11-05-19 Welcome Costa Rica! // Bienvenido Costa Rica! // 欢迎哥斯达黎加！

Last New Visitor Costa Rica  Visited May 19, 2011

11-05-18 Straus-Kahn Legacy // Straus-Kahn 遗产 // Straus-Kahn 遗产

By Ben Rooney, staff reporter February 10, 2011: 4:37 PM ET
NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- The International Monetary Fund issued a report Thursday on a possible replacement for the dollar as the world's reserve currency.
The IMF said Special Drawing Rights, or SDRs, could help stabilize the global financial system.
READ THE FULL STORY:
http://money.cnn.com/2011/02/10/markets/dollar/index.htm

May 19 -- IMF general resources credit outstanding increased to 65.5 billion Special Drawing Rights, or SDRs, ($104 billion) on May 12 from 6.0 billion SDRs at December 2007. The so-called new arrangement to borrow, which came into effect on April 1, increased the IMF's available lending resources to 269 billion SDRs on May 12 from 120 billion SDRs on March 31.
READ THE FULL STORY:
http://in.reuters.com/article/2011/05/17/idINIndia-57083920110517

11-05-17 Time Magazine: US Becoming the USSR // La revista Time: Convertirse en EE.UU. la URSS // 时代周刊：美国成为苏联

Comment:
I can't believe I am posting Time magazine...  This is a tipping point of some sort, not sure what sort, yet... :)
___

Veteran U.S. Diplomat: We Are Becoming the USSR

Posted by Mark Thompson Tuesday, May 17, 2011 at 12:12 pm


Chas Freeman was President Nixon's interpreter during Nixon's historic visit to China in 1972. Now, nearly 40 years later, after an impressive diplomatic and defense career, he's interpreting China for the rest of us.
Last week he said:

The balance of prestige, if not yet the balance of power, between the United States and China has shifted...In some disturbing ways, Sino-American competition is beginning to parallel the contest between us and the Soviet Union in the Cold War. This time, however, the United States is in the fiscally precarious position of the USSR, while China plays the economically robust role we once did.

The worse news:

It is not just that China and others are regaining the regional preeminence they enjoyed before the now defunct era of Western colonialism. It is also that America's fractious politics are now dispiriting rather than inspiring to foreigners and citizens alike. The financial system and economic model of the United States have been discredited in the world's eyes. Few look to us for leadership on either global or regional issues, whatever their nature. Only our military power is fully respected. But, as we have shown the world in Afghanistan, Iraq, and now Libya, there are limits to what military power alone can accomplish.

Read more:
http://battleland.blogs.time.com/2011/05/17/veteran-u-s-diplomat-we-are-becoming-the-ussr/#ixzz1Mpml1e7P

11-05-19 Assassination Nation... // Asesinato Nación ... // 刺杀国家...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Information Clearing House Newsletter

News You Won't Find On CNN
May 19, 2011
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Assassination Nation:
Are there any limits on President Obama's license to kill?

By James Bovard 

The Obama administration now claims a right to kill Americans without a trial, without notice, and without any chance for targets to legally object. 

READ THE FULL STORY:
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article28133.htm

 

11-05-19 Welcome Tanzania - Newest Country! // Tanzania Bienvenido - el país más reciente // 欢迎坦桑尼亚 -最新国

        

Newest Country Tanzania Last Visited May 19, 2011

11-05-19 Welcome France ! // Bienvenido Francia! // 欢迎法国！

Last New Visitor France  Visited May 19, 2011

11-05-19 Welcome New Zealand! // Bienvenido Nueva Zelanda! // 新西兰欢迎！

Last New Visitor New Zealand  Visited May 19, 2011

11-05-19 Corruption of US Banking Regulation // La corrupción de los EE.UU. Regulación Bancaria // 美国银行监管腐败

NOMI PRINS, INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER

   Nomi Prins

Author, Journalist & Speaker

Nomi Prins is a journalist and Senior Fellow at Demos. Her latest book is: It Takes a Pillage: Behind the Bonuses, Bailouts, and Backroom Deals from Washington to Wall Street (Wiley, September, 2009). She is the author of Other People’s Money: The Corporate Mugging of America (The New Press, October 2004), a devastating exposé into corporate corruption, political collusion and Wall Street deception. Other People's Money was chosen as a Best Book of 2004 by The Economist, Barron's and The Library Journal. Her book Jacked: How "Conservatives" are Picking your Pocket (whether you voted for them or not) (Polipoint Press, Sept. 2006) catalogs her travels around the USA; talking to people about their economic lives.

 

Before becoming a journalist, Nomi worked on Wall Street as a managing director at Goldman Sachs, and running the international analytics group at Bear Stearns in London.

She has appeared on numerous TV; internationally on BBC World, BBC and Russian TV, and nationally on CNN, CNBC, MSNBC, ABC, CSPAN, Democracy Now, Fox and PBS. She has been featured on hundreds of radio shows globally including for CNNRadio, Marketplace, Air America, NPR, regional Pacifica stations, New Zealand, BBC, and Canadian Programming.

Her writing has appeared in The New York Times, Fortune, Newsday, Mother Jones, The Daily Beast, Newsweek, Slate.com, The Guardian UK, The Nation, The American Prospect, Alternet, LaVanguardia, and other publications.

She is based in Los Angeles....

www.nomiprins.com

NOMI PRINS ON THE SEC SUIT AGAINST GOLDMAN SACHS

  

11-05-18 Welcome China! // La bienvenida a China! // 欢迎来到中国！

Last New Visitor China  Visited May 18, 2011

11-05-18 Rabbi Jonathan Bernhard and Adat Ari El, Valley Village – willful beneficiaries of Sandor Samuels’ criminality // Sinagoga de los beneficios de la delincuencia // 从犯罪犹太教堂好处

Starting early 2007 Dr Zernik has reliably informed Rabbi Bernhard of Samuels’ racketeering in the courts.  Rabbi Bernhard has done nothing to stop the retaliation that ensued, and Samuels continues to be listed as Member of the Board of the synagogue regardless of his well-publicized track record in the intervening years.

            

Jonathan Bernhard       Sandor Samuels

                                Adat Ari El, Valley Village

Los Angeles, May 18 – Joseph Zernik, PhD, of Human Rights Alert (NGO) has requested Rabbi Jonathan Bernhard’s Jewish ethics perspective regarding racketeering in the courts by leaders of the Los Angeles Jewish-legal community, including, but not limited to, Sandor Samuels – Member of the Board of Adat Ari El synagogue. [i]  Dr Zernik first met Rabbi Bernhard in early 2007, to reliably inform him of the conduct of Samuels, a major donor to the synagogue.  At that time Samuels was Chief Legal Officer of Countrywide, and was listed as responsible for all litigation matters in the corporation:

• In early 2007, in their first meeting, Dr Zernik provided Rabbi Bernhard evidence of Samuels’ racketeering in the courts. [i]
• In direct response, Samuels initiated retaliation, which continued from 2007 till 2010, and in itself is part of the racketeering pattern. [ii]
• In January 2008 Countrywide collapsed, following the publication by the New York Times of fraud by Countrywide’s counsel in the US Court in Pennsylvania – filing of “recreated letters” as evidence – part of the same pattern. [iii]
• In March 2008 news was published that the Hon Jeff Bohm, US Bankruptcy in Texas, issued a 72 page Memorandum Opinion, based on a yearlong study by the US Trustee’s office, detailing conduct of Countrywide in courts across the United States, additional evidence of racketeering in the courts. [iv] According to the Memorandum Opinion, Countrywide promised the Hon Bohm to cease such conduct.
• The evidence shows that Mr Samuels nevertheless continued the same conduct as Associate General Counsel of Bank of America. [v]

Sandor Samuels was central to one of the biggest frauds in history against homeowners, against shareholders, and against the US Treasury.  Rabbi Bernhard has been reliably informed in the matter since 2007.  Regardless, Samuels continues to be listed a Board Member of Adat Ari El, Valley Village.

“Most likely, Rabbi Bernhard and Adat Ari El synagogue continue to accept Samuels’ donations to this date, making Rabbi Bernhard and Adat Ari El direct beneficiaries of criminality,” says Dr Zernik.  “The fact that Samuels and his like are not prosecuted, is only a reflection of corruption of the US justice system today. It is no excuse for the Jewish community to live in denial of reality.” [vi]
___
LINKS:

[I] 11-05-15 Request for Jewish ethics perspective by Rabbi Jonathan Bernhard (Adat Ari El) regarding public corruption/racketeering in the courts by leaders of the Los Angeles Jewish-legal community

http://www.scribd.com/doc/55444214/

[ii] 07-07-06 Samaan v Zernik (SC087400) Countrywide: Ex parte application for a Protection/Gag Order
http://www.scribd.com/doc/25002347/
[iii] 08-01-08 Case of Borrower Hills (01-22574) – in the US Bankruptcy Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh. Countrywide’s Three “Recreated Letters” and a Transcript
http://www.scribd.com/doc/25003494/
[iv] 08-03-05 Case of Borrower William Parsley (05-90374), Dkt #248: Judge Jeff Bohm’s Memorandum Opinion, rebuking Countrywide’s litigation practices, Countrywide’s false outside counsel scheme – appearances by counsel who are not Counsel of Record, with “no communications with clients” clause:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/25001966/[v] 10-07-06 Complaint Filed with US Attorney Office Los Angeles against Sandor Samuels and others, alleging Racketeering
http://www.scribd.com/doc/33971099/[vi] 11-04-21 PRESS RELEASE:  NYT: “In Financial Crisis, No Prosecutions of Top Figures” – Because of widespread corruption of the justice system, they are effectively immune
http://www.scribd.com/doc/53520603/

____

11-05-13 Corruption of Los Angeles Jewish Judges and Attorneys // La corrupción de Los Ángeles jueces judíos y Abogados // 洛杉矶的洛杉矶犹太腐败的法官，律师

Los Angeles Rabbis Sharon Brous (Ikar Synagogue), Chaim Nochum Cunin (Chabad), Susan Leider (Temple Betham), Chaim Seidler-Feller (UCLA Hillel) are Asked to Opine on Public Corruption/Racketeering in the Courts by Jewish-legal community leaders

The questions originated from public corruption and racketeering by Bet Tzedek current and former leaders: Sandor Samuels, David Pasternak, Terry Friedman, and refusal of ADL National Director Abraham Foxman to respond on the matter.  Additional questions addressed the ethics duties of US judges such as Alex Kozinski, Richard Posner, and Anthony Kennedy and Jewish religious leaders in view of “corruption of the courts and the legal profession” in California.  

   
Rabbi Brous    Rabbi Cunin    Rabbi Leider              Rabbi Seidler-Feller

Los Angeles, May 13  – Requests for Jewish ethics opinions, have been addressed to four Los Angeles area rabbis, concerning public corruption and racketeering by Bet Tzedek’s leaders, and “corruption of the courts and the legal profession” in California. [[i]]
The four rabbis are:

• Rabbi Sharon Brous Ikar Synagogue, Los Angeles;
• Rabbi Chaim Nochum Cunin Chabad, Los Angeles;
• Rabbi Susan Leider -  Temple Betham, Los Angeles;
• Rabbi Chaim Seidler-Feller UCLA Hillel, Los Angeles

Joseph Zernik, PhD, of Human Rights Alert (NGO), who addressed the rabbis, has gained substantial experience in analyzing computer fraud in the state and US courts in recent years, and his findings were presented in international computer science and criminology conferences and published in international peer-reviewed journals.  His opinions were also supported by opinions of top fraud and computer science experts, and incorporated into an official UN Human Rights Council report. [[ii]]

Dr Zernik has repeatedly highlighted in his writing in recent years the prominent role of Jewish attorneys and judges in racketeering in the Los Angeles courts.

Three of the Los Angeles rabbis, Brous, Leider, and Seidler-Feller are clear in their protest against the death penalty in California, in view of the widespread corruption of the California justice system. [[iii]]

The questions now addressed to the rabbis pertained to:

1)  Should Mr Abraham Foxman, National Director of the Anti Defamation League (ADL), opine on defamation, or lack thereof, in stating that leading figures of the Los Angeles Jewish-legal community engage in public corruption and racketeering in the courts?

2) Should Alex Kozinski, Chief Judge of the US Court of Appeals, 9th Circuit, and Anthony Kennedy, Justice of the US Supreme Court, who oversees the 9th Circuit, and Richard Posner, US Circuit Judge, initiate corrective actions in view of the 2010 Professional Staff Report of the UN Human Rights Council, which noted “corruption of the courts and the legal profession - in California“.

3) Should California and US Jewish religious leaders press for corrective actions relative to such conditions.

Asking Jewish rabbis to opine on public matters is a tradition going back at least 1,500 years.

Tikkun Rabbi Michael Lerner has provided partial response on such questions 

 Regarding refusal by Mr Abraham Foxman to respond on defamation, or lack thereof, in stating racketeering and corruption by Jewish-legal Los Angeles leaders, Tikkun Rabbi Michael Lerner wrote:

�I know nothing about the circumstances about which you are talking, and don’t want to publicly comment on Mr. Foxman because the only honest things I could say might easily bring me a law suit for slander�.  [[iv]]

Rabbi Lerner refused to respond on the ethics duties of US judges and Jewish religious leaders in view of �corruption of the courts and the legal profession�.

Rabbi Lerner is clear in his opposition to the death penalty in California.

Tikkun�s motto is: �to heal, repair, and transform the world.�

Similar questions were addressed to Richard Posner, University of Chicago Law Professor.  

Similar questions were previously addressed to Richard Posner, University of Chicago Law School Professor, regarding �corruption of the courts and the legal profession� in California: [[v],[vi]]

• Is it reasonably ethical for Anti Defamation League (ADL) National Director Abraham Foxman not to respond on request for opinion regarding public corruption and racketeering in the courts by leaders of the Los Angeles Jewish-legal community?
• Are US judges bound by an ethics duty to initiate corrective actions regarding �corruption of the courts and the legal profession�, based on their Oaths of Office?
• Are US judges bound by an ethics duty to initiate corrective actions regarding �corruption of the courts and the legal profession�, based on the Code of Conduct of US Judges?
• Is Alex Kozinski, Chief Judge of the US Court of Appeals, 9th Circuit, bound by an ethics duty to initiate corrective actions in view of an official 2010 Professional Staff Report of the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council regarding �corruption of the courts and the legal profession� in California?
• Is Anthony Kennedy, Justice of the US Supreme Court, who oversees the 9th Circuit, bound by an ethics duty to initiate corrective actions in view of an official 2010 Professional Staff Report of the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council regarding �corruption of the courts and the legal profession� in California?

Richard Posner failed to respond on the questions.

The Oath of Office states: “I… do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States…“

UCLA Human Rights expert Professor Richard Steinberg was also asked to opine regarding refusal of Mr Foxman to respond on the matter.  
  

UCLA Law School Professor Richard Steinberg, Director of the Sanela Diana Jenkins Human Rights Law Project, has so far failed to respond regarding refusal of ADL National Director Foxman to respond regarding public corruption and racketeering in the courts by Los Angeles Jewish-legal community leaders. [[vii]]

Richard Steinberg failed to respond on the questions.

The Project�s mission is �to advance the cause of human rights and international justice around the world.�

ADL was asked to opine on Dr Zernik�s writing, which detailed racketeering in the courts by leaders of Bet Tzedek � the Los Angeles �House of Justice� � an affiliate of the Los Angeles Jewish Federation   

Dr Zernik has recently filed a request with Mr Abraham Foxman, National Director of the Anti Defamation League (ADL), for ADL’s opinion regarding Dr Zernik�s writing, which detailed public corruption and racketeering in the courts by leaders of the Los Angeles Jewish-Legal community.  Dr Zernik�s writing pertains to current and former officers of BET TZEDEK – the Los Angeles “HOUSE OF JUSTICE”, an affiliate organization of the Greater Los Angeles Jewish Federation. [[viii],[ix]]

Dr Zernik has expressed his concern that his writing, and the positions held by such individuals, are likely to lead people to conclude that the Los Angeles Jewish community holds in high esteem, or even as its leaders, individuals, who are engaged in corruption of the courts and violations of Human Rights.  Moreover, Dr Zernik has pointed out the large number of readers of his writings.

In order to remove any doubts on such important matter, and knowing that ADL has a good-size legal department and considerable resources, Dr Zernik has requested a formal opinion by ADL on such writing.  With the letter, large volume of evidence has been provided to ADL.

Abraham Foxman failed to respond on the question.

ADL�s stated mission is “to stop the defamation of the Jewish people and to secure justice and fair treatment to all.�

Current and former senior officers of Bet Tzedek, the “House of Justice” are involved in racketeering in the courts.

  

         
Terry Friedman         David Pasternak      Sandor Samuels

Dr Zernik�s writing is supported by opinions of fraud experts of the highest reputation, and are part of conduct that was opined in the 2010 Human Rights Council of the United Nations as �corruption of the courts and the legal profession in California�. [[x]]
Over the past several years, Dr Zernik has often written, published online, and distributed by email to a large recipient list materials, which may be deemed by some as defamatory of key Jewish organizations in Los Angeles, California:

• BET TZEDEK, the “HOUSE OF JUSTICE”, and
• THE GREATER LOS ANGELES JEWISH FEDERATION, with whom it is affiliated.

His writing detail public corruption and racketeering in the courts by current and former senior officers of BET TZEDEK:

• SANDOR SAMUELS, current and former President;
• DAVID PASTERNAK, former President (possibly current member of the Board of Directors)
• TERRY FRIEDMAN, former Executive Director.

SANDOR SAMUELS also lists himself as a Board Member in a number of other prominent Los Angeles Jewish organizations:

• AMERICAN JEWISH UNIVERSITY, LOS ANGELES
• ZIEGLER SCHOOL OF RABBINIC STUDIES
• SHALHEVET SCHOOL
• ADAT ARI EL SYNAGOGUE, VALLEY VILLAGE

Bet Tzedek and the Greater Los Angeles Jewish Federation have refused to respond on requests to state whether they have grievance procedures, to address complaints of public corruption and racketeering in the courts by their leaders.

Bet Tzedek�s motto is the biblical command �Justice, justice you shall pursue!� (Deut. 16:20)

LINKS
[i] 11-05-12 Los Angeles Rabbis Sharon Brous (Ikar Synagogue), Chaim Nochum Cunin (Chabad), Susan Leider (Temple Betham), Chaim Seidler-Feller (UCLA Hillel) are Asked to Opine on Fraud/Racketeering in the Courts by Jewish- Legal community leaders
http://www.scribd.com/doc/55310953/
[ii] 11-05-08 Joseph Zernik,PhD, Biographical Sketch
http://www.scribd.com/doc/46421113/
[iii] Online Petition: Stop the execution of Kevin Cooper. Impose a moratorium on the death penalty in California
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/stop-cooper-execution-end-death-penalty-in-caifornia/
[iv] 11-05-08 Press Release: Tikkun�s Rabbi Lerner opines on refusal by ADL to respond on Public Corruption/Racketeering in the courts by Los Angeles Jewish-legal community leaders.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/54938457/
[v] 11-05-08 Univ of Chicago Law School Professor Richard Posner is asked to opine regarding ADL�s refusal to opine on corruption/racketeering in the courts by Los Angeles Jewish-legal community leaders
http://www.scribd.com/doc/54944520/
[vi] 11-05-09 Ethics Questions Forwarded to University of Chicago Law Professor Richard Posner
http://www.scribd.com/doc/54969700/
[vii] 11-05-07 Press Release – UCLA Law Professor Richard Stein Berg, A Human Rights Expert, Is Asked to Opine Regarding Human Rights in Los Angeles, California
http://www.scribd.com/doc/54839618/
[viii] 11-05-05 ADL Abraham Foxman is asked to opine on allegations of Public Corruption, Racketeering in the Los Angeles Jewish Community
http://www.scribd.com/doc/54664741/
[ix] 11-05-05 Addendum to request for opinion by ADLs Abraham Foxman in re: Corruption/Racketeering in the Los Angeles Jewish/Legal community-s
http://www.scribd.com/doc/54719683/
[x] 10-04-19 Human Rights Alert (NG0) submission to the  United Nations Human Rights Council  for the 2010 Review (UPR) of Human Rights in the United States as incorporated into the UPR staff report, with reference to “corruption of the courts and the legal profession”.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/38566837/

11-05-17 Yale Law Journal: Corruption of the US Courts // Yale Law Journal: La corrupción de los tribunales de los EE.UU. // 耶鲁法律杂志：美国法院腐败

S t r a t o s   p a h i s
Corruption in Our Courts: What It Looks Like and Where It Is Hidden 


a b s t r a c t .  Recent surveys and events indicate that judicial corruption could be a significant problem in the United States. This Note builds an economic model of bribery to better understand the incentives behind this pernicious phenomenon. It then compiles a data set of discovered incidents of judicial bribery in the United States to test the effectiveness of our antijudicial-corruption institutions. This analysis suggests that our institutions are particularly ineffective at preventing and uncovering judicial bribery in civil disputes and traffic hearings.

a u t h o r .  Yale Law School, J.D. 2009; Universidad Complutense de Madrid, M.A. 2005; Dartmouth College, B.A. 2004. I am grateful to Professor Susan Rose-Ackerman for inspiring my interest in this topic and for her invaluable support and feedback over many drafts of this
Note. I am also indebted to the members of The Yale Law Journal Notes Committee—in
particular to Victoria Weatherford for her patience, meticulous editing, and insightful
comments. Thanks also to Sam Ferguson for his helpful feedback. All errors that remain are of course mine alone.

READ THE FULL PAPER:
http://www.yalelawjournal.org/images/pdfs/795.pdf

11-05-17 Happy Birthday! // ¡Feliz cumpleaños! // 祝你生日快乐！

Today, the Scribd Human Rights Alert site passed the 600 followers!
Readers: 421,826
http://www.scribd.com/Human_Rights_Alert