So says Janet Tavokoli:
That equates to one indictment for every $1.6 million dollars stolen from MF Global customer accounts.
Our other MF Global posts:
November 1st: MF Global
November 4th: When the Middle Class Gives Up
November 17th: Ann Retires
December 7th: Today's News
December 24th: War with Great Britain. Again?
December 27th: The Economy - 2012 Predictions
U/T: Karl at Market-Ticker
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Tuesday Afternoon Cigar
A Rocky Patel Edge smoldered in the warm February afternoon as we started our latest book, Michael E. Newton's Angry Mobs and Founding Fathers:
The Fight for Control of the American Revolution.
The Fight for Control of the American Revolution.Monday, February 27, 2012
Back to Work!
We're back from the brink, America!
FB Friend, Jack, gets a Ushanka Tip for catching this video!
FB Friend, Jack, gets a Ushanka Tip for catching this video!
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Chechens
In the past week we've seen a great movie and read a great book.
Both show Chechens as the in-human monsters of our time.
Act of Valor is clearly not of Hollywood. The bad guys aren't some fringe secret Nazi group bent on world domination. They are Chechen muzzie scum dedicated to one thing - evil.
Act of Valor was great on multiple levels - the personal sacrifice with family and friends. The professional sacrifice for brothers in arms. The noble sacrifice for our great country.
The action is fun too.
We'll leave it at that to avoid any spoilers. It ranks up there with Black Hawk Down. If you've served, go see it to remind yourself of the quality of our service members. If you haven't served, go see what others do on your behalf.
Terror at Beslan
is a book written by John Giduck. We had the honor in 2011 to see Mr. Giduck speak in Cincinnati and review the Beslan terror siege, and the lessons learned.
Mr. Giduck offers a new perspective (for us) on the Chechen problem in Russia. While we see evil with Putin and his ilk, and see Putin's hand in multiple journalist murders and generally believe the stories of Russian atrocities in Chechnya, this book has opened our eyes to the Chechen terror.
Reading this book, then going to Act of Valor, was an unplanned epiphany for us. We encourage our like-minded comrades to take-in both as well.
Both show Chechens as the in-human monsters of our time.
Act of Valor is clearly not of Hollywood. The bad guys aren't some fringe secret Nazi group bent on world domination. They are Chechen muzzie scum dedicated to one thing - evil.
Act of Valor was great on multiple levels - the personal sacrifice with family and friends. The professional sacrifice for brothers in arms. The noble sacrifice for our great country.
The action is fun too.
We'll leave it at that to avoid any spoilers. It ranks up there with Black Hawk Down. If you've served, go see it to remind yourself of the quality of our service members. If you haven't served, go see what others do on your behalf.
Terror at Beslan
is a book written by John Giduck. We had the honor in 2011 to see Mr. Giduck speak in Cincinnati and review the Beslan terror siege, and the lessons learned.Mr. Giduck offers a new perspective (for us) on the Chechen problem in Russia. While we see evil with Putin and his ilk, and see Putin's hand in multiple journalist murders and generally believe the stories of Russian atrocities in Chechnya, this book has opened our eyes to the Chechen terror.
Reading this book, then going to Act of Valor, was an unplanned epiphany for us. We encourage our like-minded comrades to take-in both as well.
Our Crazy Uncle
Blogger at Your Crazy Uncle is headed into surgery tomorrow.
Our thoughts and prayers are with him and we look forward to some good news later in the week.
He only lives a couple hours from us, yet we haven't met yet. Hopefully in the next week or so.
We did a Google Image Search on "Crazy Uncle" and are guessing he is one of the following:
Please share your best wishes at his blog, Your Crazy Uncle, or his temporary site where he is reporting his progress, Not What I Wanted to Hear, Doc.
Our thoughts and prayers are with him and we look forward to some good news later in the week.
He only lives a couple hours from us, yet we haven't met yet. Hopefully in the next week or so.
We did a Google Image Search on "Crazy Uncle" and are guessing he is one of the following:
Please share your best wishes at his blog, Your Crazy Uncle, or his temporary site where he is reporting his progress, Not What I Wanted to Hear, Doc.
Friday, February 24, 2012
BofA Goes Galt?
The Feel Good Story of the day!
WSJ: BofA Ends Sales of Certain Mortgages to Fannie
Market-Ticker: Bank of (sc)America Plays Symbolism
Bank of America is decreasing the number of loans it is selling to Fannie Mae in protest. This is huge.
Having worked in the mortgage business, we can tell you these absolute facts:
1) People were never coerced into any loans,
2) The Sub-Prime disaster was caused by Democrats and their policies,
3) The GSA system is corrupt,
4) Any loan deemed "toxic" was at one time guaranteed by our government,
5) Today's mortgage 'issues' are not real, but are efforts by liberals to dictate to and control our banks.
Countrywide slipped from a $45b valuation in April 2007 to a $4b BofA buyout in January 2008 because the company's policy was to process loans that were guaranteed (encouraged) by the US government. They did this with zero critical thought. If it was a loan that Fannie would buy, Countrywide would offer it to home buyers.
There was never any thought to saying "no" to the government back then. It appears that has changed.
The government has penalized BofA $1.3b for non-fraudulent fraudulent loans. This is just a new tax on banks.
There are other buyers of loans. We hope BofA continues to avoid the government's attempts at pseudo-nationalization.
WSJ: BofA Ends Sales of Certain Mortgages to Fannie
Market-Ticker: Bank of (sc)America Plays Symbolism
Bank of America is decreasing the number of loans it is selling to Fannie Mae in protest. This is huge.
Having worked in the mortgage business, we can tell you these absolute facts:
1) People were never coerced into any loans,
2) The Sub-Prime disaster was caused by Democrats and their policies,
3) The GSA system is corrupt,
4) Any loan deemed "toxic" was at one time guaranteed by our government,
5) Today's mortgage 'issues' are not real, but are efforts by liberals to dictate to and control our banks.
Countrywide slipped from a $45b valuation in April 2007 to a $4b BofA buyout in January 2008 because the company's policy was to process loans that were guaranteed (encouraged) by the US government. They did this with zero critical thought. If it was a loan that Fannie would buy, Countrywide would offer it to home buyers.
There was never any thought to saying "no" to the government back then. It appears that has changed.
The government has penalized BofA $1.3b for non-fraudulent fraudulent loans. This is just a new tax on banks.
There are other buyers of loans. We hope BofA continues to avoid the government's attempts at pseudo-nationalization.
The WSJ Santorum Smear
Not to be outdone by Drudge, which is now the unofficial Romney campaign website, the editorial board at the WSJ today unleashes on Santorum.
First, Kim Strassel, explains that the MSM has painted Santorum as a politician that will enforce his social-conservative values on the American public. Or, become our "Moralizer in Chief". Then she falls for the MSM trap herself and takes his comments about birth control out of context.
At least Kim had the discipline to avoid endorsing one of the other candidates.
Second, Dorothy Rabinowitz, the grandmother of the WSJ editorial board, endorses Newt Gingrich in her Santorum hit-piece: Democrats are Praying for a Santorum Nomination.
Dorothy is convinced that the GOP candidate who won the last three primary states and who is in line for wins in Michigan and Ohio in the coming weeks is "unpalatable" to the electorate. Dorothy is appalled at Santorum's position that home-schooling is favorable to government schooling.
It is time for the Journal to put Dorothy out to pasture if she is using their opinion page to defend the state of our public education. Clearly she has lost all perspective if she'd rather bash a GOP candidate than admit the damage the unions have done to our public schools.
Maybe Dorothy can join Clint Eastwood in his next commercial. They could share a drool cup.
Of all the primaries, this has been my favorite because we haven't cared. Typing this post has been the most effort and emotion I have put into this primary season, and I have the Tea Party to thank for this. I have ignored the debates and have put my middle finger in the wind to the establishment types at Drudge, WSJ, Karl Rove, and others.
My candidate is the one who most strongly conveys the values of the Tea Party - 1) limited government, 2) controlled spending, and 3) strong national security. This candidate's name changes, but the name isn't important to me at this stage. First it was Palin. Then Bachmann and Perry. Now it is Santorum. If Santorum falls out, Gingrich will be the closest. If Newt falls out, Romney will be the closest to the Tea Party.
I voted for Mitt in the California primary back in 2008. He was the most conservative on the ballot.
I am popping my popcorn in anticipation for the day when our nominee is named and the attention turns to our Dear Leader and his record. I suggest my fellow conservatives do the same.
First, Kim Strassel, explains that the MSM has painted Santorum as a politician that will enforce his social-conservative values on the American public. Or, become our "Moralizer in Chief". Then she falls for the MSM trap herself and takes his comments about birth control out of context.
At least Kim had the discipline to avoid endorsing one of the other candidates.
Second, Dorothy Rabinowitz, the grandmother of the WSJ editorial board, endorses Newt Gingrich in her Santorum hit-piece: Democrats are Praying for a Santorum Nomination.
Dorothy is convinced that the GOP candidate who won the last three primary states and who is in line for wins in Michigan and Ohio in the coming weeks is "unpalatable" to the electorate. Dorothy is appalled at Santorum's position that home-schooling is favorable to government schooling.
It is time for the Journal to put Dorothy out to pasture if she is using their opinion page to defend the state of our public education. Clearly she has lost all perspective if she'd rather bash a GOP candidate than admit the damage the unions have done to our public schools.
Maybe Dorothy can join Clint Eastwood in his next commercial. They could share a drool cup.
Of all the primaries, this has been my favorite because we haven't cared. Typing this post has been the most effort and emotion I have put into this primary season, and I have the Tea Party to thank for this. I have ignored the debates and have put my middle finger in the wind to the establishment types at Drudge, WSJ, Karl Rove, and others.
My candidate is the one who most strongly conveys the values of the Tea Party - 1) limited government, 2) controlled spending, and 3) strong national security. This candidate's name changes, but the name isn't important to me at this stage. First it was Palin. Then Bachmann and Perry. Now it is Santorum. If Santorum falls out, Gingrich will be the closest. If Newt falls out, Romney will be the closest to the Tea Party.
I voted for Mitt in the California primary back in 2008. He was the most conservative on the ballot.
I am popping my popcorn in anticipation for the day when our nominee is named and the attention turns to our Dear Leader and his record. I suggest my fellow conservatives do the same.
Friday, February 17, 2012
Obama Cuss Jar Contest - CLOSED
Our Obama Cuss Jar has runneth over in response to Obama's 2nd attempt to squelch our religious liberty.
Time for a contest so this bitter clinger can convert his $1's into $100's (or into precious metals), and start cussing anew!
About:
Previous Contests:
Thanks for the links back: Bird Ankles, IOTW, RobertaX
IOTW has a hat conversation too...
2.19.12 - We have a winner!
The total in the jar is $2080.
Anon from RobertaX wins with their guess of $2090.
Honorable mention goes to:
Larry, $2040, RobertaX
Jack Daniels, $2107, IOTW
OrbitUp, $2042, IOTW
NinnyBau, $2100, IOTW
Freeman, $2012, unknown source
Texan59, $2107, unknown source
We traded the cash in for 8oz of silver and 1oz of gold. Why let our Dear Leader reduce the value of this cuss jar over the course of the next year? If my cussing hasn't sent a clear message, maybe these coins will...
We hope the cuss jar will retire in January 2013. I'll then need help deciding on how to spend the money. The Bill Wilson, or The Custom Classic?
Time for a contest so this bitter clinger can convert his $1's into $100's (or into precious metals), and start cussing anew!
About:
There will be TWO WINNERS: you, and the blogger or source who sent you here! Both will receive the Commie Obama Hat and Bottle of Leninade.
Rules:
Add your guess in the comments below. Guesses MUST consist of a dollar value guess (no cents) AND the name of the blog that referred you. If you don't have a referrer, pick one of the cool bloggers in our Blogroll at the left.
One guess per person please.
Contest ends at noon EST on Sunday, February 19. Check back then, and send us your contact information if you are the winner!
If two guesses are equal - one higher and one lower by the same amount - the tie goes to the lower.
The first of duplicate guesses will be considered.
Hints:
The jar is 10 inches tall, and 7 inches in diameter. There is no lid on the jar in the photo.
The jar contains a known quantity (bottom) and an unknown quantity (top).
Known: 10 $100 bills and 340 $1 bills. You can see the $100's at the bottom, then the $340.
Unknown: The large stack of $1s.
There are no bills hidden from view. See larger picture.
You are guessing the total amount in the jar, so be sure to guess over $1340!
Known: 10 $100 bills and 340 $1 bills. You can see the $100's at the bottom, then the $340.
Unknown: The large stack of $1s.
There are no bills hidden from view. See larger picture.
You are guessing the total amount in the jar, so be sure to guess over $1340!
Previous Contests:
July 2009, $124, Winner: B... from SondraKistan,
May Day 2011, $1340, Winner: Simply Amazed from IOTW
Thanks for the links back: Bird Ankles, IOTW, RobertaX
IOTW has a hat conversation too...
2.19.12 - We have a winner!
The total in the jar is $2080.
Anon from RobertaX wins with their guess of $2090.
Honorable mention goes to:
Larry, $2040, RobertaX
Jack Daniels, $2107, IOTW
OrbitUp, $2042, IOTW
NinnyBau, $2100, IOTW
Freeman, $2012, unknown source
Texan59, $2107, unknown source
We traded the cash in for 8oz of silver and 1oz of gold. Why let our Dear Leader reduce the value of this cuss jar over the course of the next year? If my cussing hasn't sent a clear message, maybe these coins will...
We hope the cuss jar will retire in January 2013. I'll then need help deciding on how to spend the money. The Bill Wilson, or The Custom Classic?
Two Peas
The WSJ's Bret Stephens said this last week about one of the men pictured above:
...his father was a top Mao lieutenant until he was purged in the early 1960s—and press accounts of his life are stuffed with details about the rough years he spent as a farm hand during the Cultural Revolution.
[He] "chose to survive [the Cultural Revolution] by becoming redder than red"; his first degree "was not a 'real' university education but instead a three-year degree in applied Marxism"; he was "considered of only average intelligence"; and "the most permanent influences shaping [his] worldview were his princeling pedigree," not his sojourn in the countryside.
[He] "chose to survive [the Cultural Revolution] by becoming redder than red"; his first degree "was not a 'real' university education but instead a three-year degree in applied Marxism"; he was "considered of only average intelligence"; and "the most permanent influences shaping [his] worldview were his princeling pedigree," not his sojourn in the countryside.
Journalism by Question Mark
Today's Yahoo News article in their business section:
There is a video interview there of Reid Hoffman, an amazing entrepreneur and the man behind LinkedIn.
Don't be confused by successful business leaders who happen to be liberal. There is no relationship.
What the liberals at Yahoo News and elsewhere are trying to do with headlines like this is to confuse you into thinking ideology is a choice. This also reinforces liberal beliefs that they are open-minded to all considerations, when in fact they are the most intolerant and anti-choice people in society.
Should we assume Yahoo's collapse as both a trendsetter and viable business model was caused by a staff of Rick Santorum supporters?
There is a video interview there of Reid Hoffman, an amazing entrepreneur and the man behind LinkedIn.
Don't be confused by successful business leaders who happen to be liberal. There is no relationship.
What the liberals at Yahoo News and elsewhere are trying to do with headlines like this is to confuse you into thinking ideology is a choice. This also reinforces liberal beliefs that they are open-minded to all considerations, when in fact they are the most intolerant and anti-choice people in society.
Should we assume Yahoo's collapse as both a trendsetter and viable business model was caused by a staff of Rick Santorum supporters?