NFC

Now much of the world might think this is going to be about football, but noooooo, this is about near field communications - technology that turns your phone into your wallet and virtually does away with the need for credit cards or cash. If i had investment capital, I would be buying some stocks...

Companies like ISIS will provide software, though i can see many jumping on that bandwagon once the hardware companies get going. The question is, will you, Lucy and Ricky Consumer, buy in.

The new technology is for electronic payments but not with a credit or debit card, rather, with your phone... Convenient, sure, but how secure is the question. What if you lose your phone, can you call it from another phone, download all it's information securely by entering some code in your new phone, and then push a button on your new phone to make your old phone self destruct?. Kind of like mission:impossible, but will passwords be enough protection? How about a fingerprint scanner, that should be a simple and secure addition.

So you have a way to wave your phone like a magic wand and create an electronic transaction. The next question is will merchants do their part? Are they going to invest in the hardware and software needed?

Of course they will, eventually, and so will you, eventually, when everyone is as sure as we can be that it is as safe and secure as the current system of monetary transaction, the credit or bank card. The question is how long will that be and more, from an investment perspective, which company will emerge as the leader in hardware and software production for the new NFC world.

Something to ponder if you've got money to invest.

chemistry dot crap

this was a free weekend on chemistry dot com... so i visited and answered their questions and the site gave me ten profiles they called matches and not one matched my criteria and i did not match any of the ten (i mean way off on critical criteria, not even close) and after clicking them away, they didn't have any other profiles for me to see... so the free come on was bogus, so trusting the site with something as important as an introduction to my heart and mind is out of the question...

don't they get that? :}

ford fiesta and other failures

car buying sucks in many ways when money is an object (and remembering a time when money was almost no object brings a whistful smile, but that's another story for another horse of a different rider, or something like that), but car buying is much worse when there are no cars to choose from... take about a sellers market, sheeesh...

so i very well would have bought a ford fiesta se with auto and the 203a option package (just in case any ford dealers are savvy enough to be googling out there) and the blue with black/blue interior would likely have iced it, but there were none to be found in the country, apparently, and in their infinite wisdom to make the extra buck, the very few that were available were packaged for optimal profit for the car seller and not for the buyer...

research showed me that reliability aside (and while that would be a large set of dice to roll, i was ready to take that gamble), the new 2011 fiesta was the best bang for the buck in sub-compacts offering the best gas mileage and best options packages...

while honda and toyota may still have the best reliability and longevity ratings and resale value (though gm has the longest warranty), they've come down in stature in recent years and their cars themselves are no longer ranked in the top few of subcompacts... add to that the fact that their prices have risen above most of the other brands, especially when you compare the option packages... ford is the first manufacturer to offer the good options in the subcompact model and still brings the car in at a price under the bare bones models of the perennially most reliable foreign makers...

the 100,000 mile warranty gm offers almost had me going for the chevy aveo but it ranked fairly low on the scales i reviewed (for instance, using multiple other reports and this methodology) as did many other small cars that were at the top of the rankings for most of the last twenty years...

i decided there was no good reason to compromise on what i felt was the best car package for me for under $20,000 so i am tossing the $2000 i would have put as a down payment on the fiesta into the old cavalier which means no new car (read my lips) for at least a year or two or maybe few since the cavalier has just 82,000 miles on it and that means it should have another few years of low cost after these big repairs are done... as long as aamco does them right, that is...

maybe i'll actually clean and even paint the old flippantly casual automobile now :)

don't buy a car in orlando, fl

prices are way inflated when compared to other parts of the country... there is almost no selection, no selection if you are looking for a smaller economical car... and used cars are high mileage with prices that can get you a new car in other parts of the country...

that's just the way it is...

moldy nuts

the 2 LBS 1 OZ container of Planters nuts was disappointing at first, probably because i am not used to eating halves and pieces, but when i got about a quarter of the way through i found the discoloration was mold... that sucks so much cuz i ate almost half a pound over the last few days...

i told them about it online, but there's not much they can do about the bad taste in my mouth about planters nuts... from not on i'll but the cans, not the clear plastic containters, and the smaller packages... and whole nuts, no more of the scraps from the bottom of the assembly line... and probably not planters...

most of all, i'll be inspecting the nuts before i put them in my mouth...

i love nuts...

not mold...

equity residential

arriving home i found a notice at the door that warned of eviction if the rent was not paid... so what happened to the auto-pay i had authorized for more than two years that the new office staff (and the old office staff and every office staff at every apartment community that was owned by Equity Residential) said "no problem, the auto-pay will transfer as soon as you sign the lease", i wondered... i rushed over to the office and found it locked, but one of the staff came to the door and did not have answers about why the auto-pay did not switch over and refused to take a check saying i could only pay with a money order and when i asked why a check was ok last month there was, again, no answer... meanwhile, they want $78 in a late fee... very curious way of extorting a late fee from a resident...

so i wrote a few emails to their corporate offices and hopefully will find some responses on monday and then, we can discuss what went wrong and why my rent check was refused and whether they actually want me to pay rent and how i can actually do that... they can also explain how they justify a late fee when they stopped my auto-pay and refused my check...

meanwhile, the previous equity residential apartment community where we experienced the worst service i ever experienced in an apartment community at the highest prices i ever paid in an apartment (more than $1200 for a two bedroom) tacked on a $100 additional fee to clean the carpet over the $400 they originally took as a non-refundable deposit for a pet... the carpet had no stains or smells and was immaculate except for normal wear on the entry path, but $400 was not enough to clean it... meanwhile, local professional carpet cleaners will clean a whole apartment for under $100 and we can only imagine the cost when the contract is for cleaning thousands of apartments (which is what equity has in this area)...

Equity Residential has an F grade at the Better Business Bureau and after a year at the most expensive Equity Residential owned apartment community in the area, i understand why...

remind me to update one of these days...

medical marijuana

so you want to buy some medical marijuana and you don't want to just let your doctor choose what strain is best for you, well, you're in luck because i found some information for you on the cnbc website where someone or a few experts (i have no clue as to their credentials, but it's a job i might consider if there was an opening... Danny Danko is the senior cultivation editor for High Times Magazine and wrote the High Times Field Guide to Medical Marijuana Strains {I am obviously in the wrong field}, so he's the primary expert cited in the cnbc article) declared the following list to be the top 16 medical marijuana strains...

now while some might find it quite amusing as it seems to suggest some of these strains are excellent aids for budding couch potatos (pun intended... to quote the description of the first strain as "soothing qualities can induce a peaceful, easy feeling just perfect for sitting on the couch", narf), there is much validity in the benefitial use of drugs and marijuana in particular is a very versitile herbal drug that would have many effective uses, many more than alcohol, if it were not illegal (and the debate over why it is illegal, much like the debate over whether big corporations prevent good things from being marketed in order to keep their market shares in their industry {big oil vs alternative energy and transportation, cigarette and alcohol vs marijuana and other drugs, and so on}, can wait for another time)...

seriously, puns and eagle's lyrics aside, you may be surprised at the claims for medical marijuana uses from reducing muscle pain, to calming nasuea, to reducing symptioms for glaucoma, back pain, depression, asthma, hepetitis c, anxiety, insomnia, anorexia, impotence, sad, ptsd, add and adhd and the list goes on... so ready or not, here they are (I'll leave the photos on the cnbc site for now):

White Berry
According to Danko, White Berry can make a great nighttime smoke, claiming its soothing qualities can induce a peaceful, easy feeling just perfect for sitting on the couch. He also recommends White Berry for relieving muscle spasms and restless-leg syndrome.

A-Train
The hybrid genetics of this strain is a mix between Humboldt County “Trainwreck” and “Afghani Mazar,” giving the user a favorable taste and the grower an easier plant to grow. Danko claims this strain enhances appetite and lowers ocular pressure, which is particularly important for glaucoma sufferers.

“Trainwreck” is a staple of Northern California, says Danko, and the A-Train strain has “a kick all its own.” It was named the High Times top 10 strain in 2009 and is known for its spicy flavor and citrus after-taste.


Dr. Grinspoon
Named in honor of noted cannabis researcher and author Dr. Lester Grinspoon, a Harvard Medical School professor and advocate of marijuana for over 40 years. “Long-lasting and very cerebral, this is a true connoisseur’s strain,” says Danko. Danko says this strain can be used for the treatment of depression and nausea.

Blue Dreams
“Over the past few years, the sativa-dominant Blue Dream has become a real dispensary favorite on the West Coast, especially in the Bay Area,” says Danko, noting that it’s become a staple at many medical-cannabis collectives. He describes it as “as full-bodied in odor, flavor and high, the colorful strain provides a richness of experience lacking in many other “meds.”

Danko also notes that Blue Dream allows the user to be fully functional and lacks sedative qualities present in many other strains, although the euphoria experienced is relatively strong. He offers this strain may be a remedy for chronic stomach or back pain.

G-13 Haze
A perennial winner in High Times’ ‘Cannabis Cup’, this strain is a combination of successful types of marijuana to create this highly praised variety. Danko notes that G-13 Haze, developed by the European company Barney’s Farm, exhibits spicy and sweet flavors as well as an uplifting high for users and can be used to treat depression, ADD and ADHD.

Canna Sutra
“True connoisseurs know the many positive effects of sativas, including their ability to inspire sensual thoughts and feelings,” says Danko. The effect is to “elevate and stimulate the mind” while burning off in an incense-like smell. He says this strain may assist bronchial dilation, helping to alleviate symptoms of asthma-related conditions.

Lavender
Described by Danko as “the all-time-best mellow, violet colored indica-dominant strain available to the public today,” it is also popular among medical marijuana users and growers. The foliage of the plant has also been recognized by marijuana enthusiasts, featuring orange veins and dark-purple leaves.

The strain provides a relaxing high, says Danko, with a taste of plum and pomegranate, and is best recommended use at a time of low activity. Users claim its relaxing qualities have been useful for treatment of insomnia.

Crimea Blue
Crimea Blue, a favorite of Danko, is described as having “connoisseur-level detail” in its make-up. It is a prizewinner that is a combination of genes from Ukrainian Hash and Blueberry strains and is noted for its complexity. The strain also includes scents of lemon and pine, delivering a high that may foster creativity.

Possible medicinal values include treatment for muscle-spasms for multiple sclerosis patients and pain reduction from neuropathy suffered by HIV/AIDS patients.

Nigerian
Sometimes referred to jokingly as “ampheta-weed,” this strain tends to energize the user to the point of paranoia in amateur smokers.

Possibly recommended for medical patients treating depression, seasonal affective disorder, PTSD and some forms of anxiety. Danko suggests to prepare mentally to anticipate the rising high and then sit back and enjoy the ride.

Mazar
Placing second in HIGH TIMES 1999 Cannabis Cup winner for Indica, Danko claims strains from this area in Mazar-i-Sharif region in Afghanistan appeal to indica lovers interested in power from their pot. Users claim to feel strong sedating properties, possible recommended for patients who need muscle relaxation or are looking for help falling asleep at night.

Purple Kush
This almost pure indica strain has its origins in the Pacific Northwest, but according to Danko has become increasingly popular and available worldwide. Users note these grape-flavored, violet-colored nuggets can help patients appreciate the deep body stone, which may be helpful in treating chronic pain and depression.

Satori
Danko says this strain is perfect for those with a higher THC tolerance since it combines an “up” high of a longer-flowering plant with the hardiness and rapid growth typical of shorter, stockier indica . Users point out Satori’s abilities to ease depression and anxiety (unlike some sativas that can make the heart race).

Romulan
British Columbia established itself long ago as the pot paradise of Canada’s provinces, and the strain called Romulan led the way. According to Danko, Romulan buds are prized by medical patients for their pain-relieving properties and devastatingly powerful couch-lock high. Users can enjoy the piney odor and peppery flavor.

S.A.G.E.
Danko claims patients who smoke Sativa Afghani Genetic Equilibrium, S.A.G.E. for short, may help treat mood swings, hepatitis C and PTSD. Users report enjoying its sandalwood scent.

Vortex
Danko says this fruity flavored strain has a high pistil-to-leaf ratio that makes smoking it a treat since there’s very little leaf on each bud and a thick coating of resin. Users report this strain can help with appetite for those suffering from nausea or otherwise unable to eat.

Jack Herer
Bred and named in honor of the late marijuana activist Jack Herer, this strain is called the “Champagne of Strains” and has frosty and bubbly characteristics, says Danko. Jack Herer has several related strains, including Jack Flash, Jack’s Cleaner, Jack Candy, Jackie O and Jackie White, which Danko notes is a testament to the strength and beauty of this variety, as well as its versatility in breeding programs. Patients suffering from anxiety disorders and fibromyalgia report relief from using Jack Herer.

speed traps - big business vs safety

counting down the ten worst cities for speed traps in the u.s., the cnbc article points out that while speed limits used to be created for the safety of drivers and pedestrians based on traffic studies, nowadays speed limits are often changed primarily to trap more safe drivers and make money for local governments, especially during tough times (number of tickets written correlates with the general economy, which should be illegal as it is unethical, but there is little consumer-oriented ethics in government and business, really)... beware driving anywhere, but especially in these cities:

10. Los Angeles, CA
Speed traps: 151
Los Angeles is a great example of speed limits not matching at all what traffic patterns indicate is a safe speed — which is how they’re supposed to be determined.

Most of the speed traps are on the boulevards in the valley, my L.A.-based colleague Jane Wells, who writes the Funny Business blog, says. “The speed limit is 35 but if you actually drove that, you’d get mowed down!” Wells says.

Fines and surcharges for speeding or failing to have proof of insurance can approach $1,400, the NMA reports. And good luck fighting a ticket in L.A. It’s always been tough, but with the city teetering on the brink of bankruptcy, motorists don’t have a chance.

“If you walk into a courtroom, because of the massive deficits at every level, they can’t let a breathing person walk out without taking their money!” Dornsife said.

9. Chicago, IL
Speed traps: 153
Chicago now uses red-light cameras to nab motorists for running lights and speeding, which increases the city’s ticketing power. And, while, speed limits are supposed to be determined by engineering studies, Dornsife notes that the last study on one red light speed trap here was done in 1994 and the Department of Transportation deemed the safest speed was 43 miles per hour. The posted limit? 30.

Dorsnife notes two problems here: First, some of the traffic-control devices are 20 and 30 years old. And second, on the interstates, local politicians control the speed limits — and the enforcement in the courts. So, good luck fighting a ticket.

Barnet Fagel, aka “The Ticket Doctor,” noted one particularly tricky speed trap: Motorists have to drive at a snail’s pace leading up to the entrance to Lake Shore Drive, which then opens up into a six-lane highway. A half-mile in is the speed trap, where the speed limit is 40 and police nab drivers just as they’re starting to pick up speed. “Comparable divided highways carry higher speed limits by as much as 10 to 20 mph more,” he said.

8. Dallas, TX
Speed traps: 156
Dallas is one of three Texas cities that made the top 10 for speed traps.

“Here’s what happens in Texas: We have these safety standards that you have to apply to make sure the speed limit is safe,” Dornsife said. “They follow none of them! They have what’s called ‘home rule,’ which means they don’t have to follow federal law.”

Dornsife said it’s not uncommon here for tickets to be issued for drivers going just a few miles over the speed limit, and they’ll do things like set a “school zone” two miles away from the school.

Also, good luck keeping up with fluctuations in the speed limit on a given road. Dornsife recalls being at a DOT speed-limit conference and a presenter from Dallas said there are sections of the freeway where the speed limit can change three to four times within a few miles.

And speed limits can be changed arbitrarily: “Somebody stands up in a city council meeting … say, a police officer with no training in traffic engineering … and proposes a speed-limit change and they vote on it,” Dornsife said. “Traffic engineers are supposed to decide what speed is safe – and law enforcement is supposed to enforce it,” he said. “Half of these cities don’t have traffic engineers.”

7. Orlando, FL
Speed traps: 165
You’re less likely to break the speed limit on your daily commute than you are on vacation, where you’re in a strange place and don’t know the laws or the speed traps, Dornsife says. So, Orlando, home of Disney World and Universal Studios and Sea World, benefits from a steady stream of tourists – and revenue from speeding tickets.

“Orlando definitely has speed traps,” said Amy Mariani, a former traffic reporter for Clear Channel Radio. Some of the worst ones, she said, are Colonial Drive (State Route 50), where the speed limit constantly changes, the Beachline (State Route 528) as motorists drive west from the airport (That’s right, they get you straight from the airport!) and I-4, especially downtown near the Millenia Mall.

Plus, Dornsife says, Orlando was one of the early adopters for red-light cameras – they were using them even before state laws allowed them to. In the first three months, he says, the cameras here generated 700 tickets.

And, they’re tough: One motorist noted on Speedtrap.org that officers on motorcycles often snag motorists in a short school zone for doing three to four miles over the speed limit.

6. Denver, CO
Speed traps: 165
Colorado, like Texas, has “home rule,” where cities don’t have to comply with state laws. As a result, traffic on some roadways indicate 35 to 40 miles per hour is safe and yet the speed limit has been set at 25, or 55 is safe and yet the legal limit has been set at 40.

One Denver driver said that many roadways have been designed far bigger than they need to be, which facilitates higher rates of speed. Then they post low speed limits and BAM! They can snag you for a speeding ticket.

And they’re tough: They have speed cameras everywhere, that resident said, and they’ll even nail you for going an inch over the line at a light.

Jayson Luber, the traffic reporter for 7News at ABC affiliate KMGH, said officers will even wait for drivers riding in the exit lane who dart back into other lanes at the last minute, and nab them for crossing a white line. He said holiday weekends are the worst but police are out in full force year round.

5. Jacksonville, FL
Speed traps: 175
Florida takes the prize for the state where motorists are most likely to get a speeding ticket, according to a survey last year by the NMA.

One man told News4Jax.com that he wasn’t surprised. “I probably passed 30 cops on the way down here, so they were sitting there waiting to get everybody that's for sure," he said.

Jacksonville, in particular, is known for speed traps where multiple drivers are pulled over at once, often by unmarked police cars, and motorists can be charged for going 5 mph over the limit. And, they get low marks on informing motorists of the speed limits.

“Many of their streets are horribly underposted,” Dornsife said of Jacksonville. “Some of the signs they use there aren’t even legal devices – they’re supposed to be a particular size, format and shape,” he said.

4. Colorado Springs, CO
Speed traps: 186
Remember, Colorado has “home rule,” where municipalities don’t have to follow state laws, and Colorado Springs takes full advantage of it.

To their credit, they fully disclose how tough they are: They state publicly that drivers will be penalized if they drive 1-4 miles over the speed limit, 5 to 9 miles over, 10 to 19 miles over, 20 to 39 miles over and 40 or more miles over (Literally, they break it down that far). They also state that “one’s intent is irrelevant,” which means they don’t care if you didn’t mean to speed, had a broken speedometer or have oversized tires. These situations are “Not a defense to speeding.”

Colorado Springs drivers write on Speedtrap.org that often police use unmarked vehicles. And, like Denver, wide roads are often slapped with a 25 mph limit and entering the city from the southeast, one motorist notes, the speed limit drops quickly from 55 to 25.

3. Las Vegas, NV
Speed traps: 187
They say what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas and tourists find out all too soon that applies to speeding tickets as well!

Speed traps are common on the highways heading into and out of Las Vegas, Dornsife said. Department of Transportation records indicate traffic could handle 80 mph but a 70 mph zone is strictly enforced. Even side streets have traffic stops, one motorist noted on Speedtrap.org.

Another motorist said he passed by an officer when he was driving north on US-49 and the officer was going south. Three minutes later, the officer turned around and pulled him over, clocking him doing 59 in a 55 when the driver thought the speed limit was 60. The officer actually wrote him a ticket for 67, saying he’d seen the driver speed up to 67 after passing him by!

Dornsife added that anytime there’s a budget crisis, the number of tickets written out seems to go up. And, good luck trying to fight them in court, especially when the city is still struggling financially.

2. Austin, TX
Speed traps: 189
The second entry from Texas in the top 10 is Austin, which one motorist described as practically a police state. Remember that here, they have “home rule,” so municipalities don’t have to follow state laws — and it seems they’ve taken that invitation to go quite seriously off the script.

That motorist said he was ticketed for going three to four miles per hour over the speed limit in a school zone, and when he was going 83 in an 80 mph zone.

There are serious speed traps at the northern and southern city limits, motorists note on Speedtrap.org, with many noting that everyone they know seems to have a couple of tickets. One woman wrote that she received a ticket and took a driver’s education course to eliminate it. A clerk called her a year later and said the ticket was now a warrant and the fine had been increased. Luckily, she had her paperwork to prove it had been eliminated. She also noted that she’d seen three cars pulled over at once.

Houston, TX
Speed traps: 373
And the winning city is from … Texas!

Seriously, the speed traps in Texas are so bad, Dornsife said, “any place in Texas could be No. 1.”

Drivers note on Speedtrap.org that there are traps set at the Houston city limits and near attractions like the Astrodome. And, the speed limit can change rapidly and dramatically. One motorist wrote that entering the city on Highway 59 North, the speed limit dropped suddenly to 55 from 70. Just as the motorist noticed the speed-limit change on his GPS, BAM! There was a speed trap.

The number of tickets was even more staggering when the economy was bad: In March of last year, KTRK Channel 13 found that Houston police officers wrote about 3,000 tickets per day, or 147 an hour!

TrafficTicketSecrets.com says the average speeding ticket in the U.S. is about $150. Multiply that out and that’s $450,000 a day — and $14 million for the month.

ATT does not care

in early March ATT sent me an email telling me they were deleting all my web pages that have been on their server for almost ten years and i had to transfer my account before march 31 to save the pages and emails addresses that i've had since the nineties...

so i followed the email instructions and transferred my account and it took eight hours on the phone with at least a dozen different customer service people, tech support people, supervisors, and managers and was transferred more over and over and had to explain the same problem over and over (email would not work after i followed their instructions) and was cut off or hung up on at least a half dozen times and finally the last techie i spoke to fixed the problem in less than two minutes after eight hours of run around) and then i went to download the web pages and found them gone...

i didn't have another eight hours to deal with their ridiculous left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing corporate structure, so i went back another day to the website to try to get help and found my account no longer was valid and in the fine print it said "if you transfer your account before saving your web pages, you are shit out of luck"...

ok, so it said the equivalent in more legaleze (which is more obscene, if you have ethics), but the bottom line is the pages were blocked... i wrote to ATT on every website they have, including corporate, and then sent back form emails promising to respond to my concerns (and emphasizing the return address on the emails were not valid in big "DO NOT REPLY" letters), but no response and the march 31 deadline has passed and the written gardens, my thousands of web pages and years of writings, both pouring my personal heart out and creative rhymes and images and more, all gone...

that is why, instead of trying the ATT u-verse, i am giving bright house a chance now after more than a decade of staying loyal to ATT wireless and internet services... ATT does not care... the rest of corporate america probably cares just as none, but ATT has taken up my time just to insult my intelligence and screw me and destroy my creativity and work once too often...

consumer beware... ATT has become too big, has too many departments, and the lack of organization within their organization prevents them from providing reliable service and makes it virtually impossible to resolve the problems that their lack of organization creates...

choose another company...

bright house, not so

more like dark house as the internet connection, promised to be 20mbps and touted to be upwards of 30-50mbps has not given me much more than my 2-3mbps that i got with my att aircard and tonight, there is an inability to stay connected to the internet and limited connectivity, down to under 100kbps at times when it does stay connected...

so i might be moving on to att u-verse next, but since the bright house tech said he credited my account for a month of free service, i'll give bright house another month... i was going to cancel the aircard, but i am very glad i did not do that yet... at least the tech was courteous and apologetic...

try try again...

health care reform

Healthcare Napkins All

View more presentations from Dan Roam.

conversations with congreff

ok, today it is congress, he senate, specifically, who inspire me to ponder our consumer culture and the product, propaganda and doublespeak... the ability to use words to placate and say things that sound right or soothing or encouraging, but never actually address an issue or a questions, never actually providing a solution... i asked my local senator to address the corruption and unfairnes in government and bug business, especially the banking industry... note how quickly he drops others names and talks about what others are proposing and the potential consequences of others actions, but doesn't take any responsibility or provide a single concrete idea himself... action?... change?... real leadership?... not in this guy... this was his response:

Below is a response to the recent comments I received from you:

Dear Mr. Candor:

Thank you for your correspondence regarding consumer financial protection. I appreciate hearing from you and would like to respond to your concerns.

As you know, President Barack Obama and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner have released their proposal for financial regulatory reform. Among other things, the Obama Administration proposes the creation of a Consumer Financial Protection Agency that would have broad authority over the regulation of financial products and services. Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) is currently developing the Restoring American Financial Stability Act of 2009, which is a financial regulatory reform bill before the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee. In addition, Congress is working on legislation to address issues related to the banking industry that proposes several ideas for financial reform. Some of these ideas include stricter regulation on banks, as well as a single federal bank regulator in an effort to try and increase accountability and end unnecessary overlap.

The financial crisis of 2008 nearly ruined the financial markets in the United States and threatened the global economy. In addition, the failure of many financial institutions and the collapse of the stock market left many Americans with severely impacted retirement accounts. It is vitally important that we thoroughly evaluate where our laws and regulations broke down to ensure that such a disaster never happens again. These are very complex industries affecting citizens and businesses, throughout our country, so we need to be careful to reform and strengthen the system in a way that does not impose undue burdens on American businesses. I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Senate to get it right.

It is an honor and privilege to serve the people of the great State of Florida in the United States Senate. I take great pride in being a native Floridian, and I look forward to the tremendous opportunity to better the lives of all Floridians. I assure you I will work hard to represent our state to the best of my ability in the U.S. Senate. If I can be of any help to you, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Very truly yours,

George S. LeMieux
United States Senator


**Note: PLEASE DO NOT REPLY TO THIS E-MAIL. If you would like to reply to this message, please contact me through my website at http://lemieux.senate.gov.
GL/nyb

rah rah rah, but what are you actually going to do other than make speeches about how challenging the issue is and how more study is needed, more study by congress, paid for by tax dollars, your money, my money, to study study study, but not change anything... in fact, the corruption and unfairness, the divide between rich and poor, and the mistakes just get worse... and is procrastination part of the cause?...

this is what my esteemed senator responded to:

* No more bailouts: No bank should ever again be bailed out by taxpayers, so make sure no bank is "too big to fail." That goes for all corporations. Taxpayers should not be forced to bail out companies that are mismanaged. Let the millions come from the corporate executive salaries first.

* Reduce family debt: Make sure minimum loan payments cover some principal as well as interest, so people can actually pay down their debts. Fairness is not only morally right, it is good economic sense.

* Stop the legalese: Require mortgages, loan contracts and credit card terms be written simply and clearly so you don't need to be a lawyer to understand your rights and responsibilities. Do this before things get so bad that people start looking for radical change as they have in so many countries throughout history, including our own origins.

* End the 'quick profit' mentality: Pay brokers and bankers based on the long-term performance and quality of the loans they make. End 'keep the fee, pass on the risk.' There must be a reasonable salary and profit cap on business if the gap between the elite 1% and the rest of us is to stop widening. History tells us what happens when the gap gets too wide. Don't repeat the same mistakes.

* Curb the gambling: Limit the bets that banks can make, including the private side-bets that are not even reported. All transactions should be reported by law. Who's money is it, anyway?

* Don't leave consumer protection in the hands of those who failed to do it. Accountability,. You are accountable to hold bankers and corporations accountable, That is a large part of your job. Voters are accountable to hold you accountable to do your job.

* Lobbyists might pay for your cushions, but voters hire you can fire you. Listen to the voters before they lose any more faith jn the government and look for other means to create a fair and equitable society.

* Revolution does not come suddenly in the night, it is born and fed by continued mistakes by government in the light of day. I am witnessing the fall of the American Dream. The flaws of capitalism are becoming more glaring every year. It is time for a bold new enlightened approach to capitalism and government that brings us closer to the ideal of for the people, by the people, equality, and an equitable sharing of the wealth.

* I implore you to learn from the history of Rome, France, England, and other empires and live up to the ideals, hopes, and dreams of our founding fathers before it is too late.

rah!