Prosecuters Seem Surprised that Banksters May Still Be Breaking the Law

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Respectfully submitted by Lawrence E. Rafferty (rafflaw)-Weekend Contributor

We have written on multiple occasions about the illegal activities of Big Banks and Wall Street financial firms as well as their penchant to repeat their offenses.  It now seems that a State regulator and two Federal prosecutors may have finally come to the conclusion that many Big Banks are not only continuing their illegal practices, but that they may have hid information during prior investigations into their allegedly shady dealings.

While I am glad that at least two Federal prosecutors may be putting the heat on some of the repeat offenders by extending their deferred prosecution agreements and opening new investigations and taking a second look at past investigations, my first response is what took them so long?

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Best Out Of Three Rounds: Obama vs. Reagan On The Economy

By Mark Esposito, Weekend Blogger

Film Promises to Take a Controversial New Look at Government SpendingIn the red corner, wearing angelic white trunks trimmed in gold that darling of the Right, that Gipper of trickle-down economics, the Great Communicator himself, Ron–ald “The California Killer” Rea–gan.

And in the blue corner with black trunks trimmed in red, the “change” President, the foil of all things conservative, the first of firsts in American History, Bar–ack “Betcha Can’t Believe Where I’m From” O–Bam–a.

And today’s contest is a three-round fight for  the World Super Heavyweight Economics Guru Belt.  The format is a 10 point “must” system and you are the judges.  I, your humble ring announcer, get a scorecard but it’s only advisory.

But first some background, both fighters weigh in after tangling with some decidedly tough contenders before this big bout. Reagan came into office with a much more serious recession than most on the Left give him credit for. In addition, he followed hot on the heels of what his predecessor called the great American “malaise.” Plus he had an adversarial relationship with the nation’s biggest rival, the Soviet Union.

Obama came into office with a war on two fronts in Iraq and Afghanistan, a massive recession, and a world-wide financial industry on the brink of  collapse. Pretty tough contenders. Plus, he had and has a Congressional opposition party whose expressed goal was to make sure nothing he proposed made it into law. And law, as you know, is the political boxer’s stock-in-trade.

Ding— ding — ding.

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With The News, Sometimes Timing Is Everything

By Darren Smith, Weekend Contributor

congratulations-rock-islandSometimes, timing is everything–whether it be gambling, investing, or even news publishing. Often in the latter case it is mostly automatically generated ad content that can be funny, or even inappropriate when combined with the subject of an online news story.

But a screenshot of The Wenatchee World news, a publication in Central Washington State, put the small 1.7 square mile town of Rock Island in a interesting contrast of news headlines.

Picture below the fold

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India Non-Profit “Love Commandos” Works To Unite Couples Suffering Persecution Under Caste And Social System

By Darren Smith, Weekend Contributor

love-commandos-heart-handsFounded in 2010, a non-profit organization in India has garnered much success—it claims thirty thousand persons—who are sheltered or provided opportunities to pursue their right to marry the person of their own choosing despite pressure and even threats of violence against them.

Love Commandos offers a help line service where verified callers can receive immediate assistance to relocate and receive social benefits on building a future of their own choosing.

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Egyptian Court Sentences Men To Three Years Imprisonment For Video Of Gay Marriage

128px-Gay_flag.svgWe previously reported the arrest of seven men arrested for their alleged participation in a gay wedding ceremony in Egypt, now a Cairo court found the seven defendants guilty of the crime of “Inciting Debauchery” for what was alleged to be their participation a gay wedding on a Nile riverboat.

The video in question, which went viral on YouTube, shows two men kissing and exchanging wedding rings along with onlookers.

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We Have Ways Of Knowing If You Vote: Political Letter Directed At Non-Voters Leads To Accusations Of Intimidation

By Darren Smith, Weekend Contributor

voteA New York based political committee has been accused of sending what many see as an intimidating letter to party voters who have chosen not to vote in previous elections. Whether this is considered peer pressure, inducing worry, or encouraging others to vote has not diminished the controversy and shows an insight into some of the tactics political parties use to generate more votes to their cause. Letters such as this raise questions as to the ethics of shaming voters to vote. The right not to vote is considered a lawful option of the electorate.

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The Season of Our Discontent II: “Football Strong(Men)” Vs. Women

Spooky Torts: The 2014 List Of Halloween Litigation Horrors

Here is our annual list of Halloween torts and crimes. This holiday remains a favorite for personal injury lawyers around the world and this year’s additions show why. Of course, with Sandy, our area is already looking pretty spooky with downed trees and tattered exteriors.

So, with no further ado, here is this year’s updated list of actual cases related to Halloween.

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Just When You Thought It Was Safe To Enter The Pumpkin Patch . . .

Screen Shot 2014-10-31 at 9.24.41 AMThe video below shows a particularly well-planned prank for Halloween, though one has to wonder about the danger of injuries to people with weak hearts (discussed in another posting today) or resulting injuries from fright. Nevertheless, everyone shown on the film seemed to enjoy the prank, which had some funny moments.

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Family Sues Teacher Who Performed Oral Sex On 17-Year-Old Student

1414679674234_wps_10_Blow_Job_TeacherThere is an interesting lawsuit filed in Washington D.C. that could test the limits of civil liability for statutory rape. The case was filed by the family of a 17-year-old seeking $11 million after a teacher allegedly engaged in oral sex with 17-year-old male student. The case however falls along the line of consent laws. The teacher, 22 year old Symone Greene (left), was only around 5 years older than the victim and the age of consent in D.C. is 16 years old. Both the criminal and civil cases could raise some difficult legal issues because she had a “significant relationship” with the student.

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Police Officer Leaves Party After Drinking, Runs Over Man In The Road, Leaves The Scene . . . But Will Not Be Criminally Charged

05242011_chad_finchIn New York, former state trooper Brian Beardsley is now clear of any criminal charges following the announcement yesterday of Hamilton County District Attorney James Curry that the grand jury had dismissed an earlier felony charge. Beardsley was charged after he ran over Chad Finch, 20, (left) who had fallen in the road. Beardsley, who was returning from a party with this girlfriend, pulled over briefly and she called police. However, they then left the scene and returned home.

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Man’s Best Friend? Alabama Man Is Arrested After Police Use His Own Dog To Find Him

WireAP_b7dcb5176b9f47d6a41b8a5a80cbbf68_16x9_992Bo is the type of dog everyone loves. Happy, friendly . . . well perhaps a bit too friendly. His owner, Edwin Henderson, ran from police serving a drug search warrant and hid the in the surrounding terrain. When an officer saw his dog Bo he said “go get him” and let him loose. Bo did precisely that, running to some high grass with his tail wagging excitedly in finding Henderson. The police were no less excited. They arrested Henderson with failure to obey police, manufacturing a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. He is accused of being a meth dealer.

It is not clear what will happen to the dog, who is likely to be viewed as something of a rat. There must be a witness protection program for canines to assume a new name and identity, perhaps as a ranch dog in Montana?

Source: ABC

Teenagers In Massachusetts Pose With Airsoft Guns in Pre-Dance Photo . . . School Officials Respond With Indefinite Suspensions Of Both Teens

10409231_707381359356504_6530552318647936744_n-640x853There is another controversy raising the increasing assertion of authority of school officials over pictures and statements made by students outside of school. In Massachusetts, Jamie Pereira was suspended from school after a photo of her and her boyfriend, Tito Velez, both 16, holding Airsoft rifles was posted on Facebook. A caption beneath the photograph read: “Homecoming 2014.” The picture looks like a new American Gothic for some and a threat to others. However, the controversy again raises the limits and discretion of school officials in monitoring speech outside of school for students and teachers alike. There was good reason to be concerned but the punishment was due to the disruption caused rather than an actual threat from the picture.

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Utah Police Shoot Man Dressed in Anime Costume and Carrying Sword

210ba04e-d6d3-49fe-8e61-41cc9735b6b8-620x372There is a highly disturbing controversy outside of Salt Lake City where Darrien Hunt, 22, was shot six times by police officers who claimed that he charged them with a sword. Hunt was dressed in a Japanese anime costume with a 2 ½ foot steel sword that the family insists was nothing more than a prop. An autopsy released this week shows that several of the shots entered in the back of his body. The case has raised racial concerns since Hunt was black and the officers were white.

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Meet Rana Kauffeldi: The New Frog Species Named After The Man Who First Found It 80 Years Ago

81581_relCarl Kauffeld image 450 pxFor many years until his death, Carl Kauffeld, the director of the Staten Island Zoo and at the American Museum of Natural History, insisted that he had discovered a new species of frog leaving in New York and New Jersey, but faced widespread dismissals from his colleagues. Kauffeld died in 1974, but this week he received not just vindication but a new species named after him: Rana kauffeldi. The frog was found living in wetlands from Connecticut to North Carolina near I-95.

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