XIAM007 - Making Unique Observations in a Very Cluttered World: 08/24/11

Wednesday, 24 August 2011

NASCAR's Kyle Busch Loses License for Speeding - for driving 128 mph in a 45 mph zone in a bright yellow 2012 Lexus -

NASCAR points leader Kyle Busch lost his driver’s license for 45 days on Tuesday for driving 128 mph on a road close to a day-care center and church in a nearly $400,000 car. His lawyer said his client was not treated “like any other citizen.”
Busch, who doesn’t need a license to compete in NASCAR, also was fined $1,000, sentenced to 30 hours of community service and put on one year of unsupervised probation. He pleaded guilty to speeding and no contest to reckless and careless driving in North Carolina District Court in Iredell County.

Busch addressed the court before his sentencing by District Court Judge H. Thomas Church, apologizing again for driving 128 mph in a 45 mph zone in a bright yellow 2012 Lexus on May 24.
“I think you’ll be different in the future,” Church said.
“I sure will, your honor,” Busch replied.
Busch and his wife, Samantha, were in the car when he was pulled over on a two-lane road in an area near a subdivision, a day-care center and a church. The hand-built LFA sports car was on loan to Busch from Lexus for a 24-hour test drive.
Busch attorney Cliff Homesley argued that his client wasn’t being treated the same as other people in similar circumstances, citing a July case of a 21-year-old convicted felon who was caught doing 128 mph and received a $300 fine and no loss of license.
“In 25 years of practicing law I’ve never seen someone not being offered better than this,” Homesley argued before the court. “All I am asking is to treat Kyle Busch like any other citizen that appears before the court.”
Homesley, calling Busch one of the best drivers in the world, said: “He had full control of that vehicle at all times.
“That automobile in his hands was like a scalpel in the hands of a surgeon. Not a knife in the hands of a 5-year-old.”
Busch is coming off his Sprint Cup series-best fourth victory at Michigan on Sunday, and he holds a 10-point lead over five-time defending NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson in the standings. His next scheduled race is Wednesday’s Trucks Series event at Bristol, where he’s won the last five races spanning NASCAR’s top three national series.
“This is closure. That certainly was what we were looking for in this case,” Busch said outside the court. “We’ve had a lot of people stand behind me and we’ve gone through this is as diligent as we could, as respectful as we could, and that’s why I am here today in person to do it myself and to accept responsibility for my actions.
“Today’s done. We move on to tomorrow and try to go win a truck race at Bristol.”
Busch spoke only briefly outside court, where a hot dog vendor was set up roughly 100 feet away offering the “128 mph special.” Busch headed in opposite direction of the stand as he left with his attorney.
In court, Homesley admitted Busch passed three different patrol cars following one another as the deputies headed to lunch. The first clocked him at 128 mph, the second clocked him at 79 and the third at 59—numbers that proved Busch was in control of the car and able to slow it down quickly.
Busch did tell the deputy who pulled him over the Lexus was “just a toy,” a remark he backed away from while apologizing for the incident in in a media session two days later.
“I’m certainly sorry that it happened,” he said. “It wasn’t a toy, it’s a high-performance vehicle. It should be driven with caution. Obviously, I didn’t have caution and I had a lack of judgment.
“There’s probably reason why on the TV commercials that they always show at the bottom, ‘Professional driver, closed course.’ Mine was not that. Again, I apologize sincerely. All I can do is make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
Busch will do his community service with the teen safe-driving program B.R.A.K.E.S., which was developed by drag racer Doug Herbert.
Herbert’s two sons were killed in a 2008 accident attributed to speeding, and the drag racer established the “Be Responsible And Keep Everyone Safe” program to teach teenagers safety behind the wheel.
Busch agreed to sponsor 300 students in the program, as well as participate in some of the sessions. He’ll have to do at least 30 hours as part of his sentence.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/sports/2011/08/24/nascars-kyle-busch-loses-license-for-speeding/?test=faces

Tablet computers: Fun in the bathroom? - 1 out of 3 admitted to using their tablet computers while in the bathroom -

If you're ashamed to admit you can't resist checking e-mail, catching up on your Web comics or flinging a few "Angry Birds" when nature calls, take heart. You're not alone.
More than one out of three respondents to a recent, unscientific survey admitted to using their tablet computers while in the bathroom.
The survey by office-supply seller Staples Inc. asked 200 tablet-using professionals about their preferences and habits.
There were several interesting findings. Among them, that the simple ability to store and carry around a tablet easily was a top selling point for more than 90% of people who bought them.
But the factoid that seemed to catch everyone's attention Tuesday was that more than one-in-three respondents -- 35% -- fessed up to using their iPad, Motorola Xoom, Samsung Galaxy or other tablets while in the bathroom.
Staples filed that fact alongside other indicators that, for tablet owners, mobility is king. Seventy-eight percent of respondents said they'd used their tablets in bed and 30% said they'd used them in restaurants.
"Being able to tuck a tablet into a portfolio or small bag was more important than the ability to video conference, the device's operating system or easy access to office e-mail and VPN," the company said in a report on the survey released Tuesday.
The survey was designed, at least in part, to gain insight into how professionals are using tablet computers, which are largely marketed as gaming, reading and recreational gadgets.
The answer? At least 80% of respondents said they "enjoy a better work-life balance" because of their iPad or other tablet. Sixty percent said they get more work done because of their tablet and more than 40% said staying in touch with co-workers and clients was a main reason for buying one.
Which is all well and good. But who could resist pointing out the glimpse into the rarely acknowledged truth that a trip to the water closet has long been an excuse to catch up on reading or other activities. (This doesn't mean we're letting you off the hook, Bathroom Stall Texter/Talker).
And, that being the case, the odds were low that everybody was going to avoid potty humor.
We're warmheartedly calling out Brad Reed of IT site Network World for this groaner of an intro:
"With the market flush with hot-selling tablet computers, it shouldn't bowl anyone over to learn that many users are taking the plunge and bringing their devices to the bathroom."
So, who's ready to fess up? Tablets in the bathroom -- guilty as charged or disgusted on principle?

Read more -
http://www.cnn.com/2011/TECH/mobile/08/23/tablet.computers.bathroom/index.html

IPhone Thief Accidentally IDs Himself Via Photobucket - self-portrait is silently uploaded to the cloud -

Photobucket has a cool mobile application that allows users to automatically upload mobile pictures to the company's photo-sharing website. That's something that Korey Heess is unlikely to forget anytime soon, after allegedly snapping a picture of himself that was used by police to identify him as a smartphone thief.
Police in Salinas, California, had been investigating a rash of purse snatchings at local stores when one of their victims uncovered some new evidence a few days ago. Not long after her phone was stolen, a picture of a young man with a goatee and earrings popped up in her Photobucket picture-sharing account.
The man was staring intently at the camera -- her camera -- as he snapped a self-portrait on a wall-sized mirror.
She recognized him instantly, according to Commander Terry Gerhardstein of the Salinas Police Department. "She looks at Photobucket and she says, 'I've never taken this picture,'" he said. "This is the guy who stole my phone."
With photo in hand, police linked the man to two other thefts. And when they broadcast the picture on a local TV station, the tips started pouring in, Gerhardstein said. "We had callers calling in within the hour."
The tipsters told police the thief was Korey Heess, 26, of Salinas. He was arrested on felony robbery and theft charges early Sunday morning.
Photobucket acquired the mobile-phone Auto Uploader feature that helped ID Heess as part of its December 2009 merger with Ontela, according to Lisa Dilg, a Photobucket spokeswoman. But this is the first time it's been used to solve a crime. "We have never seen anything like it," she said of the case. "We thought it was pretty funny."

Read more -
http://www.cio.com/article/688486/IPhone_Thief_Accidentally_IDs_Himself_Via_Photobucket?source=rss_security&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+cio%2Ffeed%2Fdrilldowntopic%2F3089+%28CIO.com+-+Security%29

Angry Elderly Soccer Fan Tries to Run Down Ref With Mobility Scooter on to the pitch -

Angry Elderly Soccer Fan Tries to Run Down Ref With Mobility Scooter
on to the pitch -

An elderly soccer fan became so angry with a referee who handed out six yellow cards to Dutch side FC Oss that he rode on to the pitch in his mobility scooter and tried to run the official down.
Video of the incident -- one of the most bizarre examples of sports spectator violence -- emerged online Tuesday.
Oss, the home side, lost 4-3 to Almere City in the Dutch second division match Friday night, apparently prompting the attack.
Referee Edwin van der Graaf was walking off the ground into the players' tunnel when an unidentified man with gray hair, gray beard and glasses came from the side and clipped him on the leg with his scooter.
In the video, which appeared on AOL Fanhouse UK among other sites, the ref turned around to confront the man, who attempted to hit him again, but van der Graaf was able to evade him.
It was unclear whether the man would be prosecuted.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/sports/2011/08/24/angry-elderly-soccer-fan-tries-to-run-down-ref-with-mobility-scooter/?test=latestnews

Dog eats $10K worth of diamonds -

A Georgia dog apparently has a taste for the finer things in life.

The pooch dined on a meal of $10,000 worth of diamonds.

Honey Bun often walks the counters at John Ross Jewelers.

He's not much of a guard dog, but he is great with customer relations.

"He's been loved," said co-owner Chuck Roberts.

Customers sometimes hide treats in their purse for Honey Bun, but the Roberts' recently learned this pampered pooch has more expensive taste.

It happened two weeks ago when a customer came in.

"A customer came in and I jumped up out of my chair and came out here to wait on him. And I left the chair where you could jump up on my chair and jump up on my desk," said Roberts.

On the desk: four packs of loose diamonds, about a carat each to set in diamond earrings, pens, and dog treats.

When he returned, only three packs remained, and an empty pouch was lying on the floor.

"Looked all over and there weren't no diamonds, so immediately, I knew he'd eaten them," said Roberts.

Since Honey Bun wasn't talking, there was only one way to find out.

"She came down and took him across the street, and Steve ran X-rays," said Roberts.

Carbon doesn't show up on an x-ray, but two blank spots confirmed Honey Bun was a likely suspect.

It only took a day, and they found another surprise.

"The next afternoon, sure enough, the earring back and two diamonds were recovered. No panic," said Roberts.

Honey Bun was guilty as charged, but this pooch was granted a reprieve.

"I haven't scolded him to this day and won't," said Roberts. "It was my fault for leaving the chair there."

It's taught Roberts a valuable lesson.

He's now very cautious about where he leaves his desk chair, and they're keeping a closer eye on Honey Bun, especially around the precious gems.

The diamonds were cleaned up and sent back to the supplier.

As for Honey Bun? He got a clean bill of health.

Bobcat climbs on top of a 50ft cactus to escape hungry lion -

Bobcat climbs on top of a 50ft cactus to escape hungry lion -

Safe ... bobcat lies on top of a 50ft cactus after climbing up to escape a lion

Safe ... bobcat lies on top of a 50ft cactus after climbing up to escape a lion

THIS bobcat made a paw choice of refuge when it climbed a prickly cactus to escape a hungry lion.

The animal raced towards the giant plant after spotting the predator across a desert plain.

It then clambered up the 50ft Giant Saguro Cactus despite it being covered in 2in spikes.

Photographer Curt Fonger snapped the dramatic escape in Gold Canyon, Arizona, and said the lion kept circling the cactus for a few minutes before giving up.

The spooked cat stayed on top of its vantage point for several hours before eventually jumping down.

By that point it must have been feline pretty sore.

Cat-ch me if you can ... bobcat fled up cactus to escape hungry lion

Lovelorn in a Facebook Age - Obsessing After the Loss of a Romantic Partner Is Akin to Craving Cocaine -

I woke up one day last week to an anguished email from a friend whose girlfriend had just broken up with him. He had an urgent question: How could he take his mind off her so that he wouldn't call or text her?

I was momentarily stumped. What advice did I have for coping with one of life's worst experiences—losing a romantic partner? What would help him channel his energy into positive, productive activities?

It's no secret that when we lose a lover, we tend to lose our willpower. Suddenly, despite our best intentions, we fall prey to obsessive thoughts ("What did I do wrong?"), feelings ("I'll be alone forever") and actions (calling, emailing, texting).

I reflected on the advice I got after a major breakup almost two years ago. "Literature, my dear, literature… " began one email from a good friend. My mother reminded me to listen to music because "it soothes the soul." Others suggested exercise, volunteer work, travel. All excellent advice—and difficult to follow when you are in pain.

"It's not a heartbroken thing, it's a brain-broken thing," says Marianne Legato, a cardiologist and founder of the Partnership for Gender-Specific Medicine at Columbia University.

The level of neurotransmitters in the brain are affected in a romantic split, producing a range of symptoms from sadness and anxiety to changes in sleep, appetite and even motor coordination. In people who are deeply grieving, the part of the brain that processes addictions is activated.

Sometimes it doesn't matter whether you are the dumper or the dumpee. If the breakup was painful, the physiological symptoms will be the same.

Therapists say the emotional stages after a breakup parallel the well-known stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance, rebuilding. In general, the more meaningful the relationship, the longer it will take to move through the stages after a breakup. Figure a couple months for a short relationship, six months to a year for one that lasted a few years, and two to three years to recover after a long-term marriage, says Tina B. Tessina, a marriage and family therapist in Long Beach, Calif.

In the age of smartphones and iPads, though, it's easy to try to hang on, simply by peeking at your ex's Facebook page or Twitter feed. Did your former flame call? Pretend you're just checking the time on your phone. Is he still ignoring you? Send a quick text. What we're looking for when we engage in obsessive behavior like this is the dopamine fix that comes when we hear back from the object of our obsession. "It's like we have a cocaine craving," says Dr. Legato.

Marc Hordon, a 30-year-old lifestyle-management company owner in Boston, believes that self-reflection is, ultimately, the way to break the obsessive pattern. When his girlfriend left him two years ago and moved to Chicago, he spent the better part of a week crying, texting and calling her and talking to anyone who would listen about the split. Then, in the middle of a blizzard, he drove to Chicago to try to win her back.

His ex wouldn't see him, and Mr. Hordon spent hours immobilized on the bed in a hotel room. Eventually, he says, a voice in his head told him to go home. On the drive back to Boston, he had a realization: His feelings of rejection and abandonment might have had as much to do with his mother's death when he was young as with the breakup. He went into therapy. "I started to connect the dots," he says.

Many women I interviewed on this topic said they coped by crying, talking to friends and writing about their feelings in a journal. Others have been known to go shopping.

What do men say makes them feel better? Four men told me the best way to get over someone is sex. When I asked 60-year-old Paul Martinez, who works in sales in Dallas, how he used to get over a breakup when he was single, he didn't miss a beat. "With a new woman, of course!" he said.

There's a problem, though. "Diving into a new relationship will only postpone your healing," says Lauren Mackler, a life and relationship coach in Boston. Breakups can—and should—be a powerful catalyst for personal growth, she says. Pain is to be expected and it should be dealt with, not brushed aside.

How do you avoid wallowing in obsessive thoughts after a breakup? Here are tips:

Don't call, don't text. You will push your ex further away and hurt your self-esteem, warns Tina B. Tessina, the Long Beach, Calif., therapist. Leave your phone at home or in your car, if you must. Or make a pact with a good friend: Every time you feel like texting your ex, text your friend instead.

Remind yourself why the relationship didn't work. List everything about your ex that irritated you—you'll be amazed at how long the list is.

Recognize your part in the breakup. This will redirect your mind from loneliness and pain to feeling empowered to learn the lessons of the relationship.

Spend time with family and friends, even if you don't feel ready to socialize. When you do, your brain produces more oxytocin, the feel-good hormone.

Learn to snowboard. Study a new language. Write a novel. Relax. Take a little old-fashioned advice from my late grandmother: Another streetcar will be along in five more minutes.

Read more -
http://online.wsj.com/article_email/SB10001424053111903327904576524350995427070-lMyQjAxMTAxMDIwNDEyNDQyWj.html?mod=wsj_share_email_bot

14 Conspiracy Theories That The Media Now Admits Are Conspiracy Facts -

How many times have you heard the mainstream media dismiss certain points of view as “conspiracy theories”? It seems as though one of the easiest ways to brush something off is to label it as something that only “conspiracy theorists” would believe. Well, you know what? A whole lot of the time the “conspiracy theorists” are right and the mainstream media is wrong. In fact, we owe a great debt to “conspiracy theorists” because they will go places and investigate things that the mainstream media would never even touch. The reality is that the mainstream media only tells us what the government and the big corporations want us to hear, and much of the time it is those in the alternative media that are left with the task of trying to figure out what the real truth is. So don’t look down on conspiracy theories or conspiracy theorists. In a world where almost everything we are told is a lie, the truth can be very difficult to find.

The following are 14 conspiracy theories that the media now admits are conspiracy facts….

#1 Fukushima Uninhabitable

Back in April, I published an article entitled “Much Of Northern Japan Uninhabitable Due To Nuclear Radiation?“ At the time, almost everyone in the mainstream media was insisting that Fukushima was nothing like Chernobyl and that those that lived near Fukushima would be able to return to their homes fairly soon.

Well, it turns out that those of us that feared the worst were right after all. Just consider the following quote from the New York Times….

Broad areas around the stricken Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant could soon be declared uninhabitable, perhaps for decades, after a government survey found radioactive contamination that far exceeded safe levels, several major media outlets said Monday.

#2 U.S. Military Attack On Libya

At the beginning of this year, nobody would have dreamed that the U.S. military would have attacked Libya this year.

But it happened. At first those that tried to warn about an upcoming conflict with Libya were called kooks, and even up until recently many in the media were still trying to deny that NATO was arming and training the rebels.

Well, the truth is that NATO had special forces on the ground even before the conflict began.

The “rebel groups” (which include large numbers of al-Qaeda fighters) would have been soundly defeated by Gaddafi if not for relentless air strikes by the U.S. military and NATO.

Instead of a straightforward invasion like we saw in Afghanistan and Iraq, the U.S. military and NATO systematically developed, trained and equipped “rebel groups” within the country and have used them as the ground forces for this campaign.

That way the goals of the U.S. and EU could still be achieved, but in the end they would have less blood on their hands.

As the conflict winds down, now even the New York Times is admitting that we have trained and equipped the rebels….

“We always knew there would be a point where the effectiveness of the government forces would decline to the point where they could not effectively command and control their forces,” said the diplomat, who was granted anonymity to discuss confidential details of the battle inside Tripoli.
“At the same time,” the diplomat said, “the learning curve for the rebels, with training and equipping, was increasing. What we’ve seen in the past two or three weeks is these two curves have crossed.”

Sadly, there is still a very good chance that U.S. troops could end up on the ground in Libya.

Many prominent officials are already calling for the U.S. and the EU to provide occupation forces. Richard Haas, the president of the Council on Foreign Relations, has authored an opinion piece for the Financial Times entitled “Libya Now Needs Boots on the Ground“.

If that happens, it will likely end up being a situation very similar to what we have today in Iraq.

#3 Widespread Use Of RFID Chips In Humans

The doubters said it would never happen. They said we would never see the day when RFID chips were implanted in humans on a widespread basis.

Well, today there are examples of this all over the world. One of the most stunning examples recently has come out of Mexico. According to the Washington Post, “thousands of worried Mexicans” have been having “satellite and radio-frequency tracking products” implanted in their skin in order to protect themselves against abduction.

#4 $2000 Gold

It was only a matter of months ago that we were told that gold was “in a bubble” at $1400 or $1500 an ounce.

Well, gold recently crossed the $1900 an ounce barrier, and appears poised to go much higher as global financial instability intensifies.

#5 Obama Wants To Impose Backdoor Amnesty

Those that warned that Barack Obama was going to impose amnesty for illegal immigrants by executive fiat were called “nuts” and “conspiracy theorists”.

Well, it has happened. The Obama administration has now instituted “backdoor amnesty” for illegal immigrants and even plans to provide them with work permits.

#6 U.S. Government Provides Weapons For Mexican Drug Cartels

For a long time there were those that claimed that the U.S. government was providing guns to Mexican drug cartels, but nobody wanted to listen.

Well, it is all now a matter of public record. It turns out that the U.S. government facilitated the transfer of thousands of guns into the hands of Mexican drug cartels.

The following is a brief excerpt from a CBS News report that discusses the fierce opposition that many ATF agents expressed to allowing thousands of guns to be given into the hands of the Mexican drug cartels….

On the phone, one Project Gunrunner source (who didn’t want to be identified) told us just how many guns flooded the black market under ATF’s watchful eye. “The numbers are over 2,500 on that case by the way. That’s how many guns were sold – including some 50-calibers they let walk.”
50-caliber weapons are fearsome. For months, ATF agents followed 50-caliber Barrett rifles and other guns believed headed for the Mexican border, but were ordered to let them go. One distraught agent was often overheard on ATF radios begging and pleading to be allowed to intercept transports. The answer: “Negative. Stand down.”
CBS News has been told at least 11 ATF agents and senior managers voiced fierce opposition to the strategy. “It got ugly…” said one. There was “screaming and yelling” says another. A third warned: “this is crazy, somebody is gonna to get killed.”

Amazingly, three of the key ATF officials involved in putting thousands of guns into the hands of Mexican drug cartels were recently promoted.

#7 Fluoride Is Harmful

Incredibly, the federal government is finally admitting that high levels of fluoride in our drinking water can be harmful. In fact, the feds have reduced the “recommended amount” of fluoride in our drinking water for the first time in 50 years.

We probably won’t see them ban fluoride any time soon, but for them to even acknowledge a problem with fluoride is a major step. In a recent article on CNN, it was reported that the federal government is now saying that high levels of fluoride in the water have now officially been linked with fluorosis….

The Department of Health and Human Services and Environmental Protection Agency are proposing the change because of an increase in fluorosis — a condition that causes spotting and streaking on children’s teeth.

#8 The Federal Reserve Favors The Big Banks

We were always told by the media that the Federal Reserve was “above politics” and that it did not show favoritism.

Well, we all know now that the Fed is deeply corrupt and about the only people that they actually help are their friends.

It turns out that the Federal Reserve very quietly showered the big banks and their friends with hundreds of billions of dollars in loans at rates that were substantially below market during the financial crisis. While Wall Street was being flooded with easy loans, none of the small banks that were deeply suffering and no average Americans got any money.

#9 Cell Phones Linked To Cancer

For years, “conspiracy theorists” have been claiming that cell phone use can cause cancer.

Well, the mainstream media is starting to catch up. Some very startling scientific studies have come out recently that are hard to ignore.

The following is an excerpt from a recent CNN article about one of these studies….

At the highest exposure levels — using a mobile phone half an hour a day over a 10-year period — the study found a 40 percent increased risk of glioma brain tumors.

#10 The Credit Rating Agencies Are Corrupt

We have all been taught that the credit rating agencies are supposed to be objective.

But in the real world things are not that simple.

For example, just a short time after long-term U.S. government debt was downgraded, the head of Standard & Poor’s is resigning, and is being replacedby Douglas Peterson, the former COO of Citigroup.

Do you think the former COO of Citigroup is going to come down hard on his former comrades over at the big Wall Street banks?

Also, a whistleblower has come forward with some stunning revelations about Moody’s. The following is what former analyst William Harrington says was going on over at that credit agency during the financial crisis….

“The track record of management influence in committees speaks for itself — it produced hollowed-out (collateralized debt obligation) opinions that were at great odds with the private opinions of committees and which were not durable for even a short period after publication”

#11 Prescription Drugs Kill A Lot Of Americans

Growing up, I never even imagined that prescription drugs could be dangerous. I had complete faith in the medical community and the government to only allow drugs on the market that were fully tested and proven to be 100% safe.

Well, I was dead wrong. The truth is that adverse reactions to prescription drugs kill a huge number of Americans every year. A recent Vanity Fair article entitled “Deadly Medicine” began with the following statement….

Prescription drugs kill some 200,000 Americans every year. Will that number go up, now that most clinical trials are conducted overseas—on sick Russians, homeless Poles, and slum-dwelling Chinese—in places where regulation is virtually nonexistent, the F.D.A. doesn’t reach, and “mistakes” can end up in pauper’s graves?

#12 Bisphenol-A Is Linked To Infertility

A very common chemical known as bisphenol-A is found in thousands upon thousands of our plastic products. It also turns out that it has some really nasty effects on the human body.

Fortunately, some in the mainstream media are beginning to acknowledge this. Back in October, one of the largest UK newspapers published an article entitled “Bisphenol-A now linked to male infertility” which made the following unequivocal statement about the dangers of BPA….

Bisphenol-A (BPA), known as the “gender bending” chemical because of its connection to male impotence, has now been shown to decrease sperm mobility and quality.

#13 The “Super Congress” Is In The Pocket Of Wall Street Interests

The amount of money that has been donated to the campaigns of those on the “Super Congress” is absolutely astounding.

Just check out what a recent CNBC article had to say about the matter….

Overall, according to the center’s research, the dozen super committee members have raised more than $50 million from the finance, insurance and real estate sector since the 1990 election cycle.

How much influence do you think 50 million dollars is going to buy?

#14 The Targeting Of Christian Groups

We are increasingly hearing from the Obama administration and some members of Congress that we need to be really concerned about “homegrown terrorists” and “Christian extremists”.

For example, during a recent Congressional hearing U.S. Representative Sheila Jackson Lee warned that “Christian militants” might try to “bring down the country” and that such groups need to be investigated.

In addition, according to a shocking document obtained by Oath Keepers, the FBI is now instructing store owners to report many new forms of “suspicious activity” to them. According to the document, “suspicious activity” now includes making “extreme religious statements” and believing in “radical theology”.

Not only that, a Department of Homeland Security report on “right wing extremism” from April 2009 lists the following people as potential terrorists….

-those that believe in “end times” prophecies

-those that believe abortion is wrong

-those that stockpile food, ammunition or weapons

-those that are against same-sex marriage

-those that believe in “New World Order” conspiracy theories

I don’t know about you, but when the federal government starts targeting people based on their religious beliefs, that makes me very nervous.

This world is officially going crazy. So don’t blame “conspiracy theorists” for wanting to dig around and get the facts. The mainstream media sure doesn’t give us much of the truth.

As the world continues to fall apart and as the propaganda from the mainstream media gets even more blatant, the hunger for the truth is only going to grow.

Who knows? Perhaps before it is all over you will be a “conspiracy theorist” too.

Libya Revolt Helped Stop Italy Bank Collapse - shares of Italy's largest bank UniCredit has been suspended -

Trade in shares of Italy's largest bank has been suspended - as it emerges that events in Libya have helped prevent a collapse of the Italian banking system.

UniCredit's share price tumbled as a solution for eurozone debt appeared distant

UniCredit's share price has plunged in the past month because of market fears over eurozone debt - and now share dealing has been halted due to volatility.

Although it may sound far-fetched, the Libyan revolution of the past six months may have saved it and other Italian banks amid the crisis.

The tale of Libya and its Italian bank investment adventure underlines just how far the Gaddafi clan's influence reached in financial markets throughout the world.

The Libyan Central Bank was one of three Libyan sovereign wealth funds

Just how much of these are returned to any future government remains to be seen - but if you look at the extensive investments in Italy, you can find a prime example of where the Libyans have already lost out.

According to documents uncovered by Global Witness, the Libyan Investment Authority's biggest investment was in Italian bank Unicredit.

The choice is not accidental - Italy was Libya's colonial parent, the legacy of which is extensive financial and political connections.

Through three of its sovereign wealth funds - the LIA (the most above-board), the Central Bank of Libya and the Libya Foreign Bank (these two were able to invest slightly more secretively) - the regime amassed some 1.4 billion shares in UniCredit.

The Libyan sovereign funds brought their investment in the Italian bank to their current level in early 2010.
Italian banks saw a selling wave earlier this month - but Libya's stake was frozen

Then the second wave of the financial crisis struck, just as the Libyan investments were frozen throughout Europe, preventing Tripoli's investment officers from pulling out their cash.

In February, the combined stake was worth 2.8bn euros. Today, it is worth a mere 1.2bn euros.

That is a collapse of almost 60% - and the fall is sharper still if you go back to early 2010, when the investments reached their current volume.

Had the Libyan assets not been frozen, one suspects the Gaddafi family might have sold their Unicredit investment, whether because of the bank's deep troubles or because of their need to free up resources for their fight against rebels.

However, the upshot of the freeze was that Unicredit (which, when the European authorities performed stress tests on their banks had one of the worst balance sheets in the area) was able to rely on its biggest aggregate shareholder not selling its stake and pushing its share price down further.

It is impossible to know how much impact this had on the Italian bank - even a 7.2% stake cannot prevent the remaining 92.8% of shareholders selling out if they so choose.

But the unintended consequence was at least a small relief for the Italian bank as it battled the second wave of the financial crisis. Not to mention a crippling loss for the Libyan sovereign wealth funds.
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