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Icy And Black Ice Conditions Caused Accident

Photo: HNG

Police towed vehicle while driver disappears from scene.

By H. Nelson Goodson
January 10, 2014

Milwaukee, WI - On Friday, a vehicle was towed by police after the driver disappeared from the scene. The lone passenger says, a woman driver lost control of her vehicle, struck a tree and it stopped on the West side sidewalk of the South bound lanes at the 1300 block of S. Layton Blvd.
An officer at the scene said, the passenger told him that they were coming from a local bar when she lost control.
The passenger also stated, that around 8:00 p.m. the female driver who left the scene lost control as she was driving on the icy street at the W. Greenfield Ave. and S. Layton intersection when another vehicle almost hit her due to black ice on the street.
The vehicle got stuck on the snowbank by the sidewalk and it had damage to it's right side fender and the headlight was broken. There was also minor damage to the tree.

Rivera Charged For Matos-Arzola Death Resulting From Concertina's Bar Armed Robbery

Joel Rivera, José M. Muñoz, Carmelo L. Matos-Arzola and Andrew "Andy" J. Kochanski

Rivera and Muñoz fled the scene, while Muñoz went to Illinois to seek treatment for his gunshot wound in the leg after a failed attempted armed robbery at Milwaukee's South side Concertina bar.

By H. Nelson Goodson
January 10, 2014

Milwaukee, WI - On Friday, Joel Rivera, 25, of Sturtevant was charged with felony murder in connection with the August 16, 2013 death of Carmelo L. Matos-Arzola, 26, at the Concertina bar in Milwaukee's South side. Rivera, Matos-Arzola and José M. Muñoz, 22, went to the Concertina bar to rob the place.
The Kochanski's Concertina bar owner, Andrew "Andy" J. Kochanski, 43, fatally shot Matos-Arzola and wounded Muñoz with a .45 Cal. handgun as they attempted to rob the bar with fake guns. Kochanski didn't know at the time they were fake guns. An officer discovered a fake gun outside in the sidewalk where one of the suspects dropped it.
Rivera and Muñoz fled the crime scene. Muñoz went to Illinois seeking medical treatment for his injured leg. Muñoz was wounded in his left leg and buttocks during an attempted armed robbery with BB guns, according to the criminal complaint.
Muñoz was charged with one count of felony murder and armed robbery with use of force and party to a crime as an enhancer. If convicted, Muñoz is facing up to 35 years in prison and a cash bond of $25,000 was set in August.
Rivera is also charged with attempted robbery and party to a crime. He is facing up to 35 years in prison, if convicted. 

Several Burglars Busted By Milwaukee Police At MayFair Mall Parking Lot

Photos: HNG

Narcotic task force and Milwaukee police nabbed several teens suspected of stealing from Glendale homes.

By H. Nelson Goodson
January 10, 2014

Wauwatosa, WI - On Friday, Milwaukee police and officers from the narcotics bureau in a joint sting operation busted several teens who allegedly were involved in multiple burglaries in Glendale. The officers had been waiting patiently for several weeks and finally on Friday the burglars struck and then police followed them to a parking lot West of the Boston store in Mayfair Mall, where they stopped and parked. Police took both suspects into custody.
Stolen items were recovered from a white and dark van used in the burglaries, according to police.
One of the officers at the scene said, "this one was one for the good guys."

Real Nonfinancial Corporate Business Equity per Capita


Click to enlarge.

The $60,000 is patiently waiting there for you to retire again (as of September of 2013). I'm glad we finally got that all worked out. Other than returning to the $21,600 median again someday, what's the worst that could possibly happen?

I mean seriously. As long as nobody panics and attempts to cash out that $60,000 per capita to fuel a retirement, then stocks have probably reached a permanently high plateau. Oh yeah, that's a plateau all right. Don't let the nattering nabobs of negativism convince you that it is the third spike higher of three (since the late 1990s). That's just crazy talk.

What are the odds that those with the most stock market exposure (soon to be retirees) will be the ones to cash some of those stocks out? Makes no sense at all unless retirees, for some unknown and irrational reason, suddenly decide to embrace less risk once they quit their jobs (as I have done). And why would they buy low and sell high when everyone knows for a fact that stocks only go up again? Do they just want to lose money make less money?

Irving Fisher

Fisher was perhaps the first celebrity economist, but his reputation during his lifetime was irreparably harmed by his public statements, just prior to the Wall Street Crash of 1929, claiming that the stock market had reached "a permanently high plateau."

This is not investment advice. I don't claim to know the future with any level of certainty, which is a far cry from what we're continually told by the guests on CNBC. Expert after expert tells us that stocks are the only place to be and that long-term interest rates can only go up from here. Maybe. Maybe not. In any event, call me extremely skeptical.

Source Data:
St. Louis Fed: Custom Chart

Some Children Left Behind

The following chart shows the number of child day care services employees.


Click to enlarge.

That's some recovery we've got there. It's strong and resilient. Yes, sir.

In my opinion, the Japanese should have patented massive economic busts and ongoing zero interest rate policies as effective birth control medicines. Just think of the royalties!

April 17, 2013
Japan's population suffers biggest fall in history

Japan's rapidly ageing population has suffered its biggest decrease since records began in the 1950s, according to new figures.

January 8, 2014
CDC: U.S. Fertility Rate Hits Record Low for 2nd Straight Year; 40.7% of Babies Born to Unmarried Women

The U.S. fertility rate has dropped from year-to-year for each of the last five years. In 2007, it was 69.3. In 2008, it was 68.1. In 2009, it was 66.2. In 2010, it was 64.1. In 2011, it was 63.2. And, in 2012, it was 63.0.

Source Data:
BLS: Employment

India's Diplomat Khobragade Leaves The U.S. To Avoid Prosecution For Visa Fraud And Lying To Feds

Devyani Khobragade

Khobragade was facing up to 15 years in a federal prison, if convicted for visa fraud and making false statements.

By H. Nelson Goodson
January 10, 2014

New York, New York - On Thursday,  Devyani Khobragade, 39, of Mumbai, India's acting consul general and deputy consul general for political, economic, commercial and women's affairs at the New York Indian Consulate General was charged with two federal felony counts for visa fraud and making false statements. Khobragade had claimed diplomatic immunity back in December, but the U.S. wouldn't recognize her claim. She was then moved to the United Nations by the government of India to regain her diplomatic immunity. 
The U.S. State Department and a federal judge on Thursday allowed for Khobragade to leave the country after she requested to go back to India and recognized her status. India had denied the U.S. request to strip Khobragade from diplomatic immunity. The government of India transferred Khobragade to Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi. 
The federal charges against Khobragade will remain in effect,  in case she ever returns to the U.S.
In December, Khobragade was taken into custody by feds while she dropped her child at a school. She has two young girls.
Khobragade posted a $250,000 bail after pleading not guilty in and had to surrender all her travel documents. If convicted, Khobragade was facing up to 15 years in a federal prison.
Khobragade's lawyer attempted to use diplomatic immunity,  but the U.S. denied the claim and says, visa fraud was not covered under the Vienna convention.
Khobragade allegedly made false statements when she applied for a visa for a house worker who was a babysitter. The criminal complaint states, Khobragade paid her babysitter $3.31 an hour and worked more than 40 hours per week. She claimed in the visa application, which she helped the worker fill out and to falsify, that she paid the domestic worker from India 4,500 per month. Authorities say, another document used as a contract between Khobragade and the worker showed that she actually paid her $3,927 less per month than what was reported on the visa application. She actually paid the domestic worker $500 per month, far less than the NY minimum wage of $9.75.
Preet Bharara, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern Dristrict of New York says, that domestic workers brought to work in the U.S. from foreign countries deserve the same wage as other American workers are guarantee to get.
Federal prosecutors say, both her husband and the doemstic worker involved are expected to testify against Khobragade.
Khobragade is known for advocating for women's rights, but the federal criminal charges has embarrassed the diplomat. 

Attributed To ANDY ROONEY ON SEX!




Attributed to ANDY  ROONEY ON SEX! ( not confirmed)

1.  When I was born, I was given a choice - - a big pecker or a good memory . . . I don't remember what I chose.

2. Your birth certificate is an apology letter from the condom factory.

3. A wife is a sex object.  Every time you ask for sex, she objects.

4. Impotence: nature's way of saying, "No hard feelings . . ."

5. There are only two four letter words that are offensive to men - - 'don't' and 'stop', unless they are used together.

6. Panties: Not the best thing on earth, but next to the best thing on earth.

7. There are three stages in a man's life: Tri-Weekly, Try Weekly and Try Weakly.

8. Virginity can be cured.

9. Virginity is not dignity - - it's lack of opportunity.

10. Having sex is like playing bridge - - if you don't have a good partner, you better have a good hand.

11. I tried phone sex once, but the holes in the dial were too small.

12. Marriage is the only war where you get to sleep with the enemy.

13. Question: What's an Australian kiss?  Answer: The same thing as a French kiss, only down under.

14. A couple just married were happy with the whole thing.  He was happy with the Hole and she was happy with the Thing.

15. Question: What are the three biggest tragedies in a man's life?  Answer: Life sucks, job sucks, and the wife doesn't.

16. Question: Why do men find it difficult to make eye contact?  Answer: Breasts don't have eyes.

17. Despite the old saying, 'Don't take your troubles to bed', many men still sleep with their wives.

End Stop of Frisk? Retired Correction officer shot in Queens Village New York


 NYC thugs are not afraid anymore!

ABC reports a retired New York City correction officer is dead after an overnight shooting in Queens.

The incident happened just before 4:30 a.m. at 227th Street and 108th Avenue in Queens Village.

Sources tell Eyewitness News the 57-year-old man was shot and killed during some form of a dispute with two other active off-duty officers.

The victim was shot once in the chest and pronounced dead on arrival at Long Island Jewish hospital.
Sources say police are questioning the male and female officers, who are in custody at the scene.

The circumstances of the shooting and the dispute are unknown at this time.
Authorities shut down the intersection, and there was a large police presence on the street.
Officers were going house to house, knocking on doors to see if anyone saw or heard anything.

They were also using flashlights to search between cars.
Stay with Eyewitness News and 7online for the latest developments.

NY Daily New Slams Gov. Chris Christie’s load of bull: Fired aide Bridget Kelly merely a patsy in attempt to shelter Port Authority cronies, himself



I don’t think the NY News was very impressed with the Fat Gov. from New Jersey. 

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s one-hour-and-forty-seven-minute self-serving, self-pitying display of contrition on Thursday was a climactic act in a brazen cover-up that threatens to further unravel his political career.

Ever so thoroughly the governor scoured the thesaurus for words of apology, regret and painless self-flagellation while nervily playing the victim and mercilessly destroying the aide who played only a supporting role for the George Washington Bridge political revenge plot.

Christie needed blood to express his outrage to the public, so he drew it from deputy chief of staff Bridget Kelly for the sin, the governor said, of lying to him. Perhaps, Kelly did lie, although it seems incredible that anyone would flat-out attempt to deceive an intense, emergency inquiry.

Regardless, Christie made roadkill of Kelly and his former campaign manager while wholly exempting the close pals who were central to the lane-closure conspiracy that caused four days of gridlock and dangerously slowed emergency response in Fort Lee. Pathetic.

More here

Local Teacher Roger French Jr who taught at Mesa Ridge High School in Security-Widefield Arrested For Sex Assault



Divorce can be very ugly and lead to strange allegations. 
KKTV reports a local teacher accused of sex assault on a student is behind bars.

Police say 31 year old Roger French Jr had an inappropriate relationship with a student.
French taught at Mesa Ridge High School in Security-Widefield.

According to court documents, French and his wife are in the middle of a divorce.
11 News talked with a former student over the phone. She said she saw behavior that she thought was inappropriate with the way Roger French Jr interacted with students. She reached out to us when she heard he was arrested.

“I think it's wrong and disgusting. I think that he should lose his license as a teacher," the student said.

The school district told 11 News French was a Special Education teacher at Mesa Ridge High School. They say he started teaching at the school in the fall of 2013.

On Wednesday night a school resource officer with the El Paso County Sheriff's Office informed Colorado Springs Police about the alleged incident. The sex assault reportedly took place in Colorado Springs.

Police are charging French with sex assault by one in a position of trust.
The Mesa Ridge principal sent out a letter to parents informing them of the allegations.

More here

fess up friday - lekalia interiors

First Fess Up Friday of the new year people. Can I get a "what what"! 

Today I'm excited to have my friend Leslie of Lekalia Interiors over. You probably already know Leslie from her amazing store on Etsy but you should also know that Leslie is a triple threat in the design world. Girlfriend can design a pretty fab room, reupholster the furniture to go in said fab room and then top it all off with pillows she's made herself. Just check out some of her work here. I'm thinking Leslie, you need to live closer to me. 


Hi Everyone!
 I'm so excited that Elizabeth asked me to participate in Fess Up Friday! I love reading her blog and love that she tells it like it is.  I mean, she had me at 'ruh roh' (during this post) and what's better than laughing and smiling and learning along with the blogs that you read? Nuttin!

 So my little thing that I want to 'fess up' to today is my tray obsession

I began using trays as centerpiece vignettes in the houses that I staged last summer for my real estate staging business...

A little tray here.....


And a little tray there....


Then I made a tray for my BFF for her birthday....


Then, I created a tray for the Blue & White Bash over at The Pink Pagoda...


Then I created a 'Tray of the Day' series on my blog....


Then Linda from Calling it Home blogged about some great bargains including a fab tray and a clothing steamer... and I bought both (because of her!) and sent her this 'tray of the day' pic to make her giggle....



Then I styled it up for the Holidays....


And after rearranging a few thing-a-ma-jigs in my house.... here is today's tray!



So I wonder....does anyone else have an obsession with trays?  
Come on, Fess Up! :)

Thank you Elizabeth!  You are the bestest!






The Slippery Slope of Hope(lessness)

The following chart shows personal current transfer receipts divided by government current receipts.


Click to enlarge.

On Basilisk Station (David Weber, Copyright © 1994)

"Oh, that’s a wonderful idea!" Frankel snarled. "Those BLS increases are all that’s keeping the mob in check! They supported the wars to support their standard of living, and if we don’t—"

No worries! That quote comes from a book of science fiction. All governments appearing in this work are fictitious. I'm sure that any resemblance to real governments is purely coincidental.

Check out the last three data points at the trough of the long-term channel.

2000:Q1: Good times!
2007:Q2: Better times!
2013:Q2: Best times!

Other than 2000 and 2007, perhaps there has never been a better time to swing for the fences? The stock market only goes up again! What could possibly go wrong? It is possible that the 2013:Q2 data point isn't the actual bottom. I can say this though. First, we bounced off of it. Second, if I exclude the 2013:Q2 data point (which I have tested) then the channel changes insignificantly. Put another way, that's where the channel seems to want to go anyway.

This is not investment advice. It's a chart, some possibly meaningless trend lines, and a potential warning. No crystal ball here. I'm just trying to point out a risk that you won't hear on CNBC. That said, it is a risk that I'm not willing to embrace. I've been "risk off" since 2004 and intend to stay that way permanently. In hindsight, I have no complaints so far.

On Basilisk Station is a favorite book of mine. It is free to download on the Kindle. The second book, Honor of the Queen, is also free to download. I received a Kindle for Christmas. I have no idea how I ever lived without it (especially now that my comfortable reading distance isn't what it once was). The Kindle is one reason I have been posting a bit less lately. (Another reason is that I'm also working very diligently on my New Year's resolution.)

I know what you must be thinking. Free is fine and dandy but how much is it going to cost to download a complete collection of H.P. Lovecraft (my favorite author)? 99 cents. Infinitely more expensive! Right? Just keep telling yourself that the cost per word isn't all that hyperinflationary. That's how I'm planning to do it once I get over the sticker shock anyway. Don't forget to factor in the savings from not driving to the mall to pick it up. That helps too (perhaps not so much for mall employees, but that's a story for a different post).

What an odd economy we have. I've often said that the best things in life are free or nearly free (once basic necessities are covered anyway). Free and/or 99 cents certainly qualifies.

Source Data:
St. Louis Fed: Custom Chart

Dyer Claims A Second Bigfoot Got Away After Killing One In San Antonio

Photo release of alleged Bigfoot kill and Rick Dyer

Dyer didn't provide any proof of his Bigfoot kill to Australia's Wake Up 10, but claimed that a second Bigfoot attacked his cameraman and got away to stalk the northern woods of San Antonio where he killed one.

By H. Nelson Goodson
January 10, 2014

Las Vegas, Nevada - On Wednesday, Rick Dyer of California and a self proclaimed Bigfoot Tracker speaking from Las Vegas appeared on Australia's Wake Up 10 and confirmed that he will release actual Bigfoot autopsy video and DNA scientific evidence during a planned press conference on February 9, according to Dyer. He will then tour the U.S., Canada and Australia provided he gets enough sponsors to fund the tour to exhibit the creature.
Dyer also said during the program on Wake Up 10 that another Bigfoot had attacked a cameraman with BBC Morgan Matthews during the moment he shot a Bigfoot on September 6, 2012 and is now in his possession. He confirmed, that another Bigfoot had attacked the cameraman and the attack was filmed, but no footage of the Bigfoot encounter, kill or attack by second creature has ever been made public by BBC or Dyer himself to support his claim that he actually killed a Bigfoot.
The other Bigfoot that got away and stalks a wooded area in northern San Antonio, according to Dyer
Last Saturday Dyer announced through a YouTube video that he had released a photo of Bigfoot to KSAT news station in San Antonio. Dyer says, that he had killed Bigfoot back in September 2012 in a remote San Antonio woods and recently went to the state of Washington to recovered the body after winning a legal battle with investors. The Bigfoot body had been in a U.S. university for DNA and scientific testing for about a year and four months.
Dyer hasn't released any prove of the  Bigfoot kill since 2012 and over the weekend released a close-up photo to KSAT.
Every test has been made on the alleged Bigfoot body to prove its real and if media wants to look at it they must bring a check book, according to Dyer. Only some media outlets have shown interest in  following up on Dyer's latest claim that he killed Bigfoot.
But, critics are labelling Dyer's claim as another elaborate hoax like the one he pulled back in 2008, when he filled a costume with meat and attempted to pass it as Bigfoot. Dyer must have found a better taxidermist this time around, according to critics. 
Dyer says, he will exhibit the body of Bigfoot and will charge a fee to view it. He wants people to believe that he actually killed Bigfoot in Texas, which critics doubt.
The Paranormal blog reported that Jeff who appeared as a homeless man in a film shot by Dyer is actually a crew member of the team. Also, Dyer has said, that BBC Morgan Matthews had helped him to move  Bigfoot after he was shot in 2012. But Matthews, the director of the film claims, there is no Bigfoot body. Dyer has admitted to pulling a hoax back in 2012, about claiming he had shot Bigfoot.Yahoo! TV also reported, that Todd Disotell, an anthropology professor at the New York University who runs the NYU's Molecular Anthropology Department and a judge of the Spike "10 Million Dollar Bigfoot Bounty" show that began on Friday said, Dyer's claim that he shot the real Bigfoot is "completely worthless." Disotell wants real data about Bigfoot not just a fake photo.Now Dyer is claiming he shot Bigfoot in Washington state instead of San Antonio.
"It's strange that he chose to have it taxidermied rather than have better-preserved live samples sent for testing," said Natalia Reagan, a primatologist who co-judges "Bounty" with Disotell and actor Dean Cain,  according to Yahoo! TV.

Australia's Wake Up 10 interview with Rick Dyer at link: http://bit.ly/1dBkouS