online education leaves nothing of the public schools except third-rate teachers of students whose parents are not concerned enough to pull them off of what is clearly a sinking ship.

It could not have happened to a more deserving crew.

Conservatives conserve nothing. Liberals offer nothing. Schools teach nothing. Students learn nothing. An ambitious writer could pen: “Nothing: the State of American Education.

North predicts the replacement of the schools but stops just short of calling for their abolition. That really can’t come soon enough.

It’s not, of course, just the lower schools afflicted with the nothingness and departure from intellectual pursuits. Professor in-the-know, Walter E. Williams, again laments the collapse of colleges as learning environments, reciting a few recent examples of the buffoonery.

Who is to blame for the decline of American universities? Mansfield argues that it is a combination of administrators, students and faculties. He puts most of the blame on faculty members, some of whom are cowed by deans and presidents who don’t want their professors to make trouble. I agree with Mansfield’s assessment in part. Many university faculty members are hostile to free speech and open questioning of ideas. A large portion of today’s faculty and administrators were once the hippies of the 1960s, and many have contempt for the U.S. Constitution and the values of personal liberty. The primary blame for the incivility and downright stupidity we see on university campuses lies with the universities’ trustees. Every board of trustees has fiduciary responsibility for the governance of a university, shaping its broad policies. Unfortunately, most trustees are wealthy businessmen who are busy and aren’t interested in spending time on university matters. They become trustee!s for the prestige it brings, and as such, they are little more than yes men for the university president and provost. If trustees want better knowledge about university goings-on, they should hire a campus ombudsman who is independent of the administration and accountable only to the board of trustees.

The university malaise reflects a larger societal problem. Mansfield says culture used to mean refinement. Today, he says, it “just means the way a society happens to think, and there’s no value judgment in it any longer.” For many of today’s Americans, one cultural value is just as good as another.

Williams is right as usual. There is a larger social context to the decline. However, the failing schools and the failing culture go hand-in-hand, a perpetual motion disaster in progress. “Mansfield,” in the column, is Harvard senior professor of government, Harvey Mansfield.

Harvey Mansfield has been in higher education for a long time. In fact, he’s been a faculty member at Harvard since 1962. Yet, after all those years, the conservative professor of government isn’t hopeful about future of his trade.

“No, I’m not very optimistic about the future of higher education, at least in the form it is now with universities under the control of politically correct faculties and administrators,” he said.

His remark came during a 35-minute interview in April in his fourth floor office at Harvard, where the 85-year-old Mansfield lamented universities for losing their aspiration, describing them as bubbles of staunch liberalism ruled by faculties that have failed to make universities reach their potential.

‘Bubbles of decadent liberalism’

Once America’s pride, Mansfield argues universities are no longer the marketplace of ideas nor the bastions of free speech.

“Now [universities’] sole function seems to be to attack a free country and to try to narrow freedoms to privileges, for those who have been designated victims,” he says.

What universities have become are “bubbles of decadent liberalism,” that teach students to look for offense when first examining an idea.

Bubbles to protect snowflakes seem as useless as snowflakes protecting the bubbles. It all would appear rather pointless. Maybe that’s the point of education in modern America – there isn’t one.

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Free Pik.

So, what’s to be done about it? Systemically, I suspect more of the same -always the statists’ answer. Keep dumbing it down under, as North predicts, the whole thing falls and melts away (like so many snowflakes in the sun). For us, it’s high time to think about better options for our children.

I’ve had some recent inquires of late regarding college path choices for teenagers. This being a pet subject of mine, my jaded curiosity is piqued. Therefore, I think my first substantial Patreon piece is going to be an advice guide for those looking to educate their children or for older children looking to further their learning. Look for that when you see it – and to see the whole thing, you’ll likely need to become a Perrin Patron.

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