today’s news and information gleanings from here and there! 

• Today’s Weather! 
• Today in History!
• Traffic Cam Rts. 30 & 441
• The Official Time! – Population Clock (U.S. and World)

Quote for today… “Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passions, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence.” – John Adams

• Merchandiser article details home “facelift program” – “In the past, the borough showcased some of these residences through Home of the Month, an initiative run by Bill Kloidt to highlight a local home that went above and beyond in the areas of decorating and maintenance. Now, area homes may benefit from a facelift through a new program, which will provide free decorating consultation to homeowners in Columbia borough. This program was created by Kloidt and his daughter, decorating adviser Liz Smith, and is being initiated by the Columbia Park Rangers in partnership with Fricke Hardware.”

• Shrinking: “The middle class is receiving less of America’s total income, declining to its smallest share in decades as median wages stagnate in the economic doldrums and wealth concentrates at the top.” – Comcast Finance

• Robert Reich’s column outs Paul Ryan’s “faux populism” – He says, “Ryan is correct when he says ‘it’s the people who are politically connected, it’s the people who have access to Washington that get the breaks.’ But his faux populism obscures the main point. A much smaller government still dominated by money would continue to do the bidding of billionaires like casino mogul Sheldon Adelson, energy moguls like the Koch bothers, military contractors, and other high rollers now actively trying to put Ryan and Romney into the White House.”

• PPL rate cut: “PPL Electric Utilities residential customers who don’t shop for alternatives will see electricity costs drop less than a $1 effective Sept. 1. The slight adjustment comes as utilities update their generation rates, about two-thirds of a monthly bill. PPL … says wholesale energy costs have generally eased thanks to declining natural gas prices, part of what influences generation rates.” – Lehighvalleylive.com

• “Legitimate-rape” guy ” “‘doesn’t care” about pressure from GOP leaders – Harrisburg Patriot-News [NOTE: Why would he care what others (especially women who have been raped) think?]