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There’s no dominant story on a stupid bloody Tuesday but we’ve got a lot of little ones. Bulleted content will follow.

• Are you in or are you out on Anibal Sanchez(notes)? He’s quietly won three games in a row, with the latest coming Tuesday against the Braves (6.1 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 4 BB, 6 K), and he’s still out there in about 85 percent of Yahoo leagues. Let’s take a look under the hood.

A 3.23 ERA over nine starts sounds decent, but the underlying stats don’t jump out at you: he’s only striking out 6.79 batters per nine innings; his strikeout/walk rate is barely over two; he’s getting by with a ridiculous 1.6 HR/FB rate, an obvious fluke. Sanchez’s fastball hasn’t been a plus pitch for him so far, but he’s getting a lot of mileage out of an improved slider. You can start Sanchez on the weekend against Philadelphia if you like; I’m not going to recommend it.

• Don’t look now but the Cardinals aren’t doing much on offense; they’ve only scored 196 runs for the year (tied for ninth in the National League) and they were shut out in San Diego Tuesday by Jon Garland(notes) and Company. Adam Wainwright(notes) was the hard-luck loser in Southern California, despite a one-run effort and 12 strikeouts.

• Jon Lester(notes) threw six bagels at the Rays, allowing just one hit and striking out nine. He was helped by Bob Davidson’s cushy strike zone, much to the dismay of Carl Crawford(notes) (ejected) and Joe Maddon (ejected). Crawford made mild (and accidental) contact with Davidson and might be looking at a suspension.

• Chris Iannetta(notes) is back in Colorado, hopefully with his confidence restored – he posted a .349/.447/.698 line in 17 minor-league games, along with five homers. Meanwhile, Miguel Olivo(notes) has kept things afloat, with a .281 average and eight homers.

• The Padres have made a lot of things happen on the bases this year and they’re adding another speedster to the mix: outfielder Luis Durango(notes) was recalled Tuesday and is expected to start Wednesday. Durango posted a .305/.384/.318 line at Triple-A Portland, and he was eager on the bases, with mixed results (stealing 18 bases on 28 attempts).

• Maybe the Phillies simply can’t do it against knuckleballers. On Sunday they were baffled by Boston veteran Tim Wakefield(notes), and Tuesday night it was R.A. Dickey(notes) doing the trick, skating around 10 baserunners (6 IP, 0 R, 7 K). "You are used to guys who have everyday stuff, but it’s rare that you see a knuckleballer," Ryan Howard(notes) said. "Two in a row is even rarer – like Halley’s Comet." Eventually someone is going to pay for this mini-slump the Phillies offense is in, but they get a tricky assignment Wednesday against unorthodox left-hander Hisanori Takahashi(notes).

Kings of Pain: Fred Lewis(notes) (foot) was a late scratch at Anaheim . . . Grady Sizemore(notes) was in Colorado Tuesday, getting his knee looked at . . . Brett Anderson(notes) (forearm) will throw in the bullpen Wednesday and might be ready to pitch as soon as this weekend . . . Jacoby Ellsbury(notes) was held out of Tuesday’s game due to a sore left side . . . Dallas Braden’s(notes) sore ankle abbreviated his turn at Baltimore . . . Coco Crisp(notes) has a sore chest muscle and might need to go back on the disabled list . . . Luke Scott(notes) has a strained shoulder and couldn’t go Tuesday . . . Aramis Ramirez(notes) is still dealing with a sore thumb.

Handshakes: Heath Bell(notes) allowed a seeing-eye single and a walk and needed 28 pitches against St. Louis, but ultimately he got the job done . . . David Aardsma(notes) went 1-2-3 against the Tigers . . . Carlos Marmol(notes) shut down the Dodgers and keeps piling up the strikeouts (46 whiffs in 23.2 innings) . . . Raul Valdes(notes) got a rogue save in back of Dickey, working three scoreless innings and striking out four . . . Neftali Feliz(notes) worked a perfect inning at Kansas City and is now 13-for-15 on saves . . . Brian Wilson’s(notes) facial hair scares me, and it apparently does the same to the Nationals (three strikeouts in the ninth) . . . Jonathan Papelbon(notes) needed just 13 pitches in Tampa, and amen to that – he’s one of the slowest workers in the majors. Daniel Bard(notes) (2.16 ERA, 0.92 WHIP) set up with a perfect eighth and looks like a stud closer-in-waiting if the Red Sox don’t re-sign Papelbon . . . Octavio Dotel(notes) has rallied nicely in May (10 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 14 K) . . . Manny Corpas retired three of four Diamondbacks and hasn’t allowed a run over eight appearances.

Speed Round: So much for Cleveland being a safe haven for Jake Peavy(notes) – the Indians knocked him around pretty good (6 IP, 8 H, 6 R, 2 HR). He struck out five, but the Indians laced plenty of frozen ropes as well. He gets the Rays on the weekend . . . Clayton Kershaw(notes) allowed just one unearned run over six innings in Chicago, but Ryan Dempster(notes) was even better (8 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 7 K). He’s got a 3.31 ERA and a nifty 1.03 WHIP, but only a 3-4 record to show for it . . . Mike Leake(notes) still hasn’t had a bad turn – he got a no-decision after allowing one run over seven innings against the Pirates. Leake worked around 10 hits and one walk, and struck out just three, but there’s plenty of moxie in this kid . . . The Astros can’t hit and Randy Wolf(notes) was happy to take advantage (7 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 4 K). You can’t blame Roy Oswalt(notes) for wanting out of this mess . . . The Blue Jays did their usual bit (three homers), but otherwise it was a winning night for underrated Ervin Santana(notes) (CG, 4 H, 3 R, 1 BB, 10 K). Ricky Romero(notes) got touched up for 11 hits and seven runs on the other side, though he also struck out eight . . . It’s a shame this squirrel can’t hit, because he’s got great wheels.

It was only a matter of time before popular Porsche tuner TechArt got their hands on the new 2011 Cayenne SUV. Before the tuner goes ahead and offers aerodynamic and performance upgrades for the new Cayenne, it is offering new individualization options for the exterior, engine area and the interior along with light alloy and forged wheels.

For those looking to enhance the look of their new 2011 Porsche Cayenne from the outside, TechArt is offering pillar trims, window frame trims, wiper covers, engine styling package with a carbon cover and sport stainless steel tailpipes. Interior mods include high quality leather trim in new color options, a TechArt Rear-Seat-Entertainment system, 3-spokes sport steering wheel and much more.

The 2011 Porsche Cayenne by TechArt also gets Formula I, Formula II and Formula III light alloy wheels ranging from 20 to 23 inches.

Make the jump for the press release for more details.

Refresher: Prices for the base 300-hp 2011 Porsche Cayenne start at $46,700. The 400-hp 2011 Cayenne S will have a starting price of $63,700, while the Cayenne S Hybrid will start at $67,700. The range-topping 500-hp 2011 Porsche Cayenne Turbo will start at $104,800. Big news for 2011 is the 2011 Porsche Cayenne S Hybrid, which is powered by a 333-hp 3.0L supercharged V6 gasoline engine mated to a 47-hp electric-motor. The system allows the SUV to produce 380-hp and a maximum torque of 427 b-ft. Porsche says that that allows the same performance level of a V8 engine while increasing fuel-economy by 20 percent.

2011 Porsche Cayenne Individualization Options by TechArt:

TECHART Individualization for the new Porsche Cayenne

Followed by great interest the new generation of the Porsche Cayenne was presented at the Geneva Motor-Show a few weeks ago. Now TECHART offers its customers the chance to give the new Cayenne models a bit more of their own personality and character. The new TECHART Individualization options for the exterior, the engine area and the interior of the SUV as well as TECHART light alloy and forged wheels give the TECHART customers countless possibilities for individualization.

The TECHART wheels embody consistent design and inimitable style. For the new Porsche Cayenne models TECHART offers Formula and Formula II light alloy wheels as well as Formula III forged light alloy wheels in dimensions of 20- to 23-inch. Besides attractive standard color variants, all TECHART wheels are available in individually matched custom colors.

The TECHART options for the interior of the SUV allow unrestricted freedom regarding the realization of the customer wishes. High quality full leather interior in new color options and a unique design as well as the TECHART Rear-Seat-Entertainment options are just two highlights for the new Cayenne generation. A maximum of driving pleasure plus quick shifting and perfect handling enable the TECHART 3-spoke sport steering wheels with the paddle shifters. The TECHART paddle shifters have unlimited individualization options and are available for all Porsche sport steering wheels and multifunction steering wheels with PDK gearshift switches as well as all TECHART sport steering wheels.

Also in the exterior TECHART offers a number of refining options to give the Porsche Cayenne a unique character – the character of its driver. The TECHART optic packages give the sporty and elegant design of the SUV a personal touch. Trims, painted in custom color or in carbon fibre, make the Cayenne an individual piece.

The TECHART engine styling package with carbon cover as well as the TECHART sport tailpipes in polished stainless steel, which are available in a few weeks, complete the first TECHART Individualization options for the new Cayenne.

Technical Details

TECHART Individualization for the new Porsche Cayenne

Exterior

TECHART optic packages in custom color or carbon
a. o. consisting of

* Pillar trims
* Window frame trims
* Wiper cover

Engine and Drive

TECHART engine styling package with carbon cover

TECHART sport tailpipes
dual oval tube, in polished stainless steel, with embossed TECHART logotype

Wheels

TECHART Formula 5-spoke light alloy wheel in 20-, 21-, 22- and 23-inch

TECHART Formula II 5-spoke light alloy wheel in 22- and 23-inch

TECHART Formula III forged 5-spoke light alloy wheel in 21- and 22-inch

Interior

TECHART full leather interior in custom color

TECHART decorative stitching in custom color

TECHART trims in custom color, carbon or precious wood

TECHART 3-spokes PDK sport steering wheel with paddle shifters in custom color

TECHART Instrument dials in custom color

TECHART Floor mats in custom color and TECHART logotype

TECHART Aluminum sport pedals

TECHART Aluminum foot rest

TECHART Illuminated door entry guards with illuminated TECHART logotype

TECHART Rear-Seat-Entertainment

TECHART Rear fold-away tables

TECHART Center console

TECHART loadspace floor mat in custom color and TECHART logotype

– By: Kap Shah

The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has counted 89 deaths since 2000 that are linked to crashes over unintended acceleration incidents involving Toyota Motor Corp. vehicles.

The NHTSA responded to Bloomberg News’ request for information and went over its records that span from 2000 up to May 20. The agency revealed that deaths were recorded in 71 crashes, a sharp increase from the 43 reported last March. It said that it has gotten 6,200 complaints related to unintended acceleration in Toyota vehicles in the cited period, a marked increase from the 2,600 complaints reported last March. At a May 20 House hearing, NHTSA Administrator David Strickland said that US regulators have yet to find evidence that would justify a new defect investigation. Strickland made this comment after speaking to 100 car owners who filed sudden acceleration complaints after Toyota had recalled and repaired their vehicles. At the hearing, Toyota Motor Sales USA Inc. President James Lentz said that the company has examined over 2,000 vehicles but so far, it has yet to find any electronic defects. For Toyota’s new models starting in 2011, Toyota will install advanced brake-override systems. Seven current models will also be retrofitted with a software fix, which slows a vehicle if it simultaneously gets signals to accelerate and brake.

[via autonews – sub. required]

Source: Car news, Car reviews, Spy shots

COPY EDITOR CYNTHIA L. OROSCO: I was impressed in my quick overnight with the Sonata. The exterior lines are sleek and sporty looking. The ride is fun, with plenty of power as soon as you step on the pedal, no hesitation. Entering the expressway and passing are done smoothly; no jerking when you need that extra boost. The interior is quite nice with good materials all around, even the hard plastics. The seats are comfy, and all of the controls are super-easy to find and use.

For our monthly grocery trip, which was one of the biggest we’ve done in some time, the Sonata’s huge trunk swallowed up more than a dozen bags and there was still room to spare. I think this car, along with the sporty and fun Genesis, could start to change people’s perceptions of Hyundai’s cars.

SENIOR EDITOR FOR NEWS BOB GRITZINGER: Look out Toyota Camry and beware Honda Accord–the latest Korean competition is in town, and it’s loaded for bear. Not only is the 2011 Sonata one of the sharpest-looking midsizers on the market, but this four-cylinder test car packaged a bevy of standard features, along with the high-end options such as navigation and upscale audio system. Inside, everything is well placed and the surroundings are quite pleasing and quiet.

Though the four-cylinder sometimes sounds as if it is laboring under heavy acceleration, the gearing is such that the car is peppy off the line and responsive in most driving situations. It won’t blow anyone’s doors off, but if you’re buying a midsize sedan to go street racing, you may need to examine what you really want in a car.

Between the stylish packing and standard features for the price–and the quiet ride, reasonable powertrain and solid build quality–the 2011 Sonata lives up to its strong reviews.

EDITOR WES RAYNAL: You buy a Hyundai because it’s cheap. People buy them on price. There is no reason to buy a Hyundai unless you can get a hell of a deal on one. That is, until now perhaps. This is a darn-fine midsize sedan and could well be the first car Hyundai could actually sell on something other than a cheap sticker.

While I don’t think anybody should have to pay near $30,000 for any four-cylinder midsize sedan, this is probably the closest thing I’ve driven to being worth it. The sheetmetal looks terrific (as long as you like the Mercedes-Benz CLS, which this copies closely), road manners are good and the interior is pretty good. The back seat lacks a bit of headroom but it’s not too bad.

Hyundai has really upped its game with this car. Will it be the car that breaks Hyundai from the cheap-wheels stigma? Let’s see how it plays in Dubuque.

SENIOR WEB REPORTER GREG MIGLIORE: I think the styling and smooth powertrain make this Hyundai a winner and a serious competitor for the Camry and the Accord.

For a guy who notices such things, it’s nice to see a midsize sedan that has a striking look (even if that look is rather Mercedes-like). The beltline and the lights do an impressive job of distinguishing this Hyundai from other entries in the segment.

The I4 is smooth and offers plenty of acceleration for a four-banger. It works well with the six-speed; very well calibrated. The inside is a pleasant setting, and the gauges are almost luxurylike in appearance.

The last Sonata was a nice car. This one is a real competitor. Look out.

2011 Hyundai Sonata Limited

Base Price: $26,015

As-Tested Price: $28,215

Drivetrain: 2.4-liter I4; FWD, six-speed automatic

Output: 198 hp @ 6,300 rpm, 184 lb-ft @ 4,250 rpm

Curb Weight: 3,316 lb

Fuel Economy (EPA/AW): 26/25.9 mpg

Options: Navigation package including high-resolution touch display, satellite traffic and weather and sports, premium sound with subwoofer, backup camera ($2,100); carpeted floor mats ($100)

For more

Source: Car news, reviews and auto show stories

The OECD came out this morning and raised its growth forecast for the global economy.

Along with that, the organization has put together a presentation on the nature of the rebound, as well as some of the risks that remain: these risks include weak bank lending, sovereign debt, and the lack of jobs.

We’ve grabbed what we think are the key charts.

Join the conversation about this story »

Some people say the first mistake was to create the Transportation Security Administration — it doesn’t really stop terrorism, makes flying an even more unpleasant experience, and created a bureaucracy that will live on far past the initial threat. Not sure I’d agree with all of that. But I will say that we made a fundamental mistake allowing the TSA to unionize. That makes about as much sense as unionizing the military.

Full article here

Via Prison Planet.com » Commentary

Jim Traficant
American Free Press
Wednesday, May 26th, 2010

Our 50 states are to be the United States of America. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. And, to continue the freedoms we enjoy, our nation must be secured, protected from potential enemies and threats from within—and—without. Quite frankly, those lofty yet pragmatic goals and ideals are not possible without a secure border.

There is no national security without a secure border. Every military strategist knows that. I introduced legislation onto the House floor to secure our borders by relocating troops from overseas to our borders. My legislation provided 10,000 soldiers to be strategically placed and assigned to all our borders, both north and south.

My legislation was vehemently opposed by the Democratic Party. I was labeled a bigot, a racist, every name you can imagine.

I successfully passed the amendment in the House—but the “party” and the Senate killed it every year.

The truth is, the security of our borders was not politically expedient as much as the catering to and solicitation of a growing minority Hispanic vote. Both parties want to recruit this new political base, another minority vote, this time even bigger than the black vote. In fact, black Americans are once again pushed to the back of the bus.

Politics won out ever national security. Now Arizona is the target of all the “nobles” who claim to abhor the actions of Arizona.

What a bunch of phonies and hypocrites. I titled this column “The United States of Arizona” because Arizona is doing what the United States of America should be doing. Shame on you, Congress. Legislators should hide their faces. Americans are under attack and are being killed on our borders, and our government has not only turned its back, but is encouraging it by the failure to respond. Let’s get off this immigration lingo, the key word here is “illegal”—not “immigration.”

Who are these illegals? Are they simply “poor people” looking for a better life? Or are they drug smugglers, robbers, terrorists and freeloaders? The facts are clear: They are all of these. However, there’s no way of knowing exactly who and what they are, because our border is wide open.

My God, America could be systematically penetrated by a sophisticated, powerful entity before we even knew it. This is insane and absolutely dangerous. Thank God Arizona has acted. I hope the officials there stand their ground. Arizona is helping the American people in every state, in spite of the scorn and ridicule it is facing.

Let’s look at the facts that support the actions of Arizona:

There have been millions of illegals crossing our borders with little or no interdiction. Narcotics have flooded our borders. American landowners have faced costly damages and death.

The people who live within 75 miles of the Mexican border have been terrorized for years. They have pleaded with the federal government to help protect their lives and property, to no avail.

One rancher testified that “up to 1,200 illegal immigrants” go across his ranch every day. They steal his vehicles. They destroy his fences. They leave trash and destruction. He testified that he had “found 17 dead bodies,” and nobody helped him.

Another land owner testified that drugs are daily shipped across his ranch in a sort of “military-type operation.” He stated there’s a “point man” with a machine gun in front with guards fully armed a half-mile behind guarding their rear. He stated that these “narcos” are violent and will kill anyone who gets in their way.

Another testified that two illegals came on his property who were forced to carry drugs. One was shot in the arm, but escaped after delivery. His “associate” wasn’t as lucky—he was killed. These drug smugglers force “runners” to carry the drugs across the border, then often kill them to avoid detection.

It’s gotten so bad that federal prisons are bulging with over 40 percent illegal immigrants. Think about it: Who’s paying to feed them, clothe them, provide medical care? Are we crazy?

Some 80 percent of our law enforcement who are murdered are killed by illegal immigrants. These are violent terrorists. Get back at me!

Via Prison Planet.com » Prison Planet

Naked Emperor News
May 26, 2010

“In a sign of defensiveness…”

This rendering of the new Opel Astra GTC comes from the recent Calibra spy shots of a camouflaged version which will debut at the 2010 Paris Motor Show, ready for sales to start in the spring of 2011. So far there are those commentators who love it, and those who say the Astra GTC looks too much like the Renault Megane Coupé.

The rendering has a few add-ons which would eventually only appear on the GSi and OPC sports versions. The name of this car is still under discussion and we could see anything from the Astra GTC, Astra Sport Coupé or Astra Calibra emerge. Whatever the case, the Astra GTC should be developed as the coupé version of the Insignia, with a shooting brake design.

Engine options are likely to include the 1.7 CDTI with 130 hp and the 2.0 CDTI with 160 hp, while the 1.6 Turbo engine with 210 hp should appear on the new GSi version. The top of the range sports model will be the OPC version with a 2.0 Turbo unit and 240 hp.

Source | Es.Autoblog

Who would have thought that May 26th would be an important day for Buckeye Nation?

Well, we anticipated this day for a long time, because today is the day we start our Countdown To Kickoff!

There are 99 days until the season begins at Ohio Stadium, so today we tip our hats to Luke Fickell.

Fickell has been around the Buckeyes his entire life, and it shows.  He graduated from Columbus DeSales High School (oh, and by the way, he won a State Championship in wrestling while there), and then went on to The Ohio State University, where he started as a freshman at nose guard.

Now starting his 10th year as an assistant coach at Ohio State, he’s the man who will coaching the big names on the defense.  Ross Homan, Brian Rolle, Etienne Sabino….these are the men who will crush the opposition under the guidance of Fickell.

Oh, and if you needed another reason to admire Fickell, try this on for size.  Last year, he declined an offer to coach at Notre Dame.  Hell yes.

99 days until kickoff!

British model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley will take over as the leading lady in the next Transformers blockbuster, Deadline Hollywood has learned.

The Victoria’s Secret pin-up, 23, has accepted a role in Michael Bay’s forthcoming third Transformers sequel just days after men’s mag fave Fox ended months of strained relations with Bay and his staff by abruptly quitting her role as Mikaela Banes in the franchise.

Rosie beat out a bevy of beauties to play Shia LaBeouf’s love interest on the silver screen. Other actress shortlisted as a potential robot-slaying bombshell include Gemma Arterton, Zoe Saldana, Vanessa Hudgens, Amber Heard, Emmanuelle Chriqui, Hayden Panettiere, Twilight actress Ashley Greene, and Rosie’s fellow Vicky’s Secret angel Miranda Kerr.

Transformers 3 is due in the theaters across the US on July 1, 2011.

Materials: 2x LACK shelving units, 2x LACK small shelf, 1x LACK large shelf, 2×3 GRUNDTAL spots and dimmer

Description: The inspiration came from a trendy furniture store where they had this white furniture in front of this blue-green wall. As it was way over my budget, I had to improvise: enter the Ikea LACK shelves.

1. I used 2 LACK shelf units and 3 LACK shelves and a number of MDF panels.

2. Two green neon tubes were built inside the LACK shelf units as well as 6 GRUNDTAL spots on 2 dimmers.

3. All the cables go behind the MDF-panels, covered in white fake fur, which are placed ~2cm in front of the wall.

4. from 4mm MDF boards I made new fronts for the lack shelf units to make the 4 compartments somewhat look like old-school tv screens.

5. The top and sides of the shelf units are laminated with white plastic foil, so they look like they are made out of one solid piece.

Voila! I’m so happy with the result that I sometimes close the curtains just so I can put on the lights in my shelf. 🙂

See more of Bram’s stylish Lack.

~ Bram D., Netherlands

To get the bad news over with first: this is just a concept. Put down your Visa card. Freescale’s been exploring the various shapes and uses tablets could take over the years, with this smartbook concept being ideal for DJs. More »










Freescale – Android – FreescaleSemiconductor – YouTube – Google

	Carlos Ghosn: 2011 Nissan Leaf sold out That didn’t take long.		Not all bad: Honda CR-Z called “one of the most desirable cars on the planet” Surprised us, too.
	Kia’s hydrogen vehicle plans include 10,000 on the road by 2015 Ambitious, to say the least.	Other news: BMW 320d goes over 1,000 miles on one tank of fuel Ford invests $135 million for electric vehicle development at two Michigan sites Musk says hiring ex-NUMMI workers is top priority for Tesla

AutoblogGreen for 05.26.10 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 26 May 2010 05:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Earlier this year, we noted that infomercial king Kevin Trudeau was sentenced to 30 days in jail for contempt of court after asking his “fans” to email the judge in a case in which Trudeau is battling the FTC. The contempt charge is a bit tricky, because it’s difficult to see what’s wrong with having people email a publicly available judge. And, indeed, it appears that the contempt charge has been overturned and Trudeau won’t have to go to jail over it after all. That said, it still doesn’t seem particularly wise to ask people to spam a judge who’s in charge of determining your fate.

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Eco Factor: Sustainable solar powered home made from shipping containers.

Rapid industrialization and our quest to possess the latest in technology leave an everlasting impact on the environment. Researchers over the globe have now recognized that the only way out of global warming is to use renewable energy and recycle materials that usually reach the landfills after use. Industrial designers have also started to come up with sustainable homes that are made using recycled materials and are powered by renewable energy to reduce the impact on the environment.

Designer Omar Aponte has shared with us his shipping container home concept that will be powered by renewable solar energy. Dubbed Ecogaria, the environmentally friendly home is made from old shipping containers, making it affordable and green. The flexible house can be made according to user specifications and features flexible solar panels mounted on the roof that generate all the energy the house needs.

Thanks: [Omar Aponte]

Via Prison Planet.com » Commentary

Daniel O’Connor
Camapign For Liberty
Wednesday, May 26th, 2010

In modern times, The Rothschild family is often referred to as archetypal capitalists who were Europe’s wealthiest family from 1820 onward and gained this position through their ability to exploit the capitalist system–this widely held view is completely false. The Rothschild family was indeed the Continent’s wealthiest family throughout the nineteenth century but they gained this position through the exploitation of governments. Therefore, The Rothschilds should not be labeled as capitalists but rather another group of people in bed with governments, at an enormous scale.

200 years later, this misnomer not only still exists but is probably the most pervasive and deleterious aspect of modern economic thought. People continue to blame society’s problems on freedom while neglecting the incessant cronyism, corporatism and government expansion that permeates the economy. This notion was repugnant in the early years of American society which is why the Rothschild family had such difficulty penetrating The United States economy.

Traditionally, The Rothschild family conducted business in countries where they had strong relations with the governments of those nations; otherwise they refused. In the 1830s and 40s, this presented a huge dichotomy to the five Rothschild brothers who were scattered across Europe’s financial cities because they also recognized the large economic growth taking place in the United States indicating enormous potential for profits. Not only did the family lack a strong relationship with the federal government but The United States was also in the midst of major financial reform revolving around Andrew Jackson’s abolition of the Bank of the United States (BUS).

In the 1998 widely acclaimed book “The House of Rothschild: Money’s Prophets 1798-1848″ by Niall Ferguson, the author notes:

“The Bank of the United States had employed Barings as its European agent but the relationship broke down in 1836-7, and the Rothschilds hurried to offer their services. Biddle (the bank’s head) had ambitious-sounding plans, including “a business with a guarantee of two million pounds sterling to provide advances for goods and stocks,” and a scheme for a quasi-monopoly on cotton exports. It seemed to James (Rothschild) like a financial marriage made in heaven: these were, he enthused, “the wealthiest people in America” and “no less solid” than the Banque of France. At once, he began to imagine “flooding the American market” with his Spanish mercury “so that in six months we will be masters of the market”.” p 373

This alliance never came to fruition as Nicholas Biddle’s power and credibility later dwindled coupled by other large problems that arose within America’s financial system.

“In October 1839 the BUS (Biddle’s bank) suspended payments and in 1841 finally collapsed. Its failure coincided with a rash of defaults by states… In the wake of this fiasco, which saddled the London and Paris houses with a large quantity of thoroughly bad debts, the Rothschilds were content to hand back to Barings the position of bankers to the federal government. “You may tell your government” James was reported as telling representatives of the US Treasury, “that you have seen the man who is at the head of finance of Europe, and that he has told you that you cannot borrow a dollar, not a dollar.” The experience with the BUS had made James wish he had “never become involved with [America].” In future, he concluded, unless the federal government were “prepared to guarantee all the States and make the payments with us” and to set up an officially backed central bank, he would keep his distance.” pp 374-375

Presidents Andrew Jackson and Thomas Jefferson were strongly opposed to a central bank, largely because they had witnessed the corruption surrounding central banks and the way in which large banking institutions profit from wars. A large portion of wealth that the Rothschild family accumulated derived from high interest rates charged to governments in order to help fund wars. Ferguson points out that:

“Historians have never adequately explained how an obscure Jewish merchant banker [Nathan Rothschild]–who only a few years before had been a smuggler, and a few years before that a minor textiles exporter–was able to become the principle conduit of money from the British government to the continental battlefields on which the fate of Europe was decided in 1814 and 1815. Of all the steps in the ascent of the house of Rothschild, this was surely the greatest; yet it is also the least understood.” p 85

The United States Federal Reserve Bank was not officially established until 1913 and therefore the Rothschild family never established a firm relationship with the federal government. Although they did closely monitor the activities in the US economy and took part in activities such as the gold rush and post Civil War financing. In fact, subsequent to The Civil War, large banking conglomerates in the US began to emulate Rothschild practices by pushing hard for a central bank and exploiting the federal government in various ways.

JP Morgan was the most obvious example. JP, like the Rothschilds, helped to provide funding for weapons during war (The Civil War). In the 1890s, JP provided huge sums of gold to the Federal Government. JP also went on to help form Chase Manhattan Bank which is now one of the worlds largest banking conglomerates, under the name JPMorganChase.

Over the past 100 years, Chase has maintained very close ties to the US government and other governments throughout the globe. The bank has been very successful at loaning money to governments through various means such as its close affiliation with Worldbank and The IMF.

The head JPMorganChase, David Rockefeller, maintained close relationships with many global leaders during the bank’s period of internationalization during the 1960s and 70s. David also maintained intimate relationships with members of the US government such as Henry Kissinger and the Dulles brothers during the 1950s, 60s and 70s. In addition, he has also worked very closely with the former head of the New York Federal Reserve, Timothy Geithner and Fed Chairman Paul Volcker, a longtime Chase executive.

It is precisely this type of cronyism which was detested by early Americans while being mastered by the Rothschilds in Europe.

The Rothschilds used their political influence and political intelligence to push out many aspects of their agenda. For example, Nathan Rothschild (in London) was able to make a huge profit by speculating on the stock market as he was the first to receive news of Napoleon’s defeat at Waterloo.

The Rothschild family was also very effective at influencing monetary policy throughout Europe’s major financial cities as they were closely linked to the central banks and they also dominated the world’s precious metals market–specifically gold. Given the sheer quantity of gold the family had acquired through their various expeditions around the globe they were able to manipulate the continent’s money supply. Without the existence of central banks their manipulation tactics would not have been possible.

“James had in fact been sending substantial quantities of gold across the Channel since the beginning of 1825, if not earlier. In the first week of January alone, he had sent gold worth nearly £500,000, which he expected to “impress your Bank” (meaning the Bank of England). By the middle of the month, he was talking about “our old established practice” of “buy[ing] some gold whenever we can find any.”.” p 136

The family was obsessed with gold and imported it from all across the globe including South America, Russia, Turkey and Australia. Their perception and understanding for the value of gold is very much in line with that of modern-day Austrian Economists–it is the best store of value.

However, as the family always invested in gold, they did not always support the notion of gold to be upheld as a currency in circulation. Often times, they preferred the gold for themselves while allowing paper to circulate in the economy by encouraging their political associates to print notes.

Paper notes and govt bonds were much easier to manipulate, especially with greater political intelligence and political influence than any other banker in the market.

They also used faulty scare tactics such as “the fear of deflation” and a contracting economy as a means to keep paper in circulation (similar to modern-day economists who are closely aligned to the federal reserve, or the department of economics at Princeton).

“In 1819, the “bullionists” had effectively won…Dismayed, Nathan sought to dissuade Liverpool from going back on to gold, even pursuing ministers into the country to make his case…Nathan never opposed the resumption of cash payments (linked to gold) as a matter of theoretical principle; he and his fellow bankers made a practical argument that the short-run effects of a deflationary policy would be economically destabilizing, and that this might tend to run counter to the government’s goal of fiscal and monetary stabilization.” p 120-121

Sound familiar?

The family controlled so much gold that when they moved huge quantities of bullion from one central bank to another they were able to flood the market causing inflation and prices to then rise. Throughout a boom period ending in 1824, the family was able to generate huge profits. When Nathan and other bankers began to remove huge quantities of gold from England at the end of the boom in 1825, a bust was taking place and asset prices across the market continued to drop significantly.

The Bank of England then became responsible for fixing the economic crises in 1825. (This scenario should also sound familiar)

Many parallels can be drawn between the practices of the Rothschild family and our modern-day financial system. Although much revenue came from charging interest to governments, they were also engaged in many other areas of the economy. They bought and sold government bonds; traded enormous sums of foreign currencies; invested heavily in certain industries such as textiles and railroads; and they also dominated the commodity industry, globally.

In 2010, banks remain engaged in many of the same practices as the Rothschild family. Banking and finance are indeed a very important aspect of the economy and perfectly acceptable in a free market economy. However, it is when banks collude with governments and exploit the population for their own benefit that the term capitalist gets distorted.

In a free society, the role of government must be limited thus preventing cronyism at a grand scale, as in the case of the Rothschilds. Figures like Jefferson and Jackson acknowledged corruption within government which is why they pushed so hard to separate government and monetary policy by opposing a central bank.

Had Andrew Jackson not succeeded in abolishing The Bank of the United States, perhaps the Rothschild family could have made even greater fortunes by exploiting The U.S. political establishment.

Unfortunately, cronyism and corporatism are probably more rampant today than any other time in American history, as it has become accepted. And it is continuously mislabeled as capitalism.

The plug-in hybrid Porsche 918 Spyder was the best concept to come out of the Geneva Motor Show this year. With a claimed 0-60 time of about 3 seconds, the ability to return a fuel efficiency of 78 mpg, and a 15 mile electric-only range, it quickly became an object of lust for millions.

And now it appears the car is being readied to race in next year’s Nurburgring 24 Hours.

(more…)

The first 2011 Chevrolet Silverado HD pickups are going to make their way out of the Flint Assembly Plant this week, where production began on Monday. The first units are headed to Strawberry Point, Iowa, and Sumner, Washington.

“Members of UAW Local 598 put the finishing touches on the first truck, a red, regular cab Silverado HD,” General Motors said in a statement. “It is headed to Rodas Chevrolet in Strawberry Point, Iowa, a town that has a population of 1,400 and boasts the world’s largest (artificial) strawberry.”

Click here to get a price quote on the 2011 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD.

“We’re in a rural community out here. Ninety percent of buyers are pulling a trailer of some kind,” said Dan Paris, co-owner and general manager of Rodas Chevrolet. “We have guys that are definitely watching this one coming. I don’t think it’s going to take very long” to sell the first truck. “We kind of had some buyers in mind when we ordered them.”

The second Silverado, a red crew cab, is making its way to Sunset Chevrolet in Sumner, Washington, which has a population of 8,500 and is a blue-collar and farming town.

Refresher: Engine choices for the 2011 Chevrolet Silverado and the 2011 GMC Sierra HD include a Vortec 6.0L gasoline V8 making 360-hp and 380 lb-ft of torque and the 6.6L Duramax turbo-diesel V8 making 397-hp and 765 lb-ft of torque. The 6.0L gasoline V8 is mated to a Hydra-Matic 6L90 6-speed automatic transmission, while the 6.6L Duramax diesel is mated to a new Allison 1000 6-speed automatic. Both pickups have a towing and payload ratings to 21,700 pounds of towing and 6,635 pounds of payload.

2011 Chevrolet Silverado Heavy Duty:

– By: Kap Shah

Via Prison Planet.com » Prison Planet

David Gutierrez
Natural News
Wednesday, May 26th, 2010

The FDA has sent warning letters to four pharmaceutical companies citing them for omitting and minimizing information about risks and exaggerating potential benefits in material promoting their drugs.

The letters order the companies to cease banned marketing behaviors and instruct their employees on rules for promotions, but do not impose any fines or other sanctions.

Among the companies reprimanded are Amylin Pharmaceuticals and Eli Lilly & Co. for their diabetes drug Byetta. The FDA letter notes that at a meeting of the Endocrine Society in June, an Amylin representative told an FDA employee that the drug caused 80 percent of patients to lose seven to eight pounds in 30 weeks of treatment. When the FDA representative asked about the source of that claim, he was provided with copies of two published studies that did not support it.

The letter states that Amylin representatives made other misleading or false statements about the drug’s benefits, and suggested that it could be used as a standalone treatment. At the time of the conference, Byetta was not yet approved as a standalone drug, making it illegal for the company to promote it for that use.

Eli Lilly was also taken to task for “entirely [omitting] risk information” in a print ad for the antidepressant Cymbalta, and for minimizing risks and exaggerating benefits in another ad.

Cephalon was reprimanded for promotional cards for the lymphoma drug Treanda, which contain “an extremely limited risk presentation” and omit “important material information related to the dosing claims.”

Finally, the FDA sent a letter to Bayer over its marketing campaign for the intra-uterine device Mirena. In addition to playing down risks and making false and misleading statements, the FDA notes that Bayer’s ad campaign makes unsubstantiated statements claiming that “the use of Mirena instead of other means of contraception will result in increased levels of intimacy, romance, and by implication, emotional satisfaction.” The ads also promise that women who use the device will “look and feel great.”

The FDA is unaware of “any evidence suggesting that women who are using Mirena for birth control look great or feel great,” the letter reads.