News

Unemployment, COBRA Benefits finalized in Senate

March 10, 2010 · Leave a Comment 

[Translate] Washington (Mar 10) – The Senate wrapped up work on the bill covering unemployment and COBRA “extensions” today moving it back to the House. With many new amendments attached to the bill, it may find a tough time moving quickly to President Obama’s desk Yesterday, WorldNewsVine reported that “No Extra Weeks of Unemployment in Bill” it would appear that an article, surrounded by so much controversy, was in fact an accurate assessment of the new bill. The bill passed the Senate with a 62-36 vote with, conservatives protesting the bill stating it adds... [Read the full story]

California Ponzi Scheme Preyed On Korean-Americans

March 10, 2010 · 1 Comment 

[Translate] Santa Ana, CA – On March 9, 2010, special agents for the Federal Bureau of Investigation arrested a California man and his girlfriend for allegedly running a Ponzi scheme that defrauded 60 people out of $8 million. The pair have been charged with federal wire fraud and are now facing up to 80 years in prison. According to an FBI press release, Mr. Euirang Hwang and Ms. Sang Yi were the operators of an investment company called Pinupito, Inc. that “promised investors annual returns of up to 45 percent”. Supposedly the company was producing these enormous returns by “buying... [Read the full story]

NATO ISAF

Operation Moshtarak | Weapons cache discovered in Helmand Province

March 3, 2010 · Leave a Comment 

[Translate] Kabul, Afghanistan (Mar 3) – While on patrol an Afghan-international patrol located a weapons cache  in Nad-e Ali district of Helmand Province. The cache consisted of two 23mm artillery shells, four rocket-propelled grenades, an 81mm mortar, a 105mm mortar, a 107mm mortar, two metal rods packed with home-made explosives (HME), two 18 liter jugs filled with HME, 18 kilograms of loose explosives, 1 kg of TNT, .5 kg of propellant, and 20 pressure plates. The entire cache was destroyed. A joint patrol in the Chorah district of Uruzgan Province found another weapons cache. This... [Read the full story]

NATO ISAF | 800 kilos of hashish, guns, and explosives seized – Earthquake Northern Afghanistan

February 28, 2010 · Leave a Comment 

[Translate] Afghan-ISAF Operations in Kandahar, Farah, Ghazni Kabul, Afghanistan (February 28) – Over the past 24 hours a joint Afghan-international force in Spin Boldak district of Kandahar Province, seized over 800 kilograms of hashish on a trailer of a broken tractor. Led by Afghan National Police officers, the patrol discovered, seized, and transferred the narcotics to a nearby ANP compound. Afghan Ministry Interior spokesman, Zomarai Bashan stated, “Reducing the amount of illegal drugs throughout our country reduces the insurgents’ ability to fund their operations and... [Read the full story]

Politics

Unemployment, COBRA Benefits finalized in Senate

March 10, 2010 · Leave a Comment 

[Translate] Washington (Mar 10) – The Senate wrapped up work on the bill covering unemployment and COBRA “extensions” today moving it back to the House. With many new amendments attached to the bill, it may find a tough time moving quickly to President Obama’s desk Yesterday, WorldNewsVine reported that “No Extra Weeks of Unemployment in Bill” it would appear that an article, surrounded by so much controversy, was in fact an accurate assessment of the new bill. The bill passed the Senate with a 62-36 vote with, conservatives protesting the bill stating it adds... [Read the full story]

Money

California Ponzi Scheme Preyed On Korean-Americans

March 10, 2010 · 1 Comment 

[Translate] Santa Ana, CA – On March 9, 2010, special agents for the Federal Bureau of Investigation arrested a California man and his girlfriend for allegedly running a Ponzi scheme that defrauded 60 people out of $8 million. The pair have been charged with federal wire fraud and are now facing up to 80 years in prison. According to an FBI press release, Mr. Euirang Hwang and Ms. Sang Yi were the operators of an investment company called Pinupito, Inc. that “promised investors annual returns of up to 45 percent”. Supposedly the company was producing these enormous returns by “buying... [Read the full story]

U.S. Department of Justice releases approved list of Credit Counseling Agencies | Do not be fooled

March 5, 2010 · Leave a Comment 

[Translate] Washington (Mar 5) – The Department of Justice today released a list of approved credit counseling agencies. The waiver of credit counseling requirement for bankruptcy filers was terminated effective September 16, 2009 in the Eastrn District of Louisana. To be eligilbe to file for bankruptcy relief in the Eastern District, filers are required to obtain pre-bankruptcy credit counseling. 11 U.S.C. § 109(h)(1). A complete list of approved credit counseling agencies is now avaialbe online. The following “tool” will link your inquires to the appropriate list of... [Read the full story]

Science and Tech

EPA Head Says Going Green is Good for Greenbacks

March 8, 2010 · 1 Comment 

[Translate] Washington, D.C. – Lisa P. Jackson, administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), made an appearance at the National Press Club today to talk about the increased need for green energy in the current economic climate. Jackson’s comments effectively served as a counterargument to those who might claim that green technology is not compatible with a recession. A press release of Jackson’s remarks reads like a direct answer to critics of the agency’s oversight. Refuting those who say that going green will hamper the economy, Jackson stated that “well-conceived,... [Read the full story]

Software patents are killing innovation

March 4, 2010 · Leave a Comment 

[Translate] After hearing about the latest software patent disputes, I have increasingly become disgusted with the notion of being able to patent a piece of software.  Patents were really designed to protect true innovations where a unique, original work has been created, not to be used to “sue for profit.”  Since George W. Bush’s “hands off of commerce” attitude has given these large companies a mamouth-sized amount of leeway, we have seen companies patenting things like on-line voting mechanisms and even patenting ideas that came about in the early to mid... [Read the full story]

Health and Living

Corey Haim Dies of Overdose at Age 38

March 10, 2010 · Leave a Comment 

[Translate] I began this article in high spirits, having just returned from a holiday in Holland where I spent the majority of my time in coffee shops sampling the best coffee Amsterdam has to offer.  I don’t know how much you know about Amsterdam or and Holland in general, but the coffee is amazing and there are a lot of different blends to try. As I trawled the internet, catching up with news that I may have missed like: David Cameron being praised by the US Government for his help with the situation in Northern Ireland; the Earth possibly shifting off its axis slightly, resulting in... [Read the full story]

Introductions Please

March 10, 2010 · Leave a Comment 

[Translate] Sidney sitting in for a photo op until Otis is ready. By Julie Rigg Well with all of the fancy intros and hoopla surrounding the Oscars a few days ago, we here at the Rigg house had some pretty prestigious introductions of our own.  Readers may be familiar with Sidney (our Siamese Cat) and Milo (our German Shorthaired Pointer), and now for the latest member to join the animal pack – enter Otis.  Otis is a rescue kitten and warmed right up to us when we went to the shelter searching for our newest family member.  He’s about a year old (best guess) and is black and white... [Read the full story]

Political Satire

Brown The Bully?

February 23, 2010 · 2 Comments 

[Translate] Gordon Brown has been accused of being a big bad bully.  The founder of The National Bullying Helpline which has been shown to be nothing more than a front for this disgusting woman, Christine Pratt, to fleece money from people who are in need of help after being bullied. What she lacks in dress sense, she makes up for in biscuits. Christine Pratt is a career claimer, a con artist, so it is a surprise that she is making such headlines.  Although when you are talking about the Tory Party paying someone to throw half-cooked BS at the public in a sad attempt to save their failing... [Read the full story]