text:
Ratified by the General Assembly:
- This movement is about democracy. We demand that the government be truly responsive to those it represents. We demand an end to the massive corporate influence blocking the voice of the people by eliminating corporate personhood and limiting monetary contributions to political campaigns and lobbying.
- This movement is about economic security. We demand effective reforms to prevent banks and financial institutions from causing future economic crises.
- This movement is about corporate responsibility. We demand strict repercussions for corporations and institutions who cause serious financial damage to our country and its taxpayers.
- This movement is about financial fairness. We demand tax reforms to ensure that corporations and the wealthy pay their fair share in taxes.
70 Responses
[…] occupation; our individual opinions are, at this early stage, unimportant (though we do now have demands). More important just to show up and stand together. There are some currents in Occupy Austin […]
frankensteinOctober 6th, 2011
Corporate personhood is not the problem, nor is it useful to do away with. Indeed, corporate forms serve many things very well. Corporate person should be restored to their original honor, they should have a justifiable public purpose, and their rights should be limited compared to thinking, feeling, humans, but you are aiming at the wrong target by seeking its elimination.
-Friendly Former Austinite.
Kim TrebeschOctober 6th, 2011
You nailed it. Seems better focused than what I've heard from the Wall Street occupation. Wish I was there. I'll be following on facebook and twitter today so please update regularly. Stay safe. Haven't heard what the outcome was last night at occupySanFrancisco. Last tweets said police were coming to shut them down completely. Stay Strong!
orbetOctober 6th, 2011
frankenstein, if, by "corporate person" you are referring to the new corporation-as-person mentality, do you mean to muddy the debate. I thought corporation referred to a legally recognized group of persons with a common agenda, usually profit. Maybe i'm oversimplifying. It just seems we need to find a common language to address the problem of corporate influence on politics, this whole "money is speech" mentality.
ClawbackNOWOctober 6th, 2011
This is not enough! The underlying problem causing our global economic meltdown is the collapse of the unregulated corrupt derivatives market resulting in over $600 trillion in STOLEN MONEY from banks, pension funds, retirees, and local, county, state, and national governments all over the world. We DEMAND that regulators and the Dept. Of Justice CLAWBACK this money from the banisters who sold these products and were paid bonuses and commissions creating over 2,000 new billionaires since 1999.
The money did not "disappear"! These criminal subprime mortgages wer sliced and diced to create WORTHLESS investment securities valued at over 30 times the original loan. They were selling worthless paper, getting insurance companies to cover their losses and even betting against these "like cash" investments making TRILLIONS in FRAUDULENT transactions. We demand that the money be paid back and that these people are PUNISHED for their CRIMES AGAINST THE ECONOMY!!!
The banks KNEW that they were lending to people who could not afford their ballon payments but assured borrowers they would qualify for a refi. Now they are foreclosing on people's homes and if they don't sell fast enough, they just tear the house down. WE DEMAND that banks STOP FORECLOSURES now!
If they thought these properties were worth writing a mortgage on and, hence, owning as the they can convert these mortgage contracts to rental agreements. PeoPle can stay in the house and the bank can sell it later when the real estate market that they destroyed recovers.
Peace be with you,
Do not underestimate the Wall street group, the media only wants you assume they are unorganized, just as they will say about Occupy Austin. Stay on course, do not fall into thero distraction games. The fact is, every American taxpayer is involved whether they realize it or not, mortgage or no mortgage. Why? Fannie, Freddie, etc. Most of all, most do not realize the mortgage backed securities floating via electronic format, have no U.S. Law to support them. I beg you take a look at 15 U.S.C. 7003, and see that what I mention is real. But mortgage backed securities are not the only electronic promissory note issue as you will find. Learn about authoritative copy, transferrable record, payment intangible, investments certificates. Everyone was duped, including the investors.
Make this a peaceful demonstration and you will find many more to support you.
Cyndi CollenOctober 6th, 2011
The messaging is articulate and focused on the right paths to follow to affect the most fundamental change … bravo !
The campaign finance reform is the root causal and an issue I feel passionate about. If a breakout group forms to discuss / define action items on this demand, would like to participate.
George SteelOctober 6th, 2011
What the hell does this mean?
"This movement is about financial fairness. We demand tax reforms to ensure that corporations and the wealthy pay their fair share in taxes."
The top 50% of taxpayers pay 90% of the taxes in this country. If you mean that all people will pay the same tax rate, I'm all for that. Those who aren't paying any taxes need to man up and pay them.
KateriOctober 6th, 2011
Government of the people, by the people, for the people! Any thing less is taxation without representation. Isn't that why American fought for her independance? The many are suffering because of the greed of a few. Until the politicians are held accountable for the crime they commit when taking bribes from corporations in order to pass legislation that benefits only corporate America and leaves the American taxpayer to foot the bill, there will be no reform.
the federal government is in debt to the federal reserve. it is owned. wars and china owning the us is a result of the us trying to pay off its debt. unless we the people free our government from slavery then we will never be put first in demands. restoring democracy means getting rid of the fed. this is #1.
Albert LubkerOctober 6th, 2011
People can not be corporations. A corporation is not a person or people. A corporation is a business entity that can employ people and can be governed by people. This country was created by corporations and continues throughout history to e fueled y corporations. Embrace the capitalist model – it is a good thing. If individual people have problems, it is due to thier own personal choices. Don't blame corporate greed – the goal of the corporation is to make profit – it's OK. And this country is a Republic.
Albert LubkerOctober 6th, 2011
Democracy is an over-rated idea. You people should put much more thought into your position if you think democracy is good for a country.
TinmanOctober 6th, 2011
If you really want to get technical, we are a Constitutional Republic. That being said, as a government it has democratic elements. We are certainly not meant to be an oligarchy which is what overtime this country seems to mirror. Corporation are in essence a person, they are put on trial like people so as to protect the actual human beings behind them. People made this country, not corporations (Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, John Adams, My distant grandfather, etc.). This country is obviously ruled by the elite and these people can take it back – it's their own personal choice.
"there is only one political party, the incumbent party"
Read some Robert Michels and don't lecture these people…
mariaOctober 6th, 2011
We demand that the government be truly responsive to those it represents. The government just represent the interest of the capitalist power, do not fool yourself.
This movement is about economic security. We demand effective reforms to prevent banks and financial institutions from causing future economic crises. The corruption of the institutions is big, they are destroying all the poor countries.The very poor people in this country have been living on crises since colonialism, I will love to see an alternative model where everybody have benefit for it, i do not have an idea how, but is gone a be great that you guys star thinking on one, i will do the same.
This movement is about financial fairness. We demand tax reforms to ensure that corporations and the wealthy pay their fair share in taxes.Do you know how are financed the ong? do you know who give grands? guees who, if you do have a bussines and do all of that you are free of tax or part of it depends how you do it.
Good luck with your movment. Do not forget about the blach and hispanic people.You may find them working really hard to just have enogh to pay bills, they are so tired, that they do no have time to think about how bad is their situation or maybe they do, but they think is anything they can do about it.
Chuckie KautskyOctober 6th, 2011
"This country was created by corporations" is simply not true. Not even remotely. As late as the adoption of the Constitution, you could practically count the number of corporation in the thirteen states on the fingers of one hand. They were so few in number in Boston, for example, that the phrase 'the corporation' was the common way of referring to Harvard University. The school was the only corporation in the city!
Chelsea BrownOctober 6th, 2011
What do you think about reclaiming the corporate charter rather than abolishing it? Here is an argument that I found in favor of this:
"The for-profit private-benefit corporation is an institution granted a legally protected right – some would claim obligation – to pursue a narrow private interest without regard to broader social and environmental consequences. It it were a real person, it would fit the clinical profile of a sociopath. A group of private investors should have the right to aggregate and concentrate virtually unlimited economic power under unified management ONLY if it serves a well-defined public purpose under strict rules of public accountability. The public purpose of each corporation should be clearly specified in its charter, and the corporation's performance should be subject to periodic review. The charter should be revoked if the corporation consistently violates the law or acts beyond the specific authorities granted. Because political rights belong to people, not to artificial legal entities, corporations should be prohibited from efforts to influence elections or legislation. A first step would be to eliminate all tax exemptions for corporate expenditures related to lobbying, public "education", public charities, or political organizations of any kind. If corporations want to engage in such activities, they should pay with after-tax dollars, as required of real people. You and I don't get tax deductions for our contributions to political lobbyists."
Charlie PrimeroOctober 8th, 2011
Government financial regulations are written by and for the international banking cartels.
Calls for more of this regulation are nonsense.
The simple solution is to End public support of private corporations.
KevinOctober 8th, 2011
Here is the posted List of Goals & Demands with revisions which I believe add some concrete solutions.
*LIMIT CAMPAIGN FUNDING by limiting the amount of money and non-monetary contributions any company, organization, or person can donate to a political campaign.
*END "REVOLVING DOOR POLITICS" by requiring a minimum time (5 years maybe) elected officials between holding office and becoming lobbyists and working for the organization they regulated.
*ELIMINATE "RIDER BILLS" by enacting the Line Item Veto Act of 1996 which the Supreme Court struck down. Create a Relevancy Clause where bills can't have totally random items hidden within them.
*Create a singular banking regulation agency.
*Reenact the Glass-Steagall Act of 1933.
*Implement the Volcker Rule.
*Prosecute the executives who contributed to the financial crisis in 2008.
(read Matt Taibbi's article "Why Isn't Wall Street in Jail?" in Rolling Stone http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/why-isnt-wall-street-in-jail-20110216 )
*Create a flat tax rate for everyone.
*Pass the Buffet Rule.
5)THE FEDERAL RESERVE – the most important, underlying issue of all!
*Thoroughly audit the Fed (Congress unbelievably voted this down and it needs to happen for real this time.)
*Nationalize the Fed.
*Return to sound money. Perhaps the gold standard, or a combination of various commodities.
KevinOctober 8th, 2011
*END THE TAX LOOPHOLE that allows corporations to move money offshore thus paying no taxes
RussellOctober 9th, 2011
"eliminating corporate personhood and limiting monetary contributions to political campaigns and lobbying." The simple fact of the matter is that laws and government regulations affect corporations, therefore, corporations have First Amendment rights. Corporations are a conglomeration of people. Would you argue that non-profit organizations have no First Amendment rights? Just because corporations make money does not change the fact of corporate First Amendment rights — individual people make money, too.
How do you plan to ban lobbying? By lobbying lawmakers? See the glaring fault in this?
Finally, direct campaign contributions by individuals and corporations are still limited by law. *That has not changed one bit.* What has changed per the Supreme Court ruling is that because corporations have First Amendment rights, and again, because laws and regulations affect them directly, corporations must engage in political advertising that support certain issues or candidates to exercise such rights. What you are implying is that corporations simply take whatever government dishes their way (especially taxation and regulation) without any input whatsoever.
[…] spent a second day outside city hall today to express their grievances about issues ranging from socioeconomic stratification to the role […]
KevinOctober 9th, 2011
This is sad. Corporations were once small business. These people have built some of these up from the ground. It's the American way of life. People took loans knowing what would happen if they couldn't afford it. Nobody's fault but their own. Russell, I couldn't agree more. But I might add that if people are mad, be mad at yourselfs. Its all good to try to change things for the better, but not when your making it worse for others. During this whole economic endevour, I have held on to a job, paid my bills, and taken care of my family. We do this by only buying what we can afford. I lost my first job when this all started, I went and found another. I may not have liked what I was doing and wasn't making as much but it put food on the table. If you want to fix a problem, fix the fact that there are people making hundreds, some thousands, off the govenment per month when they could work. I have even heard one say "Why would I get a job paying less than what I'm making by staying at home and playing video games". Laziness in America is America's biggest problem, not corporations.
occupytheworldOctober 9th, 2011
We need to add "Reinstating the Glass Steagall Act" to the list of demands. It is necessary.
Good point there Kevin. Government sustains the monopolies of those certain corporations we all loath so much. But no corporation has ever forced me to do anything or buy their product, however the federal and state governments forces and regulate almost everything I do each and everyday. They are the ones with the gun to your head.
"You can dump a body by the road and the vultures will come, don't blame the vultures for the murder though." Stefan Molyneux
So don't fall into the fallacy that we can just reform the way we run the federal government. Anytime there is such a centralization of power as Washington DC your going to have corporations fighting for a share of that power. We've got to take that power away from them by shutting down DC.
We need to dismantle the cartel known as federal government and the large corporations have no big brother to run to.
mariaOctober 10th, 2011
The people in USA are very high consumers, I see the culture here is to buy, buy, buy, buy unnecessary things forgetting about so many important things. who make these products? where is the factory? how much they get pay? how old they are? in some cases the workers are children starting from the age of 10, do they have rights? USA it is part of the planet earth? these global problem affect USA? how? how did we get to this point? is this is new for everybody or only for us? who build the city? the buildings? the stores? the schools? the restaurants? the movie theater? etc., and who work on those places? how much do they get pay? and so on…
[…] Here's their list of demands. […]
scottOctober 11th, 2011
Demand 1 and 2 – reasonable. This is a good use of this movement.
Demand 3 should be expanded to include regular citizens. I don't recall citizens complaining about banks loaning them money as long as they thought their house prices would rise and they could buy things they could not afford. Also, the banks aren't the big boogy man here. It is people – all people – who were greedy.
Demand 4: The top 1% of income earners in the US pay 40% of all taxes. In 2011, 50% of all persons paid no federal income tax. The wealthy already pay their fair share. You can't keep asking them to pay and pay. Most of these people are small business owners. A decision for them to invest in their business is diminished if they are taxed to death. What fun is it to work 80 hours a week, etc. if you can't keep what you earn. Fair share is OK, but the 1% of top income earners already pay their fair share. If you really want fairness, then have a flat tax, with exemptions for the lowest income earners, but a set tax (say 20% or something for all other earners.
Oh and be careful about blaming business for this mess. I run a small business. I can easily make a decision to hire or not hire based on how I am taxed. I am happy to take a less annual salary to have more time with my family if it is going to be taxed any higher than it is.
Point being, for every action there is a reaction. Don't think just because the goals may seem just that the end result will be what you think you will get. People have the right to react in a way that is in their best interest. For small business owners like me, it means hunkering down and taking care of me and my family, instead of hiring three or four more workers, which I need. I will not make investment decisions for my business and take on staff during times of uncertainty, and the uncertainty is the negative impact of this movement.
In any case, best of luck. I have to admire the tenacity in which you are tackling these issues. I would say just be focused and realize that we are all in this together and that there is no boogy man out there.
Take care.
scottOctober 11th, 2011
A couple of notes above:
Kevin: Corporations don't move money offshore to keep from paying taxes. That is illegal and does not happen. What you are referring to is a corporation that earns money abroad. It is only taxed when it is repatriated to the United States. If the money is earned abroad and spent abroad it is if it is not in the US. If you feel strongly about this, then make sure you pay sales tax on any item you buy outside of Austin. Legally, if you buy an item in Houston and transport it to Austin, you must pay sales taxes on that item at the Travis County rate; you can submit this yourself to the comptroller's office. Same thing if you buy something on the internet and don't pay Texas sales tax. By law you have to pay that.
Do you?
Point being, if you are going to ask others to do something, then you must be willing to do the same for yourself. We can't have two sets of rules. That would not be fair. And this movement is about fairness, after all?
George: You said it man. If you are in the 50% of people who work and pay no taxes, we need a Buffet Rule, or a minimum tax for you. It is not fair that the top 1% of income earners pay 40% of all income taxes and 50% of all income earners pay nothing. Just trying to be fair.
personOctober 11th, 2011
Alan Grayson on Occupy Wall Street:
KevinOctober 11th, 2011
Scott, you're absolutly right. I'm pretty ignorant when it comes to econimoc policy. From an idealogical standpoint it just seems unfair that Bank of America (for ex.) paid about 2-4% on taxes on 4.4 billion in profits, and recieved a 1.9 billion dollar rebate in 2010. I know, the world is not fair, I'm not that naive.
So yes, pass the Buffet Rule. What about a flat tax rate for all? I don't know, I'm trying to learn.
Yes I agree that we all have to take more personal responsibility. Question my own values before I question anothers'.
We should talk more. I'm deep into the Occupy Austin movement now, helping to staff the Geberal Assymbly meetings, and I'm on a couple committees. So I'm busy to say the least.
KevinOctober 11th, 2011
wow my spelling sucks
I'm so proud to live in Austin today! I've so wanted to get behind the protests, but I just didn't agree. I keep saying what I felt, and they were these 4 demands exactly. See you downtown with my three daughters.
JamesOctober 11th, 2011
Scott's comment on #4 is just as ignorant as George Steel's. "The wealthy already pay their fair share." Really? The top rate keeps dropping –that's why the many who earn below a certain amount pay no income taxes. Yet everyone who works pays payroll taxes and a host of other kinds of tax. "Many of these people are small business owners." Who says? Anyway, I'll take a big corp over the petit bourgeois small business owner who pays low wages and no health benefits. Besides, small businesses are a mixed bag for the economy: the destroy as many jobs as they create. Not exactly a selling point.
You and George Steel are just a bunch of Ron Paul flat-tax libertarians. You are not interested in anything Occupy Wall Street or Occupy Austin has to say.
Will you not also stand up and speak out–LOUDLY–against the others who caused this financial crisis? I refer to Fannie and Freddie, and Frank and Dodd and most other Dems (and the spineless Repubs afraid of being labeled racist by the Dems and the media) and Acorn, and the others who first bullied banks into making loans to those who couldn't afford them, threatening them with equal housing opportunity investigations (ie-playing the race card), storming their board meetings and shouting threats and obscenities outside bankers homes in front of their families (again, intimidation and the race card).
I also refer to those who were too irresponsible to make a decent effort to understand their loan terms and use common sense and simple math to know they couldn't afford to pay the loan; and those who illegally lied and fabricated income information to game the system to get homes they knew they would never be able to pay off.
Are you shouting out against them? The banks never would have done what they did if not for the race-baiting liberal activist, the liberal Dems facilitating these bad loans through race-baiting and then Fannie and Freddie, the Repubs too afraid of unfair labels as racists and uncaring to put a stop to it, and the irresponsible and/or illegal actions of those who didn't do due diligence on the terms of the biggest purchase they would ever make in their lives.
So speak out, but against ALL who are to blame.
skinnychefOctober 12th, 2011
why are there no demands that support corporate responsibility to environmental preservation. not sure if i can support a movement that does not support clean air and clean water…
The list of demands is a nice start but no mention of ending wars. slashing the military budget, building nuclear weapons, and providing free education and healthcare for all is not enough.
All should view the important documentary, "Inside Job" (released in 2010).It explains what happened to enable the conditions leading to the banking collapse of 2008 and explains clearly who were responsible for each facet of that. Unless we reinstate the Glass-Siegal Act and enforce banking regulations, it could happen again. Savings banks should never be allowed to merge with investment banks (risk-takers) and should be broken up, never again to become "too big to fail." Credit default swaps should be illegal, and the mortgage bankers who wrote toxic home loans and repackaged them for sale to investors (thus avoiding accountability) should be investigated and the guilty punished. We also should not put foxes in charge of guarding the henhouse and then demand that taxpayers replace the hens after they have disappeared. Watch the video.
I am starting to feel a little off-put by the amount of energy that is put into fist shaking at the corporations. I understand that they are behaving badly, but isn't it our politicians, our own government, that sold us down river on behalf of these monied interests?
Why aren't we demanding accountability from our government? Why aren't we demanding complete transparency for elected officials? We have the technology available to create a government where the representatives can be observed, caught and thrown out of their jobs for not representing their direct constituents or for participating in ethical conflicts of interest, and this would correct the problem of corruption of our federal processes very quickly, would it not?
There used to be more regulations to protect us from monopolies, but we can't get those back by directing our energies at the monopolies.
Thanks for listening to my rant, and I hope it doesn't offend or alienate, I just am weary from a lifetime of disappointment. I will continue to support this occupation movement, and I hope that it evolves into an excellent tool for the people. We all have issues that are important to us, I have mine, but I thought the core of this movement was to end the corruption of our government and extricate the special interests (monopolies) from its processes. Maybe I was projecting this goal onto others unfairly, I don't know.
There is a good article in NYT. It articulates the financial issues pretty well.
Many of the voices at Occupy Wall Street accuse political ideology on both sides, on the side of free markets but also on the side of big government, for serving the few at the expense of the other 99 percent — for paving the way to an entrenched permissive regulatory system that "privatizes gains and socializes losses."
ShelleyOctober 15th, 2011
I think Kevin has made some excellent points as well as providing suggestions on actual solutions that support the stated goals of the movement in Austin. I particularly like the "eliminate rider bill" concept. So much BS has been passed through like this. And like Kevin, I live within my means. I also agree that there needs to be accountability of those who financially gained from supporting clearly detrimental financial products. I am a lay person and I could clearly recognize that the loan policies of subprime lending spelled absolute disaster. At the time i thought, "Am I missing something here???" Unfortunately, I was not. There has been a pervasive cult of personality in our nation that supports living beyond ones means as the norm, so there needs to be a lot of self accountability for the idiots who knew they couldn't afford something but took the money anyway. To all of the contributors on this blog, some incredible insights and things to consider. There may be some disagreement here, but it seems that we share the same big picture…government needs to be FOR THE PEOPLE…not just the rich ones. Wake up politicians! Change is coming.
Here are some of the things I really like, about this ratification:
1. "We demand that the government be truly responsive to those it represents. We demand an end to the massive corporate influence blocking the voice of the people" ( I would add, "to their government." )
2. We stand for effective enforcements to prevent institutions from causing future economic crises.
3. We stand for strict repercussions for institutions which cause serious financial damage to our country and its people.
4. The wealthiest 1 percent should restitute any 99 percent they have harmed via greed.
A common theme is accountability. My take, is a Report Card System, in which funding is tied in to how much YOU derive an alleged benefit. You can read my thoughts at the urls posted.
You are welcome to share your comments on my site, as well. I am particularly interested in any Report Cards you fill out, on any government agency.
THAN YOU, for all your dedication to this worthy movement!
DavidOctober 15th, 2011
I hear this tripe all the time from professional pols to pothead hippies…"Fair Share."
1: Who, exactly, are the rich? >$1MM? >$250,000?
2: What, exactly, is the appropriate fair share of taxes that the rich should pay? 50%? 75%? 90%?
If we go back to Federal Tax Rates at 90% then states with high income taxes, say New York, then 110% of their income would be taken.
Put a number on it or knock off the mindless demagoguery.
Tax churches
IsaacOctober 17th, 2011
WHOA! Race baiting? now it is a minority issue? so WE are the reason the banks sold and re sold on unregulated corrupt derivatives, and WE are the reason we are in a WAR that takes trillions of dollars. I am suprise you didn't bring the Elderly and the Veterans into this and said they were "baiting" too. I guess since I am a minority it is automatically assumed I am sucking of the government…that is ignorace at it's finest. Well while you continue to blame minorities we will tackle on REAL issues that are based off of FACTS not STEREOTYPES and crap Glen Beck says that bigots eat up to justifiy there morbid stances.
Steven BaileyOctober 18th, 2011
I like the debate…even the people I don't agree with…I would like to see more discussion of bank reform specifically…I think narrowing the issues down would be helpful…I would be totally for re-establishing the Bank Act of 1933 for example…increasing capital gains tax maybe tying it to the unemployment rate.
The World Trade Organization (WTO) is the most powerful legislative and judicial body in the world. By promoting the free trade agenda of multinational corporations above the interests of local communities, working families, and the environment, the WTO has systematically undermined democracy around the world.
Unlike United Nations treaties, the International Labor Organization conventions, or multilateral environmental agreements, WTO rules can be enforced through sanctions. This gives the WTO more power than any other international body. The WTO's authority even eclipses national governments
WTO rules are written by and for corporations, putting profits above people and the planet.
WTO rules trample labor and human rights.
WTO rules render environmental protections illegal.
WTO rules stand between dying people and the medicine that will save their lives.
Top Reasons to Oppose the WTO
The World Bank and The International Monetary Fund
Through loans, often to governments whose constituents suffer the most under the global economy, and "structural adjustment" policies, the World Bank (WB) International Monetary Fund (IMF) has kept most nations of the global south in poverty. Conditions on accepting loans ensure open market access for corporations while cutting social spending on programs such as education, health care and production credits for poor farmers.
Created after World War II to help avoid Great Depression-like economic disasters, the World Bank and the IMF are the world's largest public lenders, with the Bank managing a total portfolio of $200 billion and the Fund supplying member governments with money to overcome short-term credit crunches.
But when the IMF and the WB lend money to debtor countries, the money comes with strings attached. These strings come in the form of policy prescriptions called "structural adjustment policies." These policies—or SAPs, as they are sometimes called—require debtor governments to open their economies to penetration by foreign corporations, allowing access to the country's workers and environment at bargain basement prices.
Structural adjustment policies mean across-the-board privatization of public utilities and publicly owned industries. They mean the slashing of government budgets, leading to cutbacks in spending on health care and education. They mean focusing resources on growing export crops for industrial countries rather than supporting family farms and growing food for local communities. And, as their imposition in country after country in Latin America, Africa, and Asia has shown, they lead to deeper inequality and environmental destruction.
Top Ten Reasons to Oppose the IMF
I agree this OA-Goals & Demands statement (i.e. that we hate corruption, both governmental & economic) is almost as wonderful, & about as useful, as an Obama campaign speech. If we want to eliminate corruption in government we should recognize that "Representative" Democracy, when the level of representation is 1/1,000,000, is not just an invitation to corruption, it makes it inevitable. If you want to be a politician you first find some rich money-bag to finance your campaigns, represent him, devote the rest of your career to persuading the rest of the people you're actually representing THEM, & the best liar wins. What good can come from a political system based on lies? The only way to eliminate corruption in government is to setup a REAL Democracy, where everybody participates in the legislative process (not just 1/100th of 1/100th of 1/100th of the population) & the best IDEA wins. If we want to eliminate economic corruption, we should recognize that letting the Usurers at the coalition of big banks who are pleased to call themselves the "Federal Reserve" print-up our money for us & claim it belongs to THEM, even tho they back it up with nothing of their own, is the ultimate, & inevitable, source of economic corruption, guaranteed to suck all the blood out of our economy, & impoverish us all. We need to renounce the "Federal Reserve"s funny-money currency & come-up with a currency of our own that belongs to us, so we can have an economy that belongs to & benefits us, rather than one that belongs to & benefits the money-lenders. Finally, once we get the blood-sucking Usurers off our backs (& only then) we'll be able to get serious about trying to figure out how deal w that most serious & complex problem which has been bedeviling us for the last 3000 years: the global population-explosion (aka the "Beast of Armageddon", threatening to drag us to our doom w its 4 Horsemen: Famine, Plague, War, & Avarice) b4 we bring Mother Nature to her knees, & breed ourselves into oblivion.
J Curtis – Unbeliever in the un-Holy Trinity of: Usury, Fake Democracy, & the Beast of Armageddon
P.S. Today's my birthday – this would be my best birthday present ever, to be able to die happy believing that the rest of you may actually have a future, & that God's greatest creation yet may not prove to be a dud.
Problems and Solutions
First and most importantly, use only legal and peaceful ways to improve things.
Problem #1: Corruption of Democracy. SOLUTIONS: Continuously invent and conduct new experiments in democracy — and see which ones work best. First try them in a few cities, and try the best of these at higher levels. Residents of places trying them can vote on the results. In conducting new experiments, try some of the following. Use combinations of lotteries and elections to select officials. Have term limits for more offices. Strictly limit campaign contributions and give equal mass media time to all qualified candidates. Require candidates to advance through government one level at a time. – – In the first representative democracy (Athenian democracy), people used mainly lotteries (sortition) to select their representatives, as the best way to protect democracy from corruption. Today democracy is much more at risk because: the rich are many times richer (51 of the world's largest 100 economies are those of corporations); election campaigns cost much more; and modern mass media has much power. Today people still use lotteries to select trial jurors. Why is it still good for personal justice but not social justice?
Problem #2: Ignorance. More than 80% of adults in the world can read. But many are ignorant. They don't use their freedoms to question, reason, invent, speak out, think for themselves, and act on their own healthy ideas to make things better. Many are still learning that societies can't be ignorant and free at the same time. Societies and governments are made of individuals. – – SOLUTIONS: Education, access to information, and self-improvement. – Spend more tax money to make all kinds of post-high school education at very low cost for all. – Make access to the Internet free — or at very low cost — for all. – Self-improvement begins with your thoughts.
Problem #3: Overpopulation. As overpopulation worsens, around the world wages remain low and prices rise for almost everything. In countries losing jobs to places paying lower wages, unemployment increases, more lose their homes and go bankrupt, and more fall into poverty. Taxes rise to make up for lost income tax, property tax and business tax. The gap between rich and everyone else becomes more visible. Public protests grow and become violent. There can be more war to enlist the poor and distract the rest. – – SOLUTIONS: – Keep religions, cultures and governments accountable for approving and promoting overpopulation. – Boycott products made in countries with the fastest growing populations. You will likely pay more for products made elsewhere. So, people on limited budgets should be willing to consume less. Spend more tax money on education for all; some overpopulation is due to ignorance. – Reform democracies to enable the passage of laws to: reduce trade with overpopulated countries until they reduce their birth rates; have a global minimum wage of $5 per hour for people employed by companies based in nations having an equal or greater minimum wage — to discourage companies from moving jobs to overpopulated countries with lower wages. As a result, prices of goods and services will rise. So, people on limited budgets should be willing to consume less.
Problem #4: Corporate Greed. In a selfish and often reckless way, it makes as much money as fast as it can. And it uses money and mass media to take away people's power to govern and protect themselves. – – SOLUTIONS: – Boycott the greediest corporations. – Reform democracies to enable the passage of laws to require corporations to rewrite priorities in their corporate charters, so that the public interest is placed ahead of profit — as it was in the first charters made in the 1800s.
Problem #5: War. Today there are wars over oil. Next there may be war over clean water and farm land. And as the gap between rich and everyone else widens, there may be outright class war within nations. Currently, a low grade "class war" is starting in some nations, with increasing crime by some of the poor against people with assets. – – SOLUTION: Reform democracies to enable people to have a greater voice in preventing illegal wars.
More info at http://www.improvingourworld.com.
Occupy Austin | Occupy Wall Street » Blog Archive » How To Get Involved With Occupy AustinOctober 24th, 2011
[…] Spread the word! A lot of people don't know what Occupy Austin and Occupy Wall Street are all about. One of the best ways to get information out there is through human interaction. Occupy Austin is about democracy, economic security, corporate responsibility and financial fairness. You can see the list of goals and demands as ratified by the General Assembly here. […]
What about reading Confessions of an Economic Hitman which goes into the ways in which innocent little countries are sucked for resources in the name of corporate greed? At the end of the first book, it says that their are a lot of other corporations from other countries joined together in this… I just think that change will only come through informing the public… Maybe we need to work towards the non- profit contributions end towards giving out information… I believe that people wanting to march is awesome and it shows that there are a lot of good, honest people in the world, which makes me feel better… If change comes from within, then we must change the minds of the people, inform them, worldwide, otherwise they may just dismiss the movement as they don't understand it (so many of the generations brainwarshed)… It's like, how do we eradicate greed? (We can get people in touch with the one who can do this…) I don't know, maybe we just need to make honesty look good on TV and not the critical junk, glorifying wealth through illicit means, that's available now?…
"Start all over, Make a New Beginning…" – Tracy Chapman (awesome).
ok i'm in. lobbiests need to be out lawed, there is 5 of them to every member of both houses. this has got to stop.
just in case it has not been said already wallsteet owns and operates the congress and the white house.
what about term limits on the reps and senators? and when they are done NO more income or insurance.
they do need to remember that they work for the PEOPLE.
DorrieOctober 29th, 2011
My take:
The financial institutions were in bed with Corporations to defraud and coerce monies from the unspecialized. This has been proven. Our government has laws requiring fiduciary responsibility (not enforced). Our government is cornered by the corporations and financial institutions (contributions, federal reserve, lobbyists, jobs following politics, ect). Whose money was this?
If the people created the production they weren't paid for it. If technology , who should benefit from it's productivity? Are the earth's resources owned fairly? Do our laws support "with fairness and justice for all"? Or should a few own the earth?
Defining the problems is essential and we are still in process. Brainstorming solutions couldn't hurt. Solutions? Would love feedback.
1…Term Limits (disconnect from citizen views)
2….No paid lobbying, publicly aired lobbying (more balanced representation)
3….Equal distribution of campaign funds (equal chance to represent views to voters)
4…..3 to 5 year block to job in field where politician was a committee member on committee directly effecting that field. (removal of possible bribery)
5….Must recuse oneself from if a conflict of interests resides with politician or their immediate family member. (remove temptation to put family above responsibility to the public)
6…….Equal protection and application under the law with public group action law suit brought against responsible party, system, law which did not do it's job. (fairness and justice for all with teeth)
7…..Minimum wage to increase to cost of living (shelter, food, clothing, healthcare for that employee) in area job requires employee to reside. (It is unethical to use a person's day for gain when the person does not have enough to sustain him/herself with dignity and worse yet when the company shows a profit.)
What came first the egg or the chicken? the need to sell expensive homes in California and the want of the average American family to own a home started this. We allowed foreigners to come to our coastal cities and buy our real estate forcing the prices up and keeping average Americans out of homeownership. The homebuilders have continued to make sales by financing the down payments which used to be 20%- on a 400k home would be 80k- who has that? they quit building tiny condos except for high rises. They told the applicants that with the rising prices of homes "in 3 years you can refinance your homes and the 2nd for the down payment would be paid off". But the rise in prices stopped and the payments came due. Californians who were retiring sold their high priced homes in California and build and bought almost as expensive homes in Montana where I live. This building spree provided jobs for all those non-tech people without an education and homes for them also. When it fell apart those were the unemployed.Twenty per cent of our GNP is the construction industry. We have shipped everything else but the service industry overseas. The lawyers and doctors still have their jobs and homes. The stock market was dead so the salespeople at the selling companies made up the derivatives to have something to sell because interest rates are low. Most people then and even now do not understand what they are. It is a shame that we could not have made up a financing plan for the famous and now distinct RCA TV rather than moving tv production overseas along with with everything else. WE as a nation have lost our technological gains to becoming contractors and sales people. Our kids are working at the mall and McDonalds and not going to school to learn technology. Our educational system pays teachers to teach an antiquated curriculum to kids who are more interested in texting each other than learning. We have to start at the bottom and vote the corrupt people out. We have found out the drones have won the war better than 100k men in Afghanistan- bring the troops home. Send them to school like we did in the late 40's and 50's and get our technology edge back while working on the political system. The billions we save will go a long way towards balancing our budget. We had no deficient until we went to war- we had a surplus!
jack curtisOctober 30th, 2011
Why is the person who dubs imrself "Occupy Austin" trying to redirect back to the original lame statement which we all seem to agree is too unfocused to do any good? Isn't this a slap in the face those of us who are trying to move Occupy Austin forward so it cam achieve something, rather than just fritter itself away running in all directions at once stamping-out the plethora of fires which are symptomatic, rather than dealing w the few w are causative?
HopefulOctober 31st, 2011
Being from a lower middle class income family, Occupy Austin means a lot to me. Its the start to something much bigger, it is taking a step towards a much needed change. No one person can offer a 'fix' that will make everyone happy.
But going into the debate, Corporations hide them selves within everything. Schools for example. My mother works for an Austin school district, they cut teachers pay by 1/3. Along with took away free benefits and began charging, that wouldn't piss so many people off if it had applied to everyone, yet the superintendents still gave them selves a generous raise. Yes schools are supposed to be politically free yet they too have become a corporation (And by corporation to clear confusion would be multi million dollar businesses.)
They are cutting teachers pay, yet they want to do this with their money?? How does it make since? *
Proposition 1, for $72 million, includes money to purchase school buses and to buy, construct, renovate and equip school buildings.
Proposition 2, for $57 million, includes money to renovate elementary schools and to build a campus to replace Valley View Elementary School, which largely would benefit students in the Cuernavaca neighborhood who would no longer have a sometimes 90-minute round trip by bus to get to school. The money would also pay for a new maintenance facility. (The school is only 20min away. Wouldn't it be better to use part of that 72million to buy a bus to have a shorter bus route instead of a new school for the lower income family's? BTW, Barton creek elementary is only 15min away.)
Proposition 3 for $20.5 million, includes money for new facilities, including a swim center, a student fitness and activity facility and additional parking nearby on what is now the old Shriner facility. (Used mostly to build a football stadium)
Chuck LuchesiNovember 1st, 2011
No one seems to acknowledge the fact that the housing crisis had
its beginning by President Jimmy "Peanut" Carter when he advanced the request to banks to honor home loans to unqualified applicants
This was picked up by President "I never had sex with that woman"
William Clinton and then compounded by "Mrs" Barney Frank who said
that these people were qualified to own homes. Nothing could be
further from the truth. President George Bush tried in 2005 to
change this situation but was ignored by congress. Let's put the blame where it belongs, with the Democrats. There are plenty of
things to blame the banks for, but this wasn't one of them.
DAYLITENovember 2nd, 2011
GOP platform? Well lets see. They are bought and paid for by international banks and wall street who are shipping all our jobs to China and India where people work for over 14 hours a day at 2 dollars a day. No child labor laws. No regulations, like the endangered species act, lead in children toys, or other pollution standards. No social security. No health care. No medicare, medicaid. Currency manipulation to force lower prices on exports and the list goes on.
The "American" wall streeters, and corporations love this slave labor, so the rich here can have cheap products. But China and India (over a third of the population of the planet in those two countrys) cant afford our products so republicans want to have no minimum wage here. No labor standards. No Social Security. No medical care, accept for the rich who can afford it. No EPA, No endangered species act est. To bring us down to there standards, so we can compete in the name of free trade. Instead of imposing tariffs, import taxes to level the playing field. Like our founding fathers had before income tax, For a race to the top, instead of a race to the bottom and it would make it more profitable to bring corporate jobs back to America.
But the American government says that's protectionist, well news flash THE AMERICAN GOVERNMENT SHOULD PROTECT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE! not wall street banks and big corporations that put them in office.
Republicans say getting rid of tax loop holes, and ending the Bush tax cuts. Bringing the taxes on the rich back to Clinton levels is class warfare against the rich. Well I really don't think the rich 1%ers in there multy million/ billion dollar homes want to continue their war against the 99%ers, including the homeless and hungry. They say "GET A JOB" well most of the occupy wall street protests have jobs but wages and benefits have been slashed. The rest would love to, but they all went to China and India in the name of profits. The rich say the poor are just jealous. They're not jealous they're mad!
Well democrats aren't much better, they are bought by the same banks and wall street corporations. Making huge campaign contribution to both parties hedging their bets.
And lets not forget the fed. They print trillions out of thin air , not based on anything, to bail out banks and wall street with no accountability. So we can't check their books! We should make banks and wall street pay back their bailouts with interest like they would charge us! And stop federally insuring banks that invest in wall street again. Banks and credit cards or other financal lending institution shouldn't be able to charge over 10% interest. Over that was once called "usury". Was basically considered theft! All loans over that should be forced down to 10%
We need campaign finance reform to get big money out of politics, and should have majority rules, No one should be allowed to take office with less than 50% of the vote. If all are less, there should be run offs, so voting for a third party isn't a wasted vote. Keeping republicans and democrats in power.
Other things that I think should be basic american rights, Food and shelter for the poor. Free health care and college education for all and forgiving student loans.
If some are wondering why people are protesting at occupy wall street, world wide now. This is some of one protesters thoughts .
Dave CNovember 2nd, 2011
The movement should also be about fairness. The PPACA healthcare plan does not address health, only big business' opportunity to cash in on it. PAY FOR HEALTH, NOT HEALTHCARE. There are 5 conditions that make up 80% of healthcare expenditure: diabetes, heart disease, smoking, obesity and tort reform. If we eliminated obesity alone, research has shown it will save a TRILLION dollars over a ten year period. Nothing in the PPACA addresses this or has even been considered.
There are better solutions than giving our grand children's future financial security away and feeding our mediocre healthcare cartels.
I have tried to read as many comments as possible. I must say that I agree with alot of what has been said. But one point that I would like to make that hasnt been made is:
Corporations are run by people. People make the decisions for the corporations. When a corporation is found at fault it is fined and in most cases does not admit fault. This needs to change.
The people charged with making the decisions within a corporation should be fined and jailed if necessary. The board members, officers and leaders are the ones that should be made to suffer. That way you have true accountibility. Fineing a billion dollar corporation a $100,000 is nothing and has no impact. Fineing a leader a $100,000 will hopefully deliver the message.
I'm a 70 YO financial planner and investment advisor. I'm very much in the OWS camp. See my blog re the Haves and the Have Nots from October 26, 2100 on my website.
[…] it did not author. If any set of proposals manages to pass, as did happen with my home occupation, Occupy Austin, their inadequacy makes obvious the extent to which the GA, despite all talk of direct democracy, […]
mariaNovember 7th, 2011
The Economic Hitman
Ryan's comments on The Invisible Committee's critique of General Assemblies | Occupy Austin Reading GroupNovember 9th, 2011
[…] it did not author. If any set of proposals manages to pass, as did happen with my home occupation, Occupy Austin, their inadequacy makes obvious the extent to which the GA, despite all talk of direct democracy, […]
First, my US Rep told me the same thing once, that "Corporations are just people"…I said,"so's the Mob. So's Al Quaeda."
Second, I'm seeing a lot of Faux News talking points, here…which really doesn't surprise me, since this is Texas.
Third, for all of those folks who keep repeating the 2 above; Oliver Wendell Holmes"I like paying taxes. With them, I buy Civilisation." Just something to think about.
Fourth, The idea about a "Representative", "representing" 600,000+ people…it is pretty silly. I advocate a much smaller Polity….ie. More Representatives. a 1/1000 ratio is a sensible target.
Fifth,surely even the Corporate Apologists can see the great wealth transfer of the last 30+ years…and the effects on our politics….when my real wages(purchasing power) hasn't risen in my lifetime, somethings terribly wrong. I agree, audit, then Nationalize the Fed.
Sixth, Nationalize Health. Fear of "Socialism", aside…look at the Facts of our current, immoral system. The way we do things, now, is shameful, and unbecoming a Civilised People.
Thanks, See ya on nov 17
Would it be fair to summarize what you're talking about as "the conservative force vs the radical force, performing the great dance of life".
[…] So, I took a page from the Occupy movement and focused locally. Jax and I have bragged about our town before, but it's worth another mention. Austin rocks (literally and figuratively). And I was happy to find the Occupy Austin site to be articulate and succinct. For example, while media types were harking on and on about how the movement had no focus, Occupy Austin had a clear list of tenets: […]
Jerry ShawFebruary 18th, 2012
Thank god for occupy austin. Finally we will force all these rich people making $75,000 per year to pay for our abortions, gay pride parades and make the free, private exchange of goods and services (aka capitalism) completely illegal. Bliss is right around the corner!
Kit Q&A: Occupy Sexuality (& blog question) | approximately 8,000 words - Kit O'Connell's HomepageJuly 11th, 2012
[…] asking for a kind of systemic change which is difficult to boil down into a simple list (although Occupy Austin issued one back at its start). Once you start examining how corporate influences affect our society, you […]


text:
Since end of 2010, mortgage rates flat overallby Tim Manni
Mortgage rates declined once again last week, slipping back just four basis points. As news shifted from economic recovery to the horrific natural disasters which occurred in Japan, there was word on Friday of a "repatriation" of cash to Japan from selling some holdings of Treasuries, but the overall effect was on interest rates was mild, explains HSH.com's VP Keith Gumbinger in the latest issue of our Market Trends Newsletter:
HSH.com's overall mortgage tracker — our weekly Fixed-Rate Mortgage Indicator (FRMI) — noted that the overall average rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages declined by four basis points (.04%) to finish the week at an average 5.14%. A key component of the first-time homebuyer market, FHA-backed 30-year fixed-rate mortgages slipped by a lone basis point to land at 4.80%. Hybrid 5/1 ARMs, often the most viable alternative to the traditional 30-year FRM (especially for jumbo buyers) also eased back a little, shedding four hundredths of a percentage point (.04%) for a second consecutive week to close the period at 3.83%.
Are things getting back to normal?
After a substantial rise which began in October 2010 and crested in December, rates have remained fairly flat overall, pulled in different directions by an economy which is growing at a meager pace. A clue that financial markets are healing comes in the form of narrowing differences between benchmarks such as the ten-year US Treasury (a virtually risk-free investment) and more risky products like residential mortgages. To be fair, Treasuries yields remain low as the Fed continues its QE2 program to support the economy, but the yield markup over Treasuries (called "spread") for things like first mortgages has returned to near normal.
Before the financial crisis hit back in 2007, the spread between 30-year FRMs and the 10yr Treasury typically averages between 150 and 160 basis points before blowing out to as much as 280 at its peak. Presently, we find ourselves back in normal range again. Spreads for jumbo 30-year FRMs, perhaps the best expression of private market concerns do remain elevated compared to a norm of perhaps 180 basis points, but at about 210 right now they are closing in on normal once again — and that in a market which still has considerable risk and a secondary market which barely exists. That spreads have returned to near normal levels does suggest that the lending climate, while still tight, may be moving gradually toward a more welcoming stance before too long.
Will there be a break in the range mortgage rates have wandered in for the last three months or so? Continue reading "Flat Rates for Mortgages" to find out.

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In this year that marks Charles Darwin's 200th birthday and the 150th anniversary of the publication of his book, On the Origin of Species,1 the debate over creation and evolution has taken a significant evolutionary leap. An American-Canadian team of geologists and geophysicists recently published a paper in which they argue that minerals on and in the crust of Earth have evolved.2 They make the claim that, in a manner similar to the history of life, new minerals adapt or evolve with changing environmental conditions throughout geologic time.3
In their attempts to provide an evolutionary explanation for the mineral history of Earth's crust the research team inadvertently delivers much new evidence for creation. They point out that the dust particles in the pre-stellar molecular cloud from which the solar system formed contained only about a dozen different minerals. Gravitational clumping within the molecular cloud led to the formation of a proto-Sun surrounded by a protoplanetary disk. Then, careful fine-tuning of the protoplanetary disk's characteristics resulted in the meteorites ending up with 60 different mineral species, out of which Earth formed. Subsequent aqueous and thermal alteration of the meteorites and asteroidal accretion and differentiation, under just-right conditions, caused the 60 minerals to increase to 250.
Once Earth had fully formed with a stable crust and ocean in place, biological processes produced explosive advances in Earth's surface mineralogy. In fact, the research team demonstrated that with each big bang of life (sudden, widespread radiation of new life-forms) a mineralogy big bang followed. They show that the most dramatic biomineral explosion by far took place following the Cambrian explosion event some 543 million years ago.
According to the research team life plays a crucial and unique role in Earth's surface mineralogy. Unlike any other chemical pathway, living systems can generate far-from-equilibrium conditions. Thus, the enormous diversity and abundance of life throughout the past 543 million years resulted in an especially great variety of far-from-equilibrium chemical circumstances.
Thanks to the way life was introduced on Earth, the early 250 mineral species have exploded to the present 4,300 known mineral species. And because of this abundance, humans possessed all the necessary mineral resources to easily launch and sustain global, high-technology civilization.
RTB's creation model asserts that without the supernatural planning, design, and control with which the Creator formed the planet and introduced and sustained life, humanity would have been bereft of the necessary mineral reserves, in addition to biological and biodeposit resources. Just as the long progression of life on Earth from simple-to-complex-and-diverse testifies of the handiwork of a super-intelligent Creator rather than just mere natural processes, likewise the growth in the number and complexity of mineral species on Earth's surface over the past four billion years gives evidence for the work of the same Creator.4


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You may have seen a new proposal for a "mobile" top-level domain name for use by something called "mobile users" whatever they are. (The domain will not actually be named .mobile, rumours are they are hoping for a coveted one-letter TLD like .m "to make it easier to type on a mobile phone.) Centuries ago, as trademark law began its evolution, we learned one pretty strong rule about building rules for a name system for commerce, and even for non-commerce.
Nobody should be given ownership of generic terms. Nobody should have ownership rights in a generic word like "apple" -- not Apple Computer, not Apple Records, not the Washington State Apple Growers, not a man named John Apple. more»
Registration of .Pro domains has descended into shambles as the Registry responsible for their administration has allowed a flood of domain registrations which appear to be in breach of the strict rules restricting who can register a .pro domain and the certified credentials required before any such domain can work. more»
In the last few years, ICANN has made huge strides in Protecting Trademarks within new generic Top-Level Domains (gTLDs). Now much more is being asked. Is it right? Is it appropriate? Will these changes make the new gTLDs unusable for the very communities we most hope will want them: developing countries, developing communities, new businesses, growing organizations and all the people born in the future? more»
Since the launch of the New gTLD Program in 2012, it has become evident that new gTLD registries overestimated the demand for new Top-Level Domain name extensions. Furthermore, new gTLD registries did not anticipate the hurdles in raising awareness, not to mention creating adoption for new domains. Even the most pessimistic New gTLD Program critic did not expect such uninspiring results. It was a wake up call for many in the domain industry. The New gTLD Program currently lacks credibility. No new gTLD has yet to go mainstream and capture the world's imagination. more»
The first salvo on NANOG this morning in response to the launch of OpenDNS was a predictable lambasting along the lines of "here comes SiteFinder II". Fortunately the follow-ups were quick to point out that OpenDNS was a far cry from SiteFinder for the obvious reason that people have the choice to use it, nobody had a choice with SiteFinder. ...the real magic here can come from it's use in phishing mitigation. more»
What are the most popularly used top-level domains (TLDs), or at least, which are the ones that show up on pages indexed in Google? I wondered this yesterday after seeing a news article stating that the registration of .cn (china) top-level domain names topped 1 million for the first time ever by the end of 2005. more»
As an alternative to the creation of the .XXX TLD, ICANN/IANA can assign special port numbers that can be used to label adult content. IANA assigns port numbers as part of its duties. For example, port 80 is reserved for the HTTP protocol (i.e. the World Wide Web). Port 443 is reserved for the HTTPS protocol (SSL-secure version of HTTP). Port 23 is for Telnet, port 25 is for SMTP, and so on. One can see the full list at here... In a real sense, the IANA port assignments are just suggestions to the world as to what to expect on certain ports, whether it be a mail server, WHOIS, FTP, POP email or any other service/protocol. more»
For the first time in Internet history the number of instances of DNS root servers outside the United States has overtaken the number within. The balance was tipped by the recent launch in Frankfurt of an anycast instance of the RIPE NCC operated K-root server. The K-root server is one of the 13 DNS root servers that resolve lookups for domain names all over the world and form a critical part of the global Internet infrastructure. The K-root server has been operated by the RIPE NCC since 1997 when the first server was installed at the London Internet Exchange (LINX) in London, UK. more»
The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), in its board meeting in San Francisco on Friday, approved the .xxx Top-Level Domain. The ICANN board members voted 8 for, 3 against, 4 abstain. While the decision still has to undergo final review with IANA and the US Department of Commerce, it appear that ICANN's decade-long, most controversial Top-Level Domain application to date has now concluded. more»
"The Root Server is a Scarce Resource" is the focus of part one of a three-part series based on a study prepared by Karl M. Manheim, Professor of Law at Loyola Law School and Lawrence B. Solum, Professor of Law at University of San Diego. Special thanks and credit to Hastings Communications and Entertainment Law Journal, Vol. 25, p. 317, 2004. ...We begin our analysis of domain name policy with a brief excursion into economics. Economics cannot answer all of the questions raised by domain name policy. First, domain name policy must answer to the discipline of network engineering. A useful domain name system must work, and the functionality, scalability, reliability, and stability of the system are determined by the soundness of its engineering. Second, domain name policy must answer to public policy. The Internet is a global network of networks, and Internet policy is answerable to a variety of constituencies, including national governments, the operators of the ccTLDs, Internet Service Providers, information providers, end users of the Internet, and many others. more»
During its board meeting today in Sydney, the Internet Corporation of Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) announced Rod Beckstrom, the former U.S. cybersecurity chief, as the new President and CEO. Beckstrom will be replacing Dr. Paul Twomey who had been serving this position since March 2003 and announced his resignation earlier this year. Dr Twomey has lately been reported as the primary candidate for heading Australian Government's proposed A$43 billion investment in a new National Broadband Network. more»
According to page 123 of ICANN's annual report: "...Commitment to continued payment in the salary span of 50th to 75th percentile of for-profit market place of companies of a similar size and complexity to ICANN..." Note that the comparables have been "for-profit". This is obviously ridiculous, given the purported non-profit nature of ICANN, with its inherent job security... more»
So-called domain tasting is one of the more unpleasant developments in the domain business in the past year. Domain speculators are registering millions of domains without paying for them, in a business model not unlike running a condiment business by visiting every fast food restaurant in town and scooping up all of the ketchup packets. Since 2003, the contract between ICANN and each unsponsored TLD registry (.biz, .com, .info, .net, .org, and .pro) has added an Add Grace Period (AGP) of five days during which a registrant can delete a newly registered domain and get a full refund. Although this provision was clearly intended to allow registrars to correct the occasional typo and spelling error in registrations, speculators realized that this allows them to try out any domain for five days for free... more»
Yesterday the ICANN board discussed and approved ICANN staff to enter into negotiations with ICM Registry, Inc. for the .XXX Top Level Domain (TLD). I'm sure there will be a longer more complete presentation from ICANN later about this, but as an individual board member I thought I'd post a quick note before people got carried away with speculation based on a lack of information. more»
"Competitive Bidding for new gTLDs" is the focus of part three of a three-part series based on a study prepared by Karl M. Manheim, Professor of Law at Loyola Law School and Lawrence B. Solum, Professor of Law at University of San Diego. Special thanks and credit to Hastings Communications and Entertainment Law Journal, Vol. 25, p. 317, 2004. ...When new radio frequencies become available for commercial use, federal law requires that licenses be auctioned off to the highest qualified bidder. The FCC does a reasonably good job in designing and conducting spectrum auctions. They are often familiar in format, not much different than found for consumer goods on eBay. In other cases, such as with "Simultaneous Multiple-Round" or "combinatorial bidding," the auction design is fairly complex. Because of complexity in these cases, the FCC sponsors periodic conferences on auction theory and seminars on auction mechanics for potential bidders. more»


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The bank account for Gov. Tim Pawlenty's new national political action committee is a little bit bigger after roughly 300 people attended a fundraiser for Pawlenty's Freedom First PAC in Minneapolis Wednesday night.
The event featured some well-known Hollywood Republicans and comes just days before Pawlenty is scheduled to deliver a speech to Republicans in Iowa.
Gov. Pawlenty's fundraiser officially kicked off his political action committee to help elect Republicans in 2010. As he delivered his speech to an audience in business suits, Pawlenty said his PAC will work to build on the Republican victories in New Jersey and Virginia on Tuesday night.
"We have a great country that's built on tremendous values and principles, but we're adrift and we need to launch this comeback and we know that if we have individuals in leadership positions who don't appreciate that when you expand government, you crowd out other activities and then you begin to stifle some important elements of the American economy and the American spirit," Pawlenty said.
The audience included GOP activists, lobbyists and several state lawmakers who paid from $1,000 to $5,000 to attend. There were special perks for those who bundled upwards of $100,000 in contributions. A spokesman for Pawlenty's PAC said not all of the 300 in attendance were contributors, and he didn't know how much money the event raised.
John Stanoch, Minnesota President of Qwest Communications, attended the fundraiser. Stanoch is a Democrat, but he said he wanted to help get his company's policies in front of key policy makers.
"Our governor wants to have input on public policy nationally and if you're a company that is involved with important public policies, you want to support many people who are involved in the political process," Stanoch said.
Pawlenty also got some Hollywood help at the event. Actors Jon Voight and John Ratzenberger attended and spoke to contributors during a private dinner. Voight told reporters that he likes Pawlenty's message and rearranged his schedule to be in Minnesota. He wasn't willing, however, to endorse Pawlenty for president in 2012.
"That's a long way off," Voight said. "He's certainly one of the new lights of the Republican Party and he's doing a lot of good."
Pawlenty formed his PAC in October which allows him to raise money, pay for travel and help candidates across the country. Past presidential candidates used similar PACs to raise their profile across the country.
Pawlenty hasn't ruled out a run for president in 2012. He said he's been careful to caution supporters who encourage him to run in 2012.
"Some people do, but we always try to inform them this is about a PAC that's dedicated to the 2010 elections," he said.
It's hard, however, for the public not to think Pawlenty is making a run for the White House, especially since he's scheduled to deliver a speech in the politically important state of Iowa on Saturday. Pawlenty said he's still working on his speech to GOP activists in Des Moines.
Here in Minnesota, Democrats say the governor should be working more on addressing state issues. DFL Party Chair Brian Melendez said Pawlenty should focus less on national politics and more on his day job.
"It's not inherently dangerous for a politician to look for another gig. In fact, many of them in both parties are doing it all of the time," Melendez said. "The danger here is that Tim Pawlenty has practically checked out of being governor of Minnesota.
"He really hasn't been much in evidence throughout the summer. He's spending two or three days a week on the road; he's spending this weekend in Iowa. It's very clear that his priority is no longer governing Minnesota, it's running for president."
Pawlenty will focus on his day job on Thursday. He's holding a news conference to announce a proposal to amend the state's constitution. Pawlenty wouldn't offer specifics on his plan, but said it would relate to economic issues and government spending.


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Hansel And Gretel, Parker And Movie 43 In The Trailer Park [VIDEO]
A dark twist on a childhood favorite, Jason Statham kicks some butt and cheap laughs all in this weeks Trailer Park.
First stop Jeremy Renner(Avengers) and Gemma Arterton(Prince of Persia; Sands of Time) fight witches as "Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters".
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Jason Statham does his thing, meaning beating up bad guys in "Parker".
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Finally if you hate plots and scripts and just want to laugh at "jokes" and skits "Movie 43″ could be for you. I picked the "safest trailer" I could find but it's still not good for kids and probably not safe for work.
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Take a break at Truck Stop on Thursday at the Boyle Street Plaza
This is the week to eat outside, standing up, even being sloppy. So I believe the latest iteration of Truck Stop (a mini-What the Truck?! food truck festival with only four vendors) will prove compelling. It's on Thursday, July 10, from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Boyle Street Plaza at 9538-103A Ave. It's the second time the event has come to Boyle Street Plaza, this time with a burger-themed Truck Stop. The trucks include Funky Mango, a Fort Saskatchewan-based vendor serving up a Thai shrimp burger, and Attila the Hungry featuring the Peacemaker — a pork, beef and shiitake mushroom patty topped with Thai peanut butter and strawberry sriracha jam.
If you're new to What the Truck?! events, you might enjoy Truck Stop as a warm-up to the larger efforts that attract literally thousands of eager diners. You can RSVP on Facebook, or for full details, go to whatthetruck.ca.


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A dozen artists who share one of the city's leading creative spaces have warned that its future is now in jeopardy because of funding issues.
Just over six months after the City of Culture year ended, the artists, whose studios were set up at 13 Pump Street with assistance from the Culture Company, is closing after the group they were renting from ran into difficulties.
The artists are now poised to ask Derry City Council and the Arts Council to intervene to help them secure its future by subsiding some of the costs, as happens in other cities.
The Pump Street Artists have expressed dismay that despite always paying their full rent and creating "a thriving, creative community in the heart of the city", that their legacy is now under threat.
Artist Carl Taylor said: "This is just heart-breaking, and so unfair. Compared to other cities there are so few artists' studios available in Derry-Londonderry, so we finally thought we were getting somewhere in 2013. One year on and we have been told to vacate. We just want someone to sort this out, and help us stay."


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Get the Most Out of Your Ship
Written by: Paul Motter
I just came back from a cruise on a luxury ship where we had a butler who had the facility to serve us complete dinners in our stateroom. he would bring us the evening's menus from the dining room and take our orders. Soon he would arrive with trays full of linens, cutlery and covered plates of delicious food. He would serve each course one at a time – or we would just say "please just leave them all, we're HUNGRY!" One night he set up a table for us on our terrace and we dined with the sound of the ocean below. At the end of the meal he brought the dessert menues and even surprised us with fancy chocolates and a dinner cordial.
Let me tell you, in rough seas or just when you are exhausted and don't feel like getting dressed in your formal gear there is nothing better than a good movie on your in-cabin TV and a great dinner directly from the kitchen served to you in your jammies.
We met other people on the same ship who also had the same butler, and they said they had never asked him for anything the entire cruise! How sad is that?
I hear such things from less experienced cruisers all the time – they never even tried room service, or that they couldn't bring themselves to order a second entree in the dining room. I say "take advantage of every reasonable option they give you on a ship!" If they are willing to serve you dinner in your cabin you should take advantage of it, at least once.
This is not to say you should do unacceptable things, like go to BOTH dinner seatings, for example. There really is no need for that. They will give you all the food you want at just one.
There are a lot of things about shipboard dining, and other aspects of cruising, that you will figure out after enough cruises and that you should not miss.
Breakfast in bed is another thing you MUST have. Personally, it takes me about three cups of coffee and an hour of staring at my computer every morning before I am ready to face the world. I love "breakfast cards" and if my wife would let me use them I would be printing them up at Kinkos right now. The cards let you select what you want for breakfast the next day and they deliver it to you at a pre-assigned time. Not only do you get a wake-up call, but you also get your coffee first thing in the morning as well. Yes, you do have to decide what time you want to wake up, a little tricky on sea days but perfect for port days, but the upside is you avoid the waiting that comes with calling in your order.
I see people who gets up first thing in the morning, put themselves in the shower, blow-dry their hair and brush their teeth, and then go to the buffet and get coffee and breakfast. Oops, they also put on their clothes, first. But I say NO, NO, NO. Always do the breakfast card, it is one of the sweetest things about cruising.
Room service in general on cruise ships is great. Try a cheese tray before dinner, cookies with your in-room movie, chamomille tea and ice-cream at bedtime. On mainstream cruises it is a good idea to give your server a tip. Be sure to bring several dollar bills and give one for a small order and two or more for bigger orders.
Here is another thing you MUST take advantage of on cruise ships. Laundry service, if you find you did not pack enough shirts, or you have gained five pounds and that extra pair of slacks does not fit. You can get pants or a shirt fully cleaned, pressed and folded for just a few dollars apiece. Get it done, it is so worth not having to wear something you don't like.
Internet access. I don't know about you, but if you are reading this I think you need your Internet access as badly as I do. Therefore, I just buy the biggest package they have the day I get onboard. Usually for about $75 you can get as much Internet time as you need for the cruise.
Bite the bullet and pay for it upfront and know you can use it far more freely throughout the cruise. Then during the cruise use your Internet access instead of wandering into the casino. You will find that you will lose less money in the casino and you will feel better for having had a good dose of Internet.
Do bring the allowed amount of wine onboard. Some cruise lines (most of the Carnival Corp. family and Celebrity) will allow you to bring a bottle of wine or two to your cabin. Do so and drink it in your cabin during the cruise. You will have your wine and save a significant amount of money. There is no corkage fee if you consume it in your room.
We are NOT saying to sneak alcohol onboard. Many people who do that end up drinking more during the cruise than they really need to. The truth is you should drink less on ships because most of the fun happens during the day. Too much wine with dinner can give you a bad headache the next day and you really should try to get the most out of the ports that you can.
Do drink plenty of water. The best water on a cruise ship is the melted ice from an ice bucket. We have brought water testers onboard ships and we have found that the melted ice is often as clean as distilled water. Even tap water on ships is fully potable (drinkable) according to our tests, and it is as clean as bottled water. But the ice cubes are made from filtered water and actually it is some of the best water I have ever had.
The hot sun takes water and minerals out of you – so try to drink as much water as you can. Most people do not drink enough of it on ships.
Do take shore excursions. You will remember a cruise where you have experiences far more than a cruise where you do not experience the ports. You don't have to spend a lot to have fun. In the Caribbean snorkeling is a fantastic thing to do, and a snorkeling shore tour usually one of the least expensive tours on a ship. You paid a lot of money to get to that port, don't skimp at the last minute and miss having fun.
Do have a massage – but time it correctly. Yes massages are less expensive on port days, but pick a port you don't particularly want to see. The best massages are "deep tissue" and they should leave you ready for a nap. So you know, most massages on ships are considered a "Swedish massage," which is NOT a deep tissue massage. Ask for a "deep tissue" when you book and ask who is the best at giving such a massage. But as I said, a truly good massage should make you so tired you have to nap. Keep the timing in mind so you can ENJOY that nap when you book a massage.
Do work out every day if you can. The gyms on cruise ships have the best workout equipment made. Many treadmills and ellipticals have built-in TV screens. Bring your headsets. A workout goes much faster when you can distract yourself from the boredom.
Many spas feature something called "the thermal suite." This is a set of steam rooms infused with essential oils, hot saunas, a hot tub therapy pool and hot ceramic beds. You can purchase access to these facilities on many ships for anywhere for $10 to $25 per person per day. These suites will relax and refresh you. And they are far more private than the hot tubs by the pool.
Dining. Always try to eat dinner in the dining room on formal nights. That is when they will have lobster, King Crab, filet mignon and other special treats that make cruise dining so spectacular. Should be shy about ordering "surf and turf?" – which means the steak AND the lobster at the same time? Not if you really want it. They are ready for you, believe me. You aren't the first person to make that request. Chances are you will get it on one plate although it is technically two different entrees.
Yes, you certainly can order more than one entree for dinner, just try to do it in a manner where you are not being gluttonous or taking up too much time. Order one entree at a time unless you are sure you will eat both. Do not order two main course entrees at the beginning of the meal lest you find you have eaten more than you thought. Memorize the one you want and order it when the entrees are being served.
One last thing – do not spoil your dinner, especially if you have reservations for a special dining spot. Eating scones, finger sandwiches and chocolate cake at 4:00 "teatime" is a surefire way to spoil your appetite for a dinner a few hours later. The specialty restaurants are worth the extra money, but you also want to get the most out of them that you can. Always go with a very healthy appetite.
That's ii. Experienced cruisers already know this drill, but for you newcomers make a note that these are the little things that make cruising such a satisfying vacation. Spend a little money and get tons more out of your cruise. Happy sails!
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Posted: June 25th, 2009 under Paul Motter.
Tags: cruise dining, cruise laundry, cruise room service, cruise spas, cruise tips
Comment from Sulaia
Time September 16, 2014 at 4:21 pm
First things first: Please, Please Please do not call a ship a boat. Never, ever. What kind of job you could do ooranbd a cruise ship depends on your past work experience. Like everywhere else, your pay depends on the postion you have and therefore what you qualify for. cool places: You will work 10-15 hours a day, 7 days a week, 6 to 10 months straight so you might not see too many cool places !!!How to get a job there: Apply Depending on what you are qualified for, there are different places to apply to.e.g Shops, Casino, Photographers, Spa are mostly under concession, so the cruise line does not hire the people directly.


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They said on the page "All former contestants."
WHAT? I really dont remember that many people being on,16 brackets worth? I remember them having ten gut checks at the most,sure there's live events,but still...
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They said on the page "All former contestants."
WHAT? I really dont remember that many people being on,16 brackets worth? I remember them having ten gut checks at the most,sure there's live events,but still...
I am excited to see what will become of Taeler Hendrix in TNA.
TNA has suspended this contest.
TNA has officially suspended it Gut Check Challenge voting following a controversial flaw that allowed fans to vote multiple times. TNA originally started the poll to find TNA fan's favorite wrestler who has participated in a TNA Gut Check seminar. Winners would get an opportunity at a gut check challenge on Impact Wrestling. TNA's original press release warned fans that only one vote per IP address would be valid. Unfortunately, the one vote limit was not the case and following the discovery of this flaw, users voted multiple times for their favorite wrestlers, drastically changing the outcome of the polls across every bracket.
This infuriated some independent wrestlers who were on the list, and a handful reached out to TNA for an explanation and were told that the voting system would not be changed. A few wrestlers who were ahead in the voting even asked to be removed from the polls.
Today, TNA has issued a press release stating that they have suspended the Gut Check voting and acknowledge the flaws in the system.
Read more: http://www.WrestlingInc.com/wi/news/...#ixzz2KEV8LWxG
In January, we launched the Gut Check Challenge as an online competition to give many independent wrestling stars a chance to showcase their talents and potentially earn a spot on the IMPACT WRESTLING roster. However, due to a number of issues with the voting - and in fairness to all the competitors - we have decided to suspend the Gut Check Challenge.
We will be re-launching the contest in the near future with a new voting system that will eliminate the voting issues. Stay tuned to our website for updates - and thank you for your continued support of TNA and IMPACT WRESTLING!
Very disappointed for the guys that was winning their bracket...... Due to the flaws in the polls and people that shouldn't been included...


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Question: I'm interested in the Global MBA for Executives. Is it is full-time or part-time?
Answer: The GEMBA format includes both in-person international residencies and distance learning. The residencies occur at various locations around the world and the distance learning happens weekly. Students are categorized as full-time students, but are able to work full time while they earn their MBA. The program duration is 21 months.
Question: How does the visa application work for those living internationally?
Answer: The visas are a bit unusual because you are a student living in your home country, but you are required to travel for certain periods for classes. Some students try for a traditional F-1 that requires refiling for every residency period. A tourist visa may work because of the shortened time period and it meets the criteria. The University of Virginia's international student center will work with you to see which visa is going to work best for you and meet the requirements for the state departments.
Question: How long is each international residency?
Answer: The international residencies currently last for two weeks. You will travel to six different locations throughout the course of two years.
Question: I was wondering if you know about when the dates will be released for Fall 2013 application deadlines and campus visits for the full-time MBA?
Answer: We have not set our application deadline yet. Those dates should come out this summer, usually late June. For class and campus visits, check back on our website periodically for updates. We'll post our fall dates in late summer.
Question: What is the best day of the week to visit UVA Darden?
Answer: Monday – Thursday; there are very few classes on Fridays and you definitely should sit in on a class.
Question: Can you elaborate a little about the July Fridays' visiting program?
Answer: I recommend Fridays in July for those who want to visit during a more relaxed time of year where you simply are learning more about the school. We will list dates and registration links on the Admissions Events web page soon.


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It's a great time for Bond fans as the USA premier of the new Bond movie "Skyfall" is upon us! As you know, one of our great guilty pleasures for car lovers is eBay Motors. It's simply the most accurate and up to date no matter what ride or price range you are researching. Especially, with late model high-end new vehicles.
So I though it would be cool to showcase what are the coolest Bond worthy vehicles currently showcased right now.
Remember, SPY there before you BUY! And there's no better place to spy than eBay!
Before James Bond converted to Aston Martin he drove a Bentley. And in my opinion the new Continental was an instant classic the second it was revealed. Check out the description and see the full listing at the link. Only 14,000 miles on this beauty!
A Bond car for around $10,000? Trust us, there are so many great things at eBay motors you need to spend some time perusing these cool finds. In "Tomorrow Never Dies", Bond drives a BMW 7-Series filled with the usual gadget overload. It even drove itself via remote control.
Want an M5 convertible? Here's your answer, the BMW Z8 roadster. Designed by Henrik Fisker when he ran BMW DesignWorks, the Z8 came with the M5 engine and the sexiest BMW design of the modern day. This one even comes with the Alpina wheels.
Ok, you're kidding right? There was never a Bond car made by American Motors Corporation (AMC) right? Well you would be wrong, Blofeld Breath! In "The Man With The Golden Gun", there were two AMC products – an AMC Hornet and a Matador Coupe.
The cool trick the getaway car had was that it turned into a plane like a transformers toy! In the movie they used it to kidnap Mary Goodnight and tried to escape. Imagine having your own car plane! Here is a beautiful example (although this is a wagon) of AMC in all its glory (Okay, there never was AMC glory)
No other brand is more synonymous with the Bond franchise more than Aston Martin. And we're told the most famous DB5 will re-appear in "Skyfall." The DB5 is next to impossible to find, but this cool Vanquish, which was featured in "Die Another Day", is up for auction now.
This one will be driven by a Bond villain in "Skyfall" and it is one of my favorite designs from Audi. Such a stylish, beautiful car.
1995 Land Rover Defender 90 Wagon
Bond doesn't always drive a car and "Skyfall" will showcase my favorite Land Rover of all time, the Defender 90.
1967 Lincoln Continental Convertible
If there is a better looking convertible on the planet than this, I haven't found it.
My favorite Bond film ever – "Goldfinger" – because for me, Sean Connery will forever be James Bond. In both "Goldfinger" and "Thunderball", the Lincoln convertible, with signature suicide doors, was front and center since Ford was a major sponsor of the films.
This post is part of eBay Finders, a new partnership that presents collections of items curated by a carefully selected group of motors experts. Meet more of the Finders at ebaymotorsblog.com. #eBayFinders


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Editor's Note: TheStreet ratings do not represent the views of TheStreet's staff or its contributors. Ratings are established by computer based on metrics for performance (which includes growth, stock performance, efficiency and valuation) and risk (volatility and solvency). Companies with poor cash flow or high debt levels tend to earn lower ratings in our model All three major indices are trading up today with the Dow Jones Industrial Average ( ^DJI) trading up 142 points (1.0%) at 14,816 as of Wednesday, April 10, 2013, 12:45 PM ET. The NYSE advances/declines ratio sits at 2,253 issues advancing vs. 654 declining with 139 unchanged. The Materials & Construction industry currently sits up 0.7% versus the S&P 500, which is up 1.2%. A company within the industry that increased today was Sherwin-Williams Company ( SHW), up 0.87. TheStreet Ratings group would like to highlight 4 stocks pushing the industry lower today: 4. Fastenal Company ( FAST) is one of the companies pushing the Materials & Construction industry lower today. As of noon trading, Fastenal Company is down $1.57 (-3.1%) to $49.31 on heavy volume Thus far, 2.6 million shares of Fastenal Company exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 1.6 million shares. The stock has ranged in price between $48.10-$50.32 after having opened the day at $48.92 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $50.88. Fastenal Company, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a wholesaler and retailer of industrial and construction supplies in the United States, Canada, and internationally. The company offers fasteners and other industrial and construction supplies under the Fastenal name. Fastenal Company has a market cap of $14.9 billion and is part of the industrial goods sector. The company has a P/E ratio of 35.4, above the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Shares are up 9.1% year to date as of the close of trading on Tuesday. TheStreet Ratings rates Fastenal Company as a buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its revenue growth, largely solid financial position with reasonable debt levels by most measures, notable return on equity, expanding profit margins and good cash flow from operations. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company has had lackluster performance in the stock itself. Get the full Fastenal Company Ratings Report now. Exclusive Offer: Jim Cramer's 'go-to' small/mid-cap guru Bryan Ashenberg only buys stocks he thinks could return 50-100%. See his top picks for 14-days FREE.
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