Feb
27
The News Media Whispers the Truth About Crime
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Michael Edward Loftus Sr asked:
shhh! the Petit door was left unlocked…
On July 23 2007, two paroled burglars entered a home in upper-middle class Cheshire CT through an UNLOCKED door, beat and bound the male resident, Dr. Petit, tortured and ***** his wife and two daughters for six hours, then poured gasoline on the females and set them afire. Neighbors were shocked that any crime could happen there.
Three guests on Larry King’s July 30 TV show droned on about reforming parole regulations to prevent such home invasions in the future. Fine, reform the system. But remember that not all predators are paroled felons – they might well be felons already released from parole or up-and-coming young monsters with clean records. What about them?
Inexplicably, the unlocked door the killers had entered was never mentioned on Larry King (and just barely mentioned four times in hundreds of media reports). The glaring flaw in basic home security that led to the fiendish destruction of a family was glossed over as though it was a minor detail. The elephant sitting in the middle of the room was nearly invisible.
Now, had the door been locked, the invaders likely would’ve looked for other ways in, and if that failed, likely would’ve moved on to look for unlocked doors elsewhere (few doors in that naïve “safe” neighborhood were locked – as one report mentioned) and a different family likely would’ve been attacked instead.
The media also had their eyes wide shut during the Elizabeth Smart kidnapping in Salt Lake City in 2002. The kidnapper had entered through an open window (after quietly cutting the screen), yet the danger of leaving a window open, as usual, got scant attention in the massive media coverage. Since then, the father, the ironically named Ed Smart who’d recruited the Charles Manson-like panhandler/kidnapper to shingle his roof (and also left windows wide open through the night) sometimes guests on TV panel discussions (as an expert, no less) where his spectacular security blunders go politely unmentioned. How could his opinions on crime prevention possibly matter when he’s never owned up to his blunders?
Of course the media doesn’t want to “blame the victims.” It would almost seem cruel to add insult to injury – to blame those unwitting naïf’s for contributory negligence. But, as a result, the one possible silver lining in the Petit tragedy – explicitly warning the public of possible horror from leaving doors and windows unlocked – was squandered, lost forever. We’ll never know how many future victims of such crimes might have been spared. But just the possibility of sparing even one innocent soul from such a hideous fate would be well worth the tiny effort.
Many months later, the state legislature is still trying to forge new laws to “curb” such massacres in the future, yet NO mention is made of the UNLOCKED door! And now all subsequent news media reports refer to the invasion as a “break-in” rather than the harsh truth that the primary facilitator of the massacre was a “walk-in” through an UNLOCKED door! The old adage is true: “None are so blind as those who refuse to see.” The elephant in the middle of the room is now completely invisible.
Know this: roughly half of the 8,000-plus home intrusions daily in the US (that’s 2.9 million annually, per the US DOJ) are “Walk-Ins” through doors and windows blithely left unlocked until bedtime or until leaving the home unoccupied. Is the invisible elephant starting to come into focus now?
Of course nobody wants to blame the victims. Those innocents were lulled into the same false sense of security that seduces most people living in the Sleepyvilles of the world. They just didn’t realize that predators far outnumber the police – and that predators have all heard how Sleepyville has poor security – where people actually brag about not locking their doors or windows!
Some particularly innocent victims leave their doors unlocked even after they’ve been invaded through unlocked doors! It’s not always easy to find sympathy for such wanton carelessness, but we must remember, after all, that they are indeed innocent victims – in both senses of the word.
Yet when some poor souls end up butchered, their murders will be bemoaned in the media – with barely a peep about their unlocked doors or windows. And on and on it goes.
Actually, it’s hard to blame and shame the news reporters for sugarcoating the cold reality. In fact, the surviving victims themselves usually are in blind denial of the blatantly obvious and brutal truth – that their contributory negligence led to such anguish. It happens more often than not in heinous crimes – it’s human nature, a coping mechanism. They probably can’t bear to admit it even to themselves – the angst would be too great.
The news reporters shudder when they see it up close and personal thus they opt for mercy on the surviving victims. Nevertheless, wouldn’t the public’s ignorance and their blasé safety attitude diminish (at least a bit) if the media regularly mentioned a brief, tactful security precaution at the end of each crime news report? Is the media too polite and too charitable to save future victims – even if it’s just one?
It’s a shame that those who’ve suffered a crime due to unlocked doors and windows had to learn such a harsh lesson the hard way. The news media could have – and should have – done a better job of warning them. Isn’t it ironic to see charity causing such inadvertent harm?
Rather than whispering the truth, the media should shout it for all to hear.
Be honest now. Do you keep all your doors and windows locked at all times? If not, re-read the above. Gamble in Vegas, not in your life.
Folklore and fables – from vampire and wolfman legends to tales of The Brothers’ Grimm – tell us of ogres, fiends, and monsters. Today we call them violent criminals. They’ve always plagued us and – as long as passions, madness, and evil exist – always will. Let’s blow away a predator’s biggest advantage: the naïveté of the prey. Subscribe to the free Crime-Safety-Security Newsletter.
Wilma
shhh! the Petit door was left unlocked…
On July 23 2007, two paroled burglars entered a home in upper-middle class Cheshire CT through an UNLOCKED door, beat and bound the male resident, Dr. Petit, tortured and ***** his wife and two daughters for six hours, then poured gasoline on the females and set them afire. Neighbors were shocked that any crime could happen there.
Three guests on Larry King’s July 30 TV show droned on about reforming parole regulations to prevent such home invasions in the future. Fine, reform the system. But remember that not all predators are paroled felons – they might well be felons already released from parole or up-and-coming young monsters with clean records. What about them?
Inexplicably, the unlocked door the killers had entered was never mentioned on Larry King (and just barely mentioned four times in hundreds of media reports). The glaring flaw in basic home security that led to the fiendish destruction of a family was glossed over as though it was a minor detail. The elephant sitting in the middle of the room was nearly invisible.
Now, had the door been locked, the invaders likely would’ve looked for other ways in, and if that failed, likely would’ve moved on to look for unlocked doors elsewhere (few doors in that naïve “safe” neighborhood were locked – as one report mentioned) and a different family likely would’ve been attacked instead.
The media also had their eyes wide shut during the Elizabeth Smart kidnapping in Salt Lake City in 2002. The kidnapper had entered through an open window (after quietly cutting the screen), yet the danger of leaving a window open, as usual, got scant attention in the massive media coverage. Since then, the father, the ironically named Ed Smart who’d recruited the Charles Manson-like panhandler/kidnapper to shingle his roof (and also left windows wide open through the night) sometimes guests on TV panel discussions (as an expert, no less) where his spectacular security blunders go politely unmentioned. How could his opinions on crime prevention possibly matter when he’s never owned up to his blunders?
Of course the media doesn’t want to “blame the victims.” It would almost seem cruel to add insult to injury – to blame those unwitting naïf’s for contributory negligence. But, as a result, the one possible silver lining in the Petit tragedy – explicitly warning the public of possible horror from leaving doors and windows unlocked – was squandered, lost forever. We’ll never know how many future victims of such crimes might have been spared. But just the possibility of sparing even one innocent soul from such a hideous fate would be well worth the tiny effort.
Many months later, the state legislature is still trying to forge new laws to “curb” such massacres in the future, yet NO mention is made of the UNLOCKED door! And now all subsequent news media reports refer to the invasion as a “break-in” rather than the harsh truth that the primary facilitator of the massacre was a “walk-in” through an UNLOCKED door! The old adage is true: “None are so blind as those who refuse to see.” The elephant in the middle of the room is now completely invisible.
Know this: roughly half of the 8,000-plus home intrusions daily in the US (that’s 2.9 million annually, per the US DOJ) are “Walk-Ins” through doors and windows blithely left unlocked until bedtime or until leaving the home unoccupied. Is the invisible elephant starting to come into focus now?
Of course nobody wants to blame the victims. Those innocents were lulled into the same false sense of security that seduces most people living in the Sleepyvilles of the world. They just didn’t realize that predators far outnumber the police – and that predators have all heard how Sleepyville has poor security – where people actually brag about not locking their doors or windows!
Some particularly innocent victims leave their doors unlocked even after they’ve been invaded through unlocked doors! It’s not always easy to find sympathy for such wanton carelessness, but we must remember, after all, that they are indeed innocent victims – in both senses of the word.
Yet when some poor souls end up butchered, their murders will be bemoaned in the media – with barely a peep about their unlocked doors or windows. And on and on it goes.
Actually, it’s hard to blame and shame the news reporters for sugarcoating the cold reality. In fact, the surviving victims themselves usually are in blind denial of the blatantly obvious and brutal truth – that their contributory negligence led to such anguish. It happens more often than not in heinous crimes – it’s human nature, a coping mechanism. They probably can’t bear to admit it even to themselves – the angst would be too great.
The news reporters shudder when they see it up close and personal thus they opt for mercy on the surviving victims. Nevertheless, wouldn’t the public’s ignorance and their blasé safety attitude diminish (at least a bit) if the media regularly mentioned a brief, tactful security precaution at the end of each crime news report? Is the media too polite and too charitable to save future victims – even if it’s just one?
It’s a shame that those who’ve suffered a crime due to unlocked doors and windows had to learn such a harsh lesson the hard way. The news media could have – and should have – done a better job of warning them. Isn’t it ironic to see charity causing such inadvertent harm?
Rather than whispering the truth, the media should shout it for all to hear.
Be honest now. Do you keep all your doors and windows locked at all times? If not, re-read the above. Gamble in Vegas, not in your life.
Folklore and fables – from vampire and wolfman legends to tales of The Brothers’ Grimm – tell us of ogres, fiends, and monsters. Today we call them violent criminals. They’ve always plagued us and – as long as passions, madness, and evil exist – always will. Let’s blow away a predator’s biggest advantage: the naïveté of the prey. Subscribe to the free Crime-Safety-Security Newsletter.
Wilma
Feb
20
Ex-sheriff Michael Carona’s Corruption Trail Started Today
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michael Webster asked:
BY MICHAEL WEBSTER: INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER OCT 27, 2008 at 9:55 PM PDT
Michael Carona former Orange county sheriff also known early in his career as America’s sheriff started his corruption trail today with opening statements from both the prosecution and defense counsel. Carona setting at the defense table with defense attorneys, Jeffrey Rawitz and Brian Sun along with his mistress and co-defendant Debra Hoffman. They appeared to be listening carefully as prosecutors and defense lawyers presented their very different versions to the jury as to the facts in the long awaited trail in a packed courtroom representing mostly reporters, friends and family of the lawyers and other members of the U.S. attorney’s office.
The early morning overflow crowd watched the proceedings from a separate courtroom on the 6th floor at the federal court house in Santa Anna California.
Deborah Carona the ex-sheriff’s wife whom is also charged in the case, but goes to trial after her husband, watched the proceedings from a seat not far from the defense table.
First in the afternoon proceedings, Hoffman’s attorney Sylvia Torres-Guillen told jurors that charges were brought against her client only so the prosecution could show that “America’s Sheriff” had an extramarital affair.
“They dragged her in here because it makes their story that much sexier,” Torres-Guillen said.
Torres-Guillen pointed out to the jurors that Hoffman failed to become wealthy through her association with Carona, but fell into debt because of her law partnership with the soon to be Assistant sheriff George Jaramillo, who neglected their office when he began working with Carona. The firm obtained a $110,000 loan from Haidl and Hoffman got about $70,000 as severance from Haidl when she left the firm – money she always intended to repay, her attorney said. Jaramillo later indicted and convicted himself and is expected to testify against Michael Carona.
Hoffman failed to disclose the money in bankruptcy documents because she got bad legal advice, Torres-Guillen said, adding that there is no conspiracy and that her client should not even be here.
The first witness called by the government was Mark Dilullo, a pilot and owner of his own company in Rancho Cucamonga. He testified that he had a long standing relationship with the then sheriff Carona and with Don Haidle the government’s star witness in the case and told the jury that he knew both men before and after Carona won office.
Dilullo describing himself as a friend and business associate of Haidl’s said he or his company flew Haidl and friends to many different places and said he also had worked for Haidle.
Dilullo livened up the court room when he testified under oath that Assistant Sheriff Haidle ask him to asked trusted close friends, relatives and associates to illegally donate money to Carona’s 1998 campaign. He himself, parents and a brother who is a officer in the U.S. Marines stationed at Camp Pendleton. The total amount donated was about $5,000 in checks. He also got three other friends to donate $1,000 each in checks.
Dilullo stated on the stand that Haidl with Carona’s knowledge reimbursed him in cash for the contributions. Dilullo said he then gave cash back to those who donated to Carona’s campaign.
Dilullo also pointed out that Haidl paid for Carona to use private planes for personal and campaign junkets to Lake Tahoe California and Las Vegas Nevada.
At Haidle’s request Dilullo said he arranged for a large campaign banner to be flown over Orange County beaches during the Carona campaign. He told the court room that Haidl introduced him to Carona over the phone, and that Carona also ordered him to have the banner flown over the home of Santa Ana Police Chief Paul Walters – who was Carona’s leading opponent in that election.
Dilullo testified that Haidl gave him $5,000 in cash to pay for the banner, the pilot and aircraft.
“Carona said he did not want anyone to know about that. Dilullo said.
Dilullo told juries that Carona took Haidl’s plane on trips to Las Vegas, including one time with his mistress Debra Hoffman. He said both Carona and Haidl told him to make sure Hoffman’s name was left off any records of the flights. On still another trip to Vegas at the opening of the new Bellagio’s casino, Dilullo said he saw Haidl hand Carona between $4,000 and $6,000 worth of casino chips and still more chips to Corona’s wife Deborah, at the same casino.
Its alleged Carona illegally won office in 1998 after accepting several thousand dollars in campaign contributions, then doled out favors to political supporters who bribed him with cash and gifts, prosecutors told jurors.
Carona’s defense attorney dismissed the allegations, describing the government’s probe as a “relentless assault” based on lying informants willing to sully the decorated lawman in exchange for lighter sentences.
Called by the LA Times as the highest-profile public corruption case ever prosecuted in Orange County. The corruption case is before the Honorable U.S. District Court Judge Andrew Guilford in court room 10 C.
The indictment accuses Carona of using his public office to enrich himself, his wife and his former mistress and co-defendant Debra Hoffman – a Newport Beach lawyer who told authorities she had an affair with Carona since 1998.
At the center of the government’s case is multimillionaire businessman Donald Haidl, who helped bankroll Carona’s 1998 campaign and was appointed Carona’s assistant sheriff even though he lacked the training and experience for the job.
The alleged scheme was launched in 1997 when Carona’s campaign manager, George Jaramillo, arranged for Haidl and Carona to meet. Haidl saw the pair as a perfect political match: Carona the preacher man and Jaramillo the pickpocket, Sagel said. At the meeting, Carona promised Haidl a job as an assistant sheriff, full access to the sheriff’s resources and a “Get out of jail free card,” Sagel said.
“Don Haidl was looking to buy power,” Sagel said. “Mike Carona and George Jaramillo were selling it.”
The aspiring sheriff and Jaramillo told Haidl that if he put up enough money to win the election “you, Don Haidl, will own the Sheriff’s Department,” Sagel said.
With Carona’s knowledge, Sagel said, Haidl illegally reimbursed donors to Carona’s 1998 campaign, a scheme that allowed him to exceed the county’s $1,000 limit on campaign contributions. After Carona won the election, the prosecutor said, Haidl paid for the sheriff’s vacation to Lake Tahoe, slipping him thousands of dollars in casino chips, allowed him unlimited use of his yacht and private jet, and paid him $1,000 a month in cash — money the sheriff used primarily to entertain his mistress.
The prosecutor’s most damaging part of his case is the secretly recorded conversations between Haidl and Carona in which the two men discussed the “untraceable” cash bribes. Prosecutors allege that Haidl paid Carona at least $42,000 in cash, much of it changing hands during secret meetings in Haidl’s kitchen, and that in August 2007, Haidl and Carona discussed the bribes as Haidl wore a wire for prosecutors.
“Unless there was a pinhole in your ceiling that evening, it never . . . happened,” Carona can be heard telling Haidl during the conversation played for jurors. “And that part is why I sleep real well at night.”
Sagel told jurors that the word pinhole was a reference to a hidden camera and that Carona was aware of pinhole cameras because he had ordered four installed in his Santa Ana office.
Haidl and Jaramillo have pleaded guilty to tax evasion charges and agreed to cooperate with prosecutors. Their cooperation will be considered when they are sentenced. Sun said the two men have sold prosecutors “a bill of goods,” and will falsely implicate Carona to win leniency.
Prosecutors also allege the ex-sheriff was directly involved in at least $450,000 in payments from Haidl to himself, Hoffman and Jaramillo.
The witnesses’ credibility is particularly important, Sun said, because there are no financial records to support allegations that Haidl bribed Carona, making this a “he said, she said” case.
“They’re going to have to have porters to carry in all the baggage they’re bringing to the stand,” Sun said.
Another of Carona’s former friends who aided prosecutors is attorney Joseph Cavallo. Cavallo once represented Haidl’s son, Greg Haidl, in a high-profile *** assault trial. Carona routed a wrongful-death lawsuit – involving the death of a deputy – to Cavallo, prosecutors say. Cavallo isn’t charged in the case.
Early in the proceedings, Assistant U.S. Attorney Brett Sagel characterized the probe as “the case of two Mike Caronas.”
Carona was known as a “bright, charismatic man who went from underdog candidate in 1998 to the sheriff of Orange County” Sagel said. The ex-sheriff, once the highest ranking law enforcement official in Orange County, controlled 4,200 employees and managed an agency with a budget of half billion dollars, he added.
“He was, according to Larry King, America’s Sheriff,” the prosecutor continued, as jurors looked at a photo of Carona in his decorated uniform.
But then there was a “secret Mike Carona,” Sagel said.
A photo of Carona, Haidl and Jaramillo, all standing outside Haidl’s private plane, flashed on a television screen not far from the jurors.
” ‘We’re going to be so rich. We’re going to make so much money,’ ” Sagel said. “These are the words of secret Mike Carona, defendant Mike Carona.”
“The Caronas, the Jaramillos and the Haidls became extremely close,” Sagel told jurors. “They would spend holidays together … (and discuss) constantly the money they would make when they ran the sheriff’s department.”
Sagel played excerpts from the secret recordings, including an exchange in which the ex-Sheriff used a racial epithet to refer to blacks. Carona also refers to gifts, saying they are “completely untraceable.”
Carona’s attorney, Brian Sun, painted the former sheriff as a good public servant who turned down lucrative jobs in the private sector. He characterized the prosecution’s alleged “bribes,” as the “exchange of gifts among friends.”
“Mike Carona is going to get his day in court finally,” Sun continued. “His reputation is in tatters … it has been humiliating for him to have his private life exposed like this by people who have an ax to grind.”
Far from trying to “feather his nest,” Carona tried to reimburse people for gifts, such as World Series and Oscar De La Hoya boxing tickets, Sun said. There is no evidence of cash payments, Sun added.
Carona also avoided using his position to influence others, Sun said. For example, Sun said that Haidl turned to Jaramillo for help in getting his son, Greg, tried as a juvenile on a **** charge – not Carona.
“Mike Carona is the victim of the worst kind of negative campaign ad you can get,” Sun said.
Sun said the prosecution selectively chose sound bites, particularly the racial epithet in which Carona is repeating a phrase first used by Haidl, to inflame jurors.
Edward
BY MICHAEL WEBSTER: INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER OCT 27, 2008 at 9:55 PM PDT
Michael Carona former Orange county sheriff also known early in his career as America’s sheriff started his corruption trail today with opening statements from both the prosecution and defense counsel. Carona setting at the defense table with defense attorneys, Jeffrey Rawitz and Brian Sun along with his mistress and co-defendant Debra Hoffman. They appeared to be listening carefully as prosecutors and defense lawyers presented their very different versions to the jury as to the facts in the long awaited trail in a packed courtroom representing mostly reporters, friends and family of the lawyers and other members of the U.S. attorney’s office.
The early morning overflow crowd watched the proceedings from a separate courtroom on the 6th floor at the federal court house in Santa Anna California.
Deborah Carona the ex-sheriff’s wife whom is also charged in the case, but goes to trial after her husband, watched the proceedings from a seat not far from the defense table.
First in the afternoon proceedings, Hoffman’s attorney Sylvia Torres-Guillen told jurors that charges were brought against her client only so the prosecution could show that “America’s Sheriff” had an extramarital affair.
“They dragged her in here because it makes their story that much sexier,” Torres-Guillen said.
Torres-Guillen pointed out to the jurors that Hoffman failed to become wealthy through her association with Carona, but fell into debt because of her law partnership with the soon to be Assistant sheriff George Jaramillo, who neglected their office when he began working with Carona. The firm obtained a $110,000 loan from Haidl and Hoffman got about $70,000 as severance from Haidl when she left the firm – money she always intended to repay, her attorney said. Jaramillo later indicted and convicted himself and is expected to testify against Michael Carona.
Hoffman failed to disclose the money in bankruptcy documents because she got bad legal advice, Torres-Guillen said, adding that there is no conspiracy and that her client should not even be here.
The first witness called by the government was Mark Dilullo, a pilot and owner of his own company in Rancho Cucamonga. He testified that he had a long standing relationship with the then sheriff Carona and with Don Haidle the government’s star witness in the case and told the jury that he knew both men before and after Carona won office.
Dilullo describing himself as a friend and business associate of Haidl’s said he or his company flew Haidl and friends to many different places and said he also had worked for Haidle.
Dilullo livened up the court room when he testified under oath that Assistant Sheriff Haidle ask him to asked trusted close friends, relatives and associates to illegally donate money to Carona’s 1998 campaign. He himself, parents and a brother who is a officer in the U.S. Marines stationed at Camp Pendleton. The total amount donated was about $5,000 in checks. He also got three other friends to donate $1,000 each in checks.
Dilullo stated on the stand that Haidl with Carona’s knowledge reimbursed him in cash for the contributions. Dilullo said he then gave cash back to those who donated to Carona’s campaign.
Dilullo also pointed out that Haidl paid for Carona to use private planes for personal and campaign junkets to Lake Tahoe California and Las Vegas Nevada.
At Haidle’s request Dilullo said he arranged for a large campaign banner to be flown over Orange County beaches during the Carona campaign. He told the court room that Haidl introduced him to Carona over the phone, and that Carona also ordered him to have the banner flown over the home of Santa Ana Police Chief Paul Walters – who was Carona’s leading opponent in that election.
Dilullo testified that Haidl gave him $5,000 in cash to pay for the banner, the pilot and aircraft.
“Carona said he did not want anyone to know about that. Dilullo said.
Dilullo told juries that Carona took Haidl’s plane on trips to Las Vegas, including one time with his mistress Debra Hoffman. He said both Carona and Haidl told him to make sure Hoffman’s name was left off any records of the flights. On still another trip to Vegas at the opening of the new Bellagio’s casino, Dilullo said he saw Haidl hand Carona between $4,000 and $6,000 worth of casino chips and still more chips to Corona’s wife Deborah, at the same casino.
Its alleged Carona illegally won office in 1998 after accepting several thousand dollars in campaign contributions, then doled out favors to political supporters who bribed him with cash and gifts, prosecutors told jurors.
Carona’s defense attorney dismissed the allegations, describing the government’s probe as a “relentless assault” based on lying informants willing to sully the decorated lawman in exchange for lighter sentences.
Called by the LA Times as the highest-profile public corruption case ever prosecuted in Orange County. The corruption case is before the Honorable U.S. District Court Judge Andrew Guilford in court room 10 C.
The indictment accuses Carona of using his public office to enrich himself, his wife and his former mistress and co-defendant Debra Hoffman – a Newport Beach lawyer who told authorities she had an affair with Carona since 1998.
At the center of the government’s case is multimillionaire businessman Donald Haidl, who helped bankroll Carona’s 1998 campaign and was appointed Carona’s assistant sheriff even though he lacked the training and experience for the job.
The alleged scheme was launched in 1997 when Carona’s campaign manager, George Jaramillo, arranged for Haidl and Carona to meet. Haidl saw the pair as a perfect political match: Carona the preacher man and Jaramillo the pickpocket, Sagel said. At the meeting, Carona promised Haidl a job as an assistant sheriff, full access to the sheriff’s resources and a “Get out of jail free card,” Sagel said.
“Don Haidl was looking to buy power,” Sagel said. “Mike Carona and George Jaramillo were selling it.”
The aspiring sheriff and Jaramillo told Haidl that if he put up enough money to win the election “you, Don Haidl, will own the Sheriff’s Department,” Sagel said.
With Carona’s knowledge, Sagel said, Haidl illegally reimbursed donors to Carona’s 1998 campaign, a scheme that allowed him to exceed the county’s $1,000 limit on campaign contributions. After Carona won the election, the prosecutor said, Haidl paid for the sheriff’s vacation to Lake Tahoe, slipping him thousands of dollars in casino chips, allowed him unlimited use of his yacht and private jet, and paid him $1,000 a month in cash — money the sheriff used primarily to entertain his mistress.
The prosecutor’s most damaging part of his case is the secretly recorded conversations between Haidl and Carona in which the two men discussed the “untraceable” cash bribes. Prosecutors allege that Haidl paid Carona at least $42,000 in cash, much of it changing hands during secret meetings in Haidl’s kitchen, and that in August 2007, Haidl and Carona discussed the bribes as Haidl wore a wire for prosecutors.
“Unless there was a pinhole in your ceiling that evening, it never . . . happened,” Carona can be heard telling Haidl during the conversation played for jurors. “And that part is why I sleep real well at night.”
Sagel told jurors that the word pinhole was a reference to a hidden camera and that Carona was aware of pinhole cameras because he had ordered four installed in his Santa Ana office.
Haidl and Jaramillo have pleaded guilty to tax evasion charges and agreed to cooperate with prosecutors. Their cooperation will be considered when they are sentenced. Sun said the two men have sold prosecutors “a bill of goods,” and will falsely implicate Carona to win leniency.
Prosecutors also allege the ex-sheriff was directly involved in at least $450,000 in payments from Haidl to himself, Hoffman and Jaramillo.
The witnesses’ credibility is particularly important, Sun said, because there are no financial records to support allegations that Haidl bribed Carona, making this a “he said, she said” case.
“They’re going to have to have porters to carry in all the baggage they’re bringing to the stand,” Sun said.
Another of Carona’s former friends who aided prosecutors is attorney Joseph Cavallo. Cavallo once represented Haidl’s son, Greg Haidl, in a high-profile *** assault trial. Carona routed a wrongful-death lawsuit – involving the death of a deputy – to Cavallo, prosecutors say. Cavallo isn’t charged in the case.
Early in the proceedings, Assistant U.S. Attorney Brett Sagel characterized the probe as “the case of two Mike Caronas.”
Carona was known as a “bright, charismatic man who went from underdog candidate in 1998 to the sheriff of Orange County” Sagel said. The ex-sheriff, once the highest ranking law enforcement official in Orange County, controlled 4,200 employees and managed an agency with a budget of half billion dollars, he added.
“He was, according to Larry King, America’s Sheriff,” the prosecutor continued, as jurors looked at a photo of Carona in his decorated uniform.
But then there was a “secret Mike Carona,” Sagel said.
A photo of Carona, Haidl and Jaramillo, all standing outside Haidl’s private plane, flashed on a television screen not far from the jurors.
” ‘We’re going to be so rich. We’re going to make so much money,’ ” Sagel said. “These are the words of secret Mike Carona, defendant Mike Carona.”
“The Caronas, the Jaramillos and the Haidls became extremely close,” Sagel told jurors. “They would spend holidays together … (and discuss) constantly the money they would make when they ran the sheriff’s department.”
Sagel played excerpts from the secret recordings, including an exchange in which the ex-Sheriff used a racial epithet to refer to blacks. Carona also refers to gifts, saying they are “completely untraceable.”
Carona’s attorney, Brian Sun, painted the former sheriff as a good public servant who turned down lucrative jobs in the private sector. He characterized the prosecution’s alleged “bribes,” as the “exchange of gifts among friends.”
“Mike Carona is going to get his day in court finally,” Sun continued. “His reputation is in tatters … it has been humiliating for him to have his private life exposed like this by people who have an ax to grind.”
Far from trying to “feather his nest,” Carona tried to reimburse people for gifts, such as World Series and Oscar De La Hoya boxing tickets, Sun said. There is no evidence of cash payments, Sun added.
Carona also avoided using his position to influence others, Sun said. For example, Sun said that Haidl turned to Jaramillo for help in getting his son, Greg, tried as a juvenile on a **** charge – not Carona.
“Mike Carona is the victim of the worst kind of negative campaign ad you can get,” Sun said.
Sun said the prosecution selectively chose sound bites, particularly the racial epithet in which Carona is repeating a phrase first used by Haidl, to inflame jurors.
Edward
Feb
11
Do You Want to Make Cash With Video Marketing? Here’s a Few Video Marketing Tips
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Carl Coffin asked:
Do you want to make cash with video marketing? Let me share a few tips that will fill your wallet with CASH.
Video marketing is an awesome tool to use online if you are an entrepreneur. Videos alone can brand you as a leader and promote your product or company 24 hrs. 7 days a week.
One of the first questions I get asked when coaching people how to create videos is, I don’t know what to say? or What if I look stupid?
I tell them to quit with the self limiting beliefs. Video marketing is about BEING REAL. People are attracted to people who are real and have similar interests and values.
I mean, look at the big craze over that youtube video featuring a divorcee and her rant against her ex husband. She actually made it on Larry King.
You just never know how popular your videos can be. Once you create them they can become VIRAL and get passed throughout the youtube community and the Internet.
The way technology has become nowadays we as Internet marketers NEED to adapt. We need to CASH in on this FREE marketing strategy. Now, what are some tips I can share with you?
If you are using a desktop PC without a built in video cam, make sure you buy a webcam that has at least 1300 px. This way your videos will look clearer when you upload them. A good webcam will generally cost between $60-$100.00.
When you create your videos a good website to go to is tubemogul.com. There are others but what tubemogul will do is allow you to upload your videos to 14 of the most popular video marketing websites at the push of a button. It will automate this for you and save you time.
They also have a paid service that will submit your videos to more directories.
There is a piece of software that comes with most Microsoft PC’s. It’s called Windows Moviemaker. With Windows MovieMaker you can create your own titles and edit your video. Then you can publish it and upload it to youtube or where ever you want. You can also use camstudio or other software to create presentations and share with your prospects.
Another valuable tip that was shared to me by a friend is that there is a code that you can insert into the embed code of your video that will allow your video to start automatically on your website. This is cool because when you send traffic to your blog or myspace profile or website your video will start playing without your prospect having to manually click play. All you have to do is copy and paste the embed code that you get after you upload the video to youtube and look for the first em. After the first em type &autoplay=1. For example em&autoplay=1. This code will automatically start your video.
The last tip I want to share is a good way to SEO(Search Engine Optimize) your videos. When I first got started with video marketing I learned to put my website’s url as the first link in my description when uploading to youtube. I would search for a popular youtube videos that are similiar to mine and that has gotten over at least 10,000 views. I would then study their description box and copy and paste their keywords into my description. It is perfectly Ok to do and will help your video get noticed. I then would generate keyword tags around my keywords. Obviously the more SEO videos you have uploaded the better chance you have of google picking them up. That will result in free traffic to you.
In closing I want to say that video marketing is FUN and the best advice I can give you is just be yourself and be creative. There are so many ways your videos can connect with people and drive traffic to your websites.
If you would like to learn more about me and how your business can benefit from an online marketing system, check out my resources below.
Discover how to earn a whopping $4,567,09 per month in your spare time even if nobody joins your MLM business. Forget cold calling. Forget those home meetings. In fact, forget everything you’ve ever been taught about building a solid income in Network Marketing from the “gurus”. Let this 25- yr “unknown” marketer show you how he built an organization of over 4,120 in 14 short months without making one phone call! ==>
http://www.carlcoffin.net - My Online Marketing System
Nathaniel
Do you want to make cash with video marketing? Let me share a few tips that will fill your wallet with CASH.
Video marketing is an awesome tool to use online if you are an entrepreneur. Videos alone can brand you as a leader and promote your product or company 24 hrs. 7 days a week.
One of the first questions I get asked when coaching people how to create videos is, I don’t know what to say? or What if I look stupid?
I tell them to quit with the self limiting beliefs. Video marketing is about BEING REAL. People are attracted to people who are real and have similar interests and values.
I mean, look at the big craze over that youtube video featuring a divorcee and her rant against her ex husband. She actually made it on Larry King.
You just never know how popular your videos can be. Once you create them they can become VIRAL and get passed throughout the youtube community and the Internet.
The way technology has become nowadays we as Internet marketers NEED to adapt. We need to CASH in on this FREE marketing strategy. Now, what are some tips I can share with you?
If you are using a desktop PC without a built in video cam, make sure you buy a webcam that has at least 1300 px. This way your videos will look clearer when you upload them. A good webcam will generally cost between $60-$100.00.
When you create your videos a good website to go to is tubemogul.com. There are others but what tubemogul will do is allow you to upload your videos to 14 of the most popular video marketing websites at the push of a button. It will automate this for you and save you time.
They also have a paid service that will submit your videos to more directories.
There is a piece of software that comes with most Microsoft PC’s. It’s called Windows Moviemaker. With Windows MovieMaker you can create your own titles and edit your video. Then you can publish it and upload it to youtube or where ever you want. You can also use camstudio or other software to create presentations and share with your prospects.
Another valuable tip that was shared to me by a friend is that there is a code that you can insert into the embed code of your video that will allow your video to start automatically on your website. This is cool because when you send traffic to your blog or myspace profile or website your video will start playing without your prospect having to manually click play. All you have to do is copy and paste the embed code that you get after you upload the video to youtube and look for the first em. After the first em type &autoplay=1. For example em&autoplay=1. This code will automatically start your video.
The last tip I want to share is a good way to SEO(Search Engine Optimize) your videos. When I first got started with video marketing I learned to put my website’s url as the first link in my description when uploading to youtube. I would search for a popular youtube videos that are similiar to mine and that has gotten over at least 10,000 views. I would then study their description box and copy and paste their keywords into my description. It is perfectly Ok to do and will help your video get noticed. I then would generate keyword tags around my keywords. Obviously the more SEO videos you have uploaded the better chance you have of google picking them up. That will result in free traffic to you.
In closing I want to say that video marketing is FUN and the best advice I can give you is just be yourself and be creative. There are so many ways your videos can connect with people and drive traffic to your websites.
If you would like to learn more about me and how your business can benefit from an online marketing system, check out my resources below.
Discover how to earn a whopping $4,567,09 per month in your spare time even if nobody joins your MLM business. Forget cold calling. Forget those home meetings. In fact, forget everything you’ve ever been taught about building a solid income in Network Marketing from the “gurus”. Let this 25- yr “unknown” marketer show you how he built an organization of over 4,120 in 14 short months without making one phone call! ==>
http://www.carlcoffin.net - My Online Marketing System
Nathaniel
Feb
8
Leadership Lessons Learned From Tim Russert
Filed Under Uncategorized | Comments Off
Ira Wolfe asked:
(c) 2008 Success Performance Solutions
Within minutes after the unexpected death of Tim Russert was announced, the story took on a complete life of its own. While at first I admit I was just curious to find out what happened, I was soon humbled by the sudden outpouring of shock and the impact that Russert had on so many people. Not since the passing of JFK, Martin Luther King, Bobby Kennedy, and Princess Diana do I recall seeing so many people stunned by a death. Wherever I visited, people were staring at the television, glued to the radio, or talking with complete strangers about his death. Why was the death of this journalist and host of Meet the Press so meaningful? We’ve lost celebrities in the past but the public response for them paled in comparison to what I saw and heard over this past weekend. Why did the passing of this one man have such a profound effect on so many people?
As I began to watch and listen to the stories about Russert be recounted during the televised day-long tributes and remembrances, I realized that Russert exemplified the virtues of a great leader. Nearly everyone, from politicians, colleagues, and even his competitors, lauded Russert’s prowess as a journalist and as an interviewer. But these were just roles he filled. What is more important is that while he held no official leadership position other than Washington Bureau Chief for NBC, his life encapsulated the behavior that anyone who finds him- or herself in a leadership or management role must strive to emulate.
I must admit that I always enjoyed listening to Tim Russert but was not a loyal watcher of Meet the Press nor his other shows. But when channel surfing, my fingers stopped clicking the channel changer if Tim was a guest or host. I admired his quick wit, his humility, his curiosity, his persistence, his direct but fair questioning.
Despite his enormous success and recognition as one of the world’s leading political analysts, Russert remained just a common guy. He seemed like the kind of guy you’d trust with your darkest and deepest secret even if you only met him minutes ago. He seemed like the guy you’d strike up a conversation with at the corner bar about what was happening in the neighborhood and just stay there talking for hours.
Tim Russert never forgot where he came from. He never forgot his roots coming from Buffalo, the son of a blue collar worker who worked two jobs for thirty years to support his family. He had a humble beginning and remained humble right up until his untimely death. He was not embarrassed by his father’s occupation as a trash hauler. Instead he was so proud that he made him a national hero.
There is no greater legacy that Tim Russert leaves to both current and up and coming leaders than how critical humility is in becoming an effective leader. Too often these days people start life on third base and then think they hit a triple. Russert never took his success for granted and always remained thankful to those who helped him become the person he became. Russert told Larry King one of the lessons he taught his son, “you’re always, always loved but you are never entitled.”
Russert loved what he did and it always showed. I thought it odd that in the days that followed his death, not a single picture was shown that didn’t show him with that huge smile or devilish twinkle in his eyes —or both. And then I heard Tom Brokaw tell us why that was so: “it was tough to find a picture of my friend Tim when he wasn’t smiling.”
But the smiles weren’t about him but the success of others. In spite of the high, high standards Russert set for himself, the success was never about him. He enjoyed everyone’s success even more than his own.
Story after story has came out from family, friends, interns to politicians about lives that Russert touched. He was the ultimate mentor and cheerleader. He had this missionary zeal for lifting people up, for wanting to make everyone around him better. This doesn’t mean he ignored flaws in people but recognized them as human beings. He once said that the “best exercise for the human heart is to pick someone up and hold them up.”
His interviewing style was described as tough but fair, direct but never condescending, persistent but civilized. Russert was always challenging, but never hostile. He never intended to embarrass anyone but to understand what they were thinking. He set a high standard that others only wanted to emulate which elevated everyone’s performance. James Carville, Democratic strategist and good friend of Russert, was asked “if he [Russert] was really as good as he seemed?” Carville replied, “he was better.”
Eleanor Roosevelt once said about Franklin Roosevelt and Winston Churchill that “the best men always had a lot of the little boy in them.” What made Russert great was that he never lost “the little boy” inside. Despite meeting and interviewing Presidents, world leaders, and several Popes, he never lost his innocence. Until his death he took the most complex and polarizing topic and spun it down to its simplest form. He put “legal-eze” and political-speak in terms that even the most common man could understand. He didn’t try to impress us, not even with designer suits that he could well afford. Tom Brokaw said, despite Tim’s success, he still relied on his “three tailors - L., L. & Bean.” Driving Russert was a passion for the truth and integrity. He was genuinely curious, always wondering what you were thinking and who you were. He rarely fought for a cause other than plain old human decency. What you saw was what you got. Russert was a superb role model. His passion for life and for his work gushed from his heart. He had this Walter Cronkite-type of integrity. He lived his life in a way that others only dream about living. He was passionately enthusiastic. He wanted everyone to be an A player, not just himself. He revered his father, his wife and his son. He believed in God, his country and fellow man.
What I learned over these past days from Tim Russert was what leadership is all about. I learned more about leadership from hearing and observing how he lived his life than I did from reading hundreds of leadership books, spending dozens of hours in workshops and class, and writing too many columns and term papers.
The leadership lessons of Tim Russert are simple but so true:
1. Never forget where you came from.
2. Never forget who helped you get you where you are.
3. Always be tough but fair.
4. Never stop challenging others to seek the truth.
5. Prepare, prepare, prepare.
6. Help everyone become an A player.
7. Have fun doing whatever you do.
8. Do what you do with a missionary zeal.
9. Keep the little boy alive inside you.
10.Keep faith, families, and friends in the forefront.
Or to sum it all up in Tim Russert’s words: “Work hard, laugh often and keep your honor.”
Terri
(c) 2008 Success Performance Solutions
Within minutes after the unexpected death of Tim Russert was announced, the story took on a complete life of its own. While at first I admit I was just curious to find out what happened, I was soon humbled by the sudden outpouring of shock and the impact that Russert had on so many people. Not since the passing of JFK, Martin Luther King, Bobby Kennedy, and Princess Diana do I recall seeing so many people stunned by a death. Wherever I visited, people were staring at the television, glued to the radio, or talking with complete strangers about his death. Why was the death of this journalist and host of Meet the Press so meaningful? We’ve lost celebrities in the past but the public response for them paled in comparison to what I saw and heard over this past weekend. Why did the passing of this one man have such a profound effect on so many people?
As I began to watch and listen to the stories about Russert be recounted during the televised day-long tributes and remembrances, I realized that Russert exemplified the virtues of a great leader. Nearly everyone, from politicians, colleagues, and even his competitors, lauded Russert’s prowess as a journalist and as an interviewer. But these were just roles he filled. What is more important is that while he held no official leadership position other than Washington Bureau Chief for NBC, his life encapsulated the behavior that anyone who finds him- or herself in a leadership or management role must strive to emulate.
I must admit that I always enjoyed listening to Tim Russert but was not a loyal watcher of Meet the Press nor his other shows. But when channel surfing, my fingers stopped clicking the channel changer if Tim was a guest or host. I admired his quick wit, his humility, his curiosity, his persistence, his direct but fair questioning.
Despite his enormous success and recognition as one of the world’s leading political analysts, Russert remained just a common guy. He seemed like the kind of guy you’d trust with your darkest and deepest secret even if you only met him minutes ago. He seemed like the guy you’d strike up a conversation with at the corner bar about what was happening in the neighborhood and just stay there talking for hours.
Tim Russert never forgot where he came from. He never forgot his roots coming from Buffalo, the son of a blue collar worker who worked two jobs for thirty years to support his family. He had a humble beginning and remained humble right up until his untimely death. He was not embarrassed by his father’s occupation as a trash hauler. Instead he was so proud that he made him a national hero.
There is no greater legacy that Tim Russert leaves to both current and up and coming leaders than how critical humility is in becoming an effective leader. Too often these days people start life on third base and then think they hit a triple. Russert never took his success for granted and always remained thankful to those who helped him become the person he became. Russert told Larry King one of the lessons he taught his son, “you’re always, always loved but you are never entitled.”
Russert loved what he did and it always showed. I thought it odd that in the days that followed his death, not a single picture was shown that didn’t show him with that huge smile or devilish twinkle in his eyes —or both. And then I heard Tom Brokaw tell us why that was so: “it was tough to find a picture of my friend Tim when he wasn’t smiling.”
But the smiles weren’t about him but the success of others. In spite of the high, high standards Russert set for himself, the success was never about him. He enjoyed everyone’s success even more than his own.
Story after story has came out from family, friends, interns to politicians about lives that Russert touched. He was the ultimate mentor and cheerleader. He had this missionary zeal for lifting people up, for wanting to make everyone around him better. This doesn’t mean he ignored flaws in people but recognized them as human beings. He once said that the “best exercise for the human heart is to pick someone up and hold them up.”
His interviewing style was described as tough but fair, direct but never condescending, persistent but civilized. Russert was always challenging, but never hostile. He never intended to embarrass anyone but to understand what they were thinking. He set a high standard that others only wanted to emulate which elevated everyone’s performance. James Carville, Democratic strategist and good friend of Russert, was asked “if he [Russert] was really as good as he seemed?” Carville replied, “he was better.”
Eleanor Roosevelt once said about Franklin Roosevelt and Winston Churchill that “the best men always had a lot of the little boy in them.” What made Russert great was that he never lost “the little boy” inside. Despite meeting and interviewing Presidents, world leaders, and several Popes, he never lost his innocence. Until his death he took the most complex and polarizing topic and spun it down to its simplest form. He put “legal-eze” and political-speak in terms that even the most common man could understand. He didn’t try to impress us, not even with designer suits that he could well afford. Tom Brokaw said, despite Tim’s success, he still relied on his “three tailors - L., L. & Bean.” Driving Russert was a passion for the truth and integrity. He was genuinely curious, always wondering what you were thinking and who you were. He rarely fought for a cause other than plain old human decency. What you saw was what you got. Russert was a superb role model. His passion for life and for his work gushed from his heart. He had this Walter Cronkite-type of integrity. He lived his life in a way that others only dream about living. He was passionately enthusiastic. He wanted everyone to be an A player, not just himself. He revered his father, his wife and his son. He believed in God, his country and fellow man.
What I learned over these past days from Tim Russert was what leadership is all about. I learned more about leadership from hearing and observing how he lived his life than I did from reading hundreds of leadership books, spending dozens of hours in workshops and class, and writing too many columns and term papers.
The leadership lessons of Tim Russert are simple but so true:
1. Never forget where you came from.
2. Never forget who helped you get you where you are.
3. Always be tough but fair.
4. Never stop challenging others to seek the truth.
5. Prepare, prepare, prepare.
6. Help everyone become an A player.
7. Have fun doing whatever you do.
8. Do what you do with a missionary zeal.
9. Keep the little boy alive inside you.
10.Keep faith, families, and friends in the forefront.
Or to sum it all up in Tim Russert’s words: “Work hard, laugh often and keep your honor.”
Terri
Feb
6
The Astrological Sun Sign Scorpio the Scorpion of the Western Zodiac
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Burl Collins asked:
Using the tropical zodiac system people born between October 24th and November 22nd are known by their Sun Sign Scorpio the Scorpion and are associated with the constellation Scorpius. The Element of the Scorpio sign is Water and the color of Scorpio is Dark Red. The starstone of Scorpio is Opal and the astrological symbol for Scorpio represents the Scorpion and it’s stinger. The Sun Sign opposite of Scorpio is Taurus the Bull and the metals of the Scorpio sign are iron steel and magnesium. Scorpio is ruled by the Planet Mars and is defined as a feminine-negative introverted sign. Scorpio is the eighth sign of the zodiac and the quality of Scorpio is fixed.
The characteristics most commonly attributed to Scorpio are intensity and depth and they are also well known for their mysterious ability as healers. Generally speaking the people of the Scorpio sun sign are often passionate and intense with a determined outlook. They are also complex and mysterious with a analytical attitude. The Scorpio people work well in a deep and intriguing environment and can be penetrating and suspicious. Scorpios can also be ambitious and resourceful with a purposeful
and compelling nature. They can also be ruthless and overbearing with an vindictive air about them as they tend to be jealous and possessive. Scorpios like mysteries and secrets but can be obstinate and moody.
The following is a list of some famous celebrities of the Scorpio sun sign.
John Adams - October 30, 1735 - July 4, 1826 - Second President of the United States
Boris Becker - November 22, 1967 - Youngest tennis player to win the men’s singles title at Wimbledon
Lisa Bonet - November 16, 1967 - Actress best known as Denise Huxtable on The Cosby Show
Charles Bronson - November 3, 1921 - August 30, 2003 - Actor best known for his Tough Guy roles
Richard Burton - November 10, 1925 - August 5, 1984 - Seven time Academy Award nominated actor
Hillary Clinton - October 26, 1947 - United States Senator and candidate for the Democratic nomination
Marie Curie - November 7, 1867 - July 4, 1934 - Physicist, chemist and two time Nobel laureate
Jamie Lee Curtis - November 22, 1958 - Actress best known for her role in Halloween
Charles De Gaulle - November 22, 1890 - November 9, 1970 - French General and Prime Minister
Bo Derek - November 20, 1956 - Actress best known for her role in Blake Edward’s film 10
Leonardo DiCaprio - November 11, 1974 - Actor, famous for his role as Jack Dawson in the film Titanic
Richard Dreyfuss - October 29, 1947 - Academy Award winning actor
Jodie Foster - November 19, 1962 - Academy, Golden Globe and SAG Award winning actress
Indira Gandhi - 19 November 1917 - October 31, 1984 - Prime Minister of India
Bill Gates - 28 October 1955 - Software mogul and chairman of Microsoft
Goldie Hawn - November 21, 1945 - Academy Award winning actress, director and producer
Bruce Jenner - October 28, 1949 - Athlete, winner of the decathlon in the 1976 Summer Olympics
Grace Kelly - November 12, 1929 - September 14, 1982 - Academy Award winning actress
Larry King - November 19, 1933 - Award winning radio and television host
Claude Monet - November 14, 1840 - December 5, 192 - Painter, founder of the impressionist movement
Demi Moore - November 11, 1962 - Actress married to actor Ashton Kutcher
Pablo Picasso - October 25, 1881 - April 8, 1973 - Best known for co-founding the Cubist movement
Julia Roberts - October 28, 1967 - Academy Award winning actress and fashion model
General Erwin Rommel - lived 1891-1944 - The Desert Fox legendary commander of the Afrika Corp
Carl Sagan - November 9, 1934 - December 20, 1996 - Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence
Maria Shriver - November 6, 1955 - First Lady of California married to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
Ted Turner - November 19, 1938 - Businessman and founder of the cable television network CNN
Kurt Vonnegut - November 11, 1922 - April 11, 2007 - Novelist, best known for Slaughterhouse-Five
As you can see from this list if you were born under the Scorpio sun sign you are in good company.
Suzanne
Using the tropical zodiac system people born between October 24th and November 22nd are known by their Sun Sign Scorpio the Scorpion and are associated with the constellation Scorpius. The Element of the Scorpio sign is Water and the color of Scorpio is Dark Red. The starstone of Scorpio is Opal and the astrological symbol for Scorpio represents the Scorpion and it’s stinger. The Sun Sign opposite of Scorpio is Taurus the Bull and the metals of the Scorpio sign are iron steel and magnesium. Scorpio is ruled by the Planet Mars and is defined as a feminine-negative introverted sign. Scorpio is the eighth sign of the zodiac and the quality of Scorpio is fixed.
The characteristics most commonly attributed to Scorpio are intensity and depth and they are also well known for their mysterious ability as healers. Generally speaking the people of the Scorpio sun sign are often passionate and intense with a determined outlook. They are also complex and mysterious with a analytical attitude. The Scorpio people work well in a deep and intriguing environment and can be penetrating and suspicious. Scorpios can also be ambitious and resourceful with a purposeful
and compelling nature. They can also be ruthless and overbearing with an vindictive air about them as they tend to be jealous and possessive. Scorpios like mysteries and secrets but can be obstinate and moody.
The following is a list of some famous celebrities of the Scorpio sun sign.
John Adams - October 30, 1735 - July 4, 1826 - Second President of the United States
Boris Becker - November 22, 1967 - Youngest tennis player to win the men’s singles title at Wimbledon
Lisa Bonet - November 16, 1967 - Actress best known as Denise Huxtable on The Cosby Show
Charles Bronson - November 3, 1921 - August 30, 2003 - Actor best known for his Tough Guy roles
Richard Burton - November 10, 1925 - August 5, 1984 - Seven time Academy Award nominated actor
Hillary Clinton - October 26, 1947 - United States Senator and candidate for the Democratic nomination
Marie Curie - November 7, 1867 - July 4, 1934 - Physicist, chemist and two time Nobel laureate
Jamie Lee Curtis - November 22, 1958 - Actress best known for her role in Halloween
Charles De Gaulle - November 22, 1890 - November 9, 1970 - French General and Prime Minister
Bo Derek - November 20, 1956 - Actress best known for her role in Blake Edward’s film 10
Leonardo DiCaprio - November 11, 1974 - Actor, famous for his role as Jack Dawson in the film Titanic
Richard Dreyfuss - October 29, 1947 - Academy Award winning actor
Jodie Foster - November 19, 1962 - Academy, Golden Globe and SAG Award winning actress
Indira Gandhi - 19 November 1917 - October 31, 1984 - Prime Minister of India
Bill Gates - 28 October 1955 - Software mogul and chairman of Microsoft
Goldie Hawn - November 21, 1945 - Academy Award winning actress, director and producer
Bruce Jenner - October 28, 1949 - Athlete, winner of the decathlon in the 1976 Summer Olympics
Grace Kelly - November 12, 1929 - September 14, 1982 - Academy Award winning actress
Larry King - November 19, 1933 - Award winning radio and television host
Claude Monet - November 14, 1840 - December 5, 192 - Painter, founder of the impressionist movement
Demi Moore - November 11, 1962 - Actress married to actor Ashton Kutcher
Pablo Picasso - October 25, 1881 - April 8, 1973 - Best known for co-founding the Cubist movement
Julia Roberts - October 28, 1967 - Academy Award winning actress and fashion model
General Erwin Rommel - lived 1891-1944 - The Desert Fox legendary commander of the Afrika Corp
Carl Sagan - November 9, 1934 - December 20, 1996 - Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence
Maria Shriver - November 6, 1955 - First Lady of California married to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
Ted Turner - November 19, 1938 - Businessman and founder of the cable television network CNN
Kurt Vonnegut - November 11, 1922 - April 11, 2007 - Novelist, best known for Slaughterhouse-Five
As you can see from this list if you were born under the Scorpio sun sign you are in good company.
Suzanne
Feb
4
Hells Dells!
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Kylie Evans asked:
Here is something you may or may not know:
A turtle can actually breathe through its backside.
Rather impressive, no?
In the past, I have been accused of talking out of my *** on more than one occasion, but to be able to confidently respire via one’s buttocks is certainly a neat party trick, to say the least.
I also discovered that Walt Disney had a morbid fear of mice, all polar bears are left-handed (which gives a whole new meaning to the term “south-paw”) and that our eyes are always the same size from birth, but our noses and ears never stop growing. (Is THAT why my Great Grandma Henrietta looks like a cross between Jamie Farr and Dumbo?)
These amazing, if not a little disturbing, facts were brought to my attention whilst searching the net last night in the downtown district of Wisconsin Dells.
You might be wondering why, at such an early hour, such trivial issues would have me so engrossed.
Well, it’s not because of the fact that every time I turn on the TV, I have Dan Rather or Larry King talking to me in a high-pitched, female voice – in Spanish.
Nor is it because there is no heat in the hotel room and the mercury is just dipping below freezing outside, even at the end of April.
It’s definitely not because the shower is broken, resulting in a slow (but steady) drip, drip, drip - regardless of whether the water is turned on or off.
Even the occasional cockroach skittering under my makeshift desk is not the primary motivation for burying myself in such seemingly inane facts and figures.
No, I am currently pecking away at my computer in the wee hours, learning about how there are more plastic flamingos in the USA than there are real ones, because the occupants of the neighboring room are very busy executing the horizontal tango. Either that, or they are playing a friendly game of squash against the wall.
We have had a pretty good run as far as hotels go, and it was bound to end sooner or later.
I am not going to name names here, but if you happen to be passing through the delightful Wisconsin Dells area, make sure you take a pass at the Days Inn - the Days Inn on USA Highway 12, right next to the IHOP to be precise.
When you are travelling to lesser-known destinations with your partner, you get used to living in and out of suitcases. You also become accustomed to sharing the sugar sachet-sized shampoo packet (note: singular) and throwing the bedspread on the floor as your first order of business. (You KNOW they never wash those things.)
The wholesome Days Inn (in case you didn’t catch it before – 499 USA Hwy 12, right next to the IHOP) seems to think that, in order to enhance the adventure for hardy road warriors like ourselves, a different level of service is required.
When I say different level of service, what I really mean is ‘no service’.
I am not trying to sound ungrateful, but some things need to be told here.
On making the reservation, I was promised a comfortable room, with cable TV, and all the modern conveniences for a relaxing stay.
Wisconsin Dells is a famous tourist attraction, and from everything I had read, we were in for a very enjoyable time.
Needless to say, I was in very high spirits as we pulled in and saw the neon lights shouting “Free Internet Access” and “Heated Pool 24 Hours” on the billboard.
OK, a few of the letters had dropped off, so it actually read “Free Intern Access” and “eat Poo 24 Hours,” but again, I was certain we were in for some serious fun.
I suspect that the receptionist was perhaps having a bit of an ‘off’ day, as there was some mild confusion upon our checking in.
We were very patient when she told us that there wasn’t a reservation for “Emmett,” and even more understanding when she said that the only reservation she had left was under the name “Ommott.”
The threads of restraint started to erode when my husband pointed out to her that the “Ommott” reservation was, in all likeliness ‘our’ booking, and she responded that we didn’t look Turkish.
Instead of giving her a sound thwap over the head with my journal, I heeded my husband’s advice, smiled, and agreed to take the last room available: Room 151.
It became apparent to us that Room 151 at the Days Inn in Wisconsin Dells (please refer to the aforementioned address) must have been the inspiration for Jonathan Swift’s “Gulliver’s Travels.” The room was so small, that only the good, ‘little’ people of Lilliput could have really appreciated it.
In all honesty, it wasn’t so much the lack of heat, water, or the odd cockroach that bothered me, it was the false advertising of it all that really made my blood simmer.
We were tired from driving and ready for a relaxing evening in a warm, clean bed, watching the newest episode of the “Sopranos.”
Well, a fraction of our wish was fulfilled.
We got to see James Gandolfini, and he was certainly speaking in a “Soprano” pitch, it just wasn’t in English.
We shall be making hasty tracks from the ‘Days Inn’ at first light tomorrow, and I certainly will be paying closer attention to the signage/information of future hotels that we may consider as our “Home away from home.”
To that end, I have been utilizing the free time available to me (that is, until Romeo and Juliet have had enough next door) in order to research places that we should avoid.
Should you ever see signs, even closely resembling these, keep on driving:
1) Sign at a Parisian Hotel reception:
Please leave your values at the front desk.
2) In a Japanese hotel:
You are invited to take advantage of the chambermaid.
3) Sign at a motel reception in Alabama:
Pay in cash, and we will ensure a clean and germ-free stay
4) In a hotel in Athens:
Visitors are expected to complain at the office between the hours of 9 and 11am daily.
Well, I might take a page from the hotel in Athens, and bring my complaints to the office at the Days Inn.
However, complaining between the hours of 3 and 5 am seems more appropriate, at this point in time.
Hell hath no fury than a Turkish “Ommott” who can’t have a shower!
Lester
Here is something you may or may not know:
A turtle can actually breathe through its backside.
Rather impressive, no?
In the past, I have been accused of talking out of my *** on more than one occasion, but to be able to confidently respire via one’s buttocks is certainly a neat party trick, to say the least.
I also discovered that Walt Disney had a morbid fear of mice, all polar bears are left-handed (which gives a whole new meaning to the term “south-paw”) and that our eyes are always the same size from birth, but our noses and ears never stop growing. (Is THAT why my Great Grandma Henrietta looks like a cross between Jamie Farr and Dumbo?)
These amazing, if not a little disturbing, facts were brought to my attention whilst searching the net last night in the downtown district of Wisconsin Dells.
You might be wondering why, at such an early hour, such trivial issues would have me so engrossed.
Well, it’s not because of the fact that every time I turn on the TV, I have Dan Rather or Larry King talking to me in a high-pitched, female voice – in Spanish.
Nor is it because there is no heat in the hotel room and the mercury is just dipping below freezing outside, even at the end of April.
It’s definitely not because the shower is broken, resulting in a slow (but steady) drip, drip, drip - regardless of whether the water is turned on or off.
Even the occasional cockroach skittering under my makeshift desk is not the primary motivation for burying myself in such seemingly inane facts and figures.
No, I am currently pecking away at my computer in the wee hours, learning about how there are more plastic flamingos in the USA than there are real ones, because the occupants of the neighboring room are very busy executing the horizontal tango. Either that, or they are playing a friendly game of squash against the wall.
We have had a pretty good run as far as hotels go, and it was bound to end sooner or later.
I am not going to name names here, but if you happen to be passing through the delightful Wisconsin Dells area, make sure you take a pass at the Days Inn - the Days Inn on USA Highway 12, right next to the IHOP to be precise.
When you are travelling to lesser-known destinations with your partner, you get used to living in and out of suitcases. You also become accustomed to sharing the sugar sachet-sized shampoo packet (note: singular) and throwing the bedspread on the floor as your first order of business. (You KNOW they never wash those things.)
The wholesome Days Inn (in case you didn’t catch it before – 499 USA Hwy 12, right next to the IHOP) seems to think that, in order to enhance the adventure for hardy road warriors like ourselves, a different level of service is required.
When I say different level of service, what I really mean is ‘no service’.
I am not trying to sound ungrateful, but some things need to be told here.
On making the reservation, I was promised a comfortable room, with cable TV, and all the modern conveniences for a relaxing stay.
Wisconsin Dells is a famous tourist attraction, and from everything I had read, we were in for a very enjoyable time.
Needless to say, I was in very high spirits as we pulled in and saw the neon lights shouting “Free Internet Access” and “Heated Pool 24 Hours” on the billboard.
OK, a few of the letters had dropped off, so it actually read “Free Intern Access” and “eat Poo 24 Hours,” but again, I was certain we were in for some serious fun.
I suspect that the receptionist was perhaps having a bit of an ‘off’ day, as there was some mild confusion upon our checking in.
We were very patient when she told us that there wasn’t a reservation for “Emmett,” and even more understanding when she said that the only reservation she had left was under the name “Ommott.”
The threads of restraint started to erode when my husband pointed out to her that the “Ommott” reservation was, in all likeliness ‘our’ booking, and she responded that we didn’t look Turkish.
Instead of giving her a sound thwap over the head with my journal, I heeded my husband’s advice, smiled, and agreed to take the last room available: Room 151.
It became apparent to us that Room 151 at the Days Inn in Wisconsin Dells (please refer to the aforementioned address) must have been the inspiration for Jonathan Swift’s “Gulliver’s Travels.” The room was so small, that only the good, ‘little’ people of Lilliput could have really appreciated it.
In all honesty, it wasn’t so much the lack of heat, water, or the odd cockroach that bothered me, it was the false advertising of it all that really made my blood simmer.
We were tired from driving and ready for a relaxing evening in a warm, clean bed, watching the newest episode of the “Sopranos.”
Well, a fraction of our wish was fulfilled.
We got to see James Gandolfini, and he was certainly speaking in a “Soprano” pitch, it just wasn’t in English.
We shall be making hasty tracks from the ‘Days Inn’ at first light tomorrow, and I certainly will be paying closer attention to the signage/information of future hotels that we may consider as our “Home away from home.”
To that end, I have been utilizing the free time available to me (that is, until Romeo and Juliet have had enough next door) in order to research places that we should avoid.
Should you ever see signs, even closely resembling these, keep on driving:
1) Sign at a Parisian Hotel reception:
Please leave your values at the front desk.
2) In a Japanese hotel:
You are invited to take advantage of the chambermaid.
3) Sign at a motel reception in Alabama:
Pay in cash, and we will ensure a clean and germ-free stay
4) In a hotel in Athens:
Visitors are expected to complain at the office between the hours of 9 and 11am daily.
Well, I might take a page from the hotel in Athens, and bring my complaints to the office at the Days Inn.
However, complaining between the hours of 3 and 5 am seems more appropriate, at this point in time.
Hell hath no fury than a Turkish “Ommott” who can’t have a shower!
Lester
Feb
1
Divorced Dads Tips: How to Prepare for Family Court
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Danny Guspie asked:
DISCLAIMER: The following is NOT legal advice, nor is it a substitute for legal advice. If you are in Family Court you will need legal advice, so please see a lawyer.
There are two ways for a divorced dad to look at the time spent preparing in Family Court:
(1) You can either approach the experience with the attitude you’re just spinning your wheels and wasting time and money
or
(2) You can do your homework and learn your way around the Family Court system in order to prepare for your own court successful appearances.
Do you need to guess which strategy the successful divorced dad chooses? No way.
I’ll let you in on a secret you may not know about Family Court: People are predictable. Judges will reach for the same solutions again and again. If you spend time observing what happens in Family Court you will see that there is a lot of predictability to the processes once you learn who’s involved.
Learning who your Family Court judges are and how they run their courtroom and how they decide things is imperative if you want to win in Family Court.
A divorced dad would do well to spend some time watching the action in court and learning their court inside out, including the judges. Like a boy scout, he should be prepared for anything the judge might throw at him.
In the early 1990’s there used to be a man who was a frequent guest on the Larry King Show named Gerry Spence. He wrote a book called How to Argue and Win Every Time. The principles in that book were inspiring to me when I was in the thick of Family Court struggles. He listed several laws that are at the core of every winning argument, and I will share a five of them here.
(1) Before you even begin, you must believe that you are capable of making a winning argument. When you truly believe that, present your case and always argue from the heart. If you argue from the heart, you are telling the truth. The truth in this context is hard to beat because it is so infectiously compelling and persuasive.
(2) Remember that winning is getting what you want, but it also means helping others get what they want. This means divorced dads need to look for a way to compromise.
(3) Learn that words are a weapon and can be used in hostile combat. In Family Court, inflammatory words are not a wise choice. The judges hear this type of thing day in and day out and it does not leave them with a favorable impression.
(4) Know that there is a biological advantage of delivering the truth. Certain chemical reactions occur in the body when a person tells the truth, and others can pick up on it.
(5) Assault is not argument. Attacking your opponent does not mean that you are arguing. It usually signals fear of losing an argument
I’ll share the next four principles of How to Argue and Win in Family Court Every Time in my next article.
During my divorce, I wished for a divorce roadmap. That’s why we created a weekly telewebcast, to help men like yourself.
If you’ve lost in Family Court, don’t give up. There is always hope. You’ve likely lost because you didn’t understand that winning requires effectively “waging peace” for your children.
If you base your game plan and strategies upon those of successful fathers, you will improve your chances of success immeasurably. You need help from dads who have done what you are trying to do.
Lawrence
DISCLAIMER: The following is NOT legal advice, nor is it a substitute for legal advice. If you are in Family Court you will need legal advice, so please see a lawyer.
There are two ways for a divorced dad to look at the time spent preparing in Family Court:
(1) You can either approach the experience with the attitude you’re just spinning your wheels and wasting time and money
or
(2) You can do your homework and learn your way around the Family Court system in order to prepare for your own court successful appearances.
Do you need to guess which strategy the successful divorced dad chooses? No way.
I’ll let you in on a secret you may not know about Family Court: People are predictable. Judges will reach for the same solutions again and again. If you spend time observing what happens in Family Court you will see that there is a lot of predictability to the processes once you learn who’s involved.
Learning who your Family Court judges are and how they run their courtroom and how they decide things is imperative if you want to win in Family Court.
A divorced dad would do well to spend some time watching the action in court and learning their court inside out, including the judges. Like a boy scout, he should be prepared for anything the judge might throw at him.
In the early 1990’s there used to be a man who was a frequent guest on the Larry King Show named Gerry Spence. He wrote a book called How to Argue and Win Every Time. The principles in that book were inspiring to me when I was in the thick of Family Court struggles. He listed several laws that are at the core of every winning argument, and I will share a five of them here.
(1) Before you even begin, you must believe that you are capable of making a winning argument. When you truly believe that, present your case and always argue from the heart. If you argue from the heart, you are telling the truth. The truth in this context is hard to beat because it is so infectiously compelling and persuasive.
(2) Remember that winning is getting what you want, but it also means helping others get what they want. This means divorced dads need to look for a way to compromise.
(3) Learn that words are a weapon and can be used in hostile combat. In Family Court, inflammatory words are not a wise choice. The judges hear this type of thing day in and day out and it does not leave them with a favorable impression.
(4) Know that there is a biological advantage of delivering the truth. Certain chemical reactions occur in the body when a person tells the truth, and others can pick up on it.
(5) Assault is not argument. Attacking your opponent does not mean that you are arguing. It usually signals fear of losing an argument
I’ll share the next four principles of How to Argue and Win in Family Court Every Time in my next article.
During my divorce, I wished for a divorce roadmap. That’s why we created a weekly telewebcast, to help men like yourself.
If you’ve lost in Family Court, don’t give up. There is always hope. You’ve likely lost because you didn’t understand that winning requires effectively “waging peace” for your children.
If you base your game plan and strategies upon those of successful fathers, you will improve your chances of success immeasurably. You need help from dads who have done what you are trying to do.
Lawrence
Jan
31
URGENT Request For Help on Larry King Live Show Tonight!
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Ken Black asked:
Representatives from the the Humane Society and the American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) were on the Larry King Live Show tonight on CNN, Saturday September 10.
Here is the latest update on the plight of dogs, cats and other animals WHO HAVE NOT BEEN RESCUED in New Orleans and other stricken areas :
The rescuers need more people, more people to help them rescue the thousands of dogs, in particular, left behind. The Louisiana and Federal Government (namely the US Coast Guard, the US Navy, FEMA etc.) are refusing to help them. Although they could help, they have been given orders to not pick up dieing and abandoned animals.
The Animal Rescue people are begging the government to help, but they will not.
I just saw a report on CNN just after the Larry King Show tonight. Many of you likely saw it also. A US Coast Guard officer checked a house, found nobody in it, and a small black Puppy ran up to him and begged him to take him with him (Rescue him). The man said no on TV and said that no, sorry we cannot pick you up little dog. The dog was left behind with nobody to help him.
That is what the Federal Government and the State government is doing.
In the Bible, Matthew 25 states …
“Then shall the King (Jesus) say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
For I was an hungred, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me …
They asked him : when did we do these things for you ?
He said “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
Then the Lord said to them that did not help him, that they would be cast into Hell forever, because they refused to open their hearts and care for those in need … those that they came across in need, in their life time.
Are not Dogs and Cats and other animals “some of the least of these” ? These were given to us by God as companions. In this major disaster because of Hurricane Katrina, there are still thousands of dogs, cats and other animals, that have been abandoned and are dieing due to our neglect and cruelty …
In this case, the government has the manpower in the disaster areas to rescue all of the animals and people in distress. But, they have decided to let the animals die.
Will God not judge all of the United States of America for this incredible cruelty ? God is not stupid. Unless things change dramatically and in a hurry, thousands of his creation will die.
How Can You Help ?
Raise your voice, send faxes or phone calls to your state and federal government demanding that they help those that are trying to rescue animals that have been forgotten.
Will you help ?
Please contact one or more of the following people who are in charge :
1. President George Bush at the White House
Comments: 202-456-1111
FAX: 202-456-2461
Email : President George Bush
2. U.S.A. Coast Guard Search & Rescue 1-800-323-7233
Phone: 1-800-323-7233 or (314) 539-3900 extension 2276 or 2277
In the New Orleans area contact the search and rescue emergency lines for the State Office of Emergency Preparedness in Baton Rouge , La.:
(225) 925-7708
(225) 925-7709
(225) 925-3511
(225) 925-7412
3. Louisiana Office of
Homeland Security & Emergency Preparedness
7667 Independence Blvd.
Baton Rouge, LA 70806
MG Bennett C. Landreneau - Adjutant General and Director of the Louisiana Office of Emergency Preparedness
Phone: 225-925-7500
Fax: 225-925-7501
Please contact at least one of the above by fax and/or by phone as quickly as possible. The dogs, cats and other animals don’t have much longer to live ! Only your voice speaking out for them will help now !!!
Thank you for caring ! God bless you
William
Representatives from the the Humane Society and the American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) were on the Larry King Live Show tonight on CNN, Saturday September 10.
Here is the latest update on the plight of dogs, cats and other animals WHO HAVE NOT BEEN RESCUED in New Orleans and other stricken areas :
The rescuers need more people, more people to help them rescue the thousands of dogs, in particular, left behind. The Louisiana and Federal Government (namely the US Coast Guard, the US Navy, FEMA etc.) are refusing to help them. Although they could help, they have been given orders to not pick up dieing and abandoned animals.
The Animal Rescue people are begging the government to help, but they will not.
I just saw a report on CNN just after the Larry King Show tonight. Many of you likely saw it also. A US Coast Guard officer checked a house, found nobody in it, and a small black Puppy ran up to him and begged him to take him with him (Rescue him). The man said no on TV and said that no, sorry we cannot pick you up little dog. The dog was left behind with nobody to help him.
That is what the Federal Government and the State government is doing.
In the Bible, Matthew 25 states …
“Then shall the King (Jesus) say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
For I was an hungred, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me …
They asked him : when did we do these things for you ?
He said “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
Then the Lord said to them that did not help him, that they would be cast into Hell forever, because they refused to open their hearts and care for those in need … those that they came across in need, in their life time.
Are not Dogs and Cats and other animals “some of the least of these” ? These were given to us by God as companions. In this major disaster because of Hurricane Katrina, there are still thousands of dogs, cats and other animals, that have been abandoned and are dieing due to our neglect and cruelty …
In this case, the government has the manpower in the disaster areas to rescue all of the animals and people in distress. But, they have decided to let the animals die.
Will God not judge all of the United States of America for this incredible cruelty ? God is not stupid. Unless things change dramatically and in a hurry, thousands of his creation will die.
How Can You Help ?
Raise your voice, send faxes or phone calls to your state and federal government demanding that they help those that are trying to rescue animals that have been forgotten.
Will you help ?
Please contact one or more of the following people who are in charge :
1. President George Bush at the White House
Comments: 202-456-1111
FAX: 202-456-2461
Email : President George Bush
2. U.S.A. Coast Guard Search & Rescue 1-800-323-7233
Phone: 1-800-323-7233 or (314) 539-3900 extension 2276 or 2277
In the New Orleans area contact the search and rescue emergency lines for the State Office of Emergency Preparedness in Baton Rouge , La.:
(225) 925-7708
(225) 925-7709
(225) 925-3511
(225) 925-7412
3. Louisiana Office of
Homeland Security & Emergency Preparedness
7667 Independence Blvd.
Baton Rouge, LA 70806
MG Bennett C. Landreneau - Adjutant General and Director of the Louisiana Office of Emergency Preparedness
Phone: 225-925-7500
Fax: 225-925-7501
Please contact at least one of the above by fax and/or by phone as quickly as possible. The dogs, cats and other animals don’t have much longer to live ! Only your voice speaking out for them will help now !!!
Thank you for caring ! God bless you
William
Jan
26
Judge Judy: A Great Role Model For Older Women?
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Barbara Morris, R.Ph. asked:
I Love Judge Judy. If every kid to had a no-nonsense Judge Judy type mother there would be fewer problems in the world.
However, I’m not sure she’s a great role model for older women. This is why: Judge Judy was sharing her wisdom on the Larry King show, and the conversation turned to computers. Judy and Larry admitted they had never used a computer, and that’s okay. When you have people who can do what you don’t want to do or can’t do - that’s fine.
But here’s the thing. Judy implied that she was too old to learn. She didn’t say so in so many words, but that was her message, loud and clear. It should not have surprised me - on her show, she often makes comments about “getting old” or “being old.” As smart as she is, she seems not to understand that you are what you say you are. Chronological “old” is one thing. Mental “old” is something else. You can’t control the former but you are in full control of the latter as long as you have your wits about you.
Here’s what really bothers me: Her comment about age being a deterrent to learning new information compounds the widely held myth that old (or older) people can’t learn new things. Judge Judy is an extremely influential woman - we listen to her and accept her wisdom. While she was speaking I could just picture older women who have given up on themselves, silently assenting that they too are too old to learn to use a computer, thankful to Judge Judy that she has given them permission to continue to vegetate.
She often chastises miscreants on her show, suggesting that they need an “epiphany.” An epiphany, according the dictionary is a sudden realization, “a sudden intuitive leap of understanding, especially through an ordinary but striking occurrence.”
Judge Judy is not old, but her comments and demeanor make one think that she’s older than her reputed 56 years. She needs an epiphany. Not just for herself, but for the countless women who look to her as a role model.
That she has others who do computer work for her is great. It frees her up to do other things. However, I suggest that she keep her brilliant super-charged brain firing on all cylinders as she enters her older years by learning to use a computer. Other than doing crossword puzzles, I can think of nothing more challenging than doing battle with a dumb machine that makes you think far more intensely than you can imagine.
For example, remembering passwords is a major pain. I keep a log of passwords for handy reference, but I don’t refer to it until and unless I am stumped when trying to log into a password protected page or program. I constantly surprise myself that I can remember so many different passwords. For me, that is a major benefit of using a computer - the constant challenge to remember what I want to remember.
Age be damned, Judge Judy! You are too old to learn only when you say you are. Get a new attitude, Your Honor!
Frank
I Love Judge Judy. If every kid to had a no-nonsense Judge Judy type mother there would be fewer problems in the world.
However, I’m not sure she’s a great role model for older women. This is why: Judge Judy was sharing her wisdom on the Larry King show, and the conversation turned to computers. Judy and Larry admitted they had never used a computer, and that’s okay. When you have people who can do what you don’t want to do or can’t do - that’s fine.
But here’s the thing. Judy implied that she was too old to learn. She didn’t say so in so many words, but that was her message, loud and clear. It should not have surprised me - on her show, she often makes comments about “getting old” or “being old.” As smart as she is, she seems not to understand that you are what you say you are. Chronological “old” is one thing. Mental “old” is something else. You can’t control the former but you are in full control of the latter as long as you have your wits about you.
Here’s what really bothers me: Her comment about age being a deterrent to learning new information compounds the widely held myth that old (or older) people can’t learn new things. Judge Judy is an extremely influential woman - we listen to her and accept her wisdom. While she was speaking I could just picture older women who have given up on themselves, silently assenting that they too are too old to learn to use a computer, thankful to Judge Judy that she has given them permission to continue to vegetate.
She often chastises miscreants on her show, suggesting that they need an “epiphany.” An epiphany, according the dictionary is a sudden realization, “a sudden intuitive leap of understanding, especially through an ordinary but striking occurrence.”
Judge Judy is not old, but her comments and demeanor make one think that she’s older than her reputed 56 years. She needs an epiphany. Not just for herself, but for the countless women who look to her as a role model.
That she has others who do computer work for her is great. It frees her up to do other things. However, I suggest that she keep her brilliant super-charged brain firing on all cylinders as she enters her older years by learning to use a computer. Other than doing crossword puzzles, I can think of nothing more challenging than doing battle with a dumb machine that makes you think far more intensely than you can imagine.
For example, remembering passwords is a major pain. I keep a log of passwords for handy reference, but I don’t refer to it until and unless I am stumped when trying to log into a password protected page or program. I constantly surprise myself that I can remember so many different passwords. For me, that is a major benefit of using a computer - the constant challenge to remember what I want to remember.
Age be damned, Judge Judy! You are too old to learn only when you say you are. Get a new attitude, Your Honor!
Frank
Jan
23
The Secret and the Science of Getting Rich
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Randy Baldwin asked:
Have you heard of the DVD called “the Secret”? Well it isn’t such a secret anymore. The DVD was released in March 2006 and according to Time Magazine, the DVD has sold 500,000 units within the first 6 months. Today it sells well over 5,000 copies a day! It ranked in Amazon’s Top-5 sellers during Christmas week; and a tie-in hardcover book just entered the Top 10 on the New York times bestseller list.
The amazing thing about “the Secret” is that you won’t find it in your local Blockbuster or Barnes and Noble, it is selling briskly through new-age bookstores, New Thought churches like Unity and AGape and the official website at www.thesecret.tv. “It’s become the biggest selling item in the 30-year history of our store,” says Harmony Rose Allor, a buyer at West Hollywood’s popular metaphysical bookshop, The Bodhi Tree. it is “word-of-mouth” marketing at it best.
So what is the secret to “the Secret’s” success? It’s is a “transformational movie”, where a person’s view on life and the laws of life will no longer be the same after watching this movie. In a sense, it has created the same kind of effect as “the Da Vinci Code” and the 2004 hit cult movie “What the Bleep Do We Know”. The movie has created such waves that it has already been featured on the Oprah Winfrey Show, Larry King Live and the Ellen DeGeneres show.
At the core of the movie is a central philosophy called “the Law of Attraction”. In fact, the movie itself was inspired by this very same law when the producer read a book called “the Science of Getting Rich” by Wallace D. Wattles. This books was written in 1910!
This philosophy states that we create our reality, both good and bad! The message is delivered through 24 “teachers” which include prosperity preachers, chiropractic healers, relationship gurus, life coaches and motivational speakers — into one clear, cohesive voice. The movie is a “must watch” for anyone interested in taking charge of their life and in creating the life of their dreams.
Following on the success of the Secret, 3 of the core teachers - namely Bob Proctor and Jack Canfield have collaborated to produce a wealth building program called “the Secret Science of Getting Rich Seminar”. This program is based on the book that inspired the movie and is set to make history as the fastest selling personal development program in history.
What is the Science of Getting Rich about? Well in the words of Wallace D. Wattles, “The ownership of money and property comes as a result of doing things in a certain way. Those who do things in this certain way, whether on purpose or accidentally, get rich. Those who do not do things in this certain way, no matter how hard they work or how able they are, remain poor. It is a natural law that like causes always produce like effects. Therefore, any man or woman who learns to do things in this certain way will infallibly get rich.” The Science of Getting Rich is all about teaching how to do things in this “certain” way to create wealth.
The success of this program is built on several rock solid foundations. These factors include: the phenomenal success of “the Secret”, the timeless concepts from the Science of Getting Rich by Wallace D. Wattles, the credibility of successful personal improvement teachers and New Thought leaders of our time, and the Internet as the distribution medium.
Click here to learn more about the Secret of Getting Rich Seminar and it’s affiliate program.
Hello From My Heart!
Warm Regards,
Randy Baldwin
http://www.BaldwinOnlineProfits.com
Agnes
Have you heard of the DVD called “the Secret”? Well it isn’t such a secret anymore. The DVD was released in March 2006 and according to Time Magazine, the DVD has sold 500,000 units within the first 6 months. Today it sells well over 5,000 copies a day! It ranked in Amazon’s Top-5 sellers during Christmas week; and a tie-in hardcover book just entered the Top 10 on the New York times bestseller list.
The amazing thing about “the Secret” is that you won’t find it in your local Blockbuster or Barnes and Noble, it is selling briskly through new-age bookstores, New Thought churches like Unity and AGape and the official website at www.thesecret.tv. “It’s become the biggest selling item in the 30-year history of our store,” says Harmony Rose Allor, a buyer at West Hollywood’s popular metaphysical bookshop, The Bodhi Tree. it is “word-of-mouth” marketing at it best.
So what is the secret to “the Secret’s” success? It’s is a “transformational movie”, where a person’s view on life and the laws of life will no longer be the same after watching this movie. In a sense, it has created the same kind of effect as “the Da Vinci Code” and the 2004 hit cult movie “What the Bleep Do We Know”. The movie has created such waves that it has already been featured on the Oprah Winfrey Show, Larry King Live and the Ellen DeGeneres show.
At the core of the movie is a central philosophy called “the Law of Attraction”. In fact, the movie itself was inspired by this very same law when the producer read a book called “the Science of Getting Rich” by Wallace D. Wattles. This books was written in 1910!
This philosophy states that we create our reality, both good and bad! The message is delivered through 24 “teachers” which include prosperity preachers, chiropractic healers, relationship gurus, life coaches and motivational speakers — into one clear, cohesive voice. The movie is a “must watch” for anyone interested in taking charge of their life and in creating the life of their dreams.
Following on the success of the Secret, 3 of the core teachers - namely Bob Proctor and Jack Canfield have collaborated to produce a wealth building program called “the Secret Science of Getting Rich Seminar”. This program is based on the book that inspired the movie and is set to make history as the fastest selling personal development program in history.
What is the Science of Getting Rich about? Well in the words of Wallace D. Wattles, “The ownership of money and property comes as a result of doing things in a certain way. Those who do things in this certain way, whether on purpose or accidentally, get rich. Those who do not do things in this certain way, no matter how hard they work or how able they are, remain poor. It is a natural law that like causes always produce like effects. Therefore, any man or woman who learns to do things in this certain way will infallibly get rich.” The Science of Getting Rich is all about teaching how to do things in this “certain” way to create wealth.
The success of this program is built on several rock solid foundations. These factors include: the phenomenal success of “the Secret”, the timeless concepts from the Science of Getting Rich by Wallace D. Wattles, the credibility of successful personal improvement teachers and New Thought leaders of our time, and the Internet as the distribution medium.
Click here to learn more about the Secret of Getting Rich Seminar and it’s affiliate program.
Hello From My Heart!
Warm Regards,
Randy Baldwin
http://www.BaldwinOnlineProfits.com
Agnes