Ruling could undo thousands of foreclosures

Ruling could undo thousands of foreclosures

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Cheers to Massachusetts! Victims of Wells Fartgo have a chance to get their houses back! I hope this spreads nationwide! Maybe the new word of the coming months/year/decade will be forereopening!

Spray Bill O'Reilly: Watch Sean Penn Movies

FUX News announcer Bill O'Reilly has decided to boycott Sean Penn movies because the actor's political activities offend him.

As a moderate liberal, I'm routinely offended by this anchor whom MSNBC commentator Keith Olbermann refers to as "Billo the Clown." I was a captive audience to Billo's radio broadcast while riding in the back seat of an SUV with a pair of relatives. I can imagine an Enterprise Rent-a-Car commercial showing the guy in this kind of situation bailing out at a stop light, ringing Enterprise on his cell phone, and getting into his rented, made-in-USA Chevy as the voiceover says, "We'll pick you up!"

I'm not a Sean Penn fan but generally don't support boycotts. They don't work. But I'm inclined to hunt down a Penn movie that wouldn't constitute cutting off my nose to spite my face, just to give Billo some skunk spray.

In Defense of Anonymity

My friend, SW Iowa Guy, frequently takes U.S. Congressman Steve King (R-Iowa) to task for various offensive stances. The right-wing, homophobic, racist King provides plenty of source material and SW Iowa Guy pulls no punches. On this post, some readers posted comments lambasting Iowa Guy for his King-bashing anonymously.
Iowa Guy's posts are often biting and contain quite a few swear words (As if I never do that...yeah right). True, some people speak strongly, even brashly, under their real names - Bill O'Reilly, Rush Limbaugh and Ann Coulter are examples. Keith Olbermann on MSNBC is a left-wing counterpart. Gloria Steinem or Molly Yard, anyone?
Critics often slap the coward label on those who speak strongly while hiding behind anonymity. But in many cases it's necessary: Putting out your name on truthful but highly controversial material can be dangerous. The last thing SW Iowa Guy needs to do is help his enemies find him. (He can't afford bodyguards or a high-tech security system - I assume that Fux News takes care of O'Reilly.)
SW and his partner have always been gay, long before his blog and when the word "website" evoked only images of spiders. I've been in their home; they've been in mine. (Yes, I have been alone with them. They're safe.) Their home is...dare I say, ordinary? Inside, nothing unusual about the furnishings or decor; nothing creepy goes on there. They have the same needs, fears and dreams as we who prefer the opposite sex. Despite all that, some anti-gay extremists would kill them if given a chance. Among gay bashers are devoutly religious folks who conveniently forget that "Thou shall not kill" makes no exception for gents who prefer gents or ladies who prefer ladies, and that Jesus said, "all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them (Matthew 7:12)." Non-homicidal homophobes might vandalize their home, vehicles—or do something to their beloved animal companions.
Bloodthirsty bigots aren't the only reason to use a nom de plume. How many sites and newspaper columnists warn about how indiscreet blogging can jeopardize your preset or future job? Can those steamy musings about your now-ex-girlfriend/boyfriend come back to haunt you? Your Web-savvy auto mechanic hates ferrets or your company’s computer tech supports Steve King—and suddenly a wheel falls off your car or your office PC never works right again? You get the idea. But why refrain from your First Amendment rights because of that?
Iowa's insult to Stephen King the novelist needs to have his sins aired—especially before Election Day. (Crap, I'm on the wrong side of the Missouri River.) SW Iowa Guy, more power to you!

Skunk Totem joins ACLU

I have just joined the American Civil Liberties Union. Like why didn't I do this long ago. Some of the ACLU's key points are some that I take personally: especially privacy and rights of the poor. This thing called the Patriot Act scares the crap out of me (would you believe 1 million people on the terrorism watch list? (Source: ACLU website). And you don't have to be an explicit threat to get on it. Meanwhile, an employer denied me a job because they labeled me a potential thief because of my credit record! Never mind that the 100% legal and moral income would have squelched my money problems; and the employer's high security would mean trying to steal would most likely make me a jailbird who'd get lampooned on Star 104.5's "Crooks are Stupid" feature.

Prohibition of gay marriage also hits a nerve. While I am heterosexual, two of my best friends, one of whom writes as SW Iowa Guy are a gay couple that of course don't have their marriage officially recognized. These are good people and the bigotry against them hurts. At the same time, I know some opposite-sex couples who are married by law only and I'm not even sure that God endorses their pairing.

OK, enough said.

Homeowner kills herself after bank foreclosed on her.

A tragic story about Carlene Balderrama, a foreclosed homeowner who committed suicide. While the bank can't bear all the blame, I can't help but wonder if they could have done more to work out a payment arrangement. How big was the mortgage debt compared to the bank's profits? It's hard to believe a spouse and parent would take oneself away from his or her loved ones unless one absolutely couldn't see another way out.

Sadly, this probably isn't the last time that a foreclosure turns lethal. I've written before on how our society could do a lot better at handling depressed and suicidal people. These deaths are preventable - but not by giving the person the message that there is something wrong with the way he or she feels.

I feel for Mrs. Balderrama and her family.

Thought for the Day - Aug. 5, 2008

It's easier to say "you misunderstood/are overreacting" than "I'm sorry."

Iowa Guy 2.0: Commemorating the Legacy of Dubya

If you pardon the pun, this post is a crapload of fun to read!
Iowa Guy 2.0: Commemorating the Legacy of....#links