The Beatles
The famous 'rooftop concert in 1969' their last 'live' performance.
The famous 'rooftop concert in 1969' their last 'live' performance.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Speaking of banks
Guess which country, alone in the industrialized world, has not faced a single bank failure, calls for bailouts or government intervention in the financial or mortgage sectors.
Give up?
It is Canada.
Yup, Canada.
In 2008, the World Economic Forum ranked Canada's banking system the healthiest in the world.
America's banking system is ranked 40th, Britain's is ranked 44th.
Read the rest in Newsweek.
Give up?
It is Canada.
Yup, Canada.
In 2008, the World Economic Forum ranked Canada's banking system the healthiest in the world.
America's banking system is ranked 40th, Britain's is ranked 44th.
Read the rest in Newsweek.
Items in the News
Despite having easy access to the US Treasury's funds, Bank of America and General Motors continue laying off workers.
More in the Charlotte Observer
In England, big-time bank mucky-mucks say they'll sue if the government bans their million-pound-plus bonuses.
More in the London Daily Mail
It is policy at Bank of America, after the death of credit card holders, to guilt grieving family members to pay the balance.
More at WCVB-TV: The Boston Channel
More in the Charlotte Observer
In England, big-time bank mucky-mucks say they'll sue if the government bans their million-pound-plus bonuses.
More in the London Daily Mail
It is policy at Bank of America, after the death of credit card holders, to guilt grieving family members to pay the balance.
More at WCVB-TV: The Boston Channel
Liars and Fools
Today's Liars and Fools are:
Los Angeles Times holds back Limbaugh's most offensive recent quote
Surprise! Surprise! Surprise! Faux's O'Really is a hypocrite!
Plame leaker Rove claims the shrub White House never leaked
Faux News passes off repugican press release as original research
Faux's O'Really chides Obama for calling on blogger at press conference, forgetting the shrub's gay blogger-boy Jeff Gannon of "Talon News"
Faux's Brick says of stimulus package: "It is slavery"
Faux's Handjob lies that stimulus funds "frisbee golf course"
Faux's More-ass uses lie of ACORN funding in stimulus bill in repugican fundraising letter
Politico accuses Obama of fear-mongering
Politico echoes Huckabee's bogus claim that stimulus is "anti-religion", without noting that it's bullshit
Dimbulb, Handjob, and the repugican cabal: An iron triangle of stimulus misinformation
Los Angeles Times holds back Limbaugh's most offensive recent quote
Surprise! Surprise! Surprise! Faux's O'Really is a hypocrite!
Plame leaker Rove claims the shrub White House never leaked
Faux News passes off repugican press release as original research
Faux's O'Really chides Obama for calling on blogger at press conference, forgetting the shrub's gay blogger-boy Jeff Gannon of "Talon News"
Faux's Brick says of stimulus package: "It is slavery"
Faux's Handjob lies that stimulus funds "frisbee golf course"
Faux's More-ass uses lie of ACORN funding in stimulus bill in repugican fundraising letter
Politico accuses Obama of fear-mongering
Politico echoes Huckabee's bogus claim that stimulus is "anti-religion", without noting that it's bullshit
Dimbulb, Handjob, and the repugican cabal: An iron triangle of stimulus misinformation
Salmonella Peanut CEO won't eat his own peanuts, cites Fifth Amendment
In Congressional hearings into Salmonella found in peanuts, Stewart Parnell, owner of Peanut Corp. of America, declined a request by Congressman Greg Walden of Oregon to eat some of his company's own product citing his fifth-amendment protections.
Given what's come out during the hearing, it's no wonder:
Given what's come out during the hearing, it's no wonder:
Charles Deibel, president of Deibel Laboratories Inc., said his company was among those that tested Peanut Corp. products and notified the Georgia plant that salmonella was found. Peanut Corp. sold the products anyway, according to an FDA inspection report...The House panel released e-mails obtained by its investigators showing Parnell ordered products identified with salmonella shipped and quoting his complaints that tests discovering the contaminated food were “costing us huge $$$$$$.”
Thai official rebukes Jolie for refugee plea
A senior Thai diplomat rebuked Hollywood star Angelina Jolie yesterday for speaking out on behalf of Muslim refugees from Burma.
Jolie - who is deeply involved in the plight of refugees in her capacity as a United Nations goodwill ambassador - called on the Thai government to respect the human rights of Burma's Rohinyga "boat people" last week while touring a camp in northern Thailand for other refugees from the military-controlled nation.
The Rohingya, who are denied citizenship in their native land, have been trying to land in Thailand after treacherous sea journeys in recent months only to be towed back to sea and cast adrift by the Thai Navy.
Virasakdi Futrakul, permanent secretary of Thailand's foreign ministry, said Jolie's mission last week was to inspect a camp that houses refugees mostly from Burma's ethnic Karenni minority not deal with the Rohinyga.
"We probably have to warn UNHCR that they should not have comment on this because it was not the purpose of her visit," he said.
UNHCR spokeswoman Kitt McKinsey did not comment on Virasakdi's remark.
As to Jolie - "She was extremely touched by the plight of the Rohingya people. She expressed the hope that the human rights of the Rohingya people will be respected just as the human rights of everyone in the world should be respected," McKinsey said last week.
Jolie - who is deeply involved in the plight of refugees in her capacity as a United Nations goodwill ambassador - called on the Thai government to respect the human rights of Burma's Rohinyga "boat people" last week while touring a camp in northern Thailand for other refugees from the military-controlled nation.
The Rohingya, who are denied citizenship in their native land, have been trying to land in Thailand after treacherous sea journeys in recent months only to be towed back to sea and cast adrift by the Thai Navy.
Virasakdi Futrakul, permanent secretary of Thailand's foreign ministry, said Jolie's mission last week was to inspect a camp that houses refugees mostly from Burma's ethnic Karenni minority not deal with the Rohinyga.
"We probably have to warn UNHCR that they should not have comment on this because it was not the purpose of her visit," he said.
UNHCR spokeswoman Kitt McKinsey did not comment on Virasakdi's remark.
As to Jolie - "She was extremely touched by the plight of the Rohingya people. She expressed the hope that the human rights of the Rohingya people will be respected just as the human rights of everyone in the world should be respected," McKinsey said last week.
Married Life
A married couple was in a terrible accident where the woman's face was severely burned.
The doctor told the husband that they couldn't graft any skin from her body because she was too skinny.
So the husband offered to donate some of his own skin.
However, the only skin on his body that the doctor felt was suitable would have to come from his buttocks.
The husband and wife agreed that they would tell no one about where the skin came from, and requested that the doctor also honor their secret.
After all, this was a very delicate matter.
After the surgery was completed, everyone was astounded at the woman's new beauty.
She looked more beautiful than she ever had before!
All her friends and relatives just went on and on about her youthful beauty!
One day, she was alone with her husband, and she was overcome with emotion at his sacrifice.
She said, "Dear, I just want to thank you for everything you did for me. How can I possibly repay you?"
"My darling," he replied, "I get all the thanks I need every time I see your mother kiss you on the cheek."
The doctor told the husband that they couldn't graft any skin from her body because she was too skinny.
So the husband offered to donate some of his own skin.
However, the only skin on his body that the doctor felt was suitable would have to come from his buttocks.
The husband and wife agreed that they would tell no one about where the skin came from, and requested that the doctor also honor their secret.
After all, this was a very delicate matter.
After the surgery was completed, everyone was astounded at the woman's new beauty.
She looked more beautiful than she ever had before!
All her friends and relatives just went on and on about her youthful beauty!
One day, she was alone with her husband, and she was overcome with emotion at his sacrifice.
She said, "Dear, I just want to thank you for everything you did for me. How can I possibly repay you?"
"My darling," he replied, "I get all the thanks I need every time I see your mother kiss you on the cheek."
It's a Blond world
A blond reports for her university final exam.
The exam consists mainly of true or false questions.
She takes her seat in the examination hall, stares at the question paper for five minutes, and then in a fit of inspiration takes her purse out, removes a coin and starts tossing the coin.
She marks the answer sheet 'true' for heads and 'false' for tails.
Within thirty minutes she is all done, whereas the rest of the class is still working furiously.
During the next few minutes, she is seen desperately throwing the coin, swearing and sweating.
The moderator, alarmed, approaches her and asks what is happening.
"I finished the exam," she replies. "Now I'm rechecking my answers."
The exam consists mainly of true or false questions.
She takes her seat in the examination hall, stares at the question paper for five minutes, and then in a fit of inspiration takes her purse out, removes a coin and starts tossing the coin.
She marks the answer sheet 'true' for heads and 'false' for tails.
Within thirty minutes she is all done, whereas the rest of the class is still working furiously.
During the next few minutes, she is seen desperately throwing the coin, swearing and sweating.
The moderator, alarmed, approaches her and asks what is happening.
"I finished the exam," she replies. "Now I'm rechecking my answers."
Student injured on bus as friend shows off gun
A middle school student in North Carolina is recovering after being shot in the leg aboard a school bus when a friend showed off a handgun.
The Wake County School System says the shooting occurred this morning.
Officials didn't name the students.
School system spokesman Michael Evans says the wounded student was grazed in the leg by a .22-caliber bullet.
The boy was taken to Rex Hospital where he was in good conditions and was expected to be released soon.
Evans said a student apparently found a gun at home and was bringing it to school in a book bag. When he took it out to show his friend, the gun discharged.
The boy with the pistol was being interviewed by investigators.
There was no word on whether anyone would be charged.
Whomever let the boy take the gun should be charged!
The Wake County School System says the shooting occurred this morning.
Officials didn't name the students.
School system spokesman Michael Evans says the wounded student was grazed in the leg by a .22-caliber bullet.
The boy was taken to Rex Hospital where he was in good conditions and was expected to be released soon.
Evans said a student apparently found a gun at home and was bringing it to school in a book bag. When he took it out to show his friend, the gun discharged.
The boy with the pistol was being interviewed by investigators.
There was no word on whether anyone would be charged.
*****
Whomever let the boy take the gun should be charged!
Economic Meltdown Continues
Even the obscenely wealthy are feeling the recession as it hits hard!
A federal bankruptcy judge says he will appoint an outside examiner to investigate the proposed sale of The Yellowstone Club, following accusations of collusion between the club's owner and its would-be buyer.
The millionaires-only club, now under chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, fell almost $400 million into debt last year after its former owner diverted hundreds of millions of dollars from the enterprise. - More details here
Times has certainly changed for The Yellowstone Club, an ultra-luxurious retreat for the wealthy including Bill Gates and Dan Quayle which was once to be the site of a single home to sell for $155 million. now it is more than $400 million in debt. - More details here
And here I was thinking the shrub and the cabal looked after their 'friends' ... oh, yeah, that's right they don't have any.
A federal bankruptcy judge says he will appoint an outside examiner to investigate the proposed sale of The Yellowstone Club, following accusations of collusion between the club's owner and its would-be buyer.
The millionaires-only club, now under chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, fell almost $400 million into debt last year after its former owner diverted hundreds of millions of dollars from the enterprise. - More details here
*****
Times has certainly changed for The Yellowstone Club, an ultra-luxurious retreat for the wealthy including Bill Gates and Dan Quayle which was once to be the site of a single home to sell for $155 million. now it is more than $400 million in debt. - More details here
*****
And here I was thinking the shrub and the cabal looked after their 'friends' ... oh, yeah, that's right they don't have any.
Texas police commiting piracy
And you thought it was just in Somali waters where pirates plied their trade didn't you ...
A two-decade-old state law that grants authorities the power to seize property used in crimes is wielded by some agencies against people who never are charged with — much less convicted of — criminal activity.Law enforcement authorities in this East Texas town of 1,000 people seized property from at least 140 motorists between 2006 and 2008, and, to date, filed criminal charges against fewer than half, according to a review of court documents by the San Antonio Express-News.
Virtually anything of value was up for grabs: cash, cell phones, personal jewelry, a pair of sneakers, and often, the very car that was being driven through town.
Some affidavits filed by officers relied on the presence of seemingly innocuous property as the only evidence that a crime had occurred.
Linda Dorman, an Akron, Ohio, great-grandmother had $4,000 in cash taken from her by local authorities when she was stopped while driving through town after visiting Houston in April 2007. Court records make no mention that anything illegal was found in her van. She’s still hoping for the return of what she calls “her life savings.”
Dorman’s attorney, David Guillory, calls the roadside stops and seizures in Tenaha “highway piracy,” undertaken by a couple of law enforcement officers whose agencies get to keep most of what was seized.
Obama moment yields offers for McDonald's worker
A McDonald's worker who got President Obama's attention at a town hall meeting in Florida says his job prospects were super-sized by the spotlight.
Nineteen-year-old Julio Osegueda told CBS' "Early Show" today that he has gotten two offers since the televised exchange.
The communications major at Edison State College said a radio station offered him an internship and a local baseball team owner wants him to broadcast the home opener in April.
Osegueda told Obama on Tuesday that he had worked at McDonald's for more than four years because he couldn't find another job.
OK, so where is my non-Mcjob? I already have my degrees.
Nineteen-year-old Julio Osegueda told CBS' "Early Show" today that he has gotten two offers since the televised exchange.
The communications major at Edison State College said a radio station offered him an internship and a local baseball team owner wants him to broadcast the home opener in April.
Osegueda told Obama on Tuesday that he had worked at McDonald's for more than four years because he couldn't find another job.
*****
OK, so where is my non-Mcjob? I already have my degrees.
Woman who sang about fire charged with 7 arsons
Police in a Philadelphia suburb say a 19-year-old woman accused of arson was caught on a surveillance camera singing, "The fire department is going to be mad at me."
Police say Amanda Gessner touched off 7 blazes in trash and brush between 3 a.m. and 5:45 a.m. Tuesday within blocks of where she lives in Upper Darby Township.
Officials say Gessner was witnessed earlier in the evening at a local convenience store singing the ditty about the fire department.
Her tune was caught on the store's surveillance camera.
One fire damaged a home where a family of four was sleeping.
They escaped without injury.
Gessner is being held on $100,000 bail, charged with arson and related offenses.
Authorities say they have no reason to believe she is connected to the recent arsons in Coatesville, a few miles away.
Want to know the definition of 'stupid'? Read the story above again.
Police say Amanda Gessner touched off 7 blazes in trash and brush between 3 a.m. and 5:45 a.m. Tuesday within blocks of where she lives in Upper Darby Township.
Officials say Gessner was witnessed earlier in the evening at a local convenience store singing the ditty about the fire department.
Her tune was caught on the store's surveillance camera.
One fire damaged a home where a family of four was sleeping.
They escaped without injury.
Gessner is being held on $100,000 bail, charged with arson and related offenses.
Authorities say they have no reason to believe she is connected to the recent arsons in Coatesville, a few miles away.
*****
Want to know the definition of 'stupid'? Read the story above again.
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as well as the states of ...
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