Mammoth Python Consumes Full-Grown Deer

Photo by Robert Hill, South Florida Water Management District

A 16-foot Burmese python was shot and killed in the Florida Everglades Thursday just after eating a 76-pound doe.  Remnants of hair were found on the deer, confirming that the snake had not yet fully digested the hapless animal.  These pythons, which are not native to Florida, are rapidly becoming the largest predator in the Everglades.  They have plentiful prey in South Florida and appeared in the Everglades as a result of owners dumping them when they grew too large to manage.  Ham on Wry fails to comprehend why anyone would consider pythons pets.  Get too close, and they own you.

Water management contractors found and killed the python, which weighed over 139 pounds, minus the recently-eaten deer.  Scott Hardin, exotic species coordinator for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission. credits the elimination of this reptile as important to preventing the spread of pythons further north.  Scientists believe the species can survive as far as Washington, DC, because their native habitat reaches to the foothills of the Himalayas.  Take notice, Congress!  Florida now has a secret weapon that can eliminate those that fail to act in the best interest of America's citizens.

When Ham on Wry considers the rare animals killed in Ohio when their owner set them loose and then committed suicide and the owners who dump snakes in the Everglades, it makes a solid case for making it illegal to own exotic pets that live in a kill or be killed world in the wild.  This country has ample numbers of domestic animals that need homes.  Leave wild animals in their natural habitats.

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Rare Winter Storm Hits the Northeast

Photo by Jessica Hill/AP

A raging winter storm blasted through states from Pennsylvania to Massachusetts, leaving over two million homes and businesses without electricity.  Residents of the region have seen many Nor'easters, but this one has set a record in many of the cities and towns in its path.  Snow accumulation in areas of Massachusetts exceeded two feet.  Three deaths were also blamed on the storm.

Getty Image of East Village NYC in Storm

Because many trees still had not entirely shed their leaves, Central Park might lose as many as 1000 trees that could topple under the combined weight of snow clinging to the leaves, which already snapped branches and can possibly fell entire trees.



The governors of New Jersey, Connecticut, and Massachusetts declared states of emergencies Saturday, but New York's governor, Andrew Cuomo limited his state of emergency declaration to thirteen counties in the northern area of the state.  Michael McCarthy, a former Navy medic and protester camped in the tent city near City Hall in Providence, R.I., told the Associated Press,  "Everyone's been calling it our Valley Forge moment. Everybody thought that George Washington couldn't possibly survive in the Northeast."  Occupy Wall Street protesters also endured the winds and wet snow that made life more difficult in their encampment.

Michael Dwyer from the Associated Press snapped this picture of a downed tree in Belmont, Massachusetts. Ham on Wry leaves readers with this image in hopes that the Northeast returns to autumn weather this week.

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Ham on Wry Award-Occupy Oakland's Scott Olsen

Getty Image

As regular readers know, Ham on Wry doesn't use photos that depict graphic violence, but this week, I'm making an exception to emphasize the point of this post. Tuesday night, Occupy Oakland engaged in a war of words with police that devolved when some of the protesters threw paint, bottles and rocks at hundreds of officers wearing riot gear.  The demonstrators had gathered to express their disgruntlement about the dismantlement of one of their encampments.

In retaliation, police used tear gas and projectiles that included rubber bullets and possibly flash-bang grenades.  According to Wikipedia, a flash-bang grenade emits a flash of light that momentarily activates all light sensitive cells in the eye, making vision impossible for approximately five seconds until the eye restores itself to its normal, unstimulated state. The loud blast produced by the grenade adds to its incapacitating properties by disturbing the fluid in the ear.  Some type of projectile hit Scott Olsen, sending him to the hospital in critical condition with a fractured skull and brain swelling.

Olsen has served two tours in Iraq and is active in Iraq Veterans Against the War.  He spent time in the Occupy San Francisco movement and went to Oakland Tuesday night in support of the effort there.  Olsen has improved to fair and can understand everything that people tell him.  He has received many wishes for his recovery from around the world.  Police officials have launched an investigation into exactly what happened to Olsen.

Ham on Wry fully understands the law about peaceful assembly and the need for police protections. The fact that Olsen's injury was photographed in real time reveals the underbelly of police actions such as the one that injured Olsen.  Olsen's status as an Iraq war vet boldly symbolizes the widespread support for the Occupy rallies that have attracted a cross-section of Americans.  Thank you, Scott Olsen, for acting as a giant wake-up call to every American who still believes, "Everything is beautiful."

It is far past time to abandon the ridiculous belief that it's a person's right to take as much as s/he can with absolutely no regard for its effect on others.  Unfettered capitalism has proven a dismal failure, and this is not the first time in history capitalism has run amok.  The fall of many great societies occurred when greed ruled the nation and integrity disappeared.  Are we there yet?

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Jack the Cat Reappears at JFK

Photo from icanhascheezburger.com 

Ham on Wry is delighted to report that Jack, the elusive cat that has been roaming JFK Airport for two months, fell through ceiling tiles in a Custom and Border Patrol room at Terminal 8 Tuesday and is now being treated by veterinarian Dr. Jack Post.  Jack has a feeding tube and an IV that provides him with fluids, but the vet has listed him in critical condition.  After 61 days of dodging would-be captors, he was severely dehydrated and extremely hungry.

Jack at the Vet's Office, Photo by Mary Beth Melchior

The cat's owner, Karen Pascoe, vows he will never fly cargo again.  Her sister, Mary Beth Melchior, felt American Airlines, who botched Jack's transport, wasn't doing enough to locate the cat and started a Facebook page for him.  Jack immediately gained fame along with many well wishes, so much so, that he now has a Twitter account as well.

Jack disappeared August 25th, when Pascoe dropped him off with her other cat, Barry, each in a separate cage for their flight to California.  Barry made it to San Francisco; Jack didn't.  She had given up hope of his ever being found and adopted another cat to cheer up Barry, who missed his former companion.  When the vet releases Jack, Pascoe said she'd never let him out of her sight again.  Ham on Wry hopes that American Airlines flies him in first class and treats him like a king.  He's had quite an ordeal.

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Amy Winehouse Death Caused by Alcohol Poisonong

Getty Image

Coroner Suzanne Greenaway has determined that Amy Winehouse died of accidental alcohol poisoning at her home in London July 23rd.  At the time of death, her parents believed that she had conquered her years-long addiction to drugs and alcohol.  The initial autopsy found no evidence of illegal drugs or foul play, so some speculated that her extreme withdrawal symptoms she experienced in giving up the addictive substances might have caused her death.

When police investigator Detective Les Newman responded to the call made by a security guard who had discovered Winehouse dead, he found three empty vodka bottles in her bedroom.  Suhail Baithun, the pathologist who had studied urine samples collected from the deceased singer said that the level of alcohol in her blood was 416 milligrams per 100 milliliters, a blood alcohol level of 0.4 percent, five times the legal limit to drive in Britain.  Both Winehouse's doctor, Christina Romete, and her personal security guard, Andrew Morris, knew that she had started drinking again, but believe that she had it under control.

The Winehouse family spokesman issued the following statement earlier today:  "It is some relief to finally find out what happened to Amy. We understand there was alcohol in her system when she passed away, it is likely a build up of alcohol in her system over a number of days.  The court heard that Amy was battling hard to conquer her problems with alcohol and it is a source of great pain to us that she could not win in time. She had started drinking again that week after a period of abstinence. It underlines how important our work with the Amy Winehouse Foundation is to us, to help as many young people and children as we can in her name. It means a lot to us and from the overwhelming messages of support we have had since Amy died, we know she meant a great deal to people all over the world."

Amy Winehouse had a unique voice and style that wooed fans worldwide.  Many mourned her publicly and still grieve her loss.  In September, Tony Bennett's studio released Body and Soul, a duet with Bennett, as a single.  It is believed to be her last recording.

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Dancing with the Stars? Maks Takes Goodman to Task

ABC photo

Maksim Chermovskiy and his partner Hope Solo suffered the sting of a bad review when judge Len Goodman told the team it was "their worst dance of the season."  Following that comment, Maks lit into Goodman and criticized the panel of judges for inconsistency in their evaluations of the contestants.  Chermovskiy went too far when he retorted, "Maybe it's time for you to go," following Goodman's statement that he had been in the business for 50 years.  No need to show such bitterness.

Ham on Wry does question calling this production Dancing with the Stars, when many of the guest contestants do not warrant that title.  Many, like Bristol Palin,last year and Rob Kardashian this year are merely wannabes.  Chaz Bono's mother Cher is a star; he is not.  To his credit, he shows no overwhelming desire for fame and stepped out of his comfort zone to do this show.  Nancy Grace has almost no dancing ability and should have been off the show many weeks ago.  It's well past time for the producers to take stock of how the show has turned into a circus rather than a dance contest. 

When the show first aired, the contestants dressed with class and performed with as much grace and elegance as they could muster.  Now, it's more like a peep show with acrobatic moves.  Bruno Tonioli is given to emotional outbursts that go beyond judging into rapturous adoration.  Carrie Ann Inaba and Len Goodman stay closer to the real responsibility of judges in a dancing contest, by usually stressing strengths and weaknesses in technical execution and style.

Ham on Wry suggests that producers stick with real stars and focus on the kind of judging done in ballroom dance contests.  Perhaps that will bring back the appeal of the show.  Instead of making it a popularity contest, allow the judges to have the final say to the point where three couples remain.  Then the public can weigh in with their choices.  At least then viewers could be assured they would be seeing people with actual talent instead of hangers on that get votes in any way possible. 

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Bachmann's New Hampshire Staff Resigns En Masse

Photo by Jeff Chiu/AP

On first hearing that her New Hampshire campaign staff had resigned, Michele Bachmann suggested that an opponent had probably spread a rumor and claimed it wasn't true.  In fact, the staff did resign, and Ham on Wry has posted a press release from the former staff members issued yesterday.  It excoriates Bachmann's national staff, claiming that they treated the NH team as second-class citizens and blames certain incidents for causing the resignation, without stating specifics.  This exodus doesn't bode well for Bachmann's already faltering campaign.

The full text of the press release appears below.  Discerning Ham on Wry readers can determine for themselves what conclusions to draw from this event, but I feel it won't be long before she withdraws her candidacy, given the decrease in donations and her falling numbers in the polls.  I hope that happens because I shudder at the thought of someone who lacks global savvy sitting in a G8 conference next to Angela Merkel.

Manchester, NH — October 23, 2011: For Immediate Release
The Team-NH of the Bachmann Campaign has chosen to release a joint statement regarding their departure from the campaign. This statement explains the following:
* The NH Team didn't want to leave the campaign, but it should be clear the entire NH team has departed.
* Everyone should understand that the NH Team realizes the importance of this election
* The NH team is committed to making Obama a one-term president, but it will be through other
organizations/campaigns.
* The team holds no ill will towards the candidate, but not longer feels relevant based on their poor relationship with the national team.
Team-NH of the Bachmann Campaign has decided to disband. This decision comes after much soul-searching by each individual and after countless hours of discussion as a team. Although the team members regret our departure from the campaign, we know there was very little choice.
The team also wants to clarify some of the confusion regarding their departure. While they collectively felt loyalty to the candidate, they no longer have faith in the national team. This is a sentiment that has been building since June, and was expressed on numerous occasions to members of the national team; it is now apparent that Team NH's concerns were not fully shared with Congresswoman Bachmann, and were not taken seriously by some members of the national team. These are symptoms of the disease that infects too many members of the national campaign team.
It is also important that the chain of events of our departure is properly reported. During Congresswoman Bachmann's recent trip to New Hampshire, several incidents happened that concerned some members of Team-NH. Those incidents will remain private, but they were serious enough for some members to depart the campaign. Jeff Chidester, the NH Campaign Manager, sent an e-mail on Thursday, October 13, 2011 to a person he trusted who was connected to the campaign announcing that Chidester was "done," and would no longer stay with the team. The recipient of that e-mail asked if the entire NH team was also departing. Chidester informed this individual that some members of the team might be interested in staying, but that major changes needed to occur and that the national team must make contact with each member.
Additionally, members of Team-NH made numerous attempts to directly contact a senior member of the national team on Friday, October 14, 2011, expressing a possible desire to remain with the campaign, but they wanted to clear up a few matters. This senior member of the national campaign did not attempt to contact the NH campaign staffers. The staffers took this as a signal that the national team did not want to engage in a conversation that might have resulted in the staffers remaining with the campaign. The staffers no longer wish to be part of the campaign.
Regarding pay, there also seems to be some misunderstanding. The five departing members were full-time contract employees until September 11, 2011, when they were asked by the national team to temporarily "go off payroll", possibly until the middle of October (2011), due to financial concerns within the campaign. Moreover, Chidester voluntarily took himself off payroll (retroactive to September 1, 2011) for the remainder of the campaign in an effort to help the campaign financially. Some members went back on payroll for Congresswoman Bachmann's most recent trip; but to date, no member of Team-NH has received any notification to continue employment - yet another failure by the national team to communicate with Team-NH. Recent statements by some members of the national team regarding the employment status of Team-NH were dishonest and belittling, but indicative of the larger problems that led to Team-NH‟s departure.
Team-NH would like to stress that pay was not a primary motivation, and that each member was committed to the candidate and her principals. Team-NH regarded themselves as a team ready and willing to help Congresswoman Bachmann win New Hampshire. Sadly, they were deceived, constantly left out of the loop regarding key decisions, and relegated to second-class citizens within a campaign in which they were the original members.
The manner in which some in the national team conducted themselves towards Team-NH was rude, unprofessional, dishonest, and at times cruel. But more concerning was how abrasive, discourteous, and dismissive some within the national team were towards many New Hampshire citizens. These are our neighbors and our friends, and some within the national team treated them more as a nuisance than as potential supporters.
Through all this chaos, Team-NH was never involved in the shifting strategy discussions. Team members were repeatedly ignored regarding simple requests, sometimes going weeks with little or no contact with the national team. Yet the members of Team-NH remained committed to Congressman Bachmann, often at peril to their own personal and professional reputations within New Hampshire.
Sadly, all of this could have been avoided. It saddens this team to see a dedicated patriot - a person so desperately needed in the White House - sequestered behind a wall of pretense, guarded by political operatives consumed by their own egos.
It is distressing that the motives of the members of Team-NH who are now departing the campaign are being questioned. Team-NH has always been dedicated to Congresswoman Bachmann. They've worked very hard over the past several months to ensure her success in NH. We wish her well and will continue to work toward our shared goal of making President Obama a one-term president.

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Gaddafi's Ironic Last Words

Photo from tundratabloid.com

Moammar Gaddafi (or any of the countless other ways his name is spelled), routed out of a drain in his hometown of Sirte by National Transition Council rebels Thursday, died  of a bullet wound to the head, according to autopsy results released today.  The image of Gaddafi above shows him well before his capture because Ham on Wry prefers not to use the grisly photos that abound on the internet.  Readers can easily find pictures of him after his death, if interested.

Photo of Gaddafi in Uniform from Quartetbooks.wordpress.com

Not only do accounts of how he died vary widely, translations of his last words differ as well.  Several articles popped up yesterday stating that he asked his captors, "Do you know right from wrong?", while today, he is purported to have asked, "What have I done to you?"  Whether only one or the other is true, or both have merit makes little difference in terms of irony.  After 42 years of leadership, the atrocities attributed to him would fill volumes.  Clearly, he didn't understand right from wrong when he ordered the bombing of Pan Am flight 273 over Lockerbie, Scotland, that killed 243 passengers, 16 crew members, and 11 people on the ground.  We could well have asked Gaddafi, "Do you know right from wrong?" Many unanswered questions still exist today relating to that tragedy, and relatives of those who perished have expressed relief that Gaddafi is finally dead.

If he said, "What have I done to you?", Gaddafi was speaking to rebels who have suffered under his repressive leadership for years and could probably have provided hundreds, if not thousands, of valid answers.  Either way, Gaddafi clearly did not live within the realm of reality.  Whether he is labeled as a psychopath or sociopath, one truth emerges from the study of his eccentricities and bizarre attire at times. He had little regard for his people and used them like toys to be discarded when he tired of them.  His charm was designed to accomplish his aims and was insincere at best and intentionally misleading at worst.  That he died in ignominy is fitting.  His death ends a dictatorship, and we can only hope that something better will replace his rule.

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Ham on Wry Award-All American Troops Will Leave Iraq by Year's End

Sound the trumpets and dance in the streets!  Finally, Ham on Wry can share some good news with readers on a Friday afternoon.  Earlier today, President Obama announced that all remaining troops in Iraq will return home by the end of the year.  That should make January 1, 2012 a special New Year for all of us, especially those who have loved ones serving there.

Unfortunately, over 4,400 troops have lost their lives since the conflict began in March 2003, and many of those who have left Iraq, did so at the price of a limb or severe burns or post traumatic stress syndrome.  For the almost 40,000 military men and women who will be returning by December 31st, our nation should plan a rousing celebration for each group as it arrives.  The only troops who will remain there are assigned to the US Embassy.

Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki learned the news in a video conference with President Obama this morning.  The United States and Iraq failed to agree on the conditions under which a small number of troops would remain in Iraq after the withdrawal.  Increasing political pressure forced the decision, although Obama said that he will continue discussions with Maliki about using American military personnel to train Iraqi's armed forces.

Ham on Wry hopes that the U. S. provides heightened security measures in the interim that will prevent any further losses and a safe journey home to all. 

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Lindsay Lohan Leaves Courtroom in Cuffs

Lindsay Lohan is dangerously close to rock bottom in her career and personal life; yet, she continues defying her probation requirements.  Today, Judge Stephanie Sautner revoked her probation and set bail at $100,000.  In addition, she ordered Lohan to serve 16 hours at the morgue cleaning autopsy table.  Led from the courtroom in handcuffs, Lohan immediately posted bail and should be free by the time readers see this post.

In April, the judge ordered Lohan to complete 360 hours of community service at the Downtown Women’s Center in LA within a period of one year.  The agency, which serves homeless women, “fired” her for missing nine scheduled service periods and leaving one after spending just an hour there.  Judge Sautner, clearly disgusted with Lohan’s behavior, blasted her for writing in a statement that she wasn't interacting with anyone so it wasn't fulfilling.  Sautner also pointed out that her probation would have ended last year, if she had followed the rules imposed on her.  Instead, she violated her probation and would up back in court.

As the pictures to the right and below show, Lohan’s appearance has changed drastically in the last few years, and not in a good way.  Her problems with drinking and drugs are reflected in her skin tone, her haystack hair, and her general demeanor.  Lohan's attorney Shawn Chapman Holley and her spokesperson Steve Honig are doing her no favors when they allow her to make weak excuses for her inexcusable behavior.  Her actions reveal a deeply troubled celebrity who hovers on the brink of disaster. 

If ever a major intervention was needed, this situation begs for it.  Lohan has lost touch with reality, and a dose of tough love might just wake her up from her self-destructive behavior.  Where is her family in all this?  Is Lindsay just a meal ticket for them?  If she doesn't change her lifestyle soon, Ham on Wry sees a tragic end for someone who once showed great promise.  

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Steve Jobs #1 in AskMen.com Top 49 Most Influential Men 2011 Poll

Photo by Richard Davies

Even after his death, Steve Jobs' remarkable innovative genius makes an impression on men worldwide.  AskMen.com just released results of a poll with 200,000 respondents that ranked Jobs as the most influential man of 2011.  Jobs has been compared to Thomas Edison in terms of his creative impact on technology.  His introduction of the iphone forever changed cell phone technology and the ipad has also won favor globally.  His products operate more intuitively than those of his competitors, and the Mac has features that make it popular with musicians, artists, and many others in creative endeavors.  His selection for the top spot comes as no surprise to Ham on Wry.

Second place goes to Seal Team Six, the secret group of Navy operatives who killed Osama bin Laden in May.  Ham on Wry can't post a picture of the team because none exists.  This elite group of men carries out extremely dangerous mission, all with life-threatening circumstances.  Remember readers, this poll includes responses from men around the globe, not just Americans.

Coming in at number three is Larry Page, the co-founder of Google.  Page took over as CEO of Google in April of this year and has faced many challenges in his new role.  With its recently-released flight search capability, competitors fear that feature will gain dominance in booking airline tickets just as it did in search. 

In fourth place, Warren Buffett wields great influence in the financial sector and has received countless honors for his accomplishments.  A man with his level of wealth could easily inure himself from the common man, but Buffett speaks for "everyman" when he discusses economic woes.  He lives frugally and maintains a five-bedroom home in Omaha, Nebraska that he purchased in 1957 for $31,500.  Buffett donated most of the money he devotes to philanthropic purposes to the Gates Foundation because he believes the foundation focuses on important causes and operates efficiently.  Gates has said Buffett's only luxury is his private plane.

Men voted Kanye West the fifth most inflluential man in the AskMen.com poll.  Ham on Wry can't explain this choice adequately, except to say that he's wildly popular as a music maker.  His recogniton came despite rhe serious gaffe in 2009 at the MTV Video Music Awards, when he highjacked Taylor Swift's big moment by yanking the microphone from her after she won Best Female Video and waxed on about Beyonce's musical talent.  His affiliation with JayZ seems to have redeemed him.

Congratulations to the men mentioned in this post, as well as the other 44 named in the poll.

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Lady Gaga Celebrates Bill Clinton's 65th Birthday

Bill Clinton and Lady Gaga at Decade of Difference Concert-Barbara Kinney/Clinton Foundation photo

Two months after his actual birthday, August 19th, former President Bill Clinton celebrated his 65th birthday with panache in a three-day long, eye-popping bash that impressed even the most famous guests.  The Decade of Difference concert, held Saturday at the Hollywood Bowl, was staged as a fundraiser for the Clinton Foundation, and boasted an impressive list of performers.  Lady Gaga, Stevie Wonder, Kenny Chesney, the Somali singer K’Naan, Colombian rocker Juanes, Usher and U2’s Bono and the Edge performed in a four-hour concert that wowed the crowd.

As usual, Lady Gaga upstaged everyone with her Marilyn Monroe impression, singing a parody of "Bad Romance", in which she changed the lyrics to "Bill Romance."  Gaga informed Clinton of her idea in advance, and he told the audience,  "How cool is it to be 65 and you get Lady Gaga? And then I wondered, she said she was going to have a 'Marilyn moment, and I thought, My God, I get Lady Gaga, and I will have a heart attack celebrating my 65th birthday!"  Ham on Wry wonders if he experienced heart palpitations when Lady Gaga slithered out of her dress, revealing a nude body suit underneath.

The VIP section hosted guests such as Maria Shriver, Ellen DeGeneres,  Barbra Streisand and James Brolin, Ashton Kutcher minus Demi, Steve Bing, Michael King, Lawrence Bender, Jeremy Piven, and Maria Bello.  To attend the VIP reception, guests forked over $100,000.  For those willing to donate at a higher level, $1,000,000 bought a round of golf with the former chief executive.  I guess we know where many of the 1% were Saturday night, and it was definitely not at an Occupy Wall Street demonstration.   No word yet on the total take from the weekend, but, it all goes to the Clinton Foundation to support such causes as fighting childhood obesity, treating HIV/AID, and treating malaria.

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Economic Inequity Rightfully Rankles Occupy Wall Street Protesters

Occupy Wall Street Protesters on Times Square October 15, 2011/Getty Images



In case Occupy Wall Street's message of income inequality still falls on a few deaf ears, Ham on Wry will review a few facts that pertain to the protest.  According to the US Census Bureau's report "Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance in the United States: 2010," several startling facts illustrate a decline in household income.  For example, real median household income declined 2.3% from 2009 TO 2010.   Since 2007, real median household income dropped 6.4%.  Further, real median household income has not returned to the all-time high reached prior to the 2001 recession.  One final statistic aptly illustrates the protesters' claims of inequality.  Changes in the shares of aggregate household income by quintiles indicate an increase in income inequality between 2009 and 2010.

Michael Moore

On Saturday, March 5th, 2011 in a speech to protesters in Madison, Wisconsin, Michael Moore claimed that just 400 Americans have more combined wealth than half of all Americans, with heavy emphasis on 400.  Politifact Wisconsin checked the accuracy of his statement and found it correct.  Moore published something on his website from a Forbes article stating that the net worth of the wealthiest 400 individuals in America in 2009 was $1.27 trillion.  In addition, he used data from a Federal Reserve Board report setting the net worth for all American households at $53.1 trillion in September '09.  Politifact did some further research and found that 60% of all households had a combined net worth of $1.22 trillion.  Thus, Moore actually understated the percentage.

Ham on Wry asks readers to consider one final statistic about economic inequity.  During the Bush presidency, the wealthiest 1% of Americans realized 65% of the economic gains.  Herman Cain, do you now understand the point demonstrators are making?  These numbers don't add up to anything remotely equal to a reasonable distribution of wealth.  CEO's of large corporations in this country receive average compensations 30 times greater than the average worker.  No other major industrialized nation has that kind of monstrous gap in employee pay.

Readers, go buy some walking shoes and start marching, if you fall in the 99% of Americans who don't earn that kind of money.  Some of you have adequate incomes and a comfortable lifestyle, but that might not last long, unless substantive changes occur.  As many of us learned in typing or keyboarding class, "Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their country."

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Ham on Wry Award-Occupy Wall Street Wins Eviction Reprieve

About 1500 Occupy Wall Street protesters converged before dawn this morning, vowing to remain in Zuccotti Park, formerly called Liberty Park Plaza, its New York home base since the demonstrations began September 17th.  Brookfield Properties, the company that owns the park, agreed to postpone a cleaning scheduled for today, October 14th, thus allowing protesters to keep their headquarters intact. 

After hearing the welcome news, some protesters staged an impromptu celebration and marched through the streets to proclaim their victory.  Police asked everyone to stay on the sidewalk, but some spilled over into the streets.  To maintain control, a formation of police scooters moved through the crowd and ran over an observer.  When that occurred, some of the protesters turned violent, and police arrested 14 people during the skirmish.

Occupy Wall Street has morphed into a nationwide protest with other cities such as Boston, Chicago, Denver, Detroit, Richmond, San Francisco and Tampa, and is now going global.  Demonstrations against widening income disparity are planned for tomorrow in the Asia Pacific, with organizers using social media to attract people from Australia, Japan, and other nations is the region to cast their lot with London in voicing their discontent.

Maybe now, Congress will understand the message Occupy Wall Street has delivered.  Ninety-nine percent of Americans are "mad as hell" about being squashed by the super-wealthy who have lost touch with the reality of daily life for the masses.  The American Dream has turned into a nightmare, and protesters want action that will improve the lives of the many over the few.  Wake up Congress!  You've been "sleeping at the wheel" for too many years and are inured from the economic pain your lack of attention has caused.  Don't be surprised when you join the ranks of the unemployed next year.  Oh, that's right.  You have a guaranteed pension.  Perhaps that will change, too.

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Raj Rajaratnam Gets 11 Years for Insider Trading

Galleon Group, LLC co-founder Raj Rajaratnam was sentenced to 11 years in prison today, the longest prison term doled out for insider trading thus far.  He could have received up to 24 years, but his attorneys argued that he was suffering poor health, which helped to migitate his sentence.  His severe diabetes is leading to renal failure.

The 54-year-old, disgraced former leader of the Galleon Group Hedge fund must forfeit $53.8 million, an amount equal to his gains from insider trading.  Judge Richard Howell also fined him $10 million.  How many readers have ever seen that kind of money?  Rajaratnam symbolizes part of the reason "Occupy Wall Street" has gained so much ground, although his crime did not steal money from investors, like that of Bernie Madoff, who bilked investors of over $50 billion.

Judge Howell declared, "His crimes and the scope of his crimes reflect a virus in our business culture that needs to be eradicated."   Ham on Wry agrees and believes that Howell's statement describes the essence of the malaise that afflicts current operating models of many businesses in America.  It seems many executives receive their rewards without the risk of loss from negative outcomes. 

Preet S. Bharara, the United States attorney in Manhattan  has championed government crackdowns on insider trading.  The sweeping insider trading probe, begun in 2009, has charged 49 people, with most being convicted.  He also played a significant role in bringing charges yesterday against Manssor Arbabsiar, one of the alleged masterminds of an Iranian plot to assassinate the Saudi Ambassador to the United States. 

Ham on Wry wishes that the successes of government attorneys could spill over into the chambers of the United States Congress, where it's all talk and no action. 



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Iranian Plot to Kill US Saudi Ambassador Foiled

Attorney General Eric Holder, pictured above, announced earlier today that the United States has dismantled a plot to assassinate Adel al-Jubeir ,the Saudi Arabian ambassador to the US.  Mansoor Arbabsiar, a native of Iran and naturalized US citizen was arrested September 29th and formally charged today in the Southern District of New York, along with Golam Shakuri, a member of the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guards, Qods Force.  The Qods Force comprises members of a special units team with an alleged mission to promote and execute terrorist missions abroad.  Shakuri is still at large.



Saudi Ambassador Adel al-Jubeir





Holder said that the criminal complaint, "Exposes a deadly plot directed by factions of the Iranian government to assassinate a foreign ambassador on U.S. soil with explosives.  Through the diligent and coordinated efforts of our law enforcement and intelligence agencies, we were able to disrupt this plot before anyone was harmed. We will continue to investigate this matter vigorously and bring those who have violated any laws to justice.”






In May, Arbabsiar, 56, contacted someone he believed belonged to an international drug cartel in Mexico to arrange for the murder of al-Jubeir using explosives.  Surprise! It was actually a DEA confidential informant who posed as a member of the cartel.  After the initial meeting in May, Arbabsiar returned to Mexico in June and July for additional meetings to work out the details of the plot.  Federal law enforcement agents monitored and guided the DEA informant and other confidential sources as the plot unfolded.  Arbabsiar offered $1.5 million and presented two checks for a down payment of close to $100,000 to seal the deal.  After he was arrested, Arbabsiar allegedly told agents that his cousin, whom he believed was a senior member of the Qods Force, had approached him in the early spring of 2011 about recruiting narco-traffickers to kidnap the ambassador.  That plan morphed into a plot to blow up a restaurant where al-Jubeir frequently ate that would also kill many bystanders.  He seemed unfazed by the possibility of "collateral damage."

Iran has denied any part in the plot.  Right!  I'm positive that Iran wishes only the best for America and all of the foreign ambassador here.

Ham on Wry emphasizes that the discovery and thwarting of what could have been a catastrophe happened because several agencies cooperated.  If only Congress could do the same.





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Eric Cantor Calls Wall Street Protesters "Mobs"

Eric Cantor is pictured above with his mouth open, most likely spouting one of his imagined truths or parroting Republican rhetoric.  Ham on Wry wonders if this representative lives in the real world.  Last Friday, Congressman Cantor had this to say about Occupy Wall Street Protesters.  “I am increasingly concerned about the growing mobs occupying Wall Street and other cities across our country." Since Cantor likes to hear the sound of his own voice, he didn't stop at that.  He hurled accusations as some unnamed politicians by saying, "Some in this town (Washington, DC) have condoned pitting Americans against Americans."  He then claimed that voters had sent him to congress to fight for all Americans.  Really, Mr. Cantor?

Somehow, I must have missed his support for legislation that would actually encourage the creation of jobs and provide relief to beleaguered Americans trying to live in a haywire economy. Cantor should re-read the Preamble to the United States Constitution:
"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a perfect Union, establish Justice, insure deomestic Tranquiclity, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constituion for the United States of America." (in its orginal form)  
It seems that he and some of his fellow Republicans have forgotten the parts about domestic tranquility, promoting the general welfare, and securing the blessings of liberty to our posterity. His words always convey what he won't do rather than what he will.

Virginia elected this man.  I challenge the citizens of that state to review their personal financial situations currently and compare them to a year ago.  Most Americans have lost ground in the last year, and Cantor and the intransigence of the Republican Party have held us at bay in terms of substantive progress on legislation that will provide help to those that constitute the overwhelming majority of America's population.  The protesters have grown weary of rhetoric and want action.  They decry employees of financial institutions who received huge bonuses for risking other people's money with no risk personally.  Ham on Wry applauds the efforts of those who pound the pavements.  Online initiatives have great power, but nothing equals statements made by large numbers of people who show up in person to voice their opinions.

Eric Cantor, you don't speak for me or the many millions like me.  You have lost touch with reality.  Next time, think before you speak!  We wouldn't be a free nation today, if brave people hadn't banded together to fight for independence.  As Americans, we have a right to express our opinions, and that's what the protesters are doing.

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Paul McCartney Weds Wife #3, Nancy Shevell

Beatles fans who worshiped Paul McCartney can rejoice in news of his marriage to American Nancy Shevell today (Sunday) in a civil ceremony held at Old Marylebone Town Hall in London, the same place he and his first wife Linda Eastman See married.  Hundreds of well-wishers waited for the couple to emerge from the hall, who blew them kisses as they walked to the Lexus that took them to the reception at McCartney's home nearby.

From all accounts, McCartney got it right this time.  Unlike his second wife, Heather Mills, Nancy Shevell has been warmly embraced by his children and friends.  Shevell has her own wealth and is definitely not marrying him for his money.  She also eschews the trappings of fame, preferring to remain in the background at public events.  They met in the Hamptons after McCartney's bitter divorce from Mills in 2008 and were engaged earlier this year.

The bride wore a simple, but elegant white gown designed by McCartney's daughter Stella, one of the three children he had with his first wife, Linda.  Her long dark hair was accented with a white flower.  The groom donned a dark blue suit and wore a hair style reminiscent of his early Beatles days.  The picture at left shows them showered with flowers by wedding guests after the nuptials.

Since Paul and Linda McCartney enjoyed thirty years together before she succumbed to cancer in 1998, Ham on Wry hopes the newlyweds also have a long life together.  Both women are Americans, and given the Mills debacle, perhaps that commonality signals better luck this time.  Congratulations to my former idol and his new wife!

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Ham on Wry Award-Tea Party Hits New Low in Florida

Ham on Wry has chosen the Tea Party as this week's recipient of ridiculous behavior.  Earlier this week, members of the Tea Party in Pinellas County, Florida, badgered the Pinellas County Commission about the dangers of fluoridation in drinking water.  I must admit, that has long been one of the major concerns I have.  Seriously, are these people kidding?  When I was in high school many moons ago, the small town in which I lived brought in a dentist to give fluoride treatments because its benefits had long been touted as an effective preventive measure against cavities.  Who knew that such an action endangered the entire town?  Tea Party activist Tony Caso believes that "Fluoride is a toxic substance.  This is all part of an agenda that’s being pushed forth by the so-called globalists in our government and the world government to keep the people stupid so they don’t realize what’s going on.”  Well, Tony, I guess we've been stupid since 1945, when the country first started adding fluoride to drinking water.

Caso must know something that the Center for Disease Control doesn't.  The CDC has recognized it as one of the top ten public health interventions of the 20th Century, so Caso must certainly have the credential to counter that opinion.  According to St. Petersburg Times staff writer, Becky Bowers, Matt Leffler of Clearwater told the County Commission Tuesday, "History shows, actually, that in Nazi Germany, one of the first things that they did was add fluoride to the water in the ghettos where the Jews stayed."  Another Times reader claimed the Nazi's use of fluoride was, "an absolute historical fact."  Politifact Florida checked the evidence and declared this claim, Pants on Fire.

Most alarming of all is that the Pinellas County Commission voted to remove fluoride from the drinking water.  Forget the fact that a majority of kids today can report no cavities, if they receive regular dental checkups.  So much statistical evidence has been collected on this subject that Ham on Wry can't cite it all.  Shame on the Tea Party and shame on the commissioners who voted for stopping a benefit that has helped the residents of Pinellas County.  We have taken a giant step backward when we allow people who probably still believe that the world is flat to dictate policy.  Florida is fast becoming the laughing stock of the nation with this type of absurdity.  Does anyone remember the Twilight Zone episode, "The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street?"  If you don't or weren't alive when it aired, check it out on an internet search.  We're doomed if intelligent people don't speak up about this kind of nonsense and take a stand against ignorance.

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Herman Cain Blasts Occupy Wall Street Protesters

Occupy Wall Street Protesters

Herman Cain has shown his ignorance of the facts that created the economic mess that has brought American "to its knees" Wednesday on Hugh Hewitt's radio program.  In discussing Occupy Wall Street, he offered the following words, "Blaming Wall Street and blaming big banks, and blaming those that have succeeded in America under our free market system is never going to make you happy, and it's never going to make you rich.  If you really want to do something to create jobs in this country, why don't you go and picket the White House. That's where we have failed economic policies. That's where we have policies that have kept unemployment up over 9 percent. You're picketing the wrong source. It's not those that have produced in this country. It's the failed policies of this administration."

Wow!  Mr. Cain, do you live in the same country as I?  The Obama administration inherited an economic nightmare, for which the blame can be laid in large part on the bloated financial institutions in this country.  Perhaps it has slipped your mind that Lehman Brothers went under and the other giants received various amounts of TARP money from the American taxpayers.  If you really believe that the demonstrators are angry because financial services executives make large salaries, think again!  Informed citizens are enraged because financial services corporations  approved mortgages that should never have been made in the first place, charged outrageous penalties when account holders overdrew their accounts and the banks continued to pay creditors despite that fact, and paid huge bonuses to their executives after accept bailout money.  They stopped only when new government regulations were enacted.

Perhaps you have missed the fact that these same companies are laying off thousands of employees.  Is this your idea of creating jobs?  The government does not bear the responsibility for jobs creation, although you seem to think it does.  Please note that the only jobs it can create are those paid for by taxpayers.  If you want to give credit to people who have created jobs, give credit to entrepreneurs like Steve Jobs (RIP), Bill Gates, and thousands of others who have built businesses that thrived.  Mr. Cain, how can citizens take you seriously, if you defend the very organizations that have allowed greed to blind them to forthrightness in business.  You have it all wrong in your defense of Wall Street.  Plenty of evidence exists to question their business practices and wanton disregard for sound loan and investment strategies.  It's time for you to own up to your mistake.

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Another Royal Wedding, Duchess of Alba Weds Younger Man

Maria del Rosario Cayetana Alfonsa Victoria Eugenia Francisca Fitz-James Stuart y de Silva, the most titled of all European royals, married her third husband, Alfonso Diez, October 5th at her home in Seville, Spain.  Cayetana, the Duchess of Alba, as she is commonly known, chose a man 25 years her junior who works as a civil servant.   They dated for three years before deciding to "tie the knot."  Both of her previous husbands died, but the duchess did not allow that to deter her from falling in love again.

Carlos, the Duke of Huéscar, escorted his mother up the aisle, although he had doubts about the marriage.  Two of her six children were notably absent from the ceremony.  One of her sons and his wife left on vacation rather than attend the wedding, and her daughter was in the hospital.  In total, thirty friends and relatives watched as the Duchess of Alba and Diez said their vows.

After the wedding, several hundred onlookers applauded and cheered as the duchess kicked off her shoes, lifted her salmon-colored dress, and danced the flamenco, one of Spain's most famous dances.  Her new husband smiled in approval and allowed her the full limelight.

Prior to the big day, the duchess divided up the inheritance among her children to placate them and quell their objections to the union.  Diez will be entering a world with which he has little familiarity, but he has reportedly signed a document renouncing any claim to Fitz-James Stuart's wealth, in order to prove that he married for love and not money.

Ah, the wonders of true love!  Commoners marrying royalty have captured many headlines this year.  May they all live "happily ever after."

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Amanda Knox Leaves Itay Bound for Seattle

Amanda Knox proceeds to her flight from Rome's Leonardo da Vinci airport in the picture above.  She flew to London, where she and her family waited in the Windsor Suite at Heathrow Airport for their flight to Seattle.  That suite normally houses members of the Royal Family or celebrities.  She finally allows a smile after a subdued journey from Rome.

Once on board the British Airways flight, the family occupied the upper deck, and no reporters were allowed access to them.   A Knox family spokesperson informed reporters that they will hold a news conference at about 5:45 pm PDT at the South Ground Transportation lot at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.  Knox's parents and their legal adviser will speak to reporters.  At this time, it is unknown whether Knox will address the media during the news conference.

While Ham on Wry knows Knox must feel immense relief that her appeal freed her from prison and allowed her to return home, she must also be thinking about how to recoup her former life and reclaim her "girl-next-door" image.  The Italian media and the prosecution skewered her and portrayed her as "a sex-crazed she devil."  As mere observers to a trial, no one can know with certainty whether Knox is innocent or guilty of participating in the murder of Meredith Kercher, but many still believe she is guilty.  As is true in the United States, media coverage greatly influences public opinion.  Ham on Wry has a lingering question with which that the Italian justice system must struggle.  Who assisted Rudy Guede in Kercher's murder?

Guede was originally sentenced to 30 years, a life sentence in Italy, which was reduced to 16 years on appeal.  It appears that police believe he had help in the murder; therefore, it seems logical that another thorough investigation should occur to answer the question of who assisted Guede.  The court proceedings in this case were often reminiscent of a soap opera, and I'm certain we have not heard the last of it. 

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Amanda Knox Freed



When she heard the verdict that the Italian Appeals Court handed down overturning her 2009 conviction of murdering her roommate earlier today, Amanda Knox sobbed openly in relief.  Near collapse, her legs buckling, Knox was aided by court officers as she left the courthouse.  Amidst the cheering of her supporters, she was whisked away to Capanne Prison where she has spent the last four years as a model prisoner.  Her former boyfriend, Raffaele Sollecito, also convicted of Meredith Kercher's murder, was acquitted today as well.



Raffaele Solecito at Appeals Trial



Although the jury upheld her conviction for slander against a local bar owner, Knox has already served four years for a crime that carried a three-year sentence.  So, after briefly returning to prison for a formal discharge, Knox entered one of the black cars in a convoy and left the prison.  She plans to return to Seattle tomorrow and resume a "normal" life again.

When Knox addressed the court before the verdict, she said in fluent Italian, "I lost a friend, in the most brutal and inexplicable way possible.  My absolute faith in the police authorities was betrayed, I've had to face absolutely unfair ... and baseless accusations. I am paying with my life for things I did not commit." 

Ham on Wry wishes Amanda Knox a safe journey and hopes she is offered a first class seat on the plane, after the ordeal she has faced.  It will probably be the most memorable flight she has ever taken. 

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Plane Crashes into Ferris Wheel in Australia

As bizarre as the picture above appears, readers must trust their eyesight.  Saturday, the ultra-light, pictured above and piloted by Australian Paul Cox, attempted a landing at an airstrip not far from the Old Bar Festival near the city of Taree in New South Wales, Australia.  When Cox missed that landing, he turned the plane around and almost immediately hit the Ferris wheel, lodging it in the metal frame.  Four people, a 9-year old boy, his 13-year-old sister, Cox, and his son-in-law were trapped until emergency workers remove them from the plane.  No one suffered injuries during the ordeal.

The two young people waited for 90 minutes until the rescuers successfully lowered them by crane.  Cox and his son-in-law remained in the plane for almost three hours before they were freed.  Cox said he did not see the Ferris wheel before his Cheetah S200 flew directly into it.  The Ferris wheel closed soon after the incident and was being dismantled. 

The picture at the right provides a closer look at the pilot and his son-in-law, as they await rescue. Ham on Wry suggests that Cox invest in a pair of glasses with lens strength that will allow him to see large stationary objects when he flies his ultra-light in the future.  People can then attend festivals and fairs with a greater sense of security.              

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Bank of America Introduces Debit Card Fee

Readers should proceed with caution in using debit cards, because Bank of America will start charging $5 each month for customers who use debit cards for anything other than the ATM, and other banks will soon follow suit.  What a great time to assess fees to customers!  The nation hovers on the brink of yet another recession, real income has dropped in most households, and a large percentage of Americans are barely hanging on.  Ham on Wry questions the gall of this behemoth that received $20 billion in bailout money under the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) on January 16, 2009.  Even worse, Bank of America had already received $25 billion in the fall of 2008.  For those readers who are tempted to scream obscenities at President Obama for this travesty, don't!  He took the oath of office four days later, so the entire $45 billion bailout occurred under President George W. Bush's watch. 

So, let's see.  After taking $45 billion of taxpayer money, the mega corporation was accused of misusing taxpayer money, and the federal government eventually demanded that it "overhaul its board and address perceived problems with risk and liquidity management," according to an article in the Wall Street Journal.  Lo and behold, by early December 2009, Bank of American paid back the entire $45 billion dollars.  If it had enough money to pay back the money less than 11 months later, why did it need TARP funds in the first place?  The organization now shows its gratitude to American taxpayers by assessing a debit card usage fee on those who use Bank of America debit cards.  Talk about "biting the hand that feeds you!"

This kind of nonsense has fueled the "Occupy Wall Street" movement that protests corporate influence in politics.  Demonstrators are also expressing anger about financial inequality in the midst of corporate greed and other related grievances.  Below, a protester holds a sign espousing a Goethe quote.  Makes sense to me.  More on "Occupy Wall Street" will appear in a future post.



Occupy Wall Street Protester in Zuccotti Park September 28, 2011, The Atlantic photo



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