Hello everyone!

 

I wanted to share something a bit personal today which is always a bit scary. As most of you know, I have been working as a job coach for the past two years now and it's been the best and hardest decision I have made for me business-wise in the past ten years. "My adults" are mentally handicapped adults who work in the community and it's been a joy to watch them grow professionally. But today isn't about me but about my boss.

 

The woman who hired me is no longer working for the company thanks to our governor. Since we work for a non-profit organization and the state funds were cut, so were a lot of positions that were deemed duplicates or would have to be cut since the money wasn't there any longer. Our new boss started in February of this year. Years ago, she was the job coach manager but was promoted to case manager. She was the person who read our case notes, incident reports etc. before making her reports that went on to another agency for the state of California. Our company asked her to take on her old position but keep her current position or more positions would have to be cut. She gamely took on the huge challenge of being our boss and keeping her old position as well.

 

What this means is that we have 30 adults who work in the community that need to have a job coach with them (some are needed 100% of their shift while other just need half time or less) and they work in different locations around our town. Of course their personalities are different and needs are different. They range in age from early twenties to a little older, so she also needs to match our personalities to some of "our adults" so they respond better.

 

Then she still has to do her other job; we also have some adults who work in the "HAB crew" which is a fancy way of saying they work in the community as grounds keepers as well as another section that is classified to the general public. In all she is in charge of about 85 people (the adults we job coach) as well as the job coaches.

 

We "connected" right away and I believe that if we met in life outside of work, we would be good friends. Part of our job is to get "our adults" schedules for the following week so she knows when we need to be scheduled since we are already there. No other job coach have done it and I always have. Half of our"adults" have set schedules and half don't, so I get fifteen schedules for her every week. In fact, when I call the employers they know when they hear my voice why I'm calling and have it ready for me. (I call for only eight of them unless I am working with one of the others or am nearby to stop by and get it in person.)

 

I even do this on my day off, like today is. I "scratch her back and she scratches mine." Which means when I need something special, I will get it 99% of the time. That's a huge thing since beloved's job means he's not home exactly when he plans to be sometimes.

 

This morning when I knew my boss wasn't at work yet, I dropped off a Boss's Day balloon attached to a present that I bought that was perfect for her. It's a Dove chocolate "Emergency Kit" that is filled with some yummy chocolates in a cute tin that looks like a First Aid Kit. I then ran some errands that I needed to take care of. I returned home with a sweet message from my boss that said in part "You absolutely, positively, completely and utterly made my day!" which in turn made my day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

New Port Richey, Florida - A New Port Richey man called us with an unbelievable story.

Jimmy Hill offered up this mobile home to friends of the family six months ago. They lived in Tampa, and wanted to relocate to Pasco county.

But his effort to put a roof over this family's head has come back to haunt him. Now they're trying to take his home.

According to Hill the family was paying him $600 a month plus utilities. He says shortly after the family moved in, the flow of money stopped and the headaches began. "Well they don't pay for the utilities at all," Hill says, "My bill has gone from $160 a month before they moved her to my last bill which was $654 . The next one is even worse, they run things day and night."

Hill says it was time for them to go. "Well I asked them if they would get out and they threatened to poison my dogs." That was when Hill says he went to the sheriff's office and picked up an eviction packet.

"Now these people are suing me for my home," claims Hill. "They filed a restraining order on me the day after I have them the eviction papers." Hill says he learned he can't evict the family because they're considered squatters. He even considered shutting off the utilities but can't because the family moved a child into the house. He says they threatened to charge Hill with child endangerment.

The family was not available for comment but with little money in his pocket, Hill says he can't afford the legal fees necessary to take them to court.

Hill now feels as though his heartfelt gesture has left him empty handed.

 

 

CHARLOTTE, N.C. —

  First there was the $440,000 American Insurance Group Inc. spent entertaining executives days after receiving an $85 billion lifeline from the Federal Reserve, now it's $86,000 for a hunting trip in England as the faltering company reaped another $37.8 billion in taxpayer funded loans.

News of the hunting trip emerged Wednesday as New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo ordered AIG to do away with golden parachutes for executives, golf outings and parties while taking government money to stay afloat.

"Even after the taxpayer-funded bailout of AIG, the company paid hundreds of thousands of dollars for luxurious retreats for its executives, including an overseas hunting party and a golf outing," Cuomo wrote in a letter to the New York-based insurer.

He said the spending could be "fraudulent conveyances" under a state law regarding debtors and creditors and noted that beyond those excesses millions were paid to executives who were running AIG as it faced dissolution with government help.

Cuomo said he has the power under state business law to review and possibly rescind any inappropriate AIG spending as long as the Federal Reserve is propping up the huge insurer with almost $123 billion in loans announced since Sept. 16.

Company officials said the hunting trip in the English countryside was an annual event for customers that had been planned months before the bailout. The company pledged — as it did following the September trip — to do everything possible to end such extravagances. They declined to say which AIG executives attended.

"This was an annual event for customers of the AIG property casualty insurance companies in the U.K. and Europe, and planned months before the Federal Reserve Bank of New York's loan to AIG," company spokesman Peter Tulupman said Wednesday morning.

In a prepared statement later in the day, the company said, "We will continue to take all measures necessary to ensure that these activities cease immediately. AIG's priority is to continue focusing on actions necessary to repay the Federal Reserve loan and emerge as a vital, ongoing business."

The company said last week it would stop "all nonessential conferences, meetings and activities that do not clearly maximize value and service given the current conditions."

Last month, and just days after the U.S. government stepped in to save AIG with the $85 billion taxpayer-funded loan, the company picked up a $440,000 tab for a weeklong retreat at the posh St. Regis Resort in California for top-performing insurance agents.

Lawmakers investigating AIG's meltdown said they were enraged that executives of AIG's main U.S. life insurance subsidiary spent a lavish amount on the retreat, complete with spa treatments, banquets and golf outings. Last week, White House Press Secretary Dana Perino called the event "despicable."

At that time, AIG issued a statement saying that the "business event" was planned months before the Sept. 16 bailout and that it was held for top-producing independent life insurance agents, not AIG employees. Of the 100 attendees, only 10 worked for the AIG unit hosting the event, it said.

The insurer said Chief Executive Edward Liddy sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson "clarifying the circumstances" of the event. In the letter, Liddy assured Paulson that AIG is "reevaluating the costs of all aspects of our operations in light of the new circumstances in which we are all operating."

The insurer then said it canceled a future California retreat that was to be held later this month.

Regarding the recent hunting trip, "We regret that this event was not canceled," Tulupman said Wednesday.

Shares of AIG fell 37 cents, or 13.2 percent, to $2.43 in trading Wednesday.

 

 

 

Hello everyone!

 

I was surfing the 'net and found this weird story from France. There is no way that I would try this; would you?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 RESTAURANT chain has sparked fury by serving up pizzas with a topping of FROGS’ LEGS.

 

 

Hello everyone!

 

I was surfing the 'net before heading off to work and found this story from AZ; enjoy the irony.

 

 

 

Walmart Busts Three Men for Fraud After Accidentally Selling Them Empty Computer Boxes

 

 

 

 

 

Hello everyone!

 

I was surfing the 'net and found this article that just made me shake my head. You're never going to get away with it, so why do people still try it?

 

 

 

 

 

Burdened by debt and driving home from a night of gambling in West Virginia, Sergio Lopez launched a scheme that at the time must have seemed like a good idea.

 

Hello everyone!

 

When I found this story, I wasn't sure if I liked it; if King Tom was still with us, I bet he would have stopped by to check it out though.

What about you guys?

 

 

 

 

Hello everyone!

 

I was surfing the 'net and found this story that made me shake my head. I guess it's the water huh?

 

 

 

 

 

Updated: 10/13/2008 11:26:13 PM  

 

A new father has secretly named his baby girl Sarah McCain Palin after the Republican ticket for president and vice president.

 

Hello everyone!

 

I found this story from NC that made me say, "Huh?"

 

 

CutoutDissection.com is teen's new name

The girl changes her legal name to protest animal dissections in schools

 

ASHEVILLE, N.C.  

 

You can call herCutoutDissection.com, Cutout for short, but just don't call her Jennifer.

The former Jennifer Thornburg - now legally CutoutDissection.com - wanted to do something real to protest animal dissections in schools.

The 19-year-old's new name is also the Web address for an anti-dissection page of the site for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, where she is interning.

"I normally do have to repeat my name several times when I am introducing myself to someone new," she told The Asheville Citizen-Times for a story last week. "Once they find out what my name is, they want to know more about what the Web site is about."

The Asheville High School graduate said she began opposing dissections in middle school after a class assignment to cut up a chicken wing made her uncomfortable. She helped create a policy at her high school that allows students who object to dissections to complete an alternative assignment.

Despite the legal change, she said most of her family members still call her Jennifer.

"It will take me a while," said her dad, Duane Thornburg, who lives in Daytona Beach, Fla. "She's still Jennifer to me. I understand why she's done it. Believe it or not, I totally respect it."

A CD showing the treatment of animals before they are dissected finally convinced him to support his daughter's cause, he said.

 

 

BAYONET POINT — On Friday morning, Joseph Prudente put on a pair of shorts and his "Grandpa Gone Wild" T-shirt. He took off his wedding band and put his heart medication in a plastic Wal-Mart bag.

Then his daughter drove him to jail. Grandpa had time to do.

His crime? He had disobeyed a court order that he sod the lawn at his Beacon Woods home.

His bail? Zero.

Prudente, 66, must stay in the Pasco County jail in Land O'Lakes until the required sod work is completed, under a September court order signed by Circuit Judge W. Lowell Bray.

"He's in prison for God knows how long because we can't afford to sod the lawn," said his sobbing daughter, Jennifer Lehr.

Prudente has owned a home in the deed restricted community since 1998. The covenants require homeowners to keep their lawns covered with grass.

Earlier this year, the Beacon Woods Civic Association took Prudente to court after he failed to install new sod on his browning lawn, which had withered after his sprinklers broke. The association had already sent letters telling him to resod his front and back yards by certain dates.

In an interview at the jail Friday evening, Prudente said he thought he had made a good financial hardship case to the association: His adjustable rate mortgage went up an extra $600 a month. Wachovia repossessed his Toyota Scion. His daughter and her two young children, who had fallen on hard times, moved in with him and his wife, Pat.

"To me, keeping the house is more important than the grass," said Prudente, a retired registered nurse from New York. "I just ignored them."

He ignored them, too, after the association filed a complaint in court. He ignored a court order in May, signed by Bray, giving Prudente 30 days to sod the yard.

In June, the court also awarded the association $795 in fees, which included a $645 attorney's fees and a $150 fee for "an expert witness."

By September, there was still no sod. Bray found Prudente in contempt of court, but said in his order that Prudente could "purge himself of this contempt" by doing the required work within the next 30 days. That time expired Friday.

"It is clear to the Court that the ability to avoid incarceration is well within the Defendant's grasp," Bray wrote.

Representatives of the Beacon Woods association expressed regret Prudente had landed in jail. But they said it was his own fault.

"It's a sad situation," said board president Bob Ryan, who added that the association had followed all the correct procedures. "But in the end, I have to say he brought it upon himself."

Lawyer Thomas Gurran, who represents the association, said in a statement that the association had "just wanted Mr. Prudente to comply with the lawn restriction." He added that the contempt power of judges is essential to the system.

"Many orders and judgements … would be absolutely meaningless if they could not be enforced by a judge's contempt power," he said. "This case is an example of what happens when someone defies an order entered by a judge in our country."

Prudente's family said the case had gone too far. Pat Prudente said she and her husband knew they had chosen to live in a community with restrictions. "But they shouldn't have this much power," she said.

Back at the jail — where the population is 1,132, well above the 782 capacity — Parente said he was being treated well. He has no criminal record in Florida and said his stay in Land O'Lakes was his first time ever in a slammer.

What comes next? He doesn't know. "Should I go out and rob a bank? Then I'd be back here," he said. "But then I'd get out on bail."

 

Hello everyone!

 

 

I was surfing the 'net and found this story about Sarah Palin. I wonder if John McCain "approved this message" before she said yes. She will be a laughing stock; not what you need when the election will be held two weeks after.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hello everyone!

 

I still cannot believe that this man who I have "loved" since I was a child is gone forever. I found this list of Paul Newman movies to watch. I would have included a lot more of them but this is a good mix.

 

 

 

 

Posted: Friday, October 10, 2008 6:30 AM

 

 

 

It’s been two weeks since Paul Newman died, and if you’re still feeling the loss, you’re not alone. Thankfully, my favorite cable channel, Turner Classic Movies, has prepared a fitting tribute to this great man by devoting Sunday, Oct. 12 to his movies (really, they could have done a whole weekend). Since there are only 24 hours, every great movie won’t be shown, but TCM has compiled an eclectic mix.

Here’s what they’re showing (times are EST):

6:00 a.m “The Rack”
8:00 a.m. “Until They Sail”
10:00 a.m.  “Torn Curtain”
12:15 p.m.  “Exodus”
3:45 p.m. “Sweet Bird of Youth”
6:00 p.m. “Hud”
8:00 p.m. “Somebody Up There Likes Me”
10:00 p.m. “Cool Hand Luke”
12:15 a.m. “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof”
2:15 a.m.  “Rachel, Rachel”
4:00 a.m. “The Outrage”

Paul Newman's character Luke prepares to eat 50 eggs in "Cool Hand Luke."

The must-sees on this list are the films from 3:45 to 12:15 (not a bad one in that bunch). If you haven’t seen “Cool Hand Luke” or “Hud,” and only have time to watch two movies on this list, pick these. In both, Newman plays iconic anti-heroes, and he radiates charm. In “Hud,” especially, his ungrateful son character is supposed to be the guy we’re rooting against, but you won’t be able to.“Sweet Bird” and “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” are Newman’s foray into Tennessee Williams plays, with Richard Brooks writing and directing. “Cat” is especially interesting considering that the taboos of the time meant that Newman’s character Brick couldn’t be overtly homosexual -- everything had to be subtle and implied. “Somebody Up There Likes Me” was Newman’s first big-screen role playing Rocky Graziano and he made this first impression count.

As for the rest, I have to admit that I’ve never seen “The Rack,” “Until They Sail,” “Rachel, Rachel” (in which he doesn’t appear, but directs wife Joanne Woodward) or “The Outrage,” so I’m curious. “Torn Curtain” and “Exodus” are lesser efforts for Newman and their directors, Alfred Hitchcock and Otto Preminger.

If I worked at TCM, I would add the movie that is not only my favorite Newman flick, but my favorite all-time movie, “The Hustler.” In this nearly perfect film, Newman seems to inspire everyone around him -- including Piper Laurie and Jackie Gleason -- to give the best performances of their careers.

I would also add “Mr. & Mrs. Bridge,” “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,” “The Sting,” “Paris Blues,” “The Long Hot Summer,” “Slap Shot,” “The Verdict,” “The Hudsucker Proxy” and msnbc.com college basketball editor Mike Miller’s favorite, “Nobody’s Fool.”

Take this opportunity to see some Paul Newman movies. The man had more great films than bad -- and luckily for us we get to enjoy this legacy forever.

If you haven’t read or seen all the various Newman tributes yet, allow me to suggest Robert Redford’s in Time magazine, the video of David Letterman’s tribute, Maureen Dowd’s in the New York Times, New York Times film critic Manohla Dargis, New York magazine’s tributes from Philip Seymour Hoffman, Sam Mendes and author Richard Russo.

 

I too, wish they would show more movies like "The Sting" and "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" but we have copies of those movies already.

   

 

 

Hello everyone!

 

I found this article that explains without giving too much away how the show is filmed and answers some questions as well. Enjoy!

 

 

 

 

By Andy Dehnart

msnbc.com contributor

updated 7:01 a.m. PT, Tues., Oct. 7, 2008

 

 

How do contestants get treated for injuries?
On-location producers will mention any concerns to the medical staff, and can call for medics if there's a significant problem. Before and after every challenge, contestants visit individually with the show's medics. But as medic Craig "Squizzy" Taylor told me, "During the game, though, they're playing the game of Survivor for $1 million. So, we try to have as little to do with them as possible." He said that minor injuries are "part of the game." While a few major injuries forced people out of the game last season, nearly all of the (mostly minor) injuries or illnesses treated by medics affect the show's hundreds of crew members, who, of course, greatly outnumber the 18 contestants.

How do contestants get from tribe camps to challenges and Tribal Council?
Although they are often shown setting off with packs and walking sticks, making it seem as if they traversed miles on foot, those images only show the first or last part of the trip. They're transported. In Gabon, they were driven in vehicles with black plastic covering the windows. That prevents contestants from seeing where they are, and from seeing parts of the production such as base camp. After arriving, they're kept in a waiting area until Jeff Probst calls them in to the challenge, which is what we see on TV. They are not allowed to talk to one another until cameras are rolling either at the challenges or back at camp, ensuring that viewers won't ever miss a critical moment.

Do the contestants get more information than we see on TV about challenges?
Yes. After host Jeff Probst gives the explanation we see on TV, Probst and John Kirhoffer, the leader of the team that constructs all of the show's games, walk through the challenge with each tribe. The tribes can ask questions or strategize during that time, and doing it separately keeps the other tribe from knowing the others' strategy, if they have one. Accompanying them is someone from CBS' standards and practices division, who makes sure that each tribe has the same basic information so that the contest remains fair.

Who demonstrates (and tests) challenges?
The Dream Team, a group of young crew members, many of whom return for future seasons to work with the show in other production jobs. They run through challenges at least twice, including once with the challenge production team to see how it works, and once for a dress rehearsal, when they're filmed as if they were the actual contestants. That gives the crew the chance to practice filming, so they know where they'll need to be or where they can get their best shots. Footage from that dress rehearsal is shown to viewers when Jeff Probst explains the challenge to the cast. Helicopter shots of challenge locations are filmed separately, so that the production part — equipment like cameras and cranes, never mind more than 50 crew members — won't be seen on TV.

The show also occasionally uses the Dream Team as stand-ins in its faraway helicopter shots. If you think about it, that makes sense, since when you see a challenge from above, for example, no cameras or crew are visible, so who is it that's providing all of the footage of the cast running the challenge? In most cases, but not all, shots from a helicopter are filmed afterwards, after the competition is over and the crew has left with their equipment.

That doesn't affect the game in any way, just how it looks on television.

How long does Tribal Council last?
It varies, from 45 minutes to 90 minutes, but it's a lot longer than what we see on TV. However, give thanks that it's edited, since much of the conversation is also kind of boring.

What does Jeff Probst do when he goes to "tally the votes"?
After actually collecting the votes, Jeff consults with producers, who have been watching the voting confessional footage live in a production booth far away from Tribal Council. Based upon what they've seen and the actual outcome of the vote, they decide the order in which Jeff will read the votes aloud, organizing them for maximum drama and selecting which contestants' votes will be shown on TV. That's why the votes Jeff reveals first are the ones viewers have already seen.

Where do cast members go once they're voted out?
To Ponderosa, a nearby camp or facility. Those who don't make the jury typically leave together and stay elsewhere until the end of the game, while those who are on the jury remain at Ponderosa and on location, so they can attend Tribal Council every third day. CBS now airs an online-only series that follows life at Ponderosa, if you're curious about what happens there.

 

Any comments out there?

 

 

 

Hello everyone!

 

I heard about this magazine cover and finally found a copy of it. What do think of it?

 

 

 

 

Brad Pitt's slightly sepia-toned photo of Angelina Jolie breast-feeding one of their twins (note tiny little outstretched hand) is absolutely tasteful, sweet , marvelously intimate and natural.

Love the blissful expression on her face.

Brad, you've got yet another career-calling.

Can't wait to see the rest of the family photo session.

 

 

Mother's Cookies, an Oakland institution for 92 years, has been shuttered, its owner seeking bankruptcy protection for the company.

The ending was abrupt: Workers for the company, which shifted its baking and distribution operations to plants in Ohio and Canada in 2006, told workers Friday that operations would cease and cookies would no longer be made as of Monday.

The company cited rising prices for raw materials and fuel, and on Monday filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware.

The company that made Mother's cookies at the end was the Archway & Mother's Cake and Cookie Co. of Battle Creek, Mich. It was owned by Catterton Partners, a private-equity firm in Greenwich, Conn., which in 2005 purchased it from an Italian firm, Parmalat Finanziaria, which was plagued by scandals at home.

In 2006, Mother's Cake & Cookie Co. was uprooted from its plant on 81st Avenue in Oakland and relocated. About 230 employees lost their jobs.

According to industry lore, the company was founded in 1914 by a newspaper vendor, N.M. Wheatley, as a one-person shop. It expanded and moved to the 81st Avenue location in 1949.

Mother's later had a series of corporate owners: a Belgian company, Artal B.V., bought it in 1991; it was owned by Specialty Foods Corp. of Illinois in the late 1990s; in 2000, Specialty sold Mother's and Archway Cookies to Parmalat, which in turn sold the combined business to Catterton for an undisclosed sum.

Catterton said in a statement it "took a number of actions to remedy" the company's financial crisis, "but these actions were not sufficient to overcome the losses and return Mother's Cake & Cookie Co. and Archway Cookies LLC to profitability."

One of those efforts was to seek financing. "But, as you know, the credit environment is very difficult now," said Meaghan Repko, a spokeswoman for the owners, in New York.

The owners did not comply with the federal law that requires a 60-day notification of any layoffs and said that was due to "unforeseeable business circumstances." A business uses that language to seek exemption from the act's 60-day notice requirement.

"Having reviewed the options available, the company believes that this (bankruptcy filing) was the only course of action," said Jeff Granger of Focus Management Group in Tampa, Fla., who is expected to be appointed chief restructuring officer of the company.

Sixty people are out of work at the Battle Creek office, and Battle Creek City Attorney Eileen Wicklund said Wednesday that she had advised workers to explore a lawsuit against the company.

"Any loss of employment is a blow for any community," she said.

The company had many drivers, including 60 in Northern California, represented by the Teamsters Union. One of them, Frank Makely, 59, of Fresno, an employee for the past nine years, called the short-notice dismissal "unimaginable."

"The owners came in to get rid of us, to chew us up and spit us out," he said, alleging their intent was to gain a profit by selling assets and neglecting service of trucks and other expenses.

"This is part of the economic crunch, with the CEOs taking the money out and not putting more money into the company," said Makely. "I'm too old to get a driving job. Who would hire me?"

The company response was to refer a reporter to its statement.

 

 

 

 

 

Hello everyone!

 

This is really scary stuff guys. I found this story about how greedy this group of CEOs are with our money. This stuff has got to stop or we will find ourselves in a worldwide depression. I just watched "Mr. Smith goes to Washington" with James Stewart this morning and it's as timeless as it was when it first came out. We need to get this greed to stop!!

 

 

 

Countrywide CEO collected $361.7 Million

If the home-mortgage mess has a ground zero, it's Countrywide Financial. Under the leadership of Angelo Mozilo, Countrywide helped fuel the housing bubble by writing thousands of questionable subprime mortgages -- the kind used to create the toxic mortgage-backed securities that taxpayers are now being asked to clean up. A spike in bad loans hammered Countrywide in 2007, and in January it agreed to be purchased by Bank of America. Mozilo's total take-home pay for 2005-07 was $361.7 million, most of it from gains on options, according to Equilar.

 

Fannie Chief sank the ship

Fannie Mae fueled the housing bubble by guaranteeing more and more risky loans and purchasing too much subprime debt. Things got so bad that the government stepped in and took control of Fannie in September. Shareholders got wiped out, and CEO Daniel Mudd was denied a golden parachute worth $9.8 million, by one estimate. But he still took home $11.6 million during the boom years of 2005-07, according to Equilar, including $8.3 million in bonus pay. Experts trace the history of many of Fannie's problems to predecessor Franklin Raines, who left in an accounting scandal and later agreed to pay $24.7 million to settle civil charges. But Mudd was at the wheel when the ship went down.

(Note: Daniel Mudd is the son of Roger Mudd.)

 

No golden parachute for Freddie chief

Like Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac fed the frenzy by backing too many risky loans. It was also taken over by the government after conditions worsened this summer. Freddie Mac shareholders got wiped out, and the fiasco contributed to fears that bad mortgage debt would take down the economy. But former Freddie Mac CEO Richard Syron did just fine. He took home $12.9 million from 2005-07, according to Equilar, including $8 million in bonuses. But regulators did snag his golden parachute, worth an estimated $9.8 million.

 

Bear CEO earned big but lost millions

Bear Stearns was the first Wall Street giant to hit the skids. It was about to collapse last March when the Fed guaranteed up to $29 billion in bad mortgage-related assets. JPMorgan Chase could then stomach a takeover. CEO James Cayne, who left in January, lost millions on Bear stock during the plunge. But he had also cashed out millions in stock before the fall. He took home $42.3 million in his final three years on the job, 2005-07, Equilar says, including $29.8 million in bonus pay for accomplishments that included leading Bear Stearns into the arena of mortgage-backed securities.

 

CEO got $186 million as Lehman failed

Lehman Bros. filed for bankruptcy protection in early September after it was unable to secure the kind of government backing for a corporate buyout mustered by Bear Stearns. The chief obstacle was concern about a $30 billion portfolio of shaky commercial-real-estate assets compiled under the watch of CEO Richard Fuld. Lehman filed for bankruptcy, investors were wiped out, and employees lost their jobs. But Fuld walked away with $186.5 million in earnings from the prior three years, Equilar says. Fuld, who defended his compensation while testifying before a congressional panel on Oct. 6, got most of that by cashing out options. But he also took home $36.8 million in bonus and incentive pay.

 

AIG chief collected $25.4 million

Under the leadership of CEO Martin Sullivan, giant insurer American International Group got itself in deep trouble through the use of exotic financial products known as credit default swaps. As the housing sector unraveled this year, AIG reported a string of surprise losses. By September, the insurer needed an $85 billion bailout from the Federal Reserve to avoid bankruptcy. AIG shareholders were virtually wiped out in the deal. But Sullivan, who got the boot in June, came out of it a multimillionaire. He raked in $25.4 million in take-home pay over three years, according to Equilar.

 

Merrill chief led a busy securities shop

Under Stan O'Neal, Merrill Lynch was one of the most industrious of the Wall Street toxic-debt machines, churning out the types of securities that the government now says it must buy to save the economy. Merrill Lynch took more than $10 billion in write-downs on bad debt in the second quarter. Fears about much more to come forced Merrill to accept a buyout from Bank of America to avoid disaster. O'Neal left Merrill a year ago with $66 million in earnings under his belt for 2005-07. That included $32.6 million in bonuses, Equilar says.

 

WaMu CEO collected $36 million

Under the leadership of Kerry Killinger, Washington Mutual plunged headfirst into the kinds of adjustable-rate mortgages and home-equity loans that were destined to go bad when homeowners could not refinance. The largest U.S. savings and loan faced losses from residential mortgages of as much as $19 billion through 2011 when regulators seized it on Sept. 25. But Killinger, who got bounced in September, should have plenty of cash. He took home $36 million in 2005-07, according to Equilar. That included $11 million in bonus pay for his performance.

 

Wachovia chief pushed a costly takeover

Bad loans piled up too high at Wachovia; in the second quarter of 2008 alone, the bank reported an $8.9 billion loss. The chief culprit: "pick-a-pay" loans that came in the door when Wachovia bought California thrift Golden West Financial in 2006. Golden West specialized in those risky mortgages. Finally, on Sept. 29., months of speculation ended with news Citigroup will acquire Wachovia in a deal arranged by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. CEO G. Kennedy Thompson, who left in June, did well during his tenure. He took home $16 million during 2005-07, including $10 million in bonus pay, Equilar says.

 

Citi CEO took home $35 million in bonuses

Citigroup was another of the toxic-debt machines during the housing boom. Now its shareholders are paying the price. Citigroup has taken more than $57 billion in write-downs and losses since the crunch hit, and analysts expect much more. Citigroup has been forced to cut its dividend and raise more than $30 billion. The man at the helm while the mess developed was CEO Charles Prince, who has since left the company. He earned $35.6 million in bonus pay during the boom years of 2005-07 and took home a total of $41.5 million.

 

 

 

 

 

If this is true then, wow…just Wow.

The National Enquirer is reporting that 17 year old Jamie Lynn Spears is now expecting for the second time just three months after giving birth on June 19 to baby Maddie Briann.

And before you say anything about it being from TNE, just remember, they were right about her being pregnant the first time….

They say that Jamie Lynn is desperate to keep the shock­ing news secret and some people close to her are urging her to consider ending the pregnancy.  A source says: 

“Jamie Lynn is about eight weeks pregnant, and she and her mom Lynne are hysterical,”

“Neither of them knows what to do, but for now they’re trying to keep the news from getting out.”

The unplanned pregnancy came as a shock to Jamie Lynn, who'd been breastfeeding her infant daughter Maddie Briann.

“Jamie Lynn believed she couldn’t get pregnant while she was breast-feeding.”

 “She’d expected to have her period by early September.   A home pregnancy test came back positive and Jamie Lynn cried her eyes out. “

Her mother Lynne was livid when she found out, divulged an insider.

Meanwhile, insiders say that those close to Jamie Lynn are urging her to abort!

“They’ve reminded Jamie Lynn how much trouble she had adjusting to motherhood with Maddie, and pointed out that having a second baby now would only be a recipe for disaster.”

UPDATE:OK! Magazine (you know, the ones paying her millions for Exclusive news) just put up a note saying they spoke to Jamie Lynn and she says she is NOT pregnant….

 

 

 

 

Hello everyone!

 

I found this interesting story to share with you guys. Which flavor would you choose?

 

 

Presidential ice cream

By KEN HOFFMAN Copyright Houston Chronicle 2008

Oct. 8, 2008, 1:22PM

This week I reached out — quite undecidedly — for two scoops of Presidential Election '08 ice cream at Baskin-Robbins 31 Flavors, the world's largest dessert cart, with 5,800 shops coast to coast and around the globe.

I got one dip of the John McCain flavor — Straight Talk Crunch.

And one dip of the Barack Obama flavor — Whirl of Change.

I "debated" getting a double-dip cone, but whose flavor would be on top? That's a decision I'll leave for the pundits and the American voters in November.

Both flavors are "limited edition." You know what that means — limited to everyone who wants to buy them.

Here are the blueprints:

McCain's Straight Talk Crunch has a caramel ribbon, chocolate pieces, candy "red states" and crunchy mixed nuts swirled into white chocolate ice cream. I presume the "mixed nuts" refer to Sean Hannity and the hard-core conservatives over at Fox News.

Obama's Whirl of Change has peanut nougat ice cream whirled with chunks of chocolate-covered peanut brittle and a caramel ribbon. I presume "brittle" refers to Larry King and the golden-oldie liberals at CNN.

Total calories for each: 250 (per 4-ounce scoop). Fat grams: 15. Dietary fiber: 1. Carbs: 36. Manufacturer's suggested retail price: $1.99 per scoop.

Both flavors are packed with pork-barrel add-ons, like chocolate pieces, mixed nuts, peanut brittle and caramel. But unlike most budget-busting earmark programs, these flavors leave a good taste in your mouth.

I found myself with a major moral dilemma. Without revealing my political leaning, I preferred the ice cream flavor of the candidate I'm not voting for.

Do I go against everything I believe is right for the country?

Do I vote with my heart or let my sweet tooth decide?

Let's just say I crossed party lines.

The McCain flavor is very busy with mix-ins like chocolate bits, red candy and nuts. It's got maverick texture and a lot of "mouth feel." White-chocolate ice cream is one of the terrific underrated flavors in Baskin-Robbins' treasure chest of concoctions, more than 1,000 flavors since the company was created in 1945.

The Obama flavor is certainly a change you can believe in. Peanut nougat is a new flavor for Baskin-Robbins, and it's got no shortage of extras, like caramel and peanut brittle. This is a rarity — a noisy ice cream.

So there they are, Mr. and Mrs. America (and kids), your choices for commander-in-chief of ice cream.

This isn't the first time that Baskin-Robbins has thrown its hat into the political ring. In 1960, the company created Candi-Date ice cream to celebrate the inauguration of President John F. Kennedy.

In 1976, President Jimmy Carter was honored with Acceptance Peach ice cream.

In 1996, Baskin-Robbins wasn't taking any chances. President Bill Clinton had his Saxy Candidate flavor while Republican challenger Bob Dole had G-O-Peanut Butter ice cream.

 

Here's the link to vote:

http://www.baskinrobbins.com/Spotlight/Elections.aspx

 

Hello everyone!

 

I was surfing the 'net and found a couple of stories to share about this housing mess that greedy bankers and mortgage companies got the world into to.

 

CHICAGO, Illinois (CNN) -- An outraged sheriff in Illinois who refuses to evict "innocent" renters from foreclosed homes criticized mortgage companies Thursday and said the law should protect victims of the mortgage meltdown.

Sheriff Thomas J. Dart said earlier he is suspending foreclosure evictions in Cook County, which includes the city of Chicago.

The county had been on track to reach a record number of evictions, many because of mortgage foreclosures.

Many good tenants are suffering because building owners have fallen behind on their mortgage payments, he said Thursday on CNN's "American Morning."

"These poor people are seeing everything they own put out on the street. ... They've paid their bills, paid them on time. Here we are with a battering ram at the front door going to throw them out. It's gotten insane," he said.

Mortgage companies are supposed to identify a building's occupants before asking for an eviction, but sheriff's deputies routinely find that the mortgage companies have not done so, Dart said.

"This is an example where the banking industry has not done any of the work they should do. It's a piece of paper to them," Dart said.

"These mortgage companies ... don't care who's in the building," Dart said Wednesday. "They simply want their money and don't care who gets hurt along the way.

"On top of it all, they want taxpayers to fund their investigative work for them. We're not going to do their jobs for them anymore. We're just not going to evict innocent tenants. It stops today."

Dart said he wants the courts or the state Legislature to establish protections for those most harmed by the mortgage crisis.

 

In 1999, Cook County had 12,935 mortgage foreclosure cases; in 2006, 18,916 cases were filed, and last year, 32,269 were filed. This year's total is expected to exceed 43,000.

"The people we're interacting with are, many times, oblivious to the financial straits their landlord might be in," Dart said. "They are the innocent victims here, and they are the ones all of us must step up and find some way to protect."

The Illinois Bankers Association opposed the plan, saying that Dart "was elected to uphold the law and to fulfill the legal duties of his office, which include serving eviction notices."

The association said Dart could be found in contempt of court for ignoring court eviction orders.

"The reality is that by ignoring the law and his legal responsibilities, he is carrying out 'vigilantism' at the highest level of an elected official," it said. "The Illinois banking industry is working hard to help troubled homeowners in many ways, but Sheriff Dart's declaration of 'martial law' should not be tolerated."

Dart was undeterred Thursday.

"I think the outrage on my part with them [is] that they could so cavalierly issue documents and have me throw people out of homes who have done absolutely nothing wrong," Dart said. "They played by all the rules.

"I told them, 'You send an agent out, you send somebody out that gives me any type of assurance that the appropriate person is in the house, I will fulfill the order.'

"When you're blindly sending me out to houses where I'm coming across innocent tenant after innocent tenant, I can't keep doing this and have a good conscience about it."

Allegra Reinalda with housemates at their contested Carlton squat. 

Hello everyone!

 

I never thought I would reading these words, but finally justice!

 

 

 

Simpson guilty of armed robbery, kidnapping

 

Published - Oct 04 2008 04:38AM PDT

 

LAS VEGAS - O.J. Simpson, who went from American sports idol to celebrity-in-exile after he was acquitted of murder in 1995, was found guilty Friday of robbing two sports-memorabilia dealers at gunpoint in a Las Vegas hotel room.

The 61-year-old former football star could spend the rest of his life in prison. Sentencing was set for Dec. 5.

A weary and somber Simpson released a heavy sigh as the charges were read by the clerk in Clark County District Court. He was immediately taken into custody.

The Hall of Fame football star was convicted of kidnapping, armed robbery and 10 other charges for gathering up five men a year ago and storming into a room at a hotel-casino, where the group seized several game balls, plaques and photos. Prosecutors said two of the men with him were armed; one of them said Simpson asked him to bring a gun.

The verdict came 13 years to the day after Simpson was cleared of murdering his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ronald Goldman, in Los Angeles in one of the most sensational trials of the 20th century.

"I don't like to use the word payback," defense attorney Yale Galanter said. "I can tell you from the beginning my biggest concern ... was whether or not the jury would be able to separate their very strong feelings about Mr. Simpson and judge him fairly and honestly."

Co-defendant also convicted

Simpson's co-defendant, Clarence "C.J." Stewart, 54, also was found guilty on all charges in the Las Vegas case and taken into custody.

Simpson showed little emotion as officers handcuffed him and walked him out of the courtroom. His sister, Carmelita Durio, sobbed behind him in the arms of Simpson's friend, Tom Scotto, who said "I love you" as Simpson passed by. As spectators left the courtroom, Durio collapsed.

Jurors made no eye contact with the defendants as they entered the courtroom. They declined to answer questions after the verdict was read.

Galanter said his client had expected the outcome, and in a courthouse conversation with an Associated Press reporter on Thursday, Simpson had implied as much.

Simpson said he felt melancholy and that he was "afraid that I won't get to go to my kids' college graduations after I managed to get them through college."

Galanter said it was not a happy day for anybody. "His only hope is the appellate process," he said.

Clark County spokesman Dan Kulin said prosecutors would not comment until the case was "completely resolved."

Judge Jackie Glass made no comment other than to thank the jury for its service and to deny motions for the defendants to be released on bail.

She refused to give the lawyers extended time to file a motion for new trial, which under Nevada law must be filed within seven days. The attorneys said they needed time to submit a voluminous record.

"I've sat through the trial," Glass said. "If you want a motion for new trial, send me something."

Appeal promised

Stewart's attorney, Brent Bryson, promised to appeal.

"If there was ever a case that should have been severed in the history of jurisprudence, it's this case," he said of unsuccessful attempts to separate Stewart's case from Simpson's because of the "spillover" effect.

From the beginning, Simpson and his lawyers argued the incident was not a robbery, but an attempt to reclaim mementos that had been stolen from him. He said he did not ask anyone to bring a weapon and did not see any guns.

The defense portrayed Simpson as a victim of shady characters who wanted to make a buck off his famous name, and police officers who saw his arrest as an opportunity to "get" him and avenge his acquittal.

Prosecutors said Simpson's ownership of the memorabilia was irrelevant; it was still a crime to try to take things by force.

"When they went into that room and forced the victims to the far side of the room, pulling out guns and yelling, 'Don't let anybody out of here!' — six very large people detaining these two victims in the room with the intent to take property through force or violence from them — that's kidnapping," prosecutor David Roger said.

Kidnapping is punishable by five years to life in prison. Armed robbery carries a mandatory sentence of at least two years behind bars, and could bring as much as 30.

'Don't let nobody out of this room'

Simpson, who now lives in Miami, did not testify but was heard on a recording of the confrontation screaming that the dealers had stolen his property. "Don't let nobody out of this room," he declared and told the other men to scoop up his items, which included a photo of Simpson with former FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover.

Four other men charged in the case struck plea bargains that saved them from potential prison sentences in return for their testimony. Some of them had criminal records or were otherwise compromised in some way. One, for example, was an alleged pimp who testified he had a revelation from God telling him to take a plea bargain.

Memorabilia dealer Thomas Riccio, who arranged and secretly recorded the hotel-room confrontation, said he netted $210,000 from the media for the tapes.

Similarly, minutes after the Sept. 13, 2007, incident, one of the alleged victims, sports-memorabilia dealer Alfred Beardsley, was calling news outlets, and the other, Bruce Fromong, spoke of getting "big money" from the case.

Shadow of Simpson's past

Simpson's past haunted the case. Las Vegas police officers were heard in the recordings chuckling over Simpson's misfortune and crowing that if Los Angeles couldn't "get" him, they would.

During jury selection, Simpson's lawyers expressed fears that people who believed he got away with murder might see this case as a chance to right a wrong.

As a result, an usually large pool of 500 potential jurors was called, and they were given a 26-page questionnaire. Half were almost instantly eliminated after expressing strong feelings that Simpson should have been convicted of murder.

The judge instructed the jurors to put aside Simpson's earlier case.

In closing arguments, Galanter acknowledged that what Simpson did to recover his memorabilia was not right. "But being stupid, and being frustrated is not being a criminal," he said.

He added: "This case has taken on a life of its own because of Mr. Simpson's involvement. You know that. I know that. Every cooperator, every person who had a gun, every person who had an ulterior motive, every person who signed a book deal, every person who got paid money, the police, the district attorney's office, is only interested in one thing: Mr. Simpson."

 

Update:

Jurors disagreed with Simpson's 1995 acquittal

Latest twist in his armed robbery case — decided exactly 13 years later

 LAS VEGAS - In a city where luck means everything, O.J. Simpson came out the big loser — and his unlucky number in a case full of bizarre twists was 13. He was convicted of an armed robbery that happened on Sept. 13 and was found guilty on the 13th anniversary of his Los Angeles murder acquittal. The Las Vegas jury deliberated for 13 hours after a 13-day trial.

But now it's been revealed that several of those jurors have said they disagreed with that murder acquittal.

Jury questionnaires released Saturday show that five of the 12 jurors disagreed with the 1995 verdict that cleared Simpson of murdering his ex-wife and her friend in Los Angeles.

Most others claimed to be uncertain or did not answer the question. All jurors said they could set aside their feelings.

The judge in the robbery case released edited versions of the questionnaires.

Simpson was convicted late Friday of all counts in a botched hotel-room heist a year ago.

Then, as only the racking sobs of Simpson’s sister broke the courtroom silence, the lights went out.

Court marshals flipped on flashlights and shouted for everyone to stay seated. Only the judge knew what had happened. It was 11 p.m. and the courthouse lights had shut down automatically.

“Timed out,” Judge Jackie Glass said in a fitting epitaph for the story of O.J. Simpson.

The 61-year-old Hall of Fame football star was convicted of kidnapping, armed robbery and 10 other charges for gathering five men a year ago and storming into a room at a hotel-casino, where the group seized several game balls, plaques and photos. Prosecutors said two of the men with him were armed; one of them said Simpson asked him to bring a gun.

Simpson could face life behind bars
Once convicted, Simpson, the sports-idol-turned-celebrity-pariah, was handcuffed and led from the room with his co-defendant, Clarence “C.J.” Stewart. They could spend the rest of their lives in prison. “There is justice,” said attorney Gloria Allred, who has represented the family of his slain ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson. “Justice was delayed, but in this case it was not denied. Now that he may spend the rest of his life in prison, the law, and not O.J. Simpson, will have the last word.”

Still, many of those in the courtroom couldn’t believe the verdicts. Simpson’s sister, Carmelita Durio, fainted. The sister of Tom Scotto, whose wedding precipitated the hotel confrontation, wailed. His wife, Sabrina, wept.

Some observers said the Las Vegas case paled in comparison to the “trial of the century” in 1995, a yearlong opus in which Simpson was acquitted of murdering his ex-wife and her friend Ronald Goldman.

A rapt nation followed the Los Angeles trial. Tales of a gruesome murder and a bloody glove, as well as the celebrity defendant, drew a media frenzy.

In Las Vegas, Simpson’s fate played out in a small courtroom dotted with empty seats. Even the stunning verdict came as most of America slept, oblivious to the irony that Simpson might spend the rest of his life in prison for what most perceived as a petty crime, a tussle among middle-aged men.

Simpson’s Las Vegas defense tried to tell the jury that the two cases had nothing to do with each other, but it was a losing battle.

“I don’t know that one trial cancels out the other,” said Loyola University law professor Laurie Levenson, who attended Simpson’s murder trial. “People will always be troubled by O.J. For the people troubled by the Los Angeles acquittal, this case will make small amends. Saying finally there is justice, at least from a legal perspective, is very crude way of looking at justice.”

She predicted that Stewart, 54, will have a strong chance for reversal on appeal because he was forced to stand trial beside Simpson.

“O.J. was toxic, and he has been toxic since 1994, and this jury was just ready to clean up the mess,” Levenson said.

'This was just payback'
Simpson lawyer Yale Galanter said Saturday he felt bad for Simpson but even worse for Stewart, who got dragged along in a campaign to convict Simpson.

“This was just payback,” he said of the verdict. “They were on an agenda.”

Galanter and Stewart’s lawyers promised to appeal, in part because unlike the predominantly black jury that decided Simpson’s murder case, this panel included no African-Americans. Neither Simpson nor Stewart testified.

Tom Scotto, who wept in court, called it “a public lynching.”

“Was this something to put someone in jail for the rest of their life for? It’s a total injustice. There was no justice served in that courtroom,” Scotto said.

It was Scotto’s wedding that had brought Simpson, a close friend, to Las Vegas on that fateful week in 2007, and details of wedding plans, flowers, a cake and parties formed an ironic counterpoint to testimony about Simpson gathering up a posse that included two gun-toting men to confront memorabilia dealers who were peddling Simpson’s personal property to the highest bidder.

The case was set in motion by Thomas Riccio, a collectibles broker who tried to bring in the FBI when he heard that two memorabilia dealers were planning to sell a trove of Simpson artifacts. Failing to get their attention, he helped set up a “sting” by promoting an anonymous buyer who turned out to be Simpson.

Riccio, who has peddled goods including video of Anna Nicole Smith’s breast implant surgery, saw a chance to profit by recording the confrontation between Simpson and collectibles dealers Alfred Beardsley and Bruce Fromong.

He rented a cramped hotel room away from the Las Vegas Strip for the meeting and planted a digital recorder atop an armoire. Riccio then sold the recordings of the six-minute confrontation for $210,000 before turning them over to police eight days later. Although they couldn’t be authenticated, the recordings became the heart of the prosecution’s case, along with audio recorded by gunman Michael McClinton at two wedding parties.

The recordings were sometimes garbled, but Simpson’s voice came through loud and clear: “Don’t let nobody out of this room.” The words formed the basis of the prosecution’s kidnapping charge.

The former football hero also was heard accusing the men of stealing his possessions. His lawyer would argue that Simpson was on a recovery mission to reclaim the artifacts of his life.

Sentencing is Dec. 5
But District Attorney David Roger argued that ownership was not a defense to robbery.

Kidnapping is punishable by five years to life in prison. Armed robbery carries a sentence of at least two years behind bars and could bring as much as 30.

Simpson and Stewart were taken to the Clark County jail, where the football star will live in a 7-by-14-foot cell, far removed from his ranch-style home in the lush Miami suburbs.

The once-gregarious entertainer doesn’t have a cell mate. He lives in the company of white concrete block walls, a small toilet and sink, and a wooden bed covered with a thin cushion. He probably has a view of a scruffy Las Vegas street through two slit windows.

It will be his home until at least Dec. 5, when he and Stewart are scheduled to be sentenced. They would then be sent to state prison.

Even before the verdict, Simpson appeared resigned that his luck had run out.

He had been prepared for the worst, his lawyer said.

And in a conversation with The Associated Press on Thursday, Simpson implied as much, saying, “I’m afraid that I won’t get to go to my kids’ college graduations after I managed to get them through college.”