Category: Money Money Money

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GIVING BACK with PLAYGROUND BUILDERS

One of my favorite charities is Playground Builders. They build playgrounds for children in war-torn areas of the Middle East, providing safe places for children to play. They always use local people in the building process, providing much-needed jobs and injecting money into the local economy. And their own administrative costs are bare minimum. (I know the founder and members of the board of this organization.)
Playground_Builders

If you feel inclined to donate, a benefactor is matching all funds up to $50,000, but only until midnight December 31st. So your $10 would become $20. You can learn more here: http://www.playgroundbuilders.org/what-we-do

Great way to start a new year!

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DEMOCRACY BC-STYLE

In the last year and a half the British Columbia legislature has sat for … 36 days.

By the end of 2013, it will be 36 days out of the last 579 (going back to May 31, 2012.) There was no fall sitting in 2012 or 2013 – both cancelled by Premier Christy Clark.

 

How’s that for a functioning democracy! (Certainly convenient if you want to announce policies like 28% Hydro increases and massive BC Ferry cuts without a pesky opposition party being able to ask you questions.)

More here http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-debate/bc-legislature-sits-36-of-579-days-is-this-responsible-government/article14245947/

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CANADA OILSANDS EXPANSION to Cause Irreversible Damage; Ottawa Says "Oh, well…"

The expansion of Shell Canada’s Jackpine oilsands project will destroy 8,500 hectares of wetland and have an irreversible impact, says Canada’s environment minister.

But she’s not too concerned. In fact, Ottawa thinks the project is in the public’s interest.

And how will the public be compensated for this loss of 8,500 hectares of irreplaceable wetlands?

Shell Canada is buying us 730 hectares of … former cattle pasture. And you know what we’re gonna find there.

If you can stomach it, more here.

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Japan’s New Secrecy Bill: Kafka, Hitler, and Lethal Radiation

Japan just passed a new Special Secrets Bill.

 

The rules?

  1. What will be a secret is secret.
  2. Anyone who leaks a secret and a reporter who writes it up can face up to ten years in jail.
  3. There are no rules at to what government agency can declare a state secret.
  4. Anything pertaining to nuclear energy is a state secret.

More here: http://tinyurl.com/n8bty93

Coincidentally (??), this – “Highest Radiation Level Ever, Lethal In 20 Minutes, Recorded Outside Fukushima Reactor”
More here: http://tinyurl.com/kSeejno2xs

*Thanks to Tyler Durden of ZeroHedge for the heads-up: http://tinyurl.com/kjvehvgfor

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George Carlin – Great American Philospher

One of America’s greatest philosophers – comedian George Carlin: “The only true American value that is left – Buying Things.”

Just in time for Black Friday madness.

And a related classic: George Carlin Talks About “Stuff”

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THOSE BANKSTERS AGAIN – $415 billion and counting

Bloomberg Businessweek has some nifty graphics on the litigation against those pesky banks. Turns out that settlements so far (to Nov 7) are $415 BILLION, with lots more on the way.

Bank_settlements

“Banks have been accused of improper foreclosure practices, selling bonds backed by shoddy mortgages, and misleading investors about the quality of the loans.” More here:
http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-11-14/2014-outlook-banks-face-investigations-and-litigation

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BANKSTERS PAY UP … A LITTLE

JPMorgan, the largest bank in the U.S., has agreed to pay $4.5 billion to resolve claims it sold faulty mortgage securities.

Fat Cat

Last month, it agreed to pay $5.1 billion in another claim that it misrepresented mortgage bonds, and it expects that more legal disputes lay ahead.

Another US bank, Bank of America, has a tentative settlement of $8.5 billion it will be paying to bond investors, and it’s believed many other banks will soon be facing lawsuits over illegal investment practices.

Yet, these settlements are a small fraction of what investors actually lost, and the banks continue to grow and pay great bonuses.

Nice work, boys!

More here: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-11-15/jpmorgan-reaches-4-5-billion-mortgage-bond-deal-with-investors.html