j.dean

What the Costumes Reveal -- an appalling lack of compassion toward the homeowners the Baum firm had brought foreclosure proceedings against.

Sat, 29 Oct 2011 22:29:48 -0400

On Friday, the law firm of Steven J. Baum threw a Halloween party. The firm, which is located near Buffalo, is what is commonly referred to as a “foreclosure mill” firm, meaning it represents banks and mortgage servicers as they attempt to foreclose on homeowners and evict them from their homes. Steven J. Baum is, in fact, the largest such firm in New York; it represents virtually all the giant mortgage lenders, including Citigroup, JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America and Wells Fargo.

Keep Wall Street Occupied - "postage paid"

Sat, 29 Oct 2011 18:19:40 -0400

via youtube.com

Herman Cain All you can do is give that woodchuck a tuna melt Clearly there is a bad rabbit and it's got my pink clown enemies.

Fri, 28 Oct 2011 23:58:55 -0400

via youtube.com

Herman Cain lays it on the line, warning against “big potato moths”. Recommends we “throw out the good guys’ coal.”

ol rotten eagle’s next. nachos and hogwash! i’m a leave a dime so you can eat at white castle. I said babyer breath is stinkin. Big Potato Bombs. Mexican people don’t eat sugar especially when it’s mixture of lice and tiger DNA. I’m gonna dance and make love and make snacks. If you like let’s watch disney.
That makes you a hustler. Can’t police no underwear. All you can do is give that woodchuck a tuna melt. Clearly there is a bad rabbit and it’s got my pink clown enemies.

Ricky?

I'm Getting Arrested smartphone app - Android Market

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 21:06:49 -0400

via market.android.com

The Daily Show with Jon Stewart: Parks and Demonstration: Oakland Riot #occupyoakland

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 20:32:35 -0400

via hulu.com

Oakland Policeman Throws Flash Grenade Into Crowd Trying To Help Injured Iraq War Veteran #OccupyOakland

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 01:38:24 -0400

via youtube.com

After protesters ran to the aid of a badly-injured person, Oakland Police deliberately lobbed a flash grenade into the crowd.

Google Transparency Report Google transparency report: "We received request from US law enforcement to remove YouTube videos of police brutality #OccupyOakland

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 01:19:34 -0400

United States

◄
January to June 2011
►

Content Removal Requests
User Data Requests
92
Content Removal Requests

Government requests for removal of content from Google services.
757
Items requested to be removed

A single government request may cover one or multiple items.

63%
Removal requests fully or partially complied with

Observations on Content Removal Requests

We received a request from a local law enforcement agency to remove YouTube videos of police brutality, which we did not remove. Separately, we received requests from a different local law enforcement agency for removal of videos allegedly defaming law enforcement officials. We did not comply with those requests, which we have categorized in this Report as defamation requests.

Product Breakdown
Reason Breakdown
Product
Court Orders Executive, Police, etc. Items Requested To Be Removed
Web Search
24
3
198
Copyright
1
–
2
Defamation
17
1
188
Privacy and Security
5
1
6
Impersonation
1
–
1
Other
–
1
1
Google Images
1
–
2
Copyright
1
–
2
Google Earth, Google Maps, and Panoramio
1
2
3
Defamation
1
–
1
Privacy and Security
–
1
1
Other
–
1
1
Google Books
1
–
1
Defamation
1
–
1
Google Groups
5
–
379
Defamation
5
–
379
YouTube
6
26
113
Defamation
1
2
16
Privacy and Security
1
10
62
Government Criticism
–
1
1
National Security
–
1
1
Violence
–
2
3
Hate Speech
–
1
1
Other
4
9
29
Blogger
16
2
47
Defamation
4
–
22
Privacy and Security
7
1
11
Impersonation
–
1
1
Other
5
–
13
Picasa Web Albums
–
2
5
Hate Speech
–
2
5
Google AdWords
–
1
7
Other
–
1
7
Gmail
1
1
2
Impersonation
1
1
2

Link to this page

©2011 Google - Privacy Policy - Terms of Service

via google.com

Google transparency report: “We received request from US law enforcement to remove YouTube videos of police brutality” http://t.co/2MVhO3yu #OccupyOakland

MSNBC: NYPD Police Brutality during Occupy Wall Street #OccupyWallstreet

Fri, 30 Sep 2011 12:09:31 -0400

via youtube.com

An excellent piece of main stream coverage on this past weekend, I’m sure this video wont be up long, but figured the folks looking at the vids on this channel would appreciate it.

Cheney’s Book Features Foreword by Satan. - welcome to the matrix, charlie brown.

Wed, 31 Aug 2011 00:17:50 -0400

via jackdean.posterous.com

Couldn’t Put it Down,’ Says Prince of Darkness

NEW YORK (The Borowitz Report) – Publishing circles were abuzz today with the news that the new memoir by former Vice President Dick Cheney features a foreword by an unusual contributor: Satan.

In his introduction, the Prince of Darkness said he rarely reads political memoirs but made an exception in the case of Mr. Cheney “because we had worked so closely together in the past.”

When he began to read the Cheney manuscript, however, the Lord of Misrule said he was “surprised” by what he found.

“Quite honestly, I couldn’t put it down,” Satan wrote. “It was almost like a book I would have written myself.”

In what could be construed as minor criticism of the book, Satan admitted he was “miffed” that Mr. Cheney took total credit for the idea of invading Iraq, but added, “We were such close collaborators at the time, it may be hard for Dick to remember whose idea was whose – half the time we were finishing each other’s sentences.”

While Satan said he is unlikely to make a habit of writing introductions to books, he said that he could foresee making another exception in the future: “I’ve heard Rupert Murdoch is working on his memoir.”

Elsewhere, after Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn) said God created last week’s earthquake and hurricane to punish America, God issued this rebuttal: “Actually, that’s why I created Michele Bachmann.”

Cheney’s Book Features Foreword by Satan.

Wed, 31 Aug 2011 00:11:47 -0400

via borowitzreport.com

Couldn’t Put it Down,’ Says Prince of Darkness

NEW YORK (The Borowitz Report) – Publishing circles were abuzz today with the news that the new memoir by former Vice President Dick Cheney features a foreword by an unusual contributor: Satan.

In his introduction, the Prince of Darkness said he rarely reads political memoirs but made an exception in the case of Mr. Cheney “because we had worked so closely together in the past.”

When he began to read the Cheney manuscript, however, the Lord of Misrule said he was “surprised” by what he found.

“Quite honestly, I couldn’t put it down,” Satan wrote. “It was almost like a book I would have written myself.”

Vermont towns vote to arrest Bush and Cheney. Have a nice stay. #fyeahVermont

Sun, 28 Aug 2011 18:35:37 -0400

via reuters.com

Voters in two Vermont towns on Tuesday approved a measure that would instruct police to arrest President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney for “crimes against our Constitution,” local media reported.

British Prime Minister Does a 180 on Internet Censorship

Sun, 14 Aug 2011 23:53:43 -0400

British Prime Minister Does a 180 on Internet Censorship

Commentary by Eva Galperin

After several days of destructive riots throughout the UK, British Prime Minister David Cameron is practically tripping over himself in his eagerness to sacrifice liberty for security. In a speech before an emergency session of Parliament today, Cameron highlighted concern over rioters’ use of social media tools such as Facebook and Twitter:

…when people are using social media for violence we need to stop them. So we are working with the Police, the intelligence services and industry to look at whether it would be right to stop people communicating via these websites and services when we know they are plotting violence, disorder and criminality. I have also asked the police if they need any other new powers.

Exactly what kind of government censorship of social media Cameron has in mind is unclear, but he went on to urge Twitter, Facebook, and Blackberry to remove messages that might incite further unrest across the country. British Home Secretary Theresa May is reportedly meeting with all three companies to discuss their “responsibilities” in light of the UK riots. Twitter has steadfastly refused to bow to government pressure to shut down the rioters’ accounts or delete their Tweets, referring to a blog post written by Twitter co-founder Biz Stone and General Counsel Alex McGillivray earlier this year, near the start of the Arab Spring:

Some Tweets may facilitate positive change in a repressed country, some make us laugh, some make us think, some downright anger a vast majority of users. We don’t always agree with the things people choose to tweet, but we keep the information flowing irrespective of any view we may have about the content.

It was a sentiment shared by Cameron as recently as this February, when he gave a speech in Kuwait in which he asserted that freedom of expression should be respected “in Tahrir Square as much as Trafalgar Square.” The Prime Minister’s 180-degree shift on freedom of expression unfortunately places him one step closer to the growing, worldwide cohort of politicians and despots seeking solace in censorship.

EFF urges Facebook, Blackberry, and Twitter to fight for the rights of their users. In large part, this means refusing to censor speech, protecting users’ data unless compelled to do so by law, and informing users if their data is sought by the government. But the companies’ hands may be tied if Cameron takes advantage of hysteria over the riots to pass shortsighted legislation meant to protect Britons from the so-called “misuse” of social media.

Related Issues: Free Speech, International

[Permalink]

via eff.org

Airplane Circling Wall Street With Banner: 'Thanks For The Downgrade. You Should All Be Fired' #DeclineOftheHegemon

Tue, 09 Aug 2011 22:05:35 -0400

via huffingtonpost.com

On Tuesday, less than a week after Standard and Poor’s downgraded U.S. credit for the first time in history, a plane circled lower Manhattan with a banner that read: “Thanks for the downgrade. You should all be fired,” according to a tweet by AmericanBanker. It has since come out that the stunt was paid for by an unnamed broker from St. Louis, according to Fortune.

But if the patron had gotten her first choice, the plane would have been circling another city center.

“I originally wanted to fly it over Washington, D.C., but learned that you can’t do that,” she told Fortune anonymously, for fear of losing her job. “So I chose Wall Street instead, but didn’t specifically intend it to fly over S&P.”

“She’s not mad at S&P, she’s mad at Washington D.C.,” a friend of the broker told The New York Observer, “She called me up to have me talk her out of it, and of course, I didn’t, because I think it’s funnier than s**t.”

Moving VIdeo: Darcus Howe "this is an insurrection of the people."

Tue, 09 Aug 2011 21:57:14 -0400

via youtube.com

Darcus Howe, a West Indian Writer and Broadcaster with a voice about the riots. Speaking about the mistreatment of youths by police leading to an up-roar and the ignorance of both police and the governement.

anonymous takes down the ministry of Defense #Syria website. The Syrian Ministry of Defense: Defect. Unite. Reform.

Mon, 08 Aug 2011 00:15:00 -0400

via mod.gov.sy

anonymous takes down the Ministry of Defense of Syria website.

‎”To the Syrian people: The world stands with you against the brutal regime of Bashar Al-Assad…. ”

وزارة الدفاع السورية : انشقوا. توحدوا. اصلحو - The Syrian Ministry of Defense: Defect. Unite. Reform.

Face-matching with Facebook profiles: How it was done /via @cnet #facebookisthematrix

Fri, 05 Aug 2011 01:42:49 -0400

caption: Carnegie Mellon’s Alessandro Acquisti shows how to use Facebook to ID people on dating sites and on the street
(Credit: Declan McCullagh/CNET)

LAS VEGAS—Facebook’s online privacy woes are well-known. But here’s an offline one: its massive database of profile photos can be used to identify you as you’re walking down the street.

A Carnegie Mellon University researcher today described how he assembled a database of about 25,000 photographs taken from students’ Facebook profiles. Then he set up a desk in one of the campus buildings and asked willing volunteers to peer into Webcams.

The results: facial recognition software put a name to the face of 31 percent of the students after, on average, less than three seconds of rapid-fire comparisons.

In a few years, “facial visual searches may become as common as today’s text-based searches,” says Alessandro Acquisti, who presented his work in collaboration with Ralph Gross and Fred Stutzman at the Black Hat computer security conference here.

As a proof of concept, the Carnegie Mellon researchers also developed an iPhone app that can take a photograph of someone, pipe it through facial recognition software, and then display on-screen that person’s name and vital statistics.

This has “ominous risks for privacy” says Acquisti, an associate professor of information technology and public policy at the Heinz College at Carnegie Mellon University. Widespread facial recognition tied to databases with real names will erode the sense of anonymity that we expect in public, he said.

Another test compared 277,978 Facebook profiles (the software found unique faces in about 40 percent) against nearly 6,000 profiles extracted from an unnamed dating Web site.

About 1 in 10 of the dating site’s members—nearly all of whom used pseudonyms—turned out to be identifiable.

Facebook isn’t the only source of profile data, of course. LinkedIn or Google+ might work. But because of its vast database and its wide-open profile photos, Facebook was the obvious choice. (Facebook’s privacy policy says: “Your name and profile picture do not have privacy settings.”)

Facial recognition technology, which has been developing in labs for decades, is finally going mainstream. Face.com opened its doors to developers last year; the technology is built into Apple’s Aperture software and Flickr. Google bought a face-recognition technology in the last few weeks, and Facebook’s automated photo-tagging has drawn privacy scrutiny.

In the hands of law enforcement, however, face recognition can raise novel civil liberties concerns. If university researchers can assemble such an extensive database with just Facebook, police agencies or their contractors could do far more with DMV or passport photographs—something that the FBI has been doing for years. (The U.S. Army partially funded the Carnegie Mellon research.)

Acquisti is the first to admit that the technology isn’t perfect. It works best with frontal face photos, not ones taken at an angle. The larger the database becomes, the more time comparisons take, and the more false-positive errors arise.

On the other hand, face recognition technology is advancing quickly, especially for nonfrontal photos. “What we did on the street with mobile devices today will be accomplished in less intrusive ways tomorrow,” he says. “A stranger could know your last tweet just by looking at you.”

via news.cnet.com

Mancession to He-covery [graph]

Wed, 06 Jul 2011 14:53:50 -0400

via economix.blogs.nytimes.com

We’ve written many times before about how men bore the brunt of the job losses during the recession, but have been benefiting disproportionately from the modest job growth during the recovery.

Indeed, while the number of jobs held by men has grown by 768,000 since the recession officially ended in 2009, the number of jobs held by women today is actually lower than it was at the recession’s end: There are 218,000 fewer nonfarm payroll jobs employing women today than there were two years ago. This decline is partly due to layoffs by local governments, which disproportionately employ women.

Today Pew Research Center is releasing a smart report on exactly this phenomenon. Here’s one of the charts from the report, which I suggest you check out in its entirety.

i just got offered a loan with a 96% APR. wow. thanks. #usury #youcankeepit

Sat, 04 Jun 2011 23:30:55 -0400

u·su·ry
noun /ˈyo͞oZH(ə)rē/
The illegal action or practice of lending money at unreasonably high rates of interest

Interest at such rates

Web definitions
an exorbitant or unlawful rate of interest
wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn

Usury (, comes from the Medieval Latin usuria, “interest” or from the Latin usura “interest”) originally meant the charging of interest on loans. This included charging a fee for the use of money, such as at a bureau de change. …
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Usury

usurious - exorbitant: greatly exceeding bounds of reason or moderation; “exorbitant rent”; “extortionate prices”; “spends an outrageous amount on entertainment”; “usurious interest rate”; “unconscionable spending”
wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn

usurious - Of or pertaining to usury; Exorbitant
en.wiktionary.org/wiki/usurious

The lending of money at exorbitant interest rates. Usury rates set by state law once capped credit card rates; fort the most part, they no longer do so. The concept of usury has largely been made irrelevant by federal law. Federal lawmakers decided to allow card issuers to “export” their rates. …
www.nasdaq.com/personal-finance/credit-card-glossary.stm

This term is generally used to denote an illegal predatory lending practice in which a lender charges an interest rate on a loan that is considered to be excessive or in violation with interest rate limits as established by some state governments. …
www.duke.edu/~charvey/Classes/wpg/bfglosu.htm

The interest charged on a loan. Forbidden by church law (based upon biblical). Commonly used by Knight Hospitallers and Knight Templars in later medieval times. (MEDIEV-L. Medieval Terms)
www.netserf.org/glossary/U.cfm

Charging interest in excess of the maximum rate as set by law.
www.utahhomes.com/real-estate-glossary-of-terms.aspx

The exaction of a greater payment or return for a loan of money than is permitted by law.
www.rsvpre.com/dictionary.htm

The additional interest charges on the legal rates that are enforced by the law.
www.online-debt-consolidation-blog.com/wordpress/definition-…

Charging more than the maximum legally permitted rate of interest. There is no usury limit for loans secured by a first trust.
www.ctgtn.com/glossary

The charging of more interest than is allowed by law. In California, the maximum rate is 10%, except for certain lenders that are exempt from the usury laws.
www.bridgeviewinvestments.net/glossary.html

Interest rates above the legal rate, or statutory limit.
kentbankhead.com/web/glossary2.php

The illegal act of charging extremely high interest rates on a loan.
www.movemerealtor.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/terms.list/letter/…

A contract is usurious if made for a loan of money at a rate of interest in excess of that permitted by statute.
www.crfonline.org/orc/glossary/u.html

via google.com

Paul Ryan Vows to Continue dr Kevorkian’s Work. - welcome to the matrix, charlie brown.

Fri, 03 Jun 2011 19:18:04 -0400

via jackdean.posterous.com

listening to "John Coltrane Quartet - A Love Supreme Part I: Acknowledgement"

Sat, 28 May 2011 02:11:07 -0400

listening to "John Coltrane Quartet - A Love Supreme Part I: Acknowledgement"