News, Entertainment, Enlightenment
US internet users who pick small businesses over large companies cite support for the local economy (56.2 percent) and personal service (52.7 percent) as the primary reasons according to eMarketer.com.
Lower prices was not a factor. In fact, 61.2% of respondents said they would pay higher prices to support small businesses.
The Pennsylvania House, June 24, unanimously passed legislation that would prohibit telephone solicitation on legal holidays and allow consumer phone numbers registered on the state’s “do-not-call” list to remain on the list permanently.
Currently, numbers are only valid for five years and consumers must re-register to protect themselves against unwanted telemarketing calls.
The bill — HB 129 — was introduced Jan. 29, 2013 by State Rep. Jim Cox (R-129)
If the bill becomes law, phone numbers will remain permanently protected from telemarketers, unless the subscriber chooses to have their number removed, or the number is no longer valid, Cox said.
To enroll a phone number to the “do-not-call” list, click here or call 1-888-777-3406.
For tips on how to handle unwanted telephone solicitations visit here.
Pennsylvania’s Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program application deadline has been extended from June 30 to Dec. 31, says State Rep. Jim Cox (R-129).
The rebate program provides property tax relief for eligible Pennsylvanians age 65 and older; widows and widowers age 50 and older; and people with permanent disabilities age 18 and older. The income limit is $35,000 a year for homeowners and $15,000 annually for renters. Fifty percent of Social Security income is excluded when determining eligibility.
The maximum standard rebate is $650, but supplemental rebates for qualifying homeowners can boost rebates to $975.
Applicants may obtain Property Tax/Rent Rebate claim forms (PA-1000) and related information by visiting my district office or the Department of Revenue’s website or by calling, toll-free, 1-888-222-9190.
After July 1, claimants who already applied for rebates may check the status of claims online at www.revenue.state.pa.us or by calling, toll-free 1-888-PATAXES.
A group of physicists have finally undertaken to resolve the mystery as to why earphones, and other ropey things, tangle reports DiscoverMaganize.com.
They put strings of different stiffness in a box and tumbled it.
Complex knots form within seconds with the stiffer strings less likely to get knotted.
They made computer simulations of the data obtained and learned that when jostled the strings formed coils with the loose end weaving through the strands like a grandma knitting a sweater.
The scientists say the knots were analyzed using mathematical knot theory.
Betcha didn’t even know there was such a thing as mathematical knot theory.
Joanne Yurchak reports that a bill has been introduced in the Pennsylvania Senate that would remove the Keystone Exams as a graduation requirement and allow school districts to determine for themselves how their results may be used.
The bill, SB 1450, was introduced Wednesday, June 25 by Mike Folmer (R-48). It has eight co-sponsors including Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi (R-9) and Ted Erickson (R-26).
Thank these men.
The Keystone Exams have been made part of Pa Core Standards, which is the window dressing for the implementation in the Commonwealth of the Common Core educational standard being pushed by the plutocrats.
A bill has passed the Pennsylvania House and Senate that would establish a task force to address Lyme disease.
SB 177 calls for establishing a system of to issue public alerts from the Department of Health through the public school system, the Penn State Agricultural Extension system and on state game lands and state parks.
The program will also if funds should become available seek to develop an active tick collection, along with performing tests and surveillance, says State Rep. Jim Cox (R-129).
Pennsylvania leads the nation in Lyme disease with about 4,000 cases reported annually with the highest incidence being in the southeastern part of the state.
The Supreme Court, today, June 26, upheld the complaint of a Pepsi-Cola distributor that appointments made by Barack Obama to the National Labor Relations Board were unconstitutional.
The complainant, Noel Canning, said that the appointments of three of the five members of the board were invalid because they were made with the approval of the Senate.
The Senate was taking a three-day break when Obama made the appointments.
The Constitution grants the President the power to make recess appointments which are appointments made when the Senate was not in session.
The Supreme Court unanimously held that a three-day break was not what the Constitution meant concerning the recess appointment clause and strongly suggested that a president wait at least 10 days before invoking it.
In other matters, the Court today unanimously overturned a Massachusetts law requiring pro-life counselors stay 35-feet from an entrance or driveway to an abortion clinic.
It said that the law violated the counselors’ First Amendment rights because it restricts access to public ways and sidewalks that have been traditionally open for speech activities, among other things.
Pennsylvania hunting licenses are on sale now, says State Rep. Jim Cox (R-129)
The 2014-15 hunting and furtaker licenses are effective July 1, when the licenses that now are valid expire. The new licenses are valid through June 30, 2015.
A Resident Adult Hunting License (age 17-64) costs $20.70. For a schedule of fees, click here.
Licenses can be purchased online or in person.
A list of available issuing agents — in and out of state — is available at this link.
To buy a hunting and furtaker license online, click here.
William Lawrence Sr Omnibit 6-26-14
The Pennsylvania Senate State Government Committee, this morning, June 26, passed its version of paycheck protection 7-4 reports Matt Brouillette of Commonwealth Foundation.
The Senate bill is SB 1034.
The House State Government Committee passed its version, HB 1507, on Monday.
The bills would end the taxpayer-funded collection of government union political money.