Nine today -- 107 - 115

Press Releases
U.S. Bank, NA, of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Assumes All of the Deposits of Nine Failed Banks in Arizona, California, Illinois and Texas

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 30, 2009
Media Contact:
David Barr (202) 898-6992
Cell: (703) 622-4790
Email: dbarr@fdic.gov

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) entered into a purchase and assumption agreement with U.S. Bank, NA, of Minneapolis, Minnesota, a wholly-owned subsidiary of U.S. Bancorp, to assume all of the deposits and essentially all of the assets of nine failed banks. The nine banks were closed this evening by federal and state bank regulators, which appointed the FDIC as receiver.

The nine banks involved in today's transaction are: Bank USA, National Association, Phoenix, Arizona; California National Bank, Los Angeles, California; San Diego National Bank, San Diego, California; Pacific National Bank, San Francisco, California; Park National Bank, Chicago, Illinois; Community Bank of Lemont, Lemont, Illinois; North Houston Bank, Houston, Texas; Madisonville State Bank, Madisonville, Texas; and Citizens National Bank, Teague, Texas. As of September 30, 2009, the banks had combined assets of $19.4 billion and deposits of $15.4 billion.

The nine banks had 153 offices, which will reopen as branches of U.S. Bank beginning tomorrow during their normal business hours. Depositors of the nine banks will automatically become depositors of U.S. Bank. Deposits will continue to be insured by the FDIC, so there is no need for customers to change their banking relationship to retain their deposit insurance coverage. Customers should continue to use their existing branches until U.S. Bank can fully integrate the deposit records of the nine failed banks.

Over the weekend, depositors of the nine banks can access their money by writing checks or using ATM or debit cards. Checks drawn on the banks will continue to be processed. Loan

customers should continue to make their payments as usual.

The FDIC and U.S. Bank entered into a loss-share transaction on approximately $14.4 billion of the combined purchased assets of $18.2 billion. U.S. Bank will share in the losses on the asset pools covered under the loss-share agreement. The loss-sharing arrangement is projected to maximize returns on the assets covered by keeping them in the private sector. The agreement also is expected to minimize disruptions for loan customers. For more information on loss share, please visit: http://www.fdic.gov/bank/individual/failed/lossshare/index.html.

Customers who have questions about today's transaction can contact the FDIC as follows:

Failed Bank


FDIC Toll-Free Phone Number


FDIC Web site

Bank USA, National Association


1-800-913-3062


http://www.fdic.gov/bank/individual/failed/bankusa-az.html

California National Bank


1-800-913-5861


http://www.fdic.gov/bank/individual/failed/calnational.html

San Diego National Bank


1-800-517-1839


http://www.fdic.gov/bank/individual/failed/sandiegonational.html

Pacific National Bank


1-800-508-8289


http://www.fdic.gov/bank/individual/failed/pacificnational-ca.html

Park National Bank


1-800-450-5668


http://www.fdic.gov/bank/individual/failed/park-il.html

Community Bank of Lemont


1-800-528-6357


http://www.fdic.gov/bank/individual/failed/community-lemont.html

North Houston Bank


1-800-501-1872


http://www.fdic.gov/bank/individual/failed/northhouston-tx.html

Madisonville State Bank


1-800-913-3053


http://www.fdic.gov/bank/individual/failed/madisonville-tx.html

Citizens National Bank


1-800-517-1843


http://www.fdic.gov/bank/individual/failed/citizens-teague.html

These telephone numbers will be operational this evening until 9:00 p.m.; on Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.; on Sunday from noon to 6:00 p.m.; and thereafter from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. The operating hours will follow the local time zone for each bank.

The nine banks were subsidiaries of FBOP Corporation, Oak Park, Illinois. FBOP Corporation was not closed and was not subject to today's actions.

The FDIC's Board of Directors issued notices of assessment of cross guaranty liability against Park National Bank and Citizens National Bank. Under statutory authority, the FDIC may assess affiliated banks for losses incurred by the Deposit Insurance Fund (DIF) from the failure of other banks, such as those owned by FBOP Corporation. Congress granted the FDIC authority in 1989 to reduce the cost to the DIF for the resolution of affiliated institutions owned by the same company. The two banks were unable to pay the amounts assessed and were closed by their chartering authorities.

The FDIC estimates that the cost of the nine banks to the DIF will be a combined $2.5 billion. U.S. Bank's acquisition of all the deposits was the "least costly" resolution for the FDIC's DIF compared to alternatives. The failure of the nine banks brings the nation's total number this year to 115.

Attachments:
Additional information on the nine banks
Cross guaranty fact sheet

odds and ends

Nothing yet on the bank failure scene -- wait.

I've noticed that a number of blogs are either shutting down, changing principal posters, or posting new stuff less frequently. In addition, a number seem to be recirculating news and opinion gleaned elsewhere (like I tend to do).

I'm beginning to think most blogs are an exercise in vanity, or a way to practice your writing -- unless you have an overarching obsession, a strongly held ideological viewpoint, or are an expert in your field (whatever it is).

In the past I've been very critical of Pres. Obama - from a "progressive" point of view. Recently I've begun to tell myself to be patient -- he does seem to be making some headway on some important issues (health care, hate crimes), and seems to be open to other changes (bank regulation).

I do not believe real regulation of the banks, and the economy, will happen until the banks suffer another meltdown. The financial sector still has too much power. Unless the people really begin to act up, to threaten to throw ALL the bums out -- nothing real will be done. Money still talks louder than the people do.

Meanwhile liberal bloggers have little to cheer about. Right-wingers are still stuck in the same tired old groove, and our "recovering" economy still looks very shaky. Maybe this is just a "recovery" for the still rich -- you know, society's "winners" -- those who have yet to be humbled.

Chamber of Commerce shows its true colors

US Chamber Shuts off TheYesMen.org and Websites of Hundreds of Other Activist Groups
Submitted by stevphen on October 27, 2009 - 4:05am.
Tags:

* Mainstream Media
* News

US Chamber Shuts off TheYesMen.org and Websites of Hundreds of Other Activist Groups

Hundreds of activist organizations had their internet service turned off last night after the US Chamber of Commerce strong-armed an upstream provider, Hurricane Electric, to pull the plug on The Yes Men and May First / People Link, a 400-member-strong organization with a strong commitment to protecting free speech.

"This is a blow against free speech, and it demostrates in gory detail the full hypocrisy of the Chamber," said Andy Bichlbaum of The Yes Men. "The only freedom they care about is the economic freedom of large corporations to operate free of the hassles of science, reality, and democracy."

After suffering embarrassment at the hands of the Yes Men on Monday, the Chamber immediately threatened legal action, then followed through Thursday by sending a Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) notice to Hurricane Electric Internet Services. In the DMCA notice, the Chamber claimed that the parody Chamber website operated by The Yes Men constituted copyright infringement, and demanded that the site be shut down immediately and that the creator's service be canceled.

But the Yes Men are not served directly by Hurricane Electric, but by May First / People Link. And when Hurricane Electric shut down the fake Chamber of Commerce site (now relocated), they also took down the websites of 400 other organizations.

May First / People Link fought back. They immediately "mirrored" the site, and then quickly negotiated with Hurricane Electric to restore service to their other members.

"The DMCA attacks the critically important right we have to effectively comment and criticize institutions and companies," said May First/People Link Co-Director Alfredo Lopez. "It's an undemocratic, backwards law, a perfect example of how the government shouldn't intrude on our lives. But the Chamber was perfectly happy to use it to stomp on the Yes Men's rights to free spech, and the rights of hundreds of other organizations to operate on the web."

The 400 May First / People Link members weren't the only victims of the Chamber's action on Thursday. Today is the start of the national release of the Yes Men's new film, The Yes Men Fix the World. The film is being released in a number of independent theaters - who, not being part of a chain, are heavily dependent on the Yes Men website for selling tickets to the film. The Chamber's actions thus impinge on the ability of these small businesses to turn a profit.

"The Chamber claims to represent 3 million businesses of every size, yet their actions undermined a fair number of small businesses," said Mike Bonanno of the Yes Men. "The Chamber is clearly much less interested in actual freedom, economic or otherwise, than in the license of their largest members to operate free from the scientific consensus." (The Chamber has opposed or refused to endorse a climate bill, the absurdity of which the Yes Men's Monday action was designed to highlight.)

This isn't the first time a Yes Men site has found itself targeted by a DMCA complaint brought by a large corporation. The Yes Men have in the past received DMCA notices from Exxon, Dow Chemical, DeBeers, and the New York Times. In each case, the the Yes Men (represented by the Electronic Frontier Foundation) refused to comply, and prevailed. Even the George W. Bush campaign sent a complaint to try to interrupt service to GWBush.com, in 2000, resulting in extensive ridicule that culminated in Bush's mind-boggling gaffe that "There ought to be limits to freedom."

Capmark, Commercial Real Estate Lender Declares Bamkruptcy

Capmark Seeks Chapter 11
By MIKE SPECTOR, LINGLING WEI AND PETER LATTMAN
October 26, 2009

One of the nation's largest commercial-real-estate lenders filed for bankruptcy protection in Delaware, the latest sign that problems in that market are far from over.

Capmark Financial Group Inc. has been one of the biggest lenders to U.S. investors and developers of office towers, strip malls, hotels and other commercial properties. An independent company that used to be the commercial lending unit of GMAC LLC, a financing affiliate of General Motors Co., it has been in financial straits for months and warned in September that it might have to file for Chapter 11 reorganization.

In its bankruptcy filing, Capmark listed assets of $20.1 billion and liabilities of $21 billion as of June 30. Citigroup Inc. is the agent on much of Capmark's secured debt. Other holders of Capmark's secured debt include hedge funds Paulson & Co., Anchorage Advisors and Silverpoint Capital, a person familiar with the matter said. (The asset - liabilities balance does not seem all that bad. Just how dodgy and marked to fantasy are those assets anyway? - Jesse)

Some of Capmark's debt that can't be repaid might be converted to stock, the person said. Current plans call for all Capmark businesses to be preserved as part of a reorganized company or "sold as going concerns for full value," the same person said.

The filing comes amid similar troubles in the commercial-property arena. Mall-giant General Growth Properties and hotel-chain Extended Stay Inc. filed for bankruptcy in the past year, and more commercial-company real-estate ventures could fail amid an inability to refinance debts and reduced customer traffic as consumers continue to pull back.

The difficulties are a blow to Capmark's private-equity owners. In 2006, a group led by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co., Goldman Sachs Capital Partners and Five Mile Capital Partners paid $1.5 billion in cash to acquire lender GMAC's commercial real-estate business, which they renamed Capmark.

At the time, Capmark proclaimed it was poised to tap capital markets and realize the full potential of all its businesses, which include lending to commercial-property developers and investors; managing investment funds that bought commercial-real-estate debt; and collecting payments on loans, or "servicing." GMAC, meanwhile, boasted the deal would free up $9 billion in capital it could redeploy.

But the deal didn't work out for any of the parties. GMAC suffered heavy losses on its real-estate loans and faced further pressures on its car-financing operations when the auto market collapsed. It eventually had to tap federal bailout money.

KKR, which has written its Capmark investment down to zero, declined to comment. A Capmark spokeswoman didn't respond to requests for comment.

Capmark, based in Horsham, Pa., recently reported a $1.6 billion second-quarter loss. The company deteriorated along with the deep problems plaguing the commercial-property market. Capmark has originated more than $10 billion in commercial-real-estate loans, according to Moody's Investors Service.

One of Capmark's deals was the landmark Equitable Building that rises 33 stories above downtown Atlanta. In 2007, San Diego real-estate firm Equastone LLC paid $57 million for the office tower and took out a $51.9 million mortgage from Capmark Bank. Equastone planned to expand the tower and attract a tenant with pockets deep enough to rename the building.

In April, Capmark Bank foreclosed on the building after Equastone defaulted on the debt.

Adding to Capmark's pressures, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. had notified the company it must raise capital and boost liquidity at its Utah bank, which has roughly $10 billion in assets. The bank makes and holds commercial mortgages.

The bank isn't part of Capmark's bankruptcy filing. Capmark Bank got a $600 million capital infusion from its parent company in late September.

Capmark has retained law firm Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP and financial advisers Lazard Frères & Co. LLC, Loughlin Meghji + Co. and Beekman Advisors Inc.

The company has about 1,800 employees located in 47 offices world-wide. It recently reached an agreement to sell its North American servicing and mortgage-banking operations to a new company owned by Warren Buffet's Berkshire Hathaway Inc. and Leucadia National Corp. for as much as $490 million.

Under the deal's terms, the sale could occur while Capmark is in bankruptcy but would require a bigger cash payment

wow - 106

I stop for dinner and come back to see #106



Press Releases
First Midwest Bank, Itasca, Illinois, Assumes All of the Deposits of First Dupage Bank, Westmont, Illinois

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 23, 2009
Media Contact:
Greg Hernandez
Office: (202) 898-6984
Cell: (202) 340-4922
Email: ghernandez@fdic.gov

First Dupage Bank, Westmont, Illinois, was closed today by the Illinois Department of Financial & Professional Regulation – Division of Banking, which appointed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) as receiver. To protect the depositors, the FDIC entered into a purchase and assumption agreement with First Midwest Bank, Itasca, Illinois, to assume all of the deposits of First Dupage Bank.

The sole branch of First Dupage Bank will reopen on Saturday as a branch of First Midwest Bank. Depositors of First Dupage Bank will automatically become depositors of First Midwest Bank. Deposits will continue to be insured by the FDIC, so there is no need for customers to change their banking relationship to retain their deposit insurance coverage. Customers should continue to use their existing branches until First Midwest Bank can fully integrate the deposit records of First Dupage Bank.

This evening and over the weekend, depositors of First Dupage Bank can access their money by writing checks or using ATM or debit cards. Checks drawn on the bank will continue to be processed. Loan customers should continue to make their payments as usual.

As of July 31, 2009, First Dupage Bank had total assets of $279 million and total deposits of approximately $254 million. First Midwest Bank will pay the FDIC a premium of 0.75 percent to assume all of the deposits of First Dupage Bank. In addition to assuming all of the deposits of the failed bank, First Midwest Bank agreed to purchase essentially all of the assets.

The FDIC and First Midwest Bank entered into a loss-share transaction on approximately $247 million of First Dupage Bank's assets. First Midwest Bank will share in the losses on the asset pools covered under the loss-share agreement. The loss-sharing arrangement is projected to maximize returns on the assets covered by keeping them in the private sector. The agreement also is expected to minimize disruptions for loan customers. For more information on loss share, please visit: http://www.fdic.gov/bank/individual/failed/lossshare/index.html.

Customers who have questions about today's transaction can call the FDIC toll-free at 1-800-450-5417. The phone number will be operational this evening until 9:00 p.m., Central Daylight Time (CDT); on Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., CDT; on Sunday from noon to 6:00 p.m., CDT; and thereafter from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., CDT. Interested parties can also visit the FDIC's Web site at http://www.fdic.gov/bank/individual/failed/firstdupage.html.

The FDIC estimates that the cost to the Deposit Insurance Fund (DIF) will be $59 million. First Midwest Bank's acquisition of all the deposits was the "least costly" resolution for the FDIC's DIF compared to alternatives. First Dupage Bank is the 106th FDIC-insured institution to fail in the Nation this year, and the seventeenth in Illinois. The last FDIC-insured institution closed in the state was Corus Bank, Chicago, on September 11, 2009.

busy little beavers at the FDIC

Six banks closed today -- our FDIC has been busy.

Is this what a "recovery" looks like? -- jobs lost, Main Street banks closing, real estate still tanking, while Wall Street makes record profits -- on our backs.

Can you say "Banana Republic"?

105

Press Releases
Tri City National Bank, Oak Creek, Wisconsin, Assumes All of the Deposits of Bank of Elmwood, Racine, Wisconsin

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 23, 2009
Media Contact:
David Barr (202) 898-6992
Cell: (703) 622-4790
Email: dbarr@fdic.gov

Bank of Elmwood, Racine, Wisconsin, was closed today by the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions, which appointed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) as receiver. To protect the depositors, the FDIC entered into a purchase and assumption agreement with Tri City National Bank, Oak Creek, Wisconsin, to assume all of the deposits of Bank of Elmwood.

The five branches of Bank of Elmwood will reopen on Saturday as branches of Tri City National Bank. Depositors of Bank of Elmwood will automatically become depositors of Tri City National Bank. Deposits will continue to be insured by the FDIC, so there is no need for customers to change their banking relationship to retain their deposit insurance coverage. Customers should continue to use their existing branch until Tri City National Bank can fully integrate the deposit records of Bank of Elmwood.

This evening and over the weekend, depositors of Bank of Elmwood can access their money by writing checks or using ATM or debit cards. Checks drawn on the bank will continue to be processed. Loan customers should continue to make their payments as usual.

As of September 30, 2009, Bank of Elmwood had total assets of $327.4 million and total deposits of approximately $273.2 million. Tri City National Bank did not pay the FDIC a premium for the deposits of Bank of Elmwood. In addition to assuming all of the deposits of the failed bank, Tri City National Bank agreed to purchase essentially all of the assets.

Customers who have questions about today's transaction can call the FDIC toll-free at 1-800-234-9027. The phone number will be operational this evening until 9:00 p.m., Central Daylight Time (CDT); on Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., CDT; on Sunday from noon to 6:00 p.m., CDT; and thereafter from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., CDT. Interested parties also can visit the FDIC's Web site at http://www.fdic.gov/bank/individual/failed/elmwood.html.

The FDIC estimates that the cost to the Deposit Insurance Fund (DIF) will be $101.1 million. Tri City National Bank's acquisition of all the deposits was the "least costly" resolution for the FDIC's DIF compared to alternatives. Bank of Elmwood is the 104th FDIC-insured institution to fail in the Nation this year, and the first in Wisconsin. The last FDIC-insured institution closed in the state was The First National Bank of Blanchardville, Blanchardville, on May 9, 2003.

104

Press Releases
Central Bank, Stillwater, Minnesota, Assumes All of the Deposits of Riverview Community Bank, Otsego, Minnesota

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 23, 2009
Media Contact:
David Barr
Office: (202) 898-6992
Cell: (703) 622-4790
Email: dbarr@fdic.gov

Riverview Community Bank, Otsego, Minnesota, was closed today by the Minnesota Department of Commerce, which appointed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) as receiver. To protect the depositors, the FDIC entered into a purchase and assumption agreement with Central Bank, Stillwater, Minnesota, to assume all of the deposits of Riverview Community Bank.

The two branches of Riverview Community Bank will reopen on Saturday as branches of Central Bank. Depositors of Riverview Community Bank will automatically become depositors of Central Bank. Deposits will continue to be insured by the FDIC, so there is no need for customers to change their banking relationship to retain their deposit insurance coverage. Customers should continue to use their existing branches until Central Bank can fully integrate the deposit records of Riverview Community Bank.

This evening and over the weekend, depositors of Riverview Community Bank can access their money by writing checks or using ATM or debit cards. Checks drawn on the bank will continue to be processed. Loan customers should continue to make their payments as usual.

As of August 31, 2009, Riverview Community Bank had total assets of $108 million and total deposits of approximately $80 million. Central Bank did not pay the FDIC a premium to assume all of the deposits of Riverview Community Bank. In addition to assuming all of the deposits of the failed bank, Central Bank agreed to purchase essentially all of the assets.

The FDIC and Central Bank entered into a loss-share transaction on approximately $75 million of Riverview Community Bank's assets. Central Bank will share in the losses on the assets covered under the loss-share agreement. The loss-sharing arrangement is projected to maximize returns on the assets covered by keeping them in the private sector. The agreement also is expected to minimize disruptions for loan customers. For more information on loss share, please visit: http://www.fdic.gov/bank/individual/failed/lossshare/index.html.

Customers who have questions about today's transaction can call the FDIC toll-free at 1-800-355-0814. The phone number will be operational this evening until 9:00 p.m., Central Daylight Time (CDT); on Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., CDT; on Sunday from noon to 6:00 p.m., CDT; and thereafter from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., CDT. Interested parties can also visit the FDIC's Web site at http://www.fdic.gov/bank/individual/failed/riverview-mn.html.

The FDIC estimates that the cost to the Deposit Insurance Fund (DIF) will be $20 million. Central Bank's acquisition of all the deposits was the "least costly" resolution for the FDIC's DIF compared to alternatives. Riverview Community Bank is the 105th FDIC-insured institution to fail in the Nation this year, and the fifth in Minnesota. The last FDIC-insured institution closed in the state was Jennings State Bank, Spring Grove, on October 2, 2009.

103

Press Releases
Stonegate Bank, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Assumes All of The Deposits of Hillcrest Bank Florida, Naples, Florida

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 23, 2009
Media Contact:
Andrew Gray
Office: (202) 898-7192
Cell: (202) 494-1049
Email: angray@fdic.gov

En Español

Hillcrest Bank Florida, Naples, Florida, was closed today by the Florida Office of Financial Regulation, which appointed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) as receiver. To protect the depositors, the FDIC entered into a purchase and assumption agreement with Stonegate Bank, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to assume all of the deposits of Hillcrest Bank Florida.

The six branches of Hillcrest Bank Florida will reopen on Monday as branches of Stonegate Bank. Depositors of Hillcrest Bank Florida will automatically become depositors of Stonegate Bank. Deposits will continue to be insured by the FDIC, so there is no need for customers to change their banking relationship to retain their deposit insurance coverage. Customers should continue to use their existing branches until Stonegate Bank can fully integrate the deposit records of Hillcrest Bank Florida.

This evening and over the weekend, depositors of Hillcrest Bank Florida can access their money by writing checks or using ATM or debit cards. Checks drawn on the bank will continue to be processed. Loan customers should continue to make their payments as usual.

As of October 1, 2009 , Hillcrest Bank Florida had total assets of $83 million and total deposits of approximately $84 million. Stonegate Bank will pay the FDIC a premium of 0.50 percent to assume all of the deposits of Hillcrest Bank Florida. In addition to assuming all of the deposits of the failed bank, Stonegate Bank agreed to purchase $28 million of the failed bank's assets. The FDIC will retain the remaining assets for later disposition.

Customers who have questions about today's transaction can call the FDIC toll-free at 1-800-517-1846. The phone number will be operational this evening until 9:00 p.m., Eastern Daylight Time (EDT); on Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., EDT; on Sunday from noon to 6:00 p.m., EDT; and thereafter from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., EDT. Interested parties can also visit the FDIC's Web site at http://www.fdic.gov/bank/individual/failed/hillcrest-fl.html.

The FDIC estimates that the cost to the Deposit Insurance Fund (DIF) will be $45 million. Stonegate Bank's acquisition of all the deposits was the "least costly" resolution for the FDIC's DIF compared to alternatives. Hillcrest Bank Florida is the 102nd FDIC-insured institution to fail in the Nation this year, and the eighth in Florida. The last FDIC-insured institution closed in the state was Partners Bank, Naples, earlier this evening.

102

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Press Releases
First Federal Bank of Florida, Lake City, Florida, Assumes All of the Deposits of Flagship National Bank, Bradenton, Florida

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 23, 2009
Media Contact:
David Barr (202) 898-6992
Cell: (703) 622-4790
Email: dbarr@fdic.gov

Flagship National Bank, Bradenton, Florida, was closed today by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, which appointed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) as receiver. To protect the depositors, the FDIC entered into a purchase and assumption agreement with First Federal Bank of Florida, Lake City, Florida, to assume all of the deposits of Flagship National Bank.

The four branches of Flagship National Bank will reopen on Monday as branches of First Federal Bank of Florida. Depositors of Flagship National Bank will automatically become depositors of First Federal Bank of Florida. Deposits will continue to be insured by the FDIC, so there is no need for customers to change their banking relationship to retain their deposit insurance coverage. Customers should continue to use their existing branch until they receive notice from First Federal Bank of Florida that it has completed systems changes to allow other First Federal Bank of Florida branches to process their accounts as well.

This evening and over the weekend, depositors of Flagship National Bank can access their money by writing checks or using ATM or debit cards. Checks drawn on the bank will continue to be processed. Loan customers should continue to make their payments as usual.

As of August 31, 2009, Flagship National Bank had total assets of $190 million and total deposits of approximately $175 million. First Federal Bank of Florida did not pay the FDIC a premium for the deposits of Flagship National Bank. In addition to assuming all of the deposits of the failed bank, First Federal Bank of Florida agreed to purchase essentially all of the assets.

The FDIC and First Federal Bank of Florida entered into a loss-share transaction on approximately $130 million of Flagship National Bank's assets. First Federal Bank of Florida will share in the losses on the asset pools covered under the loss-share agreement. The loss-share arrangement is projected to maximize returns on the assets covered by keeping them in the private sector. The agreement also is expected to minimize disruptions for loan customers. For more information on loss share, please visit: http://www.fdic.gov/bank/individual/failed/lossshare/index.html.

Customers who have questions about today's transaction can call the FDIC toll-free at 1-800-355-0650. The phone number will be operational this evening until 9:00 p.m., Eastern Daylight Time (EDT); on Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., EDT; on Sunday from noon to 6:00 p.m., EDT; and thereafter from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., EDT. Interested parties also can visit the FDIC's Web site at http://www.fdic.gov/bank/individual/failed/flagship.html.

The FDIC estimates that the cost to the Deposit Insurance Fund (DIF) will be $59 million. First Federal Bank of Florida's acquisition of all the deposits was the "least costly" resolution for the FDIC's DIF compared to alternatives. Flagship National Bank is the 103rd FDIC-insured institution to fail in the Nation this year, and the ninth in Florida. The last FDIC-insured institution closed in the state was Hillcrest Bank Florida, Naples, which also closed today.

101

Press Releases
Ameris Bank, Moultrie, Georgia, Assumes All of the Deposits of American United Bank, Lawrenceville, Georgia

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 23, 2009
Media Contact:
Greg Hernandez (202) 898-6984
Cell: (202) 340-4922
Email: ghernandez@fdic.gov

American United Bank, Lawrenceville, Georgia, was closed today by the Georgia Department of Banking & Finance, which appointed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) as receiver. To protect the depositors, the FDIC entered into a purchase and assumption agreement with Ameris Bank, Moultrie, Georgia, to assume all of the deposits of American United Bank.

The sole branch of American United Bank will reopen on Monday as a branch of Ameris Bank. Depositors of American United Bank will automatically become depositors of Ameris Bank. Deposits will continue to be insured by the FDIC, so there is no need for customers to change their banking relationship to retain their deposit insurance coverage. Customers should continue to use their existing branch until they receive notice from Ameris Bank that it has completed systems changes to allow other Ameris Bank branches to process their accounts as well.

This evening and over the weekend, depositors of American United Bank can access their money by writing checks or using ATM or debit cards. Checks drawn on the bank will continue to be processed. Loan customers should continue to make their payments as usual.

As of August 11, 2009, American United Bank had total assets of $111 million and total deposits of approximately $101 million. Ameris Bank will pay the FDIC a premium of 1.02 percent to assume all of the deposits of American United Bank. In addition to assuming all of the deposits of the failed bank, Ameris Bank agreed to purchase essentially all of the assets.

The FDIC and Ameris Bank entered into a loss-share transaction on approximately $92 million of American United Bank's assets. Ameris Bank will share in the losses on the asset pools covered under the loss-share agreement. The loss-share arrangement is projected to maximize returns on the assets covered by keeping them in the private sector. The agreement also is expected to minimize disruptions for loan customers. For more information on loss share, please visit: http://www.fdic.gov/bank/individual/failed/lossshare/index.html.

Customers who have questions about today's transaction can call the FDIC toll-free at 1-800-913-3058. The phone number will be operational this evening until 9:00 p.m., Eastern Daylight Time (EDT); on Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., EDT; on Sunday from noon to 6:00 p.m., EDT; and thereafter from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., EDT. Interested parties also can visit the FDIC's Web site at http://www.fdic.gov/bank/individual/failed/americanunited.html.

The FDIC estimates that the cost to the Deposit Insurance Fund (DIF) will be $44 million. Ameris Bank's acquisition of all the deposits was the "least costly" resolution for the FDIC's DIF compared to alternatives. American United Bank is the 101st FDIC-insured institution to fail in the Nation this year, and the twentieth in Georgia. The last FDIC-insured institution closed in the state was Georgian Bank, Atlanta, on September 25, 2009.

FDIC at work - #100

Press Releases
Stonegate Bank, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Assumes All of the Deposits of Partners Bank, Naples, Florida

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 23, 2009
Media Contact:
Andrew Gray
Office: (202) 898-7192
Cell: (202) 494-1049
E-mail: angray@fdic.gov

En Español

Partners Bank, Naples, Florida, was closed today by the Office of Thrift Supervision, which appointed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) as receiver. To protect the depositors, the FDIC entered into a purchase and assumption agreement with Stonegate Bank, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to assume all of the deposits of Partners Bank.

The two branches of Partners Bank will reopen on Monday as branches of Stonegate Bank. Depositors of Partners Bank will automatically become depositors of Stonegate Bank. Deposits will continue to be insured by the FDIC, so there is no need for customers to change their banking relationship to retain their deposit insurance coverage. Customers should continue to use their existing branch until they receive notice from Stonegate Bank that it has completed systems changes to allow other Stonegate Bank branches to process their accounts as well.

This evening and over the weekend, depositors of Partners Bank can access their money by writing checks or using ATM or debit cards. Checks drawn on the bank will continue to be processed. Loan customers should continue to make their payments as usual.

As of September 30, 2009, Partners Bank had total assets of $65.5 million and total deposits of approximately $64.9 million. Stonegate Bank did not pay the FDIC a premium for the deposits of Partners Bank. In addition to assuming all of the deposits of the failed bank, Stonegate Bank agreed to purchase essentially all of the assets.

Customers who have questions about today's transaction can call the FDIC toll-free at 1-800-357-7599. The phone number will be operational this evening until 9:00 p.m., Eastern Daylight Time (EDT); on Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., EDT; on Sunday from noon to 6:00 p.m., EDT; and thereafter from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., EDT. Interested parties also can visit the FDIC's Web site at http://www.fdic.gov/bank/individual/failed/partners-fl.html.

The FDIC estimates that the cost to the Deposit Insurance Fund (DIF) will be $28.6 million. Stonegate Bank's acquisition of all the deposits was the "least costly" resolution for the FDIC's DIF compared to alternatives. Partners Bank is the 100th FDIC-insured institution to fail in the Nation this year, and the seventh in Florida. The last FDIC-insured institution closed in the state was Community National Bank of Sarasota County, Venice, on August 7, 2009.

Today, #99

after skipping a week, the FDIC was back to work today.


Press Releases
Citizens Business Bank, Ontario, California, Assumes All of the Deposits of San Joaquin Bank, Bakersfield, California

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 16, 2009
Media Contact:
LaJuan Williams-Dickerson
(202) 898-3876
Email: lwilliams-dickerson@fdic.gov



San Joaquin Bank, Bakersfield, California, was closed today by the California Department of Financial Institutions, which appointed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) as receiver. To protect the depositors, the FDIC entered into a purchase and assumption agreement with Citizens Business Bank, Ontario, California, to assume all of the deposits of San Joaquin Bank.

The five branches of San Joaquin Bank will reopen on Monday as branches of Citizens Business Bank. Depositors of San Joaquin Bank will automatically become depositors of Citizens Business Bank. Deposits will continue to be insured by the FDIC, so there is no need for customers to change their banking relationship to retain their deposit insurance coverage. Customers should continue to use their existing branch until they receive notice from Citizens Business Bank that it has completed systems changes to allow other Citizens Business Bank branches to process their accounts as well.

This evening and over the weekend, depositors of San Joaquin Bank can access their money by writing checks or using ATM or debit cards. Checks drawn on the bank will continue to be processed. Loan customers should continue to make their payments as usual.

As of September 29, 2009, San Joaquin Bank had total assets of $775 million and total deposits of approximately $631 million. Citizens Business Bank did not pay the FDIC a premium for the deposits of San Joaquin Bank. In addition to assuming all of the deposits of the failed bank, Citizens Business Bank agreed to purchase essentially all of the assets.

The FDIC and Citizens Business Bank entered into a loss-share transaction on approximately $683 million of San Joaquin Bank's assets. Citizens Business Bank will share in the losses on the asset pools covered under the loss-share agreement. The loss-share arrangement is projected to maximize returns on the assets covered by keeping them in the private sector. The agreement also is expected to minimize disruptions for loan customers. For more information on loss share, please visit: http://www.fdic.gov/bank/individual/failed/lossshare/index.html.

Customers who have questions about today's transaction can call the FDIC toll-free at 1-800-423-6395. The phone number will be operational this evening until 9:00 p.m., Pacific Daylight Time (PDT); on Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., PDT; on Sunday from noon to 6:00 p.m., PDT; and thereafter from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., PDT. Interested parties also can visit the FDIC's Web site at http://www.fdic.gov/bank/individual/failed/sanjoaquin.html.

The FDIC estimates that the cost to the Deposit Insurance Fund (DIF) will be $103 million. Citizens Business Bank's acquisition of all the deposits was the "least costly" resolution for the FDIC's DIF compared to alternatives. San Joaquin Bank is the 99th FDIC-insured institution to fail in the nation this year, and the tenth in California. The last FDIC-insured institution closed in the state was Affinity Bank, Ventura, on August 28, 2009.

This from The New York Times

Editorial
Faith-Based Discrimination


Published: October 13, 2009

President Obama promised in his campaign to preserve President George W. Bush’s faith-based initiative aimed at helping social service programs sponsored by religious organizations win federal grants and contracts. He also promised a vitally important change: groups receiving federal money would no longer be allowed to hire employees on the basis of their religion.

The idea was to prevent discrimination and preserve the boundary between church and state. But Mr. Obama has not made good on the promise. His February executive order revamping the White House office for religion-based and neighborhood programs left untouched a 2002 presidential directive authorizing religious-oriented programs that receive federal financing to hire and fire on religious grounds.

Also left untouched was a constitutionally suspect 2007 memo concluding that the government cannot order religious groups not to discriminate as a condition of federal financing — even in programs like Head Start, where religious discrimination is outlawed. The memo, based on a far-fetched interpretation of the 1993 Religious Freedom Restoration Act, was produced by the Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel. That is the same outfit that wrote the memos authorizing torture.

A coalition of 58 religious, educational and civil liberties groups is now seeking to reverse the 2007 memo. A group letter last month to Attorney General Eric Holder Jr. asked him to direct the current Office of Legal Counsel to review and withdraw the memo. Mr. Holder should do so, and Mr. Obama should revise his February executive order to include the anti-discrimination language that he omitted the first time around.

As a candidate, Mr. Obama drew the right line. Effective social service programs should not be ineligible for federal dollars just because they have a religious affiliation. But they should be required to abide by the same anti-discrimination laws as everyone else. Public money should not be used to pay for discrimination

Spoiled Brats

This from Finfacts Eire by way of Jesse's Cafe Americain: Just more proof we need some sort of control on our out of control financial sector. After all the bailouts, it almost seems thay are running the U.S.A. as their own personal slush fund -- ready to bail them out when their debts become too great to handle. Even though they are sometimes called "the best and the brightest" (think back to college, where the business students EVER thought of a "the best and the brightest"? NO! They were often seen as less intelligent drones.), they act more like a spoiled rich kid who expects daddy to bail him (her) out after every disaster. If they ever do succeed, they tend to think they "did it ALL myself".

How about some "tough love" for these spoiled brats, AKA "Masters Of The Universe"

Finfacts Business News Centre




News : International Last Updated: Oct 14, 2009 - 8:27:34 AM

Wall Street firms set to break new records in 2009 with pay rising to $140bn; Bailed-out insurance giant AIG paid “retention bonuses” to kitchen staff
By Finfacts Team
Oct 14, 2009 - 6:10:22 AM


The four-year $100 million sponsorship deal with English football club Manchester United, ended in May 2009
Wall Street firms are set to break new records with employee pay set to rise to $140bn this year. Meanwhile, it has been reported that the bailed-out insurance giant AIG paid “retention bonuses” to kitchen staff earlier this year from a $168m pot, that was ostensibly designed to keep staff from leaving the government controlled firm.

Workers at 23 top investment banks, hedge funds, asset managers and stock and commodities exchanges can expect to earn even more than they did in the peak year of 2007, according to an analysis of securities filings for the first half of 2009 and revenue estimates through year-end by The Wall Street Journal.

The Journal reports that total compensation and benefits at the publicly traded firms it analyzed, are on track to increase 20% from last year's $117bn -- and to top 2007's $130bn payout. This year, employees at the companies will earn an estimated $143,400 on average, up almost $2,000 from 2007 levels.

Average compensation per employee at investment bank Goldman Sachs, is set to reach about $743,000 this year, double last year's $364,000 and up 12% from about $622,000 in 2007, according to the Journal analysis.

Earlier this year, a firestorm was triggered by news that the bailed-out insurance giant AIG, which had received US government funds and guarantees worth about $180bn, had paid $168m worth of “retention bonuses” to keep staff at a time when Wall Street was dependent on lifelines from the Federal Reserve and US Treasury.

Neil Barofsky, special inspector-general for the US government’s $700bn troubled assets relief programme (TARP), says in a report that about 400 employees of AIG’s Financial Products unit, which had brought the firm to its knees, shared the more than $168m in retention awards in December 2008 and March 2009.

The recipients included the kitchen assistant, who was handed a cash retention bonus of $7,700, and a “file administrator,” who received $700, as well as more senior executives who were paid bonuses of up to $4m. The scheme was designed to pay guaranteed bonuses and the retention aspect appears to have been a fig-leaf.

Approximately 62% of employees in the unit received a retention award of more than $100,000.

AIG management said last March it would try to reduce the pending payments by "at least" 30% and it also asked for partial repayment from staff.

The Barofsky report found that only $19m, or less than half, of the $45m in pledged repayments had been received by the end of August.

The Obama administration has appointed a pay czar to review pay conditions at AIG and employees who had been expected to repay part of the bonus bonanza, paid earlier this year, are withholding the outstanding $26m pending the ruling on pay.

The report says the US Treasury invested $40bn of taxpayer funds in the company "without having any detailed information about the scope of AIG's very substantial, and very controversial, executive compensation obligations." The failure to proactively address those concerns "created considerable public and Congressional concern," the report said

Baseball

National League Championship Series starts Thurs, American League Series starts Friday.

Dodgers vs. Phillies, Angels vs. Yankees.

I think the best four teams moved on. The rest of the postseason should be very good.

I happen to be rooting for a Yankee-Dodger World Series -- with the Yankees coming out on top. How can you root against Jeter, Posada, Mariano, Petitte, A-Rod, Tex, Swisher, Sabathia, Melky, Matsui?

Granted the Angels have a really good team, a great manager, and are a fine organization -- but this years Yankees have soul. As one of the broadcasters said, at least the Yankee organization has loyality to their players -- unlike the Boston Red Sox, who seem to be one of the coldest organizations out there.

I'd like to see the Yankees win -- if only to repay the loyalty their organization has toward their players.

Holy Crimes

This weeks "Holy Crimes" from Joe. My. God.

Monday, October 12, 2009
This Week In Holy Crimes

Over the last seven days...

Alabama: Pastor Simon Bussie arrested for sodomizing 11 year-old girl. Bussie was in the charge of the church's day care center.
North Carolina: Pastor Robert Lee Adams Reaves convicted of murdering a 21 year-old woman. According to testimony, Reaves stabbed the woman dozens of times because she was dating a man that Reaves was interested in.
New Jersey: Pastor Lonny Aleshire demands new trial after pleading guilty to raping underage girls.
Canada: Brothers Allen and Phillip Latimer reveal they were sexually molested by the late Father Allen McDonald while serving as his altar boys. The men came forward after last week's arrest of Bishop Raymond Lahey, who briefly hid from authorities after being charged with the possession of child pornography. Lahey had been in charge of Father McDonald's case.
Mexico: Father Jose Carlos Contreras Rodriguez charged with raping and murdering a 16 year-old girl.
South Africa: Unnamed pastor convicted of raping his two pre-teen daughters. His name is shielded to protect the victims.
New York: Pastor Eddy Mijares sentenced to 14 years in prison for molesting 13 year-old girl.
Michigan: Pastor Timothy Allen Ortiz charged with forcible sexual conduct on underage girl.
Virginia: Pastor Steven Joplin charged with seven counts of sexual assault on pre-teen girls.
Ohio: Father Gerald Robinson loses his appeal to overturn his conviction for murdering Sister Margaret Ann Pahl, whom he stabbed 31 times in the face and neck.

This Week's Winner-
Pennsylvania: The parents of two year-old Kent Schaible have been charged with manslaughter for allowing their "faith healing" pastor to pray over the child, rather than seeking medical attention for his bacterial pneumonia, which could have been cured with simple antibiotics. The father is a teacher at First Century Gospel Church, whose members believe in healing by prayer rather than medicine. Before his death, little Kent suffered from "a sore throat, congestion, liquid bowel movements, sleeplessness and trouble swallowing," yet his parents continued to pray.

How INSANE is this?

So, our friendly neighborhood "conservatives" want to REWRITE The Bible to eliminate overly "liberal" statements.

These folks who claim it is the "Revealed Word of God" -- to be taken literally -- want to REWRITE this "Holy Book" to match their specific world view, their current prejudice, their likes and dislikes (which are subject to change with changing conditions -- after all, "Conservatives" of 50 years ago do not agree on every issue with the current crop of "Conservatives").

Many of these folks want us to believe EVERY word written in The Bible. The Earth is 6,000 years old, etc., etc., etc. -- at the same time they have the hubris to CHANGE it, to eliminate things they do not like. This instead of looking at themselves to see if they can become more "Christlike".

Instead of WWJD (What Would Jesus Do), perhaps the new watchword will be WWCD (What Would Cheney Do).

Can you say INSANITY?

late update

Failed Banks - Oct. 2nd


Southern Colorado National Bank Pueblo CO 57263 October 2, 2009 October 6, 2009
Jennings State Bank Spring Grove MN 11416 October 2, 2009 October 6, 2009
Warren Bank Warren MI 34824 October 2, 2009 October 6, 2009

Polanski

The only comment necessary on the Roman Polanski affair. This from "I Blame The Patriarchy" -- a truly FEMINIST blog YOU must bookmark. Follow the link.


Kate Harding thinks — and who but an asshole could disagree? — that it would be “superfun” to play a game called “Don’t Give Money To People Who Think Rapists Deserve Absolution, Sympathy, Freedom and Regular Public Tongue Baths.”

Harding alludes to a hypothetical boycott of the products blurped out by the burgeoning collective of rape-apologist celebrities who’ve lately been infesting the public square sporting “Free Roman Polanski” buttons. To the dismay of some of their more evolved fans, the gang includes pop-culture darlings whose public personae may have previously conveyed, when observed by the casual end-user, the [false] impression that they don’t support child rapists.

Who, you might ask, would be barbarian enough to form a chastity belt of solidarity around fugitive child rapist Roman Polanski?

A whole bunch of famous movie people, it turns out. Including Whoopi Goldberg, Jonathan Demme, Wim Wenders, David Lynch, Martin Scorsese, and Woody Allen. Oh, and Natalie Portman.

Wait! No! Not Whoopi, the affable Center Square who’s black enough to be hep, but not so black that she scares the honkys? Not Jonathan Demme, writer/director of Caged Heat (”Rape Riot and Revenge! White Hot Desires melting cold prison steel!”)? Not David Lynch, director of Eraserhead, beloved fanboy 16mm art-house ode to infanticide and male anxiety about jizz? Not Martin Scorsese, glamorizer of macho thugs, whose second most memorable character is a wise-cracking pre-teen hooker-with-a-heart-o-gold? Not Woody Allen, the sexullectual nebbish who likes to get bizzy with his step-children?

God, not Natalie Portman, photogenic girl?

It blows the lobe that total strangers (film stars, directors, “media personalities,” TV actors, et al) should transcend their 2-dimensional products to play active roles — enjoying varying degrees of symbololotry (no really, it’s a word!) — in the real lives of pop culture consumers. It blows the lobe, but the phenomenon (wherein civilians believe they have a sympathetic, unique rapport with their celebrities) supports a multi-zillion-dollar industry, a tragedy equal in scope only to the recent discovery that there is no more Cool Whip in the spinster fridge.

So, should a media personality’s insane views on bail-jumpin’ rapist Roman Polanski be a deal-breaker? Fuck yeah, they should. “Rape? It’s less important than Chinatown” is now part of their official pop narratives. Please. Like Chinatown is a sacred pile of Jesus-bones, or vital to the biosphere, or the cure for cancer or something.

Dump the bastards!

What’s the deal with celebrities, anyway? Do they imagine the public are just maxi-pads with spending power, stuck to Hollywood’s underpants and happy to soak up what ever oozes out? Are they so bloated with self-regard that, when they aren’t giving each other awards on televised red carpets, they actually confuse their tight-knit cabal of overpaid ingenues, perverts, and 2-bit hams with a sort of Privy Council of the Divine? One that is imbued with sufficient power to override in their fans such ethical and just prejudices as “rape is a crime”? Or to subvert the justice system with their keen and considered legal analysis that Polanski, forced to live comfortably in Paris and make Oscar-winning films all these years, has “suffered enough”? Whoopi, a noted legal scholar, has famously observed that what Polanski did — i.e. drugging and sexually assaulting a pre-pubescent girl — wasn’t “rape rape.”

Possibly Whoopi views Polanski’s violent crime in this seriously fucked-up way because in Hollywood — patriarchy’s primary misogyny propaganda unit — rape is nothing but a plot device. An extremely popular plot device. In fact, it’s the principal motif in about 97.3% of films and TV shows. Ya gotta love the Hollywood “love-rape,” wherein the starlet demurs, so the hero gives her what she really wants (see Gone With the Wind for an Oscar-winning archetypal example). The love-rape is so popular that Hollywoodists apparently think nothing of its practice in real life. It’s completely normal for directors to invite “sophisticated” 13-year-old “Lolitas” into their homes by promising to photograph them for Vogue, but instead they dope’em up with liquor and ludes to facilitate “consensual sex.” That’s not rape. That’s entertainment!

Disappointed fans of rape-apologist celebrities might consider, once they’ve worked through their shock and bereavement, precisely what, in terms of philosophic value, is really offered by these people. I hypothesize that it is possible to live a stunningly adequate life without buying any Woody Allen at all, either Allen-as-concept (see “sexullectual nebbish,” above) or his sexist-ass films. Likewise, it shouldn’t be too difficult to eliminate both the essence and the filmography of Natalie Portman from the intellectual environment; few, if any, spinster aunts in good standing could even pick her out of an identity parade. Ditto all those other artistes. And if playing Kate Harding’s “Fuck You, Rape-Apologist Celebrities!” game means crossing Whoopi’s Sister Act II off my Netflix queue, well, that’s a sacrifice I’m willing to make.

Celebrities are just mercenary pukers of pop culture artifacts.

Re: Signs of the apocalypse

Never mind the banks failing. Forget about Wall Street being nothing but a den of thieves (See Matt Taibbi's latest article in Rolling Stone, "Wall Street's Naked Swindle"). Dismiss the real estate meltdown, the rows of unfinished buildings. Even pretend the health care "debate" isn't just an exercise in ignorant batshittery. Now, you can't even sing karaoke without taking your life in your hands. What's next, armed guards at karaoke bars?

"Remember, karaoke doesn't kill people -- people kill people"

(If truth be told --- I HATE karaoke.

Signs of the apocalypse

Police: Karaoke singer attacked over performance
Email this Story

Oct 8, 11:17 AM (ET)

STAMFORD, Conn. (AP) - Police say a woman singing karaoke in a Connecticut sports bar was attacked by six other women who didn't like her performance.

Five of the women were arraigned on assault and other charges on Wednesday in Stamford Superior Court. The other woman appeared in court Monday on the same charges.

Police say the Sept. 23 attack on the 25-year-old woman from Port Chester, N.Y., happened during karaoke night at Bobby Valentine's Sports Gallery Cafe in Stamford.

Authorities say the six women, all under the legal drinking age of 21, knocked the singer to the floor, punched her and pulled her hair. The victim suffered bruises and a chipped tooth.

The victim has said she was singing "A Dios Le Pido" by Colombian superstar Juanes when the violence began.

note:

Three more banks flopped this past week, bringing the total for the year to 98 (not including those "too big to fail") - will have details soon.

"Holy Crimes" from Joe. My. God.

This Week In Holy Crimes

Over the last seven days...

California: Pastor Jose Campoverde charged with molesting four girls living in church housing for needy families.
England: Father David Pearce confesses to sexually assaulting five underage boys.
Ohio: Pastor Joshua O'Bannion accused of molestation by two girls who came forward after O'Bannion was arrested in Arizona on the same charge.
Alabama: Pastor Curtis Willis shot and killed by police after he axed off the hand of a deputy who'd arrived to serve an order of protection for Curtis' wife. The deputy's hand was successfully reattached.
New York: Iman Ahmad Wais Afzali charged with lying to FBI during terrorism inquiry.
England: Church of England under fire for not revealing that Vicar Dominick Stone had been arrested for possession of "indecent photographs."
Louisiana: Rev. James Ford accused of "inappropriately touching" three girls whose parents were arrested for allowing Ford to molest them.
Maryland: Father Michael Barnes arrested for molesting a boy from '77-'82.
Virginia: Father Rodney L. Rodis appealing his conviction for embezzling more than $600K-$1M from his churches.

This Week's Winner-
Italy: Vatican official Father Cesare Burgazzi was arrested after leading police on a 20-minute high-speed chase after being found "driving slowly" through a red light district known for transsexual prostitutes. Two wrecked police cars and three injured officers later, Burgazzi was taken into custody screaming, "You have no idea who I am. You don't know who you are messing with!" This, after attempting to run the officers down with his car. Burgazzi works at the Vatican State Department and is Master of Ceremonies at St. Peter's Basilica. He claims he thought the police were robbers and denies that they found the front seats of his car in the reclined position. His lawyer said, "My client is not a user of prostitutes or transsexuals - he did not have condoms in his car."

Texas State Fair

Today was spent at the Texas State Fair. We brought a friend from out of town (California).

Aside from the nationally famous orgy of fried things (the deep fried honey bun was the winner), the fair had all sorts of State Fair stuff -- crafts, livestock auctions, trained dogs doing good stuff.

The youth livestock auction was just great. All these kids with their prize hogs, goats, sheep, cattle, standing there proudly with these perfectly cared for, perfectly groomed animals -- never mind the mixed feelings some kids might have -- the proceeds seem to be like a scholarship for a job well done.

I'm a sucker for the Creative Arts competition -- all the crafts -- quilts, ceramics, stained glass, needle work (of all kinds), collections, paintings, photos, etc., etc., etc. All this wonderful stuff done by people to whom it's a labor of love. Amazing stuff that we can look at for hours.

That's the REAL State Fair -- not the midway, not all the brown food, but the dogs, goats, cows, sheep, horses -- and all the things some may think of as "corny", that are not. Love and care went into all the amazing things at the Fair.

It's so much fun.