October 29, 2014

"Flip This House" Seminar...Coming to Chicago. Saw a TV Commercial for this..Never hear of it..so.

Sometime coming up..is a " Flip the House ' seminar..saw an ad for it on Ch 26 in Chicago....I think it is this weekend or next..

Sounded too good to be true..So I googled ...."Flip This House...scam"...found a number of entries..sure looks like a scam, just to sell more lessons, and more materials..and more at outrageous prices...pass it on..If you look up "Flip This House" Scam.. at Google....you will find the information too...Lots of info on this scam.
......evidently they make more money selling lessons and materials, then flipping houses..Oh...I like to study scams...first time I had ever seen this one..Stuart

October 29, 2014

Red Cross' Secret Disaster: Huff Post, Pro Publica

http://www.propublica.org/article/the-red-cross-secret-disaster

by Justin Elliott and Jesse Eisinger, ProPublica, and Laura Sullivan, NPR
October 29, 2014

In 2012, two massive storms pounded the United States, leaving hundreds of thousands of people homeless, hungry or without power for days and weeks.

Americans did what they so often do after disasters. They sent hundreds of millions of dollars to the Red Cross, confident their money would ease the suffering left behind by Superstorm Sandy and Hurricane Isaac. They believed the charity was up to the job.

They were wrong.

The Red Cross botched key elements of its mission after Sandy and Isaac, leaving behind a trail of unmet needs and acrimony, according to an investigation by ProPublica and NPR. The charity’s shortcomings were detailed in confidential reports and internal emails, as well as accounts from current and former disaster relief specialists.

What’s more, Red Cross officials at national headquarters in Washington, D.C. compounded the charity’s inability to provide relief by “diverting assets for public relations purposes,” as one internal report puts it. Distribution of relief supplies, the report said, was “politically driven.” During Isaac, Red Cross supervisors ordered dozens of trucks usually deployed to deliver aid to be driven around nearly empty instead, “just to be seen,” one of the drivers, Jim Dunham, recalls.
____________________________________________________________________________________________

This one is very ugly. It is a long read, but very well documented. Shows real incompetence and self indulgence. I read about this a couple of years ago in relation to another disaster. Red Cross has done this before, and evidently, no improvement according to this report.

October 24, 2014

About the NRA, gun violence, and what it says after horrific violence.

It has it down pat.. ...exactly how long, what to say, when to say, , and so on.
The NRA, in my opinion, has spent much time and money on the response it provides. It is all timed, planned out way ahead of time and carefully orchestrated. Who will say what and where. All of that.. After Sandy Hook, nothing was done. No laws were passed, and no changes made. More guns, not less. The NRA knows the routine and plays it well. Watch the next few days. The same old show will be played. And nothing will be done to restrict guns.... nothing

October 23, 2014

If we win NC and New Hampshire, then we need 3 out of 9 of these in the Senate:

Kansas, Iowa, Ark, Georgia, Colorado, Kentucky, Alaska, Louisiana, South Dakota...... That's it. 3 out of 9.

Assuming the rest go as expected...That is it...That's all.
I wonder how much money is going into those races?
Take your pick, 3 of 9. Any three, of those nine, any combo, then we keep the Senate, win only 2, then we lose.
That includes Democratic wins in North Carolina and New Hampshire..
That assumes there will be no severe upsets in the other states...(those could be ...Miss, S.C. or West Virginia..very very unlikely)
....So, there it is: Three of Nine.
...That's it, clear and simple...I sure hope we do it. Time will tell.

October 13, 2014

"Republican Cuts Kill" ....Brutal New Ad Blames GOP Spending Cuts for Ebola Deaths

..(from Talking Points Memo,)

Brutal New Ad Blames GOP Spending Cuts For Ebola Deaths.

By Sahil Kapur
Published October 13, 2014, 10:39 AM EDT

"A new TV ad blames prominent Republicans for Ebola deaths, attacking them for championing spending cuts that have gone after emergency public health funding for containing disease outbreaks.


The one minute ad, called "Republican Cuts Kill," splices grueling images of body bags and workers in hazmat suits with footage of top Republicans like Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (KY) and House Speaker John Boehner (OH) calling for spending cuts. It also features 2014 Republican Senate candidates Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, Cory Gardner of Colorado, Tom Cotton of Arkansas and Pat Roberts of Kansas.

The spot was produced by the Agenda Project Action Fund, the same progressive group that has made controversial anti-Republican ads such as "Granny Off the Cliff." The group's spokeswoman, Erica Payne, said Monday the ad would air in Kentucky, North Carolina, South Dakota and Kansas — all of which feature competitive Senate races that could swing the majority."
________________________________________________________________________________________________________

This ad hits them exactly where it should. These cuts to the budget kill people. It shows what the Republican party was/is/ and will always be, an organization that takes care of the rich and does nothing but lie to the rest of us. Like the cuts are for the "good of the country" they say and imply. That is one of their biggest lies. As this ad shows. The cuts to the budget can kill. I certainly hope this ad destroys the political careers of some of their biggest liars.

October 13, 2014

Why I Think Gas Prices in USA Will Remain Low for a Couple of Years...

one word...only one word...

TESLA

I recall in 2008 around election time, gas prices went down significantly. In Missouri and in other parts of the country a gallon of gas was somewhere around $1.75 cents a gallon. (or less) After the election..the prices gradually rose. why?..I believe that refiners and suppliers lowered the price to try to convince the country that everything was ok, things were fine, no we didn't have to change things to a Democratic president..It was a concerted effort to help McCain win. Refiners and suppliers..etc, did not want to worry about additional regulations on oil, its production, and sale. period. (after the election the price gradually rose where it remained high for a few years....remember?)

About a year ago, the oil companies and the car companies got together to deal with the threat of ..TESLA. No, I do not have the direct link, but I recall the meeting. The threat of TESLA is real and significant to these huge multinational corporations. If people get used to paying $1.50 for a gallon around the USA, the thinking goes..they will not buy an electric car of any kind..

One of the Saudi oil barons admitted a few years ago, that the refined price of gas at the pump has little to do with the world market price.. If that is true, then fixing the price at the pump for a long time would fool U.S. buyers into thinking that a buck and a half is a good price so what the hell is this electric car thing about?..Would they do that to get rid of TESLA?..what do you think? Could they do that if they wanted to? After destroying demand for the electric car in the USA, the price can go back to 4 or 5 dollars a gallon or whatever they want, to make up for a temporary loss.

Sure, we read about an "oversupply" and incredible "production of home grown oil" or whatever. But, I believe that this means nothing to these huge corporations. ..Get this..$1.50 a gallon in todays world, really is 38 cents a gallon in the 1960s world. taken a 400 percent increase of prices of stuff since the 60s. What did a car cost in the mid 60s?..or a house?..So, a buck fifty would be really cheap for gas..given reasonable inflation...people could get used to cheap gas real quick..and forget the expensive stuff..
Could they do it to kill the TESLA in the USA? .TESLA is a new company that does not really need the oil giants or the other car companies..does it? Right now, in California, there are about 3000 employees making these things. They are producing these cars in a plant that used to make Toyotas and Chevy compact cars. That plant was designed to make cars. This company is making them today as you read these words. Do you think that big oil and the other car companies would combine their resources to try to stop this company and others that make these things that are real threats to them? I think they would...(and this does not take into account that Tesla is currently building a new battery factory to greatly increase the distance needed for a charge and improve the technology, oh and that factory is right here in the USA, in Nevada..)

October 11, 2014

Documents: Police, FSU hampered Jameis Winston investigation : Fox Sports News

http://www.foxsports.com/college-football/story/jameis-winston-florida-state-tallahassee-police-hindered-investigation-documents-101014?cmpid=tsmtw:fscom:foxsports

Kevin Vaughn
Fox Sports, Oct 10, 4:23pm

Florida State University officials and Tallahassee police took steps to both hide, and then hinder, the criminal investigation into a rape allegation against the school's Heisman-trophy winning quarterback Jameis Winston last fall, a FOX Sports investigation has found.

The upshot: University administrators and Winston’s attorney, Tim Jansen, had a head start on the state attorney in Tallahassee responsible for investigating and prosecuting serious crimes. Florida State administrators, for instance, had all the police reports at least four days before State Attorney Willie Meggs was handed the case.

After learning in December of 2013 that no charges would be filed, FOX Sports examined thousands of pages of documents — including law enforcement files, e-mails and other correspondence as well as video and audio interviews conducted by detectives and other records — through a series of requests filed with multiple agencies under Florida's public records laws.

Among the findings:


• The university's police chief forwarded the reports to a high-ranking administrator in the Florida State athletic department, and within days they ultimately wound up in the hands of Winston's defense attorney — also before Meggs was notified of the case and launched his own investigation.

• Two critical witnesses — Florida State football players who said they were present the morning of the alleged assault — discussed the case with Winston's lawyer and ultimately signed affidavits at his behest backing the quarterback's version of the incident. That happened before law enforcement officers tried to talk to them about what they saw and remembered, a dramatic road block in the state attorney's effort to determine whether Winston should be charged with rape.

Here is another article on the so called "disciplinary hearing" that Winston will face next week:

http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/11678392/florida-state-seminoles-quarterback-jameis-winston-facing-disciplinary-hearing

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

This is a very well researched article, ) worth reading how this was covered up..We are talking about a formal charge of "rape" against an individual. The writers did extensive research to make these charges against police and the university. I wonder what will happen now? This article is damning in many ways. It almost proves illegal action by police and university officials. Please read the article yourself. It reminds me of what was done at Penn State, but in some ways worse. This is about a formal charge of rape that was covered up by local police. (and the second paragraph is really hard to believe)
After some research, I found that this article is at the heart of the charges against police and university officials.. This is the smoking gun that could bring some people down. The FSU now says it will interview Winston, and steps may be taken..This is quite ugly. We will see.

October 3, 2014

Report: Officer Shoots Self While Cleaning Gun in Federal Courtroom

Source: Talking Points Memo:

A court officer reportedly shot himself while cleaning his gun on Friday inside the U.S. Bankruptcy Court building in Grand Rapids, Mich., according to television station WOOD.


The television station cited anonymous sources for its report. A forensics unit was called to the scene to investigate the incident, according to the station.

WOOD also reported the status of the court officer's condition had not yet been released, but he has been taken to a nearby hospital.


Read more: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/grand-rapids-bankruptcy-court-shooting

---

No I am not making these stories up.
Stuart.
...hit the above link... for yourself...

...and here is another link from the Grand Rapids TV Station that first reported this...:

http://woodtv.com/2014/10/03/report-shooting-at-grand-rapids-police-department/

October 3, 2014

Colo Ed Bd Member: Give U.S. Credit For Voluntarily Ending Slavery

Source: Talking Points Memo:

Updated 3:02 p.m.

A member of Colorado's state Board of Education argued that the fact that the United States voluntarily ended slavery proved "American execptionalism" and this perspective should be taught to students in a recent Facebook post about the AP U.S. History curriculum.


Businesswoman Pam Mazanec, who was elected to represent Colorado's 4th Congressional district on the board, jumped into a discussion about the AP History course framework Saturday on a Facebook page that describes itself as "a place where teachers and parents are encouraged to speak freely about their issues, questions, and concerns in the Douglas County School District." The Colorado Independent flagged her comment on Thursday.

Mazanec's first posts in the thread raised the possibility that the AP History course framework may have been conceived by people with an "agenda," prompting an AP English teacher to respond by explaining that experienced AP teachers compile the courses' exams.

She then wrote that her concern for the course "is an overly negative view of our history and many of our historical figures (if mentioned)" and cited history professors with "impressive credentials" who told her that the AP History curriculum is designed to "downplay our noble history."


Read more: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/pam-mazanac-us-ended-slavery-voluntarily

---

This............ "Idiot # One"..........does not belong on the State Board of Ed..She doesn't belong out of high school..

She would have flunked regular U.S.History...let alone got into honors, or AP U.S. History...She and her ilk, thankfully, are now, or will become, the laughing stock of educated people. For a moment, let us remember who really ended "slavery" ..Now let us look back, as the Northern Army advanced across the defeated South..the ..Army of the Victorious North... actually feed slaves as they moved from plantation to plantation...Southerners lost the worst, and said to be the most ugly, war we have fought in..It was the war "Idiot # One, that freed the slaves...The South Lost.....It was not voluntary, it was a .............WAR............

...She is now..."Idiot #One"...take a bow..
.....Michelle Bachmann has a competitor..

October 2, 2014

Unarmed Man Killed by Stray NYPD bullet In Stabbing Confrontation

Source: New Yorker

October 2, 2014
1:07 p.m

A stray bullet killed the man who intervened during a police confrontation with an armed suspect Monday, according to a ruling by the medical examiner.

Rafael Laureano was apparently summoned to the scene of the shooting by Kathy Russo in the early evening, after Russo's ex-boyfriend tried to enter her apartment. Later, the ex-boyfriend, Francisco Carvajal, returned with a knife, and he and Laureano faced off while Russo hid with her kids in a bathroom. According to the New York Times, Laureano left the apartment sometime after that and encountered police on their way to investigate the situation.

Russo was screaming during this time because though she had managed to take away one of Carvajal's knives, he had another. Police say that as they entered the apartment, Laureano ran back in ahead of them and was hit as they fired over a dozen times at Carvajal while shouting, "Drop the knife!"

“It looks like he was inadvertently hit,” said NYPD spokesman Stephen Davis.



Read more: http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2014/10/unarmed-man-killed-by-stray-nypd-bullet.html

---

This speaks for itself. ".... fired over a dozen times at Carvajal while shouting, "Drop the knife!"

It is a knife??????????? Why shoot a gun?

The medical examiner ruled this today.."...stray bullet killed the man.."
Why??