Hunting For Bigfoot On Federal Land? First Get A Permit

A word to the wise.... if you are hunting for Bigfoot on federal land - you better make sure you have the proper permit first or you will end up like this guy:

A man who led tour groups on a hunt for Bigfoot met up with the long arm of the law instead, and got fined for doing business on federal lands without a permit.

Matt Pruitt was leading a group expedition for The Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization at the Buffalo National River Park in Arkansas in February when he and his group of 31 people were stopped by two park rangers. Pruitt was slapped with a hefty $525 fine for a lack of a commercial use permit.

The organization typically charges as much as $500 to go along on searches for the mythical creature in various locations across North America. That's between the group and the gullible -- unless they're conducting their hunt on federal land.

“He was given money by people to lead them on an expedition,” Karen Bradford, chief ranger at Buffalo National River Park, told FoxNews.com. “When you complete any sort of transaction you become a concessionaire and need the proper permit.”

Pruitt conceded in a posting on his blog that he didn't do enough research on rules and regulations.

“After scouting that location and having been very impressed with the area, I decided to conduct the expedition there. I immediately scoured their website to see if I needed any specific permits or passes to conduct such an effort there,” Pruitt wrote. “I assumed that I had fully acquainted myself with the necessary information related to the usage rules and regulations of the park. I was wrong, and I paid for that mistake.”

Pruitt paid the fine online Friday according to local reports in Arkansas.

"It was a fairly innocent mistake,” Pruitt said to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. “At first they were very concerned that we were filming, that we were trying to get away with commercial filming without a permit. Once those concerns were satiated, there were other concerns."

The Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization often films expeditions as part of the Animal Planet Series, "Finding Bigfoot." Pruitt’s expedition at Buffalo National River Park was not being filmed.

Despite being fined for lack of a permit, it would have been likely that Pruitt would not have been able to obtain one.

“It’s highly unlikely that he would have gotten a permit if he applied for one," Bradford said. "It’s not normal practice to issue them for expeditions to find Bigfoot."

Speaking of Federal land - look who's vacationing again - this time at Mt. Rushmore and Vegas this week.

Constitutional Win!

A Florida judge ruled Red Light Cameras are Unconstitutional!

A man from Pasco County, Fla., who got nabbed by a traffic camera to catch red light runners believes the camera was wrong — both in snapping his license plate and constitutionally. On the constitutional front, Thomas Filippone now has a county judge’s ruling to back him up.

The Tampa Bay Tribune reports that Filippone received a $158 traffic ticket, but he wasn’t about to pay up and be more careful with the reds next time:

“If they are going to prove I was driving the car, it’s their duty under the law to prove the identity of the driver,” said Filippone, 45, who maintains his 2002 Nissan Altima crossed the intersection a split second before the light turned red on April 15. “It unjustly shifts burden to me and makes me shoulder the burden of having to prove their case.”

Pasco County Judge Anne Wansboro was in agreement and dismissed the case Filippone brought before her stating that use of the cameras ”impermissibly shifts the burden of proof to the Defendant and therefore does not afford due process, and is unconstitutional to the extent due process is not provided.”

But the case is not completely closed. The Tribune points out that the traffic cameras remain in place — there has not been a motion to remove them — and some city officials within the county will be appealing Wansboro’s decision:

“We do not agree with the decision,” said City Manager Tom O’Neill, who said the city was not notified of any constitutional challenge to its two red light cameras on U.S. 19. “It would be our position that we were not afforded due process and did not have the opportunity to speak.”

Port Richey city attorney Joe Poblick said officials have also notified the Florida Attorney General’s Office of the ruling. The state Constitution requires that the attorney general be notified whenever a state statute’s constitutionality is at issue.

City officials in other Florida counties are keeping tabs on the proceedings as it makes it through the appeals process but continue to use their cameras as is.

For Filippone though, he thinks the ruling stands in Pasco, meaning he “[shouldn't] get another red light ticket in Pasco County for the rest of my life.” In fact, he is already planning to use the ruling to fight another ticket he received from a red light camera. Filippone, who is an insurance attorney, said he is “looking forward” to his April court date.

These red light cameras are viewed by many people as just another revenue generator for municipalities. That is really the only reason they are being used. Municipalities don't even have to have a police officer actually interact with a motorist who runs a red light, so municipalities stand to save on labor costs and increase revenue at the same time.

That being said, one of the reasons these "automated law enforcers" are unconstitutional is that the Supreme Court has said that a defendant has a right to confront his accuser. Will the camera show up at a trial? How can you confront something automated? How do you know that the automated photograph was taken when the light was really red? Mechanical things do malfunction.

Photos can be doctored... and you can be wrongly accused very easily. That is a big problem.

We also have a right to privacy which these photographs violate in documenting where people are at any given time. Also, these cameras are also not complete documentation of the traffic violation. They force drivers to prove their innocence rather than the government to prove their guilt. That goes against our basic tenet of innocent until proven guilty.

Maine, Mississippi and Montana banned red light cameras last year, joining at least four other states, Nevada, New Hampshire, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

Red light cameras are just bad news... and yet another tool in Big Brother's Police State tool kit.

Going Rate For 4th Amendment Rights = $100

Don't care to be groped or scanned at the airport?
No problem...
You can restore your 4th amendment rights for a mere cost/bribe of $100!

Yup - TSA has introduced a "program" which allows air travelers to forgo the humiliating and ridiculous procedures which treats every flyer like a criminal and desensitizes the population to Police State protocol!

All you have to do is apply - or rather... be invited to join - and submit to a background check and pay $100. It's easy to become a "Trusted Traveler"!

The Transportation Security Administration is rolling out expedited screening at big airports called "Precheck." It has special lanes for background-checked travelers, who can keep their shoes, belt and jacket on, leave laptops and liquids in carry-on bags and walk through a metal detector rather than a full-body scan. The process, now at two airlines and nine airports, is much like how screenings worked before the Sept. 11 attacks.

To qualify, frequent fliers must meet undisclosed TSA criteria and get invited in by the airlines. There is also a backdoor in. Approved travelers who are in the U.S. Customs and Border Protection's "Global Entry" program can transfer into Precheck using their Global Entry number.

So selected frequent flyers and other “Trusted Travelers” (as defined by Customs and Border Protection which is part of DHS) are the fortunate minority who may participate in this new “Pre-Check” program. Everyone else can strip and get to the back of the line.

Security breach? Nah... We all know that "Trusted Travelers" could never go rogue and bring dangerous stuff on board at a future date.

No worries in creating a "security hole" ... this whole grope and scan deal isn't really about security anyway.

The airlines and TSA are cashing in on the application fees too... In February, 26,602 people applied, and February applications were up 42% from January!

Ya think TSA hired someone from "the Mob" to design this extortion scheme?

Paying to restore your rights ... just like the bribes taken at checkpoints in Communist countries.


I especially love this comment on the WSJ article from someone named Ian Watson:

Now you can pay money to enjoy the kind of security that existed a decade ago, and apparently still works. This article is the best evidence yet that the TSA's primary mission has morphed into one of facilitating its own bloat by way of tax funding and now direct payments from travelers.

Maybe local law enforcement agencies will take notice. Tired of slowing down for school zones? Pay your local police department $100, take a driver quiz, and now you can just breeze on through at 60 mph.

How nice.

Sanitizing Test Language - Government Control Of Words

More education idiocy.
This time it is from the NYC Department of Education.
You see, they want "disturbing words" eliminated from (i.e. banned) from standardized tests.
The list of about 50 words is below - but read on....

The New York City Department of Education is waging a war on words of sorts, and is seeking to have words they deem upsetting removed from standardized tests.

Fearing that certain words and topics can make students feel unpleasant, officials are requesting 50 or so words be removed from city-issued tests.

The word “dinosaur” made the hit list because dinosaurs suggest evolution which creationists might not like, WCBS 880′s Marla Diamond reported. “Halloween” is targeted because it suggests paganism; a “birthday” might not be happy to all because it isn’t celebrated by Jehovah’s Witnesses. ...

Words that suggest wealth are excluded because they could make kids jealous. “Poverty” is also on the forbidden list. That’s something Sy Fliegal with the Center for Educational Innovation calls ridiculous.

“The Petersons take a vacation for five days in their Mercedes … so what? You think our kids are going to be offended because they don’t have a Mercedes? You think our kids are going to say ‘I’m offended; how could they ask me a question about a Mercedes? I don’t have a Mercedes!’” Fliegal said.

In a throwback to “Footloose,” the word “dancing” is also taboo. However, there is good news for kids that like “ballet”: The city made an exception for this form of dance.

Also banned are references to “divorce” and “disease,” because kids taking the tests may have relatives who split from spouses or are ill.

Some students think banning these words from periodic assessment tests is ridiculous.

“If you don’t celebrate one thing you might have a friend that does it. So I don’t see why people would find it offensive,” Curtis High School Sophomore Jamella Lewis told Diamond.

Schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott said the DOE is simply giving guidance to the test developers.

“So we’re not an outlier in being politically correct. This is just making sure that test makers are sensitive in the development of their tests,” Walcott said Monday.

To which Fliegal responded: “It’s all of life! I don’t know how they figure out what not to put on the list. Every aspect of life is on the list.”

There are banned words currently in school districts nationwide. Walcott said New York City’s list is longer because its student body is so diverse.

Here is the complete list of words that could be banned:

Abuse (physical, sexual, emotional, or psychological)
Alcohol (beer and liquor), tobacco, or drugs
Birthday celebrations (and birthdays)
Bodily functions
Cancer (and other diseases)
Catastrophes/disasters (tsunamis and hurricanes)
Celebrities
Children dealing with serious issues
Cigarettes (and other smoking paraphernalia)
Computers in the home (acceptable in a school or library setting)
Crime
Death and disease
Divorce
Evolution
Expensive gifts, vacations, and prizes
Gambling involving money
Halloween
Homelessness
Homes with swimming pools
Hunting
Junk food
In-depth discussions of sports that require prior knowledge
Loss of employment
Nuclear weapons
Occult topics (i.e. fortune-telling)
Parapsychology
Politics
Pornography
Poverty
Rap Music
Religion
Religious holidays and festivals (including but not limited to Christmas, Yom Kippur, and Ramadan)
Rock-and-Roll music
Running away
Sex
Slavery
Terrorism
Television and video games (excessive use)
Traumatic material (including material that may be particularly upsetting such as animal shelters)
Vermin (rats and roaches)
Violence
War and bloodshed
Weapons (guns, knives, etc.)
Witchcraft, sorcery, etc.

Wow.. that doesn't leave much does it?

I'd say, banning stuff is what's disturbing.

How about we hand them all a blank sheet of paper and give them all an "A".
That's what it's coming to anyway.

Good grief.

Student Debt Bubble About To Pop

It's Coming.
The next big bailout.
Taxpayers will be on the hook for all the student loans handed out by the government which cannot be repaid.

Take a look this from our friends at Zerohedge.

Back in late 2006 and early 2007 a few (soon to be very rich) people were warning anyone who cared to listen, about what cracks in the subprime facade meant for the housing sector and the credit bubble in general. They were largely ignored as none other than the Fed chairman promised that all is fine (see here). A few months later New Century collapsed and the rest is history: tens of trillions later we are still picking up the pieces and housing continues to collapse. Yet one bubble which the Federal Government managed to blow in the meantime to staggering proportions in virtually no time, for no other reason than to give the impression of consumer releveraging, was the student debt bubble, which at last check just surpassed $1 trillion, and is growing at $40-50 billion each month. However, just like subprime, the first cracks have now appeared. In a report set to convince borrowers that Student Loan ABS are still safe - of course they are - they are backed by all taxpayers after all in the form of the Family Federal Education Program - Fitch discloses something rather troubling, namely that of the $1 trillion + in student debt outstanding, "as many as 27% of all student loan borrowers are more than 30 days past due." In other words at least $270 billion in student loans are no longer current (extrapolating the delinquency rate into the total loans outstanding). That this is happening with interest rates at record lows is quite stunning and a loud wake up call that it is not rates that determine affordability and sustainability: it is general economic conditions, deplorable as they may be, which have made the popping of the student loan bubble inevitable. It also means that if the rise in interest rate continues, then the student loan bubble will pop that much faster, and bring another $1 trillion in unintended consequences on the shoulders of the US taxpayer who once again will be left footing the bill.

Government backed student loans allowed college tuition to rise to ridiculous levels.
Students got the money, and in turn colleges continued to levy tuitions.

Students now basically come out of school with the equivalent of a mortgage... and no home to show for it, and often no real marketable skills either. The average outstanding student loan balance per borrower is $23,300... but chances are you know some kids that have much higher debt.
And now, with the job market in the toilet, they are lucky if they get a job working at the local mall. The unemployment for 18-24 year olds is 46%!
So it's not surprising that 27% of student loans are 30 days delinquent!
and the situation is bound to get worse.

Seems like the only way these kids will get out from under is through some sort of serf-like servitude to the government, since there are programs around which allow debt to be erased in return for government service. Sort of like a modern day indentured slave.

Read the article...
It's quite illuminating.

Stop The Erosion Of Liberty!

Pretty self explanatory.
I hope this is a video that you will share with others.

More British Lunacy - Schools Ban Children From Making Best Friends

The war on children and childhood continues across "The Pond".
File this one under Government Administered Child Abuse.

Teachers are banning schoolkids from having best pals — so they don't get upset by fall-outs.

Instead, the primary pupils are being encouraged to play in large groups.

Educational psychologist Gaynor Sbuttoni said the policy has been used at schools in Kingston, South West London, and Surrey.

She added: "I have noticed that teachers tell children they shouldn't have a best friend and that everyone should play together.

"They are doing it because they want to save the child the pain of splitting up from their best friend. But it is natural for some children to want a best friend. If they break up, they have to feel the pain because they're learning to deal with it."

Russell Hobby, of the National Association of Head Teachers, confirmed some schools were adopting best-friend bans.

He said: "I don't think it is widespread but it is clearly happening. It seems bizarre.

"I don't see how you can stop people from forming close friendships. We make and lose friends throughout our lives." The Campaign for Real Education, which wants more parental choice in state education, said the "ridiculous" policy was robbing children of their childhood.

Spokesman Chris McGovern added: "Children take things very seriously and if you tell them they can't have a best friend it can be seriously damaging to them. They need to learn about relationships."

Social engineering at its worst.

This is the unfortunate promotion of "Group Think" via "Group Play" and will no doubt put the child into eventual "Group Therapy".

How incredibly tragic.

What's worse is that parents will probably allow this to be done to their children.

So, I wonder how long it will take for this crazy garbage to reach American schools.

Fascist Deja Vu

Larry Grathwohl on Bill Ayers' plan for American re-education camps and the need to kill millions - you do recall that Weather Underground founders Bill Ayers and Bernardine Dohrn are/have been President Obama's personal friends and associates for many years.





Meanwhile... back in the White House... the President has been signing some scary bills (like NDAA) and putting out even scarier executive orders. We are looking at a government that is clearly readying itself for martial law and some sort of conflict/unrest. Homeland Security is contracting for 450 million rounds of .40 caliber ammo. It could be that they are preparing for something like domestic terrorism.... or perhaps this kind of contract is nothing to be alarmed at. Maybe they are getting ready for the Zombie Apocalypse.

But seriously, the federal government has been steadily grabbing more control in this country, and eroding individual rights and freedoms. Between TSA groping little children at airports and desensitizing them to the trappings of a Police State, and the government watching what websites you visit ... I am not sure I like what I have been hearing lately with regard to many things... and I wonder where the hell our Congress is and if they remember their oaths of office at all.

Houston... we definitely have a problem.

Some history to remember:

Suspending civil liberties

The day after the [Reichstag] fire, Hitler persuaded President Hindenburg to issue a decree entitled, “For the Protection of the People and the State.” Justified as a “defensive measure against Communist acts of violence endangering the state,” the decree suspended the constitutional guarantees pertaining to civil liberties:

Restrictions on personal liberty, on the right of free expression of opinion, including freedom of the press; on the rights of assembly and association; and violations of the privacy of postal, telegraphic and telephonic communications; and warrants for house searches, orders for confiscations as well as restrictions on property, are also permissible beyond the legal limits otherwise prescribed.

Two weeks after the Reichstag fire, Hitler requested the Reichstag to temporarily delegate its powers to him so that he could adequately deal with the crisis. Denouncing opponents to his request, Hitler shouted, “Germany will be free, but not through you!” When the vote was taken, the result was 441 for and 84 against, giving Hitler the two-thirds majority he needed to suspend the German constitution. On March 23, 1933, what has gone down in German history as the “Enabling Act” made Hitler dictator of Germany, freed of all legislative and constitutional constraints.

Don't think this could happen again?
Think again.

The Dumbing Down Of America

From the site author:

In my 10+ years of teaching, "school sucks" is perhaps the most common phrase I've heard students use to describe their feelings about public education. But this seemingly bitter and reductive slogan is actually quite clever. When taken literally, "school sucks" is perhaps the most accurate and astute synopsis of the system I've ever heard. Here's why...

1. The twelve-year process of an American public education has a dramatic effect on the mind of a child. When we first enter school at age six, many of our best personal attributes are already in place. We are curious, innovative, unique, creative and hopeful in ways that we will rarely be able to replicate throughout the rest of our lives. But over time, school sucks those essential attributes out of too many of us...and replaces them with predictability, obedience and apathy.

2. The public school system sucks off the productive capacity of hard-working people. The system is funded through taxation. In other words, whether public education succeeds or fails (spoiler alert: it fails) at providing real education to the public, the cost goes up every year. There are no refunds.

Interested in learning more about how the Prussian education model came to America?? Read the Underground History of American Education by John Taylor Gatto.

Also - check out the Deliberate Dumbing Down of America by Charlotte Iserbyt, a decade by decade documentation of how the public school system was designed and fine tuned to make us a a more malleable herd.

and don't forget Bev. Eakman as well.

Class dismissed.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Beannachtaí na Féile Pádraig oraibh!
(ban-ock-tee na fay-lah paw-rig ur-iv)

St. Patrick's Day blessing upon you

Peter Schiff - On The Fed And Interest Rates

Peter Schiff writes about "Stress Test - No Sweat".
It's a revealing read:

The Federal Reserve ran another "stress test" on major financial institutions and has determined that 15 of the 19 tested are safe, even in the most extreme circumstances: an unemployment rate of 13%, a 50% decline in stock prices, and a further 21% decline in housing prices. The problem is that the most important factor that will determine these banks' long-term viability was purposefully overlooked - interest rates.

In the wake of the Credit Crunch, the Fed solved the problem of resetting adjustable-rate mortgages by essentially putting the entire country on an teaser rate. Just like those homeowners who really couldn't afford their houses, our balance sheet looks fine unless you factor in higher rates. The recent stress tests assume market interest rates stay low, the federal funds rate remains near-zero, and 10-year Treasuries keep below 2%. Why are those safe assumptions? Historic rates have averaged around 6%, a level that would cause every major US bank to fail!

The truth is that higher rates are the biggest threat to the banking system and the Fed knows it. These institutions remain leveraged to the hilt and dependent upon short-term financing to stay afloat. While American families have had to stop paying off one credit card by moving the balance to another one, this behavior continues on Wall Street.

In fact, this gets to the heart of why the Fed is keeping interest rates so low. Despite endorsing phony economic data that shows the US is in recovery, the Fed knows full well that the American economy cannot move forward without its low interest-rate crutches. Ben Bernanke is trying desperately to pretend that he can keep rates low forever, which is why that variable was deliberately left out of the stress tests.

Unfortunately, rates are kept low with money-printing, and those funds are starting to bubble over into consumer prices. Bernanke acknowledged that the price of oil is rising, but said without justification the he expects the price to subside. This shows that Bernanke either doesn't know or doesn't care that the real culprit behind rising oil prices is inflation. McDonald's, meanwhile, is eliminating items from its increasingly unprofitable Dollar Menu. A dollar apparently can't even buy you a small order of fries anymore.

Unless the Fed expects us to live with steadily increasing prices for basic goods and services, it will eventually be forced to allow interest rates to rise. However, if it does so, it will quickly bankrupt the US Treasury, the banking system, and any Americans left with flexible-rate debt.

That is why the Fed feels it has no choice but to lie about inflation. If it admits inflation exists, then it may be pressured to stop it. However, if it stops the presses, it will bring on the real crash that I have been warning about for the past decade. Just as the Fed's response to the 2001 crisis led directly to the 2008 crisis, its response to 2008 is leading inevitably to either deep austerity or a currency crisis.

Imagine this scenario:

When the banks fail as a result of higher interest rates, the FDIC will also go bankrupt. Without access to credit, the US Treasury will not be able to bail out the insurance fund - which only contains $9.2 billion as of this writing. So, not only will shareholders and bondholders lose their money next time, but so too will depositors!

Americans are much less self-sufficient than they were in the Great Depression. One only needs to look at Greece to see how a service-based economy deals with this kind of economic collapse - crime, riots, vandalism, and strikes.

There are a few countermeasures left in the government's arsenal, including selling the nation's gold, but there comes a point at which the charade can go on no longer. The sharply widening current account deficit shows that we are becoming even more dependent on imports that we cannot afford. Just as homeowners had a good run pulling equity from their overvalued properties, Washington and Wall Street will soon find the music turned off. And there will be no one there to help them clean up the mess left behind.

I propose a new rule of thumb: until true economic growth resumes in the distant future, the fed funds rate should also be used as the "Federal Reserve credibility rate." We'll use a scale of 0-20, which is approximately how high rates went under Paul Volcker to restore confidence in the dollar. So, until the end of this crisis, if the fed funds rate is near-zero, all the Fed's statements, forecasts, and stress tests should be given near-zero credibility. When rates rise to 5%, the Fed's words can be assumed to be 1/4 credible. When they hit 20%, that would be a Fed whose words you could take to the bank - if you can still find one.

Ben Bernanke and the Fed, will continue to pump dollars into the economy causing more inflation and keeping interest rates artificially low.
That cannot go on forever.

When interest rates rise then everything will unravel.

Kony 2012 Is BS Says This Young Ugandan

I saw the movie.
It was pretty powerful... but now there are detractors coming out exposing this "Kony thing" to be a "Phoney thing".

So is Kony 2012 a money maker for the movie maker, Jason Russell, of "Invisible Children", or just another false flag op to get US troops into another African country?
Perhaps it is just an orchestrated distraction for the American people during an election year....

Probably all of the above.

Beware The Pink Slime

Ugh! Gross!

Government school - Government food

Here is what Yahoo News reported:

McDonald's and Taco Bell have banned it, but now the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is buying 7 million pounds of beef containing ammonium hydroxide-treated ground connective tissue and meat scraps and serving it up to America's school kids. If you thought cafeteria food was gross before….

According to TheDaily.com, the term "pink slime" was coined by microbiologist Gerald Zirnstein, formerly of the USDA Food Safety Inspection Service. He first saw it being mixed into burger meat when he was touring a Beef Products Inc (BPI) facility in 2002 after an outbreak of salmonella. "Scientists in D.C. were pressured to approve this stuff with minimal safety approval," Zirnstein told The Daily.

"Pink slime," which is officially called "Lean Beef Trimmings," is banned for human consumption in the United Kingdom. It is commonly used in dog and chicken food. Celebrity chef and safe food advocate Jamie Oliver featured the substance and called for its ban on the April 12, 2011 episode of Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution, which may have influenced McDonald's to stop using beef patties containing the filler.

Reportedly, Zirnstein and his colleague Carl Custer studied the substance and classified it as a "high risk product." Custer, who worked at the Food Safety Inspection service for 35 years, says, "We looked at the product and we objected to it because it used connective tissues instead of muscle. It was simply not nutritionally equivalent [to ground beef]. My main objection was that it was not meat."

Another issue is the ammonium hydroxide, a chemical that is used to kill pathogens such as E. coli. The FDA considers it safe for human consumption but a 2009 expose by the New York Times questioned its safety and efficacy. Some food advocates are asking for meat containing "pink slime" to be labeled. It's used in about 70% of ground beef in the US. "We don't know which districts are receiving what meat, and this meat isn't labeled to show pink slime. They don't have to under federal law," Bettina Siegal, a writer and mother of two who created TheLunchTray.com told NBC. Siegel has started a petition to demand the USDA stop using the product in the National School Lunch Program.

How is it the USDA is giving its blessing to 7 million pounds of this pink crap, which will be ending up on school lunch trays?

Let's give America's children garbage to eat - that should help developing brains and bodies (NOT!)

And so tell me - a child who brings a nutritious home-made lunch is penalized and made to eat chicken nuggets - and now pink slime will soon be on the menu too?
And this is healthy for children, how?
Blech!

Really America - haven't you had enough?
Will you allow your school children to subjected to this?

Time to homeschool your children, or monitor very closely what is being served in your local government school.

UPDATE: Here is a list of stores that do and do not sell pink slimed meat.

Happy Purim!

A fun feasting holiday ...

We celebrated with a big plate of home made hamantashen cookies.

And as it is said:
"They tried to kill us, they failed, let's eat!"

but seriously -
There are four mitzvot (commandments) associated specifically with Purim.
They are:

-Read or hear the Megillah (Scroll of Esther) at night and by day.
-Give charity to at least two needy people.
-Send a minimum of two ready-to-eat foods to at least one person.
-Sit down for a royal feast.


CHAG PURIM SAMEACH!

Hope you enjoy the day if you celebrate Purim!
(enjoy the day even if you don't celebrate it)

Obama = Romney = Goldman Sachs

File under "Fool me once - Shame on you, Fool me twice - Shame on me!"





Obama = Romney = Goldman Sachs = Status Quo

Do you get it yet?

Anti-Protest Law Passes Congress

It's known as the Anti-Occupy bill.
Only three Nay votes in Congress- Ron Paul- (R) TX- Paul Broun (R) GA- Justin Amash (R) MI

Are you paying attention yet?
Whether you agree or disagree with the Occupy movement - Freedom of Assembly has just been eviscerated in this country ... public dissent is now a criminal act... and yet it is completely constitutional.

The problem with this bill is the vagueness in describing what qualifies as a "restricted area". It is clear in this bill that once a person enters a "restricted area" they will be up for detainment and arrest. The problem is that while it talks about areas "posted" and "cordoned off" it also mentions "or otherwise restricted areas" and this can be construed to mean anywhere at anytime any place could be deemed a restricted area based on the listed reasons for the protection of certain buildings or people.

A bill passed Monday in the US House of Representatives and Thursday in the Senate would make it a felony—a serious criminal offense punishable by lengthy terms of incarceration—to participate in many forms of protest associated with the Occupy Wall Street protests of last year. Several commentators have dubbed it the “anti-Occupy” law, but its implications are far broader.

It also comes in time for the G8 and NATO summits...Leaders from around the world will gather in Chicago this spring for two diplomatic summits hosted by President Barack Obama. The G8 and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) will hold meetings in Chicago May 19-21.

Then of course are the upcoming political conventions...

The bill—H.R. 347, or the “Federal Restricted Buildings and Grounds Improvement Act of 2011”—was passed by unanimous consent in the Senate, while only Ron Paul and two other Republicans voted against the bill in the House of Representatives (the bill passed 388-3). Not a single Democratic politician voted against the bill.

The virtually unanimous passage of H.R. 347 starkly exposes the fact that, despite all the posturing, the Democrats and the Republicans stand shoulder to shoulder with the corporate and financial oligarchy, which regarded last year’s popular protests against social inequality with a mixture of fear and hostility.

Among the central provisions of H.R. 347 is a section that would make it a criminal offense to “enter or remain in” an area designated as “restricted.”

The bill defines the areas that qualify as “restricted” in extremely vague and broad terms. Restricted areas can include “a building or grounds where the President or other person protected by the Secret Service is or will be temporarily visiting” and “a building or grounds so restricted in conjunction with an event designated as a special event of national significance.”

The Secret Service provides bodyguards not just to the US president, but to a broad layer of top figures in the political establishment, including presidential candidates and foreign dignitaries.

Even more sinister is the provision regarding events of “national significance.” What circumstances constitute events of “national significance” is left to the unbridled discretion of the Department of Homeland Security. The occasion for virtually any large protest could be designated by the Department of Homeland Security as an event of “national significance,” making any demonstrations in the vicinity illegal.

For certain, included among such events would be the Democratic and Republican National Conventions, which have been classified as National Special Security Events (NSSE), a category created under the Clinton administration. These conventions have been the occasion for protests that have been subjected to ever increasing police restrictions and repression. Under H.R. 347, future protests at such events could be outright criminalized.

The standard punishment under the new law is a fine and up to one year in prison. If a weapon or serious physical injury is involved, the penalty may be increased to up to ten years.

Also criminalized by the bill is conduct “that impedes or disrupts the orderly conduct of Government business or official functions” and “obstructs or impedes ingress or egress to or from any restricted building or grounds.” These provisions, even more so than the provisions creating “restricted areas,” threaten to criminalize a broad range of protest activities that were previously perfectly legal.

In order to appreciate the unprecedented sweep of H.R. 347, it is necessary to consider a few examples:

 A wide area around the next G-20 meeting or other global summit could be designated “restricted” by the Secret Service, such that any person who “enters” a that area can be subject to a fine and a year in jail under Section 1752(a)(1) (making it a felony to enter any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority to do so).

 Senator Rick Santorum, the ultra-right Republican presidential candidate, enjoys the protection of the Secret Service. Accordingly, a person who shouts “boo!” during a speech by Santorum could be subject to arrest and a year of imprisonment under Section 1752(a)(2) (making it a felony to “engag[e] in disorderly or disruptive conduct in” a restricted area).

 Striking government workers who form a picket line near any event of “national significance” can be locked up under Section 1752(a)(3) (making it a crime to imped[e] ingress or egress to or from any restricted building or grounds).

Under the ancien regime in France, steps were taken to ensure that the “unwashed masses” were kept out of sight whenever a carriage containing an important aristocrat or church official was passing through. Similarly, H.R. 347 creates for the US president and other top officials a protest-free bubble or “no-free-speech zone” that follows them wherever they go, making sure the discontented multitude is kept out of the picture.

The Federal Restricted Buildings and Grounds Improvement Act is plainly in violation of the First Amendment to the US Constitution, which was passed in 1791 in the aftermath of the American Revolution. The First Amendment provides: “Congress shall make no law . . . abridging the freedom of speech . . . or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” (The arrogance of the Democratic and Republican politicians is staggering—what part of “Congress shall make no law” do they not understand?)

H.R. 347 comes on the heels of the 2012 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which was signed by President Obama into law on December 31, 2011. The NDAA gives the president the power to order the assassination and incarceration of any person—including a US citizen—anywhere in the world without charge or trial.

The passage of H.R. 347 has been the subject of a virtual blackout in the media. In light of the unprecedented nature of the bill, which would effectively overturn the First Amendment, this blackout cannot be innocent. The media silence therefore represents a conscious effort to keep the American population in the dark as to the government’s efforts to eviscerate the Bill of Rights.

The bill would vastly expand a previous law making it misdemeanor to trespass on the grounds of the White House. An earlier version of the bill would have made it a felony just to “conspire” to engage in any of the conduct described above. The bill now awaits President Obama’s signature before it becomes the law of the land.

What lies behind the unprecedented attack underway on the US Constitution and Bill of Rights is a growing understanding in the ruling class that the protests that took place around the world against social inequality in 2011 will inevitably re-emerge in more and more powerful forms in 2012 and beyond, as austerity measures and the crashing economy make the conditions of life more and more impossible for the working class. The virtually unanimous support in Congress H.R. 347, among Democrats as well as Republicans, reflects overriding sentiment within the ruling establishment for scrapping all existing democratic rights in favor of dictatorial methods of rule.

Related news: The upcoming G8 was moved out of Chicago ... world leaders to bunk at Camp David instead. Wonder what flavor Kool-Aid will be served with the S'mores.

George Soros Hearts Mitt Romney

from January 2012
Billionaire investor George Soros explains why there wouldn't be much difference for Wall Street between President Obama and Mitt Romney. He also tells Chrystia Freeland why his billionaire constituents see him as a traitor to his class.

"If it's between Obama and Romney there isn't much difference" - George Soros

George Soros is perceived as a "king-maker"

So you see, America is now engaged in another War for Liberty and this time we are battling another "King George"... one who because of his vast wealth, controls media, people, politicians, and policy makers, and promotes a Progressive Liberal/Socialist agenda.

Hey George, you are not only a traitor to your class - you are a traitor to your country (he is unfortunately an American citizen).

RIP - Davy Jones

Daydream Believer-Davy Jones-Released October 30, 1967
Daydream Believer Lyrics
Artist(Band):Monkees

Oh, I could hide 'neath the wings
Of the bluebird as she sings.
The six o'clock alarm would never ring,
But six rings and I rise;
Wipe the sleep out of my eyes.
My shavin' razor's cold and it stings.

Cheer up, Sleepy Jean.
Oh, what can it mean
To a daydream believer
And a homecoming queen?

You once thought of me
As a white knight on his steed.
Now you know how happy I can be.
Oh, and our good times start and end
Without dollar one to spend,
But how much, baby, do we really need?

Cheer up, Sleepy Jean.
Oh, what can it mean
To a daydream believer
And a homecoming queen?

Cheer up, Sleepy Jean.
Oh, what can it mean
To a daydream believer
And a homecoming queen?

Cheer up, Sleepy Jean.
Oh, what can it mean
To a daydream believer
And a homecoming queen?

Cheer up, Sleepy Jean.
Oh, what can it mean
To a daydream believer
And a homecoming queen?

Daydream Believer" is a song composed by John Stewart shortly before he left the Kingston Trio. The song was originally recorded by The Monkees, with Davy Jones singing lead vocals. The single hit the number one spot on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart in December 1967, remaining there for four weeks, and peaked at number five in the UK Singles Chart. It was The Monkees' last number one hit in the U.S. It was also recorded by Anne Murray in 1979, whose version reached #3 on the U.S. country singles chart and #12 on the Billboard Hot 100.

More Bank Resignations - 84 Since Nov 2011

It looks like bankers are heading for the hills....
Some are leaving amidst investigations and scandals... some are retiring or leaving after many years in baking ..... some starting their own businesses... some moving to other banks and some just resigning their post...

but it's quite interesting the literal shake-up of the banksters.

Some claim that something big is coming down soon and perhaps the banking folks are getting out while the getting is good.
Who knows?
For what it's worth ... here is an updated list.

A total of 84 Bank CEO and Exec resignations have happened in the last six months!

84 RESIGNATIONS FROM WORLD BANKS 2/27/12
BANK CEO AND EXECUTIVE RESIGNATION UPDATE 2/27/12
.................................

(1) 9/01/11 (USA NY) Bank of New York Mellon Chief Resigns in a Shake-UP
http://loanworkout.org/2011/09/bank-of-new-york-mellon-chief-resigns-in-a-shake-up/

(2) 09/20/12 (SCOTLAND) SCOTTISH WIDOWS (RETIREMENT INVESTMENT SAVINGS FUND) There could be no Scottish representative on the board of Lloyds Banking Group, owner of Bank of Scotland, in future after it announced the departure of Lord Sandy Leitch, the chairman of Scottish Widows and group deputy chairman.
http://www.heraldscotland.com/mobile/business/company-news/warning-as-last-scot-leaves-lloyds-board-lloyds-could-lack-scottish-voice.15150830?_=20e772c9486b6372433ff2b886a31e9fca7eeb2a%2828

(3) 9/25/11 (SWITZERLAND) Bank chief resigns over £1.5bn rogue trader crisis
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/swiss-banks-chief-resigns-over-16315bn-roguetrader-scandal-2360640.html

(4) 9/28/11 (SWITZERLAND) SNB Bank Council: Fritz Studer resigns as per end-April 2012
http://www.snb.ch/en/mmr/reference/pre_20111028/source/pre_20111028.en.pdf

(5) 10/29/11 (CHINA) Resignations Suggest Shift for China's Banks
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203687504577003734190522426.html

(6) 11/01/12 (INDIA) More directors of the Beed district bank resign
http://www.thenews.coop/article/more-directors-beed-district-bank-resign

(7) 11/02/12 (UNITED KINGDOM) Lloyds Banking Group chief executive, António Horta-Osório, is to take leave of absence on health grounds for six to eight weeks, the BBC has reported. (STILL OUT AS OF 2/24/12 - DEFACTO RESIGNATION)
http://www.bankingtimes.co.uk/2011/11/02/lloyds-chief-on-sick-leave/

(8) 11/21/11 (JAPAN) UBS’s Japan Investment Banking Chairman Matsui to Resign
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-11-22/ubs-s-japan-investment-banking-chairman-yasuki-matsui-to-resign.html

(9) 11/29/11 (Iran) Iran's Bank Melli CEO Resigns Over Loan Scam
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xlcznz_iran-s-bank-melli-ceo-resigns-over-loan-scam_news

(10) 12/15/11 (UNITED KINGDOM) Senior private banker resigns from Coutts [a very exclusive private bank]
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/12/15/coutts-fleming-idUSL6E7NF23S20111215

(11) 12/22/11 (FRANCE) Societe Generale’s Investment Banking Chief Steps Down
http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2011/12/22/socgens-investment-banking-chief-steps-down/

(12) 12/23/11 (USA VA) Bank feud: Chairman Giles quits VNB with other directors
http://www.readthehook.com/102524/bank-feud-chairman-giles-quits-vnb-other-directors

(13) 1/01/12 (NIGERIA) The Board of United Bank for Africa Plc, the pan African financial services Group with presence in 19 countries across Africa, has accepted the resignation of Mr. Victor Osadolor, from the board with effect from January 9, 2012.
http://www.ubagroup.com/mediacentre/newsdetails/343

(14) 1/01/12 (ISRAEL) Israel's Bank Leumi CEO Maor steps down after 16 years
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/01/01/leumi-ceo-resignation-idUSL6E8C108220120101

(15) 1/03/12 (USA VA) Suffolk Bancorp president and CEO steps down
http://suffolktimes.timesreview.com/2012/01/27262/suffolk-county-national-bank-president-steps-down/

(16) 1/03/12 (UNITED KINGDOM) Departures from Board at Arbuthnot Banking Group: Neil Kirton ... Shortly before the market closed at 12.30 p.m. on Friday the company disclosed that Neil Kirton had resigned from the Board the previous day.
http://www.ftadviser.com/2011/12/30/ifa-industry/product-providers/arbuthnot-securities-board-member-resigns-2bcQHp5JGqKR7lj77ZUnxO/article.html

(17) 1/03/12 (UNITED KINGDOM) Departures from Board at Arbuthnot Banking Group: Atholl Turrell - It has today stated that Atholl Turrell has left the Board.
http://www.arbuthnotgroup.com/LatestNews.aspx?id=488

(18) 1/05/12 (UNITED KINGDOM) Chief executive of Saunderson House [Private Bank] steps down
http://www.ftadviser.com/2012/01/05/ifa-industry/people/saunderson-house-chief-executive-steps-down-M0vEWlpbSqKA3OCLZDCcGM/article.html

(19)1/09/12 (SWITZERLAND) Switzerland's central bank chief resigns
http://mwcnews.net/news/business/16074-switzerlands-bank.html?fontstyle=f-larger

(20) 1/12/12 (United Kingdom) Lloyds’ head of wholesale quits
http://www.bankingtimes.co.uk/2012/02/01/lloyds-head-of-wholesale-quits/

(21) 1/19/12 (SPAIN) Spanish bank Santander's Americas chief quits
http://www.expatica.com/es/news/spanish-news/spanish-bank-santander-s-americas-chief-quits_202395.html

(22) 1/30/12 (UNITED KINGDOM) Head Of UK Private Bank Steps Down [Butterfield Private Bank]
http://citywire.co.uk/wealth-manager/butterfield-private-bank-head-and-cio-step-down/a561170

(23) 1/20/12 (JAPAN) Normura's head of wholesale banking quits
http://www.euromoney.com/Article/2959021/Nomuras-head-of-wholesale-banking-quits.html

(24) 1/29/12 (NEW ZEALAND) New Zealand Reserve Bank Governor Alan Bollard to Step Down in September
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-01-29/new-zealand-reserve-bank-governor-alan-bollard-to-step-down-in-september.html

(25) 1/21/12 (Greece) Banks' top negotiator quits Greece, but talks go on
http://www.france24.com/en/20120121-banks-top-negotiator-quits-greece-but-talks-go

(26) 2/01/12 (SOUTH AFRICA) ABSA falls as deputy CEO steps down [UK Barclay's Bank Controlledl
http://www.fin24.com/Companies/Financial-Services/Absa-falls-as-deputy-CEO-steps-down-20120201

(27) 2/01/12 (UNITED KINGDOM) Truett Tate - Lloyds Banking Group head of wholesale quits
http://www.bankingtimes.co.uk/2012/02/01/lloyds-head-of-wholesale-quits/

(28) 2/01/12 (UNITED KINGDOM) Tim Tookey - Lloyds Banking Group leaving end of February having served as interim group chief executive in addition to group finance director
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/banksandfinance/8772991/Lloyds-Banking-Group-finance-director-Tim-Tookey-quits-to-join-Resolutions-Friends-Life.html

(29) 2/02/12 (VENEZUELA) Key Chavez Minister Resigns Amid Banking Corruption Fallout
http://www.laht.com/article.asp?CategoryId=10717&ArticleId=348565

(30) 2/05/12 (USA - NY) Two Top Morgan Stanley Bankers Resign
http://www.stockbroker-fraud.com/lawyer-attorney-1133774.html

(31) 2/06/12 (INDIA) Dhanlaxmi Bank CEO Amitabh Chaturvedi quits: http://www.livemint.com/2012/02/06160111/Dhanlaxmi-Bank-CEO-Amitabh-Cha.html

(32) 2/7/12 (USA) Bank Of America's Mortgage Business Chief Resigns
http://www.mortgageorb.com/e107_plugins/content/content.php?content.10881

(33) 2/07/12 (INDIA) Falguni Nayar quits Kotak Mahindra Bank
http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2012-02-07/news/31031134_1_kotak-mahindra-bank-falguni-nayar-shanti-ekambaram

(34) 2/07/12 (IRAN) Iran denies central bank resignation rumor (don't believe until its denied?)
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/iran-denies-central-bank-resignation-164154294.html

(35) 2/09/12 (VATICAN) Four Priests Charged In Vatican Banking Scandal
http://articles.businessinsider.com/2012-02-09/europe/31040509_1_anti-money-laundering-law-vatican-finances-italian-tv

(36) 2/10/12 (KOREA) Korea Exchange Bank chief steps down
http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/business/2012/02/10/0503000000AEN20120210005100320.HTML

(37) 2/10/12 (INDIA) Tamilnad Mercantile Bank CEO resigns
http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/tamilnad-mercantile-bank-md-resigns/464259/

(38) 2/13/12 (KUWAIT) Kuwait Central Bank CEO resigns
http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/industries/kuwait-central-bank-chief-resigns-amid-political-tensions/2012/02/13/gIQAcxrOAR_story.html

(39) 2/14/12 (NICARAQUA) Nicaraqua Central Bank Pres Rosales resigns
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-02-14/nicaragua-central-bank-head-quits-amid-row.html

(40) 2/14/12 (UNITED KINGDOM) Social finance pioneer Hayday steps down from Charity Bank
http://socialenterpriselive.com/section/news/people/20120214/social-finance-pioneer-hayday-steps-down-charity-bank

(41) 2/14/12 (UKRAINE) The National Bank of Ukraine issued a short statement on Thursday announcing the resignation of deputy governor Volodymyr Krotiuk.
http://www.bank.gov.ua/control/en/publish/article?art_id=103299&cat_id=76291

(42) 2/15/12 (WORLD) World Bank CEO Zoellick resigns
http://business.time.com/2012/02/15/world-bank-president-zoellick-resigns/

(43) and (44) 2/15/12 (SLOVENIA) Slovenia TWO largest Banks CEO's (2) resign
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-02-15/slovenia-s-nova-kreditna-banka-maribor-ceo-plos-resigns.html

(45) 2/15/12 (KENYA) Governor of Kenyan Central Bank to Resign
http://www.proshareng.com/news/16368

(46) 2/16/12 (UNITED KINGDOM) The Financial Services Authority’s (FSA’s) interim managing director, Conduct Business Unit, Margaret Cole, is to step down later this year.
FSA is the regulator of all providers of financial services in the UK; Bank of England retains
responsibility for systemic risk.
http://www.bankingtimes.co.uk/2012/02/16/fsas-cole-to-step-down/

(47) 2/16/12 (GHANA) Ken Ofori-Atta steps down as Executive Chair of Databank Group
http://business.thinkghana.com/pages/finance/201202/57429.php

(48) 2/16/12 (AUSTRALIA) Anz Bank CFO Australia resigns
http://www.proformative.com/news/1470243/cfo-anz-bank-resigns-amid-turmoil

(49) 2/16/12 (UNITED KINGDOM) Royal Bank of Scotland Bankers Arrested
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/rbs-bankers-arrested-tax-probe-130117888.html

(50) 2/16/12 (AUSTRALIA) Royal Bank of Scotland Austrailan CEO Stephen Williams resigns
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/wall-street-journal/andrew-chick-to-lead-royal-bank-of-scotlands-australian-arm/story-fnay3vxj-1226272513981

(51) 2/17/12 (USA) Blankfein out as Goldman Sachs CEO by summer
http://finance.fortune.cnn.com/2012/02/17/gary-cohn-goldman-sachs/

(52) 2/17/12 (SWITZERLAND) SNB Council President Hansueli Raggenbass To Leave Central Bank
http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20120217-710604.html

(53) 2/18/12 (PAKISTAN) AJK Bank’s executive steps down
http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online/national/18-Feb-2012/ajk-bank-s-executive-steps-down

(54) 2/20/12 (RUSSIA) Head of Russian Bank Regulator Steps Down
http://newsley.com/articles/head-of-russian-bank-regulator-steps-down/206711

(55) 2/20/12 (SWITZERLAND) Credit Suisse Chief Joseph Tan resigns
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-02-17/credit-suisse-s-private-bank-chief-asian-economist-tan-resigns.html

(56) 2/20/12 (ISRAEL) Bank Leumi le-Israel Ltd. : Mr. Zvi Itskovitch Announces his Decision to Resign From Bank Leumi
http://www.4-traders.com/BANK-LEUMI-LE-ISRAEL-LTD-6491695/news/BANK-LEUMI-LE-ISRAEL-LTD-Mr-Zvi-Itskovitch-Announces-his-Decision-to-Redesign-From-Bank-Leumi-14031540/%2856

(57) 2/20/12 (USA) R. David Land Submits Resignation from the Boards of Directors of Peoples Bancorporation, Inc. and Seneca National Bank (11/29/11)
http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=25695731

(58) 2/20/12 (USA WA) First Financial Northwest Director Quits in Candy Austerity Push. First Financial Northwest Inc., a Renton, Washington-based lender, said director Spencer Schneider resigned after asking the bank to remove pictures of past directors and serve only hard candies at annual meetings.Schneider made the requests at a Feb. 15 board meeting as “symbols of austerity,” and also asked that the bank suspend serving refreshments at the annual shareholders’ meeting, offering just hard candies instead, he said. Schneider, general counsel for shareholder Joseph Stilwell, resigned immediately when the company asked that his requests be placed on the agenda for a board meeting next month, the bank said yesterday.
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/first-financial-northwest-inc-announces-resignation-of-director-2012-02-17

(59) 2/21/12 (ARGENTINA) The general manager of the Central Bank of Argentina (BCRA), Benigno Velez, resigned his position today.
http://m24digital.com/en/2012/02/21/the-general-manager-of-the-bcra-benigno-velez-resigned-today/

(60)(61)(62)(63)and (64) 2/21/12 (BANGLADESH) Five bank, insurance directors resign
http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/more.php?news_id=120917&date=2012-02-21

(65) 2/21/12 (JAPAN) CITIBANK JAPAN: Bakhshi is taking over duties from Brian Mccappin, who the bank said in December would resign after the unit was banned for two weeks from trading tied to the London and Tokyo interbank offered rates.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-02-17/citigroup-names-bakhshi-head-of-japan-markets-following-libor-suspension.html

(66) 2/22/12 (USA) Wietschner, Goldman Hedge Fund Advisory Chief, Retires
http://advancedtrading.com/managingthedesk/232601275

(67) 2/23/12 (SOUTH AFRICA) Richard Gush resigns from Standard Bank rehired at Bank of America
http://mobile.bloomberg.com/news/2012-02-23/bank-of-america-merrill-lynch-hires-gush-as-ceo-of-south-africa?category=

(68) 2/23/12 (SCOTLAND) Royal Bank of Scotland Group has announced that John McFarlane will step down as a Non-executive Director on 31 March 2012, as a regulatory condition of his impending appointment at Aviva.
http://www.whatinvestment.co.uk/trading/share-dealing/uk-companies/1630668/aviva-name-rbs-nonexec-mcfarlane-as-next-chairman.thtml

(69) 2/24/12 (INDIA) ICICI Bank GC Pramod Rao resigns, may start up law firm
http://www.legallyindia.com/201202242600/In-house-counsel/breaking-icici-bank-gc-pramod-rao-resigns-may-start-up-law-firm

(70) 2/24/12 (HONG KONG) Citigroup Private Bank’s Co-Head of Global Real Estate Resigns
Feb. 24 (Bloomberg) -- Kwang Meng Quek, co-head of the global real estate group at Citigroup Inc.’s private banking unit, resigned.
http://www.silobreaker.com/citigroup-private-banks-cohead-of-global-real-estate-resigns-5_2265504921182798230

(71) 2/24/12 (NEW ZEALAND) FSF Executive Director resigns
After two years leading the Financial Services Federation ("FSF") executive director, Kirk Hope has resigned to take up the role of chief executive of the New Zealand Bankers? Association.
http://www.voxy.co.nz/business/fsf-executive-director-resigns/5/115797

(72) 2/24/12 (USA) Evercore's Mestre steps down as U.S. banking head
(Reuters) - Eduardo Mestre has stepped down as day-to-day head of Evercore Partners Inc's U.S. investment banking business, the New York-based company said in a regulatory filing
http://in.news.yahoo.com/evercores-mestre-steps-down-u-banking-head-164148352.html

(73) 2/25/12 (AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND) Goldman Sachs: Fitz quits
Stephen Fitzgerald has resigned as Australia and New Zealand chairman and advisory director at Goldman Sachs, after 20 years with the bank. His departure comes less than a year after Goldman took full control of its Australian joint venture, formerly known as Goldman Sachs JBWere.
http://www.ifrasia.com/goldman-sachs-fitz-quits/21001856.article

(74) 2/27/12 (GERMANY) Deutsche Bank Americas chief steps down
http://money.msn.com/business-news/article.aspx?feed=AP&Date=20120227&ID=14832496&industry=IND_BANKING&isub=

(75) 2/27/12 (BAHRAIN) Ebrahim Ebrahim quits as CEO of Khaleeji Commercial Bank
http://www.cpifinancial.net/news/post/12845/ebrahim-ebrahim-quits-as-ceo-of-khaleeji-commercial-bank

(76) 2/27/12 (FRANCE) Societe Generale’s Investment Banking Chief Steps Down
http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2011/12/22/socgens-investment-banking-chief-steps-down/

(77) 2/27/12 (MALAYSIA) Elaf Bank CEO Dr El Jaroudi resigns
http://www.twentyfoursevennews.com/banking-finance/elaf-bank-ceo-dr-el-jaroudi-resigns

(78) 2/27/12 (JAPAN) Nomura’s Head Of Wholesale Banking Quits
http://www.euromoney.com/Article/2959021/Nomuras-head-of-wholesale-banking-quits.html

(79) 2/27/12 (INDIA) Falguni Nayar Quits Kotak Mahindra Bank
http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2012-02-07/news/31031134_1_kotak-mahindra-bank-falguni-nayar-shanti-ekambaram

(80) 2/27/12 (GERMANY) Equiduct chairman steps down Artur Fischer, co-chief executive of Börse Berlin, steps down as part of an expansion of Equiduct's board
http://www.efinancialnews.com/story/2012-02-27/equiduct-chairman-steps-down

(81) 2/27/12 (BAHRAIN) Al Zain steps down as Mumtalakat Holding CEO
The board of directors of Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Company (Mumtalakat),Bahrain’s Sovereign Wealth Fund, has accepted the resignation of the Chief Executive Officer, Talal Al Zain, following the completion of a four year term as head of the investment arm for non-oil and gas assets of the Kingdom of Bahrain.
http://www.twentyfoursevennews.com/bahrain-news/al-zain-steps-down-as-mumtalakat-holding-ceo

(82) 2/27/12 (IRAN) Iran’s Bank Melli CEO Resigns Over Loan Scam
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xlcznz_iran-s-bank-melli-ceo-resigns-over-loan-scam_news

(83) 2/27/12 (UNITED KINGDOM) Moreno to step down at Lloyds Banking Group
Lloyds Banking Group has announced that Glen Moreno, its senior independent director, intends not to seek re-election at the bank’s annual general meeting on 17th May, and will retire from the board on that date.
http://www.bankingtimes.co.uk/2012/02/27/moreno-to-step-down-at-lloyds/

(84) 2/28/12 (HONG KONG) Leung `to enjoy life' as she calls it quits
http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?we_cat=11&art_id=120161&sid=35559525&con_type=1&d_str=20120228&fc=1