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2012 Cadillac CTS
$14,300Plus 10,3% TaxSold
2012 Cadillac CTS 2 door coupe for sale.
It's 3.6L, 6cyl, timing chain driven engine with 6-speed automatic transmission. Has power windows and door locks, power mirrors, power/tilt/telescopic steering, A/C and cruise control. Key-less entry. Stock alarm.
Push start ignition. Black leather interior with electrically adjustable front seats. Comes with stock AM/FM Radio/CD/MP3 Player, AUX/USB and Bluetooth connectivity. ABS and Traction control equipped. 18 inch alloy rims and good Michelin tires. Good brakes all around.
No issues or problems.
Has only 79,391 original miles and WA CLEAN TITLE. VIN: 1G6DA1E39C0152678.
Asking $14,300. Please call or text whenever, (253) 709-3138. Thank you.
- Adaptive Cruise Control
- Airbags
- Air Conditioning
- Alarm System
- Anti-theft Protection
- Audio Interface
- Automatic Climate Control
- Automatic Headlights
- Auto Start/Stop
- Bi-Xenon Headlights
- Bluetooth® Handset
- CD/DVD Autochanger
- CDR Audio
- Cruise Control
- Electric Parking Brake
- Leather Package
- ParkAssist
- Seat Heating
- Seat Ventilation
- Sound Package Plus
- Universal Audio Interface
- Wind Deflector
|Front head room
|37 "
|Rear head room
|35 "
|Front shoulder room
|56 "
|Rear shoulder room
|51 "
|Front hip room
|55 "
|Rear hip room
|48 "
|Front leg room
|42.4 "
|Rear leg room
|35.0 "
|Luggage capacity
|10.5 Cu.Ft.
|Maximum cargo capacity
|10.5 Cu.Ft.
|Standard seating
|188.5 "
|Body width
|74.1 "
|Body height
|56.0 "
|113.4 "
|3,898 Lbs.
|Gross weight
|Fuel tank capacity
|18.0 Gal.
|EPA mileage estimates
|18 City / 27 Hwy
|Base engine size
|3.6 Liters
|Base engine type
|318 Hp
|Horsepower rpm
|275 Lb-Ft.
|Torque rpm
|Maximum towing capacity
|Drive type
|Turning radius
|17.7 ''
The Cadillac CTS is loaded with style, performance and technology, and it delivers the essential attributes of a true sports sedan. It's as refined as its import-brand competitors, and easier to live with than some. Simply stated, the CTS is a very enjoyable car.
For 2011, Cadillac CTS is available in two new body styles: a two-door CTS coupe and a CTS Sport Wagon. (The CTS Coupe is reviewed separately by New Car Test Drive.) This is in addition to the four-door sedan.
The CTS Sport Wagon, introduced in late 2010, is available in CTS and high-performance CTS-V trim, and the CTS-V Sport Wagon is a 556-horsepower family hauler that goes toe-to-toe with the hyper-tuned luxury cars from BMW's M division and Mercedes-Benz AMG.
The CTS offers something for a wide range of automotive needs with three engine options, manual and automatic transmissions, four different suspension and tire/wheel combos and optional all-wheel-drive in three different body styles.
By price, the Cadillac CTS line compares with compact-sized luxury competitors such as the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes C-Class. By size and function, however, the CTS is closer to midsize competitors such as the BMW 5 Series, Mercedes E-Class, and Audi A6. The base CTS sedan is a great value at about $36,000.
The CTS uses rear-wheel drive, the baseline for a true sports sedan. The standard 3.0-liter V6 generates 274 horsepower and revs freely, complementing the available 6-speed manual transmission. The upgrade 3.6-liter V6 increases output to 304 hp, with substantially more torque, and it's rated at the same 27 mpg Highway as the smaller V6. The larger V6 works great with the optional 6-speed automatic, which is one of the best in this class. Both engines feature the latest technology, with variable valve timing and high-pressure direct fuel injection for the current optimum in power, fuel economy, and low emissions.
All-wheel drive is available, and it's a valuable addition in the Snowbelt. The AWD system uses an active transfer case that normally sends 40 percent of the power to the front wheels, 60 percent to the rear, maintaining a more rear-wheel-drive feel. But in slippery conditions the system can apply all of the torque to either axle, maximizing the CTS's ability to find traction.
The CTS and CTS-V feature sophisticated suspension systems developed, among other places, at the famous Nurburgring race track in Germany. Even the standard suspension delivers a good balance of handling response and ride comfort. The ride is always comfortable, but always well damped and never mushy. Steering is as fluid, as accurate and as nicely weighted as that in any sedan in the world. The CTS feels solidly put together, and it's quiet underway. The cabin is attractive, comfortable and space efficient, and everything is easy to operate. The Bose 5.1 Cabin Surround audio upgrade sounds fantabulous.
The Cadillac CTS-V has a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 that makes 556 horsepower and 551 pound-feet of torque, offered only with rear drive. It's one fast car. Cadillac reports a top speed of 179 mph, and when we tested the CTS-V at sinewy Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, California, its lap times were nearly as quick as the NASCAR Sprint Cup racecars that compete there. Then we drove it away, coddled in quiet civility and superb audio. The V series is tip of the CTS line-up, starting just under $63,000. Still, a buyer can find a CTS sedan with the upgrade V6, essential luxury features, the audio upgrade and navigation for less than $45,000, maintenance included for 50,000 miles. It's a luxury-class value that's hard to overlook. A new Cadillac CTS Coupe has joined a growing family of CTS-branded vehicles. The family started with the CTS four-door sedan in 2003, based on a new rear-wheel-drive platform, a major change for a division that had been heavily front-wheel-drive for many years. Then Cadillac added the high-performance CTS-V, using a variant of the Chevrolet Corvette V8 engine and a manual transmission, and then added the slick CTS sport wagon. Now the CTS family includes a radically edgy coupe. Cadillac's last coupe, the Eldorado, went out of production in 2002.
The powertrain chosen for the CTS Coupe is a 3.6-liter V6 engine with four valves per cylinder, variable valve timing, and direct fuel injection, about as modern as any other V6 engine on the planet, and it is capable of producing a whopping 1.4 horsepower per cubic inch at engine speeds approaching 7000 rpm, or 304 horsepower from only 217 cubic inches, on regular fuel. For reference, the old 500 cubic-inch Cadillac V8 made 400 horsepower, or 0.8 horsepower per cubic inch, and generated unspeakably bad fuel economy, whereas the new engine can reach 27 mpg on the highway easily. Even in a car that weighs more than 4000 pounds with two people in it, the V6 pulls very strongly at full-throttle and sounds muscular and powerful while doing it, which some other V6 engines in this class do not.
The CTS Coupe is available with all-wheel drive.
The CTS Coupe offers a six-speed automatic transmission. It's also available with an Aisin six-speed manual transmission, which comes with summer performance tires and rear-wheel drive. The Summer Tire Performance Package is also available with the automatic transmission equipped with paddle shifters.
What started out as a purely provocative concept vehicle under former GM product czar Bob Lutz got such a strong response that GM decided to build the CTS Coupe as a regular production vehicle to compete with the new rash of luxury coupes from the German and Japanese luxury brands. The sheetmetal, decoration and dimensions of the production coupe are all nearly identical to the concept vehicle, and it is one angular and angry-looking beast.
Inside, the CTS Coupe mimics all the other cars in the family with a rich mix of chrome, wood, leather, and in-car electronics and entertainment systems that are on par with any other vehicle in this relatively small class, with navigation, AM/FM/XM/CD/MP3 audio, OnStar, Stablitrak chassis control, and a comprehensive information display.
The CTS Coupe competes with the Mercedes-Benz E-Class coupe, BMW 335i coupe, Audi A5, Lexus IS 350 C, and Infiniti G37 coupe.
The CTS-V Coupe boasts a 556-hp, 6.2-liter supercharged V8, upgraded suspension, larger high-performance tires and alloy wheels, huge Brembo brakes, and GM's Magnetic Ride Control shock absorbers, for what Cadillac claims is the world's fastest sedan.
The 2011 Cadillac CTS sedan and Sport Wagon offer two V6 engines or a supercharged V8, with either a 6-speed manual or automatic transmission. All-wheel drive ($1,900) is available with the V6 engines on both body styles, though it requires the 6-speed automatic ($1,300).
The CTS 3.0 sedan ($35,165) and wagon ($38,265) are powered by a 3.0-liter direct-injection V6 that delivers 273 horsepower and 223 pound-feet of torque. The 6-speed manual comes standard, with 17-inch alloy wheels. The wagon increases cargo capacity to 53.4 cubic feet. Standard features include leather seating, dual-zone automatic climate control, eight-speaker Bose audio with CD, satellite radio and auxiliary inputs, programmable central locking, a power driver's seat and OnStar with turn-by-turn navigation. Options include navigation system with audio upgrade ($3,145). The Luxury Package ($3,055) adds a 6CD changer, heated 10-way power driver and front passenger seats with memory, Sapele wood trim and a wood-leather steering wheel, rearview camera, Bluetooth connectivity, accent lighting and a cargo convenience net. The Performance Package ($4,600) includes the Luxury Package, plus foglamps, HID headlamps, a limited-slip differential, V-rated 18-inch tires and sports suspension.
The CTS 3.6 sedan ($41,565) and 3.6 wagon ($43,365) get a larger 3.6-liter V6, increasing output to 304 hp and 273 pound-feet of torque. The CTS 3.6 models offer either the manual or automatic transmission for the price, and come standard with 18-inch wheels. The Premium Package ($6,055) includes navigation system with Bose 5.1 Cabin Surround Sound, 10 speakers, a programmable hard-drive and XM NavTraffic/Real Time Weather, as well as cabin air filtration, heated and ventilated seats, Keyless Access proximity key, remote start, rear park assist, power tilt and telescope steering and a power sunroof. The Performance Package with manual transmission ($1,840) or automatic ($2,090) includes performance suspension, limited-slip differential, performance brakes, 19-inch polished wheels, performance tires, steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters (with the automatic transmission), fog lights and HID headlights.
Options include Recaro sport seats ($2,800), sunroof ($1,150) and many other features.
The CTS-V ($62,165) models are powered by a supercharged 6.2-liter V8, essentially the same as the engine in the Corvette ZR-1 sports car, delivering 556 hp and 551 pound-feet of torque. A suite of technical and performance enhancements complement the engine, including Magnetic Ride Control variable suspension, extra-large Brembo brakes and Michelin Pilot Sport Z-rated tires on 19-inch forged aluminum wheels. Distinctive details, such as a wire mesh grille and interior badging, separate the CTS-V from the V6-powered models.
Safety features standard on all CTS models include dual-stage front airbags, front passenger side-impact airbags, full cabin head-protection curtains with roll-over deployment and active head restraints for front occupants. Active safety features that come standard include advanced ABS, traction control, Stabilitrak electronic stability control and OnStar automatic crash response. Rear park assist and a rearview camera are available on all CTS models (with navigation), which can help the driver spot children and objects behind the car when backing up. Optional all-wheel drive improves safety in slippery conditions. The Cadillac CTS Coupe ($38,165) comes with leather seating surfaces, dual-zone climate control, OnStar with navigation, directions and connections, 18-inch alloy wheels and P235/50VR18 tires, remote starting, keyless operation, AM/FM/XM/CD/MP3 eight-speaker Bose audio, power seats, mirrors and locks. The CTS Coupe AWD ($40,065) adds all-wheel drive.
The Performance Connection ($42,605) adds HID xenon headlamps, adaptive forward lighting, 10-way power leather seats, Bose 5.1 Surround Sound, USB integration, 40GB hard drive; it's also available with AWD ($44,505). To that, the Premium Collection ($47,010) and AWD ($48,910) adds interior ambient lighting, rearview camera, heated/vented front seats, heated steering wheel, wood trim, navigation, sunroof.
Options include P245/45ZR19 front and P275/40ZR19 rear Continental summer tire performance package with 19-inch polished alloy wheels, a limited-slip differential, and manual transmission ($2,090); power sunroof ($700); navigation ($2,145).
The CTS-V Coupe ($62,165) features a 6.2-liter supercharged V8, paddle shift controls, Brembo brakes, Magnetic Ride Control, and 19-inch wheels with performance tires.
Safety features include front and side airbags, side air curtain, ABS, traction control, StabiliTrak electronic stability control. All-wheel drive is optional.
The Cadillac CTS might be the most appealing evolution of Cadillac's chiseled, Art & Science styling theme. It's more adventurous, perhaps less cookie-cutter inspired, than its organically shaped import-brand competition. Yet the CTS looks both classy and handsome.
The CTS line is often compared to compact luxury sedans like the Mercedes C-Class or BMW 3 Series, and that may be a function of similar pricing. By exterior dimensions, the CTS is actually as large or slightly larger than mid-size models like the BMW 5 Series or Mercedes E-Class. The Cadillac's impression of a more compact size probably speaks well of its overall design.
The CTS sedan and the new Sport Wagon are identical from the front bumper to about the middle roof pillar. The egg-crate grille design for V6 models is common across Cadillac's lineup. Vertically stacked headlight clusters make heavy use of LED (light-emitting diode) technology, which delivers lots of light and allows lots of style with little electrical load. The air vents or extractors near the trailing edge of the front fenders have been re-designed with a more open appearance for 2011.
The CTS wagon might be more handsome than the sedan, if only because its proportions are almost perfectly balanced. The integrated spoiler at the rear edge of the wagon's roof serves as both an aerodynamic device and the center high-mount brake light. The standard power liftgate can be operated with either the key fob or a switch at the rear of the car. A simple dial inside the gate allows its opening range to be adjusted, from just-above-roof height for short folks or tight garages to nearly vertical upward extension.
The high-performance CTS-V models get unique, functional styling features, starting with larger wire-mesh grille work above and below the front bumper. This doubles the amount of air flowing into the engine bay, increasing cooling capacity for the engine, transmission and front brakes. An aluminum power-dome hood provides a slight bulge to accommodate the supercharged V8 underneath. Huge Brembo brakes, wedged into thin-spoke, 19-inch forged wheels and extra-wide tires, comprise one of the most engaging visual elements on the car.
The big wheels aren't reserved for the CTS-V models, however. For 2011, Cadillac offers 19-inch wheels with all-season tires on all CTS sedans and wagons, including those with all-wheel drive. Wheel options range from 17 to 19 inches, and from painted to highly polished. Is the CTS Coupe really all that different from the CTS sedan? Yes, and in some key places and dimensions. The coupe is virtually identical to the concept vehicle shown at the Detroit auto show in January of 2008.
The coupe's wheelbase is the same as the sedan's, but the roofline is two inches lower, the body is two inches shorter, and the rear track has been widened by two inches compared to the existing sedan, to plant those big tires. The windshield rake angle is much steeper than the sedan's, at 62.3 degrees, and the rear window is nearly flat when viewed from the side.
The rear end treatment features a centered dual-exhaust outlet under the bumper that complements all of the other sharp angles on the car. In order to have good ingress/egress into the back seat, the coupe's doors are as long as a summer day in June. There are no traditional door handles outside or inside; instead, the CTS Coupe uses pushbutton openers adapted from the Chevrolet Corvette. In spite of the very fast look of the coupe, the actual drag coefficient number is high for a coupe and high in this class, just under 0.36, when some of the competition is down around 0.26.
As Cadillac has steadily improved its CTS line-up, the interior has definitely kept pace. There are several small but welcome enhancements for 2011, including an update for GM's OnStar telematics system. With introduction of its ninth-generation control software, OnStar's voice recognition capability has been substantially improved.
Inside the CTS sedan and wagon, the basic theme is black with brushed metal and chrome accents. It's very contemporary, very attractive and generally space efficient. Optional Sapele wood, available in several packages, replaces the standard satin metallic trim. It's heavily grained, and adds a warmer, less technocratic finish.
The dashboard is fairly low and away from the front seats, leaving an airy, unhindered space in the front half of the CTS cabin. The hand-stitched center console blends seamlessly into the center stack of controls, creating a sport-cockpit ambience for the driver and front passenger, without compromising breathing space.
We found the CTS to be a nice place to sit and take a drive. The driver feels secure and comfortable, and the front passenger enjoys a feeling of ease, confidence and luxury. Visibility in the sedan is unfettered in all directions, though in the wagon the rear glass is smaller and a bit more restrictive. It creates a narrow view through the rearview mirror.
Fortunately, a rearview camera is available for the CTS wagon. For 2011, the back-up camera is also available on the sedan, and standard on CTS-V models. The rearview camera works great on cars with navigation systems. On CTSs without navigation, the camera image is projected on a very small LED screen hidden in the rearview mirror. It's much harder to see details with the small screen.
The front bucket seats are comfortable, with enough side bolstering to keep the CTS driver snug and in place behind the wheel, even during some enthusiastic driving on central California's windiest, curviest roads. A Recaro sport seat option is available on all models, with 14 different adjustments and bolsters that can be pumped up for hard driving, then deflated for cruising. They're suitable even for race track use, but generally quite hard. Unless a driver regularly attends track events, he or she will be better served by the standard CTS seats.
We appreciated the range of adjustment with the power seats and the power steering column. The tilt-and-telescope column offers ultimate comfort and allows a proper driving position. The CTS instrument package is complete, easy to read, and graphically appealing. The center stack is particularly well done, both attractive and easy to use, with some interesting readout placements here and there. With the navigation system, and its combination of touch-screen and hard-button controls, the CTS offers one of the better driver/machine interfaces in current luxury cars.
The upgrade Bose 5.1 Cabin Surround audio system has a 40-gigabyte hard-drive for media storage, an iPod connector and USB port, and it offers the ultimate in musical enjoyment. Using the navigation screen, it's easy to switch back and forth between the three broadcast and three stored-music formats by simply touching the screen, and the blue display is large enough to be read from the back seat. It's one of the best, most fun-to-use sound systems available. In comparison, many other luxury cars have audio systems that are fussy or difficult to operate.
CTS-V models have a few extra sporting touches inside, starting with a thick-rimmed steering wheel that can be covered with synthetic suede. It's one of our favorites in any automobile. The dead pedal, which allows the driver to brace the left leg, is great for enthusiastic driving. Subtle V badging inside reminds passengers that the owner has anted up for the super-performance package.
The rear seat offers enough room for two adults approaching six feet in height. The rear outboard seats are carved out like buckets, and quite comfortable, but the flip side is a narrow, flat plateau in the middle section. It's not a place anyone over 12 will want to sit, unless the choice is walking. A switch on the back of the center console controls airflow for rear passengers, between vents on the console itself or registers under the front seats.
The plastics on the front seatbacks and the rear end of the console form the weak link in interior finish. They're hard and not $40,000-plus in appearance. In the CTS wagon, rear-seat passengers might feel a bit more constricted due to the wide rear roof pillar extending rearward from their outboard shoulder.
With 13.6 cubic feet of luggage space, the CTS sedan's trunk is larger than those in compact luxury sedans like the BMW 3 Series or Mercedes C-Class, but slightly smaller than the trunk in mid-size models like the 5 Series, E-Class or Audi A6.
The CTS wagon delivers 53.4 cubic feet of cargo space with the seatbacks folded, 25.4 cubic feet with the rear seat in place. That's almost as much cargo space as what's found in a compact SUV.
In the wagon, the bottom of the rear seat is fixed. Yet the seatbacks fold forward easily, creating a flat load floor from almost the front seatbacks to the rear bumper, a great feature. An easy, dial-type knob allows the CTS owner to program how high the power tailgate swings open.
The carpeted floor in the wagon's cargo area slides out over the bumper, exposing a shallow, rubber-lined bin that contains water from soaked boots or coolers dripping condensation, The floor also has tie-down hooks and a slide-track system that secures various accessories. Our test car had a folding dog gate that spread floor-to-headliner behind the rear seatbacks. It was a bit of a chore to install, but once in place it was truly sturdy and impenetrable to any pet we've met. The interior of the CTS Coupe is pretty much the same as those of the CTS sedan and Sport Wagon, with a combination of analog and digital readouts in the main three-pod instrument cluster bathed in a very nice, crisp blue light that's easy to see and easy on the eyes.
The interior designs have made the driver's seat, center stack and center console into a well-organized command center, topped by a retractable navigation screen and slathered in brushed metal that can reflect lots of light in the wrong lighting conditions. There's just the right amount of decorative wood on the door panels, steering wheel, instrument panel and console to lend an air of richness and luxury without looking like a Victorian library.
The front bucket seats are generously sized for American male drivers, they're cushy without being mushy, and there are thick, supportive and retentive bolsters for the torso for long rides in the country. Nothing in here is difficult to see or understand or operate, and there is plenty of latitude for adjustment in the seats and steering wheel. It's a lovely place to drive from.
There really is room for four American adults inside, although entry and exit at the rear are as cumbersome and difficult as with any coupe out there.
We give it high marks for fit, finish, materials, and especially its interior design, which differs not one jot from the sedan's and which we love.
The Cadillac CTS is cast in the mold of a classic European sports sedan, and it's formed particularly well. It compares nicely with its luxury import-brand competition, and in some respects beats the competition on its own terms.
The CTS is responsive, lively and athletic. It handles as well as the best European sedans, yet it's also comfortable, smooth and quiet. It delivers a good mix of interior space, substance and manageable exterior dimensions. With a wide range of engine, suspension and tire/wheel packages, and optional all-wheel-drive, the CTS wagon and sedan can satisfy a wide range of needs and tastes.
Both V6 engines employ the most up-to-date control and materials technology, with dual overhead cams, variable valve timing and high-pressure direct fuel injection. As a result, they are both responsive and lively. The direct injection gives both extremely good throttle response, with more fuel efficiency and lower emissions.
The 3.0-liter V6, with 270 horsepower, is a fine base engine, although it doesn't match the torque of the upgrade 3.6-liter V6. Somewhat surprisingly, there is little or no penalty in fuel economy with the larger engine, so if the additional expense is not an issue, we have to recommend the 3.6, most especially when choosing the optional all-wheel drive. With 304 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque, the 3.6-liter is ready to go out and play anytime the driver wishes, delivering a solid combination of power, fuel economy and assertive sound when the throttle is opened all the way.
We love the fact that Cadillac offers all CTS models with a manual transmission, regardless of how many buyers actually choose one. We found the 6-speed manual has easy, smooth clutch action and requires only a light touch on the shift lever to change gears. It's a good choice.
The 6-speed automatic is responsive in full automatic mode, rarely stuttering in its gear selection or balking when it's time to shift down a gear or two. It's also very quick and positive to shift manually, up or down, with a little bit of throttle blip on the downshifts to keep the drivetrain happy and the tires from skipping and chirping. The choice comes down to personal preference. We liked both transmissions, though our affection for the automatic increases with the 3.6-liter V6, thanks to that engine's additional torque.
Steering in the CTS is excellent: very accurate, with good feel and a nice, weighty demeanor. This, perhaps surprisingly, is one area where it surpasses some of its European competitors, which are still sorting through the introduction of fuel saving electric power-steering pumps. The CTS steering system uses a forward-mounted power rack-and-pinion that pulls, rather than pushes, the steering arms. (It pulls on the steering arm of that front tire which will be on the outside in the turn, so in a right-hand turn it is pulling on the left-side steering arm, placing that side in tension rather than compression.)
The brakes are excellent, too, equipped with advanced electronic controls and Electronic Brake-force Distribution. They provide impressive stopping power, with almost no fading in truly aggressive use, in a car that approaches two tons of mass.
For all its steering, cornering and handling prowess, the CTS doesn't exact a stiff penalty in noise or harshness over the road. Even the base car is well damped, so the ride is smooth but not floaty. If the optimal balance of handling response and ride quality is the priority, we recommend a CTS with Cadillac's optional Magnetic Ride Control variable suspension. Originally developed by GM, and billed as the world's fastest-reacting suspension technology, MR has since been adapted by several manufacturers, most prominently Ferrari.
In all cases, the CTS feels very solidly put together. It's quiet inside in all circumstances, expect when the gas pedal is floored. The standard 17-inch all-season tires are quietest of all, though they lack the ultra-sharp steering response of some the larger performance-tire upgrades.
All-wheel drive is optional on CTS sedan, wagon and coupe models. Even in ideal conditions, AWD makes the CTS feel extra stable, and it enhances driver confidence on winding roads. While it comes with a slight weight and fuel-mileage disadvantage, the advantages of all-wheel drive in sloppy weather or big rain are substantial.
The driver of a CTS Sport Wagon will have a difficult time finding any dynamic distinctions from the sedan. The wagon is just as smooth, precise and well-planted. On the road, the only issue is rearward visibility. The wagon's wider rear roof pillars and upright rear window narrow the scope of the view through the rearview mirror, so it's a little harder to identify what's approaching from behind.
Driving a CTS-V model raises the experience to another level. The CTS-V supercharged V8 is different from the V6s, with an old-school cam in the engine block and push-rod operated valves. Yet that shouldn't be taken as a problem, because the CTS-V's 6.2-liter V8 is thoroughly modern in operation and performance.
The CTS-V models deliver a remarkable combination of sporting entertainment and coddling everyday transport. The steering feels more natural and satisfying than what's found in a lot of sports cars. Clutch and brake action are better than any Cadillac ever, and better than the super-tuned luxury hotrods from some European manufacturers. Despite a substantial increase in pavement grip, thanks largely to its extra wide, sticky performance tires, the CTS-V's standard MR variable suspension never feels too harsh. At two thirds of its 179-mph published top speed, the CTS-V sedan is as stable as granite.
And boy oh boy, that engine. It's a feast of visceral excitement at just about any speed up to its 6200-rpm redline, if you can afford the gas. Its supercharger is very quiet in operation, and it keeps pumping acceleration-building torque at high revs. The CTS-V scoots from 0-60 mph in less than 4 seconds, but there is a ton of acceleration no matter how fast it's already going. There's so much torque that gear selection, road or engine speed almost don't matter. Step on it anywhere, at any speed, and the CTS-V flat flies.
Still, the CTS-V's most valuable asset is its level-headed approach to the business of driving. It's a big car, with a slight bit more weight over its front wheels, but it takes some cruel treatment to make the CTS-V bite. In a sense its unflappable, except that unflappable implies restrained, and the CTS-V is always lively and fun. Its stability control system is anything but a straight jacket, allowing both ends of the car to slide a little before the electronics go to work.
Bottom line, the CTS-V's strength is the same as the CTS's in general, only dialed up a notch or two. It's the satisfying, integrated experience in the driver's seat that impresses most. It just happens to be one of the absolute fastest sedans in the world. The 3.6-liter direction-injection V6 with dual overhead camshafts and 24 valves produces 304-horsepower, 273 foot-pounds of torque. The engine can be combined with one of two six-speed transmissions, an Aisin manual or a Hydra-Matic automatic with manual shift control. To get more acceleration out of the same engine as the sedan has, the CTS Coupe gets a lower 3.73:1 rear axle ratio. The CTS Coupe comes in a standard rear-drive layout, with computer-controlled all-wheel-drive optional.
In a brief driving experience over the course of two days in and around the Napa Valley in California's wine country, the CTS Coupe offered no surprises. The 3900-pound coupe performed pretty much like the CTS V6 sedan, but quicker off the mark, with a good, solid V6 engine sound at full throttle, relatively quick upshifts and downshifts from the automatic and its steering-wheel paddles, and a reassuringly buttoned-down feel when it came to sticking to the asphalt.
The chunky leather-wrapped steering wheel leads down to a power steering system that feels connected and commanding, quick to turn in, and a slightly harsher ride than we were expecting, but not objectionable.
The brakes came on powerfully and progressively whenever one of Napa's ever-present work trucks pulled out of a winery driveway.
The 2011 Cadillac CTS looks marvelous, with comfortable space for four adults, or five in a pinch. It's got lots of go for the performance enthusiast, and all the bells and whistles. It's offered as a four-door sedan, Sport Wagon or new two-door coupe. With three engine choices from strong-but-frugal to incredibly powerful, manual or automatic transmissions and optional all-wheel-drive, there's a CTS for every taste. Any CTS model compares favorably the luxury-class competition from Germany or Japan.
|Body Style:
|6-Speed Automatic
|Slightly Used
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|18 City / 27 Highway
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text: Join more than 5 million learners: learn to code, make apps/games/websites, automate your life, and much more – no matter how much experience and time you have! Mimo creates a personalized learning path of fun and effective exercises, projects, and challenges that fits into your daily routine and keeps you motivated. • "This way you can work learning to code into your daily routine, whenever you have a few minutes of downtime." – TechCrunch • "The app's lessons are bite-size to make it easy to squeeze coding into your busy day." – The New York Times We help you master: • Programming from scratch • Making apps • Making games • Building websites • Becoming an ethical hacker • Automating your life These skills include programming languages like: Swift, Python, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, SQL, PHP, Java, C#, C++, Ruby, Git, command line, and more. Mimo is the best and most personalized way to learn to code on a tight schedule. Along the way, keep track of your progress, collect achievements and badges, and join a community of more than 4 million learners. --- To get started, download Mimo and start a free 7-day trial of or subscribe to Mimo Premium. Mimo Premium a subscription that gives you unlimited access to all tracks, courses, and other content. Mimo Premium is USD 9.99 for 1 month or USD 59.99 for 1 year, quoted in U.S. dollars (prices may differ in countries other than the United States). At confirmation of purchase, payment will be charged to your iTunes account and your account will be charged for renewal within 24 hours before the end of the current period at the price of the chosen subscription. Any unused portion of a trial period, if offered, will be forfeited when you purchase a subscription. You can cancel your subscription (i.e. turn off automatic renewal) in the Account Settings section of your App Store or iTunes settings after you have made the purchase. Our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service are available at https://getmimo.com/terms. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to get in touch with us at firstname.lastname@example.com.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Engineering (Industrial) Magazines
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Hanna Ewa Masojada "Dream spaces" exhibition in the Artist's House Gallery /view 1/
Warsaw 4-28 February 2010
Dream Spaces
"In the seemingly homogeneous works of Hanna Ewa Masojada one can distinguish pieces that form various groups of works of similar forms, inspirations and climate. All of the works were created in acts of which the final outcome are paintings on a delicate fabric – almost monumental in size, intensive in colour and differentiated in composition. The paint in those paintings forms stylised shapes, creates stains, circles or a dense structure of lines. The technique and structure of the material doesn't allow the artist for long moments of contemplation during work. The composition must be complete before the first stroke. Every form and colour are "seen" and established earlier. The colour, in almost every work, is very intense, often correlating with the colours of autumn. The deep red-maple colour of autumn in Japan, beautifully shown in the movie by Takeshi Kitano "Dolls" with costumes by Yahji Yamamoto, influenced the colour temperature of the pieces. (...)"
Anna Kroplewska-Gajewska


text:
Dear all,
If you are interested
We are planning to meet at the IMAX in Waterloo to view the Prop Store exhibition display and go for a few beers and something to eat after.
Time is 6pm at the ODEON IMAX Waterloo.
Look forward to seeing anyone that can make it.
Pm me if you need any more details


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Download the latest version of M9205 USB TV Box drivers according to your computer's operating system. All downloads available on this website have been scanned by the latest anti-virus software and are guaranteed to be virus and malware-free.
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M9205 USB TV Box Driver Update UtilitySupported OS: Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP
File Version: Version 126.96.36.199
File Size: 2.3 MB
File Name:
Overall Rating:
TV Tuner/Video/Audio Capture (see list in Comments Driver
ConexantSupported OS: Win Vista, Win Vista x64, Win 2003 Server, Win XP Home, Win XP Pro, Win 2000 Workstation, Win 2000 Server, Win NT 4.0, Win ME, Win 98SE, Win 98, Win 95
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1,183 DownloadsSubmitted Aug 22, 2011 by Jerry K (DG Member):
"TV Tuner/Video Capture cards are made by companies like Leadtek, Hauppage, Harmonics, Philips, and ProLink. - Conexant only builds chipsets and sells them to companies who do make TV Tuner/Video Capture cards. - TVExpert_v1.36-Prolink - Filename: TVExpert_v1.36-Prolink.zip - Description: Prolink TV ..."
SAA713x and 878 Driver
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311 DownloadsSubmitted May 31, 2012 by Jerry K (DG Member):
"This is a combo driver for the Philips SAA713x and 878 TV Tuner (and several other) chipsets. - Device name ---------- ID STRING - SAA7130 TV Card PCI\VEN_1131&DEV_7130 - SAA7130 TV Card PCI\VEN_1131&DEV_7130&SUBSYS_00001131 - SAA7130 TV Card PCI\VEN_1131&DEV_7130&SUBSYS_71301131 - SAA7130 TV Card ..."


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If you have any questions about doing a Tandem Skydive with Tandem Cairns while you are travelling and visiting Cairns here are a few common questions.
Feel free to use our web chat to talk to our friendly staff, give us a call on 1300 SKYDIVE (1300 759 348) we answer our phones 7am - 9pm 7 days.
Or drop into our checkin and departure lounge at 96 Lake St, Cairns we are open from 8am - 9pm 7 days for a friendly chat and a Coffee, Tea or chilled water.
At Tandem Cairns safety always comes first, fun comes in a close second.
Our fun team of instructors are all APF accredited and highly experienced; our modern sports skydiving equipment is maintained and serviced to strict standards. All our crew abide by our stringent safety regulations and those of the Australian Parachute Federation.
Our company director has over 32,000 personal skydives and is the single most experienced skydiver and senior instructor in Australia and the second most experienced in the world with that level of experience and jump numbers.
Skydiving is an extreme sport, and like any extreme sports there is a certain amount of risk involved. We operate to a strict set of regulatory procedures and guidelines. Our staff , equipment and operations are all regularly audited by Safety Officers of the APF who approve and renew our APF club membership.
Recent statistics in Australia stated that 1 in 10,000 skydives resulted in accident or injury. Compared with the statistics for registered cars in reported accidents being 9.8% , the most dangerous part of your day is likely to be driving to the skydiving centre !
That all depends on how many friends you have doing their skydive, and which aircraft we are using on the day of your booking.
Tandem Cairns operates large turbine aircraft which are perfect for groups, however exact numbers on aircraft are affected by weights, how many want camera and other operational factors.
Groups on the aircraft can vary from 2-3 people up to 5-7 people. We can advise you on the day who and how many will be on each plane load and we will do our best to accommodate group requests.
The time you are booked for is your shuttle departure time only , not your flights departure time or jump time.
When you arrive you need to check in and complete some paperwork and then you are assigned to a load. Please ensure you arrive on time so your shuttle can depart on time.
If you have any special time constrains or needs please ensure you notify us at the time of booking.
We do our best to keep the day running smoothly but sometimes we are held up due to unforeseen circumstances. These include weather holds, there are certain wind and cloud conditions that can delay us. Air Traffic Control also have a say in when and where we can fly , we have real time flight departure boards to keep you informed of your flight and staff will keep you updated in regard to timings or any delays.
Safety is of the utmost importance to us and if we have to wait on the ground for half an hour to ensure your safety, then we will.
Whilst we endeavor to complete an individual's jump in a timely manner and get your shuttle away on time after your jump you should plan for this to be at least a half-day's activity and advise us at the time of booking if you have any other tours or tour bookings on the same day.
Yes you need to make a booking to ensure we can cater as efficiently as we can for your skydive with us and provide you with the best service and experience.
If you wake up in the morning and decide that today is the day that you want to skydive, by all means give us a phone call on 13oo SKYDIVE and we will endeavour to make a reservation for you that day but it is best to book ahead as priority will be given to customers with bookings and we do get booked out.
Please ensure you turn up at your booked checkin time on the day of your skydive. All times are checkin times only not jump times.
You should allow a half a day.
Skydiving is an outdoor adventure activity and sometimes factors out of our control can delay the jump , we get put on hold by air traffic control or the weather can add to delays.
You should allow for skydiving to be your only main activity and set aside a 1/2 day. If you have any time constrains or other tour bookings please advise us at the time of booking and we will do our best to accommodate your needs.
You need to be in generally good health being with an average fitness level. Weight limits for the Tandem jump is 110kg and the stage 1 AFF jump is a max of 110kg.
If you are doing a Tandem skydive and are over 95kg extra charges will apply.
With all customers we reserve the right to refuse a skydive based on our assessment based on age, weight and health to ensure everyone's safety. If you have any questions, concerns or have anything you need to discuss with us please don't hesitate to get in contact with us to avoid disappointment on the day.
Yes, the minimum age for tandem skydiving in Australia is 12 years of age and solo skydiving is 18 years of age.
Any person wishing to partake in skydiving who is under 18 years of age needs their parent or guardian's permission.
There is no maximum age however as with all customers we reserve the right to refuse a skydive based on our assessment based on age, weight and health to ensure everyone's safety. If you have any questions, concerns or have anything you need to discuss with us please don't hesitate to get in contact with us to avoid disappointment on the day.
Comfortable casual clothes, shorts are fine. We will provide you with a pair of skydiving pants or a jumpsuit to wear over your clothes.
Secure footwear thats not going to fall off is a must. No flip flops or thongs. Enclosed shoes such as runners or sand shoes are best.


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The original word, both in Hebrew and Greek, means messenger, and is so translated, it is often applied to an ordinary messenger, (Job 1;14, Samuel 11;3, Luke 9;52) the prophets, (Isaiah 42;19, Haggai 1;13) and priests (Ecclesiastes 5;6).
Under the general sense of messenger, the term angel is properly applied also to Christ, as the great angel or messenger of the covenant,(Malachi 3;1) and to the ministers of his gospel, the overseers or angels of the churches (revelation 2;1,8,12).
Read More
Angels In Gifts And Jewelry Artwork
Posted in Unique Gift Ideas By Sam


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Reviewed by E.T. (age 9)
This book is a fantastic book. One of the things I love is that it is very silly and it made me laugh the whole time I read it. The book has interesting chapters and pictures. Also, it was an unbelievable book because one of the cats from Puss and Boots are going in Mr. Pengelly's yard everyday. Cat Crazy is a great book because it is interesting, funny and unbelievable.
I recommend this book to people who enjoy stories about cats and friendships. You will fall in love with the many different cats in the story.


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|Quantity Per Pack
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|S&S Worldwide
|Allergen - Latex
|Instructions Included
|Youngest Recommended Age
|5 years
Reviewed by 1 customers
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Comments about Tropical Rainforest Pencils (Pack of 144):
I give these pencils as well as the personalized ones to my college students who love them and say they write well.
Displaying reviews 1-1
Customer Service: [email protected]
Webmaster: [email protected] (Problems or suggestions related to the site only.)
Toll-free phone: (800) 288-9941
Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 7:00pm, EST
Representatives who speak Spanish are available
Monday to Friday 9 AM to 6 PM EST
Representantes que hablan Español están disponibles
Lunes a Viernes 9 AM to 6 PM EST
24-Hour toll-free fax: (800) 566-6678
S&S® Worldwide
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Thumbs Up/Thumbs Down
Career Expo
THUMBS UP: Tenth grade students in New Ulm this week got a chance to see what kind of opportunities are there for them in New Ulm.
The New Ulm Area Career Expo, held at the New Ulm Civic Center, brought students and exhibitors from area businesses together, so students explore possible career options. Too often, young people grow up with the idea that there's nothing for them here in their hometown, and if they want a career they have to move away. The Career Expo shows them the variety and range of options they have right here in their home town. It can be an eye opener for the students.
The exhibitors prepare creative, hands-on displays, making it an entertaining afternoon for the students, who can wander and explore as they please.
The event is put on by the New Ulm Chamber of?Commerce, Junior Achievement, Bridging Brown County and the New Ulm Economic Development Corporation. Congratulations to them, and to the business people who put so much effort and energy into the day.
Legacy Fund tussle
THUMBS DOWN: It should not come as a surprise that there is an argument brewing in the Minnesota Legislature over the state's Legacy funds. These are the funds the state realizes from the Minnesota Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment, which authorizes a small sales tax to raise money for environmental and arts projects.
The St. Cloud Times reported this week that metro area organizations aren't happy with the 40-40-10 split for parks and trail funds approved last year – 40 percent to the metro, 40 percent to state parks and trails, and 20 percent to oustate areas. They claim the metro area is growing faster, has more need and raises more taxes, so it deserves more than 40 percent.
Rural legislators should band together and tell the greedy metro lobby to back off.
Water resources
THUMBS DOWN: In the Land of 10,000 Lakes the idea of a water shortage is almost ludicrous. But as State Climatologist Mark Seely pointed out in New Ulm Friday, we are recovering from a drought, and the DNR has seen an unusual number of well interferences this past year.
It's kind of a vicious cycle, we suppose. Drought brings about a desire for homeowners to water lawns, which puts extra strain on the water supply.
We should play is cautiously this year. The drought is expected to lift this summer, but until it does, we hope people will be cautious and conservative when it comes to water use.


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2nd Edition of Writing to Win available on
Steven D. Stark is a writer, lawyer, and consultant who teaches courses on writing and speaking to lawyers and other professionals. A former cultural commentator for CNN, National Public Radio, and the Voice of America, he is the author of four books and one e-book and has written frequently for the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, the Atlantic Monthly, and the Boston Globe where he was an op-ed columnist. A former Lecturer on Law at Harvard Law School, he is a graduate of Harvard College and Yale Law School. He is currently at work on a number of fiction and poetry projects.
Read an old profile of Steven Stark in the Boston Globe Sunday Magazine.


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Sportsmanship is a lot like listening—we assume that everyone knows what it is and how to do it. But this is not always the case. Good sportsmanship allows us to enjoy the sports we play. When we coach children and teenagers in sports, it becomes even more important that we promote good sportsmanship.
Children play sports to have fun, but some parents and coaches promote a win-at-all-costs attitude. As parents and coaches, we play an important role in modeling the correct behaviors for our children. Children imitate what they see around them, especially when they observe a respected adult. Learning and adopting good sportsmanship will provide positive role modeling for children participating in sports.
A Good Coach
Pat Summit, the well-respected women's basketball coach at the University of Tennessee, considers herself to be a role model to her students and athletes. She also tells her athletes, "You are role models. The question to ask is: What kind of role model will you be?"
She emphasizes that you don't have to be an athlete to be a role model, citing her parents as great models for sportsmanship and professionalism. She also cites her older brother Tommy as being a great role model because he was not only a great athlete but a great student as well, graduating from college with honors.
Pat's tips for parents are these: "Kids need to understand that they can go out there and compete to win, while being respectful. A good competitive spirit doesn't require one to play dirty or nasty. It is important to say to children, 'Do the best you can do."
She also adds that children learn valuable life skills through athletics, recognizing that competitors can still be your friends.
Here's What to Do
Below are some tips that parents can both demonstrate and teach to their children:
- Maintain self-control at all times.
- Show respect for the coaches, officials, and opposing team members.
- Don't react to the win or loss alone. When your child comes home from a game ask: How did you play? Did you have fun? How did the team play? What did you do well? What could you do better next time?
- Acknowledge superior skills in other players without comparing your child's skills to their skills.
- Define success as trying your hardest.
- Understand and appreciate the rules of the game.
- Be sure your child accepts responsibility for errors and thinks about how he or she could avoid repeating the errors.
- Remember that the officials are doing the best they can, and miscalls will happen.
- Discuss what you see when watching sporting events on TV. Point out good behaviors and analyze poor behavior and how the situation could be handled in another manner.
- Tell your child, "Regardless of how you play today, that doesn't change my love and respect for you as my daughter or as an athlete."
- Remember that the true purpose of organized sports is fun, fitness, comradery, and learning teamwork.
- Reviewer: EBSCO Medical Review BoardMichael Woods, MD
- Review Date: 10/2017 -
- Update Date: 11/04/2015 -


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** Now with iPhone 6 and iOS 8 Support **
Discover the Person Behind the Plaque.
Blue Plaque Guide provides information on over 50 English Heritage Blue Plaques located in London.
Features :
- Over 30 amazing pictures and portraits of the people behind the plaques. The plaque comes to life like never before - see the face behind the history.
- A mini-bio for each person - learn more about the person's life and why the person has been given a blue plaque.
- Full address details for each plaque, including a handy map view which shows exactly where to find each plaque.
Download today and get closer to the scientists, writers, inventors, dancers, boxers, actors, architects, wig-makers, poets, politicians and soldiers who have all made history in London.
** If you enjoyed this app check out **
Hidden Paris
Hidden London
Look Again : Dublin
Hidden Amsterdam
Hidden Prague
Hidden Madrid
London Thames
Horrible London
Royal London
London Market Guide


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Number 710, March 3, 2013
"The bottom line is that Western Individualism
is under attack from all sides philosophically,
and that this is likely a precursor to an
effort to defeat it by force."
What's It Got In Its Pocketses, My Precious?
Attribute to L. Neil Smith's The Libertarian Enterprise
It says here the government will soon have drones—meaning that they already have them—that can see whether you are carrying a weapon.
We are already better acquainted than we should be with various scanning contraptions at airports and elsewhere that look inside your briefcase, inside your purse, inside your suitcase, and inside you to determine whether you have had the temerity, despite the vicious and illegal police state practices that have sprung up around us like malignant toadstools—to exercise your rights under the Second Amendment. The term "wand-rape" has found its way into the general vocabulary.
What they want in the end, of course, is devices you can't avoid passing through—some of my readers will remember the Arnold Schwarzenegger version of Total Recall in which people were X-rayed (or something) at regular intervals, and any gun they carried stood out in red, while klaxons oinked a warning to every statist pig in the vicinity.
That part of the movie itself reminded me of Abner Mikvah, Esq.— former Congressman, former judge, Waco Willie Clinton's mouthpiece, and general lickspittle to everyone and everything collectivistic— who once expressed a heartfelt desire that in the future, there be a metal detector "in every doorway" in America. When I looked the slug up just now on Wikipedia, I was surprised—and disappointed—to discover that Abner is 87 years old and hasn't died yet. The world will be a better, cleaner place when he finally has the courtesy to do so.
I don't know about you, but I am damned sick and tired of being restrained, plundered, and chivvied about by criminals who are eager to approve every liberty-obliterating law and regulation that gets proposed to them, but don't believe that any law at all applies to them.
Take a look at this one, for example, written in plain, simple English: "The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized."
Notice that the pebble in that particular bowl of pinto beans is the wiggle-word "reasonable". It not only means different things to different people, but different people will deliberately define it differently to suit their political purposes. It's like the expression "reasonable" gun control, which, among those who call themselves "progressives" (because they've left so much excrement on the word "liberal" it can't be used any more) amounts to confiscation. Any way you parse it, it's a loophole you could sail an aircraft carrier through. I would support an amendment to remove wiggle-words from the Constitution.
But you tell me: how could anybody possibly believe that there is any way that the individuals who wrote and ratified that law—which happens to be the Fourth Amendment to the Constitution—would have approved the use of metal detectors (in every doorway or not) or drones that can look down and tell our enemy the state whether you're armed? Or is it infinitely likelier that James Madison and the other Founding Fathers simply didn't want the state to know what's in your pockets?
No matter how or why the search is carried out.
No matter how urgent the excuse that's been invented for it.
No matter how subtle the means supposedly are.
Government has no right to know what's in your pockets.
Make no mistake: the Fourth Amendment, right along with the other nine amendments, are the law. They are, in fact, the highest law of the land, superceding all other laws, treaties, and the main body of the Constitution itself, that being in the nature of an amendment. To violate one or more of them is, beyond question, a criminal act, as spelled out in Title 18 of the United States Code, Sections 241 and 242.
Wikipedia maintains (somewhat ungrammatically), "Punishment varies from a fine or imprisonment of up to one year, or both, and if bodily injury results or if such acts include the use, attempted use, or threatened use of a dangerous weapon, explosives, or fire shall be fined or imprisoned up to ten years or both, and if death results, or if such acts include kidnapping or an attempt to kidnap, aggravated sexual abuse or an attempt to commit aggravated sexual abuse, or an attempt to kill, [they] shall be fined under this title, or imprisoned for any term of years or for life, or both, or may be sentenced to death."
People of all political stripes say they want their country back. I am not so much concerned with the American nation-state as I am with the unique civilization—of which the hallmarks are an unprecedented peace, freedom, progress, and prosperity—that has developed in America, not because of the government, but very largely in spite of it.
I want my civilization back—and so should you—which means, first and foremost, abandoning rule forever by the thuggish whim of politicians, bureaucrats, and the police, and returning to the rule of law. In turn, returning to the rule of law must begin with forcing (and I use that word knowing full well what it means) politicians, bureaucrats, and the police into abject compliance with its merest provisions.
I suspect that, rather than citizens' arrests, which are a joke, that the reform we seek will have to begin with county sheriffs all over the country. If Sheriff Joe Arpaio, for example, a man for whom I don't have much respect, were to arrest Senator John McCain for his many crimes against the Constitution, and if other sheriffs were to follow his example, we would wind up with a vastly more liveable civilization.
I have spoken about building a new prison on Alcatraz Island to house officials who fail to respect the Bill of Rights, and I will do so again. But the fact is, there are far too many such miscreants, especially at the lowest levels of government, to lock up, even in the FEMA camps the government has built to put us in. But we can give them "community service" jobs like crushing every gun detector ever owned or used by governments or corporations to violate the people's Fourth Amendment, and recycling them into something useful—like automatic weapons.
If that's the future you'd like to live in—I certainly would—then let's begin working toward it, now. Do not expect any help from the evil Democratic Party, the hapless Republican Party, the helpless Libertarian Party, or the Green Party which, I recently learned, courtesy of Robert Zubrin's, latest book*, was originally founded by Nazis.
It is up to us "to provide new guards for [our] future security."
Was that worth reading?


text: Just need to vent alittle, I still have not figured out why some customers are excellent about paying their bills and others are not. I had 2 jobs in the morning, first invoice almost a grand. #1 customer" I will get you a check right now", #2 customer, invoice $200.00, "I will send you a check in 2 days because I want to make sure it works".#2 aka restaurant, I felt like ripping out the part and telling them to kiss my @ss. Does this sound like something someone has done before? Is it proper? What is a tech to do? My response should have been, I can not pay for the food right now, I want to make sure I do not get the shitz.... Thanks for the vent session, Just looking for some insight..


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Dec 21 (Reuters) - Locked-out National Hockey League players voted to give their union the power to file a disclaimer of interest, putting them one step closer to filing class-action anti-trust lawsuits against the league.
The vote passed overwhelmingly, a source familiar with the situation told Reuters on Friday, and gives the executive board of the NHL Players' Association the option of dissolving the union. The board has until Jan. 2 to make a decision.
The players' union declined comment.
Dissolving the union would free players, who are locked in a bitter labor dispute with NHL owners over how to share $3.3 billion in revenue, to file anti-trust lawsuits against the NHL in the courts and have the lockout deemed illegal.
In a pre-emptive strike, the NHL filed a class-action complaint and unfair labor practice charge against the players' union last week.
The moves come with negotiations between the two sides at a standstill and time running out before the league is forced to cancel the entire season.
"I'm not an expert on collective bargaining but there is not going to be a deal done until we're sitting across the table from each other," Toronto Maple Leafs forward Joffrey Lupul said this week.
The players have been locked out since mid-September as negotiations between the two sides have failed to produce a new collective bargaining agreement.
More than 600 regular-season games, 50 percent of a normal season, have been canceled, leading to speculation that the entire season could be called off if an agreement is not reached by mid-January.
Key sticking points revolve around the length of a new contract, rules governing term limits on contracts and the transition rules to help teams get under the salary cap.
The lockout is the NHL's fourth work stoppage in 20 years and first since a lockout forced cancellation of the entire 2004-05 season.
(Reporting by Gene Cherry in Salvo, North Carolina; Editing by Frank Pingue)


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The Men
Open Your Heart
(Sacred Bones)
This is their third album in three years, but Open Your Heart demonstrates that instead of running short on ideas, The Men are just hitting their stride. The Brooklyn band have a well deserved reputation for raw rock riffs, blistering velocity and untethered emotional intensity—and there's plenty of that in evidence. But here there's more melodicism and bigger hooks throughout—the anthemic "Turn It Around" recalls a punkier and more hyped-up Foo Fighters. They're also not afraid to get abstract on tunes like "Oscillation" and "Presence," which use propulsive drones to create a muscular mutant strain of psychedelia. The band also showcase songwriting chops on the raggedly acoustic, country-tinged "Candy." Even these diversions are thrilling, pacing a record that's bursting with energy and ideas. It's one of the best—and smartest—adrenaline shots of the year. —Jeff Jackson
Space Dirt
Blending '70s British rock, SoCal desert sludge and synth-powered psychedelia, HydroElectric creates a musical space that's both laid-back and hard-hitting, layering thick coats of heavy guitar riffage and oozing Moog swirls over solid, mid-tempo grooves. Gradually-building extendo-jams mirror marathon epics by Black Sabbath or Guns 'n' Roses, while intermittent organs shift them into Deep Purple/classic Pink Floyd territory. They're not at all afraid to change keys or time signatures three or four times in a song, but interwoven Chris Cornell-style vocals help to smooth out the odd transitions. Dinosaur Jr. members J Mascis (guitar) and Murph (percussion) make guest appearances on the record, Mascis on the spacey, Bowie-esque "Edge of the World," (which begins with a J.F.K. sample about the moon landing), and Murph on an inspired cover of the Doctor Who theme. —Tom Sturm
(The Leaf Label Ltd)
Chaos theory, a mathematical concept, shows that even disorder has a beautiful structure. Pinata is in no way chaotic, but it manages to take discordant sounds and weave them into a pleasing tapestry. Authoritative beats and structure underpin a musical style that ebbs and flows, creating structures of sound out of musical elements that dissolve and reform once again in new, surprising ways. "Fighter," the heart of the album, differs by using lyrics as the driving force of the song. The next two follow a similar pattern, with lyrics rising above the instruments. "Long Gone" brings things full circle; instruments run the show, with lyrics as background. At times the underlying structure of a song is lost, drowned out or put aside. It usually resurfaces, but when it is lost, the music begins to sound more like random noise than coherent dissonance. —Patrick Kelley


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Top 15 Fathers on Film
Movie Mom picks the top movies featuring dads.
By Nell Minow
The four fathers in Courageous (on DVD January 17th) put their lives on the law for justice, but they also work towards being great fathers to their children. Their plight represents what fatherhood is, and so do the other characters in our gallery.
Some of the dads in these classic films I've selected have to learn how important their children are to them. Others have to learn how to communicate their feelings and the values they consider most important. And others have to learn how to let go. But all of them illuminate our understanding of our own fathers and inspire us to be better parents ourselves.
Interested in showing Courageous at you church? Click here for more information!


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Five Easy Organizing Projects for 2012
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Becky |
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Harummph. Have you lost steam after the initial resolution excitement and are at the point of giving up? Don't do it! Do a small project that will give you a sense of satisfaction and give you your confidence back! Here are some ideas:
ONE: Instead of saying "I'm going to completely reorganize the 10,000 pictures I have in iPhoto into properly titled albums and make books and cards and upload half of them to Flickr and – and – and –," grab one box of old-school actual photos and fill one old-fashioned album.
Don't these beautiful cloth-colored KOLO photo albums make you miss photo albums?
TWO: Instead of tackling that entire closet, tackle one measly drawer, or one simple task like your jewelry. For inspiration, check out Closet Designer to the Stars Lisa Adams' guest posts. She's incredible!
This offer is also good for simply sorting out your notecards and other types of cards. I love this cabinet that Lockette has organized in her studio:
photo by Lockette
THREE: Get that Dopp kit or cosmetic bag ready for your next trip. Seriously, is there anything worse than trying to throw that stuff together at the last minute? I always forget my face stuff or my contact case or something else very important. Also, one of the only pleasurable things about a trip to CVS is perusing the travel-size aisle. While you're at it, clean our your bag and toss all of those ancient hotel conditioners that have 1/2″ left in the bottom, the unraveled Q-Tips and the Advil that escaped the bottle and has stained the inside brown. Better yet, toss the whole thing and get a new bag.
photo: Flowie
photo: Blu Dot
FOUR: As for the office, so maybe you didn't revamp that filing system and sort every single file, putting every piece of paper in alphabetical then chronological order. Take on a drawer and make sure you have a handy spot for your stapler, your writing utensils, your scissors and your post-its, either in said drawer or in an office organizer.
photo: Vitra
FIVE: Tackle the fridge. I know it isn't fun or sexy, but it is hygenic, healthy and extremely satisfying when you are done. Wait for the day before you hit the grocery store, so that it will be as empty as possible. Besides, this is a much easier task than tackling the pantry!
photo from bigchill.com
If you're not psyched to do this, watch an episode of Hoarders. If that doesn't motivate you, take all the pictures and magnets off your fridge and reorganize those!
Also, I've recommended both of these books before, but they really do get your ready to get cracking on projects, I promise:
Unclutter Your Life in One Week! by Erin Doland
The Happy Home Project by Jean Nayar
Let us know if you accomplish any of these, and what other projects you are tackling. I'll be back next week with five more easy-peasy instant gratification projects!
Hi, I'm Becky. I live in Atlanta. Besides acting as the Editorial Director here on Hatch, you can find me talking design over at Houzz. Make me happy — leave a comment!


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OP-ED: WV Must Win its Battle Against Overreach
Wednesday, August 21, 2013 - 17:32 Updated 5 years ago From a News Release by WV Attorney General Patrick Morrisey
This is a critical moment for all West Virginians. Time and again, the executive branch has stepped well beyond its bounds. We all learned in school that Congress passes bills, which are then signed into law by the President. But this President and his EPA are bypassing Congress with rules that attempt to change or simply ignore the laws. That is why our Office has focused like a laser beam on everything EPA-related coming out of Washington, D.C.
As soon as we entered office, we reviewed all pending litigation filed by state attorneys general throughout the U.S. against the EPA to identify where we needed to be involved. And do we ever. Our office has engaged the EPA on many fronts to stand up for the rule of law and protect West Virginia jobs.
Fortunately, we are not alone. We are cooperating with attorneys general across the country and, together with the Governor and West Virginia state agencies, are ensuring that the State speaks with one voice. When this Office joins with the Governor or builds a coalition of five, 10, or even 15 states, we greatly amplify the effect of our efforts.
We are committed to fighting federal overreach and will use every tool at our disposal, whether in a court of law or public opinion. By year end, West Virginia will likely be a party or an amicus*a "friend of the court"*in at least six cases challenging EPA regulations. But that is not all. Over the past few months, this Office has collaborated with the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection on several regulatory matters, authored or joined numerous letters to the EPA, and worked on two white papers addressing the EPA's statutory authority over power plants.
Unfortunately, there has been no shortage of issues when it comes to the EPA. One of the biggest cases in the State related to EPA is National Mining Association v. McCarthy, a case initially filed in 2010 and currently in the federal appeals court in Washington, D.C. Last month, our Office and the DEP joined with the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the City of Pikeville, Kentucky, in defending a federal district court's rejection of several efforts by the EPA to expand its authority over mining operations in Appalachia. We support the lower court's conclusion that EPA has attempted to take for itself responsibilities reserved to the states and even to other federal agencies. And thankfully, we have been supported by many others*including Alabama and 10 other states, as well as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and a number of industry groups*who all filed amicus briefs.
Another critical case to West Virginia is Mingo Logan Coal Co. v. EPA. This case involves EPA's widely-reported attempt to revoke a federal water permit for the Spruce No. 1 Mine years after the permit was issued. The coal company challenged EPA's late-coming "veto," and it won. EPA appealed the ruling, and the appellate court sided with the agency. Now it is up to Mingo Logan Coal Company to decide whether to seek review in the U.S. Supreme Court. If they do, we will be right beside them.
One more case that is more national in scope concerns EPA's effort to regulate carbon dioxide as a pollutant. We have joined an amicus brief urging the U.S. Supreme Court to review the EPA's so-called "Tailoring Rule," which we believe flatly contradicts clear language in the Clean Air Act. If the lower court's ruling is allowed to stand, it will grant unprecedented authority to the EPA and other federal agencies.
The EPA has been running roughshod over West Virginia since the beginning of President Obama's tenure. That agency won't always be easy to defeat since it carries the President's support. But we are committed to the rule of law and preserving West Virginia's future. With a lot of hard work, a unified West Virginia voice, and cooperation with other states, we may at least be able to gum up the EPA's plans for a while and live to fight another day. And rest assured, we will always do our part to stop the EPA from hurting our state, protect West Virginia jobs, and ensure that federal government agencies do not exceed their mission.
Patrick Morrisey is the Attorney General of West Virginia.


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WND Exclusive
Obama, Holder among 'most corrupt politicians'
America's top elected leader makes ethically challenged list yet again
In a capital city where the U.S. Constitution apparently fast is becoming an anachronism, both the nation's chief executive, Barack Obama, and his buddy, chief law enforcer Attorney General Eric Holder, have been named to a list of the nation's "most corrupt politicians."
"Barack Obama apparently believes it is his 'prerogative' to ignore the U.S. Constitution and the rule of law," said the report compiled by Judicial Watch, the Washington-based watchdog on government behavior.
And the allegations connected to Holder go far beyond the cerebral world of political position, statement and argument – into the lives and deaths of real people.
"Revelations from the Operation Fast and Furious scandal suggest that programs approved by the Holder DOJ may have resulted in the needless deaths of many, including a federal law enforcement officer," Judicial Watch said.
Read the inside story on Washington corruption, from the ultimate Washington insider, Jack Abramoff, in "Capitol Punishment."
This year's list, alphabetically, includes: Rep. Spencer Bachus, R-Ala.; former Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev.; Rep. Alcee Hastings, D-Fla.; Attorney General Eric Holder, Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., D-Ill.; Barack Obama; Rep. Laura Richardson, D-Calif.; Rep. David Rivera, R-Fla.; Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif.; and Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska.
Dishonorable mentions for 2011 includes a potential GOP presidential candidate, former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich, as well as former Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C.; Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass.; Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano; Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.; Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y.; Rep. Hal Rogers, R-Ky.; and Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius.
Obama made last year's list after Judicial Watch reminded Washington watchers of Obama's promise regarding "transparency and the rule of law."
"Instead, Americans have suffered through lies, stonewalling, cover-ups, corruption, secrecy, scandal and blatant disregard for the rule of law … this has been the Obama legacy in its first two years," the report said then.
This year's was not a significant improvement.
"Obama makes Judicial Watch's 'Ten Most Wanted' list for a fifth consecutive year. (The former Illinois senator was also a 'Dishonorable Mention' in 2006.) And when it comes to Obama corruption, it may not get any bigger than Solyndra," the 2011 report said.
"Solyndra was once known as the poster child for the Obama administration's massive 'green energy' 'initiative, but it has become the poster child for the corruption that ensues when the government meddles," the report today said. "Solyndra filed for bankruptcy in September 2011, leaving 1,100 workers without jobs and the American taxpayers on the hook for $535 million thanks to an Obama administration stimulus loan guarantee."
Judicial Watch cited Obama's "reticence to release details" but said it's abundantly clear that the Obama administration rushed the Solyndra loan through the approve process "so it could make a splash at a press event."
"The company's main financial backer was a major Obama campaign donor named George Kaiser. While the White House said Kaiser never discussed the loan with White House officials, the evidence suggests this is a lie. … Further demonstrating the political nature of the Obama administration's activities, the Energy Department pressured Solyndra to delay an announcement on layoffs until after the 2010 elections."
Even now, Judicial Watch said, Obama "continues to defend the indefensible."
Other problems for Obama:
- "Despite a ban on funding that Obama signed into law, his administration continues to fund the corrupt and allegedly defunct 'community' organization ACORN," the report said. It cited a grant of nearly $80,000 to the Affordable Housing Centers of America, "the renamed ACORN Housing which has a long history of corrupt activity." Then there's nearly another three-quarters of a million dollars involved, too.
- On Obama's "czars," Judicial Watch said Obama's actions are simply not allowed under the Constitution. The report cited a Politico documentation that Obama is ignoring 2011 spending package requirements to ban certain advisory posts. "In other words, Barack Obama believes he must ignore the U.S. Constitution to protect the U.S. Constitution."
- "In an historic victory for Judicial Watch and an embarrassing defeat for the Obama White House, a federal court ruled on August 17, 2011, that Secret Service White House visitor logs are agency records that are subject to disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act. … The Obama administration now will have to release all records of all visitors to the White House – or explain why White House visits should be kept secret."
- Obama also applied a politics-first attitude toward a labor dispute over Boeing's plan to open a $750 million assembly line in South Carolina. Obama's friends in organized labor objected and labor's friends in the White House responded with a legal action against Boeing.
- "Obama's corrupt Chicago dealings continued to haunt him in 2011," Judicial Watch said, citing Obama's real estate partner, Tony Rezko, who was sentenced to jail. "The FBI continues to withhold from Judicial Watch documents of its historic interview of then-Sen. Obama about the Illinois corruption scandal," the group said.
The list of evidence against Holder was nearly as long as that against Obama. Judicial Watch said his actions regarding the Operation Fast and Furious gun-running scandal, "in which guns were sold to Mexican drug cartels and others, alone should have brought about Holder's departure."
"This reckless insanity seems to have resulted in, among other crimes, the murder of Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry, who was killed in a shootout with Mexican criminals in December 2010. Fast and Furious guns were found at the scene of his death. The Fast and Furious operation by itself should have resulted in Holder's resignation, but it is the cover-up that has prompted serious calls for Holder's ouster," Judicial Watch said.
That, however, is just the tip of the iceberg, the report said.
For example, Holder announced his office no longer would defend the constitutionality of the Defense of Marriage Act – a constitutional responsibility of his office.
"This failure to defend this federal law is unprecedented and raises serious questions as to whether President Obama and Eric Holder are upholding their oaths of office and following the Constitution's command to 'take care that the laws be faithfully executed.'"
There also are the questions about now-Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan's participating in discussions about Obamacare, which is pending before the high court. And the DOJ's decision to drop a case of voter intimidation against the New Black Panther Party was found likely to have been influenced by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the report said.
Further, Judicial Watch has found that Holder's DOJ may be conspiring with Project Vote to boost welfare voter registrations, and Holder has announced his strategy to attack states where lawmakers want to protect against fraud in the voting booth.
For the others on the list:
- Spencer Bachus, R-Ala. – "He has become the face of a congressional 'insider trading' scandal that has rocked the Washington establishment as 2011 draws to a close. Bachus, chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, was one of the principal targets of a '60 Minutes' investigative report on the scandal, which aired on CBS in September 2011. The report was based, at least in part, on the book 'Throw Them All Out' by author Peter Schweizer, which outed a slew of members of Congress who allegedly profited in the financial markets by trading on insider information. Bachus was not the only congressman cited by '60 Minutes' – others included Speaker of the House John Boehner and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi – but the Alabama Republican stood out for his remarkable 'good fortune' in shorting the stock market."
- Former Sen John Ensign, R-Nev. – "John Ensign, former U.S. senator from Nevada and former chairman of the Senate Republican Policy Committee, was forced to resign from office in May 2011 as the result of an investigation by the Senate Ethics Committee. In a scandal that first broke in 2009, Sen. Ensign publicly admitted to an affair with the wife of long-time staffer Douglas Hampton. Ensign then allegedly tried to cover up the affair by bribing the couple with lucrative gifts and political favors. According to 'The New York Times,' after Hampton discovered the affair involving his wife Cynthia, the senator bought his silence by giving him 'a strong boost into a lobbying career.' Ensign asked political backers to find Hampton a job. 'Payments of $96,000 to the Hamptons also were made by Sen. Ensign's parents, who insist this was a gift, not hush money. Once a lobbying job was secured, Sen. Ensign and his chief of staff continued to help Mr. Hampton, advocating his clients' cases directly with federal agencies."
- Rep. Alcee Hastings, D-Fla. – "In a year full of shocking congressional sex scandals, perhaps none is more serious than that involving Florida Rep. Alcee Hastings, who allegedly sexually harassed a female government employee and then engaged in a cruel campaign of retaliation when she rebuffed his advances. (On March 7, 2011, Judicial Watch filed a lawsuit against Hastings on behalf of the victim, Ms. Winsome Packer.) The alleged harassment and retaliation began in 2008 when Hastings (formerly an impeached federal judge) served as chairman of the United States Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe. Ms. Packer served as his employee. According to Judicial Watch's complaint, 'Mr. Hastings' intention was crystal clear: he was sexually attracted to Ms. Packer, wanted a sexual relationship with her, and would help progress her career if she acquiesced to his sexual advances.'"
- Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., D-Ill. – "It took more than two years and two trials, but disgraced former Illinois Governor Rod 'Blago' Blagojevich was finally brought to justice on June 27, 2011, for a number of crimes, including his efforts to 'sell' President Obama's vacant Senate seat to the highest bidder. He became the state's fourth governor, and one of at least 79 Illinois public officials, to be found guilty of a crime since 1972, proving that Illinois has certainly lived up to its reputation as a cesspool of corruption. As the trial unfolded, it became clear that many hands were dirty in the Blago scandal. (See Chicago Mayor and former Obama Chief of Staff Rahm 'Rahmbo' Emanuel, who was finally forced to testify during this second Blago trial – for a whopping five minutes – and President Obama himself, who was interviewed by the FBI in the scandal even before he took office.) But all of the focus now seems to center on Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr. The House Ethics Committee announced on December 2, 2011, that it will continue its investigation into allegations that Jackson or someone acting on his behalf offered to raise campaign cash for then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich in exchange for a Senate appointment in 2008. The committee also released an initial report from the Office of Congressional Ethics that said there was 'probable cause' to believe that Jackson either directed a third party or had knowledge of a third party's effort to convince the since-convicted Blagojevich to appoint Jackson Jr. in exchange for campaign cash."
- Rep. Laura Richardson, D-Calif. – "A first-timer on Judicial Watch's 'Ten Most Wanted' list, Rep. Laura Richardson is in hot water for reportedly misusing her congressional staff for personal and political gain. Rep. Richardson is now under investigation by the House Ethics Committee regarding allegations by former staff member Maria Angel Macias. Macias alleges that she was required by Richardson to order other staffers to run personal errands for the Democrat congresswoman – such as picking up her dry cleaning – and to work on her re-election campaign at taxpayer expense. Richardson's alleged behavior would violate federal law, which protects federal employees from 'being forced by job-related threats or reprisals to donate to political candidates or causes.' House ethics rules also specify that 'in no event may a member or office compel a House employee to do campaign work.'"
- Rep. David Rivera, R-Fla. – Rep. David Rivera, U.S. representative for Florida's 25th congressional district, is mired in numerous ethics controversies stemming from charges of money laundering and tax evasion schemes initiated when Rivera served in the Florida House of Representatives. The Republican congressman, serving his first term, is currently under investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Miami-Dade Police public corruption unit, and the Miami-Dade State Attorney's office. Of particular interest is the investigation by the FBI and the IRS regarding Rep. Rivera's dealings with the Flagler Dog Track, now known as the Magic City Casino. The basis for the investigation relates to payments reportedly totaling as much as $1 million made by the casino to Millennium Marketing in the guise of a consulting contract. Most of the money is said to have been paid in 2008."
- Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif. – Rep. Maxine Waters is one of the most senior and one of the most outspoken members of Congress. She is also one of the most corrupt. In August 2010, an investigative subcommittee of the House Ethics Committee charged Rep. Waters with three counts of violating House rules and ethics regulations in connection with her use of power and influence on behalf of OneUnited Bank. She was expected to face an ethics trial in late 2010, but the committee delayed the trial indefinitely on November 29, 2010, citing newly discovered documentary evidence that may impact proceedings. The delay apparently has less to do with evidence and more to do with infighting on the panel. Ultimately, an outside counsel was retained and a recommendation was expected by January 2, 2012. However, the committee announced that the Waters probe will be extended until July 31, 2012. According to The Associated Press, the charges currently under the House Ethics Committee microscope 'focus on whether Waters broke the rules in requesting federal help [bailout money] for a bank where her husband owned stock and had served on the board of directors.'"
- Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska – Rep. Don Young may have achieved a new level of corruption in 2011. The House Ethics Committee announced just before Christmas that the Alaska Republican Congressman was cleared of allegations by the House Ethics Committee that he exceeded the limit on campaign donations to his legal defense fund – which was set up to defend Young against an entirely different set of corruption charges! There was good reason the House Ethics Committee released this decision after most of official Washington left for the Christmas holiday: because the committee's 'exoneration' is a joke. House ethics rules prohibit contributions from any single source that exceed $5,000. Young received $63,000 from 'twelve companies that…were in fact owned by Gary Chouest, his wife, and his five children, or some combination of those seven individuals.' Despite an independent analysis by the Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE) that the shell-game was a rather transparent violation of the contribution limit, the House Ethics Committee gave Young a free pass because the 12 companies controlled by essentially one individual were 'separate legal entities.'"
Among those givens "mentions," Edwards was picked for being indicted by a grand jury on six felony charges apparently linked to the coverup of an extramarital affair with Rielle Hunter. Gingrich, now running for the GOP nomination for president, previously was reprimanded in Congress for "reckless" disregard for House rules and was targeted in a "scathing special counsel report."
"Gingrich insinuated during one presidential debate that some members of Congress who took money from Fannie and Freddie should go to jail. And yet, over a span of eight years, according to 'Bloomberg News,' The Gingrich Group was paid between $1.6 and $1.8 million by the home mortgage company. At the same time, Freddie Mac was engaged in massive fraud. Gingrich suggested he was a 'historian' for Freddie Mac. But the evidence clearly shows he was 'throwing his weight' behind the two Government Sponsored Enterprises to prop them up, saying in one interview that Fannie and Freddie provided a more 'liquid and stable housing finance system than we would have' without them. Ironically, President Obama, the man who Gingrich is seeking to oust from office, is keeping secret each and every Freddie Mac (and Fannie Mae) document, including those that could shed light on Gingrich's relationship with Freddie," the Judicial Watch report said.
Napolitano, the report said, "presided over a campaign to bypass Congress and provide amnesty to millions of illegal alien lawbreakers all in an obvious attempt to garner more Hispanic votes for Obama's re-election. At first, Napolitano's campaign was begun in stealth. But in 2011 the Obama administration finally admitted that illegal alien amnesty is now the official policy of the United States of America, courtesy of Janet Napolitano's Department of Homeland Security (DHS)."
And Sebelius has kept shrouded in secrecy some 1,472 waivers of Obamacare's requirements given to unions and various companies, Judicial Watch said.
"Judicial Watch filed a lawsuit against HHS on December 30, 2010, and yet the agency refuses to explain to the American people how decisions were made regarding which organizations received or did not receive a waiver. While HHS was disproportionately doling out waivers to unions, JW also obtained documents from HHS that provide new details on a massive, taxpayer-funded, multimedia campaign designed to promote Obamacare. The total cost of this campaign, which notably targets Obama's electoral coalition, could reach as much as $200 million over the next five years."