Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
dixiegrrrrl
dixiegrrrrl's Journal
dixiegrrrrl's Journal
May 25, 2013
http://tinyurl.com/p4u2k5a
The best part of this story is what the topics were at the conference:
One well-attended session covered how to avoid front-page scandals.
What Detroit crisis? Pension fund trustees hang out in Hawaii.
(Reuters) - The city of Detroit may be facing a deepening financial crisis but that hasn't stopped four trustees of its public pension funds from spending $22,000 of retirement system funds to attend a conference in Hawaii this week.
The trip 4,500 miles west to a four-star resort on the world-famous Waikiki Beach in Honolulu doesn't sit well with the top officials now running Detroit's finances under an emergency order from the state of Michigan. Emergency Manager Kevyn Orr has not ruled out a bankruptcy as the city struggles under a $15 billion debt burden, which is being strained further by its hefty pension obligations.
"It especially doesn't look good when you have city employees, police, firefighters having taken pay cuts," said Bill Nowling, spokesman for Orr. "Middle-class, blue-collar workers, their dream vacation when they retire may be a two-week trip to Hawaii - they don't associate Hawaii with a place you go to work."
The trip 4,500 miles west to a four-star resort on the world-famous Waikiki Beach in Honolulu doesn't sit well with the top officials now running Detroit's finances under an emergency order from the state of Michigan. Emergency Manager Kevyn Orr has not ruled out a bankruptcy as the city struggles under a $15 billion debt burden, which is being strained further by its hefty pension obligations.
"It especially doesn't look good when you have city employees, police, firefighters having taken pay cuts," said Bill Nowling, spokesman for Orr. "Middle-class, blue-collar workers, their dream vacation when they retire may be a two-week trip to Hawaii - they don't associate Hawaii with a place you go to work."
http://tinyurl.com/p4u2k5a
The best part of this story is what the topics were at the conference:
One well-attended session covered how to avoid front-page scandals.
May 24, 2013
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57586034/bridge-collapse-in-washington-state-blamed-on-tractor-trailer/
70,000 cars a day on that bridge, damned good thing it went down at 7 pm, post rush hour.
Oh great..it was oil drilling equipment that knocked out the bridge
A truck hauling an oversized load of drilling equipment hit an overhead bridge girder on the major route between Seattle and Canada, sending a section of the interstate into the river below as the driver watched the structure collapse in his rearview mirror.
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57586034/bridge-collapse-in-washington-state-blamed-on-tractor-trailer/
70,000 cars a day on that bridge, damned good thing it went down at 7 pm, post rush hour.
May 24, 2013
late to the party..just discovered Big Bang Theory.
Remember Night Court and Taxi and Mary Tyler Moore and Dick Van Dyke shows?
Oh..and News Radio..
even some I Love Lucy zaniness...
I am liking this show.
May 23, 2013
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-250_162-57585938/issa-irs-lerner-waived-her-fifth-amendment-rights/
IRS official Lois Lerner, who took the 5th at Congressional hearing, is placed on admin. leave.
What's interesting is how it came about!
Thursday afternoon, Sens. Carl Levin, D-Mich., and John McCain, R-Ariz., the chairman and ranking member of the Senate Government Affairs investigations subcommittee, called on Daniel Werfel, the new acting IRS commissioner, "to suspend immediately Lois Lerner from her office as Director of the Office of Exempt Organizations."
In a letter to Werfel, Levin and McCain accused Lerner of not being forthcoming about the targeting scandal during an hours-long interview by the subcommittee,
writing that she "failed to disclose the internal controversy over the search terms used by the Cincinnati office to identify 501(c)(4) groups for further review, the actions taken by that office in reviewing the identified groups, the investigation and imminent findings by the Treasury Department Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA); and TIGTA's conclusion that the IRS had used inappropriate criteria to target Tea Party and other conservative groups.
Ms. Lerner also failed to disclose that she was fully aware of these issues as early as June 2011, and, according to TIGTA, had been personally involved in reviewing questionable actions taken by the Cincinnati office."
"Given the serious failure by Ms. Lerner to disclose to this Subcommittee key information on topics that the Subcommittee was investigating, we have lost confidence in her ability to fulfill her duties," they continued.
In a letter to Werfel, Levin and McCain accused Lerner of not being forthcoming about the targeting scandal during an hours-long interview by the subcommittee,
writing that she "failed to disclose the internal controversy over the search terms used by the Cincinnati office to identify 501(c)(4) groups for further review, the actions taken by that office in reviewing the identified groups, the investigation and imminent findings by the Treasury Department Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA); and TIGTA's conclusion that the IRS had used inappropriate criteria to target Tea Party and other conservative groups.
Ms. Lerner also failed to disclose that she was fully aware of these issues as early as June 2011, and, according to TIGTA, had been personally involved in reviewing questionable actions taken by the Cincinnati office."
"Given the serious failure by Ms. Lerner to disclose to this Subcommittee key information on topics that the Subcommittee was investigating, we have lost confidence in her ability to fulfill her duties," they continued.
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-250_162-57585938/issa-irs-lerner-waived-her-fifth-amendment-rights/
May 23, 2013
UPDATE:
He was one of TWO judges.The 2nd judge got 17 years.
There were 2,400 juveniles involved.
The people who gave him the money:
December 16, 2011
Robert Mericle's sentencing in connection with his pleading guilty to failing to report a felony has been delayed pending his testimony in the bribery trial of former Pennsylvania State Senator Raphael Musto, which is scheduled for June.
Mericle faces up to three years in prison, although he is likely to receive 12 to 18 months under United States Federal Sentencing Guidelineshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kids_for_cash_scandal#Criminal_verdicts
[div class="excerpt"]Robert Powell pleaded guilty in 2009 to concealing a felony and an accessory charge in the so-called "kids for cash" scandal.
(he got 18 months, apparently wore a wire so the feds could catch Mericle.)
http://thetimes-tribune.com/news/powell-pleads-guilty-1.99257
Pennsylvania Judge Sentenced For 28 Years For Selling Kids to the Prison System
I fear he may not be the only judge doing this, but sure glad he was caught.
linked article only has these 4 paragraphs:
Mark Ciavarella Jr, a 61-year old former judge in Pennsylvania, has been sentenced to nearly 30 years in prison for literally selling young juveniles for cash. He was convicted of accepting money in exchange for incarcerating thousands of adults and children into a prison facility owned by a developer who was paying him under the table. The kickbacks amounted to more than $1 million.
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has overturned some 4,000 convictions issued by him between 2003 and 2008, claiming he violated the constitutional rights of the juveniles – including the right to legal counsel and the right to intelligently enter a plea. Some of the juveniles he sentenced were as young as 10-years old.
Ciavarella was convicted of 12 counts, including racketeering, money laundering, mail fraud and tax evasion. He was also ordered to repay $1.2 million in restitution.
His "kids for cash" program has revealed that corruption is indeed within the prison system, mostly driven by the growth in private prisons seeking profits by any means necessary.
http://blog.blacknews.com/2013/05/judge-mark-ciavarella-sentenced-selling-kids-prison-system101.html?m=1#.UZ4YHWR4aHc
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has overturned some 4,000 convictions issued by him between 2003 and 2008, claiming he violated the constitutional rights of the juveniles – including the right to legal counsel and the right to intelligently enter a plea. Some of the juveniles he sentenced were as young as 10-years old.
Ciavarella was convicted of 12 counts, including racketeering, money laundering, mail fraud and tax evasion. He was also ordered to repay $1.2 million in restitution.
His "kids for cash" program has revealed that corruption is indeed within the prison system, mostly driven by the growth in private prisons seeking profits by any means necessary.
http://blog.blacknews.com/2013/05/judge-mark-ciavarella-sentenced-selling-kids-prison-system101.html?m=1#.UZ4YHWR4aHc
UPDATE:
He was one of TWO judges.The 2nd judge got 17 years.
There were 2,400 juveniles involved.
The people who gave him the money:
December 16, 2011
Wealthy developer Robert K. Mericle agreed Friday to pay $17.75 million to settle civil-rights actions filed against him and his companies by former juvenile offenders who claim they were unjustly imprisoned in the kids-for-cash scandal.
The claims stem from Mericle's payment of $2.1 million to two former Luzerne County judges who placed juveniles in two for-profit detention centers built by one of his companies. The settlement does not affect ongoing claims against the judges, who are serving lengthy prison terms, the owners of the centers and other defendants.
http://standardspeaker.com/news/mericle-pays-17-75m-to-settle-kids-for-cash-claims-1.1245937
The claims stem from Mericle's payment of $2.1 million to two former Luzerne County judges who placed juveniles in two for-profit detention centers built by one of his companies. The settlement does not affect ongoing claims against the judges, who are serving lengthy prison terms, the owners of the centers and other defendants.
Robert Mericle's sentencing in connection with his pleading guilty to failing to report a felony has been delayed pending his testimony in the bribery trial of former Pennsylvania State Senator Raphael Musto, which is scheduled for June.
Mericle faces up to three years in prison, although he is likely to receive 12 to 18 months under United States Federal Sentencing Guidelines
[div class="excerpt"]Robert Powell pleaded guilty in 2009 to concealing a felony and an accessory charge in the so-called "kids for cash" scandal.
(he got 18 months, apparently wore a wire so the feds could catch Mericle.)
http://thetimes-tribune.com/news/powell-pleads-guilty-1.99257
May 23, 2013
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/may/23/swedish-riots-stockholm?CMP=twt_gu
the article goes on to discuss the increase of minorities who live in Sweden.
Anyone following the Sweden riots?
First time I read about it this week, I thought Sweden????".
Home of the happy peaceful people?
Here is the key part of the issue:
"We see a society that is becoming increasingly divided and where the gaps, both socially and economically, are becoming larger," said Rami Al-khamisi, co-founder of Megafonen, a group that works for social change in the suburbs. "And the people out here are being hit the hardest … We have institutional racism."
"The reason is very simple. Unemployment, the housing situation, disrespect from police," said Rouzbeh Djalaie, editor of Norra Sidan newspaper. "It just takes something to start a riot, and that was the shooting."
Djalaie said youths were often stopped by police in the streets for identity checks. During the riots, he said some police called local youths "apes".
"The reason is very simple. Unemployment, the housing situation, disrespect from police," said Rouzbeh Djalaie, editor of Norra Sidan newspaper. "It just takes something to start a riot, and that was the shooting."
Djalaie said youths were often stopped by police in the streets for identity checks. During the riots, he said some police called local youths "apes".
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/may/23/swedish-riots-stockholm?CMP=twt_gu
the article goes on to discuss the increase of minorities who live in Sweden.
May 22, 2013
One pic belies a thousand denials of guilt
This is Doug Shulman, former head of IRS, appointed by Bush, who says he knew nothing saw nothing, heard nothing,
and was not responsible for any of the scandal, therefore will not apologize for anything.
But wait...where have we seen this expression before?
April 13, 2013
The City of Miami has taken to federal court to undo a 15-year-old legal agreement that protected homeless people from undue arrest and harassment by the authorities.
The city is concerned the homeless population is stunting downtown's growth,
and want the courts to alter a 1988 settlement that bars Miami police from arresting homeless people for such "involuntary, harmless acts'' without first offering them an alternative location to lay their head.
and
Police argue that the homeless are scaring not only families, but workers.
Fans pouring into the American Airlines Arena for Heat games, meanwhile,
are being met with more aggressive panhandlers blocking sidewalks and relieving themselves in public.
....the city acceded to the so-called Pottinger Settlement back in 1988
because the ACLU made a compelling case that police were abusing the city's most vulnerable citizens.
Back then, police routinely rounded up homeless, dumped their belongings in the trash and charged them with loitering.
Sounds like a big problem, no?
But get this:
http://blogs.miaminewtimes.com/riptide/2013/04/miami_heads_to_federal_court_t.php
Miami Heads To Federal Court To Get Permission To Arrest Homeless People
There is lots of WTF in this story:
The City of Miami has taken to federal court to undo a 15-year-old legal agreement that protected homeless people from undue arrest and harassment by the authorities.
The city is concerned the homeless population is stunting downtown's growth,
and want the courts to alter a 1988 settlement that bars Miami police from arresting homeless people for such "involuntary, harmless acts'' without first offering them an alternative location to lay their head.
and
Police argue that the homeless are scaring not only families, but workers.
Fans pouring into the American Airlines Arena for Heat games, meanwhile,
are being met with more aggressive panhandlers blocking sidewalks and relieving themselves in public.
....the city acceded to the so-called Pottinger Settlement back in 1988
because the ACLU made a compelling case that police were abusing the city's most vulnerable citizens.
Back then, police routinely rounded up homeless, dumped their belongings in the trash and charged them with loitering.
Sounds like a big problem, no?
But get this:
What's more, advocates say that settlement has decreased the homeless population from 6,000 to just 351 -- with many of those 351 only still on the streets because they refuse assistance.
The act makes it illegal to arrest any homeless person, unless they refuse shelter and board.
The act makes it illegal to arrest any homeless person, unless they refuse shelter and board.
http://blogs.miaminewtimes.com/riptide/2013/04/miami_heads_to_federal_court_t.php
April 12, 2013
The Secret of the Seven Sisters: how a secret pact formed the world's oil cartel
On August 28, 1928, in the Scottish highlands, began the secret story of oil.......
4 part video series ( all on one page) of how the oil cartels were created...
http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/specialseries/2013/04/201344105231487582.html
April 12, 2013
http://business.time.com/2013/04/11/cyprus-bailout-swells-to-30-billion/
couple notes here:
First, 7 Billion and 13 billion only add up to 20 billion ( a minor point of addition)
MORE important...if the original Cyprus share was 7 billion, and the troika would then give Cyprus 10 billion,
why does Cyprus need to raise 23 billion?
Just raise 3 billion more to make the 10 billion, right?
Unless, of course, the plan was to grab as much wealth from the people as it could.
Anyone who has kept up with the bailouts in Europe has noticed the pattern of the troika demanding MORE money
in repeated from the countries.
Guess what Cyprus wants now? MORE of the people's money!
Originally the Cyprus gov't said it wanted 7 billion euros, and it closed the Laika bank, claimed ALL deposits over 100,000 Euros, and left many thousands of bank workers unemployed, took their pensions, plus they still have to pay loans to the bank for bank bonds they were coerced into buying.
NOW....
The cost of bailing out Cyprus has swollen to euro 23 billion ($30 billion), with the crisis-hit country having to take on the lion’s share of the measures needed to avoid bankruptcy, according to a draft document by the country’s international creditors.
The draft document, obtained by The Associated Press Thursday, says the country will have to find 13 billion euros ($17 billion) — an increase on the 7 billion euro contribution agreed during the country’s chaotic bailout talks last month. The money will be raised by imposing heavy losses on large bank deposits, levying additional taxes, privatizations and a part-sale of the central bank’s gold reserves.
The draft document, obtained by The Associated Press Thursday, says the country will have to find 13 billion euros ($17 billion) — an increase on the 7 billion euro contribution agreed during the country’s chaotic bailout talks last month. The money will be raised by imposing heavy losses on large bank deposits, levying additional taxes, privatizations and a part-sale of the central bank’s gold reserves.
http://business.time.com/2013/04/11/cyprus-bailout-swells-to-30-billion/
couple notes here:
First, 7 Billion and 13 billion only add up to 20 billion ( a minor point of addition)
MORE important...if the original Cyprus share was 7 billion, and the troika would then give Cyprus 10 billion,
why does Cyprus need to raise 23 billion?
Just raise 3 billion more to make the 10 billion, right?
Unless, of course, the plan was to grab as much wealth from the people as it could.
Anyone who has kept up with the bailouts in Europe has noticed the pattern of the troika demanding MORE money
in repeated from the countries.
Profile Information
Gender: FemaleHometown: Washington state, for half my life
Home country: USA
Current location: SW Alabama. for the rest of my life
Member since: Wed Feb 27, 2008, 02:09 PM
Number of posts: 60,010
