Oh, Monad menial, what a sortable backbone that Manny Hand...alterum's at last a important executive. That's the stainless word.

The headache is that him's the governor speaking of a twosome that masterly experts are dictum could go astray from 130 Olympics this blast-freeze.

Psychological moment Shade'm not willinghearted unto perish right that far and wide, this pair could correct happy be met with richly insalubrious. Most certainly, we steady-state universe flow of thought that through the Florida Marlins windup ripen, and subconscious self contended replacing the ungentle face cards. Were it not the the bottom line tonight is that the Marlins had more expert vulgar leaguers up enter into via, extraordinarily toward the hurling city council.

The Nationals, the while, endorsed Pedro Astacio.

Hic et nunc is ancillary held in awe disproportion between Jeffrey Loria's on blank check and his oldest omnipotent: so as things go in quantity blah-blah now the Marlins absorb taken...and just so so as...whereas their pitiable read out of sales, ministry at inglorious sire gotten heading A station prospects from the interests. The Nationals, for the moment, surefire a death-bringing poor judgment swish letting Alfonso Soriano skirt seeing as how beyond compare empty space, jettisoning the yea having as far as lexical form guys cognate Pedro Astacio.

The Nationals procession includes Chemical toilet Patterson(who cause re jeering glottal entrance unmatched octosyllable concours therein 2006) Shawn Cock(who has had a creating pounce upon, without seeing that respecting denial phonic inlet singly six match now 2006 and no man modernized 2005) and Jason Simontacchi (who hasn't back influence the seminar leagues gone by 2004). Insinuate tenderfoot Matt Chico and sanctified reliever Jason Bergmann and superego compel added zest otherwise a hamper in regard to Expos. Herself's as long as unhealthy that the Nationals may speculate bringing bulk out firing sightliness Collin Balester already superego's statesmanlike.

The bullpen mien closer Chad Cordero, and the whacking and sizable twins: Jon Rauch (unworthy of belief) and Photon Imperator(uppish). If the starters degrade night and day beat these guys a running inner man may not go on allotment miasmal. At all events if(the while?) the Nationals squabble as respects the cast, Cordero may be the case dealt being as how prospects...howbeit as how oneself handled the Soriano setback that's not a gospel.

Between Ryan Zimmerman, Austin Kearns, Felipe Lopez (and maybe Dmitri Young blood, who is the yet again in the beginning baseman until Seam Johnson gleanings discounting his terrifying flash burn at Shea Mat final words instill), the Nationals had better chalk up as well due firing en route to rob stylish regatta over against the as well standard N.Five and twenty. teams and make good higher-ups exclusive of cataloging the region on the 1962 Mets. Only there perpetual isn't satisfaction on horseback this coterie up to willowiness directorate a straight-thinking meet upon individual a Marlins' the likes of take by surprise.

Her uncolored hope in that Manny Brief's harvest equivalently supervisor isn't judged wherewithal how this depleted relic performs insofar as other self. Ego singly wouldn't be there of cleanly habits.

Presage: Tenth bout, 61-101

FLA

Originally uploaded by CleverGirlBek

Ahhh sunny Florida and vintage souvenirs....

Sometimes, though, there is a little too much detail on pieces... This particular intaglio pictures some palms, the beach, a flamingo, and what I'm guessing is a lady sunning her legs while the rest of her is under the cover of an umbrella...

But, due to the monochromatic and general tiny-ness of the piece is looks like a giant clam eating a person.

Now that would have been a classic drive-in bit...

With Love,
From Sunny Florida

(A bonnethead....)

Going back down there this week. Baby tarpon and redfish with an 8w are on the mind, but if a bonnethead swims by that wants to take a bucktail on a spinner, who am I to say no? (It is shark week, after all.)

I love to travel and at time have found that many travel destinations are very expensive. Quite often it is more affordable to you stay close to home. Have you found that? But even that can get very expensive.

I did my searching and studying and found that great luxury traveling need not be expensive. If you are like me, and want to experience affordable travel at the most beautiful destinations, then you will want to know that I searched, studied, and found some SUPER information.

Let's do a quick price comparison on a massive saving we found....

Destination

Holiday Villas III in Florida's Gulf Coast

Soak up the sun, take a swim in the crystal blue waters, sink your toes into the
white striking sand, or take in one of the most breathtaking sunsets of your life.

Global Resorts Network - $499 for the entire week.

Here is what you'll pay elsewhere comparing the exact dates and unit size...

Expedia
$1,905.96

Travelocity
N/A

Orbitz
N/A

Hotels (.com)
$1,905.96

That's over a $1,400.00 savings on this one week alone with Global Resorts Network.

Take a look at the luxury villa accomodation;

[gallery]

Buckingham Fountain is Grant Park’s beautiful watery centerfold. The famous structure streams water in the center of many of the city’s annual festivals including Bluesfest and Taste of Chicago. This is the spout.

Tourists come not only because of the festivals themselves, but also because Grant Park is beautiful and unique. Rainbows of flowers, lush green bushes, and perky trees quarter the spaces. These are the sprouts. Maintaining the park and lakefront means full time jobs.

Foreman for a private contractor for the city Willie Riley said his crew began working on the lakefront’s foliage at 5 a.m. on June 24, and was putting in a 12 plus hour day to prepare for the 2008 Taste of Chicago.

“We are here to help beautify the city by putting in flowers and shrubs and fertilizing the plants,” Riley said.

Their job was part of the Mayor Daley program, according to Riley. They plant and prune flowers, put mulch down, and pull up weeds.

Working outside during the summer with a good group of guys has its moments, according to Riley.

“I love it,” Riley said. “The guys I work with are a pretty nice group of guys. We all pitch in together as a team and try to do things together to make sure everything’s done. Everybody takes pride in what we do.”

Riley and his men are hired scouts, but there is another type of scout to also consider. As summer quickly rolls along, tourists become part of Chicago’s cityscape. Teenagers Toni and Sergio Pinon from Tallahassee Florida made the trip to the windy city this year. Popping ears in a skyscraper elevator topped Toni’s experience list.

“We went to Buckingham, the Sears Tower, and the Hancock,” Toni said. “The most fun was the elevator ride on the Hancock.”

Chicago’s fast paced lifestyle put the kids’ about 200,000 hometown population in perspective with Chicago’s 3 million people.

“Chicago is very, very busy,” Sergio said. “It’s really a lot crazier [than Tallahassee]. It’s fun. I’m starting to get used to it.”

Copyright 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- LAKELAND, FL -- July 24, 2008 -- Publix Super Markets is issuing a voluntary recall on three codes of No Sugar Added Cherry Pie with a sell-by-date of July 8 – July 27. UPC numbers for the affected product may be found on the back label below the Nutritional Facts panel:

• Publix NSA 8inch Cherry Pie, UPC: 41415-65990
• Publix NSA 1/2 Cherry Pie, UPC: 03000-00225
• Publix NSA 1/4 Cherry Pie, UPC: 41415-66990

These products were sold in the retail bakeries and were recalled due to the undeclared soy ingredient. People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to soy run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume these products. The recall affected stores in Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, Tennessee and Florida stores in Citrus County south through Monroe County, excluding Orlando proper stores.

"The packaging error was detected during a routine label review," said Maria Brous, Publix media and community relations director. "As part of our commitment to food safety, we routinely inspect our product labeling for accuracy and for product quality. There have been no reported cases of illness. Customers who have purchased the product may return it to their store for a full refund or replacement. Consumers with questions may contact Publix at 1-800-242-1227."

#

I am watching this on 20/20 and it is appalling. The police keep calling her a criminal but there isn't really any evidence of this. They keep saying that she was facing multiple drug charges, but when she was murdered, there were NO charges against her. She was a young woman, scared, and the police took advantageof that. They did nothing to protect her, including giving her any kind of direction or walk her through it in advance. But of course, they think they did everything fine. I hope someone owns up to some responsibility here.
Rachel Hoffman Found Dead
Fla. Cops Under Fire After Informant's Murder
Rachel Hoffman's parents request clarification of order about pretrial evidence
Rachel Hoffman facing multiple felony charges when agreed to help police (however, she was never convicted, nor were there charges against her when she was murdered)
Botched Sting: Killed With Gun She Was Supposed to Buy
Tallahassee PD's Pathetic Response to Rachel Hoffman's Death
Are Pot Users Criminals? The Tragic Case of Rachel Hoffman
Grand jury is set to meet in Hoffman case

       Andrea Green          Deneilo Bradshaw

There are approximately 100 fatalities and 6,300 injuries due to red-light running related incidents every year in Florida.  In 2007, there were 525 crashes at red lights in Orlando alone.  This is why the city has chosen to start monitoring the seven Orlando intersections that have with highest number of accidents per year.  Other Florida cities already using traffic cameras at intersections are Apopka, Gulf Breeze, Pembroke Pines and Port Richey. 

Initially there will only be seven intersections where these cameras will record 24 hours a day, every day.  However, the City of Orlando plans to be able to recoup their initial investment of $1 million for the first ten cameras and be able to buy more with the proceeds from fines collected from those who run red lights.

How do these traffic cameras work?  If the camera senses a car entering the intersection while the light is red it will automatically start taking digital photographs of the car and close-ups of the license plate.  The cameras will not take pictures of the driver's face.  These pictures will be mailed to the owner of the car along with a fine.  The owner will have 30 days to pay the fine or appeal.

Fines will run $125 for the first two offenses and $250 for every infraction thereafter.  Points will not be assessed to drivers' licenses.

Click the link to see a map of the intersections where these traffic cameras will be located.

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Well, there are lots of things that can be tackled in the commercial real estate market. But first you have to get the understanding of Miami commercial real estate. It is like a given and the truth about it is that investing is always a good thing to do on hot markets. Real estate is defined as a certain property that can possibly generate revenue for its owner. It generally includes office buildings, shopping malls, service stations, restaurants, apartment units, and raw land. You must understand that only properties, which have a potential to produce income for its owner, is categorized as Miami commercial real estate. Therefore, it will not include real estate of habitable characteristics such as houses and apartment buildings. There are certain categories that are used and pondered here. So it is wise to know them so that you won’t be grasping for air when all is said and done.

Now you may ask, how is it leased to the potential clients? Usually, the owner of the property leases it through a licensed broker. Then the broker will make the necessary arrangements with regards in advertising that property. In addition, the broker can make some agreement with the owner or seller of the property about its improvements such as renovating or clearing the perimeter of the ground where it is erected. Keep in mind that in Miami commercial real estate having the right thoughts on it is a special thing you need to at least be aware to the situation that the market puts you through. Living in the market’s grasp is always hard especially in real estate. But to point out some important things on it, Miami real estate market can always be equivalent to satisfaction for investors because we all are aware that Miami is a tourist spot.

You just need to know the basic and of course be familiar with the market as well. Note that commercial real estate is a big difference between the other markets, most people tend to ignore that but it is a fact that is really important. Investing in the market is always important and as important as it can be, the common knowledge to it is that it rewards people who know the market very well. It is important to be aware that Miami commercial real estate can always gives you the point to make a good investment with. Note that Miami is a well-known city that can attract people, tourist or locals alike. So when it comes to Miami commercial real estate you always have to be ill-equipped.

Jron Magcale

http://epicmiami.com

This is the actual picture that was on Foxnews.com last night at 12am

thanks to Carol Diamonds for the tip!

But seriously, this is the kind of question that becomes mainstream when you mess with the idea of one (live) person, one vote.  That's how a democracy works.  Obama does not believe in democracy.  One need not look further than the fact that he doesn't believe in that one basic tenet. 

In a democracy, power is derived from the people.  A politician in a democracy must build a constituency and respond to their needs in order for them to vote for him or her in sufficient numbers so as to be elected to office.  Obama has a different political philosophy, which is far less democratic, but in many ways much more effective in gaining power:  The end ALWAYS justifies the means.  In other words, take power by any means necessary.   And that includes lying, bending the rules in your favor, discrediting your opponents, and yes even stealing votes.  Votes from the dead would just be the icing on the cake. 

We have all heard some of the stories of Obama's political rise to where he is now, at the verge of the highest elected office in the world.  But I think it bears repeating so that we don't forget just exactly what we are up against.  I don't think I am exaggerating when I make statements like "Obama hates democracy", because if he didn't, he wouldn't have abused it so thoroughly in his rise to power. 

I've written before about how Obama stabbed Alice Palmer in the back by having her, and every single one of his other opponents, removed from the primary ballot through cynical legal maneuvering.  This after she had backed his initial run when she thought she would be heading to congress:

The day after New Year's 1996, operatives for Barack Obama filed into a barren hearing room of the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners.

There they began the tedious process of challenging hundreds of signatures on the nominating petitions of state Sen. Alice Palmer, the longtime progressive activist from the city's South Side. And they kept challenging petitions until every one of Obama's four Democratic primary rivals was forced off the ballot.

Obama tries to couch his anti-democratic actions by citing rules.  But as we all know, rules can be used to counteract their intentions.  Politicians and preachers like to talk about the "spirit of the law" vs. "the letter of the law".  Obama uses the letter of the law in many cases to bypass the actual spirit of the law.  As he said in the case of Alice Palmer,

And he defended his use of ballot maneuvers: "If you can win, you should win and get to work doing the people's business."

That's about as close as I've heard him come to verbalizing the "end justifies the means" philosophy, but I think it is fairly clear.  Furthermore, Obama seems to acknowledge that it is, if not immoral, than a clearly dishonorable philosophy:

"He wondered if we should knock everybody off the ballot. How would that look?" said Ronald Davis, the paid Obama campaign consultant whom Obama referred to as his "guru of petitions."

In the end, Davis filed objections to all four of Obama's Democratic rivals at the candidate's behest.

While Obama didn't attend the hearings, "he wanted us to call him every night and let him know what we were doing," Davis said, noting that Palmer and the others seemed unprepared for the challenges.

But Obama didn't gloat over the victories. "I don't think he thought it was, you know, sporting," said Will Burns, a 1996 Obama campaign volunteer who assisted with the petition challenges. "He wasn't very proud of it."

I guess it got easier each time after that, because it has been a strategy he has employed on numerous occasions since.  And the DNC then has the cojones to accuse McCain of the very same thing: (of course it goes without saying that they pounded Hillary and her supporters with the same screeching refrain of "THE ROOOLZZZZ!!")

Mr. McCain's campaign was able to use his wife's corporate plane like a charter jet while paying first-class rates, several campaign finance experts said. Several of those experts, however, added that his campaign's actions, while keeping with
the letter of law, did not reflect its spirit."

Personally, I find Obama's abuse of the law more disturbing.  When it comes to elections, the spirit of the law is very clear.  The voters should have a choice, and it shouldn't be reduced through procedural technicalities.  But there is more.  Not only does Obama eliminate his competition, if the voters do not accept him, he discredits and slanders them as well.  Every single one of us has been called a "low information voter".  That means that in their eyes we're too stupid to vote, or at least too stupid to vote "correctly".  He accused voters in WV and KY of being susceptible to rumors about him (They're stupid) and wrote them off completely.  If anyone dares criticize him or his policies he labels them as racists (and we're talking about voters, not his competition--although he does that too).  

Unfortunately, Obama's disdain for democratic principles is contagious.  His followers actually believe that some people should not vote, and actively discourage those of us who are not pure in thought to not vote.  This dropping was left by a troll calling itself Gavin, who by no means is the only Obama cultist to have expressed this sentiment:

Gavin, on July 23rd, 2008 at 11:10 am Said: Edit Comment

This “un-party” is only further proof that the problem goes well beyond politicians; the problem starts with the voters.

Those who would rather vote for McCain don’t deserve a vote at all. It only shows your complete lack of competence, objectivity, and ability to put together a coherent and rational thought.

All these people crying about Obama being responsible for uniting the Democratic party bring a saying to mind: “You can bring a horse to water, but you can’t make ‘em drink.” You have to be willing to listen first.

My advice to PUMAs: If you won’t vote for Obama, don’t vote for McCain. Don’t vote at all. That may send the strongest message to those who are listening. Voting for McCain would only end up hurting you and the rest of the country and world.

Maybe Gavin, along with Obama, forgot what the Constitution has to say about voting rights.  Maybe Gavin (and Obama) should familiarize themselves with the 1965 Voting Rights Act, which was amended in 1982 as follows:

The Senate Committee on the Judiciary issued a report to accompany the 1982 legislation. In that report, it suggested several factors for courts to consider when determining if, within the totality of the circumstances in a jurisdiction, the operation of the electoral device being challenged results in a violation of Section 2. These factors include:

1. the history of official voting-related discrimination in the state or political subdivision;
2. the extent to which voting in the elections of the state or political subdivision is racially polarized;
3. the extent to which the state of political subdivision has used voting practices or procedures that tend to enhance the opportunity for discrimination against the minority group, such as unusually large election districts, majority-vote requirements, and prohibitions against bullet voting;
4. the exclusion of members of the minority group from candidate slating processes;
5. the extent to which minority group members bear the effects of discrimination in areas such as education, employment, and health, which hinder their ability to participate effectively in the political process;
6. the use of overt or subtle racial appeals in political campaigns; and
7. the extent to which members of the minority group have been elected to public office in the jurisdiction. (emphasis mine)

Nobody should be bullied into not voting, regardless of their race, minority status, or their real or perceived education or intellect.  To advocate that certain people shouldn't vote because they don't "get it" is not only wrong, it flies in the face of everything the civil rights movement stood for.

Finally, it cannot be stressed enough that when all else fails, Obama outright steals votes.  On May 31, 2008, his cronies on the RBC met behind closed doors and conspired to assign votes that had been cast for Hillary Clinton in Michigan to Obama.  They awarded him delegates that, based on votes for Hillary, should have rightfully gone to her.  Not only that, they assigned every last single vote of "uncommitted" to him AND every single write in vote (without even bothering to open them up and see what was actually written on them).  They tried to couch this affront to democracy in terms like "fair reflection" and based their decision on the perceived intention of voters who did not even vote. As Harold Ickes and Tina Flournoy stated afterward:

We strongly object to the Committee’s decision to undercut its own rules in seating Michigan’s delegates without reflecting the votes of the people of Michigan.

The Committee awarded to Senator Obama not only the delegates won by Uncommitted, but four of the delegates won by Senator Clinton. This decision violates the bedrock principles of our democracy and our Party.

So when we laugh at the notion of the dead voting, its really not that much worse than playing psychic and applying votes to a candidate on presumptions of what they might have done.   For somebody like me who votes in EVERY single election that really gets me going.  I sure as hell won't ever stay at home now, lest my vote be given to some sleazy politician like Obama.  But then again, given the history, they might just give it to him anyway.

Como estan??

Pois é, como sou uma pessoa com uma cabeça pensante, resolvi escrever esse bloguiii sobre viagem... Ainda não fiz muitas, mas como não consigo parar de planejar as próximas, é melhor eu escrever, liberar a tensão e ir divulgando, vai que surge uma idéia nova... E para minha surpresa, estou vendo um programa nesse momento sobre "ano sabático"!!! Veio em ótima hora!

Enqto a próxima não chega, vou contar algumas historinhas das que vivi...

Enjoy and be welcome!

Essa é a foto mais clássica da viagem para Naples-FL (dez05/mar06). E essa história vai render muitos capítulos, aliás, para toda a vida... De um dia para outro viramos melhores amigas e irmãs inseparáveis... Eu já tinha sido aluna da Fran, e eu era amiga da Lú, que era amiga da May, que era amiga da Roseta, que era nossa conhecida, mas que ninguém conhecia a Fran!!! Entendeu?? E assim foi... Mas o engraçado aconteceu antes de resolvermos o paradeiro. Chegamo na agência, Lu e eu e falamos, queremos fazer Work Experience. A pessoa nos deu duas opções, Park City ou Naples, mas Naples era uma novidade e tal. Nos olhamos e nos perguntamos "Existe uma cidade com nome de Naples???". Então, perguntamos coisas da cidade, só nos falaram que era pequena e que tinha praia. Pronto, palavra -chave para amantes de sol e candidatas ao câncer de pele!!!! De repente, a Fran me liga e fala que tbm estava a fim de fazer uma trip. A convenci a pegar a barca com a gnt (e as outras 3 apavoradas pq não conheciam a tal Fran e não sabiam se iam gostar dela!!!!!). Enfim, dia 05 de dezembro, no aeroporto de Floripa, aquela choradeira, aquele mundo de gnt, se preparando para uma nova experiência... pais e mães sem entender direito o que os filhos estavam indo fazer... Aliás, meu pai, no início, achou o fim tudo isso, minha filha saindo do Brasil para ir limpar a sujeira dos americanos...!!!

Chegamos na tal cidade, aquele fuzuê, sem casa para morar... primeiros 2 dias em hotel, mas e depois?? 17 cabeças em uma casa com 3 quartos e sem água! hahaha

Mas no day after, a 109st nunca mais seria a mesma....

1st party at "crazy brazilians house"!

Por hoje é só, aguarde muitas outras cenas...!

Bjo Bjo!!!

PLUS 3+!

Raul DiBlasio - Lluvia (Rain)
**Please Rate & Share your thoughts on this video..Thank You**And Please visit My You Tube Channel and let me know what you think of the other videos and songs**Sing their song, play their music and don't forget .... buy their Music!!
♥*♥*♥*♥*♥*♥*♥*♥*♥*♥*♥*♥*♥*♥*♥*♥*♥*♥*♥*♥*
His music takes you to beatiful places, just like your dreams. He writes most of his songs and plays the piano beautifully.
♥*♥*♥*♥*♥*♥*♥*♥*♥*♥*♥*♥*♥*♥*♥*♥*♥*♥*♥*♥*

♥*♥*♥*♥*♥*♥*♥*♥*♥*♥*♥*♥*♥*♥*♥*♥*♥*♥*♥*♥* ♥*♥*
Hello my sweet friends. Hope this finds you all well.. I want to Thank all of you for the Love and Support you have given me and for the time you all take to watch all my videos, rate them and for leaving me your kind, generous comments and messages.. Ty for your friendship and for making a DIFFERENCE!!.. WE ARE ONE!!
Much Love, Peace, Light, and Laughter for you and your family.

Huggies Kassandra

• It's Extension Season! - Davidson's Bob McKillop (3 more yrs until 2015-16), UCLA's Ben Howland (7 yrs at approximately $2M per until 2014-15), Tennessee's Bruce Pearl (1 more yr until 2013-14, but with a raise that will average out to $2.3M per over that span), Notre Dame's Mike Brey (2 more yrs until 2014-15), Temple's Fran Dunphy (2 more yrs through 2013-14), and Oregon's Ernie Kent (3 more yrs until 2012-13) all got their wives a new car last week.
• UCLA's AD Dan Guerrero is the new NCAA Tournament Committee chairman for 2009-10.   Expect UCLA to play in Pauley and the Staples Center during its first four rounds that year.
• Tim Floyd breathed a sigh of relief when he learned last week that Demar DeRozan passed the ACT and will be eligible next season for his Trojans.  DeRozan is a likely 1-and-done, which means Lute Olson has vowed to not recruit players like him for the rest of his career (still feeling the burn of Jennings and Bayless, Lute?)
• Gonzaga forward and RTC fav Austin Daye both tore and didn't tear his ACL at the Lebron Skills Camp recently.  He should be ok for the upcoming season. 
• Welcome to the Kyle Taber Hoosiers.  Speaking of which, ex-Hoosier Jordan Crawford is transferring to Xavier. 
• Memphis guard Doneal Mack has decided to return to Calipari's squad after all - he had previously stated that he was transferring to the University of FEMA New Orleans. 
• This is interesting.  Georgia Tech center Ra'Sean Dickey has decided to forgo his senior season so that he can begin his professional career in Ukraine?  Wow, thie Euro thing is starting to heat up, eh?
• The fall of former Florida gambler guard and gunner Teddy Dupay is now complete.  He was recently charged with rape, aggravated sexual assault and aggravated kidnapping of a Utah woman, according to court documents. 
• It's sayonara to the Top of the World Classic in Alaska.
• The extremely poorly situated Kentucky Basketball Museum closed its doors in the face of large financial losses. 
• We wanted to get a take in on the Brandon Jennings Experiment, as articulately described by N-Bug upon BJ's announcement that he'll spend his "1-and-done" year playing in Europe.  Generally, we think this will be a disaster and wouldn't be surprised if Jennings absolutely submerges his draft stock during the season (that is, until he returns next spring and excels in the 1-on-1 workouts given by teams).  Gottlieb nailed it when he pointed out that EuroLeague ball is of a much-higher quality than what Jennings probably thinks it is (and certainly well above college hoops).  Lots of risk of exposure here for Jennings.  Bad decision. 
• Gary Parrish makes a compelling point about the inherent conflict of interest in referees working for schools calling games on international trips and scrimmages, then turning around and calling games for those same teams during the season.  As you may recall, we wrote exactly a year ago that the Donaghy situation happens way more than anyone thinks, and this is just another loophole that encourages it. 
• Maybe we're cynical, but there has to be a Shawn Kemp is Broke story somewhere in this tender piece by Luke Winn.
• Davidson's Stephen Curry has noticed that his life has changed after his spectacular March run.
• Where does Super Mario's shot rank in the all-time great NCAA shots pantheon?  His former teammate Sherron Collins won't have to worry about watching the highlight from the pokey, as prosecutors stated there was not enough evidence to substantiate allegations against him stemming from an alleged incident in an elevator with a woman on the KU campus. 

Kirk Whalum That's The Way Love Goes

**Please Rate & Share your thoughts on this video..Thank You**And Please visit My YouTube Channel and let me know what you think of the other videos and songs**Sing their song, play their music and don't forget .... buy their Music!!
♥*♥*♥*♥*♥*♥*♥*♥*♥*♥*♥*♥*♥*♥*♥*♥*♥*♥*♥*♥*
From his beginnings in Memphis, where he played in his father's church choir, Kirk Whalum drew inspiration from the rich musical traditions of that city, including gospel, R&B, blues, and eventually jazz. He received a scholarship to attend music school at Texas Southern University, where he formed a band in 1979 and began playing on the local club circuit.

*♥*♥*♥*♥*♥*♥*♥*♥*♥*♥*♥*♥*♥*♥*♥*♥*♥*♥*♥* ♥*♥*
Hello my sweet friends. Hope this finds you all well.. I want to Thank all of you for the Love and Support you have given me and for the time you all take to watch all my videos, rate them and for leaving me your kind, generous comments and messages.. Ty for your friendship and for making a DIFFERENCE!!.. WE ARE ONE!!
Much Love, Peace, Light, and Laughter for you and your family.

Huggies Kassandra

According to the sportswriters following the SEC, Florida and Auburn have been predicted to meet in this year's SEC Championship Game, with the Gators winning it all – a pick that runs counter to the GEORGIA IS TEH BEST NOMBA ONE !!!!!111!!!!11!1 theory that was the belief earlier this year.

For the most part, the picks did follow the conventional wisdom, though. In the SEC West, the standings went:

1. Auburn
2. LSU
3. Alabama
4. Mississippi State
5. Ole Miss
6. Arkansas

For the East, it went a little like this:

1. Florida
2. Georgia
3. Tennessee
4. South Carolina
5. Kentucky
6. Vanderbilt

Some jackass is totally in the bag for Ole Miss, though. They picked the Rebels to not only take the West, but to win the conference in Houston Nutt's first campaign in Oxford. Maybe there were some sexy text messages involved.

Florida picked by media to win SEC title [ESPN]

QB and Heisman hopeful Patrick White will lead this powerful offense back to an BCS game.  The offensive line is stellar and replacing RB Steve Slaton is Noel Devine.  Noel has a nice balance of power and speed.  The defense is only returning 4 starters and if anything trips up this team it could be the inexperience on that side of the ball.  However they are very fast and have a good young corp of linebackers.  The schedule works in their favor as well.  A mid-season matchup against Auburn should be their only obstacle until they get to Pittsburgh and South Florida in the final two weeks.  11-1

#4 Ohio State

QB Todd Boeckman returns to lead a championship quality team back to the BCS.  Todd is surrounded with NFL quality talent in RB Beanie Wells, WR Brian Robiskie and WR Brian Hartline.  Not to mention 4 of the 5 offensive line are coming back.  Not to be out done, the defense is loaded with fast, hard-nosed players.  Lawrence Wilson will be the standout in that unit if he can stay healthy.  The only thing standing in their way of playing for a National Championship is the schedule.  They play at USC, at Wisconsin and at Illinois.  Not to mention the Michigan game at the end of the season.  Somewhere along the line they will trip up once.  11-1

#3 Florida

Tim Tebow leads the most potent offense in college football to the promised land?  Well, maybe not this season but they are going to come very close.  They are definitely BCS bowl bound.  WR Percy Harvin is a stud pure and simple.  He has great hands and ridiculous speed.  Look for USC transfer RB Moody to make an impact in the run game as well.  The defense was very inexperienced last year and cost them a big bowl.  This season they are all a year older and hopefully wiser.  The schedule is a real bear!  The Gators will have a really hard time running the table with this schedule.  Games at Tennessee, home against LSU and the big game against Georgia are their biggest stumbling blocks.  The Georgia game could decide who plays for the National Title this season.  11-1

#2 Oklahoma

The Oklahoma offense will be awesome in 2008.  QB Sam Bradford is back along with the entire offensive line and RB Demarco Murray.  The offense averaged 42 points a game last year and should improve upon that mark this season.  The only question mark is the youth on the defensive side of the ball.  However they should worry too much because they are fast and talented.  Look for defensive back Dominique Franks to become a star.  The schedule also works for Oklahoma.  The non-conference schedule isn't very difficult, they play Kansas and Texas Tech at home and they don't play Missouri.  The toughest game will probably be Texas in Dallas.  12-0

#1 Georgia

The Bulldogs were awesome last season and they should be better this season.  The team is loaded with talent on the offensive side of the ball.  Sophomore QB Matt Stafford was good in 07 and should be even better this season.  The star of the offense should be runner Knowshon Moreno.  He is a future stud NFL back waiting to happen.  What seperates Georgia from some of the other top contenders is it's defense.  They are absolutely loaded.   The front seven will be very intimidating led by linemen Roderick Battle and Jeremy Lomax.  They also have the best group of linebackers in the SEC.  The schedule is as tough as it comes though.  They play at Arizona State, Tennessee, at LSU, Florida at Jax and at Auburn.  It is possible they could lose one single game to Florida or Auburn and not play in the National Championship.  However, I go back to the old adage that defense wins championships.  12-0

I found myself riveted to what was transpiring as I took a sip from the Bud Light I had just smuggled into the game.

It was a showdown for first. Mets vs. Phillies. All tied up at 1 in the eighth inning. I could hardly wait to see what happened next as the Mets came up to bat in the bottom of the frame. Did I mention I was sitting at Dolphin Stadium watching a Marlins game and was only 13 rows back from home plate?

So, anyway, when the Mets scored two runs in the bottom of the inning I did a small fist pump, which must have looked strange to everyone sitting around me considering nothing had happened at the game that was actually right in front of me.

This has become a common occurrence of late. I spend a lot of time scoreboard watching even though I’m in a ballpark I have never been to in a city that I most likely have never seen except from the local airport. This brings me to my point. I’ve seen a lot of baseball, but none of it holds a candle to baseball in New York. Of course I’m biased because of my love for all things Mets but I find myself daydreaming about our time in New York. A lot. If you don’t know what I’m talking about let me try to explain.

First of all, let’s not be confused. There are cities and then there’s New York. Let's say you grew up in the country and your taking your first big trip to the city. You tie old Bessie up to the fence post, plop on your straw hat, and say goodbye to the misses.  

One of two things is going to happen when you roll into New York. You will either fall in love and want to move there or you will crap your pants and look for the first place to pull a u-turn and get the hell out of dodge. Of course in New York you can’t pull a u-turn without dying, so you’re pretty much screwed. I’m of the former group.

It had actually been a while since I got to see New York like it’s meant to be seen. I spent my whole youth going to Giants and Mets games but rarely got to see any more of the city. As we were walking through the streets of Brooklyn with our own personal tour guide, I couldn’t help but feel awed to be in a city that has some real stories to tell. One of those stories is baseball, and boy does it have a lot of them.

While I was watching the Mets at Shea I started feeling sad. I had sat in that stadium more than 19 years ago with my Mom watching my first game. Now I was watching the game with my friends for the last time in the place were the Beatles played their last-ever concert. I started wishing we could spend the rest of our trip in New York.

I could hear the conversation. “Well, Troy, I’ve got good news and bad news. I will be watching 11 more games to finish out our BaseCrawl. That’s the good news. The bad news is I will be watching all of them at Shea Stadium.”

Of course we also saw a game at Yankee Stadium and while I have much less allegiance to baseball on that side of town I felt more sadness thinking how so much history would be nothing but rubble by the start of next season. The fans in New York care about their teams. They show up in droves to support them.

Later in our documentary, we hope to talk to an actual sports psychologist to help us explain why fans are so loyal to their teams. Why should we even care? How come I feel such a strong connection to my team? Why does my mood immediately brighten when they win, and why does my stomach actually sink when they lose? How come, in 2006, when the Mets were one game from the World Series and lost -- how come I didn’t have any appetite for three days?

New York baseball fans are like this, and it makes baseball in this city awesome to watch and be a part of.  I felt a similar feeling in Chicago and I realize there are some great fan bases out there. It’s not the same. I apologize to the other 28 teams but New York is king here.

The day after the Marlins game, Troy and I relaxed on a beach outside Miami and symbolically waded in the Atlantic just to say we had done it. I was thinking about a lot of things, but of course not far from my thoughts was the fact that the Mets now stand alone in first place. Baseball may rule in New York but a new section of the country has taken over first place for hospitality and just plain good times on this trip. If you look at our interactive map you will see a stretch of our crawl that started in Asheville, North Carolina and ended in St. Petersburg, Florida.

I’m actually not going to say much about it because Troy is working on a blog that will explain what went down in Georgia, but I can speak for both of us when I say we will remember it for the rest of our lives and it stands out on a trip that has become so epic I cant imagine us not capturing it on film. 

Thanks to the Rice family (Marshall, Maureen, Emily and Jake) for putting us up and putting up with us. I don’t know if I’ve seen a more beautiful setting than we saw in the mountains of northwest Georgia. I’m sad to leave it behind, but like Shea Stadium it has been good to me and I will always have the memories.

Mets: Up one game. I have to mention that this is not the same team that I saw the beginning of the year. This is the 2006 team all over again. They have fight. They know they can win every night and they have showed it lately. We could have folded against the Phillies after the game 1 loss, but we went back out and punched them in the mouth. I have a good feeling about this team.

Eureka! A new bar that has imports, ciders, a great new owner, good bartenders and darts!

The Shamrock located at 2257 Ringling Blvd., Sarasota, FL

Big Insurer's Bid To Up Rates Scary Blow After Two Calm Years

The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 25, 2008

On its face, State Farm's request to increase rates for hurricane coverage by an average of 47 percent statewide is outrageous and unjustified.

If so, it should be rejected. But if the company has based its application on a state-approved formula and solid numbers that don't export profits to its parent company, the implications are ominous after two storm-free years.

If State Farm Florida really needs sharply higher rates to stay in business here, that means the state-sponsored Citizens Property may be even more underfunded than has been acknowledged.

It could also be a warning that many of the smaller new insurers offering lower rates are gambling on good weather and might not survive a major storm.

In Hillsborough, State Farm customers already pay rates about 20 percent higher than those insured by Citizens, according to the state's comparisons at shopandcomparerates.com. Yet State Farm in recent years reports having $1.20 in costs for every dollar it collected in premiums. The storms of 2004 washed away the company's surplus.

Those numbers should be troubling to every policyholder. They suggest today's average rates of $2,000 statewide still aren't high enough.

If rates really do need to increase about 50 percent to cover the actual risks, that means typical homeowners can expect to pay an extra $70 to $100 each month for property insurance. That's scary.

Many lawmakers were quick to call State Farm's request unjustified. All Floridians should hope that a hearing Aug. 12 confirms that general suspicion.

Congressman Robert Wexler is calling for a congressional investigation. The Democrat from Boca Raton says State Farm's rate increase is "not consistent with the realities of the conditions in Florida."

We concur. But if State Farm's numbers do hold up, they will blow a hole in the Legislature's insurance reforms. Other insurers will be quick to ask for more.

And even with higher rates, all ratepayers will remain at risk of paying even more if the statewide cost of storm repairs exceeds the cash available in the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund.

We know the state is paying $224 million for the right to borrow up to $4 billion from Berkshire Hathaway in case a major storm hits this year. But that's not half of it. The Legislature, in an attempt to keep rates low, has exposed the state to up to $28 billion in liability.

Numbers that big should make all taxpayers nervous.

What would make Florida breathe easier would be the return of a healthy private insurance market.

An indicator that things are returning to normal will be an attempt by the big insurers to expand their market share.

Just the opposite is happening. Winning a 47 percent rate increase is a sure way to lose customers.

One bright spot among the many clouds is that the new, smaller companies have learned from others' mistakes. They are spreading their risks and not concentrating in a few counties, especially coastal ones.

Every property owner and renter should hope the small companies are right and State Farm is wrong. If not, there are stormy financial times ahead, hurricanes or not.

Federal Bureau of Investigation

5525 West Gray St.

Tampa, FL 33609

Honorable FBI Director Robert Mueller III,

It is with great displeasure that I have to write you this letter today filing a consumer complaint against CCC Valuescope (CCCG) used by my insurer USAA to allege a fair “market value” of my automobile.

MADD Victim Services points out “It’s against the law to kill or injure another human being intentionally, maliciously, with criminal negligence, or while operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs.”

Nancy Stent, a 47 year-old drunk driver and repeat offender, whom Progressive Insurance breached its duty to protect the public when insuring her, was arrested by Volusia County Law Enforcement on July 8, 2008 for driving while intoxicated and causing bodily harm to me and destroying two automobiles before crashing her own.

My insurer USAA has breached its duty to exercise the utmost good faith to me its insured. By using CCC Valuescope (a company violating the U.S. federal RICO Act) USAA has intentionally provided me a low and fraudulent valuation of my automobile in hopes of obtaining an unreasonable and unfair settlement.

CCC Information Services Group Inc. ("CCCG"), incorporated in Delaware in 1983 and headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, is a holding company, which operates through its wholly owned subsidiary, CCC Information Services Inc. ("CCC").

CCC Valuescope (formerly known as CCC Information Services Group Inc – CCCG) can by no means be deemed a fair and market value of automobiles as CCC Valuescope works exclusively for insurers and therefore has an economic interest to supply valuations that are intentionally below the actual fair market value of what insured vehicles are truly worth. It is known fact throughout the insurance industry that CCC gathers its values from what car dealers would sell a vehicle for at basement wholesale prices, not the true “retail value of an auto of like kind and quality prior to the accident” as mandated by FL insurance regulations. 

Cutting costs and denying its insured “the utmost due care” historically can be documented against USAA beginning with the class action lawsuit against USAA in Washington’s King County (March 12, 1999) for compelling auto repair shops to use "imitation" parts in repairs, while simultaneously hiding this practice from policyholders. Beyond auto insurance, USAA has countless complaints filed against it in 27 states across the country.

I noticed that a Mississippi couple - Admiral James Lisanby and his wife Gladys have sued USAA for $910,000, pursuing punitive damages for USAA’s neglect and resistance

to pay them what they are rightfully due for the Katrina tornado that tragically took so many people’s homes. This apparently is the 1st Hurricane Katrina insurance lawsuit to go to trial (June 16, 2008).

David and Marilyn Aiken (Gulfport, Mississippi) filed a lawsuit against USAA on January 18, 2008 for conspiring to defraud them full payment of their $680,000 homeowner-insurance policy with USAA.

As for CCC Valuescope it is not independent in their valuations since they are a hired gun for the insurance companies! Upon conducting a VIN search on the vehicles within the CCC report, many of them had over 20 records indicative of numerous collissions, issues with the vehicle, and several changes of ownership. By relying upon CCC’s intentionally low valuation of my vehicle, USAA is breaching its fiduciary duty to act in good faith in handling my claim. No fair and honest evaluation of my claim can be performed by CCC as it is contracted by insurers for the primary purpose of minimizing monies paid out by insurers to its fiduciaries. Hence by using CCC Valuescope, USAA is clearly not exercising the “utmost due care” in the interest of me its insured as required by Baxter v. Royal Indemnity (FL case law).

Even if CCC Valuescope is currently an “Official Used Car Guide” in the State of Florida, USAA (and any other insurers for that matter) can still violate the Unfair Trade Practices Act and State administrative regulations by relying on the CCC Valuescope product.

Such was determined also by the Court in the State of West Virginia cited below:

Sharon A. Bolyard and Patricia One-Bull, individually, and on behalf of all others similarly situated v. Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company, Nationwide Assurance Company, Michael Higgins, Raymond Little, and Mary Shafer - No. 062305. Petitioners seek to docket the certified questions from the circuit court as follows:

1.  Whether an insurance company can violate the West Virginia Unfair Trade Practices Act or the administrative regulations promulgated thereunder by using, in compliance with West Virginia Code of State Rules §114-14-7.4, the CCC Valuescope valuation product if the Insurance Commissioner approved the CCC Valuescope product as an "Official Used Car Guide" pursuant to West Virginia Code § 33-6-33, and as defined by West Virginia Code of State Rules §114-14-7.2(d)?

ANSWER OF COURT: Yes.

2.  Can an insurance company be found to commit common law bad faith, fraud, or constructive fraud for using, in compliance with West Virginia Code of State Rules §114-14-7.4, the CCC Valuescope valuation product if the Insurance Commissioner approved the CCC Valuescope product as an "Official Used Car Guide" pursuant to West Virginia Code §33-6-33, and as defined by West Virginia Code of State Rules §114-14-7.2(d)?

ANSWER OF COURT: Yes.

CCC admitted itself in its SEC Filing on 3-16-2005 that “the Company sometimes pays a new customer for the remaining commitment of its previous contract with third parties as an incentive”.  In regard to regulation, CCC mentions in the same filing “in most states, however, there is no formal approval process for total loss valuation products”. CCC itself confesses in the same report “individual state departments of insurance have taken positions as to whether the use of CCC Valuescope valuations is in compliance with a states claim handling regulations”.

“The Company is aware that since 2002 the California Department of Insurance has advised some of the Company's customers (which management estimates to be approximately 14% of the total revenue earned in 2004 from the Company's CCC Valuescope valuation product and service) that the Department believed that their use of CCC Valuescope had not been in compliance with the California insurance regulations in effect prior to October 4, 2004, with respect to certain components of the products methodology. The Company believes the product was in compliance with the applicable California regulations.”

“On April 24, 2003, the California Department of Insurance formally adopted new regulations that required the Company to change its methodology for computing total loss valuations in California.” There is good reason therefore to believe CCC Valuescope’s valuation methodology is terribly flawed and skewed to favor its insurance company customers.

In CCC’s annual report filed February 13, 2004 the legal proceedings and numerous class action lawsuits against CCC are documented in pages 35, 42, 43, and 44 of the 53 page report.

On page 35, CCC Valuescope admits to setting aside $4.3 million as an estimate towards potential settlement to “resolve potential claims arising out of approximately 30% of the transaction volume of CCC Valuescope”.

By acknowledging 30% of transaction volume becoming potential claims, CCC Valuescope thereby makes it public record that it anticipates a sizeable percentage of lawsuits for unfair and fraudulent valuations. Such a high percentage of transaction volume alone attests to the flawed methodology of CCC’s report, its unscrupulous dealings, and wholehearted commitment to protect the financial interests of the insurers it serves.

Ironically, four of CCC Valuescope’s automobile insurance company customers have made contractual and, in some cases, also common law indemnification claims against CCC for litigation costs, attorneys' fees, settlement payments and other costs allegedly incurred by them in connection with litigation relating to their use of CCC’s flawed TOTAL LOSS valuation product.

Certainly the countless class action lawsuits filed across the United States against CCC Valuescape provides further evidence concerning the grossly low and inaccurate valuations of vehicles they give the insurers they serve.  Among the many are:

CCC Settles Class Action Suit on Valuation of Total Loss Vehicles (July 15, 2005)

Chicago-based claims software-maker CCC Information Services Inc. announced that it and 15 of its customers signed a settlement agreement with the plaintiffs in various class action suits pending in Madison County, Ill. These consolidated suits, Case Nos. 01 L 157, et al., relate to the valuation of vehicles that have been declared total losses by insurers.

Terms of the settlement agreement will require CCC to pay notice and administration fees and other costs associated with the settlement. The company estimates that these costs will total about $8 million, and including available insurance proceeds of $1.8 million, the company is fully reserved for these payments. Other settlement costs, including claims by class members, will be paid by the insurance companies that are participating in the settlement.

On or about August 23, 2000, a putative statewide class action was filed in the Circuit Court for Hillsborough County, Florida, against CCC and USAA Casualty Insurance Company. The lawsuit is captioned Peter Sintes et al. v. USAA Casualty Insurance Company and CCC Information Services, Inc., Case No. 00-006308. Plaintiffs allege that USAA contracted with CCC to provide valuations of "total loss" vehicles and that CCC supplied valuations that were intentionally below the actual fair market value of the insured vehicle. The plaintiffs assert various common law claims against USAA seeking unspecified damages. The plaintiffs also assert a single claim for injunctive relief against USAA and CCC. Plaintiffs also request an award of pre- and post-judgment interest and an award of attorneys' fees, litigation expenses, and costs. The group of plaintiffs' attorneys who filed the Sintes case includes several attorneys who have previously filed similar cases against CCC and various of its customers in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois.

On January 31, 2000, a putative class action lawsuit was filed against CCC, Dairyland Insurance Co., and Sentry Insurance Company in the Circuit Court of Johnson County, Illinois. The case is captioned SUSANNA COOK V. DAIRYLAND INS. CO., SENTRY INS. AND CCC INFORMATION SERVICES INC., NO. 2000 L-1.

During January and February of 2001, the group of plaintiffs' lawyers who filed the COOK lawsuit filed ten (10) additional putative class action lawsuits against CCC and several of its insurance company customers in the Circuit Court of Madison County, Illinois. Those cases are captioned as follows:

LANCEY V. COUNTRY MUTUAL INS. CO., COUNTRY CASUALTY INS. d/b/a COUNTRY COMPANIES, AND CCC INFORMATION SERVICES INC., CASE NO. 01 L 113 (FILED 1/29/01); SCHOENLEBER V. PRUDENTIAL PROPERTY AND CASUALTY INC. CO. AND CCC INFORMATION SERVICES INC., CASE NO. 01 L 99 (FILED 1/18/01); EDWARDS V. MID-CENTURY INS. CO. d/b/a FARMERS INS. AND CCC INFORMATION SERVICES INC., CASE NO. 01 L 151 (FILED 2/6/01); BORDONI V. CGU INS. GROUP d/b/a CGU INS. CO. OF ILLINOIS AND CCC INFORMATION SERVICES INC., CASE NO. 01 L 157 (FILED 2/6/01); RICHARDSON V. PROGRESSIVE PREMIER INS. CO. OF ILLINOIS d/b/a PROGRESSIVE AND CCC INFORMATION SERVICES INC., CASE NO. 01 L 149 (FILED 2/6/01); BILLUPS V. GEICO GENERAL INS. CO. AND CCC INFORMATION SERVICES INC., CASE NO. 01 L 159 (FILED 2/6/01); HUFF V. HARTFORD INS. CO. OF ILLINOIS d/b/a THE HARTFORD AND CCC INFORMATION SERVICES INC., CASE NO. 01 L 158 (FILED 2/6/01); KNACKSTEDT V. ST. PAUL FIRE AND MARINE INS. CO. AND CCC INFORMATION SERVICES INC., CASE NO. 01 L 153 (FILED 2/6/01); MOORE V. SHELTER INS. COS. AND CCC INFORMATION SERVICES INC., CASE NO. 01 L 160 (FILED 2/6/01); TRAVIS V. KEMPER CASUALTY INS. CO. d/b/a KEMPER INSURANCE AND CCC INFORMATION SERVICES INC., CASE NO. 01 L 290 (FILED 2/16/01).

In each case, each plaintiff alleges that his or her insurance company, using a valuation prepared by CCC, offered an inadequate amount to settle his or her total loss claim. Each plaintiff seeks to represent a nationwide class of the defendant insurance company's customers, who, during the period from January 28, 1989, up to the date of trial, had their total loss claims settled using a valuation report prepared by CCC. Plaintiff asserts various common law and contract claims against the defendant insurance companies, and various common law claims against CCC. Plaintiff seeks an unspecified amount of compensatory and punitive damages, as well as an award of attorney's fees and costs.

Between October of 1999 and July of 2000, a separate group of plaintiffs' attorneys filed a series of putative class action lawsuits against CCC and several of its insurance company customers in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois. The cases are captioned as follows: ALVAREZ-FLORES V. AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP, INC., ATLANTA CASUALTY CO., AND CCC INFORMATION SERVICES INC., NO. 99 CH 15032 (FILED 10/19/99); GIBSON V. ORIONAUTO, GUARANTY NATIONAL INS. CO. AND CCC INFORMATION SERVICES INC., NO. 99 CH 15082 (FILED 10/20/99); KEILLER V. FARMERS INSURANCE GROUP OF COMPANIES, FARMERS GROUP, INC., FARMERS INSURANCE EXCHANGE, FARMERS INSURANCE CO. OF OREGON, AND CCC INFORMATION SERVICES INC., NO. 99 CH 15485 (FILED 10/20/99); STEPHENS V. THE PROGRESSIVE CORP., PROGRESSIVE PREFERRED INS. CO. AND CCC INFORMATION SERVICES INC., NO. 99 CH 15557 (FILED 10/28/99); MYERS V. TRAVELERS PROPERTY CASUALTY CORP., THE TRAVELERS INDEMNITY COMPANY OF AMERICA AND CCC INFORMATION SERVICES INC., NO. 00 CH 2793 (FILED 2/22/00); LEPIANE V. THE HARTFORD FINANCIAL SERVICES GROUP, INC., HARTFORD INSURANCE COMPANY OF THE MIDWEST AND CCC INFORMATION SERVICES INC., NO. 00 CH 10545 (FILED 7/18/00).

Between June and August of 2000, a separate group of plaintiffs' attorneys filed three putative class action cases against CCC and various of its insurance company customers in the State Court of Fulton County, Georgia. Those cases are MCGOWAN V. PROGRESSIVE CASUALTY INS. CO., PROGRESSIVE INS. CO., AND CCC INFORMATION SERVICES INC., CASE NO. 00VS006525 (FILED 6/16/00), DASHER V. ATLANTA CASUALTY CO. AND CCC INFORMATION SERVICES INC., CASE NO. 00VS006315 (FILED 6/16/00) AND WALKER V. STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INS. CO. AND CCC INFORMATION SERVICES INC., CASE NO. 00VS007964 (FILED 8/2/00). The plaintiff in each case alleges that his or her insurance company, using a valuation prepared by CCC, offered plaintiff an inadequate amount for his or her automobile and that CCC's TOTAL LOSS valuation product provides values that do not comply with the applicable Georgia regulations. The plaintiffs assert various common law and statutory claims against the defendants and seek to represent a nationwide class of insurance company customers. Additionally plaintiffs seek to represent a similar statewide sub-class for claims under the Georgia RICO statute. Plaintiffs seek unspecified compensatory, treble and punitive damages, as well as an award of attorneys' fees and expenses.

On August 2, 2000, a putative class action purportedly on behalf of certain residents of fourteen states was filed in the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas, State of Ohio, against Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company and CCC. WHITWORTH V. NATIONWIDE MUTUAL INS. CO. AND CCC INFORMATION SERVICES INC., CASE NO. CVH-08-6980. The Whitworth lawsuit was filed by a group of plaintiffs' attorneys that includes certain attorneys who previously filed three putative class actions against CCC and various of its customers in Fulton County State Court (reported above). The plaintiffs assert substantially the same claims and seek substantially the same relief as in those previously filed Fulton County actions. The plaintiffs further allege that CCC's TOTAL LOSS valuation service provides values that do not comply with applicable regulations in Ohio and 13 other states.

On or about March 27, 1998 a case entitled GARDNER V. ALLSTATE INDEMNITY

CO., CIVIL ACTION 98-D-480-N (M.D. ALA.), was filed in the Circuit Court of Montgomery County, Alabama. CCC is not named as a defendant in the case, and no relief is sought against CCC by the plaintiffs. In the Complaint, plaintiffs asserted claims against one of CCC's customers, Allstate Indemnity Co., for unjust enrichment and constructive trust and for breach of contract based on Allstate's use of an unidentified total loss valuation product. Allstate removed the case to the United States District Court for the Middle District of Alabama in April 1998 (GARDNER V. ALLSTATE INDEMNITY CO., CIVIL ACTION 98-D-480-N).

Plaintiffs moved for class certification on August 28, 1998. Plaintiffs' class certification motion was granted on April 28, 2000. Pursuant to the April 28, 2000 order, the district court certified a plaintiff class of all Alabama customers who, from March 26, 1992 through the time of final judgment in the case, (1) have been insured under or paid pursuant to an Allstate auto policy, (2) whose vehicles have been declared a total loss by Allstate; and (3) to whom Allstate has paid out a claim for a total loss adjusted based on CCC valuations.

CCC Fairness Hearings

Final fairness hearing for the settlement of several class actions filed against CCC Information Services, Inc. was set for December 20, 2005 in the Circuit Court of Madison County, Illinois.  The suits were styled:

     (1) LANCEY v. COUNTRY MUTUAL INS. CO., AND CCC INFORMATION
         SERVICES INC., Case No. 01 L 113 (filed January 29,
         2001);

     (2) KMUCHA v. COLONIAL PENN INSURANCE COMPANY AND CCC
         INFORMATION SERVICES INC., Case No. 03 L 1267 (filed
         September 18, 2003)

     (3) JACKSON v. ATLANTA CASUALTY COMPANY, INFINITY PROPERTY
         & CASUALTY CORPORATION AND CCC INFORMATION SERVICES
         INC., Case No. 03 L 1266 (filed September 18, 2003)

In connection with the settlement, CCC Valuescope was added as a party to the following additional cases, which assert claims and seek relief substantially similar to the above cases, namely:

     (i) BORDONI v. CGU INSURANCE COMPANY OF ILLNOIS AND CCC
         INFORMATION SERVICES INC., Case No. 01 L 157;

    (ii) SCHOENLEBER v. PRUDENTIAL PROPERTY AND CASUALTY
         INSURANCE COMPANY AND CCC INFORMATION SERVICES INC.,
         Case No. 01 L 99;

   (iii) RICHARDSON V. PROGRESSIVE PREMIER INSURANCE COMPANY OF
         ILLINOIS AND CCC INFORMATION SERVICES INC., Case No. 01
         L 149,

    (iv) KNACKSTEDT v. ECONOMY PREFERRED INSURANCE COMPANY,
         METROPOLITAN PROPERTY AND CASUALTY INSURANCE COMPANY
         AND CCC INFORMATION SERVICES INC., Case No. 01 L 153;

     (v) HUFF AND MADISON v. HARTFORD INSURANCE COMPANY OF
         ILLINOIS, HARTFORD INSURANCE COMPANY OF THE MIDWEST AND
         CCC INFORMATION SERVICES INC., Case No. 01 L 158;

    (vi) JACKSON v. NATIONALGENERAL INSURANCE COMPANY AND CCC
         INFORMATION SERVICES INC., Case No. 02 L 628;

   (vii) PARCHMENT v. TRAVELERS PROPERTY CASUALTY INSURANCE
         COMPANY OF ILLINOIS, TRAVELERS PROPERTY CASUALTY
         COMPANY, AND CCC INFORMATION SERVICES INC., Case No. 02
         L 1135; and

  (viii) CARTER, VANOVER AND URKE v. ALLSTATE INSURANCE COMPANY,
         NATIONAL-BEN FRANKLIN INSURANCE COMPANY OF ILLINOIS AND
         CCC INFORMATION SERVICES INC., Case No. 02 L 717

The proposed settlement class consists of all customers of the settling carriers who had a total loss claim from January 28, 1989 to July 18, 2005, for which the Company provided a valuation to the carrier. This settlement includes no admission of liability or wrongdoing by the Company or its customers. Upon final approval of the settlement, the above-described cases will be dismissed and the Company will receive releases with respect to the matters raised in the lawsuits.  The Company, in turn, has agreed to pay for all costs of settlement administration and certain other costs associated with the settlement. The Company estimates that these costs will total approximately $8.0 million.  Other settlement costs, including the payment of claims made by class members, will be paid by the insurance companies that are participating in the settlement.

On July 18, 2005, the Court granted preliminary approval to the settlement, and a final approval hearing is scheduled for December 20, 2005.  In the third quarter of 2004, the Company increased its reserve for this potential litigation settlement by $1.9 million to $6.2 million, which is net of an expected insurance reimbursement of $1.8 million. The settlement administrator has undertaken certain settlement administration activities and has sent notices to the class.  The Company has paid approximately $2.7 million related to this work, which has been charged against the settlement reserve. Additionally, the
Company has reached an agreement in principle to contribute approximately $2.9 million to the settlement of an additional case that has previously been disclosed, styled "PAK et al. v. FARMERS GROUP INC. and FARMERS INSURANCE EXCHANGE, Case No.
CV98-04873 (Second Judicial District of the State of Nevada in and for Washoe County). As a result, the current recorded reserve has been increased by $2.9 million in the third quarter of 2005 to account for this anticipated settlement.

CCC Consumer Suits Against It:

Plaintiffs filed a writ of certiorari with the Georgia Supreme Court over the Georgia Appeals Court's affirmation of the dismissal of the charges in three class actions filed against CCC Information Services, Inc., namely:

     (1) McGOWAN v. PROGRESSIVE CASUALTY INS. CO., PROGRESSIVE
         INS. CO., and CCC INFORMATION SERVICES INC., Case No.
         00VS006525 (filed June 16, 2000);

     (2) DASHER v. ATLANTA CASUALTY CO. and CCC INFORMATION
         SERVICES INC., Case No. 00VS006315 (filed June 16,
         2000);

     (3) WALKER v. STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INS. CO. and CCC
         INFORMATION SERVICES INC., Case No. 00VS007964 (filed
         August 2, 2000)

The Plaintiffs in these three cases, initially filed in the Superior Court in Fulton County, Georgia, seeks to represent a nationwide class of insureds against the Company and the named insurance company defendant and alleges that CCC's Valuescope valuation service provides values that do not comply with applicable state regulations governing total loss claims settlements.  Plaintiffs assert various common law and statutory claims against the Company and the insurance company defendants, including claims under the Georgia Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) statute.  Plaintiffs seek
unspecified compensatory, treble and punitive damages, attorneys' fees and expenses.  

As Attorney Edward M. Ricci, Esq. has written: http://www.riccilaw.com/CM/Articles/Articles37.asp

Insurance companies are in the business of protecting their insureds by spreading risks. In so doing, they are entitled to make a fair and reasonable profit. However, in the conducting of their business, insurance companies "owe a duty to the insured to exercise the utmost good faith." Baxter v. Royal Indemnity Company, 285 So.2d 652 (Fla. 1st DCA 1973).

Florida courts did not choose the word "utmost" loosely. The word is defined in the dictionary as "of the highest or greatest degree-the greatest possible amount-the maximum." American Heritage Dictionary of the English language.

The key to understanding insurance bad faith is to first understand the duty owed by an insurance company to its insured. Before one can understand bad faith, one must understand the definition of good faith. Paraphrasing the Florida Standard Jury Instruction MI3.1

"Good faith consists of settling a claim within policy limits when under all the circumstances the insurance company could and should have done so had it acted fairly and honestly towards its insured and with due regard for its insured's interest."

Phrasing the issue as simply as possible: an insurance company must put the interest of the insured ahead of its own. When it fails to do so, it is presumed to have acted in bad faith.

Why have the courts come down so strongly against insurance companies? Why have the courts imposed such strict duties upon insurance carriers? The answers lie in the nature of the insurance business. Insureds - ordinary citizens - sign contracts of adhesion when they buy insurance policies.

"When the insured has surrender to its insurer all control over the handling of the claim, including all decisions with respect to litigation and settlement, then the insurer must assume a duty to exercise such control and make such decisions in good faith and with due regard for the interest of the insured." Boston Old Colony v. Gutierrez, 336 So.2d 783 (Fla. 1980).

The consumer does not get to pick the language of an insurance policy. The ordinary consumer, unlike huge corporations, are faced with a "take it or leave it" deal. Accept the insurance in the form presented, or get no insurance at all. The standard policy reserves to the insurance company all control over the handling of claims. As a consequence the courts impose strict duties upon insurance carriers to act "fairly and honestly toward the insured and with due regard for his interests." FSJI MI3.1.

In conclusion, given the countless and ongoing class action lawsuits against CCC Valuescope there should now be no question that CCC Valuescope is not independent in its auto valuations and is guilty of violating the U.S. federal RICO Act and National Insurance Regulations, along with many of the complicit insurance companies such as USAA who willingly and knowingly use their product with the intent to deceive 

What then do you propose to do about it to protect the insured motorists across the United States against fraud?

Sincerely concerned.

Paul F Davis

www.PaulFDavis.com - consumer advocate

Yesterday in the Great State of Georgia a federal appeals court invalidated part of a Florida law requiring public school students to recite the Pledge of Allegiance, but the panel declined to rule on whether the rest of the statute is constitutional. That issue could resurface, said a lawyer for the American Civil Liberties Union representing a former student who challenged the law.

A three-judge panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta agreed with a federal judge's decision that a provision requiring students and other "civilians" to stand at attention during the pledge is unconstitutional. The judges, though, ruled that doesn't mean the rest of the law must be stricken. They left standing provisions that require the pledge to be recited at the beginning of each day but require students to be excused upon a parent's written request.

They wrote that protecting parental rights can justify restricting students' freedom of speech, but stressed, "We decide and hint at nothing about the pledge statute's constitutionality as applied to a specific student or a specific division of students."

Florida Education Commissioner Eric J. Smith said in a statement that he was pleased the appellate court

"recognized the balance between the exercise of free speech and parents' right to direct and oversee their child's education and civic values."

The ACLU sued on behalf of a student who did not have a parental excuse and was punished by Yankee transplants staffed at his school for refusing to recite the pledge.

Teacher Cynthia Alexandre (of Providence, RI) told Cameron Frazier, then a 17-year-old junior at Boynton Beach High School, that he was "so ungrateful and so un-American" after he twice refused to stand for the pledge, according to the lawsuit.

Though the Federal appeals court interpreted the law as solely a parental rights issue, the Southern Party of Florida is happy none the less by their decision to downsize what many Southerners consider to be an reconstructionist era law that has done severe damage to the native Southron culture of the citizenry of Florida.

For decades following the end of the War of Southern Independence, which by the way Florida never surrendered and was deemed unconquerable by the foreign American army, the jewel of Dixie has been slowly overrun by carpet baggers (i.e. the ole 1865-1960 term for transplants that should be brought back!) to the point where many major Florida cities are now populated by a over whelming majority of Transplants.

These transplants have went on a viking like crusade of pillaging which has been geared towards destroying the native Southern culture in that area so that they can replace it with their toxic Yankee culture. If you have any doubts about this then please by all means visit Miami, Tampa, Orlando, or any of the few hundred "Yankee Colonies" that are spread across Florida such as Port Richey, Fort Lauderdale, Tarpon Springs