Michael Jackson's memorial will be held Tuesday, at the downtown Staples Center and is very shameful to the organizers because according to the a police Assistant Chief is expected around 700,000 people to this event. However, only 17,500 tickets will be available and; the police is advising the crowd to do not go and stay at home watching by the TV the ceremony. They just forgot one thing; the King of Pop was a worldly famous person who broke all the records possibles. All the adjectives that fit to describe Michael are maximized: The King of Pop, The Best of the Best, Greatest of the Greatest, sir Michael Jackson, so on and so on; the list of adjectives are infinite; In addiction, his shows weren't simple shows were Mega shows. They should rethink about that and organize better to the MEGA event.
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Michael Jackson Staples Ceremony
Michael Jackson's memorial will be held Tuesday, at the downtown Staples Center and is very shameful to the organizers because according to the a police Assistant Chief is expected around 700,000 people to this event. However, only 17,500 tickets will be available and; the police is advising the crowd to do not go and stay at home watching by the TV the ceremony. They just forgot one thing; the King of Pop was a worldly famous person who broke all the records possibles. All the adjectives that fit to describe Michael are maximized: The King of Pop, The Best of the Best, Greatest of the Greatest, sir Michael Jackson, so on and so on; the list of adjectives are infinite; In addiction, his shows weren't simple shows were Mega shows. They should rethink about that and organize better to the MEGA event.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Hell Ride For French Tourist In NY-JFK
Wow! Like in Hollywood movies we use to see taxis and cars speeding up in a temptative of run away and scape from the police chasing; the French tourists saw themselves, this Wednesday, as main characters from a Hollywood movie; the difference between the worldly well known ones and them is that the known ones do rehearsals and are well paid; on the other hand, the French tourists didn’t have time to rehearsals nor were paid to be part of the movie, everything was a real life improvised actions. What an Irony and shame for NY authorities; that being one of the most visited place by tourist from whole world do not have a constant check up or control of who does the transportation on the airport. New York City, a great Place to visit and to live shows one of its weaknesses “ as usually” on the control of Transportation and security in the airport.
The Hottest 4 smart Phones of this summer
The Hottest 4 smart Phones of this summer are the Apple iPhone 3G S, the Nokia N97, the Palm Pre and the T-Mobile myTouch 3G. Analyzing how their hardware and software bit up we can considerer the description of improvements on their software and design. So far, between the four ones, just the Iphone and T-mobile MyTouch 3G show as the greattest options to the public, with a slightly advantage to Tmobile phone, due to the fact of having more memory than the Iphone. On the other hand, on design and customers preference the Iphone is still unbeatable.
Tattoos Can Cause Hepatitis
Piercing and tattooing the body is no longer a good idea, even though is seems fashionable it represents a big risk to the Health. Its practice goes back to the “Old Civilizations practices” when people used those methods to make up and decorate their bodies. Piercing makes holes on the skin and tattooing damage the skin with permanent make up; in addiction, can develop other risks to the health like: allergic reactions, Keloids, a type of scar that forms during healing, and Infections such as hepatitis.If you’re considering piercing or tattooing your body make sure that the facility is clean and safe. Also to have proper sterilization of the equipment is very important.
Holes from piercing usually close up if you no longer wear the jewelry. It is possible to remove tattoos, but it's painful and can cause scarring.
Friday, May 22, 2009
The World's Weirdest Festivals
There is mood for everything. On the last wednesday of August, in Punol, Spain happens the world weirdest tomato festival. People from big cities and small towns join in this funny, and messy adventure. Travelers are also allowed to join to this juicy festival.
The world's largest tomato fight last a weeklong and it has all the other big parties have, It includes fireworks, parades, music, etc... and it's pinnacle is when the adventures meet at some place in the city around late noon and starts a tomato fight. More than 300.000 pounds of tomatoes are dumped in a square in the city where locals and tourist begins the juicy tomatoes' battle.
The festival started around "1944 or 1945 according to various theories that "as either a food fight among friends, the bullying of a bad musician or a rally against dictator Francisco Franco."
The world's largest tomato fight last a weeklong and it has all the other big parties have, It includes fireworks, parades, music, etc... and it's pinnacle is when the adventures meet at some place in the city around late noon and starts a tomato fight. More than 300.000 pounds of tomatoes are dumped in a square in the city where locals and tourist begins the juicy tomatoes' battle.
The festival started around "1944 or 1945 according to various theories that "as either a food fight among friends, the bullying of a bad musician or a rally against dictator Francisco Franco."
Thursday, May 21, 2009
American Idol 2009 Winner
On Wednesday, night, ended up the 8th edition of the American Idol. The finalists "Kris Allen and Adam Lambert, "Rocker vs. Crooner,"after several performances were running for a title of American Idol/09. Lambert showed his ability and revived the legendary rock star, Freddie Mercury, "Queen" on his performances in the American Idol; on the other hand, in a contrast the good looking "boy next door" type, Allen, showed on his trajectory in the concourse a soft voice and a nice combination of country music style. The result was fair and CONGRATULATIONS Allen for the good performances and the American Idol 2009 title.
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Top 10 Cat-Friendliest Cities in America
The Top 10 most cat-friendly cities in the United States.
They are (in no particular order):
Tampa
Phoenix
San Francisco
Portland (Oregon)
Denver
Boston
Seattle
San Diego
Atlanta
Minneapolis
Golden Retirement and Executive Perks
In the middle of a huge financial crise some companies still waste money as if nothing was happen. Whoever produced the problem should have to pay for it; similarly in a case when a person(crimminal) is pleaded guilty and taken to the jail.
Some companies' executives who use the money unwisely should pay to cover the big "cannyon" made in the economy and not the public who follow their instructions like a sheep and pay their taxes on time.
In the middle of the hard financial crise while the population is struggling with job losses and budgeting for the future MTA high fares in june; executives from the big companies are eating the "Fillet Mignon" and big companies are still contributing to make the financial crise bigger.
Last week, was broadcasted to the public that some banks e.g, Bank of America will need around $34 billion dollars to survive in this financial crise and keep running as a decent one. Recently I received a letter from Bank of America saying they will increase the taxes in some transactions even those simple ones for instance, withdrawing money from ATM machines which I would be taxed at 4% on the transaction. Below is a list where part of your money goes, Golden Retirement and Executive Perks.
1. Country Club Memberships - Bank of America
On the rare occasion it's safe to leave home, some CEOs like to unwind at country clubs. Companies say there's a business purpose for this perk: hobnobbing with other executives can lead to new deals and ideas.
Countrywide Financial, now owned by Bank of America (BAC), paid more than $940,000 in country club memberships for CEO Angelo Mozilo and other executives including Stanford Kurland, David Sambol and Eric Sieracki from 2003 through 2006, according to proxy statements filed by the mortgage giant.
The money covered monthly dues, assessments, fees and business-related meals, Countrywide said, adding that "a significant portion" of the memberships were for "business purposes."
Mattel (MAT) paid $150,000 last year to cover a country club initiation fee for CEO Robert Eckert. The toymaker spent another $233,620 on country club memberships for other executives and on additional perks including company cars, financial advice and tax preparation, physicals (for spouses, too) and home-security systems, according to its latest proxy.
2. The Parting Perk
Jack Welch ran General Electric (GE) for two decades, turning the industrial conglomerate into one of the most successful companies in the world and cementing a legacy as one of the best chief executives ever.
He also negotiated an employment and retirement agreement in 1996 that included all the perks a hard-working executive could ever need, making Welch a noted leader in this area too.
The year after he retired on Sept. 30, 2001, Welch got roughly $2.5 million in perks under the agreement, according to the Securities and Exchange Commission, which charged GE in 2004 with failing to tell shareholders enough about the package.
The perks included access to GE aircraft for unlimited personal use and for business travel; exclusive use of a furnished New York City apartment that, according to GE, in 2003, had a rental value of roughly $50,000 a month and a resale value of more than $11 million; unrestricted access to a chauffeured limousine driven by security professionals; a leased Mercedes Benz; office space in New York City and Connecticut; professional estate and tax advice; a personal assistant; communications systems and networks at Welch's homes, including television, fax, phone and computer systems, with technical support; bodyguard security for speaking engagements; installation of a security system in one of Welch's homes and continued maintenance of security systems GE previously installed in three of Welch's other homes.
More perks were alleged in 2002 during Welch's divorce from his wife at the time, Jane Beasley Welch. Papers filed in the case disclosed floor-level seats at New York Knicks games, courtside seats at the U.S. Open and some dining bills at Jean Georges, a three-star Michelin restaurant where the tasting menu currently costs almost $150 per person.
All costs associated with the New York apartment were allegedly covered in the package too, including wine, food, laundry, toiletries and newspapers.
Realizing he faced "a huge perception problem," Welch quickly gave up most of the perks, according to a 2005 interview in the Boston Globe. However, he didn't apologize, telling the newspaper the benefits were part of a contract that helped GE keep him at the company longer.
3. Office Renovations
Fast-forward to early this year and another well respected CEO faced a similar dilemma.
John Thain, the former head of NYSE Euronext (NYX) , was hired by Merrill Lynch in late 2007 to steer the struggling brokerage firm through the financial crisis.
Soon after his appointment, Thain spent $1.2 million to renovate his new office, two conference rooms and a reception area. Furniture included a $35,113.50 "commode on legs," a $68,178 19th century credenza and a pair of guest chairs costing $87,783.
The decorating spree emerged in January, a few months after government bailouts of the largest U.S. banks and Wall Street firms, including Merrill.
Thain quickly said he would reimburse the firm for all the expenses, calling them "a mistake in the light of the world we live in today."
4. 'Stay Bonus,' Even If You're Dead
Some companies are so keen to hold on to executives that they promise big pay and benefits even if the talent dies -- in contracts known as golden coffins.
Life insurance policies worth millions of dollars are the least controversial part of these packages -- even though buying such coverage without company help shouldn't be too difficult for executives pulling in six or seven figures a year.
A peek under the lid of several golden coffins also reveals big severance payments, pensions and continued salaries if executives pass away.
Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF) agreed to pay Chief Executive Michael Jefferies a $6 million "stay bonus" to keep him running the successful fashion clothing retailer, according to its 2007 proxy statement.
If Jefferies dies, the bonus stays and is paid out, along with $10 million from a company-purchased life insurance policy, to his estate. The retailer would also pay some of his incentive compensation, bringing the golden coffin's value to more than $17 million, assuming he died on Feb. 2, 2008, according to the proxy.
5. Gross-Ups
If General Dynamics (GD) Chief Executive Nicholas Chabraja died at the end of 2008, his estate would have received almost $30 million, according to the ship and airplane builder's latest proxy statement.
That includes a lump-sum cash payment of $8.56 million in lieu of his use of corporate aircraft and reimbursement for office space, administrative support and moving expenses. It also includes the cost of paying taxes on those benefits -- known as gross ups.
Many companies are eliminating gross-ups, but there were still some spectacular examples in recent years.
If Nabors Industries Chief Executive Eugene Isenberg died, became disabled or was terminated without cause at the end of 2007, the oil-services company would have paid more than $260 million in cash severance, according to its proxy filed in April 2008.
If Isenberg was let go because there was a change in control of the company, Nabors (NBR) would have covered the tax on the severance and other payments for total gross-ups of more than $114 million, the proxy explained.
6. Tax Preparation
Unfortunately for CEOs, they don't have all their taxes paid by the companies they run. This can lead to a time-consuming process known as filing a personal tax return.
Big salaries, stock options, restricted stock awards and other forms of compensation can make tax returns tricky. So companies sometimes cover the cost of professional tax preparation and financial advice for their CEOs.
Occidental Petroleum (OXY) provided Chief Executive Ray Irani with $403,285 in tax preparation and financial planning services in 2008. That's nearly eight times the median U.S. household income and more than the $400,000 salary of the President of the United States, according to the AFL-CIO, a union group.
Irani received $49.9 million in direct compensation last year, making him one of the highest paid executives in the U.S., according to the Wall Street Journal.
7. Keeping the CEO Safe
If companies are paying top dollar to attract and retain the best executives, some figure it's only right to protect the investment as much as possible.
Affiliated Computer Services (ACS) spent more than $1.7 million from 2004 through 2007 for security systems, advice and equipment along with "personal protection services" for Chairman and founder Darwin Deason, according to the company's 2007 proxy statement.
8. Cars and Gas
Mattel CEO also gets a company-issued credit card that he can use to gas up his car.
Ford Motor Co. (F) and General Motors (GM) provide executives with two free cars a year and free gas as part of broader "vehicle evaluation" programs that require managers to give the companies feedback on how their vehicles are performing.
9. Execs, Families Fly in Style
But why drive when you can fly?
In 2006, Ford paid $517,560 so executive Mark Fields could fly to work in Michigan from his Florida home and back on weekends on the company's aircraft. The automaker and Fields agreed to change the perk and now he commutes first class, at a cost of roughly $29,000 a year, according to the company's latest proxy. Ford still covers the tax on this perk.
Ford also paid for the family of CEO Alan Mulally to fly between Michigan and Seattle, Wash. They used to fly on company aircraft, but the automaker is selling its planes. Ford will now charter private aircraft for the CEO, and his family will be allowed to travel with him on trips. Ford will also pay for coach-class flights for Mulally's family when they travel at his request.
Qwest Communications (Q) paid for the wife and minor child of CEO Edward Mueller to fly on the telecom company's aircraft between California and Colorado during the first half of 2008, as part of a package of relocation benefits. Qwest also paid the tax on these perks, according to its latest proxy.
In 2007, Mattel paid $18,833 to cover the cost of house-hunting trips by the spouse of Neil Friedman, president of Mattel Brands, ahead of his planned relocation from New York to Los Angeles, according to the toymaker's proxy covering that year.
10. Plum Pensions
After decades of tireless service, CEOs deserve a comfortable retirement. If they haven't managed to save some of their prodigious earnings, some companies make sure the money keeps flowing.
By the end of 2005, Pfizer CEO Hank McKinnell had accrued a pension that the drugmaker estimated was worth more than $83 million, or more than $6.5 million a year, according to its proxy statement filed in 2006.
Alistair Barr is a reporter for MarketWatch in San Francisco.
Copyrighted, MarketWatch. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of MarketWatch content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of MarketWatch. MarketWatch shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon.
Some companies' executives who use the money unwisely should pay to cover the big "cannyon" made in the economy and not the public who follow their instructions like a sheep and pay their taxes on time.
In the middle of the hard financial crise while the population is struggling with job losses and budgeting for the future MTA high fares in june; executives from the big companies are eating the "Fillet Mignon" and big companies are still contributing to make the financial crise bigger.
Last week, was broadcasted to the public that some banks e.g, Bank of America will need around $34 billion dollars to survive in this financial crise and keep running as a decent one. Recently I received a letter from Bank of America saying they will increase the taxes in some transactions even those simple ones for instance, withdrawing money from ATM machines which I would be taxed at 4% on the transaction. Below is a list where part of your money goes, Golden Retirement and Executive Perks.
1. Country Club Memberships - Bank of America
On the rare occasion it's safe to leave home, some CEOs like to unwind at country clubs. Companies say there's a business purpose for this perk: hobnobbing with other executives can lead to new deals and ideas.
Countrywide Financial, now owned by Bank of America (BAC), paid more than $940,000 in country club memberships for CEO Angelo Mozilo and other executives including Stanford Kurland, David Sambol and Eric Sieracki from 2003 through 2006, according to proxy statements filed by the mortgage giant.
The money covered monthly dues, assessments, fees and business-related meals, Countrywide said, adding that "a significant portion" of the memberships were for "business purposes."
Mattel (MAT) paid $150,000 last year to cover a country club initiation fee for CEO Robert Eckert. The toymaker spent another $233,620 on country club memberships for other executives and on additional perks including company cars, financial advice and tax preparation, physicals (for spouses, too) and home-security systems, according to its latest proxy.
2. The Parting Perk
Jack Welch ran General Electric (GE) for two decades, turning the industrial conglomerate into one of the most successful companies in the world and cementing a legacy as one of the best chief executives ever.
He also negotiated an employment and retirement agreement in 1996 that included all the perks a hard-working executive could ever need, making Welch a noted leader in this area too.
The year after he retired on Sept. 30, 2001, Welch got roughly $2.5 million in perks under the agreement, according to the Securities and Exchange Commission, which charged GE in 2004 with failing to tell shareholders enough about the package.
The perks included access to GE aircraft for unlimited personal use and for business travel; exclusive use of a furnished New York City apartment that, according to GE, in 2003, had a rental value of roughly $50,000 a month and a resale value of more than $11 million; unrestricted access to a chauffeured limousine driven by security professionals; a leased Mercedes Benz; office space in New York City and Connecticut; professional estate and tax advice; a personal assistant; communications systems and networks at Welch's homes, including television, fax, phone and computer systems, with technical support; bodyguard security for speaking engagements; installation of a security system in one of Welch's homes and continued maintenance of security systems GE previously installed in three of Welch's other homes.
More perks were alleged in 2002 during Welch's divorce from his wife at the time, Jane Beasley Welch. Papers filed in the case disclosed floor-level seats at New York Knicks games, courtside seats at the U.S. Open and some dining bills at Jean Georges, a three-star Michelin restaurant where the tasting menu currently costs almost $150 per person.
All costs associated with the New York apartment were allegedly covered in the package too, including wine, food, laundry, toiletries and newspapers.
Realizing he faced "a huge perception problem," Welch quickly gave up most of the perks, according to a 2005 interview in the Boston Globe. However, he didn't apologize, telling the newspaper the benefits were part of a contract that helped GE keep him at the company longer.
3. Office Renovations
Fast-forward to early this year and another well respected CEO faced a similar dilemma.
John Thain, the former head of NYSE Euronext (NYX) , was hired by Merrill Lynch in late 2007 to steer the struggling brokerage firm through the financial crisis.
Soon after his appointment, Thain spent $1.2 million to renovate his new office, two conference rooms and a reception area. Furniture included a $35,113.50 "commode on legs," a $68,178 19th century credenza and a pair of guest chairs costing $87,783.
The decorating spree emerged in January, a few months after government bailouts of the largest U.S. banks and Wall Street firms, including Merrill.
Thain quickly said he would reimburse the firm for all the expenses, calling them "a mistake in the light of the world we live in today."
4. 'Stay Bonus,' Even If You're Dead
Some companies are so keen to hold on to executives that they promise big pay and benefits even if the talent dies -- in contracts known as golden coffins.
Life insurance policies worth millions of dollars are the least controversial part of these packages -- even though buying such coverage without company help shouldn't be too difficult for executives pulling in six or seven figures a year.
A peek under the lid of several golden coffins also reveals big severance payments, pensions and continued salaries if executives pass away.
Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF) agreed to pay Chief Executive Michael Jefferies a $6 million "stay bonus" to keep him running the successful fashion clothing retailer, according to its 2007 proxy statement.
If Jefferies dies, the bonus stays and is paid out, along with $10 million from a company-purchased life insurance policy, to his estate. The retailer would also pay some of his incentive compensation, bringing the golden coffin's value to more than $17 million, assuming he died on Feb. 2, 2008, according to the proxy.
5. Gross-Ups
If General Dynamics (GD) Chief Executive Nicholas Chabraja died at the end of 2008, his estate would have received almost $30 million, according to the ship and airplane builder's latest proxy statement.
That includes a lump-sum cash payment of $8.56 million in lieu of his use of corporate aircraft and reimbursement for office space, administrative support and moving expenses. It also includes the cost of paying taxes on those benefits -- known as gross ups.
Many companies are eliminating gross-ups, but there were still some spectacular examples in recent years.
If Nabors Industries Chief Executive Eugene Isenberg died, became disabled or was terminated without cause at the end of 2007, the oil-services company would have paid more than $260 million in cash severance, according to its proxy filed in April 2008.
If Isenberg was let go because there was a change in control of the company, Nabors (NBR) would have covered the tax on the severance and other payments for total gross-ups of more than $114 million, the proxy explained.
6. Tax Preparation
Unfortunately for CEOs, they don't have all their taxes paid by the companies they run. This can lead to a time-consuming process known as filing a personal tax return.
Big salaries, stock options, restricted stock awards and other forms of compensation can make tax returns tricky. So companies sometimes cover the cost of professional tax preparation and financial advice for their CEOs.
Occidental Petroleum (OXY) provided Chief Executive Ray Irani with $403,285 in tax preparation and financial planning services in 2008. That's nearly eight times the median U.S. household income and more than the $400,000 salary of the President of the United States, according to the AFL-CIO, a union group.
Irani received $49.9 million in direct compensation last year, making him one of the highest paid executives in the U.S., according to the Wall Street Journal.
7. Keeping the CEO Safe
If companies are paying top dollar to attract and retain the best executives, some figure it's only right to protect the investment as much as possible.
Affiliated Computer Services (ACS) spent more than $1.7 million from 2004 through 2007 for security systems, advice and equipment along with "personal protection services" for Chairman and founder Darwin Deason, according to the company's 2007 proxy statement.
8. Cars and Gas
Mattel CEO also gets a company-issued credit card that he can use to gas up his car.
Ford Motor Co. (F) and General Motors (GM) provide executives with two free cars a year and free gas as part of broader "vehicle evaluation" programs that require managers to give the companies feedback on how their vehicles are performing.
9. Execs, Families Fly in Style
But why drive when you can fly?
In 2006, Ford paid $517,560 so executive Mark Fields could fly to work in Michigan from his Florida home and back on weekends on the company's aircraft. The automaker and Fields agreed to change the perk and now he commutes first class, at a cost of roughly $29,000 a year, according to the company's latest proxy. Ford still covers the tax on this perk.
Ford also paid for the family of CEO Alan Mulally to fly between Michigan and Seattle, Wash. They used to fly on company aircraft, but the automaker is selling its planes. Ford will now charter private aircraft for the CEO, and his family will be allowed to travel with him on trips. Ford will also pay for coach-class flights for Mulally's family when they travel at his request.
Qwest Communications (Q) paid for the wife and minor child of CEO Edward Mueller to fly on the telecom company's aircraft between California and Colorado during the first half of 2008, as part of a package of relocation benefits. Qwest also paid the tax on these perks, according to its latest proxy.
In 2007, Mattel paid $18,833 to cover the cost of house-hunting trips by the spouse of Neil Friedman, president of Mattel Brands, ahead of his planned relocation from New York to Los Angeles, according to the toymaker's proxy covering that year.
10. Plum Pensions
After decades of tireless service, CEOs deserve a comfortable retirement. If they haven't managed to save some of their prodigious earnings, some companies make sure the money keeps flowing.
By the end of 2005, Pfizer CEO Hank McKinnell had accrued a pension that the drugmaker estimated was worth more than $83 million, or more than $6.5 million a year, according to its proxy statement filed in 2006.
Alistair Barr is a reporter for MarketWatch in San Francisco.
Copyrighted, MarketWatch. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of MarketWatch content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of MarketWatch. MarketWatch shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
No Bravery
Watch this amazing video and music
No Bravery
(4 minutes / 1.9 MB)
James Blunt - No Bravery Lyrics There are children standing here, And I see no bravery, Houses burnt beyond repair. |
produced by GlobalFreePress.com Music by James Blunt Lyrics to 'No Bravery' The Story of Blake Miller, Iraq War Veteran (aka: Marlboro Man) | And I see no bravery, There are children standing here, And I see no bravery, | |||||||
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