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marmar
marmar's Journal
marmar's Journal
August 25, 2015
Justin Bieber Look-Alike Reported Missing In West Hollywood
Tobias Strebel spent almost $100,000 on plastic surgery to look like the pop star.
A man who famously spent almost $100,000 in plastic surgeries to look like Justin Bieber has been reported missing.
Tobias Strebel, 35, disappeared on Aug. 18, according to ABC 7. He was last seen in West Hollywood, and could be driving a 2009 Toyota Camry, police say.
Strebel's friends are worried.
"This is very unusual for him to be missing. He hasn't done any, not shown up for no reason, no note or anything," Mel Espinoza told the station.
The Los Angeles Police Department doesn't consider the disappearance to be a "critical missing" case because Strebel isn't a minor and doesn't suffer from a medical condition, Fox 11 Los Angeles reports. ...............(more)
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/justin-bieber-look-alike-reported-missing-in-west-hollywood_55db6c55e4b08cd3359cda9c?utm_hp_ref=weird-news&kvcommref=mostpopular
Justin Bieber Look-Alike Reported Missing In West Hollywood
Justin Bieber Look-Alike Reported Missing In West Hollywood
Tobias Strebel spent almost $100,000 on plastic surgery to look like the pop star.
A man who famously spent almost $100,000 in plastic surgeries to look like Justin Bieber has been reported missing.
Tobias Strebel, 35, disappeared on Aug. 18, according to ABC 7. He was last seen in West Hollywood, and could be driving a 2009 Toyota Camry, police say.
Strebel's friends are worried.
"This is very unusual for him to be missing. He hasn't done any, not shown up for no reason, no note or anything," Mel Espinoza told the station.
The Los Angeles Police Department doesn't consider the disappearance to be a "critical missing" case because Strebel isn't a minor and doesn't suffer from a medical condition, Fox 11 Los Angeles reports. ...............(more)
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/justin-bieber-look-alike-reported-missing-in-west-hollywood_55db6c55e4b08cd3359cda9c?utm_hp_ref=weird-news&kvcommref=mostpopular
August 25, 2015
from Huffington Post:
James Altucher
Author and Entrepreneur
Why Your 401K Is a Scam!
Posted: 08/20/2015 12:46 am EDT Updated: 08/20/2015 10:59 am EDT
I hate writing about finance. The most violent, ugly people in the world work in the traditional finance industry.
I write something and instead of responding with a well-reasoned argument, they write things like "James Altucher is a wacko" or "James Altucher is a scumbag".
I've written for or appeared on the Wall St Journal, the Financial Times, CNBC, Fox Business, ABC, and many other finance sites. I've run hedge funds, funds of hedge funds, I've day traded, i've run a VC fund.
.....(snip)......
Almost 100% of financial journalism is BS, written by people who don't know anything about finance.
Almost everyone writing in the finance world has an agenda.
.....(snip).....
4) Assumption on market returns.
The market has returned somewhere between 7-10% per year depending on what time period you look at, what index, etc.
The average investor has returned 1.8% per year over the past 40 years. The psychology of investing is very difficult. In 2009, many investors pulled out of the market, right before a 100% upward move.
And when I say, "many investors", I'm not talking about you - I'm talking about the best mutual fund managers in the business. .................(more)
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/james-altucher/why-your-401k-is-a-scam_b_8012610.html
Why Your 401K Is a Scam!
from Huffington Post:
James Altucher
Author and Entrepreneur
Why Your 401K Is a Scam!
Posted: 08/20/2015 12:46 am EDT Updated: 08/20/2015 10:59 am EDT
I hate writing about finance. The most violent, ugly people in the world work in the traditional finance industry.
I write something and instead of responding with a well-reasoned argument, they write things like "James Altucher is a wacko" or "James Altucher is a scumbag".
I've written for or appeared on the Wall St Journal, the Financial Times, CNBC, Fox Business, ABC, and many other finance sites. I've run hedge funds, funds of hedge funds, I've day traded, i've run a VC fund.
.....(snip)......
Almost 100% of financial journalism is BS, written by people who don't know anything about finance.
Almost everyone writing in the finance world has an agenda.
.....(snip).....
4) Assumption on market returns.
The market has returned somewhere between 7-10% per year depending on what time period you look at, what index, etc.
The average investor has returned 1.8% per year over the past 40 years. The psychology of investing is very difficult. In 2009, many investors pulled out of the market, right before a 100% upward move.
And when I say, "many investors", I'm not talking about you - I'm talking about the best mutual fund managers in the business. .................(more)
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/james-altucher/why-your-401k-is-a-scam_b_8012610.html
August 25, 2015
(In These Times) As schools across Chicago begin the cleaning and organizing process leading up to the first day of school on September 8, one will stay shuttered. Dyett High School, in on the edge of the Bronzeville neighborhood, won’t be opening its doors this year.
The high school has long been in the process of closing. Chicago Public Schools (CPS) announced in 2012 that Dyett would be “phased out,” meaning after 2012 no new students would be admitted, as a result of low test scores, and the building would be closed when the last class graduated.
Three years later, Dyett’s doors are now closed. But the fight to reopen the school is heating up. On Monday, August 17, 12 parents and neighborhood activists began a hunger strike, under the banner of the Coalition to Revitalize Dyett High School, to demand that CPS make a decision on the future of the school and reopen it as a district-run, open-enrollment, neighborhood school that would allow all students to attend regardless of grades.
CPS announced last year that it would consider proposals for a new manager and school vision for Dyett. But after months of delays, most recently an August meeting rescheduled for September, and with a long history of mistrust between community groups and the district, community members say they’ve waited long enough. ..............(more)
http://inthesetimes.com/working/entry/18341/dyett-high-school-closure-hunger-strike-bronzeville
Chicago Parents Enter Week 2 of Hunger Strike Protesting Corporate Ed Reform and Dyett HS Closure
(In These Times) As schools across Chicago begin the cleaning and organizing process leading up to the first day of school on September 8, one will stay shuttered. Dyett High School, in on the edge of the Bronzeville neighborhood, won’t be opening its doors this year.
The high school has long been in the process of closing. Chicago Public Schools (CPS) announced in 2012 that Dyett would be “phased out,” meaning after 2012 no new students would be admitted, as a result of low test scores, and the building would be closed when the last class graduated.
Three years later, Dyett’s doors are now closed. But the fight to reopen the school is heating up. On Monday, August 17, 12 parents and neighborhood activists began a hunger strike, under the banner of the Coalition to Revitalize Dyett High School, to demand that CPS make a decision on the future of the school and reopen it as a district-run, open-enrollment, neighborhood school that would allow all students to attend regardless of grades.
CPS announced last year that it would consider proposals for a new manager and school vision for Dyett. But after months of delays, most recently an August meeting rescheduled for September, and with a long history of mistrust between community groups and the district, community members say they’ve waited long enough. ..............(more)
http://inthesetimes.com/working/entry/18341/dyett-high-school-closure-hunger-strike-bronzeville
August 25, 2015
Published on Aug 24, 2015
Tonight on The Big Picture, Thom takes a look at the U.S. and global markets and discusses the state of both economies.
Dr. Richard Wolff, Professor of Economics Emeritus at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and author of “Democracy at Work: A Cure for Capitalism joins Thom to talk about Monday’s historic lows in the financial markets. Richard Wolff breaks down China’s economy and if the devaluation of the yuan is the root to this market meltdown. Then Thom and Richard take a look at the U.S. economy and review wage growth, inequality, and pensions.
Professor Richard Wolff with Thom Hartmann on the real state of the global economy
Published on Aug 24, 2015
Tonight on The Big Picture, Thom takes a look at the U.S. and global markets and discusses the state of both economies.
Dr. Richard Wolff, Professor of Economics Emeritus at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and author of “Democracy at Work: A Cure for Capitalism joins Thom to talk about Monday’s historic lows in the financial markets. Richard Wolff breaks down China’s economy and if the devaluation of the yuan is the root to this market meltdown. Then Thom and Richard take a look at the U.S. economy and review wage growth, inequality, and pensions.
August 25, 2015
Paris may be for lovers, but on September 27, the French capital will also be for walkers, bikers, and other decidedly non-automotive travelers. Sponsored by the city government, “Une Journée Sans Voiture” (“A Day Without a Car”) will see streets across town shut down (or “opened up,” depending on how you look at it) in order to make things a little easier for the native Parisians and tourists alike, who are sick of the city’s traffic, and the noise and pollution it causes as well.
Paris’ Mayor Anne Hidalgo announced the event this past Spring, tweeting a picture of the city’s famous Avenue des Champs-Élysées, completely car-free:
According to the Une Journée Sans Voiture webpage, areas that will be set aside solely for pedestrians include the city’s 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 10th and 11th municipal zones, as well as streets around the Eiffel Tower, the Bois de Boulogne public park and the Champs-Élysées. And while the car ban is not absolute (government vehicles, for instance, will be allowed to drive in the affected areas, as will people who themselves live in those neighborhoods) they are widespread enough to have the capacity to dramatically change the way people exist in the city.
Paris’ experiment with car-less streets is scheduled to come fresh on the heels of a similar ban in the (much smaller) European capital city of Stockholm, Sweden. Inhabitat points out that the day without cars also coincides with both European Mobility week and the COP21 United Nations climate conference. ...................(more)
http://magazine.good.is/articles/paris-car-free-for-a-day-september-27
Ooh-La-La! Paris Is Going Car-Free for a Great Cause
Paris may be for lovers, but on September 27, the French capital will also be for walkers, bikers, and other decidedly non-automotive travelers. Sponsored by the city government, “Une Journée Sans Voiture” (“A Day Without a Car”) will see streets across town shut down (or “opened up,” depending on how you look at it) in order to make things a little easier for the native Parisians and tourists alike, who are sick of the city’s traffic, and the noise and pollution it causes as well.
Paris’ Mayor Anne Hidalgo announced the event this past Spring, tweeting a picture of the city’s famous Avenue des Champs-Élysées, completely car-free:
According to the Une Journée Sans Voiture webpage, areas that will be set aside solely for pedestrians include the city’s 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 10th and 11th municipal zones, as well as streets around the Eiffel Tower, the Bois de Boulogne public park and the Champs-Élysées. And while the car ban is not absolute (government vehicles, for instance, will be allowed to drive in the affected areas, as will people who themselves live in those neighborhoods) they are widespread enough to have the capacity to dramatically change the way people exist in the city.
Paris’ experiment with car-less streets is scheduled to come fresh on the heels of a similar ban in the (much smaller) European capital city of Stockholm, Sweden. Inhabitat points out that the day without cars also coincides with both European Mobility week and the COP21 United Nations climate conference. ...................(more)
http://magazine.good.is/articles/paris-car-free-for-a-day-september-27
August 25, 2015
from Dissent magazine:
Europe: What the Greek Memorandum Means
James Galbraith and Daniel Munevar ▪ August 24, 2015
It is a lie from the first line. “Greece has requested support from its European partners. . . .” Thus begins the “Memorandum of Understanding for a three-year ESM programme” (MoU), which sets the conditions with which Greece must comply in order to avoid being ruled in default on its debts.
The reality is that the Greek prime minister, Alexis Tsipras, was bludgeoned into accepting the terms that follow in this long and depressing document, under threat that the banking system of his country, entirely controlled by the European Central Bank, would otherwise be demolished, and that he would be forced to manage a disorderly exit from the euro, for which his government did not feel—and for which in fact it wasn’t—decently prepared.
For what purpose, this supposed support? The document continues: “to restore sustainable growth, create jobs, reduce inequalities, and to address the risks to its own financial stability and to that of the euro area.” Let us take these up in turn.
“Restore sustainable growth.” In reality Greece has not enjoyed sustainable growth under the euro, which is to say, not since 1999 at least. Growth in the entire period before 2010 was built on unsustainable debt, followed since then by deep and ongoing decline.
“Create jobs.” Here the record of the previous memorandums, in force since 2010 and highly similar to the present one, is not reassuring. Under their guidance, Greek unemployment has reached 29 percent overall and around 60 percent for the young, with no sign of improvement so far. ......................(more)
http://www.dissentmagazine.org/online_articles/europe-greece-memorandum-understanding-mou-galbraith-munevar
Europe: What the Greek Memorandum Means
from Dissent magazine:
Europe: What the Greek Memorandum Means
James Galbraith and Daniel Munevar ▪ August 24, 2015
It is a lie from the first line. “Greece has requested support from its European partners. . . .” Thus begins the “Memorandum of Understanding for a three-year ESM programme” (MoU), which sets the conditions with which Greece must comply in order to avoid being ruled in default on its debts.
The reality is that the Greek prime minister, Alexis Tsipras, was bludgeoned into accepting the terms that follow in this long and depressing document, under threat that the banking system of his country, entirely controlled by the European Central Bank, would otherwise be demolished, and that he would be forced to manage a disorderly exit from the euro, for which his government did not feel—and for which in fact it wasn’t—decently prepared.
For what purpose, this supposed support? The document continues: “to restore sustainable growth, create jobs, reduce inequalities, and to address the risks to its own financial stability and to that of the euro area.” Let us take these up in turn.
“Restore sustainable growth.” In reality Greece has not enjoyed sustainable growth under the euro, which is to say, not since 1999 at least. Growth in the entire period before 2010 was built on unsustainable debt, followed since then by deep and ongoing decline.
“Create jobs.” Here the record of the previous memorandums, in force since 2010 and highly similar to the present one, is not reassuring. Under their guidance, Greek unemployment has reached 29 percent overall and around 60 percent for the young, with no sign of improvement so far. ......................(more)
http://www.dissentmagazine.org/online_articles/europe-greece-memorandum-understanding-mou-galbraith-munevar
August 25, 2015
Published on Aug 23, 2015
"Much like Donald Trump today, at one point Newt Gingrich held the frontrunner position in the 2012 Republican primary election. His campaign plodded on using borrowed money for months after most people realized Gingrich didn't have a chance, and when Newt 2012 finally ended, it crashed in a heap of debt that may never be repaid.
The campaign still owes $4.6 million to dozens of businesses that provided things like transportation, voter canvassing and yard signs. The former speaker of the House’s debts put him in company with fringe weirdo Lyndon LaRouche, a perennial presidential pretender since the 1980s who owes $3.2 million across four campaign accounts.”*
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/newt-2012-campaign-debts_55b65859e4b0224d8832dbcc
Newt Gingrich, debt deadbeat
Published on Aug 23, 2015
"Much like Donald Trump today, at one point Newt Gingrich held the frontrunner position in the 2012 Republican primary election. His campaign plodded on using borrowed money for months after most people realized Gingrich didn't have a chance, and when Newt 2012 finally ended, it crashed in a heap of debt that may never be repaid.
The campaign still owes $4.6 million to dozens of businesses that provided things like transportation, voter canvassing and yard signs. The former speaker of the House’s debts put him in company with fringe weirdo Lyndon LaRouche, a perennial presidential pretender since the 1980s who owes $3.2 million across four campaign accounts.”*
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/newt-2012-campaign-debts_55b65859e4b0224d8832dbcc
August 24, 2015
(Detroit Free Press) LANSING — The Business Office for the House of Representatives has found both misconduct and misuse of taxpayer resources by state Reps. Todd Courser and Cindy Gamrat, two lawmakers caught up in a sex scandal and clumsy attempt at a coverup.
House Business Office director Tim Bowlin said he's turned over the report to an outside counsel for an independent review.
"Asking an outside counsel to review the report is a normal process to protect the privacy and confidentiality of affected individuals and ensure compliance with Human Resources regulations. The findings will be made public once the legal review has been completed," Bowlin said in a statement.
Speaker of the House Kevin Cotter, R-Mt. Pleasant, who received a copy of the report Monday morning, said: "there is troubling evidence of misconduct. I am directing my legal counsel to review the preliminary findings for the purposes of any further disciplinary actions."
Contents of the report aren't expected to be released for a few days. ................(more)
http://www.freep.com/story/news/politics/2015/08/24/house-business-office-finds-misconduct-misuse-taxpayer-resources-courser-gamrat/32278381/
Teabaggers hate spending taxpayer money on anything, except covering up their extramarital affairs..
(Detroit Free Press) LANSING — The Business Office for the House of Representatives has found both misconduct and misuse of taxpayer resources by state Reps. Todd Courser and Cindy Gamrat, two lawmakers caught up in a sex scandal and clumsy attempt at a coverup.
House Business Office director Tim Bowlin said he's turned over the report to an outside counsel for an independent review.
"Asking an outside counsel to review the report is a normal process to protect the privacy and confidentiality of affected individuals and ensure compliance with Human Resources regulations. The findings will be made public once the legal review has been completed," Bowlin said in a statement.
Speaker of the House Kevin Cotter, R-Mt. Pleasant, who received a copy of the report Monday morning, said: "there is troubling evidence of misconduct. I am directing my legal counsel to review the preliminary findings for the purposes of any further disciplinary actions."
Contents of the report aren't expected to be released for a few days. ................(more)
http://www.freep.com/story/news/politics/2015/08/24/house-business-office-finds-misconduct-misuse-taxpayer-resources-courser-gamrat/32278381/
August 24, 2015
(CBC News) Toronto police warned hackers of the Ashley Madison infidelity website that their actions "won't be tolerated," and said there are two unconfirmed suicides linked to the breach.
"This hack is one of the largest data breaches in the world," said Staff Supt. Bryce Evans at a Monday morning news conference.
More than 30 million email addresses and some credit card data were released as a result of the hack last month.
"Your actions are illegal and won't be tolerated," said Evans about a case also now being investigated by Canada's privacy commissioner.
He didn't give any further details where the unconfirmed suicide cases may have occurred. Evans also said there have been reports of hate crimes connected to the hack. ..................(more)
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ashley-madison-hack-2-unconfirmed-suicides-linked-to-breach-toronto-police-say-1.3201432
Ashley Madison hack: 2 unconfirmed suicides linked to breach, Toronto police say
(CBC News) Toronto police warned hackers of the Ashley Madison infidelity website that their actions "won't be tolerated," and said there are two unconfirmed suicides linked to the breach.
"This hack is one of the largest data breaches in the world," said Staff Supt. Bryce Evans at a Monday morning news conference.
More than 30 million email addresses and some credit card data were released as a result of the hack last month.
"Your actions are illegal and won't be tolerated," said Evans about a case also now being investigated by Canada's privacy commissioner.
He didn't give any further details where the unconfirmed suicide cases may have occurred. Evans also said there have been reports of hate crimes connected to the hack. ..................(more)
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ashley-madison-hack-2-unconfirmed-suicides-linked-to-breach-toronto-police-say-1.3201432
August 24, 2015
California: Hearing on Rail Improvement, Expansion Packs Room in Downtown Modesto
McClatchy, via Mass Transit Mag:
Residents and community leaders from as far as Santa Clara, Castro Valley, Fresno, Sacramento and even Mount Shasta filled the basement chambers of Tenth Street Place in downtown Modesto on Friday morning for a hearing on improving and expanding passenger rail service.
The informational hearing hosted by Assemblyman Adam Gray, D-Merced, focused on the Altamont Corridor Express, which runs from Stockton to the East Bay and Silicon Valley, and Amtrak's San Joaquin line, which skirts Modesto on its way from Bakersfield to Sacramento and the East Bay.
Amtrak recognizes that much of its service works only for leisure travelers and wants to attract business commuters with expanded schedules. ACE hopes to extend a line from Lathrop to Modesto by 2018 or '19 and to Merced as soon as 2022 or '23. Linking to the Bay Area Rapid Transit system is a longer-term goal and one that drew a lot of attention Friday.
Gray, who sits on the Assembly Select Committee on Rail, was joined for the hearing by Assemblywoman Kristin Olsen, R-Riverbank, and state Sens. Cathleen Galgiani, D-Stockton, and Anthony Cannella, R-Ceres, showing bipartisan support to get funding to improve services. ..................(more)
http://www.masstransitmag.com/news/12106468/hearing-on-rail-improvement-expansion-packs-room-in-downtown-modesto
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Gender: MaleHometown: Detroit, MI
Member since: Fri Oct 29, 2004, 12:18 AM
Number of posts: 77,078
