House and Senate Democrats are the distrustful couple; the Congressional Budget Office and Senate parliamentarian the two strait-laced aunts with conflicting advice on the do’s and don’ts that lie ahead.

And as the House Budget Committee kicked off the process Monday afternoon, the rampant confusion is a lesson in the fact that cutting corners is never a good start in Congress.
Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0310/34428.html#ixzz0ib9pJtWf

An insult, but an effective one.

It is almost impossible to imagine the CEO of an American company trying to dodge a sit-down with Congress, but Toyoda does not have the obligations of a US citizen. But, he clearly feels the pressure to save whatever is left of Toyota’s image and has the need to stanch the flow of blood at the firm’s American dealerships if he can provide some assurance that his company can build safe cars. The world’s No.1 car firm has not commented about how many sales it might lose in the US, but the figure could certainly be in the six figures this year.

As if things weren’t tough enough for Bernie Madoff’s victims: Scam artists have created a faux website mimicking that of the agency handling claims for the swindler’s investors.
The phony group has created a website that looks similar to the one run by the Securities Investor Protection Corp.

The real SIPC is an insurance fund that covers up to $500,000 of investor losses if a brokerage firm fails. Yesterday, the SIPC said a fraudulent group had set up the website I-SIPC.com and was attempting to lure Madoff’s victims.

Among the claims on the fraudulent website: that $1.3 billion hidden by Madoff in Malaysia has been found. The phony group claims to have ties to the United Nations and the International Monetary Fund.
In a statement, the SIPC’s president, Stephen Harbeck, said, “This bogus group is already attempting to obtain funds and confidential financial information from investors in the U.S.’’ He said Madoff’s victims and others should not reveal any personal financial data on the I-SIPC site or rely upon it as a source of information. “We intend to use every available means to shut down this illicit operation,’’ Harbeck said.
The US Securities and Exchange Commission issued a statement about the group’s posing as an international branch of the SIPC. “Never underestimate the creativity and duplicity of con artists,’’ the SEC said. “They will do anything to separate you from your money and securities.

Madoff’s victims thought they had $65 billion in their accounts when the Ponzi artist confessed to his crimes in December 2008. The SIPC, working with the trustee in the Madoff bankruptcy case, Irving Picard, has received 12,047 claims from victims. So far, 1,936 have been allowed, and $650 million has been approved for payment.

Is Joslyn James posting these text messages and making them public for additional publicity or because she isn’t over Tiger yet. Joslyn James is behaving like a jilted lover who is trying to remain in Tiger’s life, when he has apparently moved on.

Visit her website

It’s only Thursday, but it’s about time Jesse James had an about-face.

A day after reports of infidelity first surfaced, the Monster Garage is already pointing fingers…at himself.

“There is only one person to blame for this whole situation, and that is me,” he says in a public apology obtained by People. “It’s because of my poor judgment that I deserve every bad thing that is coming my way.”

And he’s especially sorry when it comes to wife Sandra Bullock and his children.

“This has caused my wife and kids pain and embarrassment beyond comprehension and I am extremely saddened to have brought this on them,” he says. “I am truly very sorry for the grief I have caused them. I hope one day they can find it in their hearts to forgive me.”

James makes no mention of Michelle “Bombshell” McGee or any specific crimes against his family. And he’s not planning on doing so.

“The vast majority of the allegations reported are untrue and unfounded. Beyond that, I will not dignify these private matters with any further public comment.”

Read more:
http://ca.eonline.com/uberblog/b172357_jesse_james_speaks_out_apologizes.html#ixzz0iavzObox

In the ad, the father identified himself as a single parent dad by the name of “Rick” who has run out of child care options.

“Gavin is a great kid but I can no longer afford to take care of him,” the ad said. “I don’t know what else to do other than find a good family with kids or a couple that wants a son. I just won’t give him to anyone.”

A male voice came over the system Sunday evening and calmly announced: “Attention, Walmart customers: All black people, leave the store now.”

The announcement, at the Washington Township store, provoked an immediate apology from the store manager and a promise from company officials to try to determine how it happened.

Gloucester County Prosecutor Sean F. Dalton began an investigation Monday and his office said in a statement Thursday that some of the system phones are accessible to the public and not all are in range of security cameras.

Investigators said the announcement could have been made from any of about two dozen phones inside the store. They reviewed video from store cameras, but did not disclose what, if anything, was discovered.

Office spokesman Bernie Weisenfeld said in the statement that its victim-witness unit has contacted the store’s management, offering counseling services to anyone affected by the announcement. The county’s Human Relations Commission was offering similar help.

Officials say several people have come forward and expressed interest in getting counseling.

Meanwhile, Lorenzo Lopez, a spokesman for Wal-Mart Stores Inc., said the Bentonville, Ark.-based retailer was working to reduce the number of phones accessible to the public and with public-address capabilities.

Company officials have said the announcement was “unacceptable.”

While it was unclear whether a rogue patron or an employee was responsible for the comment, many customers at the time expressed anger to store management.

“Driving the Roadster Sport, on the other hand, felt like having sex while being sprayed with Champagne.” – Matthew Debord

Let’s ignore the fact that there’s a pretty girl, bent over, rolling out the ‘green carpet’, bent over with a bright orange, prophylactic-glossy Tesla approaching her– from behind.  Can we ignore the symbolism that’s being communicated here?

But wait – there’s more!  If that wasn’t enough take a look at the quote they posted by Matthew Debord of “The Big Money” suggesting “Driving the Roadster Sport, on the other hand, felt like having sex while being sprayed with Champagne.”   C’mon folks!  Is how you desire to communicate to your target market?