Germany went from a negative 4.6% to a positive 5.2%…somehow this failed to rally the DAX.
Comments »Yearly Archives: 2011
BP Accuses Halliburton of Destroying Gulf Spill Evidence
Bank of England Creates a New Sterling Liquidity Facility
Dollar Loans Through the Bank of Japan Jump 25 Times After Coordinated Central Bank Rate Cut
S&M Undeterred by S&P Credit Warning
Shocker: Radioactive Cesium Found in Baby Formula in Japan
Wheat and Corn Prices Continue to Fall Hitting Two Month Lows
Speculation that China will be ordering less has prices down along with expectations the USDA may raise grain inventory estimates.
Comments »French and German Bonds Fall on S&P Credit Watch Warning
Brazil’s Economy Stalls in the Third Quarter
Asian and Most European Markets Print Red Tape While U.S. Futures Go for Green
FLASH: Australian Cuts Interest Rates
The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) cut the official cash rate by 25 basis points to 4.25% at its December meeting on Tuesday.
Comments »Hollywood is Filled with Pedophiles
If a spate of recent allegations proves true, Hollywood may have a hideous epidemic on its hands. The past two weeks have brought three separate reports of alleged child sexual abuse in the entertainment industry.
Martin Weiss, a 47-year-old Hollywood manager who represented child actors, was charged in Los Angeles on Dec. 1 with sexually abusing a former client. His accuser, who was under 12 years old during the time of the alleged abuse, reported to authorities that Weiss told him “what they were doing was common practice in the entertainment industry.” Weiss has pleaded not guilty.
On Nov. 21, Fernando Rivas, 59, an award-winning composer for “Sesame Street,” was arraigned on charges of coercing a child “to engage in sexually explicit conduct” in South Carolina. The Juilliard-trained composer was also charged with production and distribution of child pornography.
Registered sex offender Jason James Murphy, 35, worked as a casting agent in Hollywood for years before his past kidnapping and sexual abuse of a boy was revealed by the Los Angeles Times on Nov. 17. Murphy’s credits include placing young actors in kid-friendly fare like “Bad News Bears,” “The School of Rock,” “Cheaper by the Dozen 2” and the forthcoming “Three Stooges.”
Revelations of this sort come as no surprise to former child star Corey Feldman.
Feldman, 40, himself a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, unflinchingly warned of the world of pedophiles who are drawn to the entertainment industry last August. “I can tell you that the No. 1 problem in Hollywood was and is and always will be pedophilia,” Feldman told ABC’s Nightline. “That’s the biggest problem for children in this industry… It’s the big secret.”
Another child star from an earlier era agrees that Hollywood has long had a problem with pedophilia. “When I watched that interview, a whole series of names and faces from my history went zooming through my head,” Paul Peterson, 66, star of The Donna Reed Show, a sitcom popular in the 1950s and 60s, and president of A Minor Consideration, tells FOXNews.com. “Some of these people, who I know very well, are still in the game.”
“This has been going on for a very long time,” concurs former “Little House on the Prairie” star Alison Arngrim. “It was the gossip back in the ‘80s. People said, ‘Oh yeah, the Coreys, everyone’s had them.’ People talked about it like it was not a big deal.”
Arngrim, 49, was referring to Feldman and his co-star in “The Lost Boys,” Corey Haim, who died in March 2010 after years of drug abuse.
“I literally heard that they were ‘passed around,’” Arngrim said. “The word was that they were given drugs and being used for sex. It was awful – these were kids, they weren’t 18 yet. There were all sorts of stories about everyone from their, quote, ‘set guardians’ on down that these two had been sexually abused and were totally being corrupted in every possible way.”
In fact it is the very nature of a TV or movie set that invites predators, experts tell Fox News.
“A set in Hollywood with children can become a place that attracts pedophiles because the children there may be vulnerable and less tended to,” explains Beverly Hills-based psychotherapist Dr. Jenn Berman. “One thing we know about actors, psychologically speaking, is that they’re people who like a lot of attention. Kids naturally like a lot of attention, and when you put a kid on a set who is unsupervised and getting attention from someone who is powerful, it creates a vulnerability for a very dangerous situation.”
Feldman, who claims he was “surrounded” by pedophiles when he was 14, says the sexual abuse by an unnamed “Hollywood mogul” led to the death of his friend Haim at the age of 38. “That person needs to be exposed, but, unfortunately, I can’t be the one to do it,” Feldman told Nightline.
“There’s more than one person to blame,” says Arngrim. “I’m sure that it was not just one person who sexually abused Corey Haim, and I’m sure it wasn’t only him and Corey Feldman that knew about it. I’m sure that dozens of people were aware of the situation and chose to not report it.”
Arngrim, a board member and the national spokeswoman for protect.org, an organization that works to protect children from physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, says greed in Hollywood allows sexual predators to flourish. “Nobody wants to stop the gravy train,” says Arngrim. “If a child actor is being sexually abused by someone on the show, is the family, agents or managers – the people who are getting money out of this – going to say, ‘OK, let’s press charges’? No, because it’s going to bring the whole show to a grinding halt, and stop all the checks. So, the pressure is there is not to say anything.”
“It’s almost a willing sacrifice that many parents are oblivious to – what kind of environment do they think that they’re pushing their kid into?” said Peterson. “The casting couch is a real thing, and sometimes just getting an appointment makes people do desperate things.”
Arngrim, who revealed her own sexual abuse in her 2010 autobiography, “Confessions of a Prairie Bitch,” explains: “I’ve heard from victims from all over the country. Everyone tells the same kind of story, everyone is told to keep it secret, everyone is threatened with something. Corey Feldman may have opened a can of worms by speaking out, but yes, this does go on.”
Even though Feldman spoke candidly about the abuse, he hasn’t named the predator. “People don’t want to talk about this because they’re afraid for their careers,” says Peterson. “From my perspective, what Corey did was pretty brave. It would be really wonderful if his allegations reached through all of the protective layers and identified the real people who are a part of a worldwide child pornography ring, because it’s huge and it respects no borders, just as it does not respect the age of the children involved.”
The Unvarnished Truth About #OWS
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJD8pZiRIzs&feature=youtu.be
Comments »Breaking: *S&P SAID TO PLACE ALL 17 EURO NATIONS ON RATING DOWNGRADE WATCH
All for one, one for all.
Comments »BLOG THIS
[youtube://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxbfUHAJ9E0&feature=related 450 300]
Comments »Suspending Due Process
You are now a potential terrorist if you:
[youtube://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pK0pEFSX7Ns 450 300] Comments »NASA Discovers The First inhabitable Planet in the Goldilocks “Habitable Zone”
Today’s Heat Map, A/D Line, Sector Performance, and Money Flows
Sector performance winners and losers
Software 7723.29 242.85 2.69 -1.16 10.05 2.68 Commercial Vehicl & Trucks 11064.00 198.12 1.38 0.51 11.30 -2.37 Nonferrous Metals 6414.24 194.80 2.81 -0.32 -8.84 -25.60 Oil Equip & Serv 6240.32 179.54 2.86 2.48 4.62 -0.43 Consumer Electronics 8172.56 169.83 1.91 -3.78 5.61 -18.35 Delivery Serv 7777.47 161.25 2.13 2.41 9.17 -6.74 Exploration & Production 7526.76 154.57 1.97 -0.86 9.13 7.35 Medical Equip 5439.36 153.44 -0.19 1.15 -0.43 4.01 Computer Hardware 8588.10 152.68 1.88 -0.83 8.46 8.02 Asset Managers 5332.30 148.90 4.06 1.35 8.08 -15.37 Industrial Machinery 4839.54 135.01 3.25 2.14 14.57 1.57 Computer Serv 7207.25 119.57 1.82 2.08 14.31 23.83 Life Insurance 3110.25 119.32 4.91 0.48 14.43 -11.69 Heavy Construction 4308.20 116.64 2.88 2.21 5.75 -8.57 Distillers & Vintners 5053.67 115.53 1.76 6.33 13.12 -1.29 Media Agencies 3884.44 110.76 3.83 1.32 15.48 -10.68 Medical Supplies 6694.52 109.74 0.27 -1.05 -1.06 1.91 Reinsurance 6194.90 106.93 1.28 1.63 13.15 -2.76 Invest Serv 3114.77 104.70 5.58 -1.93 1.69 -26.60 Coal 3703.00 101.27 2.56 -8.51 -11.65 -32.84 Home Construction 2466.49 98.77 4.60 12.88 26.25 -0.19 Specialty Chemicals 5679.33 96.61 0.81 -3.14 -0.18 0.46 Telecom Equip 5698.19 95.95 1.57 0.11 13.47 -2.07 Specialized Consumer Serv 3589.35 94.21 2.82 -3.32 4.90 4.35 Integrated Oil & Gas 5471.18 85.83 1.69 1.35 10.33 15.11 Specialty Retailers 3055.80 84.96 3.62 0.92 8.31 2.93 Financial Admin 4266.23 83.55 2.32 1.61 9.89 7.06 Home Improv Retailers 6828.45 83.28 2.81 11.86 26.77 12.28 Trucking 3451.04 83.21 3.45 3.52 10.67 -4.36 Footwear 7479.49 82.27 2.10 1.05 12.03 12.26 Specialty Finance 3823.21 79.62 2.67 1.23 13.00 0.76 Drug Retailers 6193.97 78.77 0.06 0.69 3.86 11.44 Clothing & Accessories 2972.09 76.77 3.58 -1.93 15.19 19.30 Auto Parts 2414.11 76.65 4.62 -0.84 8.38 -7.79 Real Estate Invest & Serv 2149.90 76.37 4.39 -0.29 3.63 -12.50 Electronic Equip 3475.52 74.77 1.39 1.21 13.38 -0.40 Furnishings 2674.66 74.75 2.61 -2.20 11.57 10.20 Gambling 6407.59 74.28 0.48 -2.99 -0.05 -4.09 Apparel Retailers 3793.34 74.07 2.34 -0.79 15.59 8.89 Prop & Casualty Insurance 3675.92 70.32 1.90 -0.32 10.22 3.28 Industrial Suppliers 4099.75 69.30 1.30 4.45 25.21 29.26 Banks -SS 2042.70 69.03 6.15 0.99 5.62 -18.39 Iron & Steel 2551.33 68.80 3.34 2.65 9.24 -9.13 Restaurants & Bars 9345.25 66.98 1.12 2.16 9.88 19.44 Consumer Finance 5626.99 66.77 1.35 0.89 8.48 21.17 Toys 3685.12 63.29 1.17 -4.49 8.20 7.51 Health Care Providers 4852.20 61.87 0.53 3.92 8.69 12.31 Hotels 2747.96 59.72 3.93 2.45 18.81 -12.15 Recreational Serv 2398.20 59.66 3.33 0.84 13.74 -13.63 Electr Components & Equip 2308.26 59.52 3.26 -1.95 11.93 -7.68 Commodity Chemicals 2392.43 58.64 2.32 1.20 6.12 -1.03 Automobiles 1820.40 57.14 5.80 -1.32 7.08 -28.17 Diversified Industrials 2585.38 56.18 2.79 1.44 7.75 -0.80 Defense 4494.10 56.05 0.40 1.52 8.77 -0.28 Build Materials & Fixtures 2494.15 52.37 2.34 4.81 18.08 2.49 Containers & Packaging 2582.96 52.25 2.48 1.01 7.40 0.68 Water 4999.72 50.48 0.98 1.53 5.35 12.35 Publishing 2304.21 50.35 3.37 4.83 11.08 1.84 Farming & Fishing 5344.87 49.96 -2.76 -1.65 8.13 12.89 Transportation Serv 2480.87 46.97 2.98 0.74 12.50 6.18 Brewers 4452.65 45.51 1.84 5.18 -0.54 -13.44 Travel & Tourism 2442.28 38.17 1.88 -2.72 -3.76 10.83 Durable Household Prod 1645.78 37.43 2.33 0.35 7.96 -4.95 Broadline Retailers 4020.57 36.97 0.58 -1.03 7.48 9.38 Insurance Brokers 2789.43 33.20 1.36 -0.59 5.04 12.94 Food Retailers & Wholesalers 1852.44 30.39 2.37 4.13 8.03 8.70 Marine Transportation 1392.66 30.22 5.97 -0.84 5.67 -14.45 Internet 2169.90 29.28 2.17 4.78 19.92 4.69 Real Estate Invest Trusts 1979.70 27.73 1.69 -2.23 1.29 0.15 Nondurable Household Prod 5628.30 26.91 1.32 2.89 3.33 4.57 Food Prod 2958.46 26.90 0.89 1.64 3.32 15.16 Electricity 1843.85 25.27 0.33 0.09 4.95 11.18 General Mining 2644.33 25.23 -1.36 -8.74 -17.87 -7.99 Gas Distribution 2048.68 24.34 0.84 1.46 10.00 17.23 Personal Prod 4566.18 24.17 0.38 0.78 3.55 11.66 Pipelines 6856.55 23.59 0.87 2.61 26.79 46.33 Tobacco 4697.43 23.19 -0.18 6.44 9.19 27.47 Waste & Disposal Serv 1272.88 20.89 0.89 0.15 2.22 2.48 Forestry & Paper 1575.12 20.86 3.62 -0.07 12.11 3.37 Aluminum 1312.42 20.86 2.57 -8.01 -15.45 -28.40 Airlines 584.02 19.46 3.08 0.84 8.34 -34.12 Business Support Serv 1008.05 18.79 2.67 1.23 12.08 12.07 Broadcasting & Entertainment 3820.95 18.23 1.62 2.86 8.28 8.57 Pharmaceuticals 2342.09 16.09 -0.08 2.53 6.37 11.26 Paper 1237.33 15.56 3.66 0.12 11.86 2.96 Fixed Line Telecom 1108.74 14.80 1.41 1.03 3.95 3.31 Biotechnology 3625.41 14.66 -0.63 -0.27 3.59 3.36 Electronic Office Equip 905.22 12.30 1.77 -2.57 3.42 -26.11 Full Line Insurance 333.96 11.12 3.99 1.90 4.90 -18.80 Multiutilities 1410.97 9.97 -0.21 0.09 7.48 13.19 Tires 435.24 9.53 3.65 -0.67 21.26 17.59 Soft Drinks 3822.62 8.37 0.02 0.28 -1.85 2.16 Mobile Telecom 1262.75 7.84 0.91 0.73 -3.69 -9.46 Mortgage Finance 172.71 4.71 1.98 1.15 1.24 -18.38 Gold Mining 2353.71 -3.20 -2.50 -3.61 0.05 9.92
Money Flows
ISSUE GAINERS SYMBOL EXCH LAST PRICE MONEY FLOW RATIO
(in millions)
iShrs Tr S&P 500 IVV ARCA 126.66 +97.6 2.92
SuccessFactors SFSF NYSE 39.67 +60.6 1.30
Starbucks SBUX NASD 44.15 +34.7 2.29
Bank Of America BAC NYSE 5.86 +31.0 1.20
ExxonMobil XOM NYSE 80.30 +27.1 1.32
iShrs Tr DJ U.S. IYY ARCA 63.44 +25.0 22.69
iShs Brclys 13 Yr Crdt Bd CSJ ARCA 103.54 +24.9 4.50
JPMorgan Chase JPM NYSE 33.64 +19.5 1.12
Semiconductor HOLDRs Tr SMH ARCA 31.07 +18.9 4.17
GlaxoSmithKline ADS GSK NYSE 43.85 +18.8 3.11
SPDR S&P Retail XRT ARCA 53.31 +17.9 2.42
Morgan Stanley MS NYSE 16.51 +15.7 1.17
Citigroup C NYSE 29.90 +15.3 1.07
Western Union Co WU NYSE 17.75 +14.5 2.61
SPDR S&P MidCap 400 ETF MDY ARCA 163.00 +14.4 1.36
Freeport McMoran FCX NYSE 40.19 +13.2 1.17
Accenture PLC A ACN NYSE 59.69 +13.2 1.56
AT&T T NYSE 29.16 +12.8 1.30
SPDR Brclys Cap 13 Mo TBl BIL ARCA 45.84 +12.1 3.13
iShrs Russell 1000 Growth IWF ARCA 58.75 +12.0 1.70
ISSUE DECLINERS SYMBOL EXCH LAST PRICE MONEY FLOW RATIO
(in millions)
Sel Sec SPDR-Hlth Cr XLV ARCA 33.59 -213.9 0.19
Vanguard MSCI Emerg Mkts VWO ARCA 41.15 -156.4 0.26
Gilead Sciences GILD NASD 39.93 -75.4 0.46
Microsoft MSFT NASD 25.68 -47.1 0.68
Google GOOG NASD 626.30 -41.1 0.91
Cisco Systems CSCO NASD 18.79 -35.5 0.54
Apple AAPL NASD 394.09 -33.9 0.96
iShrs Russell 2000 IWM ARCA 74.79 -26.8 0.88
Pharmasset VRUS NASD 128.62 -21.5 0.61
Johnson & Johnson JNJ NYSE 63.16 -18.2 0.77
iShrs MSCI Emerg Mkts EEM ARCA 40.30 -17.3 0.81
Vanguard Total Bond Mkt BND ARCA 83.29 -16.6 0.57
Intel INTC NASD 25.00 -16.5 0.78
Wells Fargo WFC NYSE 26.70 -14.4 0.79
Smithfield Foods SFD NYSE 24.65 -14.3 0.21
Goodrich Corp GR NYSE 122.31 -14.2 0.62
First Tr Hlth Cr AlphaDEX FXH ARCA 26.75 -13.8 0.08
General Electric GE NYSE 16.36 -13.5 0.83
Brclys 20+ Yr Trsry Bd TLT ARCA 118.15 -12.9 0.82
Liberty Global Cl A LBTYA NASD 39.44 -11.8 0.30
Comments »
Time to Buy or Sell India ?
Inflation has crushed the country while capital flight has hurt growth and the Indian stock markets. Is it time to buy or sell India ?
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