IS IT TRUE January 16, 2015

102

IS IT TRUE we are pleased to report that the Owen Block Preservation group is having some impressive success in trying to raise sufficient cash to save the classic structure from the wrecking ball?…they are reporting to have about a third of the required money to get this place into private hands raised?…the part about the City of Evansville using some federal tax dollars to cement the deal is not something we were hoping to see?…if the preservation group can come up with three fourths of the required money, it serves to reason that they could also come up with the last $100,000 making this whole endeavor a private personal rescue of this once magnificent building?…that aside, as they get closer to their goal, this writer will be increasing the pot to support this grass roots effort?

IS IT TRUE with the recent freezing and thawing and freezing again, the old dilapidated water distribution pipes of Evansville are going through their annual failure cycle and taking roads with them?…old pipes and old roads combined with freeze-thaw cycles is the death knell of both the pipes and the roads?…the next pot hole you hit you can blame it on a compulsive obsession by our elected officials to chase after shiny objects and ignore the infrastructure improvements that we all truly NEED?

IS IT TRUE it seems as though Evansville is once again the home to a theft ring and this time it is expensive capital equipment that the thieves have been fencing?…they even found some unsuspecting local government employees down in Union County, Kentucky to buy their stolen goods?…we are certain that the receivers of stolen goods did not go through the public bidding process to purchase these expensive pieces of equipment?…those civil servants should have followed the old adage of “if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is”?…the egg is now on the face of these taxpayer funded marks who thought they were getting a deal?

IS IT TRUE that yesterday’s action of removing the peg that held the euro to the Swiss Franc set off panic in European currency markets that saw the Swiss Franc fall by 20% relative to the Euro?…that makes a European vacation look very attractive to this writer to take advantage of a favorable exchange rate for the first time since the late 1990’s?…the strong dollar is however as much of a two edged sword as the falling gas prices are?…that $2 a gallon gas does indeed put energy workers out of a job?…the same think happens with American exports when the dollar is strong because foreign customers see price increases on American products due to the exchange rate trends?…what this verifies is the age old premise that everything is connected?

IS IT TRUE it had been expected that the Christmas retail season would have been a banner year in 2014 due to the uncharacteristically low cost of gasoline in the United States?…Oil prices have plunged by over 50% since last summer making $2 a gallon gas a reality in a market that has about the highest psychological effect on American consumers?…in most cases people have experienced a real life experience of saving roughly $25 per fill up as compared to last summer and the conventional wisdom was that these dollars would be going for Christmas presents?…for once, the American consumer must have chosen to do something other than run out and spend their new found money leaving the retail industry aghast because the projected sales just didn’t happen?…this is evidenced by the closure of two chain stored that have had local branches for many years and with the announced closing of Target Canada?…the unpublished casualties that have announced significant store closings includes Radio Shack, Barnes & Nobles, Office Depot, Staples, Abercrombie & Fitch, Aeropostale, American Eagle, Sears, Coach, Express, and Guess all that will be closing more than 50 stores?…we do not know if this poor retail season was due to a new frugality stimulated by the Great Recession or the continual fear of losing a job but this was unexpected and did not give the economy a shot in the arm that nearly everyone was expecting?

Please take time and vote in todays “Readers Poll”.

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102 COMMENTS

  1. “we do not know if this poor retail season was due to a new frugality stimulated by the Great Recession or the continual fear of losing a job but this was unexpected and did not give the economy a shot in the arm that nearly everyone was expecting?”

    I hope that it is a sign that it has finally dawned on more Americans that the useless gadgets and tacky goods that retailers so crassly try to foist off on them every holiday season are not substitutes for the love of friends and family. I hope it means more Americans are spending time talking and exchanging ideas with each other, and especially their children, and less time destroying virtual universes while sitting in front of a big screen clutching a controller. Sometimes it takes hard times to make people realize what is important.

    • On retail sales, these are the facts and analysis from Thursday’s (1/15/2015) Wall Street Journal:

      Sales at retailers and restaurants decreased a seasonally adjusted 0.9% in December from A MONTH earlier, the Commerce Department said Wednesday. But that drop, the largest since last January, likely overstates the severity of the pullback. OVERALL retail spending excluding gasoline purchases rose 5.3% in December from a year earlier, far stronger than the annual gain of 4.1% in December 2013. That was in line with retailers’ reports of a better holiday season and the view that the U.S. economy steadily improved last year.

      The National Retail Federation said Wednesday that retail sales excluding automobiles, gas stations and restaurants rose 4% in November and December from the same period a year earlier—marking THE BEST HOLIDAY SHOPPING SEASON since 2011. Online retailers saw even stronger growth, with sales rising 6.8%.

      • All of that means today’s IIT comment, “we do not know if this poor retail season”….is a wrong reading of the metrics.

        It was not a poor retail season. In fact, it was “the best holiday shopping season since 2011” (WSJ yesterday).

        • Sigh…. Leave it to you, Shem, to burst my bubble. I do believe that more of the spending in 2014 went to higher quality and more meaningful gifts than in the past. Electronics that have educational value seemed to outsell video consoles and games, and other articles seemed to be better quality than in the past. That is just judging from my own and my friends’ families gifts this year, but I suspect that may be a trend.
          I know that online shopping kept down the horrific traffic jams in the eastside shopping district. I shop online more and more all the time, and so do most people I know. It really keeps down the “impulse purchase” buys for me, and I doubt that I’m unusual. That makes it tough for the purveyors of silly and superfluous items, and easier for my bank balance. The places that cater to tweens and teens clothing fads have a difficult time of it. They HAVE to keep up the brick-and-mortar outlets because shopping is a social experience for their customers, and I don’t expect that to change any time soon.

          • I really liked LKB’s first post, actually had a conservative lean to it 🙂 but alas RS brought some pointed facts to “burst the bubble”. Or so it seems at this point.

          • I’m a “fewer gifts, more family time” proponent too.

            Oh. Online shopping has created a new trend in holiday sales. Buy your gifts earlier. That means that more actual purchases are being pushed to earlier months…like, November. It makes sense that while overall holiday sales increased by 5.3% this year, but the largest portion of that came earlier, not in December. People who need a TALKING POINT to bash the economy, take that to mean “The sky is falling. Sales decreased in December!” Yeah, and I saw a cow with three legs. And because of that one time event, I’m gonna declare that all cows have three legs. Bad logic, or a willful “I want to bash” talking point.

          • Don’t forget to pay sales tax on those on-line purchases that don’t charge it. You do that when you file your sales tax. Please shop locally and maybe save a local job.

        • AMZN

          DATE………….OPEN………HIGH……LOW…….CLOSE…….VOLUME

          01/15/2009 48.56 52.23 47.63 51.44 11,617,170

          A mere six years ago you could have bought in for $47.63

    • Well said my friend. To address our public debt we perhaps first need address our own private debt, and that requires us to consider our values.

  2. “the egg is now on the face of these taxpayer funded marks who thought they were getting a deal?”

    That shoe fits Evansville rather well, too. Remember EarthCare and HCW?

    • Speaking of shoe fitting, I only hope that you and the others giddy for Gail keep that edge if she is elected and returns to the same Weinzapfel/Winnecke plan for downtown.

      • If I didn’t KNOW that is NOT what will be done, I would not be supporting Gail. I’m not giddy at all, just a little hopeful that we can be led out of the mess we’re in. Before she decided to run, I didn’t see any way at all out.

        • Can you direct me to her public statements that back up your belief that that is not what will happen?

  3. Over here in Warrick County we have no idea of who is in control .
    All we know is that it is all good.
    Property values climbing.
    No mention of convention hotels.
    No politician trying to gild the lily of the prettiest place on earth.
    It is wonderful.
    Just like when I moved to Evansville 30 years ago.
    I thought I had found Magic Town,
    1985.
    The enthusiasm.
    The Main Street Bar.
    Casa Gallardo.
    Ginny’s.
    Shenagins.
    Harpole’s.
    Duck Inn.
    The whole identity is gone.
    You tell me.

    • Judging from your list of “businesses” and the comment about Evansville in 1985, I suspect you’re spending too much time in bars. Evansville had already been riding the well-greased skids downhill for over twenty years when you thought you’d found “Magic Town.” It all started with the demise of Chrysler.
      The bar business still does well here, but it has always been a very fleeting thing, unless the management is really exceptional. I did like the atmosphere at Casa Gallardo, but Hacienda seems to be flourishing there, and the southeast side bars have been replaced by the great places on Franklin St. and areas north of Washington.
      Warrick County doesn’t need to gild its lily in order to look good because Evansville’s is so badly tarnished, but it isn’t the prettiest place on earth. Have you ever been out of Indiana?

  4. ……”Radio Shack, Barnes & Nobles, Office Depot, Staples, Abercrombie & Fitch, Aeropostale, American Eagle, Sears, Coach, Express, and Guess all that will be closing more than 50 stores……”

    These stores are all closing* because they are all the old brick and mortar kind of retailers who are finding they cannot compete with online sales business models. Joe Wallace knows this…his business is tech.

    *Not because of a poor retail sales season. In fact, overall December’s holiday retail sales for 2014 exceeded last year by 5.3%. And in fact, online retail sales grew ANOTHER ANNUAL 6.8% this past holiday season. (WSJ, Thursday)

    It was not a poor retail holiday sales season.

  5. You need to be really careful when evaluating economic news reports.

    Google ‘2014 retail holiday season’ and you find mixed reviews from various respected sources.

    Here’s a few examples:

    http://www.cnbc.com/id/102336828# .

    Retail Sales 2014: Consumer Spending Drops During Holiday Shopping Season Despite Low Gas Prices
    http://www.ibtimes.com/retail-sales-2014-consumer-spending-drops-during-holiday-shopping-season-despite-low-1783350

    Investment firms and the news magazines that cater to them often paint a rosier picture to generate interest so they can ‘pump and dump’ stocks. Politicians often exaggerate their performance by reporting them in a restricted time period or context to make themselves look good. Even the companies comprising the Dow Jones Industrial Average were changed a while back to make the market look more promising to investors. You know the saying; Lies, Damn Lies, Statistics.

    Wait for the quarterly numbers for a clearer picture. Then hope they aren’t adjusted again in the next quarter.

  6. So we bought less chinese made junk? Good. Bain capital might’ve taken a little hit.

      • Wow! I’m on a roll here with the screw-ups this morning.
        What I meant to say to you, Ghost, is that I do think people are catching on to the fact that “cheap” does NOT mean “inexpensive.” As long as their are ignorant people, we’ll have the junk the Walton’s push, though.

          • “There”. I’m having a rough day. Your namesake is still my favorite political philosopher and eater of revolting things.

        • What junk are you talking about? Same stuff as other stores, just less expensive, same brands, same cans. Lot of rich union workers shop there, same product, lower price. Of course, I only go to the westside store. One stop shopping, Walmart an American Icon.

    • Just as a matter of curiosity, have you or anyone you know ever gotten a job from a poor man?

      • Stupid question, Ellen! I understand it was meant to be a “gotcha”. It is likely something you learned on a website meant to keep the ignorant adoring the 1%, while slaving in vain to join the wealthy. “Poor” people don’t often hire others, but plenty of middle income, hard-working small business people do.
        The filthy rich Waltons and their ilk are not respectable American business people. They are filthy in many senses of the word. They sell goods made by children in their foreign sweatshops, and the majority of those they hire to transport and sell the shoddy goods to dumb Americans are not much better off than those children, who are virtually enslaved.

        • The fervor expressed in your comment has little bearing on its validity. Since it has been determined that $250,000 per annum is considered “rich”, many small business people will fall into that category. Of course if that $250,000 is earned in LA, New York City, or many other metropolises, their actual financial status may not reflect the same…after taxes.

          • I don’t know who decided that $250,000 a year makes someone “rich”, but whoever it was isn’t very bright. That, as a gross income, means a small business person is getting by fairly well, or that a professional couple is “secure”. If they are careful and invest well, they may become rich. When you compare that to the billions of the Walton’s, its really a drop in the bucket.
            There are many shades of gray Ellen, not just the black and white that you see. I guess that’s just one of the many facts that those who wash your brain daily want to conceal from you, to keep that little mind from getting too cluttered.

            • That was President Obama in his first campaign who made that decision when he decided where to draw the line between who to raise taxes on and who not to. He then proceeded to support tax laws that increased taxes down to about half of that.

        • LKB, I don’t understand where you are coming from concerning “the filthy rich Waltons”,,,,WHO is forcing “dumb Americans” to buy from them ? I’m FORCED to buy some things but nothing from the Waltons although they usually have the best price.

          • There you go again, 1cb, ascribing things to me that I never said, thought, nor implied. I never said a word about anyone being forced to buy from the Waltons. Dumbasses willingly spend their money at Wally World and get what they pay for – junk. It falls apart and they run back for more of the same. It’s how the rich get richer and the ignorant poor get more ignorant and poorer.

          • Sooo,,,if it weren’t for “dumb Americans” the “filthy rich Waltons” wouldn’t exist,,,or be providing all those jobs,,,for those “dumb Americans”.
            Sorry LKB, I just can’t wrap my simple mind around that thought process.

          • BTW,,,ever heard the cliche, “Life is Tough, Especially if Your Stupid”.
            I deal with people all the time that insist on staying stupid,,,”Ignorance is Bliss”.
            “You Can Lead a Horse to Water But You Can’t Make it Drink”

          • Not really. I spent time with my grandchild, which I enjoy greatly. I just get a little more animated when I think about the ignoramuses who would destroy the earth and teach greed and hatred, when I see the pure goodness in little children.
            Bitterness has never been my thing. It only destroys the person who nurtures. Glad to disappoint you, ‘bozo.

      • Yes and together we enriched his accounts, as well as mine. And ultimately the entire planets. That Ellen is the difference between a simple curiosity and a plan.

      • Another lame, RW false choice fallacy. You’re dumber than rocks, or more indoctrinated than North Korea or both.

        • “Brains” – You are so good at making disparaging comments. You offer little else but you’re a regular Don Rickles on this site. Always good for comic relief.

      • Yea I have. The poor people actually are more willing to pay better wages than the Rich people that I’ve worked for in the past. Millionaires that live in Johnson Place are really cheap scapes when it comes to paying their help.

        • M.O without org- How many residents of Johnson Place do you know on a personal basis ?

      • Yup. Served in the Marine Corps and currently on the EFD. In both cases I was/am employed by and paid for by ‘the people’, and some of ‘the people’ I serve are poor.

        Not the answer you were looking for?

  7. Didn’t those unsuspecting, bargain hunting hayseeds in Union County, KY think to check the serial numbers or require a title for the heavy equipment they were buying from the interstate theft ring?

    • I think they suspected the truth, but didn’t want to dig too deep. That’s sort of how Haney and Huffman got their free rides off the local taxpayers.

      • those civil servants should have followed the old adage of “if it sounds too good to be true, it probably isn’t”?…should be IS.

  8. The $ 100,000 of Federal Funds now earmarked for preservation of the Owen Building could have been put to a much higher use by being used for demolition of abandoned homes. Instead, what we have is a developer who is going to get $ 440,000 subsidy, and then all he’ll have is an ancient building which is perhaps structurally sound ?
    Next up will be more Downtown subsidies to assist with his renovation costs. Why does everything downtown have to be subsidized ? Will Phil Hooper call this another “success” ? Also, why can’t the public see the report which Ben Miller cited, which said the cost to save is $ 3 Million ?????

    • With that said we’ve thought the same. The place is in rough shape the first half million bucks goes into stabilizing it for the renovations. It looks like another projected downtown bleeder. Seriously steady transfusions are in the diagnosis. It’ll never be at a standard other rentals or metro residential properties are. The buildings way past that usage methodology. Find another plan that doesn’t include living space.

      • V, again agreed. This should all be private sector. Fail or thrive. Mesker Amphitheater for $100,000 is back in business. Generating profit.

  9. While I applaud the efforts for the Owen Block, it makes much more economic sense to put $100,000 into Mesker Amphitheater so it can be reopened and used again.

    http://www.courierpress.com/news/local-news/mesker-hed-herppppp

    It is mind boggling the City will not repair this beloved historical gem. Perhaps it is because they view it a competition for summer concerts that could be forced to the Ford Center. Regardless, our community is deprived of the use of an iconic venue for lack of simple repair and maintenance.

    https://www.facebook.com/pages/Save-Mesker-Music-Amphitheatre/582540738455426

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesker_Amphitheatre

  10. KEYSTONE PIPELINE

    Do you want evidence the push for the Keystone Pipeline IS ABOUT JOBS?…

    ….OR has always been a ruse to EXPORT AMERICAN OIL to foreign countries?

    From the National Journal, January 15, 2015:
    (The NJ is only one source. The WSJ, Fox News, IBD…plenty of other sources reporting this.)

    “The oil industry has been working overtime in the past year to get Congress to overturn the ban on crude-oil exports. And Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas is pushing to add an amendment to the bill approving the Keystone XL oil pipeline that would roll back 1970s-era restrictions on sending U.S. oil overseas.”

    (This would overturn, and end, the law’s current ban on exporting American oil to foreign markets.)

    1. Do you like low gas prices?

    2. Do you believe gas prices will stay low if you reduce America’s supply of oil by shipping American oil to foreign markets? Prices are set by supply and demand. Restrict American domestic supplies…..and gas prices rise.

    3. There are gonna be advocates of saying it is a good thing to ship American oil in the Keystone Pipeline out of America, because that helps oil companies, and they will hire more people. And that means more jobs. They are gonna try to convince you YOU benefit when the oil companies hire more people, and that increased gas prices that result – money out of your pocket, and do you need any better example of how this affects YOUR pocketbook directly – are ok.

    4. There are gonna be people who say, “Well, if we start exporting American oil and reducing supply the domestically produced North American oil….that does not necessarily mean gas prices will rise.” Do you really believe that? Do you really believe reducing supply of American oil will not increase gas prices?

    5.Do you STILL believe the Keystone Pipeline is about jobs…or creating a Canada to Gulf of Mexico pipeline to ship North American oil to the Gulf ports to ship that oil out of America?

    6. Do you think American oil companies enjoy having lots of US domestically produced oil and low gas prices?

    7. Won’t they want higher gas prices? Won’t they want to reduce supply and raise prices at the pump?

    • I am no oil expert but I do understand supply and demand. It seems to me that with oil at $50 a barrel, our best course of action is to import what we need and keep our oil in storage for a time in the future when the price returns to $100 a barrel. That day will come, but I don’t pretend to know when.

      By the way, you may be right on the online shopping. All of these stores have online shopping though so their sales are an aggregation of both direct and online sales. They may just be cutting their weakest performers but they also seem to have under performed during the season. The quarterly numbers will indeed shine more light.

      • Editor,

        Thanks for the comment and reply. You know, the City-County Observer can do come good here by helping to make the “end the ban on oil exports” effort more transparent during the conversation about the Keystone Pipeline.

        The CCO, if anything, is a more power to the people, populist, publication. Don’t YOU want to know what Congressman Larry Bucshon and our two Senators thinks about ending the ban on exporting American oil?

        No one is reporting this effectively. There is a vacuum in media leadership on this. And you never know, the oil companies may suddenly decide they need to advertise at the CCO.

        • Buschon and Coates think whatever the big money tells them they think, and Joe Donnelly is a blue dog.

          • I-E, your logic is wrong. Tom Steyer, if he was wants LESS SUPPLY, he would be FOR the Keystone Pipeline, not against it. The new, gargantuan pipeline across North America to the gulf is designed to ship American oil out of the Gulf of Mexico to foreign markets.

            That is why you see a simultaneous effort to end the law banning American oil exports. Domestic oil supply goes down…and gas prices go up. This is simple. Supply and demand.

          • Broaden your horizons Shem. Billionaire Styer thinks world wide. The worlds oil supply is only one bucket. The less in that bucket the higher the profit. You and I don’t think like this billionaires.

        • Like Joe, I’m no expert but I am a thinking man, maybe the KS pipeline will help transport ALL that oil and whatever other resource will be needed to satisfy our 18,000,000,000,000 debt. BTW, google the national debt of China and Russia when you get a chance.

          • Keystone pipeline, built with China made materials, transports Canadian oil to China. A handful of temp jobs for foreigners, we assume all the risk of pollution. Also gives eminent domain powers to foreign corporations. Lot of GOP hypocrisy in this deal. Where’s the outrage from you proud ‘murican patriots? Stopped loving private property rights as soon as you found out they may cost the Koch Bros some coin?

          • Pipelines can work in reverse. If we start buying cheap oil to stockpile for strategic purposes the same pipeline (or others) can be used to transport that cheap oil into our storage facilities. Personally, I am an advocate for renewable energy, but the reality is that we need a bridge to that over the next 30 years and being subservient to hostile offshore sources is not a stable way to achieve the long term goal of being fully renewable.

          • Is there some connection to American oil companies selling their oil and the national debt? I don’t see any. I’m not sure what the national debt, or any debt, has to do with this subject at all in fact. Wait.

            1Countyboy, everything I know about you from the CCO says you are for increasing national security by not becoming dependent on foreign countries for oil…and you should be against ending the ban on exporting American oil. And America oil is buying the right to export its oil from politicians, and it’s hidden agenda in trying to get the Keystone Pipleline passed, in order to reduce the supply of US oil in order in increase gas prices.

            So what is it? How could you possibly be against this 1Countryboy? (I don’t like debt either, but that has nothing to do with the subject…please.)

          • Joe, with respect,

            I have NEVER heard any rationale (nor ANY capability or use of the the Keystone pipeline itself to move imported oil INTO the country) for the Keystone Pipeline to buy cheap international oil and increase our national reserves. The reserve reservoirs and already full! They can’t hold anymore. But the logic of that argument, I don’t see it.

            What about the effort to end the law that bans exports of American oil Joe?

            (And I will stipulate, I like and support renewable energy sources too. That’s a different subject.)

          • Ah…Joe Wallace. I get it.

            You are an advocate of renewable energy sources. That business and its momentum is taking a hit because gas prices are so low now. The Green industry funding is drying up in the short term. So anything that gets gas prices back high again….helps bring momentum back to renewables.

            Who knew? It appears the liberal alternative energy community is gonna support Sen. Ted Cruz’s efforts to end the law banning exporting American oil in order to get gas prices high again.

            Strange bed partners…..

          • RS, did you ever look up the national debt of China & Russia,,,,,especially Russia,,,that should scare you.

        • The oil is going to flow. The question is what is the safest and most economical way for it to flow? That is a pipeline. All oil flows into one bucket, the world’s oil supply. So it really doesn’t matter in the long run where it flows to.

      • Mr. Wallace:

        I agree with the oil storage in the US, yet this will not save the consumer anything in the future. When the price hits 100 per barrel, the oil may exit from storage, and big oil will then sell it at market price. Therefore, the American consumer will be unable to receive any benefit, it will be big oil receiving the income from the stock piling.

    • Shem. #8. You’re gonna pay more at the pump because, this week, Obama fired the first shot in the radical left’s war on fracking.

      • different subject…do you want to end the ban on exports of American oil that is currently law?

        • For the time being we are doing fine by exporting refined products. A few years from now we may need to change that. Keystone will bring oil from Canada and the Dakotas to the gulf and other stops on the way. One being Central Illinois. The U.S. should have been pushing the facilities to export Nat. Gas to Europe where Russia is about their only choice. When Putin went more wacky the Government should have assisted in building more facilities. Low cost loans might have helped.

          • I/We were in the oil shale business a few years back, the cost to refine oil retained in the oil sands starts to make a profit when oil is selling for $ 85 – 90 per barrel, yet the pipeline will substantially reduce their delivery costs, and, unfortunately, oil will return to the $ 100 per barrel pricing sooner rather than later. I am all for the pipeline and the jobs in the US it will produce, and hopefully the unions will not rule if this moves forward. Right To Work rules.

            Oh, and, Run Gail Run, back to Illinois that is !!

          • Givemeabreak, you’ve done an admirable job explaining why American oil producers are for the Keystone Pipeline, and how American oil companies are motivated by high prices for oil, and high prices for gas at the pump. And it makes perfect sense that selling American oil abroad means less supply here and that means prices go up. It is simple demand and supply. Of course, American oil companies make a lot of money when gas prices are very high. I am sure the everyday Bo, Joe and Donna who buy a lot of gas at the pump and commute to work agree with what you want too.

        • Same subject, Shem. You say ending the ban on exports of American oil will raise the price at the pump of gasoline. Maybe. I say the war on fracking will raise the price at the pump of gasoline. Definitely.

          • Fracking is a filthy, dangerous way to extract natural gas from shale. The only thing definite about fracking is it shows the low-hanging fruit has been picked/extracted and the exploitative extractors are now reduced to foul methods like fracking.

            Earthquakes, methane leaks, wasted water used in the process, drinking/groundwater contamination, nasty carcinogenic chemicals injected into the ground, deleterious effects on the health of those living near the fracking sites, who cares? Ole givemeabreak was in the business, just ask him, he knows all about it. He also shows unmistakable signs of knowing about cranial fracking. Aaahaaahaaha.

            You don’t have any idea in the world how fracking would affect gas prices at the pump. Definitely.

  11. I actually see your point, JB. A renovated Mesker would make a lot more sense and generate some revenue. I really think the three SWIRCA meal sites closing is bad, too. I was shocked to read that they ask people to pay $3.50 for those meals. I had guessed they were about a dollar or so. It seems expensive for people whose incomes are not going up, but their water and utility bills are. Our lack of a low-income dental clinic really needs to be addressed, too.
    Maybe somebody needs to do Facebook pages for those causes, since it seems to be such a good way to fund worthy causes.

  13. The United States Attorney’s Office

    Southern District of Indiana…..(for immediate release)

    EVANSVILLE MAN SENTENCED TO 40 MONTHS IN FRAUD CASE
    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
    January 13, 2015

    Former insurance agent conspired to steal over $160,000 in commissions based on fraudulent annuity sales to elderly clients

    EVANSVILLE – Josh J. Minkler, Acting United States Attorney, announced today an Evansville man was sentenced to 40 months (over three years) in federal prison by U.S. District Chief Judge Richard L. Young. Danny Lee Beavin, 40, Evansville, was found guilty yesterday of wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, mail fraud and access device fraud.

    “Risking the life’s savings of our seniors to make a fraudulent commission is a crime we take very seriously in my office,” said Minkler. “Those who choose to betray the trust of some of our most beloved citizens will be held strictly accountable.”

    Beavin persuaded clients who were over 80 years old, to purchase annuity insurance policies issued by the Americo Company. Beavin made false statements on the applications indicating the clients were younger than 80, allowing him a larger commission. In some cases, he received commissions up to 9% of the original lump sum purchase amount. In some cases, persons over 80 years old were not eligible for the annuity policy he sold to them. The elderly clients trusted Beavin protect their interests and submit accurate information to the insurance company.

    Beavin appeared before a magistrate judge on January 16, 2014, for an initial appearance on the original charges. After being released, he went to several health clubs in Vanderburgh and Warrick Counties for the purpose of stealing car keys and wallets from health club members who were using the facility. Beavin successfully used the stolen credit and debit cards of three the health club victims totaling $1,668, and attempted to use the cards for another $931. He used some of the money to buy gift cards, alcohol at an Evansville nightclub, gasoline and cash advances.

    This case was jointly investigated by the United States Secret Service and the Evansville Police Department.
    According to Assistant United States Attorney Todd Shellenbarger, who prosecuted the case for the government, Beavin was fined $2,000 and must serve three years of supervised release after his sentence. During the period of supervised release Beavin was ordered to pay restitution to the victims.

  14. Chevey is developing the Bolt for 2017. This new all electric car has batteries that will take it 200 miles on one charge. We can use solar panels to charge the cars of tomorrow. We won’t need oil except to lube the moving parts.

  15. “We won’t need oil except to lube the moving parts.”

    Oil is used for quite a bit more things than just making your car propel down the road.
    (ie: The synthetic graphite in li-ion batteries… a key component to electric cars.. plastics, resins, etc). Our (the worlds) thirst for oil consumption is not solely due to the ‘evil’ internal combustion engine.

  16. I would also like to add, funding something like mesker amphitheater easily a plus. I never attended but one concert at roberts… good but…not great.

    I have seen Kenny Wayne, Susan Tadeshi, The King.. BB, Buddy Guy and Bob Dylan… at >Mesker<

    The open air, the feel, great people… fantastic music.

    The ford center had… mormons and.. ?

    My regret is being to young to have seen SRV sit on the edge of Mesker and watch him play… I've only got to here the story of someone who did.

    Save a real treasure with real potential, Mesker, over some shithole useless building downtown.

    • No, Sorry, split screen window response wasn’t meant for your comment. Your comment is statistically somewhat correct, and back in the day during some visits there the best concert experiences I’ve had with friends there mostly were at Mesker, what those Evansville downtown __ord center wieners have done with the place isn’t much short of a complete certifiable Chinese cluster screwing.

  17. Kar and V, Mesker Amphitheater was and is the best bang for the buck. Nothing real fancy but works great. Or it did. Until the City refused to pay $100,000 to put it back in business. The City that spent $600,000+ for a parking lot next to the McCurdy Hotel won’t make the necessary repairs for us lowly taxpayers to one again enjoy the concerts and movies in Mesker.

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