Lots of news on a normally slow Sunday...
The "Powerhouse" fire is raging out of control. The IRS scandal seems to be widening. The criticism of AG Eric Holder is increasing. And a MA congress member just back from Russia says their intelligence people believe the Boston Marathon bombing could have been prevented.
Fueled by shifting winds, the fire being labelled the Powerhouse fire (because it consumed a DWP building) is now covering an area of nearly 20,000 acres. Over 2,000 firefighters and more than a dozen aircraft are fighting the fire.
Between 2010 and 2012, the IRS spent $50 million on employee conferences, including one in Anaheim that cost $4 million by itself. At that conference, the IRS did not follow government procedure by attempting to negotiate lowered hotel room rates. Some IRS employees stayed in suites that cost between $1,500 and $3,500 per night.
By the way, the IRS has identified 88 employees who may have documents relevant to the investigation into whether or not conservative groups applying for 501(c)(4) status were "targeted". The IRS missed its deadline of May 21st for turning over the documents. Funny, when you miss a deadline set by the IRS, they usually just impose the tax, penalties and whatever.
Representative Darrell Issa said on Sunday, on CNN's "State of the Union" program that Eric Holder's statement that he was "...never involved with the potential prosecution of the press" constitutes a "lie as most people's standards". The House Judiciary Committee has launched an investigation to determine if Holder is guilty of lying to Congress.
Did she or didn't she? People have been speculating since Netflix launched the new season of "Arrested Development" that actress Portia de Rossi has had some "work" done.
Two weeks have passed and we still don't know who won that $590 million Powerball jackpot. If the winner doesn't want the money, have them give me a call. I'll happily take the ticket off of their hands.
Members of Al-Queda who have seen "Under Siege" or "Marked for Death" are probably not too scared by the news that actor Steven Seagal has vowed to spend the rest of his life "fighting terrorism" after his visit to several sites in Russia where terrorist acts took place.
If you haven't yet heard of "Cups" frozen yogurt stores, that's probably because so far there are only a dozen of them, all in the NY/NJ area. But they are growing. Think of it as the Hooters of frozen yogurt, but without the skimpy shorts and bikini contests. Although perhaps once they are in warmer climates, bikini contests will be coming.
The Discovery Channel aired the series "Storm Chasers" starring Tim Samaras for five seasons, ending this past November. On Friday, Samaras, his son and another storm chaser were among the nine dead from tornadoes in the Midwest. Their equipment is missing, so little is known about what exactly happened to them.
What stock has risen more than 120% in price over the past two years? Home Depot. The re-ignition of the housing market has fueled a boom in their business.
She's 15 and about to take a 10th grade class in business and finance. Meanwhile, her brand of flip-flops generated over $1 million in revenue for outlets selling them last year. Madison Robinson is the mind behind "Fish Flops", flip flops with sea creature adornment and battery-powered lights, which retail for $20 a pair. Maybe she'll get some extra credit in that class.
Before the weekend's new films opened, it was predicted that "Fast and Furious 6" would rule for another weekend at the box office and that the new film from Will Smith, "After Earth" would come in #2. "Now You See Me", a movie about magicians was expected to finish a distant third. That's not how things worked out, as "Now You See Me" finished a strong #2 with a per screen average that was higher than that of the weekend's winner, "Fast and Furious 6". "After Earth" finished a disappointing 3rd with only $27 million. Considering that the budget for it was somewhere between $125 million and $150 million, that's not good. It is Will Smith's first summer blockbuster bust. "The East", which both critics and audiences have said favorable things about did $18,900 per screen on four screens.
Park rangers at Yosemite National Park are searching for a 19 year old swimmer who was swept over a waterfall that is nearly 600 feet high. He had been swimming about 150 feet from the edge of the falls when he got caught in the Merced River's strong current. A park spokesman said that they believe it is "impossible to survive a fall like that"
In ten days or so, the Southern Baptist Conference, which represents 45,000 congregations with more than 16 worshippers will vote on a non-binding resolution to urge all of its churches to cut their ties with the Boy Scouts of America. One prominent Baptist said "Southern Baptists are going to be leaving the Boy Scouts en masse."
Comedian Dane Cook continues to get dissed on social media for his decision not to allow streaming of his performance at the Boston Strong benefit this past Friday. Cook tweeted "I didn't want any of the new material to hit the airwaves yet". That didn't go over well.
In San Antonio, an anonymous donor stepped up and paid a bill for $2,147 owed by a Girl Scout troop for an inaccurate cookie order. They'd ordered 500 cases instead of 500 boxes and were stuck with 49 cases still unsold. The donor paid so the troop wouldn't have their debt sent to a collection agency. The cookies will be donated to charity.
In a case of "the dog ate my homework" in reverse, a Florida teacher is fighting her termination by the district that had employed her after she spent a year at home doing nothing while lying and claiming she and her father were dying.
Fueled by shifting winds, the fire being labelled the Powerhouse fire (because it consumed a DWP building) is now covering an area of nearly 20,000 acres. Over 2,000 firefighters and more than a dozen aircraft are fighting the fire.
Between 2010 and 2012, the IRS spent $50 million on employee conferences, including one in Anaheim that cost $4 million by itself. At that conference, the IRS did not follow government procedure by attempting to negotiate lowered hotel room rates. Some IRS employees stayed in suites that cost between $1,500 and $3,500 per night.
By the way, the IRS has identified 88 employees who may have documents relevant to the investigation into whether or not conservative groups applying for 501(c)(4) status were "targeted". The IRS missed its deadline of May 21st for turning over the documents. Funny, when you miss a deadline set by the IRS, they usually just impose the tax, penalties and whatever.
Representative Darrell Issa said on Sunday, on CNN's "State of the Union" program that Eric Holder's statement that he was "...never involved with the potential prosecution of the press" constitutes a "lie as most people's standards". The House Judiciary Committee has launched an investigation to determine if Holder is guilty of lying to Congress.
Did she or didn't she? People have been speculating since Netflix launched the new season of "Arrested Development" that actress Portia de Rossi has had some "work" done.
Two weeks have passed and we still don't know who won that $590 million Powerball jackpot. If the winner doesn't want the money, have them give me a call. I'll happily take the ticket off of their hands.
Members of Al-Queda who have seen "Under Siege" or "Marked for Death" are probably not too scared by the news that actor Steven Seagal has vowed to spend the rest of his life "fighting terrorism" after his visit to several sites in Russia where terrorist acts took place.
If you haven't yet heard of "Cups" frozen yogurt stores, that's probably because so far there are only a dozen of them, all in the NY/NJ area. But they are growing. Think of it as the Hooters of frozen yogurt, but without the skimpy shorts and bikini contests. Although perhaps once they are in warmer climates, bikini contests will be coming.
The Discovery Channel aired the series "Storm Chasers" starring Tim Samaras for five seasons, ending this past November. On Friday, Samaras, his son and another storm chaser were among the nine dead from tornadoes in the Midwest. Their equipment is missing, so little is known about what exactly happened to them.
What stock has risen more than 120% in price over the past two years? Home Depot. The re-ignition of the housing market has fueled a boom in their business.
She's 15 and about to take a 10th grade class in business and finance. Meanwhile, her brand of flip-flops generated over $1 million in revenue for outlets selling them last year. Madison Robinson is the mind behind "Fish Flops", flip flops with sea creature adornment and battery-powered lights, which retail for $20 a pair. Maybe she'll get some extra credit in that class.
Before the weekend's new films opened, it was predicted that "Fast and Furious 6" would rule for another weekend at the box office and that the new film from Will Smith, "After Earth" would come in #2. "Now You See Me", a movie about magicians was expected to finish a distant third. That's not how things worked out, as "Now You See Me" finished a strong #2 with a per screen average that was higher than that of the weekend's winner, "Fast and Furious 6". "After Earth" finished a disappointing 3rd with only $27 million. Considering that the budget for it was somewhere between $125 million and $150 million, that's not good. It is Will Smith's first summer blockbuster bust. "The East", which both critics and audiences have said favorable things about did $18,900 per screen on four screens.
Park rangers at Yosemite National Park are searching for a 19 year old swimmer who was swept over a waterfall that is nearly 600 feet high. He had been swimming about 150 feet from the edge of the falls when he got caught in the Merced River's strong current. A park spokesman said that they believe it is "impossible to survive a fall like that"
In ten days or so, the Southern Baptist Conference, which represents 45,000 congregations with more than 16 worshippers will vote on a non-binding resolution to urge all of its churches to cut their ties with the Boy Scouts of America. One prominent Baptist said "Southern Baptists are going to be leaving the Boy Scouts en masse."
Comedian Dane Cook continues to get dissed on social media for his decision not to allow streaming of his performance at the Boston Strong benefit this past Friday. Cook tweeted "I didn't want any of the new material to hit the airwaves yet". That didn't go over well.
In San Antonio, an anonymous donor stepped up and paid a bill for $2,147 owed by a Girl Scout troop for an inaccurate cookie order. They'd ordered 500 cases instead of 500 boxes and were stuck with 49 cases still unsold. The donor paid so the troop wouldn't have their debt sent to a collection agency. The cookies will be donated to charity.
In a case of "the dog ate my homework" in reverse, a Florida teacher is fighting her termination by the district that had employed her after she spent a year at home doing nothing while lying and claiming she and her father were dying.
posted by me at 5:56 PM
<< Home