It’s Good To Be The King

Why the BBC Fails to Care

"Over the past three years, 150 managers received a total of £25 million in severance payments – and 10 of the most senior executives accounted for more than £5 million of that sum. The report from the National Audit Office (NAO) into severance payments at the BBC scotched the myth that the Corporation had been contractually bound to make them. Over the past three years, 150 managers received a total of £25 million – and 10 of the most senior executives accounted for more than £5 million of that sum. The NAO said the BBC not only operated an excessively generous policy on severance payments, but had 'exceeded contractual requirements' in doing so." Continue reading →

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British parliament budgets $150,000 to refurbish two toilets

"The British parliament is to spend up to £100,000 (120,000 euros, $150,000) on refurbishing two toilets used by members of the House of Lords and guests, it emerged on Sunday. A contract put out to tender by the House of Commons authorities says the toilets, installed in 1937, have not been refurbished for 20 years 'and have reached the end of their serviceable life'. The document says: 'The lavatories are in an unacceptable condition for the high profile area they are in and they give a poor image of the Palace of Westminster. A refurbishment is required urgently to bring the amenities to a standard that reflects a World Heritage site.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingBritish parliament budgets $150,000 to refurbish two toilets

DEA Wages Hemp War Behind The Scenes In House

"The Drug Enforcement Administration has kicked its lobbying against legalizing industrial hemp into high gear, hoping to block an amendment in the House that would decriminalize the crop for research purposes. The Huffington Post has obtained a copy of talking points the DEA is circulating among members of Congress to press them to oppose the amendment -- raising the seemingly incongruous specter of the government using its resources to lobby itself. Hemp is legal to grow in many industrialized countries, including Canada, and is legal to import into the U.S. States such as Colorado and McConnell's Kentucky have legalized hemp growing, but await federal action." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingDEA Wages Hemp War Behind The Scenes In House

The 5 Richest Cabinet Members of All Time

"No. 5: W. Averell Harriman, commerce secretary, 1947-48; Estimated wealth in current dollars: $841 million; Harriman earned his money the old-fashioned way: He inherited most of it from his father, E.H. Harriman, founder of the Union Pacific Railroad. No. 4: William C. Whitney, Navy secretary, 1885-89; Estimated wealth in current dollars: $1.1 billion; Whitney came into his money via political connections and by marrying Flora Payne, the sister of Oliver Hazard Payne, one of John D. Rockefeller’s close assistants and earliest investors. No. 3: Penny Pritzker, commerce secretary, 2013." Continue reading →

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Crony Chicago-Based Billionaire Heiress Joins Obama Cabinet

"The Senate has confirmed Chicago-based billionaire Penny Pritzker as new Commerce Secretary. She was an early and important source of money in Obama's first presidential campaign. Pritzker is also on the Board of Directors of the Council on Foreign Relations. She serves as trustee of Stanford University. She's an advisory board member of Robert Rubin's Brookings Institution's Hamilton Project. This, folks, is a major insider. Forbes lists her wealth at $1.7 billion. Her father co-founded the Hyatt Hotel chain." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCrony Chicago-Based Billionaire Heiress Joins Obama Cabinet

IRS Deputy Won’t Testify Before Congress on Awards to Friend

"An Internal Revenue Service deputy director whose office awarded more than $500 million in contracts to a friend’s technology company wouldn’t testify before a congressional committee. Greg Roseman was subpoenaed to appear today before a U.S. House committee investigating how Strong Castle Inc., a small business formed in late 2011, managed to attract so much contract work in such a short time. At a House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing, he declined to answer questions about his relationship with Braulio Castillo, president of Washington-based Strong Castle." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingIRS Deputy Won’t Testify Before Congress on Awards to Friend

Porn, wine and kazoos on IRS worker charge cards

"The IRS allows some of its 90,000 employees to use company charge cards to buy work-related items, such as office supplies. However, employees made a host of 'improper' purchases -- ranging from a dinner averaging $140 per person to Thomas the Tank Engine rubber wristbands. The inspector general said the IRS has been negligent when it comes to catching employees who circumvent $3,000 caps on transactions, by splitting purchases into several transactions. The agency also doesn't have a good record at turning off credit cards as soon as employees depart or retire." Continue reading →

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The Trick is to Suspend the Constitution Without Admitting It

"The executive branch has routinely invoked the so-called PATRIOT act, and the Authorization for Use of Military Force to supposedly permit the President and his subordinates to wage war anywhere on the face of the earth, carry out all-encompassing electronic surveillance of the entire population, and even carry out summary executions of anyone – including U.S. citizens – deemed to be enemies of the state. Pakistan endured a similar period of executive rule under the reign of military dictator Pervez Musharraf between 1999 and 2008. The Pakistani government is preparing to put Musharraf on trial for treason for suspending that country’s constitution." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingThe Trick is to Suspend the Constitution Without Admitting It

Heated exchange after Baton Rouge cop pulls over fellow officer driving recklessly

"In the video, off-duty BRPD officer David Stewart pulls over a swerving white pickup truck that he says was doing more than twice the 45 mph speed limit. The stop happened on Juban Road in Livingston Parish. Stewart said he pulled the vehicle over and contacted the Livingston Parish Sheriff's department because he thought the driver may be impaired or having a 'road rage' fit. However, after the driver, Cpl. Brian Harrison, identified himself as a Baton Rouge police officer, the dash-mounted camera in Stewart's vehicle then captured a heated 4-minute exchange between the two men." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingHeated exchange after Baton Rouge cop pulls over fellow officer driving recklessly