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Wednesday, September 9, 2009
News / Biz NY AG says Bank of America is being shady
Posted By Rhiannon Fionn-Bowman on Wed, Sep 9, 2009 at 3:58 PM
Ooooo — someone's (still) in trouble.
The office of New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo upped the ante in its investigation of Bank of America Corp., accusing the bank of using attorney-client privilege to avoid investigators' questions.In a letter Tuesday, Cuomo's office said it is close to deciding which, if any, individuals to charge in the investigation of Charlotte-based Bank of America. Essentially, it says that Bank of America has until Monday to decide whether to answer in greater detail certain questions posed by Cuomo's office. Otherwise, Cuomo's office said, it will proceed with the investigation “without giving credit to the advice of counsel defenses.”
Bank of America has either declined to answer questions about or not made appropriate disclosures about its knowledge of bonuses and mounting losses at Merrill Lynch, according to Cuomo's office, which is investigating billions of dollars of bonuses rushed out to Merrill employees last year. Bank officials have cited attorney-client privilege as their defense, according to the seven-page letter sent to Bank of America's outside counsel.
Legally, if Bank of America uses “advice of counsel” as its reason for any action, it must waive the attorney-client privilege and tell Cuomo's office what its lawyers said, according to the letter.
Attorney-client privilege “may not be used as both a sword and a shield,” wrote David Markowitz, the chief of Cuomo's investor protection bureau.
Bank of America shot back with a tersely worded response, saying it has not asserted the “advice of counsel” defense and has cooperated extensively with Cuomo's investigation.
Boomer with Attitude / News Baucus sends bill to lobbyists, not White House
Posted By John Grooms on Wed, Sep 9, 2009 at 3:44 PM
You’d be hard-pressed to find a better example of how political corruption works in Washington than something that was revealed at a White House press conference today.
Quick background: Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT) heads a Senate committee that has been stalling, er, rather, has taken its time while Baucus tried to reach a compromise health care reform bill with Republicans. Mainly, Baucus — who has received more than $360,000 in contributions from health industry lobbyists in the past four years — has done everything he can to kill the possibility of a public option in any reform bill, just as his health care moneybags have directed.
Now he says his bill is pretty much ready to go. So. Guess to whom Baucus first sent a draft copy of the bill? You’d think maybe the Senate Majority Leader, or perhaps the White House since, you know, health care reform was Obama’s idea and he and Baucus are in the same party and all. But no. As White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs admitted earlier today, no one at the White House has seen Baucus’ draft. So, again, who did get a copy? Health industry lobbyists in D.C., that’s who. That’s right — Baucus made sure the big businesses that filled his wallet saw the bill, and are OK with it, before anyone in the White House can get a look at it. And this guy’s a Democrat; get an idea now of what the President is up against?
Film / Film News / News Box Office Top 10
Posted By Matt Brunson on Wed, Sep 9, 2009 at 3:07 PM
1. The Final Destination - $15.2 million ($50.4 million)
2. Inglourious Basterds - $14.9 million ($95.1 million)
3. All About Steve - $14.0 million ($14.0 million)
4. Gamer - $11.2 million ($11.2 million)
5. District 9 - $9.1 million ($103.3 million)
6. Julie & Julia - $7.0 million ($80.7 million)
7. Halloween II - $6.8 million ($26.9 million)
8. G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra - $6.7 million ($141.0 million)
9. Extract - $5.5 million ($5.5 million)
10. The Time Traveler's Wife - $5.4 million ($55.8 million)
(Gross for holiday weekend of Sept. 4-7. Figure in parentheses is total gross to date. Source: www.boxofficemojo.com.)
Film / Film News / News This Week's DVD Releases
Posted By Matt Brunson on Wed, Sep 9, 2009 at 2:22 PM
Following is a list of some major DVD releases that debuted yesterday. For a complete list, go to www.amazon.com.
News / Biz The blame game rages on
Posted By Rhiannon Fionn-Bowman on Wed, Sep 9, 2009 at 2:21 PM
I'm really sick of everyone looking for someone else to blame for their economic woes. In fact, a couple of years ago when the shit began dripping on the fan, I told a friend, "Just watch. Everyone's going to jump on this bandwagon. Every bank and company and person who has something to write off — will."
Yes, lots of business people did lots of shady things that created opportunities for corruption. But you and I both know, no one forces you to max out your credit card or buy a house that's too big for your budget. No one told you to buy that fancy car and you know cooking at home would be much better for your bottom line — in more ways than one.
Sure, blame the guys at the top. Those crooked bastards should pay for the wrongs they've committed. But, don't forget to take a hard look at what you've done to create your own personal economic meltdown.
Americans of all political stripes, suffering in multiple ways from twelve months of economic collapse, are looking for somebody to blame. Yet the real culprits, the Wall Street executives who drove the economy into the ditch, have walked away largely unscathed. Indeed, a new study by the Institute for Policy Studies finds that the top twenty financial CEOs averaged $13.8 million in compensation in 2008, over a third more than other top chief executives.
News Loopholes and lies can't save us
Posted By Rhiannon Fionn-Bowman on Wed, Sep 9, 2009 at 2:17 PM
Today's Charlotte Observer has an eye-opening article about how officials in our local government skirts the Environmental Protection Agency's pollution guidelines to make it appear that we're not the dirty, polluted city that we are. Now the American Lung Association lists the Q.C. on warning lists.
Here's an excerpt. Read the entire article here.
City transportation planners changed data that essentially took one in three cars off the road, enabling them to show less pollution. They also have made overly optimistic forecasts about how often people would use mass transit.And despite evidence that building more highways causes people to drive farther, the city has told the EPA the opposite: Building billions of dollars of new highways will cause Charlotteans to drive less, and create less smog, than if they weren't built.
Those questionable projections have helped keep highway dollars flowing to Charlotte.
City transportation planners acknowledge that their pollution estimates have turned out to be low. But they say they have complied with all state and federal requirements.
Mecklenburg County's air-quality director, Don Willard, said the EPA's rules are good on paper, but in practice are “divorced from reality.”
Boomer with Attitude / News Commies foiled again by alert conservatives
Posted By John Grooms on Wed, Sep 9, 2009 at 12:18 PM
Comrades: Obama tried, but it was a disaster. Only 24 hours after the President’s valiant attempt to indoctrinate kids about the joys of communism, the heroic effort seems to have failed. We’ve received disturbing reports all morning from schools across the county that children are showing up for class with clear eyes, a cooperative attitude and not the least interest in rioting, taking over their schools, or calling Congress to support death panels for their grandparents. Even more disturbing, early accounts report that more than 50 percent of students barely remember the President’s speech at all — something about Fruity Pebbles causing memory loss. Arrgghhh! And we no-good commies thought we had the kids just where we wanted them. Just our luck, though, those darned conservative patriots had to catch on to the scheme, forcing Obama to change his speech to present counter-revolutionary ideas like “study hard” and “responsibility.” Curse you, you wise and well-informed right-wingers! Sigh-h-h-h-h. Oh well, maybe next time.
Arts / News Adult scavenger hunt this weekend in the Q.C.
Posted By Anita Overcash on Wed, Sep 9, 2009 at 10:19 AM
Most of us loved scavenger hunts when we were kids. The hunts were a challenge and a test of wit. But, more than that, they were fun. If you're an adult you probably feel your days of scavenger hunts have long been over, but that's where The Great Urban Race comes in. On Sept. 12, a scavenger hunt (and party!) for adults will be held to raise money for Classroom Central, a charity that collects and distributes school supplies to local Charlotte-Mecklenburg schools. Teams of two will combine brain power to solve 12 challenging clues - both mentally and physically. The first 25 teams to finish the race will get the chance to compete in the National Championship race in New Orleans with an opportunity to win a $10,000 prize. Let the games begin! Participants 18 and under must be accompanied by an adult. Cost of race is $60-$70. Registration begins at Fox & Hound Smokehouse & Tavern, located at 300 N. Tryon St., at 11 a.m. Race starts at 12 p.m. For more information, click here. You can also contact Ryan Kunkel by phone at 773-770-6032 or by email at ryan@redfrogevents.com.
Arts / News Go Greek
Posted By Anita Overcash on Wed, Sep 9, 2009 at 9:44 AM
It’s time — Sept. 10-13 — for the 32nd annual Yiasou Greek Festival, and I’m excited. When I visited the fest for the first time last year, I realized that I have really been missing out. The festival offers a variety of Greek cultural exhibits, tours and lectures of the impressive cathedral, a variety of entertainment and costumes, an outdoor market, a bookstore, and last but not least, food. Choose from food selections like Greek salads, gyros, souvlaki sandwiches and more, to delicious pastries like baklava. You can even get the baklava with ice cream, which is a pure sundae delight. You do not want to miss out on this festival. Admission is $2 (School groups or senior citizen groups contact Helen Karras at 704-334-4771 for free admission). Sept. 10, 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sept. 11-12, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sept. 13, 12 p.m.-8 p.m. Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral is located at 600 East Blvd.
Arts / Today's Top Five / News Today's Top 5: Wednesday
Posted By Anita Overcash on Wed, Sep 9, 2009 at 8:00 AM
Here are the five best events going down in Charlotte and the surrounding area today, Sept. 9, 2009 — as selected by the folks at Creative Loafing.
• Debut exhibition at The Art House
• At the Threshold of Alchemy: An Evening of Poetry and Music with John Amen at Carolina Actors Studio Theatre
• Author Drew Banks at Park Road Books
• Pop Life at Apostrophe Lounge
• The Modern Society, The Stellas, and Brandon Kirkley & The Firecrackers at Snug Harbor
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One-night-only art show at Hart Witzen
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Question the Queen City: What lurks in the woods of Camp Greene? 1
The World War 1 training facility's tragic past lingers even today
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Live review: Moogfest, Asheville 1
Five memorable performances from the weekend.
