U.S. hedge fund reaps big RBS profit whilst British pensioners in Europe are below the poverty line

It is said that 350,000 British pensioners live in Spain. One has seen his state pension drop from 410 euros (for 4 weeks) over the last twenty months to 290 euros ($406). It should be noted that he is not on the full state pension for having been invalided out of the army after service in Korea he was told that he did not have to make contributions, something that the Department for Work and Pensions changed their mind on after several years which resulted in a short fall in his contributions. A similarly aged pension (a former RAF intelligence officer) who wrote to this department about his difficulty received an insulting letter from a Civil servant stating "there is no legal requirement to help pensioners. The Governments priority is to help pensioners living in this country (England) and it will continue to help them so they are able to have a decent income." (reported in The Olive Press). It is estimated that at least 5% of pensioners will have to return to England putting a burden on that country, but I personally believe that it will be much higher.

Perhaps there should be a common European Union pension where all pensioners receive the same basic pension. English pensioners that were not claiming the heating allowance before they retired do not get it whilst pensioners that moved to Spain or another European country do not. What happened to equality?

Who is to blame? The people that speculate in currencies and secondly the English Government/Bank of England for the possible mismanagement of the sterling weakness. Should the Governer of England King not have reduced interest rates at the same time as the Fed in the USA?

George Soros is still speculating in sterling saying today that he had stopped betting on sterling at $1.40 and can be blamed for sterlings weakness. Jim Rogers makes alarmist remarks about the UK (possibly to line his own pockets) and U.S. hedge fund Paulson & Co's profit (short selling), which could have topped 270 million pounds if it sold all its RBS (RBS.L) position, Other short sellers of UK bank stocks could have been in part to blame for the collapse in their share prices and the resulting talk of nationalisation which further weakened sterling. Of course Sir Frank Goodwin (or will it be Frank Goodwin) comes into the equation for his running of RBS allowing Paulson & Co's to short the banks shares!

We did write to Bloomberg suggesting that the word Nationalisation should not be used by them for at least a month and I have only heard it mentioned once (not forcefully) and it does not appear to have been on the ticker tape. The share price of UK banks appeared to have recovered by over 100%

Should Sir Fred Goodwin be stripped of his knighthood?

We have mentioned this about a week ago and now there is an article By Tony Bonsignore | 14:10:32 | 27 January 2009 HERE. where you can leave your views or on this blog

I think that the consensus of opinion in the comments is that Sir Frank Goodwin should be stripped of his knighthood for diservice to the banking industry, but the it might be difficult for shareholders to reclaim his bonuses, but should there nof be a class action as in my opinion the shareholder that took up the entitlement in the first right issue for 12 bn pounds were mislead about the finances of Royal Bank of Scotland

The Prime Minister of England George Brown is ANGRY with him as are the shareholders and the employees of the bank.

Chapter 1 "The ambush"

Chapter 1 "The ambush"

Bernie Madoff

How to Ponzi Proof Your Portfolio (22 January 2009)

http://www.ino.com/info/278/CD16/&dp=0&l=0&campaignid=3

5 Ways to Ponzi proof your portfolio and sleep well at night.

I've been in the financial arena for over 30 years. I must say I that I am appalled to see scum like Bernie Madoff stealing money from honest people. In many ways he's committing one of the most heinous of crimes. He's destroying the financial standings of unsuspecting victims for his own selfish greed.

My message left on Bloomberg. Let us see if they publish

Thank You for Your Feedback!

Feedback Status:

TicketID: W00328635880539504685
Status: Waiting
Summary: the use of the word NATIONALISATION by the media

LOG: 1/22/09 06:24:45 Your Initial Feedback

With respect I believe that Bloomberg and other channels are using this word too much and contribute to the fall in financial shares in both the USA and UK. I think that you should try not using this word for at least one month.

Stock markets usually anticipate facts by 6 months. I believe that if we could have healthy stock markets then the economy could improve. This requires both retail and professional investors.

I would also suggest that both capital gains taxes and with holding taxes on dividends be removes to encourage investment. This would encourage investment in quoted companies and compensate the investors (including pensioners) who are getting little or no interest on their savings in banks due to the current low interest climate.

We do not hear on the media the word Nationalisation used with respect to the French Banks - just no bonuses
which is the way it should be. Please restrain your reports for at least one month the use of the word NATIONALISATION

The BBC investigate the shooting of 2 Palestinian children

Yesterday I watched this investigation by the BBC where it was alledged that an Israel soldier in cold blood killed 2 children in Gaza and badly wounded the third one of the family. The BBC had kindly re-united the wounded child with her father. There were witnesses to the alledged murder.

I did a search on Google "war crimes israel" and this is a sample of what I found.

1. Israel Accused of 'War Crimes' for Phosphorus Shells | Danger Room ...

   International watchdogs are calling the Israeli use of white phosphorus shells in Gaza a war crime. Could they be right? Calls for an international war ...
   blog.wired.com/defense/2009/01/white-phosphoru.html - 170k - Cached - Similar pages -

2. Digg - Israel accused of war crimes over on Gaza Village

   Israel stands accused of perpetrating a series of war crimes during a sustained 12-hour assault on a village in southern Gaza last week in which 14 people ...
   digg.com/world_news/Israel_accused_of_war_crimes_over_on_Gaza_Village - 310k - Cached - Similar pages -

3. Israel Is Committing War Crimes -- George E. Bisharat » Propeller

   There is a double standard. If the Palestinians kill Israeli citizens it's OK. If IsraelIsrael is committing war crimes. ...
   www.propeller.com/story/2009/01/11/israel-is-committing-war-crimes-george-e-bisharat/ - 183k - RETALIATES TO PROTECT ITSELF, Cached - Similar pages -
   

Only by trying Israel if war crimes has been committed can we obtain the respect and peace in the middle east

Is an Israeli investigation sufficient?

Results 1 - 10 of about 1,200,000 for bombing of united nations schools in Gaza. (0.22 seconds)

Search Results

1. Gaza's day of carnage - 40 dead as Israelis bomb two UN schools ...

   7 Jan 2009 ... Israel's assault on Gaza has exacted the bloodiest toll of civilian lives yet, when the bombing of UN schools being used as refugee centres ...
   www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jan/07/gaza-israel-obama - 95k - Cached - Similar pages -

2. Israeli shelling of Gaza kills dozens at UN school | World news ...

   6 Jan 2009 ... Hours earlier, three young men – all cousins – died when the Israelis bombed another UN school, the Asma primary school in Gaza City. ...
   www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jan/06/gaza-israel-death-un - 97k - Cached - Similar pages -
   More results from www.guardian.co.uk »

3. Israeli Strike Reportedly Hits United Nations School in Gaza ...

   7 Jan 2009 ... At least 40 people were reported killed, as diplomats said that Israel’s Prime Minister Ehud Olmert would travel to Egypt to discuss a ...
   www.nytimes.com/2009/01/07/world/middleeast/07mideast.html - Similar pages -

4. Gaza's darkest day: 40 die as Israel bombs 'safe haven' UN school ...

   7 Jan 2009 ... Gaza strip. A wounded Palestinian is carried near a United Nations school in Jabalya after a bombing in which at least 40 people died ...
   www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1106542/Gazas-darkest-day-40-die-Israel-bombs-safe-haven-UN-school.html - Similar pages -

5. YouTube - Gaza families mourn dead after UN school bombed - 07 Jan 09

   7 Jan 2009 ... In the 12 days of Israel's war on Gaza, the shelling of a United Nations school on Tuesday has been the most shocking incident.
   www.youtube.com/watch?v=-K8caHPpInE - 173k - Cached - Similar pages -

It wants an independent investigation and if the instigators are guilty they should be tried for WAR CRIMES. THE SHOULD ALSO BE MADE TO PAY FOR THE RE CONSTRUCTION OF GAZA.

THE WORLD IS IN A CREDIT CRISIS AND ISRAEL DOES THIS UNTHINKABLE DAMAGE

UN Resolution calls for cease fire in Gaza (14 members) America obstain!

does this mean that America condones the killing of civilians, women and children?
does America condone invasions? - their track record the invasion of Iraq

RT Guest
January 11, 2009, 9:07
Ron Paul

Israel's critics and enemies will see the United States as the side to be blamed for the ongoing violence in the Gaza Strip, believes Congressman Ron Paul. He says the US should review its unconditional support of the Jewish state.

http://www.russiatoday.com/guests/detail/1981

Palestinians carry the body of 4-year-old Lama Hamdan during her funeral in the town of Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip December 30, 2008. (Courtesy of http://www.uruknet.info/?p=50118)

America get rid of your representative to the UN Security Council and employ an impartial peace loving person. As the President Elect said "IT IS TIME FOR CHANGE"

Scam Alert (e-mailed to me today)

VISA FRAUD

Just a heads up for everyone regarding the latest in Visa fraud. Royal Bank of Canada received this communication about the newest scam.

This is happening in southern Alberta right now and moving. This one is pretty slick since they provide YOU with all the information, except the one piece they want. Note, the callers do not ask for your card number; they already have it.

This information is worth readi ng. By understanding how the VISA & MasterCard telephone Credit Card Scam works, you'll be better prepared to protect yourself. One of our employees was called on Wednesday from 'VISA', and I was called on Thursday from 'MasterCard'.

The scam works like this:
Person calling says, 'This is (name), and I'm calling from the Security and Fraud Department at VISA. My Badge number is 12460, your card has been flagged for an unusual purchase pattern, and I'm calling to verify. This would be on your VISA card which was iss ued by (name of bank). Did you purchase an Anti-Telemarketing Device for $497.99 from a marketing company based in Arizona ?' When you say 'No', the caller continues with, 'Then we will be issuing a credit to your account. This is a company we have been watching and the charges range from $297 to $497, just under the $500 purchase pattern that flags most cards. Before your next statement, the credit will be sent to (gives you your address), is that correct?'

You say 'yes'.

The caller continues - 'I will be starting a Fraud Investigation. If you have any questions, you should call the 1- 800 number listed on the back of your card (1-800-VISA) and ask for Security. You will need to refer to this Control Number. The caller then gives you a 6 digit number. 'Do you need me to read it again?'
Here's the IMPORTANT part on how the scam works:

The caller then says, 'I need to verify you are in possession of your card'. He'll ask you to 'turn your card over and look for some numbers'.
There are 7 numbers; the first 4 are part of your card number, the last 3 are the Security Numbers that verify you are the possessor of the card.
These are the numbers you sometimes use to make Internet purchases to prove you have the card. The caller will ask you to read the last 3 numbers to him. After you tell the caller the 3 numbers, he'll say, 'That is correct, I just needed to verify that the card has not been lost or stolen, and that you still have your card. Do you have any other questions?'

After you say no, the caller then thanks you and states, 'Don't hesitate to call back if you do', and hangs up. You actually say very little, and they never ask for or tell you the card number.

But after we were called on Wednesday, we called back. Within 20 minutes to ask a question. Are we were glad we did! The REAL VISA Security Department told us it was a scam and in the last 15 minutes a new purchase of $497.99 was charged to our card.

We made a real fraud report and closed the VISA account. VISA is reissuing us a new number. What the scammers want is the 3-digit PIN number on the back of the card. Don't give it to them. Instead, tell t hem you'll call VISA or Master Card directly for verification of their conversation.

The real VISA told us that they will never ask for anything on the card as they already know the information since they issued the card! If you give the scammers your 3 Digit PIN Number, you think you're receiving a credit. However, by the time you get your statement you'll see charges for purchases you didn't make, and by then it's almost too late and/or more difficult to actually file a fraud report.

What makes this more remarkable is that on Thursday, I got a call from a 'Jason Richardson of MasterCard' with a Word-for-word repeat of the VISA Scam. This time I didn't let him finish. I hung up! We filed a police report, as instructed by VISA. The police said they are taking several of these reports daily! They also urged us to tell everybody we know that this scam is happening. I dealt with a similar situation this morning, with the caller telling me that $3,097 had been charged to my account for plane tickets to Spain, and so on through the above routine.

It appears that this is a very active scam, and evidently quite successful.

Pass this on to all your family and friends

the other side - we try to be imparial in our attempt to improve the world

1. Why do Hamas militants send missiles into Israel? If we can provide a means to stop this grievance then we might be able to stop these missile attacks

2. What has been the cost of the Israeli military attack on Gaza? Could Israel, with their friendship and contact with the USA not have mounted a defense system along the Northern Gaza border which could knock out the militants missiles before they flew over Israeli territory. We are sure this would have been far most cost effective than the current military operations.

3. The cost of Palestinian life - we cannot put a price on this and the killing of Palestinian civilians in a UN school is unacceptable and like the Balkans war the culprits should be brought before the Criminal Court in the Hague.

Support Israeli Soldiers at War

THESE GIFTS ARE ARE BIG HELP TO SOMEONE ON THE FRONT

Jerusalem Post RSS | Breaking News from Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish World

Click here to read and then if you wish please leave your comments on this blog