ServiceLive.com lets shoppers name price for repairs - USATODAY.com

ServiceLive.com lets shoppers name price for repairs
http://usat.me/?34144570

To view the story, click the link or paste it into your browser.

Copyright 2009, USATODAY.com

A-Rod admits to using performance-enhancing drugs

From: Boston.com Newsletters <newsletters@boston.com>

Sent: Monday, February 9, 2009 4:48:20 PM
Subject: Breaking Sports Alert: A-Rod admits to using performance-enhancing drugs

Alex Rodriguez has confirmed during an interview this afternoon with ESPN's Peter Gammons that he used performance-enhancing drugs from 2001-03 while a member of the Texas Rangers.

"I was young, I was stupid, I was naive, and I wanted to prove to everyone that I was worth . . . being one of the greatest players of all time," Rodriguez told Gammons in an interview recorded this afternoon. "I did take a banned substance and for that I am very sorry and deeply regretful."


To read more, visit http://www.boston.com

Dear Mr. President: The election is over, and you won!

This quote from an Associated Press article struck me:

"These numbers demand action," said Obama, who plans to campaign for the bill in Indiana and Florida next week. "It is inexcusable and irresponsible for any of us to get bogged down in distraction, delay or politics as usual while millions of Americans are being put out of work."

If passing this ever growing spending bill is so urgent, shouldn't the president stay in Washington and have meetings and work on this instead of going to Indiana and Florida? The campaign is over and in case you missed it, you won. So let's leave the campaign trail and rhetoric and bring this "change" that we are all waiting for.

'Excrutiating Decision' Necessary

University of Southern Maine President Selma Botman called it an "excruciating decision" to decide to close USM's child care center. According to the Portland Press Herald, the move will save $400,000 but cost 24 jobs and require new arrangements for 88 children (54 of those belonging to students).

Botman will be thrown under the bus by some for complicating the educational pursuits of those parents. The reality is that the University of Maine System is in bad financial shape and we support the move. After years of constantly raising tuition the sharp turn in the economy has forced them to look further inward look more than ever and these are the types of hard choices that need to be made lest we price the people of Maine out of an education all together. (Presuming there will be anyone who can afford one going forward.)

One idea: perhaps President Obama can institute a cap on college faculty and/or administrator compensation? Colleges and big business share a flare for the overpaid administrator.

From MaineBiz: Maine 4th Worst to start a business

From MaineBiz: Maine 4th Worst to start a business

U.S. News & World Report yesterday posted an article on its website called, "The 7 worst states to start a business." It placed Maine at No. 4, citing its high property, personal income and individual capital gains taxes. But it did say that Maine is a prosperous state compared to some. "Relative economic prosperity, however, does not necessarily mean a state is a good one in which to start a business. That's because, while not poor, Maine's economy is not dynamic either."

1.         West Virginia
2.         Iowa
3.         Arkansas
4.         Maine
5.         Hawaii
6.         Kentucky
7.         Montana

Lenders abruptly cut off lines of credit - The Boston Globe

http://www.boston.com/business/personalfinance/articles/2009/01/31/lenders_abruptly_cut_lines_of_credit/

Mink: Outsmarted: How Pride was our deadliest sin

By Eric Mink , St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Sunday, February 1, 2009

Greed, sloth, envy, gluttony, lust or wrath didn't spawn the country's financial crisis. In this case, our deadliest sin was pride.

http://www.sunjournal.com/story/301811-3/Perspective/Outsmarted/

Collins Wants to Scrub Stimulus Bill

(CNN) — President Obama’s hopes of passing a massive economic stimulus bill next week in the Senate could hinge on the efforts of a bipartisan pair of centrist senators.

Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Nebraska, and Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, oppose the proposal in its current form and want to slash what they say is wasteful spending from the bill so moderate Republicans and conservative Democrats can vote for it.

Link

AP: Stimulus bill not all that stimulating

WASHINGTON — They call it "stimulus" legislation, but the economic measures racing through Congress would devote tens of billions of dollars to causes that have little to do with jolting the country out of recession.

Read Article

Cutting excise tax: Could it backfire? | Portland Press Herald

Editor: I found it interesting that according to Maine Municipal Association excise tax only represents 10% of municipal revenue. Obviously that is generalization, but there will be plenty of "fear" spread over this idea in coming months and this is good to keep in mind.

http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/story.php?id=235317&ac=PHnws&pg=1

Maine Unemployment Hits 7%

From Maine Biz:  

The Maine Department of Labor this morning said that Maine's unemployment rate increased to 7% in December, up from 6.3% in November and 4.9% in December 2007.

http://www.mainebiz.biz/news44071.html

Pitts: Limbaugh's comment says quite a lot about Limbaugh

(Editor: Pitts is a good writer that I enjoy sometimes. He is commenting on Rush Limbaugh's saying that he hopes President Obama fails. We can all disagree on policy, but in these times we need to hope that our president, and by extension our country, is successful. The failure will be ours, not just Obama's.)

http://www.sunjournal.com/story/300830-3/Columnist/Limbaughs_comment_says_quite_a_lot_about_Limbaugh/

LSJ: Battle simmers over auto tax

If the secretary of state verifies the signatures, the Legislature will be forced to either enact the proposal or send it to referendum. Supporters and opponents agree a statewide vote is more likely, meaning Mainers could soon have the power to reduce auto excise by 50 percent for the first five years a vehicle is registered.

Lewiston Sun Journal Article

Mark McGwire's Brother Rats Him Out In Book

(Editor Note:  With Family like this, who needs enemies?)

 

NEW YORK (AP) - Mark McGwire's youngest brother says in a book proposal that he injected the former baseball star with steroids, according to Deadspin.com.

Jay McGwire is circulating a manuscript titled "The McGwire Family Secret: The Truth about Steroids, a slugger and Ultimate Redemption," the Web site reported Wednesday. Jay McGwire, a body builder, said his brother started using steroids in 1994 and that he injected Mark with Deca-Durabolin.

"Mark is a man I think most would like to forgive because his reason wasn't nefarious - it was for survival," the proposal says, according to the Web site. "My bringing the truth to surface about Mark is out of love. I want Mark to live in truth to see the light, to come to repentance so he can live in freedom - which is the only way to live."

Jay McGwire, who says he has a strained relationship with his brother, could not be reached for comment Thursday. Telephone numbers for his home and fitness center in California were disconnected.

Mark McGwire repeatedly has denied using illegal performance-enhancing drugs. When he testified under oath before Congress in 2005, however, he wouldn't discuss whether he did.

"Who knows what might have happened if I didn't get Mark involved with all the training, supplements, the right foods, steroids, and HGH?" the Web site quoted Jay McGwire as writing. "He would not have broken any records, and the congressional hearings would have gone on without him. Maybe Barry Bonds wouldn't have ever gotten involved with the stuff, either."

Non-union members must pay part of union costs | Portland Press Herald

http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/story.php?id=234559&ac=PHnws

Sent from my iPhone

Accounting error adds to state's red ink | Portland Press Herald

http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/story.php?id=234557&ac=PHnws

Maine card holders victims of data theft - Boston.com

http://www.boston.com/news/local/maine/articles/2009/01/22/maine_card_holders_victims_of_data_theft/

Bush Commutes Sentences for Two Former Border Patrol Agents | Political News - FOXNews.com

(Editor: Amen. It is about time Bush did something about this.)

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/01/19/bush-commutes-sentences-border-patrol-agents/

Stetson Wind Farm Ready

(Editor Note: Some good news to start the week off. Keep the wind farms coming....)

AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — A wind-energy project that will produce the equivalent power needs of 23,500 homes officially goes on line this week when Gov. John Baldacci attends an opening ceremony for the 57-megawatt project in Stetson.

The 38-turbine wind farm along Stetson Mountain’s long, low ridgeline of 600 to 1,200 feet is the second in the state completed by First Wind, whose Mars Hill project has been until now New England’s largest commercial wind power project. Together, they will produce just under 100 megawatts of power.

http://bangornews.com/detail/97498.html

Dwight: State's crash diet

Gov. John Baldacci's administration recently announced budget cuts and reorganizations by effectively saying, "I'm going on a diet. I'm going to order less food!"

Diet and exercise experts across the state (AKA fiscal conservatives), praised the effort as finally getting "serious." But, they noted that it came as a result Maine's economy being unable to provide the selections previously available, not because the governor decided to order less.

Sun Journal - January 18, 2009

AP: Palin: Is Kennedy getting 'kid glove' treatment?

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5h21ZbzgPbTVRftcJPT5vkHkonY5QD95JTF600

Report: Efficiency efforts could save state $180 million | Portland Press Herald

http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/story.php?id=231921&ac=PHnws

Maine Union: Raise Taxes, don't cut state jobs

Bruce Hodson, President of the Maine State Employees Association to Appropriations Committee:

"This is a time when we should all share in the recovery, even if that means raising revenue from those who can afford it," he said. "What our state cannot afford is to increase the number of unemployed Maine taxpayers."

Link: http://kennebecjournal.mainetoday.com/blogs/politics/037905.html#comments