From Academy Award® nominated filmmaker, Charles Ferguson ("No End In Sight"), comes INSIDE JOB, the first film to expose the shocking truth behind the economic crisis of 2008. The global financial meltdown, at a cost of over $20 trillion, resulted in millions of people losing their homes and jobs. Through extensive research and interviews with major financial insiders, politicians and journalists, INSIDE JOB traces the rise of a rogue industry and unveils the corrosive relationships which have corrupted politics, regulation and academia. Narrated by Academy Award® winner Matt Damon, INSIDE JOB was made on location in the United States, Iceland, England, France, Singapore, and China.

If there is just one finance blog I would consider required reading to understand the depth of corruption in Wall Street, it is naked capitalism. It was created by Yves Smith, the author of ECONNED: How Unenlightened Self-Interest Undermined Democracy and Corrupted Capitalism.

In her book she describes how going back to the 1970s, there was a push by free-marketeers to use Economics, not Finance, to not just create policy but to develop the trading tools that has created the hydra of the 1980s S&L and the current banking collapse, the sub-prime mortage orgy and the derivatives unicorn and rainbows markets.

Smith is ruthless when it comes to denouncing Economics as a discipline that is not qualified to provide policy advice and she has no problems calling out free-marketeers as looters. To say I deeply admire the breath of her financial knowledge and her fearless activism is to put it mildly.

It's why, when she says a documentary about the crisis is good, I take notice. From naked capitalism - Inside Job: A Movie Wall Street is Sure to Hate  read more »

The wealthiest NYC dweller is the guy who looks stoned on the right. His name? David Koch, co-heir of Koch Industries, climate change denier and major co-funder of the faux-grassroots Tea Party.

Yes, this is the guy that is funding a "little people's movement" that demands we don't tax the wealthy. This is that guy.

While Michael Bloomberg gave a rousing speech defending the building of Córdoba House in downtown Manhattan, both Chuck Schumer and Anthony Weiner have been conspicuously silent on the issue.

Kirsten Gillibrand, Carolyn Maloney and Jerrold Nadler all released statements of support, yet it was only Nadler who was willing to take a forceful political stand on the issue. From Nadler: Attacks on mosque "shameful and divisive":

As an elected official who believes strongly in the separation of church and state, I contend that the government has no business deciding whether there should or should not be a Muslim house of worship near Ground Zero. And, as a representative of New Yorkers of all faiths and cultures, I find the singling out of Muslim-Americans -- because of their faith -- for animus and hate to be shameful and divisive. We should instead work toward building tolerance and understanding. For centuries, New Yorkers have exhibited a great capacity to incorporate and benefit from diversity. The Córdoba House, which is the product of moderate Muslims, has the support of the local community board and a wide swath of Lower Manhattan community leaders.

I have said numerous times that Schumer needs a primary. Actually, his love for everything Rupert Murdoch has earned him an entry into my list of Democrats that need to be booted out. Gillibrand should also get a primary even if that other person would have ended up being Maloney. As to Maloney, she is looking down the barrel of a primary against Indian-American Reshma Saujani.

Then there's Weiner.

Sure, many people think he would be a good mayor for New York. Guess who's the other name that makes NYC Democrat's head swoon? Jerrold Nadler. If Weiner thinks screaming about health care for 9/11 responders is enough to get him elected mayor of the city, he is wrong. That bullshit strategy may have worked wonders for Giuliani but for him? Not. Gonna. Work.

On a personal note: I just want to let everybody know that when the primary and election days come, I will be remembering the names of the more than 60 Muslim men and women who died on the days of the attacks. And I will remember those who refused to honor and defend like Nadler and Bloomberg have.

From : Muslim Victims of September 11th Attack

Partial List of Muslim 9/11 Victims
Note: This list is as yet incomplete and unconfirmed.It has been compiled from the Islamic Circle of North America, the Newsday victims database, and reports from other major news organizations.

The victims' ages, employers, or other personal information is included when available, along with links to further information or photos.  read more »

From the President of NARAL-ProChoice New York:

Yesterday the New York City Council voted by an overwhelming majority to pass the Clinic Access Bill (Prop. Int. 826), which provides much needed protections for women’s access to reproductive health clinics across the city.

Even New York City is not immune to anti-choice protests. There are women who visit reproductive health care clinics in our own community who are regularly confronted by protestors who band together to harass, intimidate, and block access to basic reproductive health care services. New Yorkers won’t stand for such barriers to access—and now, we don’t have to.

Yesterday’s vote was the culmination of work that began a few years ago when NARAL Pro-Choice New York recognized the need to strengthen the law protecting access to clinics across the city. We have worked hand in hand with the City Council ever since and were proud to stand with Speaker Christine Quinn and our other allies in the City Council yesterday as they passed this important law.

The Clinic Access Bill passed 40-8, with Councilmembers Tony Avella, Simcha Felder, Vincent Ignizio, Kenneth Mitchell, Eric Ulrich, James Vacca, Peter Vallone, and James Oddo voting against it. We urge you to take this opportunity to either thank your Councilmember for supporting this bill or to express your disappointment that he or she voted against it. Find your Councilmember’s contact info here.

Thank you for standing with us throughout this process, and here’s to more pro-choice victories to come!

For Choice,
Kelli Conlin
President  read more »

The Empire State Building and most of Manhattan around me joins Earth Hour. From EarthHour.org:

In 2009, Earth Hour is being taken to the next level, with the goal of 1 billion people switching off their lights as part of a global vote. Unlike any election in history, it is not about what country you’re from, but instead, what planet you’re from. VOTE EARTH is a global call to action for every individual, every business, and every community. A call to stand up and take control over the future of our planet. Over 74 countries and territories have pledged their support to VOTE EARTH during Earth Hour 2009, and this number is growing everyday.

One more :  read more »