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Cleveland Leader: John Kasich Defends Increasing Salaries of His Top Staff (published 1/8/11)

On Friday, it was revealed that incoming Ohio Governor John Kasich planned to give some of his top staff significant raises, while continuing to preach budget cuts, fiscal responsibility, and how unions and public sector employees are the downfall of our society. Many Ohioans were understandably outraged.

In the midst of all this budget belt tightening, how can John Kasich be paying his staff significantly more than what the staff of former Governor Ted Strickland was paid?

More: Governor’s Office Salaries Going WAY Up Under Kasich

Strickland’s Chief of Staff John Haseley makes $122,990/year but Kasich’s incoming Chief of Staff Beth Hansen is going to receive $170,000. This is more money than every cabinet member but 3, more than the Governor and Lieutenant Governor, more than the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, the Attorney General, Treasurer, Auditor, Speaker and Senate President!

And while John Keeling doesn’t appear to be on the list yet (it’s still very incomplete), Jai Chabria is.

For his long-time friend and the second half of his two man office at Lehman, John Kasich made up a brand new position: Special Assistant to the Governor. And a brand new salary as well: $145,000.

The Governor himself only makes $141,708!

How about $1 salaries until the budget is fixed?

SI.com: London 2012 countdown clock stops after 17 hours

A giant clock counting down to the 2012 Olympics stopped on Tuesday, less than a day after being started in London’s Trafalgar Square.

The digital clock, which is made by Olympic sponsor Omega, was stuck at 500 days, 7 hours, 6 minutes, 56 seconds.

“We are very disappointed that it has stopped working,” Omega said in a statement to The Associated Press. “It’s obviously a technical fault and we’ve got people working on it now.”

First person footage of the Tsunami in Japan. Shows the raw power of the Tsunami.

Micgadget.com is offering the Mark Zuckerberg or “POKING INVENTOR” action figure for sale. The sculpting detail is incredible.
Unfortunately they are sold out of the Steve Jobs figure or I probably would have gotten one of those.

I’m 5′ 11″ and I can’t even dream of dunking like that is. Jacob Tucker’s explosiveness is breathtaking.
 

This is pretty cool.  This person took a stock Battlestar Galactica Model from Moebius Model and modified it to exactly match the on screen version.

I was happy to see that the Christchurch Art Gallery made it through the earthquake intact.  It’s a beautiful glass and steel building that made it through because it was designed to withstand earthquakes like this.  I took this picture in 2006.

press.co.nz: Christchurch Art Gallery built to highest standard

I’m turning 41 this month so to AARP this must mean “fresh meat”!

Seeing this, I don’t know whether to laugh or cry.  I’m sure AARP is a fine organization, but this is the last card I’m thinking about carrying around right now.

ESPN.com: Jets cut Damien Woody, Kris Jenkins

Also cut was Vernon Gholston the sixth overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft from Ohio State.

In three years, Gholston played in 45 games, including five starts, producing only 32 total tackles. He made $21 million in guarantees from his rookie contract, which breaks down to $636,000 per tackle.

Gholston had a $9 million escalator clause in his contract for one sack or forced fumble or fumble recovery, but never got it.

The guy is a physical specimen, but couldn’t get just one sack to make 9 million more dollars.