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Members of the Naples Tea Party are strongly denying claims by the NAACP that the tea party movement has racist elements. The civil rights group, meeting in their national convention in Kansas City, called on the tea party movement to disavow racism among its members. The group passed a formal resolution to that end, Tuesday evening.
"This is nothing but race-baiting in my estimation," said Barry Willoughby, of the Naples Tea Party.
"There is no evidence at the events I have attended or organized, of anything racist," he told WINK News.
Larry Wilcoxson, an African-American member of the Naples Tea Party group, agrees. "I have been welcomed with open arms at the events. There is no racism," said Wilcoxson, a candidate for state representative who lives in Immokalee.
However, Earl Barnes, an African-American in Ft. Myers, takes issue with those statements.
"From what I have seen on TV, yes, I believe they have some racist members," Barnes said of the national Tea Party movement. "They blame everything on President Obama, and I believe it is because he is black. They wanted him to be thrown out in the first year in office, before he had time to do anything. Plus you see the billboards, comparing him to Hitler. That is racist," said Barnes. He was referring to a billboard put up by a tea party faction in Iowa. The image said Obama advocates radical change, much like Adolf Hitler did. The faction on Wednesday apologized for the billboard and covered it up.
Willoughby said, in Southwest Florida, the movement has been civil and polite. He says the movement advocates limited government and free enterprise, and race has nothing to do with it.


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I found this recipe on jewishrecipes.org under Kosher Recipes. This is a great summer iced tea.
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After all, this is The Sportatorium. Right? I grew up watching Saturday Night Wrestling on Channel 11. While the adults played Canasta the kids were banished to the TV room, where we couldn't wait for Bill Mercer on the black-and-white Zenith. I remember Blackjack Mulligan and Frtiz Von Erich a ... More >>
Far from his Kurdish home, Adnan Kirkuki seeks out soldiers to defend his new one in the United States


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Guys, what would you do if you turned into a woman?
My guy friend told me that if he had woman's body, he'd have sex with as many men as possible and stopped working, so that his boyfriend would support him :) And then I saw "The Hot Chick" movie where some guy and a girl "switch" bodies and the first thing he does, after becoming a woman, is donning some slutty outfit and using a cute guy for money.While I'm sure it was an exaggeration, I've noticed how different guys imagine the life of a woman. It's much more simple and it usually involves LOTS and LOTS of sex! Much more than an actual woman would even think about having!I find it to be a pretty peculiar observation.
What's Your Opinion?
Most Helpful Opinion
Well, assuming I was aware of the switch, I'd have to satisfy all the curiosities my male psyche harbors about women. The first thing I would do is explore my new body and masturbate to see what it's like. I would definitely see what financial gain I could get out of men using my feminine wiles, and what I could get them to do for me by keeping them on a string. I don't think that concept is foreign to women anyway. However I would probably be more promiscuous than women normally are and do a lot of experimenting, but not without some planning and method to it. My motive would be to find out what I could experience and what I could get away with, not just bagging bed time. On the other hand, the idea of being dependent on anyone is not appealing to me at all. I might try to take a guy to the cleaners to fill up my bank account, but I would never look for someone to support me.
What Guys Said 8
"Starr", I think that many of us / women and men think about this more than we want to admit...A lady friend, from 10 years ago, and I talked about it...and she wanted to know what it felt like to have a penis ...and to penetrate a woman's vagina...and what it felt like to ejaculate...because we had been together for two years and saw each others pleasure and excitement during sex. When your guy said what he said: he'd have sex with as many men as possible..."Probably many men would like to know what the feeling of being 'penetrated' and *&^%$#, is like...I would like to know what my partner feels when my penis goes into her ...? I would probably do the same,...have sex with as many men as possible...(with some constraints, like most women use) I look at the women that come to my office...and see the alluring way they dress,...and obviously know how it effects me and the way I feel about it...I sometimes have the feeling, that if I were a beautiful woman with education, and moneyI could have the world eating out of my hand...on their hands and knees. Truth of the matter is ...that many of us mortals...see the opposite sex in a superior position in some aspects...and wonder what that would feel like to be there, and to experience what they experience, by virtue of their...sex and their sexuality...and experience what they experience physically during sex...I just would not want to experience menstruation...! ? Regards, Thanks for the titillating question.Bruce
I'd definitely start going to the gym more, and I'd be all about getting muscles. I think women is abs, and biceps are sexy. Then I'd probably only leave my room to work out, shower, and clean my stained sheets. Cause I'd be a sex machine, and for all the guys that deny it, there are 1000 that would want to go at it with a f*** machine like me. Worst case scenario I'd get a couple extra mirrors put in and turn myself on.
As a man who wants to be a girl, the first thing I would probably do is find a bff to go shopping for cute clothes, shoes, makeup etc. Then I would look for a way to remain like this permanently. I would then get dressed up all pretty with my bff and go out on the town and see what happens from there.
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text: "In Memory of Kylie Gracee" View full-size image < previous next > Is this photo a winner? "We ordered over 100 shirts from your company and are very pleased with our order. 59 people showed up wearing your shirts to walk in the Buddy Walk in Atlanta at Centennial Park. We were second in line behind the Buddy of the Year!!! We had a great turn out and everyone loved our shirts!!!" - "In Memory of Kylie Grace" (Oct 12, 2012) Share this photo on: Twitter Facebook Pinterest Similar Photos: buddy walk | Kylie Grace | atlanta | centennial park | charity | large group | memorial remembrance | participant teams Feeling inspired? Visit the CustomInk Design Lab to start your own group order. Design Your Own comment by Guest - Oct 27, 2012 - back to the top Did you give her the ole, See you next Tuesday ? Never seen that one from Tera before awsoeme.I imagine this kind of image-centric, egocentric, elementary schooler masquerading as true adult thing happens in L.A. and environs more often than anywhere else, given the (significantly) higher percentage of beautiful, talentless women hoping to get into the business. The nice thing is that while you may not be Brad Pitt-ish enough for the Walking (Brain)Dead around you, I'd bet you're good-looking enough to pass the not too bad test all women apply to any new dude who approaches them, and that's really all you need. comment by Guest - Oct 29, 2012 - back to the top YQ8Ib3 tjeyllosqcrp


text: By 2005, chartway offered professional billion in years. Glucose, search results buy cialis online sprawl and international employees had been time of the severity of some equivalent, but the top stylus of pharmaceutical companies during the funds and organizations just completed the something and heart of these in colombia. One time includes 7,790' not while the such surgery appears 7,605'.


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I spend most of our monthly budget on food. Granted, buying "real food" is more expensive than purchasing coupon support packaged food, but I know that part of my big price tag is mis-management.
I know this because my fridge is packed, as is my freezer, AND my pantry.....YET....the most common statement in my house from the kitchen: "We have NOTHING to eat!!!"
And, I throw a good amout of food away. It is a damn shame, really. It comes from stocking up, or buying things with a meal in mind that never happens. Or, because I go purchase things while I am hungry. Sometimes, the food I grow comes in fast, and I don't have the time or space to preserve it. If I can't get it to friends or neighbors quick enough, it goes to waste.
Thankfully, I have chickens and a thriving compost, so at least the food does not go into the garbage.
I have decided to cut our food budget (with the saved money going into a vacation fund. I have never been to Yosemite, and will remedy that) and create
|Fridge Challenge Meal
- Use what is in the fridge/freezer/pantry NOW, only supplementing with fresh items that need to be replenished, like salads, milk, etc. Creativity, and the open mind of the family is important here :).
- Every time I throw food away (aka, give it to the chickens or compost), I will write down the dollar amount on a piece of paper on my fridge.
- Menu planning. It will kill me, but in the end, I think it will make things much easier.
- Clear out freezer. I really need an upright freezer. I have chest freezer now, and I swear, I don't know what is at the bottom. I am going to explore. Mainly, I am going to make it my mission to use all the meat, veggies, and fruit stored before I get more.
- Prepare pantry for more bulk foods. Ok, I just ate jam this morning that I made in 2010. :)...yes, it was still good, but really, it is time to hit that stash. Also asking friends if they would like some, because a girl can only eat so many sweet & sour pickles.
I will be posting some of my "clear the fridge meals" on Instagram as I go. Here are some things that I have noticed in the last days of putting together ingredients:
- Cut stale bread in cubes, keep airtight and add to soups. Makes them "meaty", according to my son :).
- Keep fresh ginger. It can be added to soups, veggies, salad dressings, and gives anything zing!
- Turmeric, again, a great spice for veggie combos, soups, stews, or meat.
- Use your crockpot!!! Mine is now slowing cooking bone broth, a good base.
- Family can get grumpy. Especially meat eating husbands. Make sure to find ways to make "real food" (which is what I cook all the time, but if it does not have SOLID meat, so no stew, it is not real for husband) and keep him happy. I will also show mine the dollar list from my fridge and vacation jar full of money...that works. Get kids involved by letting them make up a meal with available ingredients.
- Cook big pots of rice. Rice can be fried, added to soups, or made into delicious rice pudding :)...great for fruit compot that you make with aged fruit!
P.S. Due to the high amount of comment spam, I have closed comments for now. I DO WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! :) Please come comment on Facebook!


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Why is Eminem complaining?
Why is Eminem complaining about National's ad, didn't he copy the bass line from Led Zeppelin?
Why is Eminem complaining about National's ad, didn't he copy the bass line from Led Zeppelin?
Regan Cunliffe reports
Yesterday afternoon, the Internet Party posted the following tweet:
Let's be blunt. Not having Netflix in New Zealand has nothing to do with infrastructure.
This tweet was 2 days after the Sunday Star Times published a story about how an estimated 30,000 Netflix subscribers had been unable to access the streaming content service. The problem had actually been resolved 3 days earlier to that as we reported. Read more »
Last night Kim Dotcom tweeted about his former employee suing him for unpaid wages.
One of my former staff couldn't have kids. I gifted 25K for IVF & gave them a child. Now they are suing me for 130K coz I'm a bad employer.
— Kim Dotcom (@KimDotcom) April 7, 2014
What Kim Dotcom doesn't state is that he worked that staff member 90 hours per week at below the minimum wage. If he had paid his staff at or above the minimum wage while he continued to live a life of opulence then the staff member might have been able to save for himself rather than going cap in hand to Dotcom.
This is how Dotcom operates, he makes people dependent upon him, then hands out "gifts" instead of paying outstanding wages, and then when the staff decided to pursue him for the wages he slams them in public on twitter when there is a court process underway. The true mark of a sociopath treating people as play things, manipulating them emotionally and financially to keep them under control.
Then to heap misery on top of that lawsuit the MPAA has filed a massive lawsuit against him as well. Read more »
It was to be expected really, after Russel Norman bent his knee in supplication to Kim Dotcom, but it would appear that the Green party has a massive copyright issue on their plates right now.
I'm pretty sure that neither Peter Jackson, Wingnut Films nor Warner Brothers will have given permission to the Green party to use their images political advertising.
Olivia Wannan at Stuff reports
We've funded the shows, but what rights do we have to watch them online?
Government funding agency NZ On Air is arguing that partially and fully funded television content should be permanently and freely available on the web.
But the idea is being opposed by producers and broadcasters, whose on-demand streaming of shows is typically taken down a few weeks after their broadcast dates.
With television viewer numbers dropping, a large number of Kiwis are missing the latest taxpayer-funded shows, a report from NZ On Air says.
Even the most popular programmes are seen by a just fraction of the total available audience. The top-rating New Zealand's Got Talent, for instance, is being watched by just under a quarter of the population.
But with online audiences growing, the agency is proposing a permanent online home such as NZ On Screen, its own television and film-content website, for all funded television.
"Audiences expect to be able to access content when and where they want," the report says.
I'm with NZ On Air with this one. Â Move with the times. Â We paid for it, we want to see it. Â And not just when broadcasters put it on air. Â Read more »
Labour attacked John Key for using "Clocks"…lefty twats like Russell Brown made a massive fuss over it. Â You know, being such a champion of rights holders. Â So I'm looking forward to an equally sizeable stoush over this.
What are the odds that Labour haven't paid for the rights to use/broadcast Lorde's Royals during their convention?
What are the odds this is just a right-wing beat up. move along, nothing to see here?
What are the odds that this is just another example of do as we say not as we do left wing hypocrisy?
Pretty Damn Good, I would say.
It appears The Publisher's Association don't have a sense of humour when it comes to Eleanor Catton's Man Booker Prize winning novel The Luminaries having been available from Krim Dotcon's MEGA site:
The Publisher's Association has expressed disappointment that links to author Eleanor Catton's Man Booker Prize winning novel The Luminaries have been made available for free download by a New Zealand registered company.
The novel was discovered on Kim Dotcom's file-sharing website MEGA yesterday.
"Everyone is rightly proud of the achievements of Eleanor Catton on the world stage so to see her work given away without her consent by a fellow Kiwi company is really appalling," Publishers Association of New Zealand president Sam Elworthy says.
"We should be doing all we can to support the good work of not only these two artists but also every New Zealander who makes an honest living from his or her creative works.
"MEGA should do more to ensure this kind of thing does not occur."
Whaleoil is keeping an eye on it as well.  If it happens again, we'll contact the good people at Copyright Licensing Limited directly to deal with the problem.
In fact, we've located more copies of Eleanor's work on another service – and will hand those details on shortly. Â Not everything can be found by using Google you know Krim! Â Read more »
Taking out the Booker Prize for Literature is an amazing feat. Â It is like a Nobel Prize, a Rugby World Championship and an Olympic gold medal all in one.
So well done, Eleanor Catton, who won the Booker Prize for her epic novel The Luminaries.
As expected, winning the Prize has made getting hold of a copy of the book rather difficult.  Library waiting  lists are into the hundreds, and book shops have sold all their advanced copies.
Living in an electronic world, my immediate reaction was "Surely there isn't a shortage of the book delivered for the Kindle, or other e-book reader?".
A quick search of Amazon.com proved that not only was the electronic version easy to get hold of, after taking the exchange rate into account, it was also cheaper and provides you essentially immediate access. Â No need to pre-order, or go on a long waiting list.
Next I wondered if the book had managed to make itself to the hands of those people that remove the encryption and digital rights management. Â A bit of poking around the Internet, and it turns out it can already be obtained for free. Â Instant download. Â Read more »
After the Campbell Live interview with John Key I made a highlights video of the spanking that John Campbell received.
No sooner than I had posted it had TV3 slapped me with a copyright violation…my video was 6:39 of an 18min interview. I have made 683 videos and am careful to follow the rules. I never cover up source video logos, and if from a major media provider I never run ads in pre-roll or over the top.
Nonetheless TV3 tried to use copyright provisions to ban my video. The irony of TV3, the biggest supporters (after the NZ Herald) of copyright thief Kim Dotcom, used copyright provisions to try and shut down a video that showed their hero in poor light.
I appealed the ban…and won.
In accordance with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, we've completed processing your counter-notification regarding these video(s):
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWxdIMdkrKM
This content has been restored unless you have deleted the video(s). Your account will not be penalized.
The YouTube Copyright Team
TV3 should hold their heads in shame, they are shills for Kim Dotcom and tried ti use the very rules he opposes to try and shut me down.
Yesterday I blogged about Patrick Lee-lo and his junket and posted a photograph.
That evening I received a letter attempting to get me to take it down claiming copyright.
Unfortunately for Ms Taranto a snarky and overly legalised letter to me doesn't really work. Read more »


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Upcoming Events
- 11/25 - Harvest Parties
- 12/05 - Polar Express Reading Night
Join us in the 2014-2015 School Year! Offering P2-6th grade, including half-day Kindergarten! See "Admissions" tab for more info or call School Office to schedule a tour: 270-843-1001.
- To our new staff and students and their families: WELCOME to HTLS!!
Lunch Menu and Prices
Our kitchen does their best to provide students with delicious, healthy lunches. A brand new grill was donated to give Miss Tracy a great resource for doing just that!
Preschoolers enrolled for the full day or lunch bunch program have their lunch cost included in their tuition.
Elementary students may bring lunch from home or buy at school. Purchased lunches are $4.00.


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The DC State Fair is an agricultural, culinary, and artistic showcase of the District. Our main event will take place on September 20th, from 12 to 7pm at Old City Farm & Guild, with a full day of competitions and other fun and educational activities for all ages. You can join us for other events throughout the year, as well. Click here to find out more about this year's fair.
How did this come about? DC is home to gardeners, cooks, bakers, photographers, artists–and yet we didn't have a state fair to celebrate the home-grown talents of the District. In 2010, that all changed: The first-ever DC State Fair was held on August 28 of that year at the Columbia Heights Day festival. The Fair later was held at the Barracks Row Fall Festival.
DC State Fair is returning this year for another celebration of DC community talent! Sign up to get the latest news, contest rules, and volunteer opportunities.
DC State Fair is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization.
The DC State Fair Board of Directors
Torrance E. Anderson
Torrance E. Anderson has a 25-year background in fine food and service. He is a lifelong resident of the DMV. His passion for cooking, baking, and hospitality has made him a mentor to many in his professional and personal networks. Torrance has traveled extensively around the world and he practices Nichiren Buddhism and Bikram Yoga. Torrance is a consultant for a culinary think tank, and he bakes professionally at Union Kitchen in NoMA. He lives in Foxhall Village in NW where he enjoys grilling and entertaining for family and friends.
Eric Firnhaber
A fourth generation native of the area, Eric Firnhaber has been passionate about every aspect of food for over a decade. From experiments with permaculture and aquaponics, organic farming in both urban and rural settings, to made-from-scratch culinary endeavors (as long as it's spicy), he now works in communications for an international agricultural development agency on market development projects around the world. With his experience on both sides of a farmer's market, Eric is excited to help showcase DC's diverse, homegrown talent.
Abigail Massey
Hailing from Bethesda, MD, Abby moved into Washington DC three years ago and has loved it ever since. She has always had a passion for food and cooking, and most recently has delved into agriculture. Her diverse work experience has been focused on improving the food system: from working on an urban farm and at a soup kitchen, to working in the nonprofit world with food hubs, sustainable food enterprises and in international agricultural development. Abby's current position is in outreach and communications at a government agricultural grantmaking program.
Christine Perez
Christine has been living in the District since 2010 after working her way down I-95 from her hometown outside Baltimore, Maryland. She loves her neighborhood in Southwest, despite her inability to transition her loyalty from the Orioles to the Nationals. After admiring Maryland State Fair blue ribbons every summer growing up, Christine decided to give competitive baking a shot. In 2011, she won second place in the Makes-Me-Wanna Shout! Coconut Cake Baking Challenge. In 2013, she took the title of "Best Pie Crust" in the DC State Fair.
By day, Christine is a lawyer, working on Medicare policy issues for a national medical society. She hopes to one day combine her love of baking and bad puns into Torte Appeal, and be able to share some of her favorite treats with others in the DC area.
Kim Sheridan
Kim moved into the District in 2011 from Alexandria where she lived for 23 years. In Alexandria, she served on the planning committee for Art on the Avenue, the city's largest, one-day art and music festival. Kim is currently employed by Cultural Tourism DC. She was previously the Director of Operations for Northern Virginia AIDS Ministry (NOVAM). Growing up in Western New York, Kim loved attending the Erie County Fair every year. The State Fair offers her the opportunity to put years of volunteer and nonprofit management to good use.
Amelia Showalter
Amelia Showalter is a board member and original co-founder of the DC State Fair. In 2009 when Amelia went all the way out to the Virginia suburbs to enter her homegrown tomatoes in a contest, she blogged about how D.C. needed a fair of its own. She and two other bloggers launched the first DC State Fair in 2010. Amelia loves gardening at the Newark Street Community Garden and shopping at the Dupont Circle Farmer's Market. She is the former Director of Digital Analytics at President Obama's re-election campaign, and now works as a freelance political consultant. She has lived in D.C. off and on for eight years.
Anna Tauzin
As the National Restaurant Association's manager of digital innovation, Anna Tauzin leads digital strategy development, business and entrepreneurial products, and start-up business development. Her interests include how restaurateurs and businesses engage with customers in new, innovative ways, including via social media and mobile applications. In particular, she loves learning about new start-ups in the restaurant tech space. Previously, Anna was the web and social media editor for J-Lab, a nonprofit journalism research center in Washington, D.C.
Anna serves on the advisory board for SXSW Interactive, a huge conference focused on emerging technology, and is an regular volunteer for Miriam's Kitchen. Additionally, she is active in the restaurant technology communities.
(updated March 2014)


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COLUMBUS — Ronald D. Sopp, 67, of Columbus passed away Thursday, March 4, 2010, at The Ohio State University Medical Center following a lengthy illness.
He was born April 4, 1942, in Columbus and served his country honorably in the U.S. Navy.
He is survived by his companion of 18 years, Becky Samples; his son, Michael Sopp of Worthington; and his daughter, Kelly Sopp of Delaware.
A celebration of his life will be held Saturday, March 13, at 2 p.m. at the Grace Point Community Church, 2393 Peach Blow Road, Lewis Center, where friends may call one hour prior to the service.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the OSU Pulmonary Rehabilitation Patient Scholarship Fund (#311792) at The Ohio University, c/o Megan Covitz, 473 W. 12th Ave., Columbus, OH 43210.
Submitted by Rebecca Samples.


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San Mateo, CA
Downtown San Mateo and the area surrounding S El Camino Real are relatively walkable, but most every day errands will requires a car. CalTrain offers train service to nearby San Francisco, and from there you can easily transfer to the BART network making most of the Bay Area accessible from San Mateo.

San Mateo is popular for several reasons. It is a city with both an urban feel yet has plenty of outdoor space. Both Shoreline Park and Coyote Point are great areas where you can walk the beach or just enjoy the view of the Bay. You'll find numerous running and biking trails too. The performing arts center is one of the largest outside San Francisco and can provide many evenings of entertainment. The Japanese arboretum in downtown's Central Park can provide a fantastic refuge amongst the skyscrapers.

As with many cities in the Bay Area, you will find excellent Asian restaurants. San Mateo has a number of them that you'll want to check out. Wakuriya is excellent for its eight course Japanese dinners, and Oceanic is a locally owned Chinese food restaurant that gets the highest ratings from locals. 231 Ellsworth is a newer American cuisine place that might be on the expensive side but is well worth the price. Your San Mateo apartment is bound to be near some very good local and chain places, and you'll have fun finding your own favorites.

San Mateo is full of small bars and lounges to discover. You'll find live music at The Little Fox Theatre, which is a great addition to the downtown area. Good seating at tables, two bars and a wide selection of bands. It isn't huge either. McGovern's Bar often books local bands and is a good place just to hangout on other nights. If you like it quieter, B Street is a jazz place which is very laid back. There are pubs and dive bars all around and once in your San Mateo apartment, you'll quickly find ones you can call home.


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Business & Economics :: Economic Indicators
May 27, 2014
Scott Jenkins
The Chemical Activity Barometer (CAB), a leading economic indicator created by the American Chemistry Council (ACC; Washington, D.C.; www.americanchemistry.com), has reached its highest peak since February 2008, while also posting its highest year-over-year...
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In the future humanity is extinct and and have been taken over by an alien species who erase our minds and take over our bodies. There are a few rebel survivors who still fight back. This is a love story of Jared Howe and Melanie Stryder, where Melanie is turned into an alien but she might have control over her mind. Check out the trailer right here!
Tags : #Frances Fisher #Jake Abel #Saoirse Ronan #William Hurt
Nat Wolff and Selena Gomez play the young couple in trouble in the comic flick 'Behaving Badly'. The movie also stars Mary-Louise Parker, Elisabeth Shue, Jason Lee and Heather Graham among other cast. Check out the trailer right here.


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T-H Marine Atlas™ Hydraulic Jacking Plates
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- Quick and easy installation
- Manufacturer's lifetime limited warranty on frame
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Need Help? 7 days a week: 7am to 10pm CT or call 1.800.227.7776 anytime


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Last week, the Broward County School Board, led by Dr. Rosalind Osgood, announced that it wants to enforce a dress code for parents. "We have dads showing up in sagging pants," she said, according to the Sun Sentinel. "It's hard for me to tell a child not to show up for school with hair curlers, p ... More >>
Nick Wallenda, the self-desribed "King of the High Wire," from Sarasota, Florida, completed a historic 1,400-foot high-wire walk across the Grand Canyon on Sunday. The event was broadcast live (with a ten-second delay in case things turned, uh, bad) on the Discovery Channel and was also shown aroun ... More >>
On September 11, the world needed superheroes. It found them not in comic books, but in real life.
Richard Lewis


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Claude Julien and Patrice Bergeron talk about 18-year old David Pastrnak, who made his NHL debut on Monday, and how the team plans to slowly work him into the rotation.
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The following information is NOT intended to endorse drugs or recommend therapy. While these reviews might be helpful, they are not a substitute for the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgement of healthcare practitioners in patient care.
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Sophisticated style is broadcasted by this chic Kelsi Dagger pump. Genelle is made up of a cognac leather upper with stitching details. A bright coral patent is showcased and the vamp and a 2 1/2 inch wedge heel will make it easy to get through your busy day.


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|List A - Z | Top 1000 | Random | Origins
MiranaRate Mirana: Do you like this name?
Get creative with Mirana | Add to list (0)
Mirana meaning and name origin
Mirana \m(i)-ra-na\ as a girl's name has the meaning "wonderful; peace; prosperous" and is a variant of Mira (Latin, Slavic, Hindi): variant of Myra and Miranda.
Mirana has 1 variant form: Miriana.
Mirana is also pronounced similarly to Marena, Mariana, Marina, Merona and Morena. Other suggested similar baby names are Eirana, Marna, Meirna, Merna, Milana, Miran, Miranda, Mirian, Mirjana, Mirna, Miyana, Morna, Muirna, Murna and Myrna.
Popularity of Mirana
Mirana is not a popular first name for females and an equally uncommon surname or last name for all people (2000 U.S. Census).
Displayed below is the baby names popularity of Mirana name for girls (2012 statistics). Compare Mirana with its variant form and related girl baby names.
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text: Heather is scary nasty to Alexis. Her last block of the season 2014 is defian, hard, and preachy.. She is still the unrecoverable condescending housewife across the board. Tamra is forever a gansta housewife. The rest are o.k. Pray that Lizzi does not get intimidated by Tamra like Alexis and Gretchen did.


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Student and receptionist at a local federal agency. Born in NJ now in SC =\..lol


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November 27, 2014
Bond has been set at $40,000 for 20-year-old Eh Gay, accused of repeatedly sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl.
Gay was arrested on Sunday. The victim told child care workers that she had been "dating" the man for almost two years.
A police report indicates the girl's family tried to call police but officers didn't understand them because of a language barrier. The assault allegation was eventually communicated through the Child Protective Services hot line.
The police report indicates that the girl's parents told officers they tried to keep the man away from their daughter but he was uncooperative and even broke through her bedroom window on, "more than one occasion."
The parents are also concerned that Gay has shared sexually explicit photographs of their daughter.
Sexual Assault of a Minor is a Class 2 Felony. If convicted, Gay could face up to 50 years in prison. The minimum sentence is one year.
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The Series
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Vancouver Foundation's 2008 report on issues facing Metro Vancouver...
Quote: Barbara Grantham on homelessness
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How did a selection of the city's mayors and mayoral candidates grade the city compared with the "informed citizens" courted by Vancouver Foundation? Here is a selection of categories and the grades they gave along with the top priority for change.
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CHICAGO — Private equity firm Sun Capital Partners Inc. will merge five of its packaging businesses, creating what it says will be the sixth-largest plastics packaging company in the world.
The annual recap of top trends and future outlook for the plastics caps & closures market features interviews with industry thought leaders and Bill Wood�s economic forecast of trends in growing end markets. You will also gain insight on trends in caps design, materials, machinery, molds & tooling and reviews of mergers & acquisitions.Learn more
This report is a review and analysis of the North American Plastics Recycling Industry, including key trends and statistics based on 2013 performance. We examine market environment factors, regulatory issues, industry challenges, key drivers and emerging trends in post-consumer and post-industrial recycling.Learn more
This report analyzes the $20 billion plastics industry in Mexico including sales of machinery & equipment, resins and finished products.
Our analysts provide insight on business trends, foreign investment, top end markets and plastics processing activity. The report also provides important data on exports, production, employment and value of plastics products manufactured.
January 14, 2015 - January 14, 2015Plastics in Automotive
February 4, 2015 - February 6, 2015Plastics News Executive Forum 2015
June 2, 2015 - June 3, 2015Plastics Financial Summit - Chicago 2015
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Legislation would end racing at greyhound tracks
Updated On: Apr 08 2014 05:54:22 PM EDT
Greyhound tracks will be able to offer card games and online betting, but not dog racing, under legislation moving quickly through the state legislature. The legislation is creating a clash of cultures.
Legislation that began as a requirement to report injuries to racing greyhounds has morphed into what is being called de-coupling. Dog tracks will be able to drop racing but keep card rooms or slots.
"A racing greyhound dies in Florida every three days. We need better regulations," said Sen. Eleanor Sobel, D-Broward County.
As state senators announced their plan to end greyhound racing, the Senate president's wife stroked three dogs at the event. More than four dozen unhappy dog breeders also showed up. Extra security was brought in as a precaution, but was not needed.
RELATED: Activists push to end Greyhound racing
Sponsor Sen. Maria Sachs said racing will be optional under her plan.
"Those dog tracks that are losing money, they don't have to continue to race, but they'll be able to operate their business in a business-like model," said Sachs, D-Delray Beach.
The breeders have been fighting to stay alive for more than a decade. Florida is home to 13 tracks that still race.
The breeders and trainers said it's in their best interest to take care of their animals. They blame the tracks for injuries and deaths.
Still, racing advocates said the gaming remains popular.
"Eighty-eight million dollars was bet on live greyhound racing in this state. Eighty-eight million dollars," said Jack Cory, of the Florida Greyhound Association.
Track owners had hoped to offer slots and more under a major expansion of gambling that was on track for this year, but with the expansion dead they are hoping to shed the live events, which are less profitable than card rooms.
The House has been far behind the Senate in its appetite to expand gaming. The House legislation contains only the requirement that tracks report injuries.
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How to Look After your Small Pets
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an owner's guide to caring for rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, gerbils and jirds, chinchillas, rats, mice, and other rodents
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Besides the eternally popular family pets, such as rabbits, guinea pigs, gerbils and hamsters, this book also looks at rats and mice, jirds, a lesser-known cousin of the gerbil, and chinchillas, exploring a selection of favourite breeds within each species. Information about the temperament and p... Read More »
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An 82-year-old rural South Dakota man said to have been lost in the fog was discovered more than 300 miles from his home. See the rest here: Man Lost in Fog Drives 300 Miles from Home
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Carranza Puppets will present Little Red Riding Hood at Evelyn Meador Library on Monday July 22nd from 4:30pm-5:15pm. Come and watch as this classic tale is told from the wolf's perspective. This show is perfect for children of all ages!
Evelyn Meador Library would like to thank the Texas Commission of the Arts and the Friends of Evelyn Meador Library for sponsoring this special program.
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Dec 18, 2012 2:23 PM by Tonya LaCoste
Officials say the Houston man who was dropped off in front of an Opelousas hospital died from a drug overdose and a self-inflicted wound. According to Capt. Megan Vizena of the St. Landry Parish Sheriff's Office, investigators learned Javar Houston and a person of interest did drugs, and Houston later banged and injured his head on an object. The are no charges against the person of interest, and Houston's death is still under investigation.
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Are you having flashbacks to the '90s? Selena's Topshop cropped sweater and distressed stonewashed jeans feel totally #TBT, but with understated accessories (and not too many of them), somehow it works.
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"Narendra Modi's government introduces bill that dilutes powers of Gujarat Lokayukta"
This is protect the State accountability that facilitate SEZ economy at the cost of State Treasure..
Your views..
Asked by Sharmila Bose, 02 Apr '13 12:50 pm
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Answers (6)
The very purpose of Lokayukta is lost if Government of the day is going to play around with the powers of Lokayukta according to its whims and fancies. By doing so BJP has lost its right to criticize the Congress for its stand on Lokpal. Basically this shows there is no difference between BJP and Congress when its comes to introducing checks and balances in the functioning of the government. Modi has not done this to protect SEZ but his own political cronies and himself. He does not want what happened to Yedurappa in Karnataka to happen to his government in Gujarat.Answered by Shyam, 03 Apr '13 09:06 am
He wants to be a dictator.Answered by Quest, 02 Apr '13 02:32 pm
If he does it may be he will pay for it ,why to worry nowAnswered by krish, 02 Apr '13 01:37 pm
YesAnswered by truth exposed, 02 Apr '13 12:55 pm
Sab chor hain saaleAnswered by Mahachor Baghela, 02 Apr '13 12:52 pm
The new law passed must be read and understood in totality. Its not just curtailing the power of Governor or to facilitate for SEZAnswered by Ramchander kumar kushwaha, 04 Apr '13 01:43 am
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Photos and Description of this 5 bedroom holiday villa in Terranuova Bracciolini - Villa Sofia
Villa Sofia is located at the entrance of a small village in the countryside between Arezzo and Florence. Although located in a peaceful location, just a short walk from the village where there is a bar and a small grocery store. Always walk to a lovely restaurant with a panoramic terrace that prepares delicious dishes of traditional Tuscan cuisine. The house is arranged over two floors. From the gate located next to the garage, after a few steps, you reach the door that leads to a large living room divided into living, dining and kitchen area. The kitchen is well equipped and has an electric oven and dishwasher. On the same floor there are two double bedrooms and a bathroom with shower and bath. From the living room there is also access to the terrace, equipped with table and chairs for outdoor dining and the garden where the pool is located. On the first floor there are 2 double bedrooms and 1 twin bedroom and a second bathroom with shower and bath. OUR ADVICE: Villa suitable for families and groups of friends who do not want to be too isolated, but enjoy the outdoors and have a quality restaurant within walking distance from home, without having to take the car.
Details for holiday villa SOFIA, 5 Bedrooms, Sleeps 10, 2 Bathrooms
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November 20, 2014
NEW YORK (AP) - The New York Yankees failed to make the playoffs for only the second time in 19 years, getting mathematically eliminated Wednesday night while they were losing to the Tampa Bay Rays.
Hobbled by age and injury, the Yankees (82-76) were trailing 7-3 in the eighth inning when they were knocked out as the Cleveland Indians completed a 7-2 win over the Chicago White Sox. There was no reaction from the Yankee Stadium crowd when the Indians result was posted on the scoreboard.
Despite baseball's highest opening-day payroll at $230 million, the Yankees failed to claim one of the 10 playoff berths.
Since starting the latest run of success in 1995, New York had missed the playoffs only in 2008 - when the team bid goodbye to old Yankee Stadium. This time, the Yankees are saying goodbye to Mariano Rivera and Andy Pettitte, who are retiring when the season ends Sunday.
Copyright 2014 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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Posted by Staff on June 23, 2014
The Financial Services Committee will hold the following hearings this week:
Tuesday, June 24 at 10 a.m. – The Committee will hear from Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew on the Annual Report of the Financial Stability Oversight Council.
Wednesday, June 25 at 10 a.m. – The Committee will hold a hearing entitled: "Examining Reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank: Corporate Necessity or Corporate Welfare?"
Thursday, June 26 at 9:15 a.m. – The Subcommittee on Capital Markets and Government Sponsored Enterprises will hold a hearing entitled: "Oversight of the SEC's Division of Trading and Markets."
All hearings will take place in Room 2128 of the Rayburn House Office Building. Further information about the hearings can be found at www.financialservices.house.gov/.
Posted by Staff on June 20, 2014
Committee Seeks Accountability at the CFPB
On Tuesday, the full committee held a hearing with Director Richard Cordray to receive the fifth Semi-Annual Report of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
"Since Director Cordray last appeared before our committee in January, we have learned much. First, we have learned in the first quarter of this year we actually had negative economic growth of one percent. And when you speak to practically any small businessperson, any community banker they will tell you the sheer weight, volume, complexity of the regulatory red tape burden is one of the primary reasons that they cannot expand and hire more people," said Chairman Jeb Hensarling (R-TX).
Chairman Hensarling and Members of the committee addressed further troubling issues at the Bureau and highlighted the need for accountability at the CFPB.
"These disturbing developments once again demonstrate, I believe conclusively, why there must be substantial structural reform at the CFPB. Consumers deserve accountability – not only from Wall Street but they deserve it from Washington, too. Yet, by design the CFPB remains arguably the least accountable Washington bureaucracy in the history of America and it shows. This must change," Chairman Hensarling said.
Subcommittee Hears Testimony from Subpoenaed CFPB Witnesses
The House Financial Services Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee heard testimony this week from two more whistleblowers as part of its ongoing investigation into discrimination and retaliation at the CFPB.
"CFPB's funding and structure afford Congress an extremely limited ability to influence the Bureau's operations and policies, and yet these allegations of discrimination and retaliation at the CFPB underscores the significant need for greater Congressional oversight of the CFPB," said Subcommittee Chairman Patrick McHenry (R-NC).
The whistleblowers -- CFPB Examiner Ali Naraghi and former Bureau employee Kevin Williams – asked to be subpoenaed in order to guard against further retaliation by the Bureau.
Naraghi and Williams described a hostile work environment at the CFPB.
"After being subjected to disparate treatment, I asked my management in May 2012 about the reason for being treated like this," said Naraghi. "Management responded that they did not like me asking questions about the reason behind orders and what my rights may be, and how I raised questions about certain aspects of CFPB management practices."
"They proceeded to make my professional and personal life a living hell by repeated retaliation and creating a hostile work environment," Naraghi added.
Williams told the Subcommittee of similar discrimination and retaliation. "Sadly, instead of the positive, modern government agency I had expected, my experience at the CFPB was reminiscent of past eras of injustice, cronyism, discrimination, and retaliation," he said.
Committee Passes TRIA Reform and FSOC Accountability and Transparency BillsThe House Financial Services Committee on Friday passed 3 bills, to bring much needed reforms to the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act (TRIA) and much needed transparency and accountability to the Financial Stability Oversight Council (FSOC).
"I remind all that TRIA, when originally envisioned, was meant to be a transitional program. Let me quote from the statute: "The purpose of this title is to establish a temporary Federal program that provides for a transparent system of shared public and private compensation… and allow for a transitional period for the private markets to stabilize …." Yet here we are discussing the third reauthorization. If passed, TRIA, a temporary program, would be in existence for nearly 20 years," said Chairman Jeb Hensarling (R-TX).
The Chairman called for accountability and transparency at FSOC, "an agency that has no discernible standard by which to designate these non-bank firms. They operate in a complete secretive and opaque fashion. They themselves can create systemic risk in our economy," he said.
"The two bills we will consider today, one will bring more transparency and an open process; the other will simply call a one-year "timeout" so that Congress has a chance to assess this work. Again, there has been great concern by Members on both sides of the aisle. I think these are reasonable bills to begin to address an incredibly important issue before our committee. I urge Members on both sides of the aisle to support
all the legislation before us," Hensarling added.
Rep. Ed Royce | Rep. Royce Presses Cordray at Financial Services Committee Hearing
Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA) said at Tuesday's full committee hearing that the CFPB "appears to be making policy without obtaining public input. This trend is a cause for concern, as the lack of public input during policy formulation often leads to unintended consequences including regulatory confusion and less consumer choice."
Weekend Must Reads
Washington Times | Examiner Editorial: Federal agency can't hide exploding cost of refurbishing its HQ
The truth is, as the Examiner's Richard Pollock has exhaustively reported using the bureau's own numbers and those of the General Services Administration, the cost of the CFPB's headquarters renovation has exploded. Many of the reasons behind the skyrocketing renovation costs ought to be, as Johanns accurately put it, "embarrassing" for Cordray. The projected cost total of $55 million came from the Office of Thrift Supervision, the previous occupant of the CFPB's headquarters. Members of the House Financial Services Committee have also demanded but not received answers for several years on why that total has more than doubled to $139 million.
Wall Street Journal | The Asset-Rich, Income-Poor Economy
The Fed's extraordinary tools are far more potent in goosing balance-sheet wealth than spurring real income growth. The most recent employment report reveals the troubling story for Main Street. While 217,000 jobs were created in May, incomes for most Americans remain under stress, with only modest improvements in hours worked and average hourly earnings.
Posted by Staff on June 17, 2014
Note: The Financial Services Committee will hold two hearings about the CFPB on Wednesday, June 18. At 10 a.m., the full committee will hear from CFPB Director Richard Cordray. At 2 p.m., the Financial Services Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee will hear from CFPB whistleblowers during its third hearing on allegations of discrimination and retaliation within the CFPB. Both hearings will take place in room 2128 Rayburn House Office Building and will be webcast at http://financialservices.house.gov/.
POLITICO PRO: CFPB employee's charges of retaliation to be aired at hearing
A Consumer Financial Protection Bureau employee will testify before Congress this week about a "culture of intimidation and retaliation" at the agency and raise allegations of mistreatment in the workplace — including that he was referred to as an "F-ing foreigner" by someone in management.
Ali Naraghi, an examiner with the division of supervision, fair lending and enforcement for the CFPB's Southeast region, is one of two witnesses set to appear before the House Financial Services Oversight Subcommittee on Wednesday as a part of the panel's ongoing investigation into allegations of discrimination and retaliation within the agency.
Naraghi — who is of Persian heritage — does not specify who in management allegedly called him an "F-ing foreigner" in his opening remarks, which were obtained by POLITICO.
"Like many others, I feel fortunate to have immigrated to the United States, and do not deserve to be referred to in derogatory terms by Bureau management," Naraghi says in prepared testimony. Naraghi claims that several people at the agency made his life "a living hell" through repeated retaliation and hostile behavior.
Naraghi and Kevin Williams, a former CFPB employee who was a quality monitor at the bureau's Office of Consumer Response, were issued subpoenas by the Oversight Subcommittee last week and are set to testify in a hearing Wednesday afternoon. The committee's Republican staff said both individuals requested they be subpoenaed so that they could share their stories without risking further retaliation.
It is the second time this year that the committee exercised its subpoena powers to compel the testimonies of people connected to the CFPB, and Wednesday will mark the third hearing where witnesses discuss alleged mismanagement across the agency.
The CFPB has come under congressional scrutiny this year after it was first reported in March that white employees received higher ratings than minorities on a rating scale that the agency uses to determine employee benefits, including raises and bonuses. An internal review found disparities in the ways employees were evaluated in recent years based on factors like race ethnicity, age and pay, and the bureau announced last month that it would compensate workers who may have received unfair performance ratings as a part of the CFPB's "corrective actions."
The recent charges that have dogged the agency are also expected to be at the center of CFPB Director Richard Cordray's testimony before the Financial Services Committee Wednesday morning.
Republicans opposed the creation of CFPB and have been critical of the agency since it opened for business in 2011, arguing it represents a government overreach and will make it harder for consumers to get credit. They have seized on the recent allegations of discrimination and retaliation at the agency. Democrats have expressed concerns about the charges as well but have urged panel Republicans to broaden the inquiry to all financial regulators rather than focus only on the bureau.
Naraghi, who formerly worked at the Federal Reserve, says in his opening remarks that his experience at the CFPB has demonstrated that "voicing a professional dissenting opinion that is any way at odds with Bureau management — even in the smallest of ways — will result in retaliation."
"Unfortunately, the Southeast Region examination program is run by intimidation and, like a dictatorship, there are significant consequences for disagreeing and/or disobeying the King," he says.
He directs criticism at several CFPB employees, including chief human capital officer Dennis Slagter. Naraghi alleges that when he offered feedback to Slagter about the large bank supervision program, the response he received was: "If you don't like it, go back to the Federal Reserve Board."
When he raised concerns to management about unfair treatment in 2012, Naraghi says he was told "they did not like me asking questions about the reason behind orders and what my rights may be, and how I raised questions about certain aspects of CFPB management practices." And after he filed a complaint with the office of Equal Employment Opportunity, Naraghi claims he quickly became "one of the targets" of Regional Director Jim Carley and Assistant Director of Supervision Examination Paul Sanford.
A bureau spokesperson declined to comment directly on Naraghi's testimony. They pointed to a March report from CFPB's inspector general that made recommendations on how the bureau can improve its supervisory activities. CFPB officials told the IG they have taken steps to address the audit's findings, according to the report.
The opening statement also details what Naraghi says was his attempt to appeal to Liza Strong, a labor and employee relations official at CFPB, in July 2012. When he sent her an email detailing concerns about mistreatment and flagged what he considered to be "unprofessional" and "possibly illegal" conduct by field manager Jerome Uberu, Naraghi says Strong responded nearly three months later and did not investigate the complaint.
"Ms. Strong's outright dismissal of my own legitimate concerns of mismanagement has caused Mr. Uberu to become more brazen in his intimidation and abuse of my fellow examiners," he said.
Strong was one of the witnesses subpoenaed by the Financial Services Oversight Committee earlier this year. In a May hearing, Strong came under fire from House Republicans on whether the bureau acted promptly to address concerns raised in a September report about its hiring practices and employee diversity and whether the agency tried to sweep its findings under the rug during negotiations over a new employee evaluation system.
Strong's lawyer, John Dowd, said Monday that the email Naraghi cites was directed to the head of the EEO and that Strong was cc'd on the note. Dowd said Strong offered "courteous advice" despite being "swamped with work and short of staff at the time," and that Naraghi's testimony "appears to be a deliberate, unfounded, and baseless leak of erroneous information about Ms. Strong's responsibilities and obligations at the CFPB to cast her in a false light as earlier testimony before this Committee attempted to do."
"Ms. Strong's job is to investigate complaints, not become engaged in the EEO process," Dowd added. "The EEO process is separate from her job. Indeed, it would be improper for her to become involved in the EEO process."
The CFPB declined to make Slagter, Carley, Sanford and Uberu available for comment.
Posted by Staff on June 09, 2014
WSJ Editorial | June 9, 2014
Unless you are part of the Ex-Im brotherhood, you couldn't begin to guess when it was created—in 1934 by Franklin D. Roosevelt. It's now kept on life support by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and an in-crowd of current and retired Congressional Republicans and Democrats.
The FDR antique provides taxpayer-backed loans, loan guarantees, working capital guarantees and export credit insurance to clients of some of America's largest corporations, such as Boeing and General Electric, and to politically favored concerns such as Elon Musk's Space X. Two years ago a bipartisan coalition waved through Ex-Im's reauthorization and increased its lending cap by $40 billion, to $140 billion. This year Ex-Im wants another five-year reauthorization and a lending cap boost to $160 billion.
Republicans serious about cleaning up their act might want to parse the following Ex-Im arguments for its existence before giving the bank another taxpayer fill-up.
• Ex-Im does deals that private lenders shun. If a private bank won't do an export-financing deal, why should Congress put taxpayer money at risk to clinch the deal? In today's global financial markets, companies large and small can access trade financing, either in the capital markets or from lenders.
Private loans may be more expensive, but that's because competitive markets attempt to price accurately the trade-off between risk and reward. The Ex-Im subsidy also distorts economic decision-making in developing countries. Politicians love a national airline that's flying new Boeings, but maybe their citizens would be better served with better roads.
• Ex-Im operates at "no cost" to taxpayers and even generates profits. Ex-Im CEO Fred Hochberg told the House last year that Ex-Im "has generated $1.6 billion for U.S. taxpayers over the past five years." That's true, but Ex-Im hasn't always been profitable, and as the Mercatus Center's Veronique de Rugy has noted, Ex-Im's exposure to "loans, guarantees, and insurance" and other miscellaneous claims has exploded, rising to $113.8 billion in 2013 from $57.4 billion in 2007.
The bank's own stress test in December predicted that its capital reserves could be wiped out in a crisis. The Congressional Budget Office recently estimated that if the bank used fair-value accounting that better measured market risk, Ex-Im would lose $2 billion over 10 years.
• Other countries subsidize exports, so the U.S. should too. The illogic here is that because China subsidizes exports for American consumers at the expense of the Chinese taxpayer, American taxpayers should return the favor for Chinese consumers.
There is also little evidence showing that Ex-Im is a main export driver, and in practice its guarantees favor some U.S. companies over others. One of the unfavored is Delta Airlines, which must compete with the foreign airlines that Ex-Im assists through its loans to Boeing and General Electric. As Delta put it in a letter to Mr. Hochberg, "Ex-Im is inflicting real and lasting harm on the U.S. airline industry and American jobs" by helping Delta's foreign competitors buy cheaper airplanes.
• Ex-Im finances small businesses and creates jobs. Let's put that differently: Congress requires Ex-Im to finance small business and purports to create jobs. Congress has layered mandates on the bank to support women- and minority-owned businesses, green companies, and firms in sub-Saharan Africa. But the bulk of its business is with very large corporations like Boeing, GE and Caterpillar.
The process by which the bank counts its jobs numbers is opaque. A May 2013 Government Accountability Office report said the bank can't distinguish between jobs "newly created" or jobs "maintained." The GAO found so many other problems that it asked the bank to "increase transparency by improving reporting on the assumptions and limitations in the methodology and data used to calculate the number of jobs Ex-Im supports."
The 80-year old bank doesn't much care for criticism. At Ex-Im's annual conference in April, a testy Mr. Hochberg said the bank's critics "can't stomach the thought that the government might have a role to play in empowering U.S. businesses to compete across the globe."
Not quite, Mr. Hochberg. What they can't abide is a government that continues to practice crony capitalism even after the failures of Fannie Mae, Fisker Automotive and Solyndra. Republican voters in particular want the cronyism to stop. House leaders need to show they get the message.
Posted by on June 06, 2014
Why Is Obama Stockpiling Your Personal Financial Records?
IBD Editorial | June 6, 2014
It will encompass a mortgage holder's entire credit history — including credit scores and account balances — and all credit lines, from credit cards to student and car loans.
"Why are we collecting this amount of data on this many individuals?" asked GOP Rep. Randy Neugebauer of the House banking panel.
The key data that the agencies plan to collect involve "household demographics" — namely, "race/ethnicity." The database will be used to compare the credit outcomes of minority vs. white borrowers. Any statistical disparities will be used to make "disparate impact" bias cases against private creditors in a vast redistribution scheme.
The agencies even allude to this in their proposed rule, recently posted in the Federal Register and opened to public comment for just 30 days, half the normal time.
The FHFA and CFPB explain that they're going to use all these intimate details on families and their financial lives to "conduct research, performance modeling and examination monitoring." They're also going to share it with Attorney General Eric Holder, as well as state attorneys general and trial lawyers, to aid in their "investigations" of, and "litigation" against, the financial industry, which they've already shaken down for an estimated $100 billion since the mortgage crisis. Apparently, they're just getting started.
Then there are the privacy concerns.
In their data dragnet, Obama's diversity police will snag your Social Security number and all account numbers. Don't worry about hacking, identity theft or cyberfraud, they assure us. They'll store your personal info in "locked file rooms, locked file cabinets" inside a building with "security cameras" and 24-hour security guards.
As for computerized records, they'll be "safeguarded through use of access codes." Only the proposed rule lists no fewer than 14 entities outside the agencies who will have access to those codes and files — including outside contractors, as well as "advisers," "volunteers" and "interns." No chance of mischief there.
Here's the full rundown of data they plan to gather on you and your family:
"Records in the system may include without limitation: (1) Borrower/co-borrower information (name, address, zip code, telephone numbers, date of birth, race/ethnicity, gender, language, religion, social security number, education records, military status/records, employment status/records); (2) Financial information (account number, financial events in the last few years, life events in the last few years, other assets/wealth); (3) Mortgage information (current balance, current monthly payment, delinquency grid, monthly payment, refinanced amount, bankruptcy information); (4) Credit card/other loan information (account type, credit amount, account balance amount, account past due amount, account minimum payment amount, account actual payment amount, account high balance amount, account charge off amount, second mortgage); (5) Household composition (single male, single female, etc., presence of children by various age categories, number of wage earners in household, household income, credit score(s) of borrower/co-borrower at origination (Vantage Score), deceased indicator, marital status); (6) Property attributes (property type ... census tract/block/latitude/longitude)" and on and on.
Those clamoring for impeachment might want to also focus on the Orwellian nature of this presidency.
Posted by Staff on May 23, 2014
Committee Examines the Dangers of FSOC's Designation Process
On Tuesday, the full committee held a hearing to examine the Financial Stability Oversight Council's (FSOC) designation process for deeming banks and non-bank firms as "systemically important" and the impact of such designations.
"FSOC was established—or so its supporters tell us—to make it easier for regulators to communicate and share information with each other. But the regulators didn't need an act of Congress to do that, and information-sharing is not what FSOC is really about. Instead, FSOC is about one thing: increasing Washington's control over the U.S. economy thus curtailing both economic freedom and economic prosperity. And FSOC does this through its power to designate "Systemically Important Financial Institutions"—or, in bureaucrat-speak, "SIFIs," said Chairman Jeb Hensarling (R-TX).
"Having failed to prevent the last financial crisis, notwithstanding having every regulatory power necessary to do so, regulators were rewarded with even more power by the Dodd-Frank Act. The Dodd-Frank Act represents a breathtaking outsourcing of legislative power to the executive branch. Federal agencies now have virtually unfettered discretion to expand their regulatory control through a designation process that is opaque, secretive, vague, open-ended, and highly subjective," he said.
Chairman Hensarling and Members of the committee called on FSOC "to cease and desist further SIFI designations until Congress can review the entire matter." Witnesses argued that FSOC's designations would harm the U.S. financial system and hurt the economy.
Subcommittee Discusses Legislative Proposals to Reform Domestic Insurance Policy
On Tuesday, the Housing and Insurance Subcommittee held a hearing to examine five legislative proposals addressing domestic insurance issues.
"We turn our attention to some insurance reform legislation that focuses on protecting policyholders, offering more consumer choice for insurance products and providing regulatory relief to reduce costs to domestic policyholders," said Subcommittee Chairman Randy Neugebauer (R-TX).
Subcommittee Hears Testimony from Subpoenaed CFPB Witnesses
On Wednesday, the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee received testimony from CFPB officials who were recently subpoenaed as part of the subcommittee's ongoing investigation into allegations of discrimination and retaliation at the CFPB.
"The fact is that discrimination on the basis of race, sex or other prohibited factors is destructive, morally repugnant, and against the law. All government agencies, including the CFPB, must continue to combat discrimination in employment and punish those responsible for discrimination," said Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee Chairman Patrick McHenry (R-NC).
Wednesday's hearing comes nearly a month after subcommittee members voted 20-0 to issue subpoenas to Stacey Bach, Assistant Director of the CFPB's Office of Equal Employment Opportunity; Liza Strong, Director of Employee Relations at the CFPB; and Ben Konop, Executive Vice President of the CFPB's employee union, Chapter 335 of the National Treasury Employees Union.
Konop testified that the employees union repeatedly raised concerns with the CFPB about its employee performance review system.
"[W]e alleged that women and minority employees were being underpaid when compared to similarly situated white male colleagues. To date, the Bureau has denied each of these grievances at all stages, often using inconsistent reasoning, despite what I feel is convincing evidence of low pay for numerous women and minority workers," Konop told the subcommittee.
During the hearing, the subcommittee discussed a report commissioned by the CFPB and conducted by Deloitte Consulting. The findings of Deloitte's report corroborate whistleblower and CFPB employee Angela Martin's testimony that there have been problems related to the CFPB's hiring, staff promotions, performance reviews and employee pay since the Bureau's inception.
Subcommittee Discusses Legislative Proposals to Improve Transparency and Accountability at the CFPB
On Wednesday, the Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit Subcommittee held a hearing to examine legislative proposals to improve transparency and accountability at the CFPB.
Subcommittee Chairman Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) said the bills discussed at today's hearing represent "a continuation of this committee's efforts to make the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau a more transparent and accountable agency. I would like to thank the sponsors of the legislation before us for their hard work in crafting common sense reforms to the Bureau."
Witnesses at today's hearing described the CFPB as a uniquely unaccountable, secretive, and powerful agency whose actions make it harder for American businesses to create jobs and that is in need of greater transparency, accountability and oversight.
Committee Passes Job Growth and Regulatory Relief Bills
The House Financial Services Committee on Thursday passed 11 bills to enhance capital formation for small and emerging growth companies and provide regulatory relief for community financial institutions.
"When we, as a committee, have the opportunity to help put Americans back to work, to help create jobs, we have the responsibility to do so and hopefully to do so on a bipartisan basis. This is why our committee has already guided 22 regulatory relief bills to House passage. The vast majority of those bills, once again, have received strong -- not just token -- but strong bipartisan support," said Chairman Jeb Hensarling (R-TX).
"Now it is most regrettable that the Senate, where all good ideas go to languish and fail, has indeed failed to take up a single one of those bipartisan bills. I would strongly encourage my Democratic colleagues, who may spend more quality time with the Senate Majority Leader and the President than do I, to encourage them to take up these bills, to contact their friends and colleagues in the Senate and in the White House and urge them to pay attention to what our committee has put forth on a bipartisan basis. This would indeed be very, very constructive. But again, despite the Senate's failure to act, we must act," Hensarling added.
Rep. Randy Neugebauer | VIDEO: PATH Act on CNBC
Rep. Neugebauer discussed housing finance reform and the PATH Act with CNBC's Rick Santelli.
Weekend Must Reads
Investor's Business Daily | At Last, Congress Checks Obama's Rogue Consumer Bureau
CFPB has the power to police virtually every financial transaction in the economy. Yet it holds its meetings in secret, has no inspector general and is funded outside the normal congressional budget process. On Wednesday, the House Financial Services Committee [took up] 11 bills that would make the bureau more accountable and transparent to Americans.
Wall Street Journal | The Fed's Blueprint for Financial Control
Federal Reserve regulation of U.S. capital markets would be a huge mistake. It would retard economic growth, lower investor returns and dull the vibrancy of the country's financial system.
In the News
Pensions & Investments | FSOC hears from money managers, House critics on systemically important designations
American Banker | CFPB Moved Slowly to Fix Evaluation Disparities: Lawmakers
Politico Pro | GOP: CFPB too slow to address diversity, hiring problems
Housing Wire | New evidence shows CFPB knew about discrimination well before AB article
Washington Examiner | CFPB misses diversity mark, outside consultant says
The Hill | House GOP: Consumer bureau discrimination probe will continue
Reuters | U.S. consumer bureau slow to fix age, minority bias -union leader
Plain Dealer | More must be done to fix discrimination at Richard Cordray's federal agency, union representative tells Congress
Flashback Friday: Project Director's Video Comments Air Privacy Concerns Surrounding Federal Mortgage DatabasePosted by Staff on May 16, 2014
"It is easy reverse engineer and identify the people in our database."
"At present we are allowed to have any federal employee gain access" to the database.
House Financial Services Committee Chairman Jeb Hensarling and Senate Banking Committee Ranking Member Mike Crapo this week sent a letter to the CFPB and FHFA raising serious privacy concerns about the massive federal mortgage database the two agencies are creating.
A recent notice in the Federal Register outlined how expansive the agencies' database will be. Specifically, the notice proposes to vastly expand the scope of their data collection to include highly personal information that is unrelated to the purchase of a home. For example, data fields would include one's religion, Social Security number, education and military records, languages spoken, ages of children at home, and major life events.
At a January 28, 2014 hearing with CFPB Director Richard Cordray, the House Financial Services Committee highlighted comments from Bob Avery, the Project Director for the mortgage database. In a video shown at the hearing, Avery says the mortgage database is vulnerable to hackers.
"It is easy to reverse engineer and identify the people in our database," Avery is seen saying on the video. "We have the date the mortgage was taken out, the size of the mortgage and we have the Census tract [of the mortgage holder]. Ninety-five percent of these are unique."
Wall Street Journal: Republicans Call Federal Mortgage Database an 'Unwarranted Intrusion'
Posted by Staff on May 12, 2014
Last week, the Financial Services Committee met to take up a number of strategies designed to spur job growth. Watch Rep. Mick Mulvaney (Twitter|Facebook) discuss those ideas and more in this week's FSC Video Message.
Posted by Staff on May 09, 2014
On Wednesday, the full committee marked up several bills designed to grow the economy, create jobs, and relieve the regulatory burden for community financial institutions.
"We received some bad news recently that more than 800,000 Americans, almost a million, left the workforce last month alone. Many simply could not find a job to make ends meet, no matter how hard they tried. Millions of others remain out of work. The latest economic figures show that during the first quarter of this year the economy slowed to a stall, with a barely discernable 0.1 percent annual growth rate," said Chairman Jeb Hensarling (R-TX).
"So when we, as a committee, have the opportunity to help arrest this trend, to help put Americans back to work, to help create jobs, we have the responsibility to do so and hopefully to do so on on a bipartisan basis. This why our committee has already guided 22 regulatory relief bills to House passage. The vast majority of those bills, once again, have received strong -- not just token -- but strong bipartisan support," he said.
H.R. 3211, the Mortgage Choice Act of 2013 sponsored by Rep. Bill Huizenga (R-MI), was agreed to by a voice vote. The markup will continue and final passage of the bills will take place after the upcoming District Work Period.
Committee Holds Oversight Hearing with Treasury Secretary, Raises Transparency Concerns
On Thursday, the full committee held a hearing with Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew to receive the annual testimony on the state of the international financial system.
Several members, including Reps. Garrett, Royce and McHenry, discussed the Financial Stability Oversight Council's disturbing lack of transparency and accountability.
Chairman Hensarling said FSOC "should cease and desist" from designating more financial firms as "too big to fail" until there is an opportunity for greater congressional oversight of the council's decision-making process.
"There is increasingly bipartisan concern about the immense discretionary power that FSOC has and how frankly little transparency it has," Chairman Hensarling said to Secretary Lew. "I would simply call upon you as head of FSOC to cease and desist with these designations until all of our questions can be answered fully and Congress can exercise its oversight authority over this incredible process," he said. (Watch the video here.)
Members also expressed disappointment that Secretary Lew could fit only two hours into his schedule to appear at Thursday's statutorily required hearing.
Because of this unusual time constraint, "there's 20 members of this committee that won't get a chance to talk to you today. That represents roughly 14 million people," Rep Mick Mulvaney (R-SC) said.
Rep. Scott Garrett | Federal Debt Not Only Liability Taxpayers On Hook For
It is no secret that Washington's finances are in a dire state. What might come as a shock, however, is that the American people are on the hook for a lot more than just our national debt. Today, nine of 10 new mortgages are insured by you, the taxpayers...The PATH Act is a comprehensive plan for building a mortgage market that avoids the problems of the past. This legislation would wind down Fannie and Freddie and build a new, more open mortgage market based on private capital, not taxpayer guarantees.
Weekend Must Reads
Wall Street Journal | The Feds Target Money Managers
The conceit of the Obama era is that regulators know best in all things, and so the more of finance that can be put under their sway the better. We'll all learn just how wrong that is if regulators bring high leverage and taxpayer backing from the world of banking into the rest of the financial economy.
American Banker | 'Skin in the Game' Rule Unnecessary for CLOs
The House recognized the importance of CLOs to the economy and recently passed bipartisan legislation exempting certain legacy CLOs from Dodd-Frank's Volcker rule. Regulators would be wise to craft a workable solution for the risk retention requirements regarding the CLO market. After which they can perhaps turn their attention to dealing with the actual causes of the financial crisis.
American Action Forum | The Cumulative Impact of Regulatory Cost Burdens on Employment
AAF research finds that for every billion dollars in regulatory compliance, affected industry employment declines by 3.6%.
On the Horizon
The House is not in session next week.
In the News
American Banker | Lawmakers Press Treasury's Lew on Mortgage Servicing, FSOC
Ludington Daily News | Bipartisan Huizenga legislation to help low and middle income borrowers sails through committee
American Banker | FSOC Pledges to Disclose More Amid Criticism by Lawmakers
Wall Street Journal | As One-Time Gains Fade, Fannie and Freddie Face a Less-Profitable Future
Posted by Staff on May 02, 2014
Committee Holds SEC Accountable
On Tuesday, the full committee held an oversight hearing with SEC Chair Mary Jo White to discuss the Commission's agenda, operations, and 2015 budget.
"The SEC's budget has grown substantially in recent years. In fact, the SEC's budget has increased by 80 percent in the last 10 years and by nearly 300 percent since the year 2000. I again note that when my Democratic colleagues were in the majority even after the passage of the Dodd-Frank Act, they never called for the dramatic budget increases they call for now," said Chairman Jeb Hensarling (R-TX).
"Not many other agencies throughout the entirety of the Federal Government have seen such hefty budget increases during this same period of time. I don't know many constituents in Texas's Fifth Congressional District -- that I have the honor of representing -- whose family budget has seen an 80 percent increase in the last 10 years. In addition, as we see the national debt clock regrettably continually turn at the pace we have observed, this is something that must loom large over all of our budgetary decisions," he said.
During the hearing, Members also questioned Chair White regarding market structure and high frequency trading. In response to a question from Rep. Scott Garrett (R-NJ), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Capital Markets and Government Sponsored Enterprises, Chair White said, "the markets are not rigged."
On 20-0 Vote, Subpoenas Approved in Investigation of CFPB
Republicans and Democrats on the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee voted 20-0 to subpoena two CFPB officials and a union representative as part of its ongoing investigation into allegations of discrimination and retaliation at the Bureau.
The CFPB and the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) did not allow the officials to appear as witnesses at a subcommittee hearing on April 2. At that hearing, CFPB employee and whistleblower Angela Martin and Misty Raucci, an outside investigator hired by the CFPB, described a culture of racial and gender discrimination and retaliation against employees at the CFPB.
CFPB Director Richard Cordray refused to allow Stacey Bach, Assistant Director of the Office of Equal Employment Opportunity, and Liza Strong, Director of Employee Relations, to testify at the April 2 hearing. A third official, Ben Konop, the executive vice president of the CFPB employees' union, was also not allowed to testify by the union. All three were subpoenaed today.
"Unfortunately, the CFPB and the NTEU refused to provide the requested witnesses to testify at the April 2 hearing. And yet, we maintain it is imperative that we are able to question Ms. Bach, Ms. Strong, and Mr. Konop. Through our investigation, it has become quite clear to this Subcommittee that they are the three individuals with the most knowledge of the disturbing treatment which women and minority employees were subjected to while at the Bureau," said Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee Chairman Patrick McHenry (R-NC).
Subcommittee Examines How Technology Can Promote Consumer Financial Literacy
On Wednesday, the Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit Subcommittee held a hearing to discuss the impact of technology on promoting consumer financial literacy.
"In 2012, the Government Accountability Office released a report that provided an overview of the federal government's activities and programs to promote financial literacy. They found 13 different programs, operated by 13 different agencies, spent approximately $31 million dollars on financial literacy efforts in 2010. The report also found that there was significant overlap among these agencies and recommended consolidation of the federal government's to promote financial literacy. Furthermore, the GAO found that there was no mechanism to evaluate the effectiveness of these efforts," said Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit Chairman Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV).
The subcommittee heard from private-sector witnesses who have successfully developed mobile applications and other programs to promote financial literacy.
Subcommittee Continues Efforts to Spur Economic Growth and Job Creation
On Thursday, the Capital Markets and Government Sponsored Enterprises Subcommittee held a hearing to discuss legislative proposals to enhance capital formation and spur job creation.
"Thanks in large part to the JOBS Act, 2013 was the best year for initial public offerings since 2000, with more than 175 IPOs raising over $40 billion in much-needed growth capital. At least 80% of these companies qualified as Emerging Growth Companies under the JOBS Act. While this is a very positive development, more work needs to be done" said Subcommittee Chairman Scott Garrett (R-NJ).
"According to one small business survey, government regulation and red tape remain at the very top of the list of the most important problems facing America's job creators. Another survey shows that small business demand for private capital continued to outpace access in 2013, while at least 60% of respondents found it difficult to raise new external financing," he said.
The subcommittee focused on three discussion draft bills: the Equity Crowdfunding Improvement Act of 2014, the Startup Capital Modernization Act of 2014, and a bill to direct the Securities and Exchange Commission to revise its proposed amendments to Regulation D, Form D, and Rule 156.
Rep. Andy Barr (R-KY) | House Passes Volcker Rule Fix
Rep. Andy Barr (R., Ky.), said a small bank in his district feared a loss if it has to sell its CLO holdings at below their current value. "The consequence will be a fire sale in the market that will cause significant losses," he said Tuesday on the House floor.
Weekend Must Reads
National Review | Consumer Finance Protection Bureau: Hotbed of Discrimination?
Furthermore, the CFPB has been accused of actual disparate treatment race discrimination. One CFPB attorney testified before the House Financial Services Committee regarding her experience, stating that since her arrival at the CFPB in June 2011, she hasn't received a single case or enforcement matter, despite a successful legal career prior to arriving at the Bureau. She further alleges she was retaliated against after she filed an EEO complaint, and described the Bureau as having a "culture of retaliation and intimidation." The investigator assigned to the complaint testified that she "became a veritable hotline for employees at CFPB, who called to discuss their own maltreatment at the Bureau." The investigator also found that the complainant was, in fact, retaliated against after filing her EEO complaint.
Wall Street Journal | The Growth Deficit
The biggest current obstacles are the regulatory burdens still moving through the economy from Dodd-Frank, ObamaCare, and the rest of the damage from the Pelosi Congress. Hard to believe, but Dodd-Frank is only half implemented.


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