And don't forget to check out if you haven't already:
http://Facebook.com/AlienSexFiendOfficial
http:/ASF-13thMoon.Demon.CO.UK (Official site)
http://BlueCrumbTruck.com (Official store)
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Great live version of "R.I.P."!!!
http://www.youtube.com/
And don't forget to check out if you haven't already:
http://Facebook.com/AlienSexFiendOfficial
http:/ASF-13thMoon.Demon.CO.UK (Official site)
http://BlueCrumbTruck.com (Official store)
http://Myspace.com/AlienSexFiend
And don't forget to check out if you haven't already:
http://Facebook.com/AlienSexFiendOfficial
http:/ASF-13thMoon.Demon.CO.UK (Official site)
http://BlueCrumbTruck.com (Official store)
Hey Bubba Army!!!!
Anybody know what the new BTLS radio will be starting Jan. 5th?! It's SUPPOSED to be a TOP 15 MARKET! I'm guessing it's NOT like NYC, LA, Chicago, San Fran, etc.
My guess is it'll either be Miami or Atlanta.
Com'on, I know someone out there has the 411, so hulk up and drop some science!!!!
http://www.btls.com/show-affiliates
http://radioio.com/btls/channels/bubba-one-live/?rp=genre/btls
Friday, December 30, 2011
Cabaret Voltaire fans YO!
This is SUCH a fucking great song! "Cop Out" by Hope & Kirk!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKBV11_oNmw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKBV11_oNmw
Amps DO go to 11!
Whoever did the remaster of NIN's "Pretty Hate Machine" had the bloody amps to 11! I don't remember this album being FUCKING THIS LOUD!!!!!
Not that I'm complaining...
And I'll say it once again, FUCK Billboard's Top 200 until more Rock N Fucking Roll is in!
http://www.youtube.com/
http://www.youtube.com/
FUCK 2011!!!
This year couldn't talk to me, so, it's going to talk to my gun!!!! And a BA BA BOOEY to y'all!!!!! SHEMHAMFORASH!!!!
http://www.youtube.com/
http://www.youtube.com/
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Overused words/phrases
Can we all agree that ACTUALLY fucking NEEDS to go down in 2011 History as THE MOST OVERUSED WORD OF THE YEAR!!!!!!!
And the most overused phrase (and ACTUALLY as ACTUALLY annoying as SHIT, like actually!) of the year has GOT to be "IT IS WHAT IT IS"!!!!!!!!!!
Well NO SHIT it is what it is!!!!!!! Thanks for ACTUALLY fucking telling me! I thought this was Bizarro World and it's something completely different!!!!!! ACTUALLY!!!!!!
"Hey, this pile of dog crap, IT IS WHAT IT IS!"
"Really? Well I thought insterad of it being a pile of crap, IT WAS A POT OF GOLD!!! Thanks for telling me!!!!"
Something to think about
10 years ago we had Steve Jobs, Bob Hope and Johnny Cash...now we have NO JOBS, NO HOPE AND NO CASH!!!!!!!!!!
This morning's FASCINATING weather report
43.3°F this morning!!!
Amazingly, today's high is supposed to be 65...FOR A NICE CHANGE.
Instead of 65 being the LOW, which is BULLSHIT. #FuckFlorida
Amazingly, today's high is supposed to be 65...FOR A NICE CHANGE.
Instead of 65 being the LOW, which is BULLSHIT. #FuckFlorida
Power Pig mmHELLo!
@BTLSradio stations:
Charleston SC - 98.1 WTBB
Ft. Myers - 96.1 WRXK
Tampa - 102.5 WHPT
EVERYWHERE: http://RadioIO.com!
http://BTLS.com
Charleston SC - 98.1 WTBB
Ft. Myers - 96.1 WRXK
Tampa - 102.5 WHPT
EVERYWHERE: http://RadioIO.com!
http://BTLS.com
Powered on PIG SHIT!!!
Keep it green. And keep it brown too!!!
http://www.latimes.com/news/
http://www.latimes.com/news/
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Friday, December 23, 2011
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Queen xmas song!
The BEST HOLIDAYS song...ever. BOW DOWN!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCON07r908g
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCON07r908g
Happy Winter Solstice!
And I couldn't honestly give 2 shits and a fuck about any other holiday, unless there are presents involved, or at least an excuse to drink. SHEMHAMFORASH!!!!!!!!!!!
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Monday, December 19, 2011
Sunday, December 18, 2011
HEY!
Y'all what the fuck?! 5 HITS on MY birthday?! Gee, thanks for putting me over, you dildos!!! Just kidding. NMH.
Bragat hee haw hee!!!
Support your local @BTLSradio station:
Charleston SC - 98.1 WTBB
Ft. Myers - 96.1 WRXK
Tampa - 102.5 WHPT
EVERYWHERE: http://RadioIO.com!
http://BTLS.com
Charleston SC - 98.1 WTBB
Ft. Myers - 96.1 WRXK
Tampa - 102.5 WHPT
EVERYWHERE: http://RadioIO.com!
http://BTLS.com
Dear bloggr
This new version BLOWS. Go back to the old way, and UN-fuck it up. Thanks in advance.
Signed,
Every bloggr user.
Mike Malloy station list
And Mike is LIVE weekdays 9 PM - Midnight ET / 6 - 9 PM PT:
ONLINE: http://Server2.WhiteRoseSociety.Org:8000/TruthESeekerModem.m3u
IF that doesn't work, go to http://www.MikeMalloy.com/Stations
NORTH AMERICA: SiriusXM Left 127
http://www.SiriusXM.com/SiriusLeft
Albuquerque, NM: 1350 AM KABQ
Atlanta, GA: 1310 AM WPBC
Eureka, CA: 1480 AM KGOE
Los Angeles, CA: 1150 AM KTLK
Madison, WI: 92.1 FM WXXM
Minneapolis / St. Paul, MN: 950 AM KTNF
http://AM950KTNF.com
Monterey / Santa Cruz / Salinas, CA: 540 AM KRXA
Phoenix, AZ: 1480 AM KPHX
Portland, OR: 620 AM KPOJ
http://620KPOJ.com
San Francisco / San Jose, CA: 960 AM KKGN
http://Green960.com
San Luis Obispo / Santa Maria, CA: 1340 AM KYNS
Seattle, WA: 1090 AM KPTK
http://AM1090Seattle.com
@MikeMalloyShow
Mike's Facebook
http://MikeMalloy.com
ONLINE: http://Server2.WhiteRoseSociety.Org:8000/TruthESeekerModem.m3u
IF that doesn't work, go to http://www.MikeMalloy.com/Stations
NORTH AMERICA: SiriusXM Left 127
http://www.SiriusXM.com/SiriusLeft
Albuquerque, NM: 1350 AM KABQ
Atlanta, GA: 1310 AM WPBC
Eureka, CA: 1480 AM KGOE
Los Angeles, CA: 1150 AM KTLK
Madison, WI: 92.1 FM WXXM
Minneapolis / St. Paul, MN: 950 AM KTNF
http://AM950KTNF.com
Monterey / Santa Cruz / Salinas, CA: 540 AM KRXA
Phoenix, AZ: 1480 AM KPHX
Portland, OR: 620 AM KPOJ
http://620KPOJ.com
San Francisco / San Jose, CA: 960 AM KKGN
http://Green960.com
San Luis Obispo / Santa Maria, CA: 1340 AM KYNS
Seattle, WA: 1090 AM KPTK
http://AM1090Seattle.com
@MikeMalloyShow
Mike's Facebook
http://MikeMalloy.com
For all y'all bible-thumpers out there who INSIST Jefferson was a rabid RWNJ:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/15/jefferson-bible-smithsonian_n_1149632.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/15/jefferson-bible-smithsonian_n_1149632.html
Saturday, December 17, 2011
Support the Saving American Democracy Amendment
#savingdemocracy
http://sanders.senate.gov/petition/?uid=f1c2660f-54b9-4193-86a4-ec2c39342c6c
PLEASE SIGN & RT!!! #ConnectTheLeft #p2 #CTL
http://sanders.senate.gov/petition/?uid=f1c2660f-54b9-4193-86a4-ec2c39342c6c
PLEASE SIGN & RT!!! #ConnectTheLeft #p2 #CTL
'Dismal' prospects: 1 in 2 Americans are now poor or low income
"It's called the American Dream because you have to be asleep to believe it" - the great philosopher George Carlin.
http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/12/15/9461848-dismal-prospects-1-in-2-americans-are-now-poor-or-low-income
Let's hear it for 31 FAILURE YEARS OF TRICKLE DOWN BULLSHIT eCONomics!!! Just tragic.
P.S. FUCK YOU MICHELLE BACHMANN! I WANT "OBAMACARE"! I'd rather have SOCIALIZED MEDICINE, but I'll take what I CAN GET...like Congress does...
http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/12/15/9461848-dismal-prospects-1-in-2-americans-are-now-poor-or-low-income
Let's hear it for 31 FAILURE YEARS OF TRICKLE DOWN BULLSHIT eCONomics!!! Just tragic.
P.S. FUCK YOU MICHELLE BACHMANN! I WANT "OBAMACARE"! I'd rather have SOCIALIZED MEDICINE, but I'll take what I CAN GET...like Congress does...
Complaints and grievances
Anybody else having problems with blogspot?! The new post thing is lacking like ALL of it's shit, other than the thing to insert an image and the button to check spelling. EVERYTHING ELSE IS WIPED OUT. WTF?!
Now, on to Twitter. What happened to the thingy telling you how many characters ya got left?! Oh nevermind, it shows up WHEN YOU'RE DOWN TO 20! Oh gee thanks.
Ok anybody else have another other shit to bitch about?! Especially when it comes to assholes who fuck with social media, which, we're going to see more and more of (ie the ruination of Myspace by Murdoch) cuz the LAST thing the 1% cunts want is up to ORGANIZE & COMMUNICATE.
Spammer commenters need to get shards of glass up the ass.
Now, on to Twitter. What happened to the thingy telling you how many characters ya got left?! Oh nevermind, it shows up WHEN YOU'RE DOWN TO 20! Oh gee thanks.
Ok anybody else have another other shit to bitch about?! Especially when it comes to assholes who fuck with social media, which, we're going to see more and more of (ie the ruination of Myspace by Murdoch) cuz the LAST thing the 1% cunts want is up to ORGANIZE & COMMUNICATE.
Spammer commenters need to get shards of glass up the ass.
Hey SFN refugees, whatcha waiting for?!
Join my group already!
http://Groups.Yahoo.Com/Group/SternAndMore/Join
(P.S. What the FUCK is up with Bloggr? The posting options thing is ALL fucked up...)
http://Groups.Yahoo.Com/Group/SternAndMore/Join
(P.S. What the FUCK is up with Bloggr? The posting options thing is ALL fucked up...)
Friday, December 16, 2011
The latest from Chan Lowe
Allen West another troll keeping the DUH in FloriDUH. HOW did he get elected?!?!?!
Thursday, December 15, 2011
It's official!
BA BA BOOEY Y'ALL!!!!!!!!
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/tv-column/post/its-official-howard-stern-joins-nbcs-americas-got-talent-as-a-judge/2011/12/15/gIQAdfcuvO_blog.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/tv-column/post/its-official-howard-stern-joins-nbcs-americas-got-talent-as-a-judge/2011/12/15/gIQAdfcuvO_blog.html
America's Got Talent is on Wednesday nights I THINK starting at 9pm. CHECK LOCAL LISTINGS! UPDATES TO COME ASAP!!!
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Stern Fan Network shut down
Y'all non-hater-assholes are welcome to join in the fun of my SternAndMore group:
Monday, December 12, 2011
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Thinking cap time!!!
Think about it. WHY was FREE SPEECH, etc., included in the FIRST AMENDMENT? Take your time PLEASE...& FUCKING ABOVE ALL, THINK FOR YOURSELF!
Friday, December 9, 2011
Thursday, December 8, 2011
In memorandum
Today, in 1980, THAT was the day the music died.
And NO apologies to Don McLean.
RIP JOHN LENNON!!!
Bah fucking humbug!
I'm not posting anything new for today. The previous entry NEEDS more exposure, even if it's just ONE person. It sickens me how virtually EVERY liberal outlet focuses on every other Teabagger fuckwad governor like Scott Walker of Wisconsin and the jerkoff in Michigan while all but ignoring THE BIGGEST disaster AND *LEAST* popular piece of puke of all, Rick Scott.
SHAME on the assholes who voted for pRick Snott, and EXTRA shame with a cherry on top to the apathetic zombies of this state for not lifting a fucking finger to DO something, anything, to stop the insanity of this scumbag.
P.S. SIKE! And RIP John Lennon. Oh and kiss my ass Yoko...no talent hack.
P.S. SIKE! And RIP John Lennon. Oh and kiss my ass Yoko...no talent hack.
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Oh man, this is SPOT ON. And how VERY SAD...
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/opinion/columnists/fl-sgcol-oped1113-20111113,0,3529729.column
Stephen Goldstein
Columnist
November 13, 2011
Attention, all Florida "Occupiers": You want an agenda. Here's an agenda.
It's been snowing in Florida. We've had a blizzard of promises from Gov. Rick Scott about creating jobs, reducing unemployment, and jump-starting the economy, ever since the tea-party favorite ran for office — and in the year since he won.
During the campaign, if anyone asked him about Everglades restoration or education or Medicaid or anything else voters wanted to discuss, he had a stock answer, and I'm paraphrasing, "Jobs, jobs, jobs. I know how to create jobs. Judge me on the economy, on the hundreds of thousands of jobs I'll create. I'm from the private sector. Only the private-sector creates jobs, not government. Let's get to work."
Floridians, historically not the brightest bulbs in the chandelier, fell for Scott's bravado, banking on his CEO skills to get us out of our economic doldrums.
The cornerstone of Scott's campaign was his 7-7-7 plan: He boasted that he would create 700,000 private-sector jobs in seven years through seven steps (like cutting state spending, eliminating government regulations, and enticing companies to Florida with taxpayer handouts). He said over and over that his jobs would be in addition to the 1 million jobs that economists then estimated would have been created as a result of normal growth — no matter who was governor.
But recently, the guv has apparently lost faith in his ability to deliver — so he's desperate. He "revised" his promise, saying jobs would grow by 700,000, hoping everyone would forget about the normal growth projection.
Then, after he got caught, he flip-flopped, saying he would create 700,000 jobs on top of normal growth, but questioning the prediction of 1 million new jobs. Recently, Scott told a radio station in Central Florida, "I could argue that I don't have to create any jobs. I just have to make sure we don't lose any jobs."
Well then, how embarrassing for the guv that Solantic, the company in which he had a multimillion-dollar investment until recently, is moving its executive team from Florida to Tennessee. (Scott sold his stake in Solantic after he was elected to avoid conflicts of interest, but only after a public outcry.)
The guv has been quoted as saying he was "disappointed" the company was moving, adding: "I believe that we've put ourselves in a position that this is the best state to build businesses. But some people, I guess, don't agree with me."
I guess — like at least some of his former employees and the people to whom he sold his business.
Another key element of Scott's 7-7-7 plan is also backfiring. The guv insists that, if he gives companies tax breaks and cash incentives, they'll create jobs. But Scott's newly created Department of Economic Opportunity has recently reported that, since 1995, Florida (mostly GOP) governors and legislators pledged $1.7 billion of taxpayer money in 1,521 company "stimulus" deals. They have produced few, if any, jobs, however. Thirty-three companies were awarded $24.5 million to create 5,696 jobs, but they actually lost 1,550 jobs, and yet they were still paid $10.8 million.
No matter. Even in the face of an undeniable, failed strategy, Scott himself has awarded $98.6 taxpayer millions to companies pledging to create more than 21,246 jobs — and he wants millions more to do the same.
You don't have to be a weatherman to see which way the wind is blowing: The hot air of Rick Scott's campaign promises has turned into a snow job that is having a chilling effect on the Florida economy and that will freeze us out of prosperity for the foreseeable future. He's burying us in an avalanche of flaky economics, out of which it will take us decades to dig.
Florida "Occupiers" need to camp out at the capitol and put the heat on the guv and state legislators, brandishing signs like "End Corporate Welfare," "Where Are the Jobs?" and "You're Fired, Gov. Scott!"
If they don't, sooner than later, a long line of Floridians may be following Solantic to Tennessee.
Follow Stephen L. Goldstein on Twitter at @DrSLGoldstein, or email him at trendsman@aol.com
Stephen Goldstein
Columnist
November 13, 2011
Attention, all Florida "Occupiers": You want an agenda. Here's an agenda.
It's been snowing in Florida. We've had a blizzard of promises from Gov. Rick Scott about creating jobs, reducing unemployment, and jump-starting the economy, ever since the tea-party favorite ran for office — and in the year since he won.
During the campaign, if anyone asked him about Everglades restoration or education or Medicaid or anything else voters wanted to discuss, he had a stock answer, and I'm paraphrasing, "Jobs, jobs, jobs. I know how to create jobs. Judge me on the economy, on the hundreds of thousands of jobs I'll create. I'm from the private sector. Only the private-sector creates jobs, not government. Let's get to work."
Floridians, historically not the brightest bulbs in the chandelier, fell for Scott's bravado, banking on his CEO skills to get us out of our economic doldrums.
The cornerstone of Scott's campaign was his 7-7-7 plan: He boasted that he would create 700,000 private-sector jobs in seven years through seven steps (like cutting state spending, eliminating government regulations, and enticing companies to Florida with taxpayer handouts). He said over and over that his jobs would be in addition to the 1 million jobs that economists then estimated would have been created as a result of normal growth — no matter who was governor.
But recently, the guv has apparently lost faith in his ability to deliver — so he's desperate. He "revised" his promise, saying jobs would grow by 700,000, hoping everyone would forget about the normal growth projection.
Then, after he got caught, he flip-flopped, saying he would create 700,000 jobs on top of normal growth, but questioning the prediction of 1 million new jobs. Recently, Scott told a radio station in Central Florida, "I could argue that I don't have to create any jobs. I just have to make sure we don't lose any jobs."
Well then, how embarrassing for the guv that Solantic, the company in which he had a multimillion-dollar investment until recently, is moving its executive team from Florida to Tennessee. (Scott sold his stake in Solantic after he was elected to avoid conflicts of interest, but only after a public outcry.)
The guv has been quoted as saying he was "disappointed" the company was moving, adding: "I believe that we've put ourselves in a position that this is the best state to build businesses. But some people, I guess, don't agree with me."
I guess — like at least some of his former employees and the people to whom he sold his business.
Another key element of Scott's 7-7-7 plan is also backfiring. The guv insists that, if he gives companies tax breaks and cash incentives, they'll create jobs. But Scott's newly created Department of Economic Opportunity has recently reported that, since 1995, Florida (mostly GOP) governors and legislators pledged $1.7 billion of taxpayer money in 1,521 company "stimulus" deals. They have produced few, if any, jobs, however. Thirty-three companies were awarded $24.5 million to create 5,696 jobs, but they actually lost 1,550 jobs, and yet they were still paid $10.8 million.
No matter. Even in the face of an undeniable, failed strategy, Scott himself has awarded $98.6 taxpayer millions to companies pledging to create more than 21,246 jobs — and he wants millions more to do the same.
You don't have to be a weatherman to see which way the wind is blowing: The hot air of Rick Scott's campaign promises has turned into a snow job that is having a chilling effect on the Florida economy and that will freeze us out of prosperity for the foreseeable future. He's burying us in an avalanche of flaky economics, out of which it will take us decades to dig.
Florida "Occupiers" need to camp out at the capitol and put the heat on the guv and state legislators, brandishing signs like "End Corporate Welfare," "Where Are the Jobs?" and "You're Fired, Gov. Scott!"
If they don't, sooner than later, a long line of Floridians may be following Solantic to Tennessee.
Follow Stephen L. Goldstein on Twitter at @DrSLGoldstein, or email him at trendsman@aol.com
Sunday, December 4, 2011
The latest from Carl Hiaasen
http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/12/03/v-print/2530637/only-in-miami-indicted-but-on.html#ixzz1fZVQibL3
Only in Miami: Indicted, but on the payroll
BY CARL HIAASEN
http://CarlHiaasen.com
CHiaasen@MiamiHerald.com
More proof that Miami is the worst-run city in America:
Assistant Fire Chief Veldora Arthur was paid more than $120,000 to stay home and do nothing for seven months this year.
She wasn’t sick. She wasn’t agoraphobic.
She was under federal indictment for mortgage fraud.
On paper, Miami has a policy stating that non-union employees who face criminal charges should be placed on unpaid leave, or reassigned to another job. Arthur wasn’t reassigned, and she kept getting paid.
Between her indictment in February and her conviction in September, Arthur’s only duties were to stay inside her house from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and phone the office twice a day. She also got a one-hour lunch break.
This is uproariously humorous, unless you’re a Miami taxpayer.
As expected, nobody in authority has offered a reasonable explanation of why Arthur got cozy treatment. However, plenty of reasonable questions are being asked, such as, “Why would they pay you to be at home when they could put you to work?”
That one came from Robert Suarez, the city’s fire union president.
In any other U.S. city, Arthur’s crime alone would have been the predominant aspect of the scandal. She acted as a “straw buyer” in an $11 million mortgage-fraud scam involving high-end condominiums in Aventura.
In exchange for about $317,000, the assistant fire chief allowed her name and credit ratings to be used to secure mortgages for the condos. She even claimed to be living in one of them when in fact she lived in Weston. The units later went into foreclosure, which surprised everyone but the scammers.
It was a sleazy end to an inspiring story line. Arthur, 45, had worked for the fire department since 1986. She was Miami’s first black female firefighter, and more than 10 years ago had been elevated to an administrative, non-union post.
At the time she was busted, Arthur was in charge of the fire department’s payroll and quality control. Again, the irony would be splendid if she hadn’t been getting a $184,000 salary, and wasn’t in line for a $167,000 pension from the city’s deferred retirement system.
But all that money wasn’t enough. Arthur got greedy.
City policy is to put criminally charged employees on unpaid leave. If they’re acquitted, they get reimbursed for back pay. As an alternative, the city manager may transfer them to another job until their court case is resolved.
The unusually generous decision to pay Arthur to stay home until the trial came from top city officials. On March 2, Miami’s then-chief financial officer, Larry Spring, emailed fire chief Maurice Kemp and directed him to put Arthur on paid leave.
It rankled many firefighters, who saw it as special treatment. The city has claimed that other non-union employees charged with serious crimes were kept on the payroll, but the records are proving mysteriously elusive. (Miami City Hall is a notorious black hole for important documents. The filing system was apparently devised by a pack of stoned dingbats).
How did Assistant Fire Chief Arthur pass the time during those seven months of enforced yet highly compensated relaxation? Chatting with her two defense lawyers, no doubt. Watching soap operas, perhaps, or knitting a turtleneck.
We know that she was given permission to take two vacations — one in North Carolina, and one in the Bahamas. We also know that, in addition to her salary and pension, she cashed in 125 hours of accumulated vacation time, worth another $11,000.
In a sane world, Arthur’s fertile relationship with Miami taxpayers would have ended definitively on Sept. 30, when a jury convicted her on three counts in the mortgage fraud case.
The good news: Arthur has been canned from the fire department. The bad news: She still wants that $167,000-plus city pension.
She’ll probably get it, too, unless the Miami Fire Fighters’ and Police Retirement Trust has its way. Trust officials say that employees convicted of felonies can forfeit a pension if the crime occurred on the job.
Arthur made the blunder of using city fax machines to send out letters and contracts while carrying out her role in the mortgage fraud. Prosecutors introduced the documents as evidence during the trial.
With any luck, some sane person at City Hall will agree that a lowlife scam artist who just happened to be assistant fire chief doesn’t deserve a big fat check for sitting in a jail cell.
That’s where Arthur is now, awaiting sentencing on Dec. 16. She faces up to 20 years in federal prison, with no vacation time.
Only in Miami: Indicted, but on the payroll
BY CARL HIAASEN
http://CarlHiaasen.com
CHiaasen@MiamiHerald.com
More proof that Miami is the worst-run city in America:
Assistant Fire Chief Veldora Arthur was paid more than $120,000 to stay home and do nothing for seven months this year.
She wasn’t sick. She wasn’t agoraphobic.
She was under federal indictment for mortgage fraud.
On paper, Miami has a policy stating that non-union employees who face criminal charges should be placed on unpaid leave, or reassigned to another job. Arthur wasn’t reassigned, and she kept getting paid.
Between her indictment in February and her conviction in September, Arthur’s only duties were to stay inside her house from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and phone the office twice a day. She also got a one-hour lunch break.
This is uproariously humorous, unless you’re a Miami taxpayer.
As expected, nobody in authority has offered a reasonable explanation of why Arthur got cozy treatment. However, plenty of reasonable questions are being asked, such as, “Why would they pay you to be at home when they could put you to work?”
That one came from Robert Suarez, the city’s fire union president.
In any other U.S. city, Arthur’s crime alone would have been the predominant aspect of the scandal. She acted as a “straw buyer” in an $11 million mortgage-fraud scam involving high-end condominiums in Aventura.
In exchange for about $317,000, the assistant fire chief allowed her name and credit ratings to be used to secure mortgages for the condos. She even claimed to be living in one of them when in fact she lived in Weston. The units later went into foreclosure, which surprised everyone but the scammers.
It was a sleazy end to an inspiring story line. Arthur, 45, had worked for the fire department since 1986. She was Miami’s first black female firefighter, and more than 10 years ago had been elevated to an administrative, non-union post.
At the time she was busted, Arthur was in charge of the fire department’s payroll and quality control. Again, the irony would be splendid if she hadn’t been getting a $184,000 salary, and wasn’t in line for a $167,000 pension from the city’s deferred retirement system.
But all that money wasn’t enough. Arthur got greedy.
City policy is to put criminally charged employees on unpaid leave. If they’re acquitted, they get reimbursed for back pay. As an alternative, the city manager may transfer them to another job until their court case is resolved.
The unusually generous decision to pay Arthur to stay home until the trial came from top city officials. On March 2, Miami’s then-chief financial officer, Larry Spring, emailed fire chief Maurice Kemp and directed him to put Arthur on paid leave.
It rankled many firefighters, who saw it as special treatment. The city has claimed that other non-union employees charged with serious crimes were kept on the payroll, but the records are proving mysteriously elusive. (Miami City Hall is a notorious black hole for important documents. The filing system was apparently devised by a pack of stoned dingbats).
How did Assistant Fire Chief Arthur pass the time during those seven months of enforced yet highly compensated relaxation? Chatting with her two defense lawyers, no doubt. Watching soap operas, perhaps, or knitting a turtleneck.
We know that she was given permission to take two vacations — one in North Carolina, and one in the Bahamas. We also know that, in addition to her salary and pension, she cashed in 125 hours of accumulated vacation time, worth another $11,000.
In a sane world, Arthur’s fertile relationship with Miami taxpayers would have ended definitively on Sept. 30, when a jury convicted her on three counts in the mortgage fraud case.
The good news: Arthur has been canned from the fire department. The bad news: She still wants that $167,000-plus city pension.
She’ll probably get it, too, unless the Miami Fire Fighters’ and Police Retirement Trust has its way. Trust officials say that employees convicted of felonies can forfeit a pension if the crime occurred on the job.
Arthur made the blunder of using city fax machines to send out letters and contracts while carrying out her role in the mortgage fraud. Prosecutors introduced the documents as evidence during the trial.
With any luck, some sane person at City Hall will agree that a lowlife scam artist who just happened to be assistant fire chief doesn’t deserve a big fat check for sitting in a jail cell.
That’s where Arthur is now, awaiting sentencing on Dec. 16. She faces up to 20 years in federal prison, with no vacation time.
CORNDOG!!!
Support your local @BTLSradio station:
Charleston SC - 98.1 WTBB
Ft. Myers - 96.1 WRXK
Tampa - 102.5 WHPT
EVERYWHERE: http://RadioIO.com!
http://BTLS.com
Charleston SC - 98.1 WTBB
Ft. Myers - 96.1 WRXK
Tampa - 102.5 WHPT
EVERYWHERE: http://RadioIO.com!
http://BTLS.com
Saturday, December 3, 2011
More Twitter recycling
Got my copy of "Curse" by Alien Sex Fiend today woot woot!!!
Be sure to go to & CTRL D / BOOKMARK:
&
Mike Feder
Just posted this to Twizitter, and being that I like to keep it clean and keep it GREEN, why not recycle?! :P
Mike Feder is great & should be on SiriusXM left 127 MORE!!! And check out his site FederFiles.com
If I didn't oversleep (by MY schedule, which, is redundant! DUH! OF COURSE it's MY sleep schedule!!! Unless someone else is sleeping in my brain, as Nik Fiend would say!), I'd have posted sooner, since Mike is live every Saturday from 5 to 8 pm!!! But keep yer ears peeled, he pops up as a fill in host for like Alex Bennett (7 to 10am ET, and don't be afraid even if you're a Howard fanatic to listen to something else while HSS is on; thank GODS for whoever came up with the SIMPLE YET GENIUS idea to replay the show 24/7 on H100!!!!) or Mark Thompson (6 to 9pm ET)!
Mike Feder is great & should be on SiriusXM left 127 MORE!!! And check out his site FederFiles.com
If I didn't oversleep (by MY schedule, which, is redundant! DUH! OF COURSE it's MY sleep schedule!!! Unless someone else is sleeping in my brain, as Nik Fiend would say!), I'd have posted sooner, since Mike is live every Saturday from 5 to 8 pm!!! But keep yer ears peeled, he pops up as a fill in host for like Alex Bennett (7 to 10am ET, and don't be afraid even if you're a Howard fanatic to listen to something else while HSS is on; thank GODS for whoever came up with the SIMPLE YET GENIUS idea to replay the show 24/7 on H100!!!!) or Mark Thompson (6 to 9pm ET)!
Bravo to JD!!!
jdharm To the Victoria's Secret model that did a sign of the cross before she walked down the runway: God gave u the looks, don't push it.
My reply: HEAR HEAR!!!
YO!!!!!!
Sick of mainstream garbage music? (Sorry to be redundant!) Look no further than...
http://MidnightCalling.com
And please remember to CTRL D / bookmark!!!
Thom Hartmann (replay) now on SiriusLeft 127! @Thom_Hartmann @SenatorSanders http://Thom_Hartmann.com http://Sanders.Senate.gov
Friday, December 2, 2011
Time 4... @BTLSradio ( #FF !): Charleston, SC: 98.1; Ft. Myers: 96.1; Tampa: 102.5; ONLINE: http://RadioIO.com http://BTLS.com #BubbaArmy!!!
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