Wednesday, March 31, 2010

It's time to go to "I Blame The Patriarchy" again

"I Blame The Patriarchy
Scum: not the real enemy - Sick of beauty? Dang it, me too. That’s why I’m posting on it more or less nonstop. Blamer Magriff, reading yesterday’s post on how beauty is dumb, suggest..."

too much

too much crap in the world -- listen to some music.

Ella sings Summertime - you WILL Listen!

Carmen Mcrae -- I'm Glad There Is You -- this is a must listen.

A Young Peggy Lee singing "Why Don't You Do Right"

Steve Turre -- Trombone

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Think about this

"If you want to know what God thinks of money, just look at the people he gave it to."
— Dorothy Parker

Time for the RC to go down

"Ignoring child rape scandals, pope says faith means not being ‘intimidated’ by ‘petty gossip’."

I wonder if all the children raped by "Father Flotsky", or whoever, were "intimidated"?

Why does The Church refuse to allow it's criminals to be prosecuted?

Yes, Father Geoghan was convicted, and murdered in jail (perhaps well deserved) -- but his boss, "Dirty Bernie" Law, is living free (sorta') in the Vatican -- a country we can't extradite criminals from.

No one likes to talk about it, but The Vatican seems to be a haven for "Clerics On The Run" (a new movie starring Ricky Gervais?).

the most amazing thing is that The church actually believes it is above the law, as it affects us mere mortals. The RAPE of children may be "unfortunate" but they are not about to accept any responsibility, nor do they want to turn over the guilty.

It's time to break them up. time to sell off some of their property, time to bring them to the level of most of "the sheep" who follow them.

Break up the church!

Pope Ignores Child Rape Scand

Once again, proof The Holy Roman Catholic church just does not get it.

Ignoring child rape scandals, pope says faith means not being ‘intimidated’ by ‘petty gossip’

By Stephen C. Webster
Sunday, March 28th, 2010 -- 7:50 pm
Ignoring child rape scandals, pope says faith means not being intimidated by petty gossip. Marking the start of the Christian holy week this Palm Sunday at the Vatican, Pope Benedict encouraged followers to keep faith in Christ as a way of strengthening themselves against "intimidation," even as the pope himself had become accused of protecting priests who, in the words of one recent critic, raped and tortured children.

In his sermon, the pope did not openly acknowledge the fierce scandal that has engulfed the Vatican in recent days. Instead, he used the context of current events to promote a deeper trust in the Christian deity.

"[As a Cardinal] Joseph Ratzinger was Munich archbishop when a priest was allowed to resume pastoral work with children even while receiving therapy for pedophilia He was subsequently convicted of abusing minors. In addition, a case has come to light in which Ratzinger's deputy at the Congregation told Wisconsin bishops to squash a church trial for a priest alleged to have abused up to 200 deaf boys.

"The Vatican insists Ratzinger was unaware of the Munich priest's move to the pastoral job and has defended its handling of the Wisconsin case."

Christianity, Pope Benedict claimed Sunday, directs believers towards "courage that doesn't let us be intimidated by the petty gossip of dominant opinion."
Story continues below...

His recent apology for the widespread sexual abuse of children by Catholic priests on at least two continents has been harshly criticized as an understatement.

During a Friday night broadcast, two of the most well-known atheists in American media, Bill Maher and Christopher Hitchens, took particular issue with the church's inaction on the matter.

Hitchens called the pope's apology a request for "wiggle room" on the "rape and torture of children."

"It's funny because in this society... Even in prisons, there is a hierarchy of crimes," said Maher. "The child molesters are the ones who even hardened criminals shun, or actually kill."

His guest opined that questions of whether the pope will be able to travel freely will soon become pervasive. Swiss President Doris Leuthard, just one day later, called for the creation of a central register for pedophiles, equating a priest who rapes children to anyone of any other profession who commits the same act.

"Whether perpetrators come from the civil or clerical world makes no difference," she said, according to Reuters. "Both are subject to Swiss criminal law, with no ifs or buts."

"I was raised Catholic but stopped going to church at the age of 12," scoffed journalist Matt Taibbi in a recent entry for True/Slant. "I was a complete idiot at that age with regard to almost every other area of human knowledge, but even I knew back then that the church was a scam. There are good and decent people working as individual priests, but the institution as a whole is a gang of cheap charlatans preying on peoples’ guilt feelings (which of course are cultivated intentionally by the church, which teaches children to be ashamed of their natural sexuality) in order to solicit a lifetime of contributions."

He concluded: "Sooner or later people are going to catch on, the state is going to make a move, and there’s going to be a hell of a lot of church property going up for auction along with the seized Escalades of DEA-busted drug dealers. Or maybe not in this lifetime — but one can only hope."

"Father Federico Lombardi, the Pope’s spokesman, insisted that Pope Benedict had not been weakened by the allegations, which have led some to demand his resignation five years after he was elected," The Times Online noted. "Popes are elected for life. The last pontiff to step down voluntarily was Pope Celestine V in 1294, who became a hermit."

"The hierarchy’s loss of moral authority has been wonderfully liberating for some Catholics now free to ignore, with good conscience, bishops’ various directives on gays, birth control, divorce and remarriage, etc," wrote Margery Eagan, opining for The Boston Herald. "I know many who’ve been able to separate their bedrock faith from Catholic leadership. Such Catholics support what’s good in the church (their parish, parochial schools, Catholic charities, etc.) and not what’s compromised (their archdiocese and the Vatican itself)."

Lombardi added that the pope believes the Catholic Church will come out of the present scandal -- raised over decades, affecting the lives of untold thousands who were sexually assaulted -- "stronger" than ever before. So far, the church has not turned a single pedophile priest over to civil authorities.

Right Wing Terrorists

This from Eugene Robinson:


Share
Posted on Mar 29, 2010

By Eugene Robinson

The arrests of members of a Michigan-based “Christian” militia group should convince doubters that there is good reason to worry about right-wing, anti-government extremism—and potential violence—in the Age of Obama.

I put the word “Christian” in quotes because anyone who plots to assassinate law enforcement officers, as a federal indictment alleges members of the Hutaree militia did, is no follower of Christ. According to federal prosecutors, the Hutaree—the word’s not in my dictionary, but their website claims it means “Christian warrior”—are convinced that their enemies include “state and local law enforcement, who are deemed ‘foot soldiers’ of the federal government, federal law enforcement agencies and employees, participants in the ‘New World Order,’ and anyone who does not share in the Hutaree’s beliefs.”

According to the indictment, the group had been plotting for two years to assassinate federal, state or local police officers. “Possible such acts which were discussed,” the indictment says, “included killing a member of law enforcement after a traffic stop, killing a member of law enforcement and his or her family at home, ambushing a member of law enforcement in rural communities, luring a member of law enforcement with a false 911 emergency call and then killing him or her, and killing a member of law enforcement and then attacking the funeral procession motorcade” with homemade bombs.

Nine members of the Hutaree were named in the indictment. Eight were arrested during weekend FBI raids in Michigan, Ohio and Indiana; one suspect remains at large. The group’s website shows members in camouflage outfits traipsing through woods in “training” exercises. They could be out for an afternoon of paintball, except for the loony rhetoric about “sword and flame” and the page, labeled “Gear,” that links to several gun dealers. Along with numerous weapons offenses, the Hutaree are charged with sedition.

The episode highlights the obvious: For decades now, the most serious threat of domestic terrorism has come from the growing ranks of paranoid, anti-government hate groups that draw their inspiration, vocabulary and anger from the far right.

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It is disingenuous for mainstream purveyors of incendiary far-right rhetoric to dismiss groups such as the Hutaree by saying that there are “crazies on both sides.” This simply is not true.

There was a time when the far left was a spawning ground for political violence. The first big story I covered was the San Francisco trial of heiress Patricia Hearst, who had been kidnapped and eventually co-opted by the Symbionese Liberation Army—a far-left group whose philosophy was as apocalyptic and incoherent as that of the Hutaree. There are aging radicals in Cuba today who got to Havana by hijacking airplanes in the 1970s. Left-wing radicals caused mayhem and took innocent lives.

But for the most part, far-left violence in this country has gone the way of the leisure suit and the AMC Gremlin. An anti-globalization movement, including a few window-smashing anarchists, was gaining traction at one point, but it quickly diminished after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. An environmental group and an animal-rights group have been linked with incidents of arson. Beyond those particulars, it is hard to identify any kind of leftist threat.

By contrast, there has been explosive growth among far-right, militia-type groups that identify themselves as white supremacists, “constitutionalists,” tax protesters and religious soldiers determined to kill people to uphold “Christian” values. Most of the groups that posed a real danger, as the Hutaree allegedly did, have been infiltrated and dismantled by authorities before they could do any damage. But we should never forget that the worst act of domestic terrorism ever committed in this country was authored by a member of the government-hating right wing: Timothy McVeigh’s bombing of the federal building in Oklahoma City.

It is dishonest for right-wing commentators to insist on an equivalence that does not exist. The danger of political violence in this country comes overwhelmingly from one direction—the right, not the left. The vitriolic, anti-government hate speech that is spewed on talk radio every day—and, quite regularly, at tea party rallies—is calibrated not to inform but to incite.

Demagogues scream at people that their government is illegitimate, that their country has been “taken away,” that their elected officials are “traitors” and that their freedom is at risk. They have a right to free speech, which I will always defend. But they shouldn’t be surprised if some listeners take them literally.

Eugene Robinson’s e-mail address is eugenerobinson(at)washpost.com.

Monday, March 29, 2010

"I Like Pie" from "I Blame The Patriarchy"

I just had to put this up. This is from "I Blame The Patriarchy".

All women MUST read this. Please follow link to the original.


I like pie
Published by Jill on March 29, 2010. 23 Comments

Feminists always have to go around explaining that they don’t hate men. The man-hater accusation is the standard response to anything a feminist might say.

Feminist: One in five women will be sexually assaulted on campus by the time she graduates.

Antifeminist: You’re just a man-hater!

Feminist: But I’m quoting a report from the Department of Ju –

Antifeminist: Man-hater! Man-hater!

Feminist: One in seven women will get breast cancer.

Antifeminist: Man-hater!

Feminist: Pornography oppresses women.

Antifeminist: Man-hater!

Feminist: I like pie.

Antifeminist: Man-hater!

Man-hating apparently, invalidates the entirety of feminism; women are, by universal agreement, expected to love their oppressors unconditionally. Hating women, however, is de rigueur for the modern gal on the go. I was listening to World Have Your Say on Radio Beeb a few weeks ago, when they were talking about women’s issues because it was International Women’s Day (you know International Women’s Day? It’s that sad, lonely day once a year when folks on the radio talk about women’s issues and the people telling them to shut the fuck up are given marginally less airtime than all the rest of the year). So anyway, on World Have Your Say a woman was telling the story of her Mexican grandmother who was able to “have it all” by running a successful company and raising about 37 kids. Well, one of the feminist panelists said, yeah, that’s right, successful women “don’t have to be men.” Women can be empowerfulized and still do things that are ‘natural’ for women to do.

“It’s okay to have a family” she insisted. “It’s okay to be pretty.”

No, it isn’t, my dear old feminist panelist. It isn’t okay to be pretty. Not if smashing patriarchy is on your to-do list. Pretty is merely a semantic variant of feminine, which is itself a code word meaning ’subjugated, degraded, and controllable.’

Or beautiful, sexy, or fuckable — it’s all the same thing: a set of behaviors indicating that the woman in question is dominant-culture-compliant. The degree of compliance is judged according to standards based on a system of male appeasement (compliance should be full and discernible at a glance).

If a woman is unable or unwilling to capitulate to male desire by cute-ing herself up according to the standards of the day, and is resistant enough to broadcast this unwillingness by eschewing beauty, boy is she in for it. The Global Accords Governing Fair Use of Women state that a woman will internalize the beauty mandate to the greatest possible extent, lest Dude Nation kick her non-compliant ass.

Fear of retribution (ridicule, ostracism, harassment, abuse in the workplace) — and by extension, guilt and the imperative of self-sacrifice — is why the overwhelming majority of Vagina-Americans own mirrors and buy carcinogenic products that supposedly make them “shiny,” “radiant,” “glowing,” “pouty,” “smoky,” or “baby-fresh.” Fear of retribution is why even those women who identify as feminists cling with Revlon-coated claws to the “right” that us man-hating feminazis would take away from them: the right to be pretty (or sexy or fuckable).

And no wonder the right-to-prettiness feminists despise us anti-femininity feminists; what we propose is that women’s liberation is impossible as long as women fail to recognize that the practice of beauty is an expression of internalized oppression. We’re just mean and hateful when we suggest that women, especially youngish ones with a phenotypes that makes them likely to score cash, good tables in restaurants, and public approval, might consider knocking it off already with the prettiness. Those perks are pretty good.

But when that feminist panelist on World Have Your Say tells the audience that it’s okay to be pretty, what she actually means is that it’s not antifeminist to engage in physically and emotionally demeaning practices in an effort to be sexually manipulative and to communicate one’s submission.

Holy shit! That chick is just wrong.

Internet feminists, by the way, who cast a jaundiced eye upon the cult of beauty are man-haters because we would deprive default humans of their right to pretty girls.

This Week In Holy Crimes -- from Joe.My.God

Please follow link to original.


This Week In Holy Crimes

Over the last seven days...

Texas: Pastor Dean Richard Tarkington found guilty of possession of child porn.
Kentucky: Pastor Alonzo Bradley arrested for torturing his wife by "beating and burning her with implements."
West Virginia: Pastor Johnny Ray Dempsey pleads guilty to incest and sexual abuse by a parent.
Florida: Rev. John C. Spinks charged with possession and distribution of child porn.
Maryland: Father Thomas Bevan to face September trial for multiple counts of child molestation.
Connecticut: Youth Pastor David Esarey convicted of sexual assault on a minor and possession of child porn.
Ireland: Father Francis Markey charged with rape of 15 year-old boy forty years ago. Markey had been suspended at least three times for sexual misconduct but was always allowed to go back to "work."
Vienna: An unnamed priest has resigned after confessing to sex with a boy. Two other priests in the same diocese have been suspended.
Arizona: Rabbi Bryan Bramley charged with rape of 7 year-old girl.
California: Pastor Matthew Davis charged with multiple felony counts of lewd and lascivious behavor and indecent exposure to children.
New Zealand: Pastor Donald Tarnaki charged with sexual assault of 13 year-old girl.
Florida: Music worship teacher David Lanham charged with 16 felony counts of sexual abuse of four children ages 5-11.
Ontario: Pastor James Sinclair charged with three counts of sexual assault.

This Week's Winner-
New York: At his Palm Sunday Mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral, today Archbishop Timothy Dolan defended the Pope against charges of complicity in the ever-widening child molestation scandal, comparing the Pope to Christ and saying that Ill Papa is "being daily crowned with thorns by groundless innuendo." Dolan claims that the Catholic Church if being "unfairly singled-out" for their kiddie-fuckers because child molestation happens in other religions too. Dolan, of course, made no mention of the inconvenient fact that other religions don't have an ongoing (and until recently, very successful) global system of shielding their child molesters from prosecution.

Sunday, March 28, 2010

The Bobblespeak Translations

This from The Bobblespeak Translations

What They're Really Saying When They're Saying What They're Saying.

Follow link to original --- bookmark


Sunday, March 28, 2010
Meet The Press - March 28, 2010
Chuck Schumer: (D-NY)
Lindsey Graham (R-SC)
Bob Shrum
Jon Meachem
Doris Goodwin
Mike Murphy
*************************

Gregory: Chuck AT&T proved this week that
I was right all along - people are going to lose
their insurance!

Schumer: No that’s a lie - just like death panels
and killing grandma

Gregory: Lindsey how do answer the charge
that Republicans were right?

Graham: that’s a good tough question Gregory - Democrats are eliminating Medicare, student loans, and AT&T will have stop delivering the great customer service they are known for - it’s Armeygeddon!

Gregory: so will you repeal the law?

Graham: yes we will force the Democrats to
double funding for Medicare

Schumer: ha - oh noes!

Graham: states will have empty referendums
on this bill!

Gregory: Chuck this bill costs $93 billion a year!

Schumer: that’s not very much Fluffy

Gregory: how do you answer the charge that this bill cuts the deficit but doesn’t cut it enough

Schumer: if we did nothing it would be
worse bubblehead

Gregory: the CBO, the Concord Coalition and
Count von Count from Sesame Street all say this will cut the debt - but how can that possibly be true when you cover millions of people?

Schumer: I heard you were a moron

Graham: I heard that too!

Schumer: from me

Schumer: Look Dancin’ Dave in the long run this
will cut a trillion dollars from the debt

Gregory: Chuck the middle class Americans are terrified that you will take away their health care and give it to an undeserving poor brown person

Schumer: well they’ve been fed a bunch of
bullshit for a year

Gregory: I have no idea how that could that happen in our intrepid media environment

Graham: this is a giant Ponzi scheme - this will
cut doctors!

Schumer: Good - there are a lot of crappy doctors out there x-raying people for money

Gregory: interesting

Schumer: we will discipline Doctors!

Graham: No Republican voted for this because
the CBO is full of liars!

Gregory: that’s a recent development I take it

Graham: you pay for health care with insurance payments - it’s a house of cards!

Gregory: fascinating

Graham: he’s an out-of-control leftist - he’s helped General Motors, fixed student loans and given people insurance - the GOP will not lets this
Marxist abomination stand!

Gregory: doesn’t calling Obama a Totalitarian lead to people cutting gas lines to Congressmen’s house?

Graham: well some people think it’s justified when he governs from the left ditch but you shouldn’t use the n-word

Gregory: Chuck have opponents gone
too far?

Schumer: ‘Have they’? What are you fucking nuts?? Yes Fluffy with attempted murder they have gone
too far

Graham: Democrats have poisoned the well by giving people health insurance without admitting Obama is a Kenyan Witch Doctor

Schumer: I disagree - we can have bipartisanship
on admitting only the right and good people into this country

Gregory: how do I know it’s a good idea?

Schumer: Lou Dobbs and Bill O’Reilly support it

Gregory: wow!

Graham: Recess appointments are a tool of the devil

Schumer: blow me

Graham: ok Chuck

[ break ]

Gregory: health care is a big fucking deal!

Shrum: Teddy knew it would happen

Gregory: Do we put Obama Mt. Rushmore now?

Meacham: this changes the narrative that we
talk about

Gregory: oh I see

Meacham: it also proves pundits are largely stupid

Gregory: so sad

Meacham: it’s also possible cutting gas lines and attempted murder is an overreaction to giving people health insurance

Murphy: this bill couldn’t pass a hypothetical non-existent GOP Congress

Gregory: wow

Gregory: years ago people attacked Social Security with epithets

Goodwin: a win like this emboldens a President
and a party

Gregory: but people hate this bill

Goodwin: you have to win public sentiment

Gregory: what can we learn from Obama’s failures?

Shrum: he made a lot of mistakes - but you know maybe the guy isn’t so dumb after all

Murphy: this is was a total failure of leadership - just like on Star Trek - you can’t get ahead of public opinion - you have to lead

Gregory: I want the drugs you’re on

Gregory: there’s the substance and the perception

Goodwin: we know what you care about Fluffy

Meachem: it’s terrible when John Lewis can’t walk across Capitol Hill without being spit on

Gregory: maybe the tea baggers just have bad allergies

Meachem: the tea baggers have the passion but the Progressives got this bill enacted

Goodwin: white people are terrified that black people are getting something

Gregory: the Democrats are doomed by antagonizing uneducated racists

Shrum: for god’s sake this is Mitt Romney’s bill

Murphy: no no it isn’t

Gregory: I feel something is being taken away
from me

Murphy: people hate labor but we need an agenda beyond ‘look - a black man in the white house!’

Gregory: has the Tea Party taken over the GOP?

Meacham: As Churchill once said, “What the fuck
is it with those whackjobs?”

Gregory: interesting

Meach: As Madison once said, “If men were angels, they would fly around in robes and get shot from helicopters by Sarah Palin”

Goodwin: People is mad!

Gregory: true

Goodwin: as LBJ once said, “Doris, do I look
good naked?”

Murphy: Everyone hates Obama except for Democrats, liberals, progressives, urban voters, the East coast, African-Americans, Hispanics, gays, the educated, young, students, 32 million uninsured-

Gregory: ok ok that’s all time we have

"My" Music

I've been looking over some of the music i've posted on this blog. Though it covers some of the stuff I really like, it doesn't begin to do it justice.

As I listen again to some of the early Rock and roll -- do-wop, rock-a-billy, etc., I am sometimes amazed at its staying power. Great harmonies, wonderful treatment of songs.

Then there's all the different jazz pieces I've posted. Some of my favorite stuff just isn't on line. Brubecks "Balcony Rock" as done on his Jazz Goes To College album, a version of West End Blues on an old Billy Butterfield LP (with, i think, Bucky Pizzarelli on guitar), and so much other stuff. I saw Dylan at Gerdes before he was "Dylan" (snark!).

I remember Nina Simone when she OPENED for Miles at Town Hall -- and we would not let her off the stage -- she was THAT GREAT! Miles was a tad miffed, to say the least (I do not care what his reason, I hated the way he treated his audience.).

Rock and Roll shows at the N.Y. Paramount -- went with a guy who had a small flask in his pocket (this in the days before us white folks had ready access to grass) -- great stuff for a budding drunk. At that point in time, and for many years, I could drink just about anyone "Under the table".

That ability, later drug use, and blackouts just meant I LIVED the 60's and don't remember an awful lot. I met a lot of "important" people and either forgot them, or just blew them off -- oh well, good thing I got clean and sober in time to avoid too much exposure to the various plagues that afflicted the world in the 80's and on.

Anyway, back to the music -- I will continue to post more music in the future -- we do not live by bad news alone. In addition, there is so much going on, so much covered all over that I want to post stuff that resonates with me.

The entire Catholic Church mess just sickens me -- there will be more to come on that front.

More also on our strange economic situation. Beware the "double dip".

Enough now.

Miles and 'Trane -- So What

Blue Moon - Billie Holiday

Same song twice -- very, very, different.


More Music The Marcels - Blue Moon

Music From My Youth

Here's some more music from my youth. The amazing thing is that I was around when all this stuff was THE latest thing. It was brand new. Wow! Amazing!!

As lots of folks say, "It's ALL good!"

The Harptones - A Sunday Kind of Love

Gene Vincent and The Blue Caps

Here's another classic -- Be-Bop-A-Lula


How about some doo-wop?

The Capri's -- There's A Moon Out Tonight


Friday, March 26, 2010

"Meet Me In Chicago"

Here's some stuff for us old folks -- Pee Wee Russell, Jimmy McPartland, Art Hodes play a little blues. Pee Wee's clarinet was of the "non-Benny-Goodman" school.

Have a listen.

so far today

Today, we've had four bank failures (so far).

Two from Georgia, one Florida, one Arizona.

Interesting, no?

#41

Press Releases
New York Community Bank, Westbury, New York, Assumes All of the Deposits of Desert Hills Bank, Phoenix, Arizona

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 26, 2010
Media Contact:
LaJuan Williams-Young
Office: (202) 898-3876
Email: lwilliams-young@fdic.gov

Desert Hills Bank, Phoenix, Arizona, was closed today by the Arizona 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 New York Community Bank, Westbury, New York, to assume all of the deposits of Desert Hills Bank.

The six branches of Desert Hills Bank will reopen on Monday as branches of New York Community Bank. Depositors of Desert Hills Bank will automatically become depositors of New York Community 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 former Desert Hills Bank branch until they receive notice from New York Community Bank that it has completed systems changes to allow other New York Community Bank branches to process their accounts as well.

This evening and over the weekend, depositors of Desert Hills 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 December 31, 2009, Desert Hills Bank had approximately $496.6 million in total assets and $426.5 million in total deposits. New York Community Bank did not pay the FDIC a premium to assume all of the deposits of Desert Hills Bank. In addition to assuming all of the deposits, New York Community Bank agreed to purchase essentially all of the failed bank's assets.

The FDIC and New York Community Bank entered into a loss-share transaction on $325.9 million of Desert Hills Bank's assets. New York Community Bank will share in the losses on the asset pools covered under the loss-share agreement. The loss-share transaction is projected to maximize returns on the assets covered by keeping them in the private sector. The transaction 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 1-800-886-2504. The phone number will be operational this evening until 9:00 p.m., Mountain Standard Time (MST); on Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., MST; on Sunday from noon to 6:00 p.m. MST; and thereafter from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., MST. Interested parties also can visit the FDIC's Web site at http://www.fdic.gov/bank/individual/failed/deserthills.html.

The FDIC estimates that the cost to the Deposit Insurance Fund (DIF) will be $106.7 million. New York Community Bank's acquisition of all the deposits was the "least costly" resolution for the FDIC's DIF compared to all alternatives. Desert Hills Bank is the 41st FDIC-insured institution to fail in the nation this year, and the first in Arizona. The last FDIC-insured institution closed in the state was Valley Capital Bank, N.A., Mesa, on December 11, 2009.

The Big 40

Press Releases
Bank of the Ozarks, Little Rock, Arkansas, Assumes All of the Deposits of Unity National Bank, Cartersville, Georgia

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 26, 2010
Media Contact:
LaJuan Williams-Young
Office: (202) 898-3876
Email: lwilliams-young@fdic.gov



Unity National Bank, Cartersville, Georgia, 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 Bank of the Ozarks, Little Rock, Arkansas, to assume all of the deposits of Unity National Bank.

The five branches of Unity National Bank will reopen on Saturday as branches of Bank of the Ozarks. Depositors of Unity National Bank will automatically become depositors of Bank of the Ozarks. 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 former Unity National Bank branch until they receive notice from Bank of the Ozarks that it has completed systems changes to allow other Bank of the Ozarks branches to process their accounts as well.

This evening and over the weekend, depositors of Unity 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 December 31, 2009, Unity National Bank had approximately $292.2 million in total assets and $264.3 million in total deposits. Bank of the Ozarks did not pay the FDIC a premium to assume all of the deposits of Unity National Bank. In addition to assuming all of the deposits, Bank of the Ozarks agreed to purchase essentially all of the failed bank's assets.

The FDIC and Bank of the Ozarks entered into a loss-share transaction on $206.1 million of Unity National Bank's assets. Bank of the Ozarks will share in the losses on the asset pools covered under the loss-share agreement. The loss-share transaction is projected to maximize returns on the assets covered by keeping them in the private sector. The transaction 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 1-800-815-0268. 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/unity-natl.html.

The FDIC estimates that the cost to the Deposit Insurance Fund (DIF) will be $67.2 million. Bank of the Ozarks' acquisition of all the deposits was the "least costly" resolution for the FDIC's DIF compared to all alternatives. Unity National Bank is the 40th FDIC-insured institution to fail in the nation this year, and the seventh in Georgia. The last FDIC-insured institution closed in the state was McIntosh Commercial Bank, Carrollton, earlier today.

# # #

39

Press Releases
Centennial Bank, Conway, Arkansas, Assumes All of the Deposits of Key West Bank, Key West, Florida

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 26, 2010
Media Contact:
LaJuan Williams-Young
Office: (202) 898-3876
Email: lwilliams-young@fdic.gov


Key West Bank, Key West, 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 Centennial Bank, Conway, Arkansas, to assume all of the deposits of Key West Bank.

The sole branch of Key West Bank will reopen during normal business hours beginning Saturday as a branch of Centennial Bank. Depositors of Key West Bank will automatically become depositors of Centennial 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 former Key West Bank branch until they receive notice from Centennial Bank that it has completed systems changes to allow other Centennial Bank branches to process their accounts as well.

This evening and over the weekend, depositors of Key West 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 December 31, 2009, Key West Bank had approximately $88.0 million in total assets and $67.7 million in total deposits. Centennial Bank will pay the FDIC a premium of 0.50 percent to assume all of the deposits of Key West Bank. In addition to assuming all of the deposits, Centennial Bank agreed to purchase essentially all of the failed bank's assets.

The FDIC and Centennial Bank entered into a loss-share transaction on $75.8 million of Key West Bank's assets. Centennial Bank will share in the losses on the asset pools covered under the loss-share agreement. The loss-share transaction is projected to maximize returns on the assets covered by keeping them in the private sector. The transaction 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 1-800-830-4697. 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/key-west.html.

The FDIC estimates that the cost to the Deposit Insurance Fund (DIF) will be $23.1 million. Centennial Bank's acquisition of all the deposits was the "least costly" resolution for the FDIC's DIF compared to all alternatives. Key West Bank is the 39th FDIC-insured institution to fail in the nation this year, and the sixth in Florida. The last FDIC-insured institution closed in the state was Old Southern Bank, Orlando, on March 12, 2010.

here we go - again #38

Press Releases
CharterBank, West Point, Georgia, Assumes All of the Deposits of McIntosh Commercial Bank, Carrollton, Georgia

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 26, 2010
Media Contact:
LaJuan Williams-Young
Office: (202) 898-3876
Email: lwilliams-young@fdic.gov

En Español

McIntosh Commercial Bank, Carrollton, Georgia, was closed today by the Georgia Department of Banking and 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 CharterBank, West Point, Georgia, to assume all of the deposits of McIntosh Commercial Bank.

The four branches of McIntosh Commercial Bank will reopen during regular business hours beginning Saturday as branches of CharterBank. Depositors of McIntosh Commercial Bank will automatically become depositors of CharterBank. 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 former McIntosh Commercial Bank branch until they receive notice from CharterBank that it has completed systems changes to allow other CharterBank branches to process their accounts as well.

This evening and over the weekend, depositors of McIntosh Commercial 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 December 31, 2009, McIntosh Commercial Bank had approximately $362.9 million in total assets and $343.3 million in total deposits. CharterBank did not pay the FDIC a premium to assume all of the deposits of McIntosh Commercial Bank. In addition to assuming all of the deposits, CharterBank agreed to purchase essentially all of the failed bank's assets.

The FDIC and CharterBank entered into a loss-share transaction on $263.1 million of McIntosh Commercial Bank's assets. CharterBank will share in the losses on the asset pools covered under the loss-share agreement. The loss-share transaction is projected to maximize returns on the assets covered by keeping them in the private sector. The transaction 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 1-800-450-5668. 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/McIntosh.html.

The FDIC estimates that the cost to the Deposit Insurance Fund (DIF) will be $123.3 million. CharterBank's acquisition of all the deposits was the "least costly" resolution for the FDIC's DIF compared to all alternatives. McIntosh Commercial Bank is the 38th FDIC-insured institution to fail in the nation this year, and the sixth in Georgia. The last FDIC-insured institution closed in the state was Bank of Hiawassee, Hiawassee, on March 19, 2010.

Thursday, March 25, 2010

The Pope

It is time for The Pope to resign. It's time for The Pope to leave, quit, pull a Palin, go away, scram, book, vamoose, etc.

In plain words, this MAN, Ratso, has to do the right thing -- bite the bullet and go into retirement, with his cute little red pumps.

"Teabaggers" might want to think about their threats.

It really upsets me the way our "teabaggers" here in the USA have threatened so many Democratic lawmakers.

Broken windows, death threats of the "we know where you live" type. even threats against the Congressperson's CHILDREN.

This crap has to stop.

One thing none of these "teabaggers" seem to understand is that progressives and other folks of the left also own guns. They believe the fiction that they are the only "true Americans", that they are the only folks with the guts to own and use guns.

They are using them as a threat. "Do it our way or we shoot" seems to be the message. That is not behind the ideal of responsible gun ownership. Your DEFENSIVE weapons are not supposed to be used as a threat -- at least not in a Democratic Republic.

Those of the left wing who are also gun owners do not talk about it. They do not walk around brandishing weapons. They will, however, shoot back. they will PROTECT themselves, their families, their property, against uncalled for aggression.

It is time for the right wing to understand the laws allowing us to protect ourselves work for both left and right.

More on The Most Holy Pedophiles

The people who protect baby rapers, the pedophiles of the Roman Catholic Church continue their "crusade" against "sin". G*d forbid you support anything The Church does not -- even if you are an independent organization.

Let us put an end to Gov't support of religion. An end to all "faith based initiatives".

Enough of religion directing policy.


March 24
Diocese penalizes homeless aid group
The bishop and a national organization end financial support after Preble Street backs same-sex marriage.

By Tom Bell tbell@mainetoday.com
Staff Writer

PORTLAND - A social service agency's support for same-sex marriage has cost it local and national funding from the Catholic Church's anti-poverty program.
Related Documents
Eligibility criteria for funding from Catholic Campaign for Human Development
Letter from the Catholic Campaign for Human Development to the Preble Street Resource Center.
Letter from the Preble Street Resource Center to the Catholic Campaign for Human Development
Letter from the Preble Street Resource Center to Bishop Malone

Preble Street's Homeless Voices for Justice program has lost $17,400 this year and will lose $33,000 that it expected for its next fiscal year.

Officials with the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland and the Washington-based Catholic Campaign for Human Development say that Preble Street violated its grant agreement by supporting Maine's "No on 1" campaign last fall.

No on 1 opposed a ballot proposal to overturn the new state law legalizing gay marriage. Voters approved Question 1 on Nov. 3.

Homeless Voices for Justice, a statewide advocacy group, is led by people who have been homeless. It works on issues that affect the homeless, such as supporting affordable housing and preventing violence against the homeless.

Portland-based Preble Street, which runs a dozen programs to provide housing and other services for the poor and the homeless, provides staff support for Homeless Voices for Justice.

Catholics for Marriage Equality has begun an effort to replace the lost funding by raising $17,400 for Homeless Voices for Justice. Anne Underwood, a co-founder of the group that advocates for same-sex marriage, said Bishop Richard Malone is punishing the homeless because of politics.

"This is petty vindictiveness," she said. "After the election is over, suddenly the money is revoked from poor people because of a political opinion held by the bishop."

Underwood said that many Catholics in Maine will now think twice before donating money to the church to help fight poverty. "People who are homeless should not be used in political games," she said.

Sue Bernard, spokeswoman for the diocese, said the diocese requires agencies that receive funding to conform to the moral and social teachings of the Catholic Church. She said Preble Street agreed to that requirement when it applied for the money.

She provided the Portland Press Herald with a copy of Preble Street's application, signed by Mark Swann, the agency's executive director.

In the application, filled out on Jan. 7, 2009, Swann wrote "no" when asked if his organization promotes or advocates same-sex marriage.

During the campaign leading up to the referendum in November, Preble Street was listed as a coalition partner on the "No on 1/Protect Maine Equality" Web site.

In December, Catholic Charities Maine, which is led by Malone, sent a letter to Preble Street asking it to return $2,400 that the diocese had granted for the Homeless Voices for Justice program.

"We regret the collaboration must end at this time," wrote Sandra Thompson of Catholic Charities Maine, who coordinated the distribution of the church's local anti-poverty funds. "Accountability to the Catholic community requires this."

The local money for the grants is raised every year through special collections in churches around the state. Bernard said the $2,400 will be given to a different group that helps the poor. The award has not yet been announced.

In his letter returning the money, Swann urged Malone to reconsider the decision. He said that Homeless Voices for Justice operates under an independent board, which did not take a position on Question 1.

Punishing the program by "demanding the return of much-needed funds because of Preble Street's advocacy around issues of social justice is deeply troubling," Swann wrote.

He said Preble Street decided to join the coalition that opposed Question 1 because issues of sexual orientation are the single greatest cause of homelessness among youths.

He did not comment further on Tuesday, saying his letter could speak for itself.

The Catholic Campaign for Human Development, the national group, awarded $30,000 to Homeless Voices for Justice. It had already given half of the grant when it said in January that it would not provide the rest and asked for a refund of any unspent money. All of the money had been spent.

The group runs the Catholic Church's domestic anti-poverty program. It had been funding Homeless Voices for Justice for 13 years.

Randy Keesler, a grants specialist for the group, said he was surprised that Preble Street took a position on Question 1 without informing him or anyone else on his staff.

He said his staff learned about it when critics began to use Preble Street's position on gay marriage as an example of how the Catholic Campaign for Human Development was taking political positions contradicting the church's theological teachings.

"We liked Homeless Voices a great deal. I felt badly for having to cancel the grant," he said. "This was very difficult for us to do."



Staff Writer Tom Bell can be contacted at 791-6369 or at: tbell@pressherald.com

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

More on The Most Holy Roman Catholic Church

This from the New York Times is enough to make ALMOST anyone sick.

Isn't it time to punish the baby rapers yet?



Warned About Abuse, Vatican Failed to Defrock Priest


The Rev. Lawrence C. Murphy, with hands together, at St. John’s School for the Deaf in Wisconsin in 1960.
By LAURIE GOODSTEIN
Published: March 24, 2010



Top Vatican officials — including the future Pope Benedict XVI — did not defrock a priest who molested as many as 200 deaf boys, even though several American bishops repeatedly warned them that failure to act on the matter could embarrass the church, according to church files newly unearthed as part of a lawsuit.

Arthur Budzinski, at a cemetery behind St. John’s School for the Deaf, says he was first molested in 1960 when he went to Father Murphy for confession.

The internal correspondence from bishops in Wisconsin directly to Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, the future pope, shows that while church officials tussled over whether the priest should be dismissed, their highest priority was protecting the church from scandal.

The documents emerge as Pope Benedict is facing other accusations that he and direct subordinates often did not alert civilian authorities or discipline priests involved in sexual abuse when he served as an archbishop in Germany and as the Vatican’s chief doctrinal enforcer.

The Wisconsin case involved an American priest, the Rev. Lawrence C. Murphy, who worked at a renowned school for deaf children from 1950 to 1974. But it is only one of thousands of cases forwarded over decades by bishops to the Vatican office called the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, led from 1981 to 2005 by Cardinal Ratzinger. It is still the office that decides whether accused priests should be given full canonical trials and defrocked.

In 1996, Cardinal Ratzinger failed to respond to two letters about the case from Rembert G. Weakland, Milwaukee’s archbishop at the time. After eight months, the second in command at the doctrinal office, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, now the Vatican’s secretary of state, instructed the Wisconsin bishops to begin a secret canonical trial that could lead to Father Murphy’s dismissal.

But Cardinal Bertone halted the process after Father Murphy personally wrote to Cardinal Ratzinger protesting that he should not be put on trial because he had already repented and was in poor health and that the case was beyond the church’s own statute of limitations.

“I simply want to live out the time that I have left in the dignity of my priesthood,” Father Murphy wrote near the end of his life to Cardinal Ratzinger. “I ask your kind assistance in this matter.” The files contain no response from Cardinal Ratzinger.

The New York Times obtained the documents, which the church fought to keep secret, from Jeff Anderson and Mike Finnegan, the lawyers for five men who have brought four lawsuits against the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. The documents include letters between bishops and the Vatican, victims’ affidavits, the handwritten notes of an expert on sexual disorders who interviewed Father Murphy and minutes of a final meeting on the case at the Vatican.

Father Murphy not only was never tried or disciplined by the church’s own justice system, but also got a pass from the police and prosecutors who ignored reports from his victims, according to the documents and interviews with victims. Three successive archbishops in Wisconsin were told that Father Murphy was sexually abusing children, the documents show, but never reported it to criminal or civil authorities.

Instead of being disciplined, Father Murphy was quietly moved by Archbishop William E. Cousins of Milwaukee to the Diocese of Superior in northern Wisconsin in 1974, where he spent his last 24 years working freely with children in parishes, schools and, as one lawsuit charges, a juvenile detention center. He died in 1998, still a priest.

Even as the pope himself in a recent letter to Irish Catholics has emphasized the need to cooperate with civil justice in abuse cases, the correspondence seems to indicate that the Vatican’s insistence on secrecy has often impeded such cooperation. At the same time, the officials’ reluctance to defrock a sex abuser shows that on a doctrinal level, the Vatican has tended to view the matter in terms of sin and repentance more than crime and punishment.

The Vatican spokesman, the Rev. Federico Lombardi, was shown the documents and was asked to respond to questions about the case. He provided a statement saying that Father Murphy had certainly violated “particularly vulnerable” children and the law, and that it was a “tragic case.” But he pointed out that the Vatican was not forwarded the case until 1996, years after civil authorities had investigated the case and dropped it.

Father Lombardi emphasized that neither the Code of Canon Law nor the Vatican norms issued in 1962, which instruct bishops to conduct canonical investigations and trials in secret, prohibited church officials from reporting child abuse to civil authorities. He did not address why that had never happened in this case.

As to why Father Murphy was never defrocked, he said that “the Code of Canon Law does not envision automatic penalties.” He said that Father Murphy’s poor health and the lack of more recent accusations against him were factors in the decision.

The Vatican’s inaction is not unusual. Only 20 percent of the 3,000 accused priests whose cases went to the church’s doctrinal office between 2001 and 2010 were given full church trials, and only some of those were defrocked, according to a recent interview in an Italian newspaper with Msgr. Charles J. Scicluna, the chief internal prosecutor at that office. An additional 10 percent were defrocked immediately. Ten percent left voluntarily. But a majority — 60 percent — faced other “administrative and disciplinary provisions,” Monsignor Scicluna said, like being prohibited from celebrating Mass.

To many, Father Murphy appeared to be a saint: a hearing man gifted at communicating in American Sign Language and an effective fund-raiser for deaf causes. A priest of the Milwaukee Archdiocese, he started as a teacher at St. John’s School for the Deaf, in St. Francis, in 1950. He was promoted to run the school in 1963 even though students had disclosed to church officials in the 1950s that he was a predator.

Victims give similar accounts of Father Murphy’s pulling down their pants and touching them in his office, his car, his mother’s country house, on class excursions and fund-raising trips and in their dormitory beds at night. Arthur Budzinski said he was first molested when he went to Father Murphy for confession when he was about 12, in 1960.

“If he was a real mean guy, I would have stayed away,” said Mr. Budzinski, now 61, who worked for years as a journeyman printer. “But he was so friendly, and so nice and understanding. I knew he was wrong, but I couldn’t really believe it.”

Mr. Budzinski and a group of other deaf former students spent more than 30 years trying to raise the alarm, including passing out leaflets outside the Milwaukee cathedral. Mr. Budzinski’s friend Gary Smith said in an interview that Father Murphy molested him 50 or 60 times, starting at age 12. By the time he graduated from high school at St. John’s, Mr. Smith said, “I was a very, very angry man.”

In 1993, with complaints about Father Murphy landing on his desk, Archbishop Weakland hired a social worker specializing in treating sexual offenders to evaluate him. After four days of interviews, the social worker said that Father Murphy had admitted his acts, had probably molested about 200 boys and felt no remorse.

However, it was not until 1996 that Archbishop Weakland tried to have Father Murphy defrocked. The reason, he wrote to Cardinal Ratzinger, was to defuse the anger among the deaf and restore their trust in the church. He wrote that since he had become aware that “solicitation in the confessional might be part of the situation,” the case belonged at the doctrinal office.

With no response from Cardinal Ratzinger, Archbishop Weakland wrote a different Vatican office in March 1997 saying the matter was urgent because a lawyer was preparing to sue, the case could become public and “true scandal in the future seems very possible.”

Recently some bishops have argued that the 1962 norms dictating secret disciplinary procedures have long fallen out of use. But it is clear from these documents that in 1997, they were still in force.

But the effort to dismiss Father Murphy came to a sudden halt after the priest appealed to Cardinal Ratzinger for leniency.

In an interview, Archbishop Weakland said that he recalled a final meeting at the Vatican in May 1998 in which he failed to persuade Cardinal Bertone and other doctrinal officials to grant a canonical trial to defrock Father Murphy. (In 2002, Archbishop Weakland resigned after it became public that he had an affair with a man and used church money to pay him a settlement.)

Archbishop Weakland said this week in an interview, “The evidence was so complete, and so extensive that I thought he should be reduced to the lay state, and also that that would bring a certain amount of peace in the deaf community.”

Father Murphy died four months later at age 72 and was buried in his priestly vestments. Archbishop Weakland wrote a last letter to Cardinal Bertone explaining his regret that Father Murphy’s family had disobeyed the archbishop’s instructions that the funeral be small and private, and the coffin kept closed.

“In spite of these difficulties,” Archbishop Weakland wrote, “we are still hoping we can avoid undue publicity that would be negative toward the church.

Red Norvo Trio w/ Tal Farlow

Here are some other jazz greats few folks talk about these days. Enjoy.

Info about last Friday

"Friday's Night Special: On Friday the FDIC shut down 7 banks with a total of $3.3 billion in assets and $3.1 in deposits, at a cost to the FDIC of $1.28 billion"

Now, that was a spicy meatball. Might need some really good antacid to make that go down without upset.

Monday, March 22, 2010

High End Repos

This may be of interest:



Cries of 'Hey, That's My Jet!' Don't Deter High-End Repo Men
Business Takes Off for Mr. Cage; Snatching a $15 Million Gulfstream


By ROBERT FRANK

Mr. Cage's specialty is taking back luxury craft like this $15 million jet.

SANFORD, Fla.—Ken Cage is racing through a private aviation terminal near Orlando when his BlackBerry buzzes with bad news. The plane he is about to repossess is scheduled to take off for Mexico in three minutes.

Even worse, the Cessna's owner and pilot is on his way back from lunch—and he is rumored to be six-feet, six-inches tall.

"I'd rather not stick around to find out," Mr. Cage says.

Mr. Cage, 44, stands guard by the door as his partner Randy Craft walks onto the tarmac and approaches a shiny white turbo-prop. He quickly picks the lock on the door and ushers in the repo team's pilot, Dave Larson. The plane's propellers roar to life, and after clearance from the control tower, the $350,000 ride lifts off the runway and into the sky.

Mr. Cage and Mr. Craft climb back into their Ford pickup and tear out of the parking lot, just as the plane's owner pulls in.

"He's a minute late," says Mr. Cage, peering out the window. "Lucky for us."

Ken Cage isn't your typical repo man. Rather than snatch cars from an over-extended middle class, he takes back yachts, planes and other toys from the over-leveraged rich.

Business is thriving, even as the economy begins to improve. His company, Orlando-based International Recovery Group, repossessed more than 700 boats, planes, helicopters and other property last year valued at more than $100 million. Business, he says, is up six-fold from 2007.

He has reclaimed everything from $18 million Gulfstream jets and Bell helicopters to 110-foot Broward yachts, $500,000 recreational vehicles and even a racehorse. Before the financial crisis, most of the luxury items he pulled in were valued between $30,000 and $50,000. Today, they are valued at $200,000 to $300,000—meaning defaults are hitting people at a much higher income level.

Most repo men take cars and trucks. But Ken Cage and Randy Craft repossess yachts, planes, helicopters and other luxury toys of the formerly wealthy. WSJ's Robert Frank reports.

The folly of the wealthy has been good news for an elite cadre of repo men. Nick Popovich, the self-proclaimed "Learjet Repo Man" and head of Indiana-based Sage-Popovich, and Michigan boat specialists like Harrison Marine report brisk business. Reality-TV producers have been knocking on their doors. Last year, says Mr. Cage, International Recovery's revenues soared to the eight figures, up from just a few hundred thousand when he and two partners bought the company in 2005.

Banks hire Mr. Cage to retrieve their collateral after a borrower has defaulted. Once he grabs the property, he cleans it up or makes needed repairs and sells it to a new buyer. He then gives the proceeds, minus his fees and expenses, back to the bank. While the standard commission for most repossessions is between 6% to 10% of the resale price, Mr. Cage has lowered his fee to as little as two percent as a way to beat back growing competition.

"They're very quick in their response time," says Steve De Amico, vice president in charge of lending at Illinois-based Allied First Bank, which hires Mr. Cage for recoveries. "It's also helpful to have one company that can get the property, restore it and sell it for us."

Mr. Cage can't name names. But he estimates that 70% of his targets made and lost their money from real estate—either as developers, Realtors or contractors. Most of his jobs are in Florida, Arizona, California, Nevada and other sun states where real estate was hit hardest.

The son of a Philadelphia-area trucking-company owner, Mr. Cage never planned to land in the rarefied repo ranks. He started out in the cash-management department of J.P. Morgan, then worked in the collections department at Chrysler Finance, where he hired repo companies to pick up cars.

Even though he never did the repos himself, he said the work became depressing.

"Here we were, taking minivans with child seats in the back, or going to someone's job to take their car," he says. "I had a tough time with that."

Separating flashy toys from their owners seemed to be much easier—especially from a logistical perspective. Unlike cars, which can be hard to find and take, yachts and planes are often traceable through Federal Aviation Administration or marine records. Mr. Cage relies on a vast a network of marine captains, tow-boat operators, jet-terminal crews, dock workers and aircraft pilots who feed him information.

With his Phillies cap, jeans, scruffy goatee and genial smile, the stout Mr. Cage is an unassuming presence. For muscle, he relies on his partner Mr. Craft, a tall, broad-chested former professional wrestler known as "Rockin' Randy."

Mr. Craft prides himself on being able to break into just about anything, whether boat, plane or RV. Not that planes or yachts are that hard to steal. Mr. Cage says most yacht owners keep their keys near the ignition and rarely lock the doors. Plane doors can often be easily picked.

"A jet is much easier to take than a car," he says. His company works with about 30 pilots, all of whom are experts at flying various kinds of aircraft.

Occasionally, the rich rear up to protect their prizes. Mr. Cage says that he and Mr. Craft have been hit by cars, threatened with shovels and chased on foot countless times. Recently, Mr. Cage says he was on a yacht assignment in Jacksonville, Fla., when the owner boarded another boat and zoomed after him, Bond-style. He soon gave up the chase, and Mr. Cage kept his craft.

Most repo targets never even know Mr. Cage is coming.

Early one morning at the Hontoon Marina just outside Orlando, Mr. Cage and Mr. Craft walk along the docks until they spot their prey—a 65-foot Sea Ray. Mr. Cage says they had been tipped off by a boat captain who saw the craft ease into the docks the night before without any running lights—a sign that the owner was trying to avoid notice.

Mr. Craft hops onto the boat, finding no one aboard. A telltale pair of socks and sneakers near the door suggests someone may be headed back soon.

After a quick check of the registration number, the team revs up the engine and backs away from the dock. As they motor down the river, Mr. Cage reclines in a plush leather chair and takes a moment to soak in the sun.

"Someday I'd like to get a boat," he says. "But I'd pay all cash."

More store closings

From the OC Register:


Well-known home retailer to close more stores
March 22nd, 2010, 8:07 am · 12 Comments · posted by HANG NGUYEN, RETAIL REPORTER

Williams-Sonoma Inc., which also owns Pottery Barn and Pottery Barn Kids, said it will close more stores.

Here’s an excerpt from its recent Bank of America Merrill Lynch 2010 consumer conference:

Pat Connolly, executive vice president: We are committed to restoring our retail channel profitability to historical levels … We are working diligently to restructure our portfolio of stores and optimize our sales and costs per square foot. This will be accomplished by selective store closings and lease negotiations … Over the next three fiscal years, 25 percent of our store leases will reach maturity … E-commerce is 30 percent of our corporate revenue and it’s very profitable … even in this environoment. The Internet and e-commerce have become the focus of our capital investment.

Sharon McCollam, chief operating officer and chief financial officer: Every quarter last year, we increased the number of stores that we plan to close … If we could get the deals (with landlords) done, we would not necessarily want to close stores if you could get to the profitability levels you were historically. Our objective is not store closings per se. However, we don’t believe that that is a strategy that can be executed. So there will be additional store closings … We are retaining about 50 percent of the sales in the first year after we are closing these stores in a dense multi-store market. Of that 50 percent, about a third of it is going to the Internet, to the direct channel … we have very very few negative cash flow stores. That is not our issue. Our issue is that it’s not up to its historic profitability…

The company plans to close stores in dense multi-store markets, probably where it has three or more stores. These dense markets for Williams-Sonoma Inc. include New York, Chicago, Atlanta, Dallas, Southern California, Northern California, Denver and Arizona. During the conference, the company did not say how many more stores it will close.

Williams-Sonoma could not be reached for further explanation.

It don't mean a thing.............................

Ella and Duke -- "It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing" -- just remember that -- always. The rest is just bull!




EU bye-bye?

It is beginning to look like the beginning of the end for the European Union.

The Greek situation, and the German response to same are a major issue. When the Euro goes down for the count -- no one seems to know what will actually happen.

Will UK, and France once again go to war with Germany? Will the Eastern European States once again fall under Russian influence?

Will Italy have a clue? How about Spain?

China is said to be announcing a trade DEFICIT. There is talk about devaluing the yuan -- but, what do I know -- I'm just a little old blogger.

Then there's all the talk about China -- India -- and water, or better yet, lack of same. Especially with long term drought in parts of China.

Hey, all you 30 year olds ------- have FUN!!

Health Care Reform Passes

Yep, we are finally almost, perhaps, maybe, joining the rest of the industrialized world. We have finally done "something" to help uninsured folks get health insurance (maybe).

We are doing it in the least efficient (or, most inefficient - after all, "We're No.1", way possible.

Not only that, but we insist on having some drone pass judgment on our Doctor's recommendation. Yep, some high school dropout will tell my specialist if his decision is "sound". We have made the middle man permanent. Now, the only one who makes money on medical treatment is the insurance company.

In other words, it will take YEARS to fix this mess --- and it's still better than what many folks have now.

I have medicare -- a single payer system. so far it works real good. Our gubbement does real good, you betcha!

Friday, March 19, 2010

Johnny Hartman & John Coltrane

Here's "My One And Only Love" -- again


Jessica Williams - fine jazz pianist

WOW!

So far the FDIC has closed down SEVEN banks today. THREE in the great old state of Georgia (not the country).

I'd bet, if you asked, those good old boys would say the FDIC is a "Communist, Socialist, organization -- and should be closed down".

Hoo-boy, are they misguided.

# 37

Press Releases
Northern State Bank, Ashland, Wisconsin, Assumes All of the Deposits of State Bank of Aurora, Aurora, Minnesota

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 19, 2010
Media Contact:
David Barr
Office: (202) 898-6992
Cell: (703) 622-4790
Email: dbarr@fdic.gov

State Bank of Aurora, Aurora, 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 Northern State Bank, Ashland, Wisconsin, to assume all of the deposits of State Bank of Aurora.

The sole branch of State Bank of Aurora will reopen on Monday as a branch of Northern State Bank. Depositors of State Bank of Aurora will automatically become depositors of Northern State 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 former State Bank of Aurora branch until they receive notice from Northern State Bank that it has completed systems changes to allow other Northern State Bank branches to process their accounts as well.

This evening and over the weekend, depositors of State Bank of Aurora 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 December 31, 2009, State Bank of Aurora had approximately $28.2 million in total assets and $27.8 million in total deposits. Northern State Bank will pay the FDIC a premium of 0.5 percent to assume all of the deposits of State Bank of Aurora. In addition to assuming all of the deposits, Northern State Bank agreed to purchase essentially all of the failed bank's assets.

The FDIC and Northern State Bank entered into a loss-share transaction on $21.3 million of State Bank of Aurora's assets. Northern State Bank will share in the losses on the asset pools covered under the loss-share agreement. The loss-share transaction is projected to maximize returns on the assets covered by keeping them in the private sector. The transaction 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 1-800-830-4705. 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/state-aurora.html.

The FDIC estimates that the cost to the Deposit Insurance Fund (DIF) will be $4.2 million. Northern State Bank's acquisition of all the deposits was the "least costly" resolution for the FDIC's DIF compared to all alternatives. State Bank of Aurora is the 37th FDIC-insured institution to fail in the nation this year, and the fourth in Minnesota. The last FDIC-insured institution closed in the state was 1st American State Bank of Minnesota, Hancock, on February 5, 2010.

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36

Press Releases
First Citizens Bank, Luverne, Alabama, Assumes All of the Deposits of First Lowndes Bank, Fort Deposit, Alabama

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 19, 2010
Media Contact:
David Barr
Office: (202) 898-6992
Cell: (703) 622-4790
Email: dbarr@fdic.gov

First Lowndes Bank, Fort Deposit, Alabama, was closed today by the Alabama Banking Department, 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 Citizens Bank, Luverne, Alabama, to assume all of the deposits of First Lowndes Bank.

The four branches of First Lowndes Bank will reopen under normal business hours beginning Saturday as branches of First Citizens Bank. Depositors of First Lowndes Bank will automatically become depositors of First Citizens 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 former First Lowndes Bank branch until they receive notice from First Citizens Bank that it has completed systems changes to allow other First Citizens Bank branches to process their accounts as well.

This evening and over the weekend, depositors of First Lowndes 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 December 31, 2009, First Lowndes Bank had approximately $137.2 million in total assets and $131.1 million in total deposits. First Citizens Bank did not pay the FDIC a premium to assume all of the deposits of First Lowndes Bank. In addition to assuming all of the deposits, First Citizens Bank agreed to purchase essentially all of the failed bank's assets.

The FDIC and First Citizens Bank entered into a loss-share transaction on $104.1 million of First Lowndes Bank's assets. First Citizens Bank will share in the losses on the asset pools covered under the loss-share agreement. The loss-share transaction is projected to maximize returns on the assets covered by keeping them in the private sector. The transaction 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 also can visit the FDIC's Web site at http://www.fdic.gov/bank/individual/failed/firstlowndes.html.

The FDIC estimates that the cost to the Deposit Insurance Fund (DIF) will be $38.3 million. First Citizens Bank's acquisition of all the deposits was the "least costly" resolution for the FDIC's DIF compared to all alternatives. First Lowndes Bank is the 36th FDIC-insured institution to fail in the nation this year, and the first in Alabama. The last FDIC-insured institution closed in the state was New South Federal Savings Bank, Irondale, on December 18, 2009.

35

Press Releases
Citizens South Bank, Gastonia, North Carolina, Assumes All of the Deposits of Bank of Hiawassee, Hiawassee, Georgia

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 19, 2010
Media Contact:
Greg Hernandez (202) 898-6984
Cell: (202) 340-4922
Email: ghernandez@fdic.gov

Bank of Hiawassee, Hiawassee, Georgia, was closed today by the Georgia Department of Banking and 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 Citizens South Bank, Gastonia, North Carolina, to assume all of the deposits of Bank of Hiawassee.

The five branches of Bank of Hiawassee will reopen on Saturday as branches of Citizens South Bank. This transaction includes a branch office of Bank of Hiawassee in Blue Ridge, Georgia, operating under the business name of Bank of Blue Ridge, and the branch office in Blairsville, Georgia, operating under the name of the Bank of Blairsville. Depositors of Bank of Hiawassee will automatically become depositors of Citizens South 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 South Bank that it has completed systems changes to allow other Citizens South Bank branches to process their accounts as well.

This evening and over the weekend, depositors of Bank of Hiawassee 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 December 31, 2009, Bank of Hiawassee had approximately $377.8 million in total assets and $339.6 million in total deposits. Citizens South Bank will pay the FDIC a premium of one percent to assume all of the deposits of Bank of Hiawassee. In addition to assuming all of the deposits of the failed bank, Citizens South Bank agreed to purchase essentially all of the assets.

The FDIC and Citizens South Bank entered into a loss-share transaction on $232.6 million of Bank of Hiawassee's assets. Citizens South Bank will share in the losses on the asset pools covered under the loss-share agreement. The loss-share transaction is projected to maximize returns on the assets covered by keeping them in the private sector. The transaction 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 1-800-508-8289. 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/bankofhiawassee.html.

The FDIC estimates that the cost to the Deposit Insurance Fund (DIF) will be $137.7 million. Citizens South Bank's acquisition of all the deposits was the "least costly" resolution for the FDIC's DIF compared to all alternatives. Bank of Hiawassee is the 35th FDIC-insured institution to fail in the nation this year, and the fifth in Georgia. The last FDIC-insured institution closed in the state was Appalachian Community Bank, Ellijay, earlier today.

34

Press Releases
Community & Southern Bank, Carrollton, Georgia, Assumes All of the Deposits of Appalachian Community Bank, Ellijay, Georgia

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 19, 2010
Media Contact:
Greg Hernandez (202) 898-6984
Cell: (202) 340-4922
Email: ghernandez@fdic.gov

En Español

Appalachian Community Bank, Ellijay, Georgia, was closed today by the Georgia Department of Banking and 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 Community & Southern Bank, Carrollton, Georgia, to assume all of the deposits of Appalachian Community Bank.

The ten branches of Appalachian Community Bank will reopen on Saturday as branches of Community & Southern Bank. This transaction also includes all of Appalachian Community Bank's branches that operated under the trade name of Gilmer County Bank.

Today's closure does not involve Appalachian Community Bank F.S.B., McCaysville, Georgia, or any of its branch locations. Appalachian Community Bank F.S.B., McCaysville will continue to operate as usual.

Depositors of Appalachian Community Bank will automatically become depositors of Community & Southern 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 Community & Southern Bank that it has completed systems changes to allow other Community & Southern Bank branches to process their accounts as well.

This evening and over the weekend, depositors of Appalachian 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 December 31, 2009, Appalachian Community Bank had approximately $1.01 billion in total assets and $917.6 million in total deposits. Community & Southern Bank will pay the FDIC a premium of one percent to assume all of the deposits of Appalachian Community Bank. In addition to assuming all of the deposits of the failed bank, Community & Southern Bank agreed to purchase essentially all of the assets.

The FDIC and Community & Southern Bank entered into a loss-share transaction on $798.6 million of Appalachian Community Bank's assets. Community & Southern Bank will share in the losses on the asset pools covered under the loss-share agreement. The loss-share transaction is projected to maximize returns on the assets covered by keeping them in the private sector. The transaction 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 1-800-894-1696. 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/appalachian.html.

The FDIC estimates that the cost to the Deposit Insurance Fund (DIF) will be $419.3 million. Community & Southern Bank's acquisition of all the deposits was the "least costly" resolution for the FDIC's DIF compared to all alternatives. Appalachian Community Bank is the 34th FDIC-insured institution to fail in the nation this year, and the fourth in Georgia. The last FDIC-insured institution closed in the state was Century Security Bank, Duluth, earlier today.

33

Press Releases
FDIC Approves the Payout of the Insured Deposits of Advanta Bank Corp., Draper, Utah

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 19, 2010
Media Contact:
David Barr
Phone: (202) 898-6992
Cell: (703) 622-4790
Email: dbarr@fdic.gov

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC) approved the payout of the insured deposits of Advanta Bank Corp., Draper, Utah. The bank was closed today by the Utah Department of Financial Institutions, which appointed the FDIC as receiver.

The FDIC was unable to find another financial institution to take over the banking operations of Advanta Bank Corp. As a result, checks to depositors for their insured funds will be mailed on Monday. Brokered deposits will be wired once brokers provide the FDIC with the necessary documents to determine if any of their clients exceed the insurance limits. Customers who placed deposits with brokers should contact the brokers directly for more information about the status of their funds.

As of December 31, 2009, Advanta Bank Corp. had approximately $1.6 billion in total assets and $1.5 billion in total deposits. At the time of closing, the bank had an estimated $247,000 in uninsured funds. This amount is an estimate that is likely to change once the FDIC obtains additional information from the bank's customers.

Customers who have questions about today's transaction can call the FDIC toll-free at 1-800-537-4048. Customers with accounts in excess of $250,000 also should contact the toll-free number to set up a telephone appointment to discuss their deposits. The phone number will be operational this evening until 9:00 p.m. Mountain Daylight Time (MDT); on Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. MDT; and on Sunday from noon to 6:00 p.m. MDT; and thereafter from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. MDT. Interested parties also can visit the FDIC's Web site at http://www.fdic.gov/bank/individual/failed/advanta-ut.html.

Beginning on Monday, customers of Advanta Bank Corp. with deposits exceeding $250,000 at the bank may visit the FDIC's Web page "Is My Account Fully Insured?" at https://www2.fdic.gov/drrip/afi/index.asp.

Advanta Bank Corp. is the 33rd FDIC-insured institution to fail this year and the third in Utah since Centennial Bank, Ogden, was closed on March 5, 2010. The FDIC estimates the cost of the failure to its Deposit Insurance Fund to be approximately $635.6 million.

32

Press Releases
Bank of Upson, Thomaston, Georgia, Assumes All of the Deposits of Century Security Bank, Duluth, Georgia

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 19, 2010
Media Contact:
Greg Hernandez (202) 898-6984
Cell: (202) 340-4922
Email: ghernandez@fdic.gov

Century Security Bank, Duluth, Georgia, was closed today by the Georgia Department of Banking and 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 Bank of Upson, Thomaston, Georgia, to assume all of the deposits of Century Security Bank.

The two branches of Century Security Bank will reopen during normal business hours beginning on Saturday as branches of Bank of Upson. Depositors of Century Security Bank will automatically become depositors of Bank of Upson. 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 Bank of Upson that it has completed systems changes to allow other Bank of Upson branches to process their accounts as well.

This evening and over the weekend, depositors of Century Security 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 December 31, 2009, Century Security Bank had approximately $96.5 million in total assets and $94.0 million in total deposits. Bank of Upson did not pay the FDIC a premium for the deposits of Century Security Bank. In addition to assuming all of the deposits of the failed bank, Bank of Upson agreed to purchase essentially all of the assets.

The FDIC and Bank of Upson entered into a loss-share transaction on $81.5 million of Century Security Bank's assets. Bank of Upson will share in the losses on the asset pools covered under the loss-share agreement. The loss-share transaction is projected to maximize returns on the assets covered by keeping them in the private sector. The transaction 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/cent-security.html.

The FDIC estimates that the cost to the Deposit Insurance Fund (DIF) will be $29.9 million. Bank of Upson's acquisition of all the deposits was the "least costly" resolution for the FDIC's DIF compared to all alternatives. Century Security Bank is the 32nd FDIC-insured institution to fail in the nation this year, and the third in Georgia. The last FDIC-insured institution closed in the state was Community Bank and Trust, Cornelia, on January 29, 2010.

# # #

Here We Go!! - 31

Press Releases
The National Bank and Trust Company, Wilmington, Ohio, Assumes All of the Deposits of American National Bank, Parma, Ohio

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 19, 2010
Media Contact:
Greg Hernandez (202) 898-6984
Cell: (202) 340-4922
Email: ghernandez@fdic.gov

American National Bank, Parma, Ohio, 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 The National Bank and Trust Company, Wilmington, Ohio, to assume all of the deposits of American National Bank.

The sole branch of American National Bank will reopen on Monday as a branch of The National Bank and Trust Company. Depositors of American National Bank will automatically become depositors of The National Bank and Trust Company. 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 The National Bank and Trust Company that it has completed systems changes to allow other The National Bank and Trust Company branches to process their accounts as well.

This evening and over the weekend, depositors of American 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 December 31, 2009, American National Bank had approximately $70.3 million in total assets and $66.8 million in total deposits. The National Bank and Trust Company did not pay the FDIC a premium for the deposits of American National Bank. In addition to assuming all of the deposits of the failed bank, The National Bank and Trust Company agreed to purchase essentially all of the assets.

The FDIC and The National Bank and Trust Company entered into a loss-share transaction on $49.8 million of American National Bank's assets. The National Bank and Trust Company will share in the losses on the asset pools covered under the loss-share agreement. The loss-share transaction is projected to maximize returns on the assets covered by keeping them in the private sector. The transaction 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 1-800-823-3215. 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/amer-natl-oh.html.

The FDIC estimates that the cost to the Deposit Insurance Fund (DIF) will be $17.1 million. The National Bank and Trust Company's acquisition of all the deposits was the "least costly" resolution for the FDIC's DIF compared to all alternatives. American National Bank is the 31st FDIC-insured institution to fail in the nation this year, and the first in Ohio. The last FDIC-insured institution closed in the state was AmTrust Bank, Cleveland, on December 4, 2009.