Saturday, April 24, 2010
SECs at Work
News item -- Instead of watching Wall Street, some staffers at the Securities and Exchange Commission were watching porn.
An investigation by the SEC's Inspector General found 33 violators (among approximately 4,000 employees) over the past five years, including 17 senior SEC employees earning between $99000 and $222000 a year, were among those who viewed porn on their office computers or on laptops... Meanwhile Bernie Madoff made off with billions and Wall Street held up the entire U.S. Economy for trillions when you add up the bailout and the Fed's guarantees.
An investigation by the SEC's Inspector General found 33 violators (among approximately 4,000 employees) over the past five years, including 17 senior SEC employees earning between $99000 and $222000 a year, were among those who viewed porn on their office computers or on laptops... Meanwhile Bernie Madoff made off with billions and Wall Street held up the entire U.S. Economy for trillions when you add up the bailout and the Fed's guarantees.
How to spot a porn watcher at work:
SEC Enforcement Action Threshold:
Male | Female |
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Possible Excuses: | |
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A Few Words
| The Colbert Report | Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c | |||
| The Word - Straight to Video | ||||
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| The Colbert Report | Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c | |||
| Bonus Word - Defamation of Independents | ||||
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Happy Birthday Hubble
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| Audio: BBC, PRI & WBUR's Here & Now 4/22/10, Host: Robin Young. Photo: Hubble Space Telescope image of the chaotic Carina Nebula. (NASA/via AP) | |
The HubbleSite Picture Album provides an ever-changing slideshow of Hubble's finest and most popular photos.
Friday, April 23, 2010
Canada Has Issues
Even "why is he called the situation" from America's list.
Energy + Environment + End
Surprising Alternative Energy Innovations
Easy Answers
Old School Oil Rig
Ending Offshore Drilling
Easy Answers
Old School Oil Rig
Ending Offshore Drilling
Come To Your Census
If you didn't send it back, they're coming for you!
But after those Bush-era warrantless wiretaps,
don't they already know everything about you?
don't they already know everything about you?
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| Audio: Berger & Prescott publish podcasts on Facebook... Mike is a white non slaveholder. Jeff may have written "3rd at Santa Anita" when asked his race. | |
Problemos
Harassing Latinos with racial profiling isn't an inevitable side effect of Arizona's anti-immigration law -- it's the entire point.
| The Colbert Report | Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c | |||
| The Word - No Problemo 4/21/10 | ||||
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| Jokes.com | ||||
| Bill Maher - Immigrants and Bestiality | ||||
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Albondi-gone
African invaders brought their meatballs to Iberia. Spanish conquistadors brought them to the new world. Mexicans brought them to the United States, and to your table as albondigas soup.
I sometimes eat at a casino cafe where "meatball soup" recently was deleted from its rotating soups of the day menu... A change which also dropped "tortilla soup."
Both dishes had been "Americanized" (gotten blander, less authentic) since their introduction. And management had previously asked their multiethnic wait staff not to use Spanish words to describe the food to Anglos... A Hispanic waitress admitted it, last fall, when I asked if Wednesday's chicken soup came with tortillas, rice or noodles? Had I asked "¿Sopa de pollo con tortillas, arroz o fideos?" her answer would've been different. But she was serving soup to crackers.
Las Vegas is completely dependent on visitors from all over. But the hospitality is a veneer, because at heart its residents are not at all comfortable with embracing, or even eating, ethnic soup.
Both dishes had been "Americanized" (gotten blander, less authentic) since their introduction. And management had previously asked their multiethnic wait staff not to use Spanish words to describe the food to Anglos... A Hispanic waitress admitted it, last fall, when I asked if Wednesday's chicken soup came with tortillas, rice or noodles? Had I asked "¿Sopa de pollo con tortillas, arroz o fideos?" her answer would've been different. But she was serving soup to crackers.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Wall Street Reform
In one respect, Republican spin-meister Frank Luntz is onto something... If you call it "Wall Street Reform" you've found "words that work" so well even Republican Senators' opposition will collapse under a wave of populist support from all over the political spectrum.
But that doesn't stop the disinformation campaign.
But that doesn't stop the disinformation campaign.
Earth Day 2010
We've been handed something wonderful.
Take good care of it, then pass it on.
This week's entire episode of PRI's Living On Earth with Steve Curwood is devoted to Earth Day past & present.
http://stream.loe.org/audio/100416/100416loe.mp3
Political Animals
"Someone told me it's all happening at the zoo.
I do believe it, I do believe it's true."
-- Paul Simon (1968)
Fox
Chicken
Lizard
I do believe it, I do believe it's true."
-- Paul Simon (1968)
Fox
| The Daily Show With Jon Stewart | Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c | |||
| Bernie Goldberg Fires Back - 4/20/10 | ||||
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Chicken
Lizard
Intelligent Life?
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| Audio: CBS Radio's Osgood File 4/16/10, CBS Sunday Morning Feature 4/18/10. | |
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| Audio: BBC, PRI & WBUR's Here & Now 4/20/10, Host: Robin Young. | |
Lose Your Lunch
The Oscar-nominated documentary, “Food, Inc.,” takes a look at where food comes from, how it’s processed and some consequences of U.S. agriculture policies. The film airs this week as part of the POV series on public television stations nationwide.
Crash Course
The Las Vegas Metro P.D. cruiser above totalled another car while responding to a robbery call without flashing lights or siren... The two officers inside went to the hospital instead of the crime scene.
In Washington state, a legislator who was once a county sheriff has championed the purchase of high–tech simulators to practice high speed approach or pursuit scenarios without the real-life risks.
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| Puget Sound Public Radio 4/20/10, Reporter: Austin Jenkins. | |
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Going Postal
Two U.S. Males unload on the U.S. Mail
It may be mostly junk, but Jeff wants to get it quicker, Newman!
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| Audio: Berger & Prescott publish podcasts on Facebook... Because the postal service doesn't like them any more than other annoying four-legged beasts. | |
E-Mail to Gmail Conversion
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| Audio: NPR's All Things Considered 4/12/10, Reporter: Libby Conn Franklin. | |
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
These F@#king Guys
Corporate Tax Evasion
GE: 7,000 tax returns, $0 U.S. tax bill
GE had plenty of earnings last year -- just not in the United States. For tax purposes, the company's U.S. operations lost $408 million, while its international businesses netted a $10.8 billion profit.
President Obama wants to change the tax rate for American multinationals, who he says don't pay their "fair share" for overseas profits... Corporations currently pay taxes to Uncle Sam only when profits are brought back to the United States... Something a thinking TEA Party member might support if not for their reflexive hatred and hidden Astroturf corporate backers.
Various pro & con arguments can be made by academics, but money is fungible... Easily manipulated to hide its origin. And if a company occupies several roles within a supply chain, pricing can be adjusted to move profits offshore... Along with the jobs.
GE had plenty of earnings last year -- just not in the United States. For tax purposes, the company's U.S. operations lost $408 million, while its international businesses netted a $10.8 billion profit.
Various pro & con arguments can be made by academics, but money is fungible... Easily manipulated to hide its origin. And if a company occupies several roles within a supply chain, pricing can be adjusted to move profits offshore... Along with the jobs.
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| Audio: BBC, PRI & WGBH's The World 4/13/10, Reporter: Jason Margolis. | |
Healthy Workplace
Among law enforcement types who abuse their authority, many have a history... Want to bet the deputy was a bully in school?
Not all of it is sexual, but harassment in the workplace exploits differences in power and status... As if the pattern of school bullying which has dominated the headlines in recent weeks, is repeated after the bullies leave school and get jobs.
According to the Workplace Bullying Institute, almost half of all American workers have either suffered workplace bullying themselves or been vicariously distressed by witnessing it. 17 states have tried to make it easier for employees to sue over workplace bullying, but there are still no federal laws in place.
Dr. Emelisa Aleandri had an experience as the target of a workplace bully — and fought back in a case that was settled for $1.4 million in 2005. And Justin Jones-Fosu, leadership trainer and radio, offers tips for others who are being bullied at work.
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| Audio: PRI & WNYC's program The Takeaway 4/13/10, Hosts" John Hockenberry & Celeste Headlee. | |
StephsInStereo
Stephanie Strand won a $5,000 first prize for "Go Somewhere" in the 21+ bracket of the American Students’ Fund 2007 Speak New Words contest during her senior year at U.C. Riverside. They liked her enough to hire her to edit the promotional video for the following year's contest.
Now relocated to South Florida, Stephanie's "Gutters & Drains" was a featured music selection on YouTube as she turned 25 last Tuesday... Her video skills are far more sophisticated than her instrumental abilities, but she's an interesting singer/songwriter.
Monday, April 19, 2010
Oklahoma City
I made a cross-country drive in July 1996; 15 months after the bombing which happened 15 years ago today. I made it a point to route myself through OKC, and in the fading sunlight at the end of the day I stood silent at the former site of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building... Just an empty lot at the time, but haunted by what had happened there.
There is now a museum & memorial inviting us to remember those who were killed, or survived and were forever changed.
Suspicious Minds
In the immediate aftermath of the Oklahoma City Bombing 15 years ago, both media and law enforcement leaped to the conclusion that the attack must have come from Islamic terrorists. As a result, Oklahoma City’s Muslim population underwent a crisis. Why were they under suspicion? Had one of them done it? Reporter Scott Gurian looks at the ongoing impact of that misguided rush to judgment.
Killing By Numbers
Since the "shot heard round the world" rang out on April 19th, 1775, the date of April 19th and/or April 20th have been imbued with significance. From Hitler’s birth to the killings at Waco, Columbine and Oklahoma City, each event echoes or evokes the anniversary of the last. Bob and Brooke weigh in on the numerology of terror.
"The McVeigh Tapes: Confessions of an American Terrorist" premieres tonight, Monday, April 19 at 9PM ET on MSNBC... Drawn from 45 hours of audiotapes recorded during McVeigh's prison stay, the film reveals the bomber's planning and execution of the attack and offers insight into how a decorated American soldier became an anti-government terrorist causing the deaths of 168 fellow citizens.
There is now a museum & memorial inviting us to remember those who were killed, or survived and were forever changed.
Suspicious Minds
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| Audio: WNYC's On The Media 4/17/10. | |
Killing By Numbers
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| Audio: WNYC's On The Media 4/17/10, Hosts: Brooke Gladstone & Bob Garfield. | |
"The McVeigh Tapes: Confessions of an American Terrorist" premieres tonight, Monday, April 19 at 9PM ET on MSNBC... Drawn from 45 hours of audiotapes recorded during McVeigh's prison stay, the film reveals the bomber's planning and execution of the attack and offers insight into how a decorated American soldier became an anti-government terrorist causing the deaths of 168 fellow citizens.
Sonicsgate
Defending NBA champions, the Los Angeles Lakers held on for a gritty 87-79 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder Sunday... There are some bitter ex-Sonics fans in Seattle who cheered OKC's loss.
A review by Bill Littlefield of NPR's Only A Game.
Producers of Sonicsgate have placed the full movie online at YouTube.
I lived in Seattle between 1990 & 1994. It was the era in which plans to modernize the Seattle Coliseum into what became Key Arena were approved. Then Sonics owner Barry Ackerly was pushing for improvements at the building that began as a pavilion at the 1962 Seattle World's Fair. But the mood of the public was against picking up the whole tab.
As the sole major league sports tenant, he had considerable weight in the plans, and pushed for a design which made it impossible to construct an NHL regulation size rink in the building... Edging out the Western Hockey League's Seattle Thunderbirds as a co-tenant and ensuring that no NHL team would ever come to the city.
The Sonics had recently become competitive by drafting power forward Shawn Kemp (1989), point guard Gary Peyton (1990), hiring coach George Karl (1992) with strong regular season showings in 1992-1993, and so it looked as if Ackerly, whose broadcast holdings were headquartered in Seattle, was committed to the city and team. His approximately $21 million share of construction cost, looked good to locals, but sealed the team's fate two owners later.
Ironically, trying to cut corners on the expense of repairs to the Kingdome's roof was what caused a portion of it to collapse in July 1994, with both the Mariners and Sea Hawks displaced and threatening to leave, before publicly funded plans for Safeco Field (baseball) and Qwest Field (football) were finally approved.
A review by Bill Littlefield of NPR's Only A Game.
Sonicsgate is driven in part by the filmmakers’ conviction that they’ve got an important story to tell.
That conviction has driven director Jason Reid and the producers who worked with him to include enough material to push their film to almost two hours, which may feel long to some viewers.
But anybody patient enough to stay with Sonicsgate will be rewarded with the careful documentation of a series of sleazy, shameful assertions, misrepresentations, and lies by a slew of people involved in owning or trying to own the Seattle Super Sonics before the team was eventually moved to Oklahoma City. Beyond the obvious villains, eventual team owner Clay Bennett paramount among them, there are plenty of lesser miscreants: NBA Commissioner David Stern, for example, and politicians, team officials, and others anxious to cover their backsides as the team slides out of town.
I don’t know to what extent what happened in Seattle before the Sonics left is representative of what has happened in other cities that have lost teams. Certainly there would seem to be at least a few factors common to most relocations: greed, feeling of entitlement on the part of ownership regarding public financing of a new building, threats from the owners and Commissioner Stern, and the presence of a potential new home city full of enthusiastic and naïve fans. Whether the film is the story of all teams that relocate or only one, Sonicsgate certainly demonstrates that in this instance, anybody who thought of the basketball team as anything other than a moveable commodity was a sucker doomed to be disappointed.
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| Audio: WBUR & NPR's Only A Game 4/17/10, Host: Bill Littlefield. | |
Producers of Sonicsgate have placed the full movie online at YouTube.
I lived in Seattle between 1990 & 1994. It was the era in which plans to modernize the Seattle Coliseum into what became Key Arena were approved. Then Sonics owner Barry Ackerly was pushing for improvements at the building that began as a pavilion at the 1962 Seattle World's Fair. But the mood of the public was against picking up the whole tab.
As the sole major league sports tenant, he had considerable weight in the plans, and pushed for a design which made it impossible to construct an NHL regulation size rink in the building... Edging out the Western Hockey League's Seattle Thunderbirds as a co-tenant and ensuring that no NHL team would ever come to the city.
The Sonics had recently become competitive by drafting power forward Shawn Kemp (1989), point guard Gary Peyton (1990), hiring coach George Karl (1992) with strong regular season showings in 1992-1993, and so it looked as if Ackerly, whose broadcast holdings were headquartered in Seattle, was committed to the city and team. His approximately $21 million share of construction cost, looked good to locals, but sealed the team's fate two owners later.
Ironically, trying to cut corners on the expense of repairs to the Kingdome's roof was what caused a portion of it to collapse in July 1994, with both the Mariners and Sea Hawks displaced and threatening to leave, before publicly funded plans for Safeco Field (baseball) and Qwest Field (football) were finally approved.
The Streets of San Francisco
What if the streets were flat, and everything else tilted?
Dan Ng's 2007 revisioning of San Francisco includes Filbert Street... Where the grade is 31.5%.
Dan Ng's 2007 revisioning of San Francisco includes Filbert Street... Where the grade is 31.5%.
Time for Three
Time for Three, combine virtuosity on classical instruments and the intuitive interplay of jazz while tackling material from modern singer-songwriters on their latest CD, Three Fervent Travelers.
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| Audio: PRI's Echoes, an ambient music program on public radio with an extensive archive of audio for download via subscription. | |
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Forgive And Forget
40 years in purgatory for a non-believer mouthing off... Considerably less for pedophile rapists within the clergy club.
For years, the Catholic Church has quietly sent priests accused of sexual transgressions to psychiatric centers, many affiliated with the church. Dr. Leslie Lothstein, who has treated more than 300 priests, tells NPR he saw some sex offenders sent "right back to working in youth ministries."
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| Audio: NPR's All Things Considered 4/15/10, Host: Michelle Norris | |
| The Daily Show With Jon Stewart | Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c | |||
| You're Welcome - Church Scandal Prevention | ||||
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Liar for Hire
To the rescue: Republican strategist Frank Luntz, the same man enlisted to call health care a government takeover. Talking point No. 1 for Luntz: The banking bill creates a permanent bailout fund for Wall Street, paid for by taxpayers... Essentially recycling some previously well tested and detested phrases; none of which are true.
To call him a master manipulator doesn't do him justice...
He has a doctorate.
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| Audio: NPR's All Things Considered 4/15/10 Reporter: David Welna. | |
Hear Luntz at length in an episode of Fresh Air from 2007.
Or as he presents himself:
Frank Luntz website: The Word Doctors.
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