A Week of Thoughts

Sometimes during the week, I see or read various things that I think about posting, but I can't imagine more than a sentence or two about it, so I drop it. Finally I figured, why not save them up and put them all together once a week. I think Marc did this a few weeks ago too.

East Providence is getting an advance on their allowance by receiving their April school funding money now. If that money normally lasts from April until the June tax receipts start coming in, then what happens in about three months when this money runs out? I asked that to the twitterverse and Ian Donnis responded that the EP budget commission hopes to have it all sorted out by then. I guess "hope" is the state motto.

Anyone else on board with a prediction that there's no way any vote on municipal pension reform happens until after the November election, at the earliest? Why piss off the unions twice before an election? Try the Chafee strategy, tell them one thing and do another.

Warwick's Mayor Scott Avedisian wants to check in with Gov. Chafee before deciding whether to run for Lieutenant Governor? Really? I can understand wanting to first see if it'd be another Carcieri-Roberts situation, but it's not like he needs to work his way up the ladder. He already has the name recognition for the "next" office. Plus, isn't LG a step down in terms of responsibility for the mayor of the city's second biggest city?

Why do people say things like "controlling your destiny"? Check the definition of destiny. There's nothing anyone can do to change it or affect it.

Great job by the students in Cranston to turn Jessica Ahlquist into the sympathetic figure. Threats of violence should never be the response here. I do wonder that if hanging a prayer banner in a public school is unconstitutional then has the precedent been set for a Supreme Court fight to remove "In God We Trust" from our money? Or maybe the precedent has already been set for a successful appeal by Cranston?

My daughter's latest interest is American Girl. Isn't it ironic that all American Girl products are made in China?

Senator Beth Moura will be on the Dan Yorke Show, Monday at 1 to discuss her allegations against Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

I saw yesterday that Governor Chafee made his appointments to the municipal pension board: the president of the local firefighters union, the vice president of Council 94 and a police officer. Three union members. However, Chafee simply appointed exactly as he was required to by last year's pension reform law that required he appoint representatives of fire, police and public employees. Interesting though that it was written into the law that way. "Don't forget about us!"

Brown University offers its employees a defined contribution plan. The city of Providence offers its employees a very generous pension plan. The pension plan is a mess, so what does Providence do? Go after Brown for more money. It reminds be a bit about the Ant and the Grasshopper.

Go Patriots.