the 6-22-6 Penny Press

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See Commentary Page 3
THE PENNY PRESS, JUNE 22, 2006 PAGE 2
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16 PAGES
VOLUME 3 NUMBER 39
JUNE 22, 2006
They Don’t Deserve Any Respect
By PAT CHOATE
pocket the pay and ignore us once
we get them into office.
The best example today of
One of the common whines made how our elected officials are ignorby our elected officials is that they, ing we the American people conlike the late Rodney Dangerfield, get cerns the issue of illegal immigrano respect. Amazingly, they can’t tion. An overwhelming majority of
seem to figure out why.
Americans want it stopped. They
Well, they get no respect because want immigrants who came and are
they are not doing their jobs. Let’s staying here illegally to be caught
and sent back home. In short, they
want our laws enforced.
So what do we get? A couple
of weeks ago more than 70 U.S.
Senators voted to grant amnesty to
get down to basics here. We elect more than 11 million people who
people to represent us. We want slipped into our country illegally.
them to go to Washington, or the Enough said about the Senate.
state capitols or our local governThe Washington Post reported on
ments and advance the platforms June 19, 2006 that the Department
on which they ran and for which we of Homeland Security has decreased
gave them our vote. Instead, too work-site enforcement of the immimany of these people take the job, gration laws by 95 percent. In 1999,
Penny Press Contributing Editor
Commentary
The Conservative Weekly
Voice Of Las Vegas
Inside:
Poltroons Running
Hooterville High
See Editorial Page 6
the U.S. fined 417 companies for
hiring illegal immigrants – a ludicrously low number. In 2004, however, the federal government fined
only three companies for hiring illegal workers.
Think about that. Only three
companies were fined for hiring illegal immigrants.
The lead story in the June 20th
edition of USA Today reported that
mayors in dozens of U.S. cities refuse
to allow their police to enforce U.S.
illegal immigration laws. The police
have been ordered to look the other
way.
That same day the Associated
Press reported that Ralph Basham,
the new Commissioner of Customs
and Border Protection, said he did
not favor building a wall along the
U.S.-Mexican border. Basham, who
has been on the job, for less than
Penny Wisdom
Mexico doesn’t deserve what has
happened to us. A democratic
change is urgent, a change that
will permit us to stop being a
loser country.
—Vicente Fox
three weeks, believes that a wall “…
doesn’t make sense; it’s not practical.”
It seems that making laws is a
game with these people. Where did
they get the authority to decide which
laws they liked and would enforce
and those they would ignore.
What is it going to take to
get the President, Congress, the
Administrators in Homeland
Security, Governors and Mayors to
enforce the laws and stop this flood
of illegal immigration?
I think we are at a point that
the only solution is to throw a vast
number of our elected officials out
of office. They cannot see the damages this horde of illegal immigration is doing to the very fabric of our
society, how it is imposing massive
costs on our citizens, and how it is
Continued on page4
KILLER FRIED CHICKEN?
FRED WEINBERG
DOUG FRENCH
BILLHERE
AL THOMAS
BULLRING RESULTS
JOYCE MEYER
DIANE GRASSI
PET OF THE WEEK
PAGE 5
PAGE 6
PAGE 7
PAGE 8
PAGE 10
PAGE 11
PAGE 12
PAGE 13
PAGE 15
THE PENNY PRESS, JUNE 22, 2006 PAGE 4
It's Illegal–What More To Say?
Continued from page 3
changing our culture. They are blinded by the monies and political support
they get from companies that want no interruption in the flow of low-wage
workers into the U.S. workplace.
A month ago voters in Herndon Virginia showed the nation what to
do. Their old mayor and his city counsel wanted to open a local market
for illegal workers – a place that local companies could come to find cheap
labor. A handful of brave citizens agreed to go on the ballot in opposition.
The voters responded by throwing out the mayor and the entire counsel.
Naturally that was the end of the labor market for illegals.
Similar challenges are needed nationwide. In many races, the challengers can win. In other cases, the challenger can cause an incumbent to lose,
which also is not a bad result.
Over the past couple of years, Bay Buchanan has toyed with the idea of
putting together a one-issue political party named the Immigration Party. It
would have only one issue – stop illegal immigration. Bay thinks she can
get this party onto the ballot of every state during the 2008 election.
She also thinks she can garner 10 percent of the popular vote. I think
from my experience as the VP candidate for the Reform Party in 1996, that
such a one-issue party would do even better at the polls.
Maybe even more important, such a run would shake up the GOP. A
good part of that 10 percent of the vote would come from Republicans, who
are disgusted with being played for fools by the Bush Administration and
this Congress. Remember, three fines on employers hiring illegals is all the
national government imposed last year.
On June 19, the Speaker of the House of Representatives announced
that the Judiciary Committee would be holding field hearings on the various immigration proposals before Congress. (Note: only in Washington is
America called the “field.”) I hope one of those hearings comes to your
town. If it does, please attend. Even ask your local Member of Congress
for the right to give testimony. Please ask your U.S. Senators to attend. If
you are allowed to testify, tell your elected representatives what you think
about how well Congress is doing on immigration issues.
For me, I would build a wall along the entire U.S. -Mexican border, put
into jail those who come into the United States illegally, put thousands of
employment inspectors on the job, heavily fine employers who hire illegal
immigrants, close down those repeat offenders who refuse to obey our
employment laws, and tell Mexico we really don’t want to hear anything
from their leaders about how we run our country. I think an overwhelming
majority of American voters agree with me.
The late Sonny Bono got it right when he was asked about his position
on illegal immigration. He responded, “It’s illegal. What more is there to
say?”
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THE PENNY PRESS, JUNE 22, 2006 PAGE 5
By STEVEN MILLOY
Special To The Penny Press
The Center for Science in the
Public Interest (CSPI) sued fast food
purveyor KFC this week claiming
the food chain’s use of cooking oil
containing trans fats is unhealthy.
Although KFC said the lawsuit was
frivolous and plans to fight it in
court, it’s not clear that KFC understands how frivolous the lawsuit
really is.
In its lawsuit, CSPI asked a
Kentucky judge to order KFC to
use other types of cooking oils and
to make sure customers know how
much trans fats KFC’s food contains. CSPI’s lawsuit alleges that
trans fats - vegetable oils that have
been altered to be firm at room temperature - increase the risk of heart
disease.
Killer Fried Chicken?
In announcing that KFC would
fight the lawsuit, a company spokesperson said that KFC is looking at
using other types of oil for cooking,
but it is committed to maintaining
“KFC’s unique taste and flavor,”
according to the Associated Press.
But there’s no need for KFC
to switch cooking oils because the
entire trans fat scare is based on junk
science.
While there are studies that purport to link trans fats with heart
disease, when you look at the data
and methodology behind the studies,
their claims rapidly fall apart.
Studies indicate that consumption of trans fats temporarily elevates
levels of so-called “bad” cholesterol
and temporarily lower levels of socalled “good cholesterol.” This simple blood chemistry is not in dispute.
What is in dispute is the significance
The Penny Press Tips Its Cap To:
Gubernatorial Candidate Bob Beers and his TASC (Tax and Spending
Control) group which collected almost twice the number of signatures necessary to place a proposed constitutional amendment on the ballot which
if passed in 2006 and in 2008 will restrict the state and local governments'
spending and taxing to the rate of population growth and inflation. What's
even more amazing is that his Republican opponents for Governor are
against it.
Episcopal Bishop Katharine Schori of Las Vegas who, last Monday, was
elevated to the office of presiding Bishop and becomes the first woman to
head the Episcopal Church in the United States.
The Penny Press Sends A Bronx Cheer
And A Bouquet of Weeds To:
Clark County Family Court Judge Gerald Hardcastle who cannot even run his
own life very well but wants to continue to try and re-unite a crippled girl with
her mother who is serving time for child neglect arising from the incident where
the little girl became crippled and her sister was killed by a bunch of drug dealing
thugs the mother was doing business with. Hardcastle seems to have a bizarre
fixation with this case which is reason enough to get rid of him soon.
of the temporary change in blood
cholesterol levels.
Trans fat alarmists would have
you believe that these transient blood
chemistry changes increase your
chances of having a heart attack. The
available scientific data, however,
don’t back up that assertion.
A number of studies of human
populations have attempted to statistically associate consumption of
trans fats with increased heart attack
risk, but the only conclusion that can
be fairly drawn from any of them is
that, if there is a risk, it’s too small to
measure through standard epidemiologic methodology.
One of the major challenges for
researchers is to tease out the potential impacts of trans fats from other
dietary, lifestyle and genetic factors
that might be relevant to heart disease. So far, it’s been an impossible
task. The failure of human studies
to support the alarmism was amply
illustrated a few years ago when
the National Academy of Sciences’
Institute of Medicine (IOM) jumped
on the trans fat alarmist bandwagon.
While touting studies showing that
trans fats temporarily altered blood
chemistry, the IOM glaringly did
not cite any studies showing that
trans fats posed any real risk to real
people.
Despite the absence of real world
evidence that trans fats are dangerous, the alarmism continues. There
are at least two explanations for this
phenomenon.
First, it’s been clear to the dietary
research community for years although they’ve been reluctant to
share this information with the public - that the scare over dietary fat
intake has been over-hyped. The
final nail in the coffin of dietary fat
hysteria came earlier this year when
a major study concluded that low-fat
diets provide no demonstrable health
benefits over high-fat diets. So the
trans fat scare constitutes a whole
new way for researchers to scare the
public about fat and to keep their
government grants coming.
Second, the trans fat scare is a
great new rationale for food manufacturers to introduce new and, perhaps, more expensive products that
they market as “good for you.” Food
companies learned long ago that
there’s more profit in reformulating
and marketing new and “healthier”
products rather than trying to fight
the bad science wielded by the wellfunded, well-entrenched and essentially unaccountable public health
bureaucracy.
Of course, the trans fat scare
doesn’t work for every company
in the food industry. Some can’t
reformulate. Several years ago due
to pressure from CSPI, McDonald’s
announced that it would switch
cooking oils to eliminate trans fats.
But CSPI wound up suing the company after McDonalds could not find
a substitute cooking oil that met its
standards.
There are two other facts to consider as you are bombarded with
media reports and food company
advertising about the alleged dangers of trans fats.
Thirty years ago, the diet police
scared us away from animal fatbased butter and began singing the
praises of what they said was a
healthier alternative, trans fat-based
margarine. Now, the diet police have
done an about-face and want to scare
us away from those same trans fats
- all the while omitting mention that
their butter scare was bogus from
the get-go. So what exactly would
be the basis for trusting the alarmists
this time around?
Also worth considering is the
fact that CSPI has been in the business of scaring people about the
food they eat for more than 30 years.
From labeling Fettucine Alfredo as
“heart attack on a plate” to claiming
that fat substitute olestra might make
cause truck drivers sick enough to
lose control of their vehicles while
driving, to claiming caffeinated beverages cause miscarriages, CSPI has
been and remains on the cutting
edge of dietary absurdity.
It’s unfortunate that KFC has to
waste its time and money defending itself from CSPI’s groundless
lawsuit. On the other hand, this is a
good opportunity to expose not only
the trans fat myth but also CSPI’s
antics in a court of law. Let’s hope
KFC doesn’t chicken out.
Steven Milloy publishes JunkScience.
com and is an adjunct scholar at the
Competitive Enterprise Institute
OPINION
THE PENNY PRESS, JUNE 22, 2006 PAGE 6
From The Publisher...
We Allow Morons To "Educate" Our Kids
Last June 15th is a day which should live in infamy for what
passes as leadership in the Clark County School District.
Henderson’s Foothill High School was having its graduation
ceremony at the Orleans Arena when class valedictorian
Brittany McComb stepped to the microphone. She got just
far enough to mention the role God and Jesus Christ had
played in turning her life around when the morons we allow
to teach our children in Clark County TURNED OFF HER
MICROPHONE!
Now Brittany wasn’t proclaiming the official position of the
Clark County School District.
to a head.
The truth is, as lacking in real-life experience as young
Brittany may be, she is clearly smarter than those who are
responsible for her education.
They (the so-called educators) were hiding under their
desks making statements drafted by lawyers and issued by
PR flacks about separation of church and state which, as one
of Richard Nixon’s aides once said, were “inoperative” while
Brittany was making an appearance on Fox News’ Hannity
and Colmes show and was so charming that she even got
liberal Alan Colmes to tell her that he was on her side.
She was making a speech explaining how she got to where She represented herself and her parents and, yes, those of
she was.
us who believe in free speech, extremely well.
She wasn’t leading an illegal prayer. She was reading an
eleven paragraph speech to her fellow classmates and their
friends and parents about the things which she felt helped
her become the valedictorian, one of which was her relationship with the “teacher standing above me, trying to help
me: God.”
The self-appointed Lord High Burghers of Hooterville High,
on the other hand, were (pun absolutely intended) speechless.
Kids like Brittany and all of her classmates who booed the
actions of the so-called educators who cut her off actually
give us a renewed faith in the future of America. They “got
I distinctly remember the last time I saw someone turn off a it” in spite of, not because of the Clark County School
public speaker’s microphone. It was the late Chicago Mayor District.
Richard J. Daley shutting off a Republican City Councilman’s
microphone at a time that about 60 per cent of the Chicago If there were ever an argument for a complete change of
City Council was under indictment for one form or another management from the school board and the Superintendent
on down to the custodial staff, this is it.
of official corruption.
To the students’ credit, they booed the morons—led by prin- Clearly, public education is broken.
cipal Gretchen Crehan and Superintendent Walt Rulffes—
Maybe privatizing it as only we know how to do in Las Vegas
who engineered this assault on common sense.
is the answer.
And, by the way, which members of the community supported the decision of these so-called educators? The ACLU, of There is one thing which bothers me more than anything.
course—which will defend George Carlin’s freedom of speech
If Brittany had advocated abortion and condom distribution
but not Brittany McComb’s.
and acceptance of homosexuality in her speech, what would
And you wonder why the Clark County School District is an have happened that evening at the Orleans arena?
academic disaster zone.
Only the poltroons (look it up) know for sure.
Frankly, as offended as we are that this happened while
these poltroons are spending our tax dollars, we are not But we have our suspicions.
unhappy because this might bring the anti common sense
FRED WEINBERG
attitude of the school district—indeed most school districts—
THE PENNY PRESS, JUNE 22, 2006 PAGE 7
Commentary: Doug French
Tyranny Of The Masses.
Carson City district judge Bill Maddox handed a partial victory to
those wanting a bigger, more intrusive nanny state of Nevada last week by
rejecting a challenge to a ballot measure that would ban indoor smoking in
Nevada. Rightly, gaming interests, bar owners and convenience store owners got together to declare the smoke-out ballot measure unconstitutional.
But, because Judge Maddox doesn’t believe in property rights, the
Nevada Clean Indoor Air Act will go to the voters Nov. 7 and you can bet that
all those busybody, anti-smoking zealots will vote to stifle smoking. And
since only twenty percent of the population smokes, it’s easy to figure out
that the ballot measure will pass: Tyranny of the masses.
According to Anjeanette Damon of the Reno Gazette Journal, “the act
would restrict indoor smoking in most public places, including restaurants,
grocery stores, convenience stores, schools and day-care centers.”
Act organizers excluded bars that don’t serve food and casino floors.
But of course virtually every bar in town serves food.
Yes but the petition’s goal is to protect children from secondhand smoke
according to Michael Hackett, campaign manager of the Nevada Clean
Indoor Air Act. Well of course it does. Never mind that the dangers of
second hand smoke have never been proven.
The fact of the matter is if a person doesn’t like a smoky environment
or doesn’t want their kids in a smoky environment, he or she is free not to
patronize an establishment that welcomes smokers. As economics professor Ninos P. Malek points out, “if a person knowingly and willingly went to
a smoke-filled bar, then they believed the benefits of the environment were
greater than the costs of breathing in and smelling like smoke.”
It is up to property owners to decide whether they want people smoking
on their property.
Nevada is not at the forefront of this lifestyle regulation. For instance,
Colorado legislators passed such a bill and the smoking ban in that state is
scheduled to start July 1. But, the Mountain States Legal Foundation has
filed a suit on behalf of hundreds of tavern owners, saying the ban is unconstitutional because it bans smoking in bars and bingo parlors, but allows it
in casinos - a violation of equal-protection statutes in the state and national
constitutions, according to the Rocky Mountain News.
Joe Becker, who studied under Hans Hoppe and Murray Rothbard at
UNLV, is the Foundation’s attorney. He told the Rocky Mountain News
that the new law “runs roughshod over property rights, specifically, the
rights of the bars, or their landlords, to decide whether to allow smoking.”
Shari Warren, owner of Spirit Keeper tavern in Black Forest, worries
that the live music scene will wither because many people like to smoke at
night when they’re listening to music. Some Colorado nightclubs have tried
to go smoke-free and failed, according to Warren.
Tavern owner Jim Von Feldt said he doesn’t “believe for a second” that
nonsmokers will suddenly start flocking to his bar. He is sure that many of
his regulars, who are smokers, will stay away. “Would it make you angry if
someone took away your livelihood?” he asked. “It’s my individual freedom
they’re taking.”
“Each potential customer should have the right to choose whether to
come into his bar, knowing that there will be smoking inside,” Von Feldt
told the Rocky Mountain News.
There is no such thing as a right to a smoke-free environment. There is
such a thing as property rights and freedom of association. Whenever government and do-gooder voters try to protect us, and the children, individual
freedom is violated.
DOUG FRENCH
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THE PENNY PRESS, JUNE 22, 2006 PAGE 8
The Best Vegas Calendar BAR NONE!
By Billhere
The FREE, e-mailed, VegasResource.com Newsletter and complete index of
Las Vegas coupons for shows, buffets and attractions is available on the internet at:
www.vegasresource.com
JUNE, 2006
============
22=Kenny G- Las Vegas Hilton.
22-26= Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus - Orleans
Arena.
23=INXS- Aladdin.
23= Go Go’s - Mandalay Bay.
23= “BODIES, The Exhibition” opens-Tropicana.
23-24=Donna Summer- Las Vegas Hilton.
23-25=Kenny Rogers- The Orleans.
23-25=Jack Jones - Suncoast.
24=Hall and Oates- Lake Las Vegas.
24= Styx - Mandalay Bay.
24=Martina McBride- Mandalay Bay Events Center.
24=Sumo wrestling- Thomas and Mack Center.
++++++++++
24= VENETIAN: “Phantom - The Las Vegas
Spectacular”, musical by Andrew Lloyd
Webber, has its grand opening gala
performance in its new $40 million
opera-style 1,815-seat theater in the old
Guggenheim Museum, where the old
Motorcycle Exhibit was located.
Many special effects are promised as
well as an exploding chandelier!
++++++++++++++++++++
24-25= Beauty, Health & Fitness Expo -- Cashman Center.
24=Boxing. Calvin Brock vs. Timur Ibragimov- - Caesars Palace.
++++++++++
25 - Aug. 10= World Series of Poker - Rio Binion’s.Information:
http://www.worldseriesofpoker.com/2006wsop.asp
++++++++++
30=Rob Thomas-Hard Rock Hotel.
30= Klondike Hotel & Casino closes. Present plans
call for 25 stories,-1,200 hotel &
condo units with 90,000 sq.ft. casino.
Construction could start February, 2007.
30=Pink- Mandalay Beach.
30= MIRAGE has the grand opening of a new 90-minute show
called “BEATLES’ LOVE”,created by Cirque du Soleil, featuring a
celebration of Beatles music. Will replace the closed Siegfried &
Roy Show. A new $100 million Beatles Theater
replacing the Siegfried & Roy Theater and seating 2,000, with
360-degree seating
is being built.The stage will be a theater-in-the round. Cirque performers will appear from below as well as above the stage.
++++++++++
30-July 1= Wayne Brady - Mirage.
30-July 2= Chuck Mangione - Suncoast.
++++++++++
June ??= Green Valley Ranch opening new Sportsbook & larger
Poker Room. Old Sportsbook will be used to enlarge the casino.
++++++++++
June??= Arizona Charlie’s Boulder completes an $8 million expansion project that will add 7,300 square-feet of space for additional
gaming areas along with a new front desk, Ultimate Rewards
Center, gift shop and Porte coheres.
++++++++++
June??= Paris Las Vegas opening a 90-minute version of The
Producers, the smash Mel Brooks musical. The Las Vegas version will have no intermission.The musical, which won 12 Tony
Awards, is in its sixth year on Broadway.
JULY, 2006
===========
1= Brian Wilson - Cannery.
1= Ringo Starr - Mandalay Bay.
2=Trisha Yearwood - Cannery.
2=The Beach Boys- Mandalay Bay Beach.
4= Independence Day.
6= Pearl Jam, Sonic Youth- MGM Grand.
6-9=Boyz II Men-Orleans.
6-19= Howie Mandel - MGM Grand.
7-8 = Jay Leno - Mirage.
8= Little Anthony & The Imperials- Cannery.
8=Chris Isaak- Mandalay Bay.
11-30=Elton John- Caesars Palace.
13-16= Jerry Lewis - Orleans. CANCELED as Jerry
Lewis had a mild heart attack.
14-15=Wayne Brady - Mirage.
14-16=The Smothers Brothers - Suncoast.
15=Rascal Flatts - Mandalay Bay.
15= Boxing. Shane Mosley vs. Fernando Vargas-MGM Grand.
19-30= Reba McEntire- Las Vegas Hilton.
21-22= Bridal Expo -Cashman Center.
21-22= Jay Leno - Mirage.
22=Pat Benatar- Mandalay Bay Beach.
27-30=”Cats”-Aladdin.
29=Gipsy Kings-Palms.
+++++
July 31= Art Exhibit of Rubens And His Age closes-Guggenheim
Hermitage Museum inside the Venetian.
++++++++++
July ??= MIRAGE opening the Japonais Restaurant where the
Mikado Restaurant was located.
++++++++++
July ??= Opening of the Playboy Club in the Palms’ Fantasy
Tower.
July ??= Opening of second floor of Tangerine.nightclub Treasure Island.
++++++++++
July ??= Passengers flying out of Las Vegas McCarran Airport this
year will be able to use a kiosk at the Venetian Hotel to check in
for flights and check bags to their final destinations.
++++++++++
AUGUST, 2006
===========
3= FLAMINGO: Toni Braxton starts to perform six nights a week,
through March 2007,in her own production show.
++++++++++
3=Basketball. USA National Team vs. Puerto Rico National TeamThomas and Mack
4-5=Jerry Seinfeld- Caesars Palace.
5= Olivia Newton-John - Primm Valley.
5-6= Gun & Knife Show - Cashman Center.
10-12=Frankie Avalon & Bobby Rydell- Orleans.
10-23=Tom Jones-MGM Grand.
11= Wynonna - Primm Valley.
12=Shakira, Wyclef Jean- Mandalay Bay Events Center.
15= Elvis-A-Rama Museum closing.
16=Champions on Ice-Orleans.
16-20=Neil Sedaka- Orleans.
====================================
Please e-mail errors, omissions and additions to:
[email protected]
THE PENNY PRESS, JUNE 22, 2006 PAGE 9
www.americasupportsyou.mil
THE PENNY PRESS, JUNE 22, 2006 PAGE 10
Commentary: Albert Thomas
Don’t Be Fooled By Fake Dividends
The latest Wall Street investment advice is to buy a stock that pays a
good dividend and reinvest it. Your money will compound. Another Wall
Street lie.
If you have owned any stocks over the years you have received dividends - I hope. You also know that you have to pay tax on those dividends
as the IRS considers them ordinary income. That does not seem right.
Let’s say you have been an owner of Microsoft stock for a long time.
Recently they declared a $3.00 dividend on a $30 stock. WOW! That is
great – 10% on your money. You are very happy.
Joe, your next door neighbor, heard they were going to pay a big dividend so Joe called his very smart (?) broker who confirmed it and he had
the broker enter an order to buy a big block of the stock the week before the
dividend was declared. Joe also received the same $3.00, 10% “dividend”.
Wait a New York minute. You waited a year to get that dividend and Joe
rang the cash register in one week. That’s not right! Yes, and that wasn’t a
true dividend. Don’t ask me why it is called a dividend because it isn’t. It is
a capital distribution.
That $3.00 was a distribution of your own money back to you and to
make it even worse you had to pay tax on it. Joe outsmarted himself and
had to pay taxes when he should have stayed home in bed. The day before
the Microsoft dividend the stock was $30. The day after the “dividend” the
stock was $27. You got back your own money. YUK!
If you had bought a bond the day before the bond issued a dividend the
cost of the bond price would have already reflected the dividend amount
because the bond price would have been discounted. This is easily seen in
the American Target 2020 Zero Coupon bond whose price reflects daily the
cost of the bond that the purchaser pays. In other words, there ain’t no free
lunch.
If you want dividends then buy U.S. Treasury bonds or bank CDs, certificates of deposit. Do what is called laddering. Buy different maturity dates:
3-months, 6-months, one, two-year notes. You can get almost any dates you
want. This will give you an incremental flow of cash in smaller amounts.
These will be considered income which is taxable. Many municipal
bonds are not taxable, but be very careful of these. Be sure they are Class A
insured. Corporate bonds do pay more, but remember that as yield rises so
does risk. Again AAA insured.
You want a return on your money, but more important, you want the
return of your money.
AL THOMAS
Al Thomas’ book, “If It Doesn’t Go Up, Don’t Buy It!” has helped thousands
of people make money and keep their profits with his simple 2-step method.
Read the first chapter at www.mutualfundmagic.com and discover why he’s
the man that Wall Street does not want you to know.
THE PENNY PRESS, JUNE 22, 2006 PAGE 11
Las Vegan Justin Johnson Making Run At NASCAR Division III Title
By TARA BARKIS
Special To The Penny Press
Justin Johnson was in the eighth
grade the last time the Bullring at
Las Vegas Motor Speedway produced a NASCAR division champion. But the 20-year old Las Vegan
has moved into prime position to
make a run at the Division III championship for the NASCAR Dodge
Weekly Series.
Johnson, driver of the No.17
Al Budd-owned Sunworld Super
Late Model, has moved into second
place in the divisional standings.
Should Johnson win the division
title, he would be the first Las Vegan
since Dick Cobb in 2000 to win a
NASCAR regional championship.
Johnson, who has 652 NASCAR
points, is trailing first-place driver Dick Dunlevy, Jr. from Xenia,
Ohio’s Kil-Kare Raceway by 162
points. While that may seem like a
large differential, Johnson has five
fewer starts then Dunlevy. Under the
NASCAR scoring system, only the
drivers’ 16 best finishes will count
in the season standings. Drivers can
score a maximum of 70 points per
race.
Johnsons doesn’t seem concerned
about the differential. Dunlevy has
five more starts than Johnson, who
has five wins and nine top-five finishes in 10 starts.
“Hey, it doesn’t really matter
too much. In the end, you can only
count 16 starts,” Johnson said. “I’m
not really getting hyped about it.
The team probably won’t start putting any focus or thought into the
whole regional title until we get
closer to the end of the season. I
kind of feel like the competition is
more competitive here on the west
coast compared to the east coast.
I’m not saying that we (west coast
drivers) are better drivers then they
(east coast drivers) are. I’m just saying that the level of competition is
higher out here.”
While Johnson is pursuing the
Division III championship, he also the Bullring.
has his hands full trying to win the Official results from the Bullring
track championship.
at LVMS, June 17
Scott Gafforini, who swept both
Super Late Models Main Event No. 1 Results (25 laps): 1.
ends of the Chris Trickle Father’s Day Scott Gafforini, 2. Tom Lovelady, 3. Travis Swalwell, 4. Justin
5. Alex Haase, 6. Taylor Barton, 7. Thane Alderman,
doubleheader last Saturday night, Johnson,
8. Bob Wickey, 9. Dustin Ash, 10. Jimmy Parker, Jr., 11. Jim
Wulfenstein, 12. Mike Haslam, 13. Chuck Trickle, 14. Richard
is just 19 points behind Johnson. Bridges, 15. Matt Jaskol, 16. Dennis Rock, Jr., 17. Tom Buzze,
Rich Attasani, 19. Tony Clark, 20. Billy Mitchell, 21.
Gafforini has three wins, seven top- 18.
Bobby Collister, 22. John Taylor, 23. Billy Newman, 24. Greg
fives and has placed in the top 10 in Haase.
Super Late Models Main Event No. 2 Results (25 laps): 1.
all 10 of his starts.
Scott Gafforini, 2. Tom Lovelady, 3. Taylor Barton, 4. Bob
“Our goal, as a team, is to go Wickey, 5. Justin Johnson, 6. Alex Haase, 7. Dustin Ash, 8.
Jimmy Parker, Jr., 9. Thane Alderman, 10. Rich Attasani, 11.
out and run in the top-five,” said Mike Haslam, 12. Richard Bridges, 13. Travis Swalwell, 14.
Matt Jaskol, 15. Chuck Trickle, 16. Dennis Rock, Jr., 17. Jim
Johnson. “If we just run our own Wulfenstein, 18. Tom Buzze, 19. Billy Mitchell, 20. Tony
races and can consistently keep run- Clark, 21. Bobby Collister, 22. Greg Haase, 23. John Taylor.
Late Models Main Event Results (25 laps): 1. Chris Bray, 2.
ning in that top-five range, then I Glen
Burke, 3. Doug Matter, 4. Doug Hamm, 5. Fred Kiser, Jr.,
6. Dan Howell, 7. Morris Sealy, 8. Eric Martin, 9. Matt Frady,
think we have a shot.”
10. Nick Antrillo.
The next chance for either driver
Main Event Results (25 laps): 1. Brian Matzke,
to pad their points is this Saturday at Chargers
2. Mario Opipari, 3. Mike Heck, 4. Phil Goodwin, 5. Jim
Petrie, 6. Steve Dessormeau, 7. Nate Giesen, 8. Ben Morris,
9. Dale Ward, 10. Andrew Murphy, 11. Joe Crouch, 12. Robert
Behunin, 13. Rick Morales, 14. Jerry Gentry, 15. John DellaPenna, 16. Steve Simon, 17. Bill Mullen.
Legends Semi-Pro Main Event Results (25 laps): 1. Phillip
Morrissey, 2. Jeremiah Wagner, 3. Austin Murphy, 4. Wes Fry,
5. Eric Chelberg, 6. Chad Hegge, 7. Tim Geweske, 8. Branden
Giannini, 9. Mike Gubler, 10. Scott Swinford, 11. Conner
Kassik, 12. Romano Cionni, 13. Jeff Craig, 14. Brandon Snow,
15. Broc Murphy, 16. Chris Shorten, 17. Beau Hutchinson, 18.
Dallas Colodny, 19. Alex Sidwell, 20. Cassie Gannis.
Legends Pro Main Event Results (25 laps): 1. Josh Gross,
2. Bear Rzesnowiecky, 3. Derek Frohlich, 4. Steve Ray, 5.
Jonathan Mawhinney, 6. Johnny Morrissey.
Legends Master Main Event Results (25 laps): 1. Fletcher
Hammond, 2. Robby Guevara, 3. B.J. Bollman, 4. Larry Toddy,
5. Jim Galza, 6. Perry Snow, 7. Kurt Minnick, 8. Arlie Daniels,
9. Mike Pulliam.
Bandolero Bandits Main Event Results (15 laps): 1. Jacob
Bishop, 2. Blake Leuth, 3. Austin Trebilcock, 4. Jonathan
Eakin, 5. Austin Craig, 6. Nicholas Huggins, 7. Andre Prescott,
8. Trent Kassik, 9. Kayli Barker, 10. Jacob Tilton.
Bandolero Young Guns Main Event Results (15 laps): 1.
Johnny Budd, 2. Jimmy Rouse, 3. Mitchell Taylor, 4. Greysen
Weaver, 5. Damon Blakeman, 6. Cheyanne Schindler, 7.
Brecken Snow, 8. Kyle Spayde, 9. John Davis, 10. Jacksen
Smith.
THE PENNY PRESS, JUNE 22, 2006 PAGE 12
Commentary: Joyce Meyer
The Two
Minds Of Man
Did you know that we actually
have two minds? In fact, much of
the conflict that we have within
ourselves happens because of these
two minds battling for control of our
lives.
In the Amplified Bible, Romans
8:6 says, Now the mind of the flesh
[which is sense and reason without
the Holy Spirit] is death [death that
comprises all the miseries arising
from sin, both here and hereafter].
But the mind of the [Holy] Spirit is
life and [soul] peace [both now and
forever].
So, according to that verse, we
have a “mind of the flesh” and a
“mind of the Spirit.” The mind of
the Spirit is based on the wisdom
of scripture…the mind of God. The
mind of the flesh is just what I can
reason on my own without the help
of the Holy Spirit. Let me tell you…
that’s not worth much! I need the
Holy Spirit every minute of every
day. Without Him and His guidance,
I have no understanding or wisdom—and neither do you!
If you are spending most of
every day thinking “in the flesh”
(comprised of “all the miseries arising from sin”) then it stands to reason that you are going to make some
bad decisions. It just makes sense
that you’ll have a life full of problems. Remember, the messes in your
life are there because of the messes
in your mind. But when you are able
to get your mind renewed, you’ll
find that most of the problems and
difficulties in your life will begin to
clear up.
Now what do I mean by getting
your mind renewed? You renew your
mind by thinking thoughts based on
God’s Word instead of your own
ideas of what might be right (see
Proverbs 3:5-8). You renew your
mind by refusing to dwell on your
natural thoughts of fear, jealousy,
bitterness, revenge, lust, pride…
those things that you know will poi-
son your life. This is very important.
Where your mind goes…you will
follow.
You do have a choice of what to
think. When those “flesh” thoughts
enter your mind and you’re tempted
to dwell on them, you can choose
to think with your “spirit.” Dwell
instead on what God would have
you thinking about—things like
love, forgiveness, faith, humility,
and selflessness.
This idea of renewing your mind
is critical for any growing Christian.
It’s not your natural tendency to
think with your spirit mind, just like
it’s not your natural tendency to put
the needs of others before your own.
You must train yourself by daily
renewing your mind.
In Ephesians 4:23 Paul says,
And be constantly renewed in the
spirit of your mind [having a fresh
mental and spiritual attitude]. Paul
is telling us that renewing your mind
should be a daily exercise. Just like
exercising your bodies, your mind
needs to be trained to think the right
things.
Thinking with your spirit and not
the mind of the flesh is a learning
process. It’s not as easy as just flip-
ping a switch. It will take time and
effort but you can do it! Regardless
of what you thought in the past,
whatever negative thoughts you
have allowed to occupy your mind,
you can have victory. You can begin
today to make right choices about
what you allow yourself to think.
You can choose to think with your
spirit and not with your flesh.
JOYCE MEYER
For more on this topic, you may order
Joyce’s four-part series, Battlefield
of the Mind, which is available by
calling 1-800-727-9673 or visiting
www.joycemeyer.org.
THE PENNY PRESS, JUNE 22, 2006 PAGE 13
Commentary: Diane Grassi
Local Governments Still Using Kelo
Case To Screw Taxpayers
On June 23, 2005 the United States Supreme Court handed downed its
controversial 5-4 decision on Kelo v. City of New London, CT., concerning the issue of eminent domain. The court’s ruling not only impacted the
City of New London, CT and seven property owners contesting the 2004
decision of the Supreme Court of Connecticut, it sent a chill across local
communities and states throughout the U.S. And although the takings of
private land belonging to homeowners and small businesses under the guise
of eminent domain have been argued repeatedly and primarily over the
past half century, the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2005 decision came closest to
heightening the blurring of legitimate use of such takings for public use.
Scott Bullock, a senior attorney at the Institute for Justice, a libertarian
Washington D.C. based advocacy organization, tried the case before the
U.S. Supreme Court in February 2005, representing seven families collectively owning 15 properties in the city of New London, CT, with a population of 25,000. In question was whether the 5th Amendment of the U.S.
Constitution provides for the taking of privately owned homes strictly for
economic development. The court, however, merely stated that it was leaving it up to the states, their legislatures and local municipalities to decide
what constitutes eminent domain. But too, the states have the right to restrict
eminent domain seizures.
Disconcerting was that the decision of the court went beyond prior precedent by virtually allowing the taking of well-maintained homes or small
businesses by real estate developers and local governments seeking to create
more tax-based revenue and the possibility of more jobs. The court therefore
redefined the meaning of “public purpose” as well as “blight” which were
previously used as barometers for targeting properties for urban revitalization.
Essentially, the ambiguity of the Supreme Court’s decision has created
the impression of a lower threshold in order to establish a taking. It has
therefore led to 22 states to pass laws since June 2005 in order to clarify
land takings. Yet some states’ laws remain inexplicit concerning the term
“blight” and it thus serves as a loophole. Very few laws are straightforward,
such as in the state of Florida, which expressly states that “the preservation
or enhancement of the tax base is not public use.”
The high court concluded that blight was not necessary for condemnation in order to create economic development for public purpose, thus leaving such up to local governments and politicians and corporations. And as
such, the court’s decision has also led to an increase in takings activity since
June 2005. Many proposed developments were put on hold until the high
court’s decision and more than 30 nationwide have since been reactivated
and given the green light.
The Kelo case, named after Susette Kelo, one of the seven homeowners who held out to fight to keep her home, started in 1998. Pfizer, Inc.,
the world’s largest research-pharmaceutical company bought some land in
New London and built a corporate park in the Fort Trumbull neighborhood.
Due to a decline in industrial jobs which supported the U.S. Navy which
has since pared down its operations there, 50% of the tax base as well as its
population have eroded over the years. So New London and Pfizer worked
out a deal for Pfizer to expand its facilities.
In the name of economic development, New London chose to raze
the land of 15 homes and small businesses in the Fort Trumbull neighbor-
hood in order to build a 200-room waterfront hotel, convention center, 80
condominiums and some retail space to be utilized primarily by Pfizer, its
researchers and employees. A Coast Guard Museum was also promised by
New London. The prospect of 2,000 jobs, however, for a facility which
relies on recruiting employees from all over the world has since dwindled
and the museum will not generate any tax revenue.
And since the decision by the U.S. Supreme Court, the New London
City Council moved in September 2005 to evict the remaining seven property owners giving them 90 days to do so. Along with the eviction notices they
were billed for $600.00 a month for rent plus taxes retroactive to 2000.The
reasoning was that since the city won its case, the homeowners were living
on city property as the condemnation procedures began in 2000. Connecticut
Governor, Jodi Rell interceded, asking the City Council for a moratorium
on eviction proceedings granted by the New London Development Corp.
appointed by the City Council to evict the property owners. The Governor
had hoped during that time to allow the state legislature a chance to review
the court case.
On June 6, 2006, however, the New London City Council got tired of
waiting on the state and voted 5-2 to take over the remaining two properties
belonging to Susette Kelo and Michael Cristafaro, along with their families.
They had gotten five of the seven holdouts to settle. The city was on record
as only offering the fair market value of their homes for the year 2000.
However, real estate in 2006, especially waterfront property, has greatly
appreciated since 2000. The city supposedly forgave the back-rent and taxes
for the five other holdouts but did not appreciate the fair market value or
their properties to that of 2006.
Since Ms. Kelo’s property was never near the proposed development
and since there was only one other house being contested, Governor Rell
suggested that the Cristafaro home be moved to the same parcel of land
proximate to Kelo’s home. Then the deeds could be returned to them and
the city would have right of first refusal should they decide to sell in the
future. But the City Council not only refused the Governor’s suggestion but
reportedly resented her interference.
Attorney Scott Bullock said, “The residents still had a few possible
responses to the city’s vote and hope to appeal to the state to reconsider
whether state money should be spent on the development at all. Kelo and
Cristaforo will also challenge any back taxes, rent or fees. The evictions
presently are set for the end of August 2006 at which time both parties will
also consider civil disobedience to protect their homes.
In writing the dissenting opinion of the U.S. Supreme Court decision,
Justice Sandra Day O’Connor stipulated that “Any property may now be
taken for the benefit of another private party, but the fallout from this decision will not be random. The beneficiaries are likely to be those citizens
with disproportionate influence and power in the political process, including
large corporations and development firms. As for the victims, the government now has license to transfer property from those with fewer resources to
those with more. The Founders cannot have intended this perverse result.”
If Susette Kelo should not prevail, she will owe over $60,000.00 to the
City of New London for back-rent alone. The registered nurse will have to
leave New London homeless, without any equity in her home nor the funds
she put out for its remodeling. Certainly, this could not have been what the
court had in mind. Certainly, eminent domain abuse must be revisited as the
result of this case’s outcome. According to Susette Kelo, “This really isn’t
about me anymore. It’s about every American across the country.”
DIANE GRASSI
THE PENNY PRESS, JUNE 22, 2006 PAGE 14
THE PENNY PRESS, JUNE 22, 2006 PAGE 15
Pet Of The Week
Adopt This Pet !
My name is
MICKEY - ID#A102444
I am a neutered male,
black and brown chow
chow.
The shelter thinks I am
about 9 months old.
I have been at the
shelter since Jun 04,
2006
For more information about
this animal, call:
The Animal Foundation — Las
Vegas at (702) 384-3333
Ask for information about
animal ID number A102444
THE PENNY PRESS, JUNE 22, 2006 PAGE 16