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Archive for the ‘COMMENTARY-Passing parade’ Category

Israel vs Iran. Something to Think About

04 Feb

Tonight more saber rattling in the Middle East. Or is it more serious this time? Israel and Iran may well be on the warpath, and our navy is, right now, in the Strait of Hormuz, patrolling the 35 mile wide oilpath between Iran and Iraq with warships.

This is from a concerned (anonymous) reader,:

Iran’s rise to power is thanks to President George W. Bush and his Iraq war. Thanks to him we removed a historic enemy of Iran, Saddam Hussein, from the picture, and they are now poised to take over the Middle East. Remember in the 1980s when Iraq and Iran went to war? During the first portion of that war Iran was whipping Iraq’s behind and so Reagan sent none other than our good pal Mister Rumsfeld to Iraq to sell him WMDs. We did this in hopes of preventing one powerful force from taking over the world’s oil supply. We succeeded up until 2003 when we removed Saddam from power and now the Shia muslims dominate Iraq. So, Iran has virtually conquered Iraq without firing a shot, but by parliamentary elections.

Remember that before, Saddam used chemical weapons against Iran. That country suffered a million casualties, and would not give up the fight. The people of Iran are the descendants of the Persians, one of the fiercest warrior cultures to ever walk the Earth in ancient times. Fighting them would be equivalent to Japan during the second world war. They would not stop fighting for anything, once they are awakened.

There is a great potential effect of war with Iran and that is a world wide reprisal (Jihad?) against Jews, mainly from Muslims. Factor in that there about one billion plus Muslims in the world and about fifteen million Jews world wide. It is not too far fetched to see such places as Europe and America go up in smoke as war erupts between these two groups. To back this claim, all one has to do is look at the rising anti-Semitism that is sweeping the globe. The amount of anti-Jewish violence that could come about would make the 1930s pale in comparison.

It is safe to assume that war between Iran and Israel will break out because they are the two toughest kids in the Middle Eastern neighborhood. However, the royal families of such countries as Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Kuwait secretly met with Israeli officials and gave them their blessing to stop the encroaching threat of Iran into their territory. If war does not break out soon, I estimate that in about ten years Iran will have already spread its sphere of influence into these countries to gain control of their oil supplies, and in effect rule the world economy.

I have heard that the Israeli people are always prepared for war at any time. I have also read that their high school graduates are required to serve in their military for a period of time. They have a very strong military, and a sense of defending their own from enemies. They have proven in the past that they can prevail against impossible odds in war. But if a major war breaks out in the middle east, will this be enough for them to survive? Most likely no. You see, Israel’s military has been portrayed as a smaller version of America’s military, but they are still dependant on the world’s super power to step in on their behalf if things get too tough.

However, some of the things that I have seen from the Obama administration makes me think they are not interested in protecting Israel if they were in a bind. What happens if your big brother leaves you among a bunch of mean, older kids? The little brother will have to step up and beat the bigger kids to a pulp or suffer a humiliating defeat. The Obama administration abandoning Israel adds credence to the idea that they will attack Iran soon, because they have no choice.

I would wager that Israel could take this war on their own for a short period of time, but without the help of America they are ultimately doomed. I could imagine the Muslims swallowing Israel whole unless America stepped in to save them. If not, they will ultimatly go nuclear and deliver serious damage to their enemies and both sides will fall. Basically a scenario where you defeat your enemy, but he has caused so much damage to you that you will soon collapse yourself.

Even if America did intervene on Israel’s behalf, I am not sure how we could help them. The two wars that we are in and the operating cost of our overseas empire have now crossed the one trillion dollar mark. America is not in any kind of shape to fight another war, let alone a potential world war, which this would escalate into, if it were to happen. Coupled with mass unemployemnt, debt, the collapsing environment (gulf oil soil?), wide open borders, fall of the dollar, mistrust of political leaders, etc, I do not see any way we could help without faltering ourselves. It is truly sad that countries that look to us for guidance, leadership and protection will soon have to depend on themselves for these things . . .

This reader goes on to suggest the healing power of prayer.

I have no comment to make. Other than to say that this perspective is worth reading.  A worst case scenario, yes. But I can’t help comparing our present stagnant economic state with the thirty’s experience and the ensuing war which brought about positive economic change – and I lived through both those periods.  War doesn’t just happen. It creeps up, arriving in increments, which was true of WWI and WWII. Meanwhile, we amuse ourselves with Tea Party posturings and Awards season frantics, while serious business is going on beyond our eye line. Is war in our interest? Not now, not ever, given today’s weapons. I think Obama knows that, and will not lead this nation into an unwinnable war. The clue being that he is set to complete the return of our occupying troops. Will they get jobs back home again?  That’s another story, but for now, for my money, he’s welcome to saber rattle too.  I think he knows what he’s doing, and has excellent people around him.

 
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Posted in COMMENTARY-Passing parade

 

To Fly Again…

09 Oct

Denied to me now, I’m afraid;  Judge Gold caused me to lose my Piper Cherokee 6.

However, that didn’t stop me from encouraging my son Ben to learn to fly it, and later – to keep him out of trouble and stop being a waiter – to consider a career in aviation.  That he did, became an instructor, married one of his students, and now flies international for Delta.  We don’t connect any more, but I hope he’s minding his Ps and Qs.

Went to the Huntington Library the other day with my first son Jonathan, and noticed the upcoming exhibit featuring the development of  U.S. Aviation, from its beginnings to the present.  What a glorious story that is!

Indeed, I whiled away the last ten dead years doodling for Wikipedia, and researched and wrote the story of the now defunct  and forgotten Glendale Airport, which was once the gateway to the West Coast. Frequented by the likes of Howard Hughes, Amelia Earhart, and the black Tuskegee Airmen, it later served as the training ground and repair station for thousands of WWII airmen and their fighting machines. The surviving classically designed control tower, surrounded by humdrum factories and warehouses, was acquired by the Walt Disney company, with headquarters nearby.  There many a movie was shot, and its current lack of maintenance and continued state of disrepair is quite shocking.  Shame on you, Walt Disney!  May one wish that the company and Glendale city provide funds and jobs to restore it?

Here, read this, it has such stories to tell.  Grand Central Airport, Glendale

At these times of hardship, us oldsters like to harken back to not so very long ago, to the years when America was industrious in manufacturing, and provided jobs for all.  When we were the New World, a shining light of hope for the less advantaged.

Perhaps our memories will help motivate and energize today’s youngsters to recapture the pride we’ve lost.  Pondering our history, at least they’ll get some perspective.

 
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Posted in A SPACE FOR NOSTALGIA, COMMENTARY-Passing parade

 

A Market Meltup on Wednesday October 5th, 2011

06 Oct

In less than 45 minutes yesterday, just before the usual dreaded down day close, Wall Street, as expressed by the Dow, went up 4%!

45 minutes? A concerted effort by market makers (aka “they”) is what this was. A scientific forensic investigation should be mounted to find out how it is that a huge market can act with all participants in concert with each other. Assume you’re a bear, like most hurting knowledgeable people are. Unless one has the money to be a “fundamental short”, it means put options. And how does the market fix it? Well, for one thing try and get a 3-month-out-option, the preferred one in terms of price and the ability to survive one reversal. They are simply not available. You are forced to either buy a 2 month out or a 4 month and longer, which are expensive. Why is this true (except for very active stocks)?

It’s called artificial rigging. Nothing to do with government, or regulators. “They” do it because “they” can, and “they” have insider knowledge, and work like a gang. And “they” are stealing our money, uncaught. Oh to have the privilege of roaming the floor of the stock exchange!

One could laugh it off by saying that Wall Street is wanking (masturbating) in a lengthening and expanding trading range, to a fantasy of future prosperity. The drop (droop?) will come for the mass orgy of the world’s participants.

 
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Posted in "Wall Street" "stock market" Dow "market makers" options, COMMENTARY-Passing parade, MY STOCK MARKET

 

Richard Fine, Found Guilty of Moral Turpitude?

13 Jun

Our friend Richard Fine, (ex-Esq.) sat in one of the worst jails, the Men’s Central jail in Los Angeles, alone and ignored for a year and a half.  He believed in a cause, the cause of honesty and fair dealing by the exalted arbiters – Judges – who hold sway on the lives and well-being of our citizens.

How is it that this can happen here in California?  We are the only state of the union that has a special Court presided over by judges. If the State Bar determines that an attorney’s actions involve probable misconduct, formal charges are filed with the State Bar Court by the bar’s prosecutors (through the office of chief trial counsel). There, it’s considered whether lawyers have misbehaved.  The court hears the charges and also has the power to recommend that the California Supreme Court suspend or disbar attorneys found to have committed acts of professional misconduct or convicted of serious crimes.  When a finding is made, the decision then goes before the Bar, where they decide whether they agree with it.  If you see signs of self-dealing and conflict of interest, you will find it here.

Richard appealed.  What were his serious crimes?  Read the following, from the introduction to their Opinion and Order:-

Respondent Richard Isaac Fine appeals a hearing judge’s decision finding him culpable of committing 16 violations involving moral turpitude in multiple civil proceedings. Citing respondent’s “pattern of deliberately and repeatedly misusing this state’s statutory process for challenging a judicial officer’s qualifications” followed by a “campaign” of repeatedly filing meritless lawsuits in federal court, the hearing judge recommended respondent’s disbarment and ordered that he be involuntarily enrolled as an inactive member of the State Bar of California in accordance with the provisions of Business and Professions Code section 6007, subdivision (c)(4). Respondent attacks the legal sufficiency of the culpability findings and raises several constitutional claims for the first time on appeal. The State Bar urges us to affirm the hearing judge’s findings and recommendation. Following our independent review (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 9.12), we find that the hearing judge has fairly and fully reviewed the testimonial and documentary evidence, and rendered the appropriate findings. Although we reverse the culpability determinations on certain counts and find culpability on others the hearing judge dismissed, these modifications do not impact our ultimate recommendation. In addition to respondent’s pattern of misconduct over about a three-year period, his misleading and dishonest statements in his pleadings are a common theme throughout this proceeding. Based on the overwhelming evidence of respondent’s repeated abuse of the judicial process, we agree with the hearing judge that disbarment is the only appropriate discipline recommendation.

And so, by this decision, we can assume that they think that Richard has been immobilized, rendered harmless.  I disagree, for what they’ve done is to anger the electorate. They will rise up in protest when enough individuals have been deprived of their freedoms, a number which is growing by the day.

Meanwhile, Richard is now one of us.  He intends to file motions as an honorable Pro Per, seeking to immobilize each and every judge guilty of taking funds from Los Angeles County tax-payers, to which they were not entitled. And we can do the same, as he teaches us here.

Don’t forget that Judicial Watch has been doing its thing too.  It carries more weight than Richard Fine, and it would be most unlikely that one would see their West Coast lawyer Sterling Norris, Esq., who wrote and filed the paperwork, finding himself removed from the rolls of active lawyers.  They filed their original complaint back in April 2006, in the Sturgeon vs. County of Los Angeles case, and while it has been beaten at every turn, it remains to be seen whether they’ll take it to the United States Supreme Court. You can read the history of the twists and turns here.

Watch American democracy in action, because it’s fascinating and very very important.  The Supreme Court will most likely not want to dirty its hands and will deny consideration of the issue.  As a last chance, it will be left for action from the White House.  Obama now has a record of stepping into places usually avoided by his predecessors.  He recognizes that America has a stake in preserving the integrity of the Constitution and our Rule of Law and not just in name only.   It needs to be demonstrated as a significant arm of his foreign policy, and he does have a safe law degree.

 
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Posted in COMMENTARY-Passing parade, Links to Cases & Litigants, Links to Courts & Judges, Links to new justice

 

MALE SEX PROBLEMS

09 Jun

What do the names Weiner, Spitzer, Edwards, Schwarzenegger, Clinton, Gingrich, Strauss-Kahn, Woods, Boehner, Craig – the list goes on and on – what do they have in common? Why, an inability to keep their trousers zipped. Their stories detail the circumstances where men have lost sexual boundaries to the detriment of assorted reputations, and in some cases jobs and marriages. And to the intense glee of the media and the public in this most hypocritical of all societies.

And all they were doing was displaying an inability to control what Bernard Shaw dubbed the “Life Force”.   Mark Twain  wrote “The very thought of  it excites him; opportunity sets him wild; in this state he will risk life, reputation, everything … to make good that opportunity and ride it to the overwhelming climax.”

Well, I have a solution to this, a solution guaranteed to curb this kind of uncontrolled behavior.

In Topanga, where I used to live, there existed the most wonderful of hangouts, a quite famous nudist resort that went by the name Elysium Fields. It was created back in the sixties by a Life Magazine photographer named Ed Lange, in memory of his mother.  I happened upon it when driving my kids to their first day of the new school term, and being asked to pick up some children at an address off the Canyon road. Imagine my shock when I drove through the gates on to the site, and was greeted by a lovely naked lady, 2 dressed kids in tow, stepping out of a trailer. I then looked around, and noticed a few equally naked people staking out claims on the grass, spreading their towels, and eying the nearby swimming pool, for it was going to be a hot day.

As I drove away, I muttered to myself that this was something to really think about. Should I join a movement to get the place closed down? Or maybe consider taking out membership? Curiosity and common sense prevailed, and it was the latter course I took. I remained a member until, after Ed’s death, there was a power struggle with his daughters, who chose to sell the entire estate to the highest bidder, a hotel magnate, I believe, his sole domain.

It was there I met a new English friend, Noel Pugh, an illustrator and sketch artist, who drew the logo for me that you see above.  He lived in a cabin by the pool.  I need to state that in all the years I went there, never did I see a single case of inappropriate behavior.  No exhibitionistic displays, or any man with an erection.  On one occasion I took a friend as a guest, a noted publisher of pornography, who on leaving said to me that he would never go again, because in his opinion, the place was anti-sex, and one big turnoff. It has a strange effect – compulsive urges just seem to disappear.

I frequently took my kids, and my wife, and truly believe that it gave all of us a broader and healthier outlook on life.

The likes of those men above, and many more, carry a huge burden.  Unable to cope with power conflicts going up against their inner demons, they feel an urge to go one step further, which might be fine, except it comes at the expense of others.  I guarantee that a sentence of a few weeks’ confinement at a nudist resort would cure them forever. The trouble is, there are few such places left. Perhaps because they impose a threat to the fashion industry, the entertainment industry, the advertising industry, TV shows like TMZ, Entertainment Tonight and the Playboy Channel, and tabloids like the National Enquirer and Daily Mail. Anti-American, but there it is.

 
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Posted in "Bernard Shaw", "Elysium Fields", "life force", A SPACE FOR REFLECTION, Boehner, Clinton, COMMENTARY-Passing parade, Craig, Edwards, Elysium, Gingrich, Schwarzenegger, Spitzer, Strauss-Kahn, Weiner, Woods

 

D.A. Cooley obliged to institute lawsuit to recover money paid to Judges

05 Jun

Sterling Norris, an ex-D.A., was perhaps best known for going after the criminal behavior of serial killers, the best-known of them being Ted Bundy.

Now he works for Judicial Watch, the public interest watchdog that looks after the best interests of the common public.

This time he seems to be going after the (alleged) criminal behavior of our judges in the California system of judgeships in Superior Court.

Read his letter and attached brief addressed to D.A Steve Cooley.

Cooley – April 13, 2011[1]

But here’s a thought…   Will Steve run again?  Will he care to undertake this huge responsibility during his endgame?

We got part of the answer.  He will not run again, and is endorsing his second-in-command, Chief Deputy District Attorney Jacqueline Lacey, as “the most qualified leader to run the nation’s largest local prosecutorial office.”  He says he has “complete faith in Jackie’s skilled leadership and commitment to the office’s mission,” and is hosting a fundraiser for her on June 9 at the City Club.

The part he doesn’t answer is whether she’ll pursue the case against the judges. Also, whether this played any part in his decision not to run again for a fourth term.

 
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Posted in COMMENTARY-Passing parade, Links to Courts & Judges

 

Charles Bronson’s Estate Sues Warner Bros., MGM

27 May

Of course, their suit is about residuals for past work performed by this actor. They should know not to cross him, even in death!

Maybe one day the unions will be able to negotiate that all income for all shows goes into a common escrow pot. From that account, revenue and expenses would be distributed equitably, according to a given plan administered by an independent fiduciary. As any accountant should know, debits and credits are supposed to balance. Another way to say this is that goods and services equal money, and money equals goods and services, the amounts fixed by governing contracts.
However, let no man or woman hold their breath. The producers maintain a stranglehold on this possibility, and the unions seem to be powerless to change it. Guess they retain better lawyers.

 
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Posted in "show business accountng", ACTORS' & DIRECTORS' CORNER, COMMENTARY-Passing parade, Equity, SAG

 

At the Chelsea Flower Show

26 May

I just read in the Daily Telegraph and the Daily Mail of the celebrities attending the annual Chelsea Flower show in London. Another opportunity to show off their hats.

I see that my old sister-in-law Vanessa was there with her daughter Joely. She named a rose in honor of her other daughter Natasha, who died as the result of a foolish escapade on the slopes of a Canadian ski run a couple of years ago.

I cannot help but ask her why she could not do the same for her young sister Lynn, who has just past the first anniversary of her death on the flats of Kent, Connecticut.

It could be named THE PRINCESS MARGARET ROSE (get it?).  For Lynn felt she was always the second favorite daughter in her family.

 
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Posted in "Chelsea Flower Show", "Joely Richardson", "Natasha Richardson", "skiing accident", "Vanessa Redgrave", COMMENTARY-Passing parade, My Family and Me

 

Could “Two and a Half Men” Be Better Than Ever With Ashton Kutcher?

22 May

I just read a review of 2 1/2 Men by a “communications professor” by the name of Robert Thompson.  He admitted that while watching and critiquing the show, he would rather be balancing his checkbook.

The fact is, 2 1/2 Men is the only truly honest depiction of male and female behavior in our current American and possibly worldwide culture. It deals with real-life situations, and the greed, dishonesty and scamming that goes on at all levels of society and industry, producing the norms of life today. Its popularity, continuing with huge audience followers watching reruns, deny the premise put forth by this professor of communications.

From the working professional’s viewpoint, it is clear that the core of the show is the relationship between 2 brothers, Charlie and Alan, played by Sheen and Cryer.  They are joint protagonists, and Sheen is the perfect foil for Cryer.  Their interplay is worthy of the best of the Smothers Brothers, Laurel and Hardy and the 3 Stooges, the difference being that they are never seen to be “performing”, but just are; believable at every moment. The writing is so superior that one can sit through each show many times.  There is a kind of inevitability in the substance of the patter, and one discovers nuances in funny lines with deep meaning. I myself relax in the evening watching yet again another episode.  I have 72 of them saved.  I recommend almost every episode as a model for the aspiring writer learning how to shape a script, with perfect character, plot, and story development.

It is a shame that a political situation developed between Sheen, joint creator Lorre, Warner Bros. and CBS.  It has been decided that they should continue the run of this golden goose without Sheen.  But it won’t and it shouldn’t work.

What Sheen and Cryer should do is develop their own show with an entirely different setting, and an entirely different family, and continue the exploration of familial situations for 2 disparate brothers. Of course, they would lose their supporting cast, which would be unfortunate.  Apart from anything else, and aside from the show, it would be fun to watch how these parties will squabble over the age-old conundrum of who creates, and therefore owns, the fictitious characters of entertainment. Actors vs. writers vs. directors vs. financial backers.  Another legal drama in the making.  And they will suffer from the absence of Lorre, who is a writing genius, as well as the supporting cast, unequaled in anything I have ever seen.

If any sample of our civilization should be crammed into a space capsule for aliens to see, it would be every episode of 2 1/2 Men as it presently exists.

 
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Posted in "2 1/2 Men", "Charlie Sheen", "Chuck Lorre", "John Cryer", "Warner Bros." CBS, ACTORS' & DIRECTORS' CORNER, COMMENTARY-Passing parade

 

On Jim Cramer, hitting an alltime high

14 May

An article in the NY Times magazine caught my eye. All about the clown antics of a certain Booyah Bozo by the name of Jim Cramer. You will be aware of him if you have hours to kill in front of the TV set, and own a set of securities of diminishing value.

In the old days, we used to go down to our broker (most often Merrill Lynch), and waste hours watching the tape go by, with a cup of coffee and a newspaper. And, of course, trade information and rumors. Outright promotion by the broker was a no-no.

So what’s changed? We still become transfixed by the tape, and allow ourselves to be entertained by a clown who should be doing standup in the boondocks.  He is technically ignorant, doesn’t analyze charts, and won’t suggest shorting when the time is right.  He’s for straight gambling on the long side, and bets on the truthfulness of fundamental valuations, which is a sure way to lose the house, and to the house.  As for broker promotion, that’s been replaced by CNBC promotion.  Opinions?  Well, they’re free, and you know what values attach to free.

It’s best to accept the fact that a stock is worth exactly what it’s selling for, at any given moment. The price contains all known and unknown details, where the devil usually lurks.  To be bullish on anything in a down market, or bearish in an up market requires skill and guts.  It also requires a knowledge of the workings of the market, as portrayed in squiggles on a chart.  You are not an “insider”, but you just might make an educated guess after studying trendlines and classic patterns of tops and bottoms for a roadmap.  Just be aware that the smart money already holds the stock, and needs to unload on to a gullible public.  Mr. Cramer’s job appears to be to set them up.

The game is very serious, and to have fun using other people’s hard earned money is contemptible. And to interview CEOs pretending to reveal inside information while they promote their company’s products has to be for the entertainment of very gullible people.

Stock commentators should be forced to reveal their portfolios, even just a paper portfolio. The record would then speak for itself for all to see.  And they should be registered and conform to Blue Sky laws, like other money managers. And the SEC should come out.  Where are they hiding?

 
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Posted in "fundamental analysis", "head and shoulders", "Jim Cramer", "stock market", "technical analysis", "trend lines", boohah, charts, clowns, COMMENTARY-Passing parade, MSNBC, MY STOCK MARKET

 
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