The Silence, The Silence, The Silence...

Where have I been?  "Finding" myself.  From setting Occupy tents ablaze to physically carrying illegals back across the river - I've been busy. 

Homeland Security is Anything But Securing the Homeland

The terrorists the flew planes and Americans into the World Trade Center towers, Pentagon and a field in Pensylvania all had expired visa.  So wouldn't it make sense to anyone with a functioning brain that expired visas and immigrants is a priority?  Of course.  So, that must mean Janetalia Incompetano and her legions of child - gropers are functioning without a brain.  Or, not functioning at all.

…nearly half of the nation’s estimated 12 million illegal immigrants actually entered the U.S. legally but overstayed their visa, according to a new federal report. That’s because the agency responsible for keeping the nation safe—the Department of Homeland Security—can’t keep track of immigrants who remain in the U.S. after their visas expire.

This clearly creates a huge national security issue because terrorists can plot more attacks from within. In fact, dozens of foreigners convicted of terrorism since the 2001 attacks had overstayed their visas, according to the report, which was published by the investigative arm of Congress known as the Government Accountability Office (GAO).

Six million possible terrorist illegal aliens and Homeland Security doesn't have a clue where they are.  Anybody see a problem here?  Fire Janetalia tomorrow - then find the illegal immigrants.  Pronto, please. 

DNC Unaware "Illegal Alien" means, uh... Being Illegal

As Grandpa R. used to say, "Well, there's your problem."  Apparently the Chairman of the Democratic National Committee doesn't see "illegal" - she see "masses of voters ready to be indoctrinated onto the plantation of entitlements and lowered expectations".  Okay, those were my words, not hers.

The Nightmare Costs of the "Dream Act"

Politicians - not being the type to kick the tires or look under the hood - recently passed their version of the "Dream Act" in Maryland.  Had they dug a little deeper, they might have seen they were getting fleeced with bad numbers regarding the costs.

Should I even bring up the fact that taxpayers are being forced to pay for illegal aliens to go to college at the expense of their own children?  Nah - that'd be too "devisive".

Legislative Reference, which produced the figures, claimed that the tuition discounts were $800,000 the first year and $3 million annually in the third year. However, their figures were based on only 1 community college. The bill would impact all 16 community colleges in the state of Maryland.

The average discount benefit provided to illegal immigrant students at a community college would be about 12,000 dollars during a 2 year period. This taxpayer subsidized benefit would cost a minimum of 12 million dollars annually which would double every year as a new class enters. After four years, the total would be 48 million dollars in taxpayer subsidies based on a population of 1,000 illegal students. 

Now, it gets interesting. The state bean counters believed there may be as many as 5,000 illegal immigrant students attending every year. That number will dramatically increase the projected taxpayer subsidy to over 200,000 million dollars a year. 

Remember, after the illegal immigrant students receive their Associate's Degree at a community college, the next step is 2 more years at the University of Maryland or another college. The taxpayers' subsidy required for the final 2 years would be $32,000 per student. At 1,000 students that would equate to 32 million dollars in TAXPAYERS COSTS ANNUALLY. Using the state's figure of 5,000 students, the cost would be 160 million annually.

Did I mention this is money that goes to students living in the US illegally?  Yeah - I thought I did.

The Mobs of Memorial Day

The Mobs of Miami for "Urban Weekend"

Violence-filled 8 Hours for Myrtle Beach "Black Bike Week"

"Rib Fest" turns into Beating Fest in Rochester

Long Island Beach Riot

Gangs turn Speed Street Festival Ugly in Charlotte

"Urban" Crowd Cause Nashville Water Park Closure

"Gang Bangers" Force Closure of Chicago Beach

h/t:  Drudge Report

A Peaceful Honor Killing in Michiganistan, USA

Someday I might understand what's so "honorable' about killing your own children - or any children - but I doubt it.  When I get to that point, please "honorably" kill me.  From the state with a huge  concentration of followers of the Religion of Peace - Michigan - we get more "honor". 
WARREN, Mich. — A Twin Cities man is accused of killing his 20-year-old stepdaughter in Michigan because she left home and wasn't following Islam, police said Tuesday.

Rahim Alfetlawi, 45, of Coon Rapids, was being held without bond Tuesday in the Macomb County Jail after being charged with first-degree murder in the death of Jessica Mokdad on Saturday at her grandmother's home in the Detroit suburb of Warren.

This is the point where the defenders of Islam spew, "It's not an Islamic thing, man!"  Okay - they have a point.  Only 91% of honor killings are committed by Muslims globally.  These honor killings typically involve honorable torture as well - yes, it gets that much better. 

Worldwide, more than half the victims were tortured; i.e., they did not die instantly but in agony. In North America, over one-third of the victims were tortured; in Europe, two-thirds were tortured; in the Muslim world, half were tortured. Torturous deaths include: being raped or gang-raped before being killed; being strangled or bludgeoned to death; being stabbed many times (10 to 40 times); being stoned or burned to death; being beheaded, or having one's throat slashed.

My idea of honor-killing involves the cleansing of the planet of the primitive, very unhonorable, practitioners of this medieval crap.

Super MarioBama!

From Viral Footage - Enjoy the Super MarioBama!  Too bad it's not a game.

Your Monthly Update of Union Corruption

Organized socialist mafia groups Unions have long had a reputation for corruption, violence and organized crime links. Is this just a reputation or a fact? Well, we're happy to put that nasty rumor to rest and just give you the facts. Is it the unions that are corrupt or do unions draw corrupt people to their ranks? Kind of a chicken or the egg thing. Here's your March, 2011 totals (go here for last month's cases) - direct from the Office of Labor-Management Standards:

On March 30, 2011, in the United States District Court for the District of Nevada, Nichelle Alstatt, former Secretary-Treasurer of the Professional Office Personnel Alliance (POPA), located in Las Vegas, Nevada, was indicted on one count of embezzlement in the amount of $51,637.37, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c); one count of making false entries in required records, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c); and one count of making false entries in reports required to be filed under the LMRDA, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(b). The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office.

On March 30, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Colin Rehrig, former bookkeeper for Carpenters Local 600 (located in Bethlehem, Pa.), was charged in a one-count information with embezzlement of union funds totaling $30,483.71, in violation of 29 U.S.C. Section 501(c). The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.

On March 29, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Nickolas Weihert, former Financial Secretary of Steelworkers Local 4845 (located in Waukesha, Wis.), was sentenced to three years probation, eight months home confinement, and was ordered to pay a $5,000 fine and a $350 special assessment. Weihert previously made restitution in the amount of $17,316.62. On November 23, 2010, Weihert pled guilty to three counts of embezzling union funds. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.

On March 25, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, James Drury, former Secretary-Treasurer of Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 3121 (located in Hialeah, Fla.), was sentenced to 24 months incarceration followed by three years supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $186,757.53 in restitution and a $100 special assessment. On January 11, 2011, Drury pled guilty to a one-charge information for embezzling union funds between December 2005 and March 2009 in the amount of $306,757.53. The sentencing follows a joint investigation by the OLMS Miami Resident Office and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On March 23, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Alabama, Michael Williams, former President of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 780 (located in Eufaula, Ala.), was indicted on 10 counts of embezzlement totaling $4,906, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c), and four counts of making a false entry in a record required to be kept under the LMRDA, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(c). The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.

On March 21, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, William Wyda, former Secretary-Treasurer of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 253 (located in Hazelton, Pa.), was charged in a one-count information with embezzlement of union funds totaling $14,081.51, in violation of 29 U.S.C. Section 501(c). The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Philadelphia District Office.

On March 17, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, an information was filed against Richard Barnes, former President of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 517 (located in Atlanta, Ga.), charging him with theft by deception totaling $14,024 under the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, Section 16-8-3(a), as assimilated under Title 18, United States Code, Section 13. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Nashville District Office.

On March 17, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, Charles Fleming, former President of Boilermakers Lodge 1814 (located in Bridge City, La.), pled guilty to a one count Bill of Information for making false entries in union records. Sentencing is scheduled for July 14, 2011. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.

On March 16, 2011, in Polk County, Minnesota Circuit Court, a complaint was filed against Michelle Jean Nelson, former President of Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 7272 (located in Erskine, Minn.), charging her with felony theft by false representation between $1,000 and $5,000, in violation of Minnesota State Statute 609.52.2(3) and 609.52.3(3)(a). The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office and OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office.

On March 16, 2011, in the United States District Court, Northern District of Ohio, an information was filed charging two former officers of Steelworkers Local 982 (located in Wapakaneta, Ohio), with embezzlement of union funds. The information charges former President Stacy Sacks with embezzling $7,739.76 in union funds as well falsifying union records. Additionally, former Vice President Tim Fisher was charged with one count of embezzling $4,858.21. Finally, both former officers were charged together with purchasing a 42” flat screen television and home theater system for their personal use, valued at $1,520.77. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office and Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

On March 15, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Oscar Gatewood, former President of Steelworkers Local 842 (located in Detroit, Mich.), was sentenced to three years probation with the first six months served in home confinement with electronic monitoring. He was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $2,666.61 and a $25 special assessment. On October 25, 2010, Gatewood pled guilty to one count of concealing union records. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On March 14, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Donald Kister, former President of National Postal Mail Handlers Local 307 (located in Detroit, Mich.), pled guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $4,137.35 between August 2006 and October 2007. Sentencing is scheduled for April 12, 2011. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On March 9, 2011, in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, Stanley Barringer, former Vice President and Treasurer of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 3707 (located in Chicopee, Mass.), was sentenced to one year of probation, six months of home confinement, and was ordered to pay a $2,000 fine. In November 2010, Barringer pled guilty to one count of concealing a material fact, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1001. Before pleading guilty, Barringer made restitution in the amount of $22,180. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS New Haven Resident Investigator Office.

On March 9, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, Mark A. Winston, former President of Laborers Local 509 (located in St. Louis, Mo.), was indicted on one count of embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $11,057. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS St. Louis District Office.

On March 3, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, Leonard Leibowitz, former attorney for the Independent Artists of America (IAA), a union representing ballet dancers in Manhattan, was indicted on one count of embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $350,000 and filing false reports with DOL. On March 14, 2011, Leibowitz self-surrendered. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office.

On March 3, 2011, in the Green Lake County, Wisconsin Circuit Court, a complaint was filed against Nancy Kumbier, former President of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 1144 (located in Berlin, Wis.), charging her with Theft in a Business Setting (between $2,500 and $5,000), in violation of Wisconsin State Statute 943.20(1)(b) and (3)(bf). The complaint follows an investigation by the OLMS Milwaukee District Office.

On March 3, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, Warren Joseph Annunziata, Fund Administrator for United Craft and Industrial Workers Union Local 91 (a union that represents school bus drivers and matrons in New York City), was sentenced to 33 months in prison, two years supervised release, and was ordered to pay $250,000 in forfeiture and restitution. On February 26, 2010, Annunziata was indicted for extorting cash payments from union employers totaling at least $500,000. Annunziata further received tens of thousands of dollars from a union employer who placed money into a bank account controlled by Annunziata which Annunziata then used for personal expenses by utilizing a false identity and forged signatures. On July 29, 2010, Annunziata pled guilty to 18 U.S.C. 1951. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS New York District Office, the Department of Labor’s Office of the Inspector General, and the FBI.

On March 3, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio (Western Division), Ellsworth Williamson, former President of Steelworkers Local 1967 (located in Hamilton, Ohio), was sentenced to one year probation and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $2,293 and a $25 assessment. On December 7, 2010, Williamson pled guilty to a one-count information charging him with filing a false report. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cincinnati District Office.

On March 2, 2011, in the United States District Court of the Eastern District of Arkansas, Peggy Bolen, former Treasurer of Steelworkers Local 898 (located in Redfield, Ark.), was indicted on one count of embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $61,541, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The indictment follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office.

On March 2, 2011, in the United States District Court for the District of South Dakota, Terri Dunkelberger, former Financial Secretary Treasurer of Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 1356 (located in Sioux Falls, S.D.), was indicted on three counts of embezzlement of union funds in the approximate amount of $4,148.98. On June 3, 2010, Dunkelberger was also indicted for one count of embezzlement of union funds in the approximate amount of $24,148.98. The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office and Milwaukee District Office.

On March 1, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, an information was filed charging Williams Edwards, former President of AFSCME Local 1820 (located in Pontiac, Mich.), with willfully failing to maintain accurate records of lost time claims made by him and others resulting in him receiving $3,656.02 in union funds to which he was not entitled. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

Yes, there are Marxism workshops for teachers.

This insightful couple minutes of video from the "Left Forum", held on March 20th.  It's comforting to know that besides your state and municipal budgets being crushed by their union pensions and benefits, you get to worry about their mandates to push Marxist teachings to your children.  Another generation gone.

Chevy Chase, Political Expert, on Obama (and video proof Chevy inhaled, a lot)

Enjoy this 4-minute political discussion that probes the deep recesses of Chevy's considerable political well.  Just ignore the moments when he spaces out and mumbles incoherently.

Jesse Jr's check from Apple must have bounced.

I'd assume that Jesse Jackson Jr., Democratic Representative from Illinois, must have gotten some corporate extortion tips from deal old Dad - the womanizing, illegitimate child-producing, gay aide-propositioning "Minister".  First, Jr.. says he's a big proponent of the Apple iPad - singing its graces and proposing an iPad for every student in the nation.  You know, it's only taxpayer money - what the hell - why not.

 "Let me be clear about a few things," Jackson said, brandishing both an Apple iPad and an Amazon Kindle on the House floor. "These devices are revolutionizing our country — and they will fundamentally alter how we will educate our children." 

The conversation must not have gone well after that; "Hey, Jobs, it's Jesse Jr. - I mentioned Apple and how it was going to change the world and sure would like to head up a 'diversity board' for you guys for only $250,000 a year or so.  What?  My Dad has already got his hooks into you for $100,000 a year for a 'diversity marketing effort'?  Damn it.  Dad - where are you?!  Call Dad's whore!"  Okay - that conversation is imaginary - but it could have happened.

So, Jesse Jr. has now branded Apple as crushing the hopes and dreams of millions of Americans.  Remember, this is only a couple weeks later.  Something must have happened that didn't thicken his gravy - so we get this turnabout.

"A few short weeks ago I came to the House floor after having purchased an iPad and said that I happened to believe, Mr. Speaker, that at some point in time this new device, which is now probably responsible for eliminating thousands of American jobs. Now Borders is closing stores because, why do you need to go to Borders anymore? Why do you need to go to Barnes & Noble? Buy an iPad and download your newspaper, download your book, download your magazine," Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-IL, Chicago) said on the House floor Friday afternoon.

h/t:  Real Clear Politics

Joy Behar smacked down by a Hasselbeck

Please - I'm certainly not a huge fan of George W. - but I'm a huge fan of anyone that can verbally pistol-whip the she-devil sludgepile that is Joy Behar.  The conversation involved education.  The thought of Joy Behar - whose non-sensical spewage is second to none - would bring up education is laughable enough.  Enjoy Elizabeth Hasselbeck kicking her in her America-loathing jowls.  Feel free to watch it over and over - free - on me.

God Bless the Patriot Guard Riders

The Patriot Guard Riders do something that many could not - including me.  Their ability to help shield families of fallen Sailors, Soldiers, Airmen and Marines from the hellish, vile protesters of Westboro Baptist Church without violence is to be commended.  I couldn't do it.  Watch and appreciate.

Hunger (and Obesity) in Impoverished Gaza

"Some 1.4 million people, mostly children, are piled up in one of the most densely populated regions of the world, with no freedom of movement, no place to run and no space to hide," wrote the former senior UN relief official Jan Egeland and Jan Eliasson, then foreign minister of Sweden, in Le Figaro. They described a people "living in a cage", cut off by land, sea and air, with no reliable power and little water, and tortured by hunger and disease and incessant attacks by Israeli troops and planes."

The crushing hunger in Gaza and the West Bank is something I've mentioned in previous posts.  But don't let the fine dining (hold the pork) and 5-star resorts throw you - they're really starving - no, really.  Hey - wait a minute - it appears that in the downtime between worshipping suicide bombers and launching missiles against Israelis, they eat.  A lot.  I refer you to the handy little chart below.  Who knew being impoverished made you fat?  Think about this chart the next time you shed a tear for that "humanitarian flotilla" (likely full of weapons parts) chugging its way to Gaza.  Hell - they've got the US beat - and that ain't easy.

Obama's friends, the Muslim Brotherhood, and their invasion of Europe

Barack Hussein Obama's (Barry Sotero, or whatever) ties to the Muslim Brotherhood are well documented and long-lived.  Europe, at long last, is waking up to the devastation their "tolerance" and immigration policies have delivered.  At this point the best Europe can hope for is for their sutuation to not get any worse.  The deporation of the intolerant religions and divorce of those policies from the administrations may be a lost cause. 

From Europe News, whose tagline is "No Tolerance for Intolerance, No Apology for Being Free", comes this lengthy (40+ minutes), well researched documentary addressing the scourge of the Brotherhood in Europe.  Wake up, America - you've been warned.

All That Matters About Media Matters (must see video)

All credit to Hot Air & Patterico's Pontification for the links:

Media Matters for America is a well funded, well organized and effective truth killing machine. Here are three short films I’ve made in the past few days to expose their techniques.

Yesterday, I did a film showing how Media Matters used deceptive editing techniques on the Fox / Bill Sammon story. This story has been all over the left wing blogosphere – if you haven’t seen the original piece that MMfA did, it's here.  Gotcha journalism at its worst. Here’s my video on it.



The next video shows how Media Matters used the ‘straw man’ fallacy to attempt to discredit the piece published by Lila Rose yesterday on the Mammosham story.  As I say in the video, your position on the controversial issue of abortion doesn’t really matter here – Media Matters are contemptible news twisters.



So, who cares?  They lie.  That's a fact.  You, citizen, should care as they help shape the news that the unwashed masses consume - and believe.  That's the biggest shame in this whole bucket of lies.

I've been slacking - so you need to be reminded that Islam is vile.

The latest weekly offering from the Religion of Peace (and stacks of dead bodies):

2011.04.03 (Sakhi Sarwar, Pakistan) - Forty-two Sufi worshippers are sent to Allah by two Sunni suicide bombers at their temple.

2011.04.03 (Kandahar, Afghanistan) - One person is killed in an arson attack by a mob protesting a Quran desecration.

2011.04.02 (Kubisa, Iraq) - Terrorists shoot six security guards to death.

2011.04.01 (Khyber, Pakistan) - Three night watchmen are beheaded by religious extremists.

2011.04.01 (Fallujah, Iraq) - Three Iraqis are taken out by a Shahid suicide bomber.

2011.04.01 (Mazar-e Sharif, Afghanistan) - Eight UN workers are among a dozen people beheaded or shot to death by a mob enraged over a Quran burning in Florida.

Another "Discovery" in Obamacare Bill - only $5 Billion

Acronyms are damned expensive in D.C. - think TARP.  Here's a new one for you - EERP.  The acronym is similiar to the sound you should have made when DC jammed this up your tax-paying arse.  Employee Early Retirement Program is the full name of the $5 BILLION fund that is handed out entirely on the discretion of the Obama administration.  What could go wrong there (sniff - smell unions)?

The fund was placed in the bill to help companies, AND UNIONS, help pay for the early retirement costs of members and employees before they get picked up by another taxpayer-funded boondaggle,  Medicare.  Why would they be retiring early?  Well - duh - because the unions set up their contracts this way.  As far as private employers, why would you, the taxpayer, be helping pay for their healthcare when this is something the employee should have thought about before retiring?  Because the employee may have trouble finding affordable healthcare when retiring early.  No, we can't count on personal responsibility and planning here - that what the Government is for - right?  Thank goodness the OJT Administration has set aside $5 BILLION - that should last awhile. Oh, no - it won't?

Also, the administration is racing through the $5 billion much faster than it previously projected — it was supposed to last until 2014, when no person will be denied coverage for a pre-existing condition. New statistics and projections, however, suggest it may run out before the end of 2012, and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced on Thursday they will no longer be accepting applications for subsidies after April 30. Between June 1, 2010, and Dec. 31, 2010, ERRP paid out $535 million, and during the first few months of 2011, ERRP has handed out another $1.3 billion.

So who gets the $5 BILLION help?  Is there a litmus test?  Are their mandated hurdles they must meet?  Oh, hell no.  You've got to be kidding.  This is the Obama-On-The-Job-Training Administration.  Somebody is finally paying attention to this boondoggle, though.

Republicans took shots at Center for Consumer Information & Insurance Oversight (CCIO) Deputy Administrator Steven Larsen for how the administration decides who gets a slice of the $5 billion pie – and how the application process works. At the Friday hearing, Rep. Marsha Blackburn, Tennessee Republican, ripped Larsen because the program doesn’t require companies or labor unions to demonstrate a “financial need,” or that “they’re short of money or that they’re not going to be able to cover the cost of those that are enrolled in the plan that they are choosing to sponsor.”

Larsen said the companies and labor unions do, however, need to show they have a “current program” for early retirees. Also, because the Obama administration is not requiring companies to include details on any early retirement incentives in their applications, Blackburn said companies will likely encourage their employees to retire early, so they can get the taxpayer subsidies just to make their “bottom line” stronger.

“In order to make their bottom line look better, they could actually go to a universe of employees and say, ‘We’re going to incentivize your early retirement,’” Blackburn said. “And, then, move them into this plan that they’re going to submit an application to sponsor, then come to you with their hand out and say, ‘Hey, we need your millions, federal government.’ Do you not see why the American people are so frustrated with what you all are pouring out of these bureaucracies every day, on the American taxpayer? I mean, is this lost on you?” 

 So, who's the biggest single recipient of the EERP slush fund?  Please.  Who do you think?  Remember - sniff, sniff - yep, Obama's Big Union pals.

Recipients of ERRP funding include the United Auto Workers union, which secured $206,798,086 in taxpayer money, AT&T, which took in $140,022,949, and General Electric (GE), which raked in $36,607,818. GE has made headlines recently for not paying any U.S. taxes last year. IBM got $12,989,690 in taxpayer money.

I'm feeling a need to retire early, but I'm not in a union.  Is it too late to start one? 

Your Monthly Update on Union Corruption

Organized socialist mafia groups Unions have long had a reputation for corruption, violence and organized crime links. Is this just a reputation or a fact? Well, we're happy to put that nasty rumor to rest and just give you the facts. Is it the unions that are corrupt or do unions draw corrupt people to their ranks? Kind of a chicken or the egg thing. Here's your February, 2011 totals (go here for last month's cases) - direct from the Office of Labor-Management Standards:

On February 28, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Sylvester Knight, former Treasurer of Steelworkers Local 2154 (located in Chicago, Ill.), pled guilty to one count of making false entries in the union’s financial records. On January 21, 2011, an information was filed charging Knight with the same crime. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On February 25, 2011, in the United States District Court of the Western District of Wisconsin, Shari Birch, former Treasurer of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 1760-A (located in Superior, Wis.), pled guilty to count one of a 21-count indictment and admitted to embezzling $16,734.54 from AFSCME Local 1760-A. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office and the Superior, Wisconsin Police Department.

On February 25, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Freida Carter-London, former office manager of Carpenters Local 1421 (located in Arlington, Tex.), was sentenced to 60 months probation and was ordered to pay full restitution of $99,178 (due by the end of her probation). On November 12, 2010, Carter-London pled guilty to embezzling $99,178 in union funds, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Dallas District Office.

On February 25, 2011, in the Guernsey County, Ohio Court of Common Pleas, Kandy Dunfee, former Secretary-Treasurer for AFSCME Local 11, Chapter 3020 (located in Cambridge, Ohio), was sentenced to 11 months incarceration with each count running concurrently (suspended), placed on supervised release for three years, and was ordered to make full restitution in the amount of $1,074.60. On January 14, 2011, Dunfee pled guilty to one count of theft and one count of forgery. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.

On February 24, 2011, in the United States District Court, District of Maine, Bernadette Beal, former President of Teachers Local 5073, the Downeast Federation of Healthcare Professionals (located in Millbridge, Maine), was sentenced to eight months imprisonment and two years supervised release. She was also ordered to pay a $100 special assessment and restitution in the amount of $24,131.32. On August 27, 2010, Beal pled guilty to one count of embezzlement of union funds totaling $25,536.91, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston District Office.

On February 23, 2011, in the United States District Court of Oregon, Charles Owens, former Financial Secretary for United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners Local 2791 (located in Scio, Ore.), pled guilty to a one-count information for failing to maintain union records in an effort to conceal the embezzlement of union funds totaling $65,791. Sentencing is scheduled for May 16, 2011. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Seattle District Office.

On February 22, 2011, in the Magistrate Court for the State of New Mexico, a criminal complaint was filed against Kasey L. McCalmon, former Secretary-Treasurer of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 1509 (located in Silver City, N.M.), for the crime of embezzlement in the amount of $5,330.24. The charge follows an investigation by the OLMS Denver District Office.

On February 16, 2011, in the Worcester County Massachusetts District Court, Stephen Andros, President of Steelworkers Local 2936 (located in Auburn, Mass.), was charged in a five-count criminal complaint with larceny over $250, in violation of Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 266, Section 30, totaling $18,751.84. The complaint follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston District Office.

On February 15, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Deidra Lucas, former President of American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 100 (located in Pontiac, Mich.), was sentenced to time already served (one day) and three years of supervised release. She was also ordered to complete 50 hours of community service and pay restitution of $39,403 and a $100 special assessment. On October 14, 2010, Lucas pled guilty to one count of embezzling $5,283.20 of union funds. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Detroit District Office.

On February 11, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Frank Kmiec, former Secretary-Treasurer of Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees Division (BMWED) Local 2857 (located in Genoa City, Wis.), was sentenced to one year probation with the first six months served in home confinement with electronic monitoring. He was also ordered to pay a special assessment of $25. On November 22, 2010, Kmiec pled guilty to making false entries in the local’s cash record book, check register, and quarterly audit reports thereby misrepresenting the balance of the local’s bank account. In pleading guilty, Kmiec admitted to embezzling approximately $19,461.39 in Local 2857 funds. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On February 10, 2011, in the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico, Jose L. Caraballo-Figueroa, former President of Sindicato Obreros Unidos del Sur (SOUS) (located in Salinas, P.R.), pled guilty to embezzling in excess of $400,000 from SOUS under the guise of receiving medical reimbursements, payments for services rendered, and payment for meals and car expenses. A sentencing date has not been scheduled. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Puerto Rico Resident Investigator Office.

On February 10, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California, Tracy Ford, former Secretary-Treasurer of Machinists Lodge 1528 (located in Modesto, Calif.), was indicted on one count of embezzlement of union funds in the amount of $174,891, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c) and one count of filing a false financial report, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 439(b). The charges follow an investigation by the OLMS San Francisco District Office.

On February 7, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Joan Boucher, former Treasurer of Staff Union Local 399 (located in Montebello, Calif.), was sentenced to five years probation, including six months of home detention, for embezzling union funds. Boucher was also ordered to pay full restitution of $26,990 and the cost of an electronic monitoring bracelet. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Los Angeles District Office.

On February 7, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, Mechelle Busse (aka Mechelle Singleton), former office manager for United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 568 (located in Gulfport, Miss.), pled guilty to a one-count indictment for embezzling union funds between June 2005 and December 2007, in an amount ranging from $76,000 to $110,117.69. Sentencing is scheduled for May 11, 2011. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS New Orleans District Office.

On February 4, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois, Kevin T. Hunt, former Secretary-Treasurer for United Transportation Union (UTU) Local 198 (located in Peoria, Ill.), was sentenced to one year probation. He was also ordered to pay a fine of $500 and a $25 special assessment. On October 26, 2010, Hunt pled guilty to a one-count information for filing a false LM report. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Chicago District Office.

On February 2, 2011, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Karl L. Youngerman, former President of Glass, Molders, Pottery, Plastics & Allied Workers (GMP) Local 208 (located in Bradenton, Fla.), was sentenced to five years probation for conspiracy to embezzle union funds in the amount of $18,218.91 and was ordered to pay restitution for the same amount to the Fidelity and Deposit Company of Maryland. On November 5, 2010, Youngerman pled guilty to conspiracy to embezzle funds from a labor union, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §371. The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Tampa Resident Investigator Office.

The "Incidents" at US Nuclear Reactors in 2010

If you want to rest easy tonight, maybe you shouldn't read this.  I'll wait for you to decide.  Ready?

Okay - so the Union of Concerned Scientists has published a delightful report on nuclear power plant mishaps in the US in 2010.  Fourteen of them, to be exact.  To be fair, the Union of Concerned Scientists would probably only be happy were we back to a Quaker-like existence, but nonetheless...  I'm a backer of nuclear energy but admit the waste is an issue.  Not many plants generate waste that can kill you centuries later.  Oh, well.

You can find the report here - enjoy.