Winning Hearts & Minds

Fannie To Allow Mortgage Walkaways by On-Time Borrowers

"Fannie Mae (FNMA) and Freddie Mac will let some borrowers who kept up payments as their homes lost value erase their debts by giving up the properties, helping Americans escape underwater loans while adding to losses at the mortgage giants bailed out with $190 billion of taxpayer money. Non-delinquent borrowers with illness, job changes or other reasons they need to move will become eligible in March to apply for a so-called deed-in-lieu transaction that erases the shortfall between a property’s value and the size of its mortgage." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFannie To Allow Mortgage Walkaways by On-Time Borrowers

Fannie To Allow Mortgage Walkaways by On-Time Borrowers

"Fannie Mae (FNMA) and Freddie Mac will let some borrowers who kept up payments as their homes lost value erase their debts by giving up the properties, helping Americans escape underwater loans while adding to losses at the mortgage giants bailed out with $190 billion of taxpayer money. Non-delinquent borrowers with illness, job changes or other reasons they need to move will become eligible in March to apply for a so-called deed-in-lieu transaction that erases the shortfall between a property’s value and the size of its mortgage." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFannie To Allow Mortgage Walkaways by On-Time Borrowers

75-year-old soybean farmer sees Monsanto lawsuit reach U.S. Supreme Court

"On the one side is Bowman, a single 75-year-old Indiana soybean farmer who is still tending the same acres of land as his father before him in rural south-western Indiana. On the other is a gigantic multibillion dollar agricultural business famed for its zealous protection of its commercial rights. The firm insists that it maintains patent rights on its genetically modified seeds even if sold by a third party with no restrictions put on its use – even if the seeds are actually only descendants of the original Monsanto seeds." Continue reading →

Continue Reading75-year-old soybean farmer sees Monsanto lawsuit reach U.S. Supreme Court

Iranians march in government-sponsored rally to mark revolution

"Hundreds of thousands of people marched on Sunday in Tehran and other cities chanting 'Death to America' as Iran marked the 34th anniversary of the Islamic revolution that ousted the US-backed shah. Tehran is currently under a series of international sanctions aimed at curbing its controversial nuclear programme of uranium enrichment. The sanctions have led to a severe economic crisis, choking Iran’s banking system and limiting its oil exports, the country’s main foreign revenue earner. According to a recent survey by the US polling firm Gallup, Iran’s nuclear programme is supported by a large majority of its population." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingIranians march in government-sponsored rally to mark revolution

Watch Iran’s $40-Million Oil Rig Collapse Into The Sea

"An Iranian oil rig that cost $40 million and weighs more than 4 million pounds sank in the Persian Gulf last week, news.com.au reports. Workers rushed to get off the rig—which belongs to Iran's Revolutionary Guard and took 30 months to build—as it disappeared into Iran's South Pars gas field in about 10 seconds. Last month Iran’s oil minister acknowledged in a report that oil sales were down 40 percent and income dropped 45 percent in the previous nine months, largely because of U.S. sanctions aimed at curbing the country's disputed nuclear program. Nevertheless, China has been purchasing more in recent months." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingWatch Iran’s $40-Million Oil Rig Collapse Into The Sea

Barack Obama’s ‘extreme’ anti-terror tactics face liberal backlash

"President Barack Obama is facing a liberal backlash over his hardline national security policy, which critics say is more extreme and conservative than that pursued by George W Bush. The outrage comes after a week in which Obama’s nominee to be the next head of the CIA, current White House adviser John Brennan, faced a grilling from the Senate intelligence committee over his enthusiastic support of using unmanned drones to strike suspected Islamic militants all over the globe." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingBarack Obama’s ‘extreme’ anti-terror tactics face liberal backlash

Man trampled as hundreds of desperate Greeks scuffle for food

"A fruit and vegetable handout in Greece led to one man being trampled on Wednesday, calling attention to desperate conditions. Some 55 tons of produce was given away by farmers who were protesting high production costs. The chaos was sparked when food stalls ran out of fruits and vegetables, prompting dozens of people to rush to a nearby truck. It was an 'every man for himself' situation as the Greeks shoved their way to the front of the truck, competing for the food that was left. The 55 tons of food was completely gone in under two hours. A Reuters employee at the scene was hit on the head with cauliflower heads as he attempted to photograph the situation." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingMan trampled as hundreds of desperate Greeks scuffle for food

Dorner manhunt: LAPD officers opened fire on mother, daughter

"In their pursuit of a fugitive ex-cop, at least seven officers opened fire on what turned out to be a mother and daughter delivering newspapers on a quiet residential street, law enforcement sources told The Times. It was 'a tragic misinterpretation' by officers working under 'incredible tension,' LAPD Chief Charlie Beck said Friday in an interview with The Times. Margie Carranza, 47, and her mother, Emma Hernandez, 71, were the victims." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingDorner manhunt: LAPD officers opened fire on mother, daughter

Amish leader sentenced to 15 years for beard-cutting ‘hate crimes’

"The leader of an Amish cult — who allegedly ordered followers to forcibly cut the beards and hair of those who criticized his leadership — was sentenced to 15 years in prison. The 67-year-old Samuel Mullet Sr. was convicted not just of assault but of hate crimes, as prosecutors said the victims’ right to religious expression was violated. The sentence sat between what the government asked for — life in prison — and what the defense sought, which was at most two years. Fifteen others implicated in the crimes were sentenced to between one and seven years in prison." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingAmish leader sentenced to 15 years for beard-cutting ‘hate crimes’

Excessive Criminal Laws Trap Honest American Businessman

"Florida seafood importer Abner 'Abbie' Schoenwetter spent years in a U.S. federal prison for supposedly violating the laws of Honduras... even though the Honduran government proved he was innocent. In an appalling miscarriage of justice, Schoenwetter lost his thriving business and years with his family. This shocking true story warns of the U.S. government creating new criminal laws that affect every American -- a problem known as overcriminalization." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingExcessive Criminal Laws Trap Honest American Businessman