PLEASE DON'T DRINK THE WATER or maybe trust our protectors?

Drainage Canal, Baton Rouge LA 2007 from the series Land's End

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Vitter urges Senate hearings on Stanford

U.S. Sen. David Vitter has sent a letter to the Chairman of the Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, Sen. Chris Dodd, and the committee’s ranking Republican, Sen. Richard Shelby, urging the senators to hold a special hearing before the start of August. The letter, also signed by Sens. Mel Martinez, R-Fla., and Bob Corker, R-Tenn., asks that the committee review the Stanford Group’s alleged Ponzi scheme and the “failures of our nation’s regulatory agencies to intervene to protect the companies defrauded investors.”

The strongly worded letter says the federal oversight agencies’ failure is “shocking,” especially considering that the “Stanford Group Companies have a long history with these agencies.” It also firmly asserts that if any of the involved regulatory agencies had stepped in regarding Stanford earlier it would “have likely saved these investors from the hardships they face now.

Vitter has been an outspoken advocate for the Louisiana victims of the alleged fraud since shortly after it was announced Feb. 17. Kim Scullin, a representative with the Louisiana Stanford Victims Group, said in an e-mail, “It is imperative to me that we discover how this was allowed to occur for so many years, impacting thousands of middle-class working and retired Americans who tried to do everything right.”

The Baton Rouge Business Report by Olivia Watkins. 6/29/09

THE SPORT OF WAR

FIRST BASE, Baton Rouge LA 2009

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when the world seems to be crumbling around us, it's no wonder we find such joy in the victory of sport!

I have often thought, all wars should be fought on a field or court, and the losers still lose , but no one dies and everyone goes home to live and fight another day!

On reflecting on the LSU Tigers winning it's sixth National Championship in NCAA Div. 1 baseball.

BEST HOUSE IS A HOME

HOME , Baton Rouge LA 2008 from LAND'S END

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B.R. housing market named as one of nation's best*

More good news about the Baton Rouge housing market: A real estate forecasting service says the Capital Region is one of the 10 best cities in terms of future home prices. Local Market Monitor, which produces the Home Price Forecast for more than 300 cities, says home values should remain level locally over the next 12 months. Officials with Local Market Monitor credit the same factors for Baton Rouge's stability that have been repeatedly said during the national housing crisis: Home prices in the Capital Region never got out of hand, and economic growth has remained steady locally. Other cities with populations of more than 600,000 in the top 10 include Dallas, Houston and Rochester, N.Y. Alexandria, Monroe and Shreveport-Bossier City made the top 10 list for future home prices in cities with populations under 600,000. The worst housing markets were mostly cities in California, Florida, Arizona and Nevada, where price speculation got out of hand, places such as Las Vegas, Phoenix and Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

*www.businessreport.com/archives/daily-report/2009/jun/23/1047/

HOUSE CLEANING

HOT FOAM CARPET CLEANER, Baton Rouge LA 2009

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Sir R. Allen Stanford was finally criminally indicted late last week for running an 8 billion dollar ponzi scheme* from his off shore bank operation.

A number of other individuals were arrested as well, including a Miami based security person who allegedly destroyed 8 - 95 gallon containers of bank documents!

Now that is some serious house cleaning!

*It has been reported that over 1,000 Louisiana residents who invested in Stanford International Bank have lost more than $1 billion dollars to the Ponzi scheme!

MISPLACED LOYALTY!

Plywood Dog Cutout , 2005

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Vijay Singh is surprisingly loyal

CNBC's Darren Rovell reports that it's rather amazing to see Vijay Singh wearing the logo of the embattled Stanford Financial Group investment company at the U.S. Open today.



Singh is locked in an $8 million dispute with the company, whose CEO, R. Allen Stanford, surrendered to federal officials early this morning, according to the Houston Chronicle.

A federal indictment is expected to be issued against Stanford today, on fraud charges.

Stanford long ago defaulted on its $8 million deal to have Singh wear the company logo on his shirt, hat and golf bag, Rovell reports.

More Info: http://blogs.usatoday.com/gameon/2009/06/vijay-singh-is-surprisingly-loyal.html

Today's Tidbits

Miami Breakfast, Miami FL 2007

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~ La. Gov. Bobby Jindal has asked the committee formed , drafting him for president, to please desist! The Governor fears supports will be confused about  what his future plans will be, i.e. run for re-election!

 

~ Indicted former U.S. Rep. William Jefferson has told Federal prosecutors, through his defense lawyers, that the $100,000. In cash (in his refrigerator) he received, allegedly to bribe an African government official was there so the maids wouldn’t steal it!

 

~Baton Rouge has been ranked 8^th in the nation for recession proof economic performance by the Brookings Institute.

 

FORE!

Practice Range with Balls, Baton Rouge LA 2009

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British photographer and curator , Stuart Pilkington , asked me to participate in this project which is just about half completed?

Take a look:

www.50statesproject.net

WHO said What?

Faceless Painting, Seagrove FL 2007

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The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced we are in a marathon fighting the Swine Flu , not a sprint. In an unstoppable battle, Swine influenza has been called the first pandemic since 1968.

 People aged 30-50, pregnant women or people suffering from chronic conditions such as asthma, diabetes or obesity are deemed at highest risk. 

Louisiana has reported 134 confirmed cases of swine flu — 16 of which are in East Baton Rouge Parish and only 1 in New Orleans.

 

PICTURING PEOPLE - Riley P.

Riley , Houston TX 2009

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Riley P. - Aspiring artist, student and family friend.

Picturing People is an ongoing portrait series.

UNDER WATER

Boy doing Head Stand, Houston , TX 2009

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It appears the whole Jefferson family is drowning, at least figuratively! 

Former U.S. Rep. Wm. Jefferson is getting ready for his Federal corruption trial. Sister Betty Jefferson is under indictment for charities fraud, brother Mose has been implicated in the same scandal. Andrea , William's wife, is also implicated in the same case. Alan Green, William's brother-in-law was convicted of bribery. Brenda Foster, William's sister was convicted of concealing bribery and Angela Coleman, William's niece has been indicted in charities fraud as well.

NOT A STRIPPER POLL

High Voltage Conduit - LSU Campus, Baton Rouge LA 2008

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Poll: Most don’t think stimulus is helping economy 

Sixty-eight percent of people who responded to a Baton Rouge Business Report - Daily Report poll say the president's economic stimulus is not causing the U.S. economy to improve. Fourteen percent say the Obama plan is helping boost the economy, while 10% say it will eventually help, and 8% are unsure. Nearly 1,600 people participated in the poll

IT’S JUST CHATTER

Riley and Hannah Texting, Houston TX 2009

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~New Orleans Mayor C. Ray Nagin , his wife and body guard were quarantined upon their plane landing in China , because a passenger aboard their flight displayed (swine?) flu type symptoms! Why does the Mayor need a body guard while visiting China?
 
~The LSU baseball team has made it back to the College World series for the second straight year after defeating Rice in a best 2 out of 3 series this weekend! Isn’t it amazing how our sports teams can lift or drop our spirits?

 

~Former U.S. Rep. William Jefferson has waited four years to face trail, after the F.B. I found $90,000. cash stuffed in his freezer! Allegedly the cash was part of a bribe from an African government official. Ah the wheels of justice are turning, albeit slowly?
  

PICTURING PEOPLE - Jim Zeitz

Jim Zeitz, Baton Rouge LA 2009

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Jim Zeitz - Photographer , neighbor and friend.

Picturing People is an ongoing portrait series.

FOR THE BIRDS

Bird Diorama, Natural History Museum - Houston TX , 2009

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In a de ja vu reminder of old style Louisiana politics , yesterday the La legislature voted down a controversial tax incentivized private hotel development , only to take another vote at the last minute after most decent-ors had left the room! On the second vote, the measure was approved!

For more info:

www.2theadvocate.com/blogs/politicsblog/46865752.html

PICTURING PEOPLE - Diana Beauregard

Diana Beauregard , Baton Rouge LA 2009

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Diana Beauregard - Executive Director L.T.A., tennis player and friend.

MEMO TO: Vijay Singh

EXIT Door , rural Louisiana 2007

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MEMO

 

To: Vijay Singh

Re: Stanford Financial Group Sponsorship

 

Dear Vijay,

In case you did not hear the news , Sir Allen Stanford is under criminal investigation for using his company (your sponsor) in a Ponzi scheme! Sir Sanford , it has been widely reported, bilked $8 Billion out of 30,000 clients worldwide , with 1,000’s having lost upwards of $1Billion in Louisiana alone!

So Vijay, please lose the Stanford visor, your check is not in the mail.

The Management