Where is Geithner headed?

Goldman Sachs

JP Morgan

Any bank that will have him

Tax Consultancy

McDonalds

Any company that will have him

Ive League Professor

Any non-profit that will have him

Extended Unemployment Claims

Solitary Confinement

Other

SURVIVOR, Texas Style

Due to the popularity of the "Survivor" shows,


Texas is planning to do one entitled, "Survivor, Texas-Style!"

The 8 contestants will all start in Dallas, and then drive to Waco,

Austin, San Antonio, over to Houston and down to Brownsville.

They will then proceed up to Del Rio, El Paso, Odessa, Midland, Lubbock, and Amarillo.

From there they will go on to Abilene, Fort Worth and finally back to Dallas.

Each will be driving a pink Volvo with bumper stickers that read:

"I'm a Democrat,"

"Amnesty for Illegal’s,"

"I love the Dixie Chicks,"

"Boycott Beef,"

"I Voted for Obama",

"George Strait Sucks,"

"Hillary in 2012" and

"I'm here to confiscate your guns."

The first one to make it back to Dallas alive wins.

Alpharetta & Milton Georgia investors wake-up call

It may look like a stockbroker at Merrill Lynch or Morgan Stanley provides the same service as someone who is a registered investment advisor. But nothing could be further from the truth. This distinction is critical to understand no matter how much you trust the individual.  A person who is a broker, is just that. He acts as an agent between a buyer and seller of products, usually for a commission. Legally, an individual who works for a "broker/dealer" must pass a "Series 7" exam, which teaches one about the stock market and securities to prepare the individual to sell commissioned products. Brokers operate under a "suitability standard" under which the broker is required to make investments he judges to be suitable for his clients. He can't sell micro-cap volatile stocks to old ladies. Brokers and their firms are regulated by a "self regulated organization" (not a government agency) called FINRA. In the industry, brokers are measured by the amount of commissions and fees that they generate from selling products. Product providers pay more for "distribution" through brokers.

Registered investment advisors (RIAs) help individuals manage their money. They must pass a "Series 65" exam, which tests how well one knows how to help a client invest and operate under a fiduciary standard. That means an advisor is required to act in his clients' best interests, and disclose to them all conflicts of interest. These advisors are either registered in the state in which they operate, or with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  RIAs are usually measured by assets under management  because the more assets they manage, the more their fees. They submit lengthy ADV II forms online showing any conflicts of interest, sanctions from the SEC, and exactly how they are paid.

RIAs can't use customer testimonials in advertising and must disclose when they pay for client referrals. Brokers can use testimonials and hide fees they are paid for referrals.

A good analogy for the broker versus investment advisor is the difference between an optician and an ophthalmologist. An optometrist conducts eye exams and makes sure that you have healthy eyes but makes money primarily selling you glasses and contact lenses. When you have a cataract, or something serious, you go to a medical doctor—or an ophthalmologist. He has taken a Hippocratic oath to practice medicine ethically. He sells nothing. He puts your health first and can also examine your eyes.

Do you want to trust your money to someone who is just paid for advice? Or a broker who makes money providing advice in order to sell products? Just remember, if you are serious about your retirement assets, you may want to check on the motivation your broker may have for “what they do” to your retirement portfolio.

Bon Voyage LulzSec

The infamous hacker group LulzSec, best known for hacking the website of an FBI affiliate, the Sony network, and even the CIA, has now officially shut down. Their final manifesto, which is reproduced below in its entirety, is summarized as follows: "For the past 50 days we've been disrupting and exposing corporations, governments, often the general population itself, and quite possibly everything in between, just because we could. All to selflessly entertain others - vanity, fame, recognition, all of these things are shadowed by our desire for that which we all love. The raw, uninterrupted, chaotic thrill of entertainment and anarchy. It's what we all crave, even the seemingly lifeless politicians and emotionless, middle-aged self-titled failures...Again, behind the mask, behind the insanity and mayhem, we truly believe in the AntiSec movement. We believe in it so strongly that we brought it back, much to the dismay of those looking for more anarchic lulz. We hope, wish, even beg, that the movement manifests itself into a revolution that can continue on without us. The support we've gathered for it in such a short space of time is truly overwhelming, and not to mention humbling. Please don't stop. Together, united, we can stomp down our common oppressors and imbue ourselves with the power and freedom we deserve. We hope we had a microscopic impact on someone, somewhere. Anywhere." Well, it was fun while it lasted. And so FedWire is safe again. So is, for the time being, the internet.


As part of its dissolution, LulzSec released the following torrent.

Full statement from LulzSec:

Friends around the globe,

We are Lulz Security, and this is our final release, as today marks something meaningful to us. 50 days ago, we set sail with our humble ship on an uneasy and brutal ocean: the Internet. The hate machine, the love machine, the machine powered by many machines. We are all part of it, helping it grow, and helping it grow on us.

For the past 50 days we've been disrupting and exposing corporations, governments, often the general population itself, and quite possibly everything in between, just because we could. All to selflessly entertain others - vanity, fame, recognition, all of these things are shadowed by our desire for that which we all love. The raw, uninterrupted, chaotic thrill of entertainment and anarchy. It's what we all crave, even the seemingly lifeless politicians and emotionless, middle-aged self-titled failures. You are not failures. You have not blown away. You can get what you want and you are worth having it, believe in yourself.

While we are responsible for everything that The Lulz Boat is, we are not tied to this identity permanently. Behind this jolly visage of rainbows and top hats, we are people. People with a preference for music, a preference for food; we have varying taste in clothes and television, we are just like you. Even Hitler and Osama Bin Laden had these unique variations and style, and isn't that interesting to know? The mediocre painter turned supervillain liked cats more than we did.

Again, behind the mask, behind the insanity and mayhem, we truly believe in the AntiSec movement. We believe in it so strongly that we brought it back, much to the dismay of those looking for more anarchic lulz. We hope, wish, even beg, that the movement manifests itself into a revolution that can continue on without us. The support we've gathered for it in such a short space of time is truly overwhelming, and not to mention humbling. Please don't stop. Together, united, we can stomp down our common oppressors and imbue ourselves with the power and freedom we deserve.

So with those last thoughts, it's time to say bon voyage. Our planned 50 day cruise has expired, and we must now sail into the distance, leaving behind - we hope - inspiration, fear, denial, happiness, approval, disapproval, mockery, embarrassment, thoughtfulness, jealousy, hate, even love. If anything, we hope we had a microscopic impact on someone, somewhere. Anywhere.

Thank you for sailing with us. The breeze is fresh and the sun is setting, so now we head for the horizon.

Let it flow...Lulz Security - our crew of six wishes you a happy 2011, and a shout-out to all of our battlefleet members and supporters across the globe

http://www.zerohedge.com/article/lulzsec-hacker-group-dissolves-itself-its-50-day-birthday

Georgia, leading the way........

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Regulators have shut down a small bank in Georgia, boosting to 48 the number of U.S. bank failures this year as the economy struggled and bad loans piled up.  The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. on Friday seized Mountain Heritage Bank in Clayton, Ga., with $103.7 million in assets and $89.6 million in deposits. First American Bank and Trust Co., based in Athens, Ga., agreed to assume the assets and deposits of the failed bank.   The failure of Mountain Heritage Bank is expected to cost the deposit insurance fund $41.1 million.

Just be honest Ben.........

Any one with half a brain could detect the unease and lies spewing from Bernanke in the Q & A today.

There are three Americans who need to grill him.  Bill Gross, Rick Santelli and Ron Paul.

The other toads asking questions today should just finish kissing his ass and fire themselves.  

No one with nuts big enough to ask the tough questions?  Does anyone care?

Free Money for the Crooks: business as usual

http://www.zerohedge.com/article/new-york-fed-refuses-disclose-data-largest-theft-funds-national-history-which-could-be-three

Healthcare Fraud Hotline

Every day in America there are probably hundreds of millions of fraudulent medicare billings from healthcare providers.  The amounts must be staggering.   I have been trying to call the healthcare fraud hotline at 202-418-3300 to report some fraud and can't get a live voice on the other end of the telephone.

Government efficiency for sure.  I wonder how long it will take?

Joe Frech, that phone call was greatly appreciated.  Thank you.