Saturday, December 25, 2010
End of Empire: Boy arrested for daring to write
From the smokinggun.com:DECEMBER 22--A 13-year-old boy was arrested Friday for using a permanent marker while in class at his Oklahoma City middle school, a violation of an obscure city ordinance.
According to an Oklahoma City Police Department report, the boy was spotted “in possession of a permanent marker” by Roosevelt Middle School teacher DeLynn Woodside. The 50-year-old educator told cop Miguel Campos that the student was “writing on a piece of paper, which caused it to bleed over onto the desk.”
Woodside, pictured at right, reported that the child, whose name was redacted by police from the report, attempted to hide the marker when she asked him for it. Strangely, Woodside’s Facebook page reveals that her “likes and interests” include the official “Sharpie Permanent Markers” page on Facebook.
Campos reported that he allowed Woodside, a seventh grade math teacher, to “sign a citation” against the boy, who was then transported to the Community Intervention Center, a juvenile holding facility. A police sergeant subsequently “booked the marker into the property room.”
A police spokesman referred to the student’s bust as a “citizen’s arrest” effectuated by Woodside.....read on
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Thailand - GFC is for stupid Americans
I visited this nightclub in Bangkok with friends this week. Well it was more like a Bavarian beer hall meets Las Vegas stage show which served Dutch beer, a very "only in Thailand" experience.
The stage show had a rotation of bands, singers and styles, Thai pop, rap and country and a few western (actually Australian) pop songs which was ironic as my family and I were the only westerners amongst the several hundred people in the venue.
A survey of the car park with my son (to walk off the affects of the "Dutch" beer) confirmed my impression of the venue's clients. The closest several rows of the car park were reserved for the elite (wankers), in total over 50 late model Mercs and BMWs, many factor mod specials (AMG, Brabus, M3, M5,etc). It made think "haven't these people heard of the GFC, aren't they meant to be embracing austerity like the rest of us?"
When I went back inside I asked my friend (a successful Thai businessman) what happened to Thailand in the GFC? how come the car park outside has more and better Mercs than the Merc dealer in Mosman?
He replied "GFC is for stupid Americans and their thieving bankers. Thailand making things people need. The rice and sugar are getting high prices, factories are busy making things people need - cheap small cars, whitegoods, cement, building products. We not make paper banking shit and sell it to other stupid people"
An example of the shows at the Holland Brewery:
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Ireland in the Noose - IMF bailout plan to get more inflexible over time despite assurances
By Jon Ihle, from the Irish Tribune:The bailout conditions agreed between Ireland and the EU and IMF are likely to get more restrictive over time, despite official assurances that there is "room for discussion" around the specifics, according to a senior source briefed on the matter.
According to the source, who has had contact with senior IMF officials, any slippage in carrying out the programme will result in tougher modifications to the plan.
The terms of the memorandum of understanding, which lays out the programme for Ireland's financial support, are expected to become increasingly inflexible with each quarterly review, as IMF officials achieve a finer understanding of the country's problems, the source said.....read on