Yet Another Obama-Backed “Green” Company Close To Bankruptcy

By William Teach August 13, 2013 – 6:05 pm

Obamanomics

(The Hill) ECOtality Inc., an Energy Department-backed maker of electric car charging systems, is facing a major cash crunch and could file for bankruptcy.

The company, which has been awarded nearly $100 million in grant funding under the 2009 stimulus law, disclosed Monday that it’s weighing a restructuring or sale as it seeks more outside capital.

ECOtality, in a Securities and Exchange Commission filing, listed several “adverse developments” that together “significantly impact its ability to meet its ongoing obligations and to fund anticipated operating losses.”

But, somehow, according to the DOE, ECOtality was a success!!!!

But an Energy Department spokesman said Monday that the funding for an electric vehicle project by ECOtality achieved its goal.

“The Energy Department’s grant to ECOtality was used for the installation and data collection of charging stations in cities across America where sales of plug-in electric cars are on the rise. Meant to establish the seeds of infrastructure needed to support a growing market for advanced vehicles, the company installed more than 12,500 charging stations in 18 U.S. cities — or approximately 97 percent of their goal,” spokesman Bill Gibbons said.

But it still wasn’t enough to make the company any money in order to continue operating. But, then, in Liberal World, Other People’s companies (not their own, of course) should operate at a loss. The company was pissing away money for products with little demand. Private companies are refusing to dump their own money into ECOtality, now that the taxpayer money is being cut off. They’re having lots of problems with being forced to pay certain employees and contractors under FLSA regulations (weird: liberals involved in poor pay practices????) Oh, and then, from the SEC filing

Further, the Company is facing some uncertainty regarding the resolution of a phenomenon occurring in some of the Company’s previously installed EVSEs which causes overheating, and in certain rare cases melting, of the connector plug that connects the EVSE to the electric vehicle when charging. The Company, along with certain automotive original equipment manufacturers (“OEMs”) and equipment suppliers, has been actively evaluating the issue in an attempt to determine the cause and to address the problem.

So, some of these charging stations, which were supposedly a success!!!!!!! cause melting, and they have no idea why. ECOtality may be forced to sell of assets or perhaps even the whole company.

Read: Yet Another Obama-Backed “Green” Company Close To Bankruptcy »

Posted in Barry Obama, Economy, Energy | 10 Comments | Trackback URL

If All You See…

By William Teach August 13, 2013 – 1:00 pm

…is a horrible fur hat that is needed because greenhouse gases cause very cold and snowy temperatures, you might just be a Warmist

The blog of the day is Maggie’s Notebook, with a post on Muslim Truthers planning to march on D.C. on September 11.

Read: If All You See… »

Posted in If All You See | 1 Comment | Trackback URL

Add Caps On Out-Of-Pocket Insurance Costs To Long List Of Obamacare Delays

By William Teach August 13, 2013 – 8:57 am

Who would have thought that such a huge bill with 20,000 pages (and growing) of regulations would be so hard to implement? (via The Blaze)

(NY Times) In another setback for President Obama’s health care initiative, the administration has delayed until 2015 a significant consumer protection in the law that limits how much people may have to spend on their own health care.

The limit on out-of-pocket costs, including deductibles and co-payments, was not supposed to exceed $6,350 for an individual and $12,700 for a family. But under a little-noticed ruling, federal officials have granted a one-year grace period to some insurers, allowing them to set higher limits, or no limit at all on some costs, in 2014.

The grace period has been outlined on the Labor Department’s Web site since February, but was obscured in a maze of legal and bureaucratic language that went largely unnoticed. When asked in recent days about the language — which appeared as an answer to one of 137 “frequently asked questions about Affordable Care Act implementation” — department officials confirmed the policy.

Looks like they were trying to hide this.

Last month the White House announced a one-year delay in enforcement of another major provision of the law, which requires larger employers to offer health coverage to full-time employees. Valerie Jarrett, Mr. Obama’s senior adviser, said that the delay of the employer mandate showed “we are listening” to businesses, which had complained about the complexity of federal reporting requirements.

Although the two delays are unrelated, together they underscore the difficulties the Obama administration is facing as it rolls out the health care law.

Yet, it’s not just those two

First, there was the delay of Obamacare’s Medicare cuts until after the election. Then there was the delay of the law’s employer mandate. Then there was the announcement, buried in the Federal Register, that the administration would delay enforcement of a number of key eligibility requirements for the law’s health insurance subsidies, relying on the “honor system” instead. Now comes word that another costly provision of the health law—its caps on out-of-pocket insurance costs—will be delayed for one more year.

Unsurprisingly, the provisions are all scheduled to kick in after the 2014 elections. Whether Republicans will take advantage of this remains to be seen.

Read: Add Caps On Out-Of-Pocket Insurance Costs To Long List Of Obamacare Delays »

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NC Gov. McCrory Signs Voter ID Bill

By William Teach August 13, 2013 – 8:27 am

Followed quickly by lawsuits, because liberal groups are so racist that they think minorities, particularly Blacks, are incapable of getting an official state or other approved ID

(Raleigh N&O) Gov. Pat McCrory on Monday signed into law a bill requiring voters to produce a photo ID when they go to the polls, and it was immediately met with legal challenges in federal court questioning its constitutionality.

The new law brings sweeping changes to the state’s election process by reducing the early-voting period by a week, abolishing same-day voter registration and ending straight-party voting.

“North Carolinians overwhelmingly support a common-sense law that requires voters to present photo identification in order to cast a ballot,” McCrory said in a statement. “I am proud to sign this legislation into law. Common practices like boarding an airplane and purchasing Sudafed require photo ID, and we should expect nothing less for the protection of our right to vote.”

How dare North Carolina pass a voter ID law. No other state does this, so, apparently NC should be sued

North Carolina becomes one of 34 states with some form of voter ID law. The voter ID provision goes into effect for the 2016 election.

Oh. Well, at least it’s a good thing that the home states of Mr. Obama and Joe Biden do not have voter ID laws.

“With one stroke of the pen, McCrory has effectively reversed 30 years of progress and reinstated practices similar to the discriminatory ‘Southern Strategy’ adopted by the Republican Party in the ’60s and ’70s,” said Butterfield, a former N.C. Supreme Court justice. “Without question, today is a shameful day for Republicans in North Carolina.”

That’s GK Butterfield, Democrat-NC, who fails to note that it was Democrats who ran the state at the time, and were the ones pushing racist policies. He also wants Eric Holder’s politicized DOJ to interfere.

I know you’re wondering just where the constitutional comes in to play. The N&O article missed it, so let’s go to

(WRAL) Lawyers for a 92-year-old African-American woman, along with multiple civil rights groups, filed one of two lawsuits Monday that challenge the state’s sweeping elections changes just hours after Gov. Pat McCrory signed them into law.

That suit, filed by the state chapter of the NAACP and the Advancement Project, alleges that Rosanell Eaton’s constitutional right to vote is threatened by the new law, which requires voters to show photo identification when they go to the polls, starting in 2016.

Hair said Eaton was one of the first African Americans to vote in North Carolina and has continued casting ballots for 70 years, but the new law’s photo ID requirement would disqualify her from future elections because the name on her birth certificate doesn’t match the name on her driver’s license.

So, she has a driver’s license? Then, per the text of the law, she’s able to vote.

The other lawsuit, filed by the American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of North Carolina Legal Foundation and the Southern Coalition for Social Justice, tackles provisions of the law that cut a full week from the early voting period, eliminate same-day voter registration and prohibit “out-of-precinct” voting.

The legislative body makes the laws. There are no Constitutional requirements for any early voting, same day registration, or out of precinct voting, but there is this

(Article I, Section 4) The Times, Places and Manner of holding Elections for Senators and Representatives, shall be prescribed in each State by the Legislature thereof; but the Congress may at any time by Law make or alter such Regulations, except as to the Places of chusing Senators.

The NC law is within those made by Congress.

Crossed at Right Wing News and Stop The ACLU.

Read: NC Gov. McCrory Signs Voter ID Bill »

Posted in Constitution, NC News | 2 Comments | Trackback URL

John Kerry Links God With Hotcoldwetdry

By William Teach August 12, 2013 – 2:52 pm

Maybe he should speak to his boss about reigning in the “carbon pollution” from sending his dog on a different plane

(CNS News) Reiterating a theme he presented two weeks ago at an Iftar dinner celebrating the end of Ramadan, Secretary of State John Kerry on Thursday described “global climate change” as “a challenge to our responsibilities as the guardians–safe guarders of God’s creation.”

Kerry was speaking at an event announcing the creation of the State Department’s Office of Faith-Based Community Initiatives.

“I’m convinced that all of you will agree,” said Kerry, “that one of the toughest challenges that we face in terms of global diplomacy and relationships around the world between peoples nowadays, from sectarian strife to the challenges of many intractable, frozen conflicts, to the challenges of simply understanding people–one people to another–or even monumental challenges like the sectarian strife that we see tearing countries and regions apart, as well as the enormous challenges of things like global climate change, which really is a challenge to our responsibilities as the guardians–safe guarders of God’s creation.”

Because the Middle East only turned into a desert when CO2 broke 350ppm. And there was no war, famine, mean people…it was a truly kumbaya world.

Interesting how he makes links between  “church and state” and climate change a-OK.

BTW, know what’s really sad? Kerry would still make a better president than Obama.

Read: John Kerry Links God With Hotcoldwetdry »

Posted in AGW Idiocy, Global Warming, Kerry | 5 Comments | Trackback URL

If All You See…

By William Teach August 12, 2013 – 1:00 pm

…is an ocean that will rise up and swallow all those liberal seaboard cities, you might just be a Warmist

The blog of the day is Director Blue, with a post on Things According To Randy.

Read: If All You See… »

Posted in If All You See | 2 Comments | Trackback URL

Man Who Wants To Fight Climate Change Sends Dog On Separate Fossil Fueled Flight

By William Teach August 12, 2013 – 11:02 am

Obama’s just adding to his 41,000 metric ton carbon footprint

(Telegraph) Rooms have to be found for dozens of Secret Service agents, someone has to carry a selection of presidential basketballs, and of course the family dog needs his own state-of-the-art aircraft.

Arriving in the idyllic coastal retreat of Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts, Mr Obama left behind him in Washington DC high profile debates over the budget, government surveillance and his health care reforms. Instead, he will spend the next eight days playing golf, going to the beach, and buying books from the Bunch of Grapes bookstore.

Bo, the president’s Portuguese Water Dog, arrived separately on one of two MV-22 Ospreys, a hybrid aircraft which takes off like a helicopter but flies like a plane.

I wonder how much that cost the American taxpayer, and what the rationale is for flying the dog separately? Oh, and did Obama pay for the carbon offsets himself, or stick the taxpayer with the bill? Did he even bother with offsets? Probably not.

Read: Man Who Wants To Fight Climate Change Sends Dog On Separate Fossil Fueled Flight »

Posted in Barry Obama, Climahypocrites, Global Warming | 3 Comments | Trackback URL

Liberals Blow Gasket Over Missouri State Fair Clown With Obama Mask

By William Teach August 12, 2013 – 7:30 am

Liberals have absolutely no humor when it is one of them being made fun of

(Kansas City Star) The taxpayer-supported Missouri State Fair got a lot of negative publicity Sunday following a report of a shameful stunt that occurred Saturday night in Sedalia.

The story by an eyewitness, Perry Beam, is posted to Daily Kos and Show Me Progress.

Basically, a clown wearing a mask of President Barack Obama came out during the bull riding event at the fair. The crowd was asked if it wanted to see Obama “run down by a bull.” (UPDATE: 6:55 p.m.: Here are two short videos of part of the incident: “We’re going to smoke Obama, man,” says announcer.)

Egged on by the crowd and the announcer, “One of the clowns ran up and started bobbling the lips on the mask and the people went crazy. Finally, a bull came close enough to him that he had to move, so he jumped up and ran away to the delight of the onlookers hooting and hollering from the stands.”

Obviously this is a horrible show of respect for the President of the United States at a public event at the state fair— which got more than $400,000 from Missouri state taxpayers this year.

We didn’t show King George III much respect, either. Furthermore, I don’t remember liberals getting upset over people wearing George W. Bush masks, or when Game Of Thrones featured a GWB head. Bush mask good, Obama mask bad. Respect is earned. Considering Obama constantly denigrates people who do not believe as he does, he gets the respect he earned.

It’s also borderline illegal; the U.S. Secret Service takes threats against the president seriously. While the president himself was in no danger here, it’s the kind of stupid activity that could give nuts ideas about harming the president.

Good grief, a threat? Seriously? So, should these nuts have been investigated?

Or were they just expressing their 1st Amendment Rights?

All sorts of politicians, including Republicans, jumped on this, and stated how shameful it was. Remember how all those Democrat politicians denounced people wearing Bush mask, and even all the assassination chic against Bush? No? Hmph.

BTW, funny how liberals get very worked up over this, but not IRS targeting of Conservative groups, 4 dead Americans in Benghazi, the hundreds killed and injured by Fast and Furious guns, etc.

Read: Liberals Blow Gasket Over Missouri State Fair Clown With Obama Mask »

Posted in Barking Moonbats, Barry Obama, Liberal World | 21 Comments | Trackback URL

Boston “GreenFest” Highlights Massive Snow Caused By Globull Warming

By William Teach August 12, 2013 – 6:47 am

Cult

(Charlestown Patch) Entering its sixth year, Boston GreenFest 2013 will entertain and educate with music from countries around the globe and a variety of exhibits on fashion, cars, robots, art, poetry, dance, tai chi and more.

Um, wait, cars? Aren’t they bad for Hotcoldwetdry?

The annual event, sponsored by the Foundation for a Green Future, is an opportunity for Charlestown residents to learn about ways to save money while doing more for their families, neighborhood and city

Anyone want to bet that these “ways” involve more government and taxation rather than changing personal behavior?

“Everyone hears about climate change, but no one wants to believe it,” said Dr. Karen Weber, executive director of the Foundation for a Green Future. “We felt it this winter when it snowed so much and we felt it [this summer] when it was hotter than it ever was in Boston. We see it when there are more tornados than ever—even in Massachusetts—and super storms like Sandy. Yet, once these things pass, we forget and go right back to doing what we always did, trying to tell ourselves that we don’t need to make any changes.”

But, then, we aren’t supposed to actually listen to Dr. Weber, since she is not a climate scientist, but, instead, holds a doctorate in Law, Policy and Society from Northeastern University.

We aren’t seeing more tornadoes than ever. In fact, this has been the slowest tornado season on record. No landfalling major hurricanes (cat 3 or higher) since October 24, 2004. Only 1 landfalling hurricane since 2008, and it could be argued that Isaac wasn’t a hurricane. So far, this season has been a dud. Yes, Boston is looking at about 2F higher than normal for the year, while around 70% of the lower 48 is below average. Heck, Raleigh is looking to have temps in the 70’s this week, with a projected high of 72 on Thursday. 8 of the next 10 are forecasted to be below, and in some cases well below average. Heck, we’re going to be cooler than Boston.

But, this snow thing, sheesh, these people are nuts.

Crossed at Right Wing News and Stop The ACLU.

Read: Boston “GreenFest” Highlights Massive Snow Caused By Globull Warming »

Posted in AGW Idiocy, Global Warming, New Climate Deniers | 1 Comment | Trackback URL

Skeptical Science Blames Population Reduction For Little Ice Age

By William Teach August 11, 2013 – 4:21 pm

Which they’re also saying didn’t really occur. The article starts out by mentioning several natural, saying they are “proposed” causes, such as decreased solar activity, volcanic activity, and a slow-down in the ocean conveyers, and then states that they were non-factors. So, it can only be caused by humans! (via Steven Goddard)

(Skeptical Science) The Black Death caused a decrease in the human populations of Europe, East Asia, and the Middle East during the 14th century and a consequent decline in agricultural activity.  A similar effect occurred in North America after European contact in the 16th century.  Ruddiman (2003) suggests reforestation took place as a result of this reduced human population and agricultural activity, allowing more carbon dioxide uptake from the atmosphere to the biosphere, thus having a cooling effect.  Ruddiman concluded as follows.

“If the 10-ppm CO2 decreases are caused by plague-induced reforestation events, they would cool northern hemisphere temperatures by ∼0.17°C, assuming a 2 × CO2 sensitivity of 2.5°C.”

Of course, we’ve seen the exact opposite effect in recent centuries, as the human population has continued to grow, increasing deforestation, and of course anthropogenic CO2 emissions through burning fossil fuels.  However, it’s difficult to classify increased human greenhouse gas emissions as a “recovery from the LIA.”

There’s a problem with this. A big problem. The spread of the Black Plague causing fleas living on rats and other animals was actually caused by cooler, wetter conditions. The conditions caused by the coming Little Ice Age, not by the warmer, drier atmosphere of the Global Climate Optimum. But the attempt here is to Blame it all on humans, and state that fewer humans is simply an awesome idea, along with, again, linking the LIA to Mankind, rather than natural forces.

To sum up, with the exception of the human population, the factors which contributed to the LIA cannot account for the global warming of the past 50-100 years.  Further, it is not physically accurate to claim that the planet is simply “recovering” from the LIA.  This argument is akin to saying that when you drop a ball off a cliff, it falls because it used to be higher.  There is a physical mechanism for these changes.  In the case of the ball, it falls because of the gravitational pull at the Earth’s surface.  In the case of the global temperature, it is warming from the increased greenhouse effect due to human activities.

Well, maybe then we should run an experiment where all the Believers in human caused climate change should kill themselves, with the Climate Realists as the control group, and we’ll see what happens. The article, which is entitled “What ended the Little Ice Age”, forgets to actually mention what ended the LIA, but we’re supposed to assume it was humans, even though the LIA ended in the mid-1800’s, not 50-100 years ago, which, interestingly, had a slight cooling period from the 40’s to late 1970’s, and has seen a statistically insignificant warming of just 0.14F since 1997.

Read: Skeptical Science Blames Population Reduction For Little Ice Age »

Posted in AGW Idiocy, Collapsing Science, Global Warming | 2 Comments | Trackback URL
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