Dear Navin,
On this holy day we celebrate the birth of the outstanding son who became the father of a nation.
Everyday when I observe the son of the father of our nation speak to his children straight from and with all his heart, my heart goes out to him for all he is to the great nation he represents.
Indeed, in my heart, mind and soul, you have been such an exceptional father, capable of uniting such diverse children through such an outflow of love and genuine affection that, today, we view your father as the grand father of the nation and you as the most caring father of us all!
Thank you Grand father! Thank you father!
Shortly after Americans elected Barack Obama as President in November 2008, I wrote on my blog:
“…how big a player does our Prime Minister deserve to be on the world scene? God knows best. And I trust that God will thrust Navin on the International stage to help the US urgently establish better relations with the world community.”
Some time ago, you reminded us, Navin that an American ambassador had once told your dad that Mauritius was more difficult to govern than the US.
Having lived both in the US and Mauritius, I believe that American ambassador was correct.
Therefore I know that the success and example you have set as the present day father of our great nation places you as the most outstanding world leader of our times!
It is with that respectful appreciation in mind that my prayers accompany you and I wish you a most successful meeting with President Obama on September 22, 2009.
I am confident that the whole world will be a better place because and after your meeting.
Proud to be one of your Mauritian children, I say: “Go for it Dad”!
Bon Voyage,
Most sincerely,
Louis.
Friday, September 18, 2009
Friday, August 07, 2009
Rodrigues Island Tourism Promotion Plan ©
Country : Rodrigues IslandLocation : Indian Ocean
Population : Creole
Mascot : Tortoise
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The young and old love to adopt tortoises between one and a hundred years old.
Motto: Slow Down
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Don't miss out kid... Just slow down around life's corners
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Discover : UsDig & Find : During your voyage to Rodrigues find the buried treasure within you.
Hike: Across the 300 year old footsteps of Francois Leguat, marooned (1691)
Learn: From our caring folks & our rich tropical endemic flora and fauna.
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Who needs to write a book? My face tells the story...
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Taste: Creole cuisine created from locally grown staple food and rich spices.
Entertainment: Step into our night rhythm and dance to our traditional ‘Sega’ music.
Let our accordions, triangles and ravanes set your senses on fire.
Entertainment: Step into our night rhythm and dance to our traditional ‘Sega’ music.
Let our accordions, triangles and ravanes set your senses on fire.
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Friendliness: Feel secure greeting that island stranger. A friend you longed to know.
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No man is an island..JPG)
Sun, Sea, Stars: The unpolluted South East Trade Winds sweep our island clean daily.
Swim in the sun. Lie under the Filao trees along white sandy beaches.
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By night gaze upon the dazzling stars through our clearest skies.
Island old Charm: Not as dead as the Dodo, we are the uniquely secure ‘Solitaire’ island.
Rodrigues Island: Where nature lovers branch out.JPG)
Rodrigues Island: How so very peaceful….JPG)
Rodrigues Island: Discover that hidden treasure island known to Buccaneers!Dig it! You’ll treasure it … for ever…!
Publicity Author: J. M. E. Le Clezio ©
Friday, June 05, 2009
First American Corporation (NYSE:FAF) - Massive Systemic Fraud
Someone just opined on the Yahoo/First American Corporation message board that Kennedy has to repay $50 million immediately, that Kennedy should be in jail and that his house should be auctioned off.
Since 1999, I have been saying publicly that Kennedy and his henchmen should be in jail.
Massive systemic fraud has been ‘the’ way of life for Kennedy and First American going back to the mid 90s!
Starting in the mid 90s, Kennedy and First American were after the lion’s share of the market. The word from the top down was: “Get a piece of any business by hook or by crook”.
Kennedy had launched the new company policy: ‘Insure anything – litigate everything’.
This new culture was very much deplored by company veterans and senior execs such as Bill Heslington and Tom Brusca. Prior to being retired and dismissed somewhere in South Carolina so he could not testify in my case, Bill Heslington told me: “We could lose our license for doing what the company did to you with the approval of John P. Dahl in Seattle!”
Veteran, Tom Brusca was equally aghast that the company could and would engage in such an outright fraudulent transaction behind my back at the behest of a crooked ex partner of mine! Indeed, the transaction First American engaged in had been shunned outright by all other insurers.
At the time Tom Brusca remarked that under the old guard, such an outrageous dark shady deal would have been remedied and set straight forthwith without any arguments. But that the new blood within the company ranks was out to get business at any cost and had adopted the policy to litigate everything. Tom pointed out that the company had banked on the fact that it would take on average between three to four years to settle any claim. Few claimants could finance the prohibitive legal costs that would extend for that long in Court. On a legal cost versus return ratio, most claims would peter out and First American would win by default. Indeed at the time Tom pointed out that on average only three percent of premiums collected by First American were paid out to settle claims. Tom then laughed saying: “We could even avoid paying that if we chose to. But we do pay that much to warrant our existence!!!
In the mid 90s the whole Title industry was well aware of the new directive adopted and passed down the chain of command by First American. Veterans at Chicago Title were in utter disbelief to note what kind of fraudulent deals First American would insure in exchange sometimes for confidential and undisclosed ‘Indemnification Agreements’ from the insured. To make matters worse, on occasions such Indemnification Agreements became such hot potatoes that when the deals went bad, First American did not even dare to enforce the Indemnification Agreement and collect thereon. First American sought then to limit its exposure by letting the insured crooks run loose for fear the crooks might squeal and First American would be further exposed!!! This was to the detriment of both First American shareholders and the victims of such misplaced company greed.
In the mid 90s, concurrently with the adoption of such an abhorrent modus operandi, the new blood at First American embarked on a buying spree. In order to do so First American had recourse to a number of strategies designed to inflate the price of its stock.
Thus seeking outside expertise and assistance to manipulate its stock price, First American appealed to a well known stock manipulator who had been banned from the Alberta Stock Exchange. One would think that it could not get very much worse than that. But it did!
At its shareholders’ meeting in Santa Ana on April 22, 1999, The First American, KKK clan of senior execs (Kennedy, Kermot and Klemens) conceded that they had engaged in ‘Creative Accounting; That the Feds got them to restate their figures; And Kennedy admitted that adjustments made to the creative accounting figures had a temporary negative impact on the company stock price. But that they would get the price up again so they could buy companies cheap again!!! (I have a variety of the ‘creative’ statements of the KKK clan on tape to this day!)
No sooner said, then done.
At the same shareholders meeting on April 22, 1999, Kennedy ‘guaranteed’ (Kennedy’s word) to stockbrokers and shareholders present at the meeting that the company would increase its dividend by the end of 1999! That statement had the immediate effect of driving the stock up. But 1999 went by and the dividend was not increased as ‘guaranteed’ by Kennedy! At the time, numerous entries on the Yahoo/FAF/Message Board by me were refuted by the same shills haunting the board with disinformation today. Those same shills wrote that I was a liar and that Kennedy could not have ever made such a statement; That Kennedy by himself could not ‘guarantee’ a dividend increase; That it took Directors’ Board approval to do so!
Finally, to call up all of the lies from execs as well as shills, I published the Kennedy, Kermot and Klemens misleading statements on the web through Geo Cities. This was obviously so embarrassing to the company and the KKK clan that somehow my message was made to disappear. All relevant statements caught on tape are still all in my possession today!
Now let us review what if anything has changed in the First American rapacious greed mentality ‘Get the business by hook or by crook’:
In June 1998, one of the most eminent lawyers in the Title Industry, Mr. Jerome Lasky of Moses & Singer, New York, reviewed the evidence produced by First American in my case, albeit that it was discovered in depositions that John P. Dahl had tempered with exhibits. Mr. Lasky concluded and wrote:
“Indeed, we have been provided by you with an internal document of the title company, obtained by you through discovery, which shows that the title company, although fully aware of the risk they were assuming, decided to issue the policy to the lender in order to get this piece of business, and specifically with a view to obtaining future business from your partners. The policy was thus issued for the business reasons of First American, despite their knowledge that by issuing the policy they were enabling your partners to breach their contractual agreement with you.”
Mr. Lasky’s opinion affirmed the belief within the whole title industry then that First American was indeed out to get the lion’s share of the market by hook or by crook!
That was in 1998. Does the same mindset endure through to 2009?
On November 1, 2007, Paritosh Bansal and Martha Graybow of Reuters report:
Washington Mutual pressured the First American unit to inflate appraisals as a condition for doing future business together, the AG's office said, adding that the alleged scheme was detailed in numerous e-mails.
Cuomo also released e-mails he claims showed executives were aware they violated federal regulations. .
Since 1999, I have been saying publicly that Kennedy and his henchmen should be in jail.
Massive systemic fraud has been ‘the’ way of life for Kennedy and First American going back to the mid 90s!
Starting in the mid 90s, Kennedy and First American were after the lion’s share of the market. The word from the top down was: “Get a piece of any business by hook or by crook”.
Kennedy had launched the new company policy: ‘Insure anything – litigate everything’.
This new culture was very much deplored by company veterans and senior execs such as Bill Heslington and Tom Brusca. Prior to being retired and dismissed somewhere in South Carolina so he could not testify in my case, Bill Heslington told me: “We could lose our license for doing what the company did to you with the approval of John P. Dahl in Seattle!”
Veteran, Tom Brusca was equally aghast that the company could and would engage in such an outright fraudulent transaction behind my back at the behest of a crooked ex partner of mine! Indeed, the transaction First American engaged in had been shunned outright by all other insurers.
At the time Tom Brusca remarked that under the old guard, such an outrageous dark shady deal would have been remedied and set straight forthwith without any arguments. But that the new blood within the company ranks was out to get business at any cost and had adopted the policy to litigate everything. Tom pointed out that the company had banked on the fact that it would take on average between three to four years to settle any claim. Few claimants could finance the prohibitive legal costs that would extend for that long in Court. On a legal cost versus return ratio, most claims would peter out and First American would win by default. Indeed at the time Tom pointed out that on average only three percent of premiums collected by First American were paid out to settle claims. Tom then laughed saying: “We could even avoid paying that if we chose to. But we do pay that much to warrant our existence!!!
In the mid 90s the whole Title industry was well aware of the new directive adopted and passed down the chain of command by First American. Veterans at Chicago Title were in utter disbelief to note what kind of fraudulent deals First American would insure in exchange sometimes for confidential and undisclosed ‘Indemnification Agreements’ from the insured. To make matters worse, on occasions such Indemnification Agreements became such hot potatoes that when the deals went bad, First American did not even dare to enforce the Indemnification Agreement and collect thereon. First American sought then to limit its exposure by letting the insured crooks run loose for fear the crooks might squeal and First American would be further exposed!!! This was to the detriment of both First American shareholders and the victims of such misplaced company greed.
In the mid 90s, concurrently with the adoption of such an abhorrent modus operandi, the new blood at First American embarked on a buying spree. In order to do so First American had recourse to a number of strategies designed to inflate the price of its stock.
Thus seeking outside expertise and assistance to manipulate its stock price, First American appealed to a well known stock manipulator who had been banned from the Alberta Stock Exchange. One would think that it could not get very much worse than that. But it did!
At its shareholders’ meeting in Santa Ana on April 22, 1999, The First American, KKK clan of senior execs (Kennedy, Kermot and Klemens) conceded that they had engaged in ‘Creative Accounting; That the Feds got them to restate their figures; And Kennedy admitted that adjustments made to the creative accounting figures had a temporary negative impact on the company stock price. But that they would get the price up again so they could buy companies cheap again!!! (I have a variety of the ‘creative’ statements of the KKK clan on tape to this day!)
No sooner said, then done.
At the same shareholders meeting on April 22, 1999, Kennedy ‘guaranteed’ (Kennedy’s word) to stockbrokers and shareholders present at the meeting that the company would increase its dividend by the end of 1999! That statement had the immediate effect of driving the stock up. But 1999 went by and the dividend was not increased as ‘guaranteed’ by Kennedy! At the time, numerous entries on the Yahoo/FAF/Message Board by me were refuted by the same shills haunting the board with disinformation today. Those same shills wrote that I was a liar and that Kennedy could not have ever made such a statement; That Kennedy by himself could not ‘guarantee’ a dividend increase; That it took Directors’ Board approval to do so!
Finally, to call up all of the lies from execs as well as shills, I published the Kennedy, Kermot and Klemens misleading statements on the web through Geo Cities. This was obviously so embarrassing to the company and the KKK clan that somehow my message was made to disappear. All relevant statements caught on tape are still all in my possession today!
Now let us review what if anything has changed in the First American rapacious greed mentality ‘Get the business by hook or by crook’:
In June 1998, one of the most eminent lawyers in the Title Industry, Mr. Jerome Lasky of Moses & Singer, New York, reviewed the evidence produced by First American in my case, albeit that it was discovered in depositions that John P. Dahl had tempered with exhibits. Mr. Lasky concluded and wrote:
“Indeed, we have been provided by you with an internal document of the title company, obtained by you through discovery, which shows that the title company, although fully aware of the risk they were assuming, decided to issue the policy to the lender in order to get this piece of business, and specifically with a view to obtaining future business from your partners. The policy was thus issued for the business reasons of First American, despite their knowledge that by issuing the policy they were enabling your partners to breach their contractual agreement with you.”
Mr. Lasky’s opinion affirmed the belief within the whole title industry then that First American was indeed out to get the lion’s share of the market by hook or by crook!
That was in 1998. Does the same mindset endure through to 2009?
On November 1, 2007, Paritosh Bansal and Martha Graybow of Reuters report:
Washington Mutual pressured the First American unit to inflate appraisals as a condition for doing future business together, the AG's office said, adding that the alleged scheme was detailed in numerous e-mails.
Cuomo also released e-mails he claims showed executives were aware they violated federal regulations. .
Cuomo said eAppraiseIT and the parent company knew its actions were illegal, citing an April 17, 2007 e-mail from eAppraiseIT's president to First American that said: "We view this as a violation of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Office of Thrift Supervision, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice influencing regulation."
What’s new to First American?
Other than that the thievery through repeated and customary breach of fiduciary duties goes on:
On Monday June 1, 2009, 8:30 am EDT
Eagan O'Malley & Avenatti, LLP filed a complaint in California state court against the First American Corporation (NYSE:FAF - News) and its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Parker S. Kennedy.
The Plaintiffs allege that First American and Kennedy purposely engaged in unlawful acts in an effort to enrich themselves and misappropriate vital technology from their business partners, RE3W, Inc. and RE3W Worldwide. The Plaintiffs further allege that First American and Kennedy breached numerous fiduciary duties owed RE3W as a result of their business dealings which began in 2000.
First American has got away with it for so long – Why should they change their modus operandi now?
Consider what Washington State Deputy Insurance Commissioner, Jim Hopkins told me in the mid 90s:
“Mr Leclezio, from all the evidence I have reviewed in your case, it is clear that First American defrauded you of millions. The mere fact that John P. Dahl drove all the way from Seattle to Olympia in an attempt to justify his company’s actions shows they are horribly worried by their latest misdeed in the State where they have already been fined for a number of violations. But this is America! If someone steals $100 from a 7/11 store, it will make the newspaper front lines and the thief will be in jail. But if an insurance company like First American steals millions of dollars from you they will have a battery of lawyers to defend them and we do not have the resources to fight them!
Yes Kennedy and his henchmen should all be in jail (Consider how Kennedy hand picked McMahon from Lehman to further manipulate the First American stock price and how McMahon used his entrée into Lehman to dump First American stock on international investors at a conference Lehman hosted for First American in London). Kennedy and his henchmen should be made to repay all they have stolen from Americans and the international community through the years. In fact they should face triple punitive damages awards.
Is it a wonder that stalwart financial gurus faithful to the company for years have already bailed out?
However realistically, who has the resources to go after those white collar criminals and see to it that First American and its top execs are put in the shade for a long time? The world would be a fairer and better place and the American and world economy would have a chance to recover faster.
But once again I ask: Can greedy leopards change their spots whether in liberty or in cages?
Monday, May 25, 2009
Art from the heart
"The true work of art is but a shadow of nature's perfection."
“God provides the heart. We are His tools shaping it all together.” Louis Leclezio.
“God provides the heart. We are His tools shaping it all together.” Louis Leclezio.
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This art represents a world full of holes.
By the power of the rock on the wood, we are made whole.
The story behind this art is the story of the rock on the wood.
The rock would so transform the dead wood
That the wood could in turn transform
All who looked at the rock on the wood.
A piece of wood lay abandoned, lonely, worm eaten and forlorn on the forest floor.
Little did it know that it was about to be metamorphosed.
A river of lava from a sudden volcanic turmoil entombed the wood.
Its whole world suddenly turned dark.
It was all petrifying as it lay captivated by the rock.
Time ticked away.
Wind and rain chipped away.
Over millenniums little by little the wood was exposed.
Emerging from the tomb,
It had kept its identity yet it had been transfigured by the rock.
Petrified it had been.
Solidified by the rock, it now was.
Ground and polished by Providence, it could finally disclose its holy beauty.
Its red and grey color reminds all of the dripping blood and water that transfigured it.
Released from the dark tomb that held it captive, it revealed its transsubstantiation.
Indeed the story of this one bleeding art is the story of:
The bored out wood that bore the rock
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Rock and wood bond to elevate the inner beauty of petrified wood.
The Base
Aged Tamaka Driftwood tossed about by waves, winds and currents landed and remained trapped for years on the reef surrounding the Rodrigues Island lagoon.
Finally freed, it was transported by a tsunami wave beyond the high water level mark.
There it lay caressed by the rain, the wind and the sand being slowly polished.
It was waiting for its day when it would forever reflect the beauty of its creator.
The Foundation Rock
An age old millstone holed and shaped out of the rock by the hands of man.
It was used for years to grind grain to nourish the body if not the soul.
It was also waiting for the right day to testify to the grounding power of the Word.
The Foot
The forlorn forward hull of an old sailing boat laid still in a lull on the beach.
How could it possibly take anyone to a safe harbor in its present broken up state?
A wreck on the beach it was. Could it ever bear witness to the rudder that steered it?
The Pedestal
A slab of petrified wood millions of years old.
Perhaps not a Cedar from Lebanon – But a Conifer nonetheless
How long had it stayed captivated by the rock that would transform it?
Could such a transfiguration take place in three days or did it take three million years?
This is a new day! This is the day the Lord has made. Rejoice and be glad.
Today the wood, the rock and the petrified wood have come together to symbolize the bonding power of love. Our creator so loved this holed out world that we must hold on with hope for the day faith will make us holy by the loving power of the trinity!
May this art nourish the soul!
Thursday, May 21, 2009
James J. Dufficy aka Jim Dufficy
James J. Dufficy aka Jim Dufficy
Is it true that ‘Jump Jim jump…’ has jumped ship once again?
Is Dufficy out of Stewart Title already?
Does anyone know why?
Is Jim Dufficy reaping what he sowed?
Has Jim been cursed?
Whatever? May we pray?
May Jim discover the rewards of Truth, Justice and honest dealings!
Is it true that ‘Jump Jim jump…’ has jumped ship once again?
Is Dufficy out of Stewart Title already?
Does anyone know why?
Is Jim Dufficy reaping what he sowed?
Has Jim been cursed?
Whatever? May we pray?
May Jim discover the rewards of Truth, Justice and honest dealings!
Friday, May 15, 2009
Gift of Life… & Love... That’s Cricket…
Dear Children, Grand children, family & friends,
Some of you children may remember how we used to love to go to Issaquah creek or Soos creek or the Chittendam Locks in Seattle to watch the ‘salmon run’ returning to spawn.
I was always fascinated by that supreme sacrifice …It often reminded me of the passage in John 15: 13… “A man can have no greater love than to lay down his life for his friends”.
Lest we forget, lest we forget…; How a mere salmon or a tiny cricket can bring those words vividly back to mind!
I used to sit by Soos creek or yet again by the Cedar River to watch the returning salmons struggle to live and stay the course to release new life! Time would pass much too quickly as I gazed motionless in sheer wonder. In no way did I want to affect the concentration of the salmon or divert him from his focused end goal… to pass on precious life to the next generation.
Truth is that with much faith, for the salmon; up the river way also lay the way to new life…
In silence I loved to observe the supreme effort of those salmon persevering and battling up the creek. Sometimes the water level was so low at the end of a long dry summer that the top half of the salmons would stick out. In the crystal clear glacial waters, I could see the salmon’s belly being torn while scraping against the round or sharp river rocks. With a common purpose the salmon were all struggling in an uncommon way to live. Did they sense that they were on their way to die so as to leave behind new life? The salmons were certainly being torn from above and from below. Were they also torn from inside at the thought of the ultimate sacrifice they were about to go through? Were those ripples on the water surface vibrating with the echo of their cry: Lord! Oh Lord! Why have you abandoned us?
As with the crack of a whip tearing into the flesh, birds of prey were swirling above the salmon. With precision and regularity, the birds dove to mercilessly tear off pieces of flesh when they could not snatch the whole salmon in one swift passing scoop.
Yes! Indeed, with much admiration I often prayed to have the salmon’s courage some day…Regardless how it was being ‘crucified’, its skin and flesh torn from above and from below, the salmon kept striving forward towards the cross roads of its ultimate sacrifice of love. At that cross road, one of the street signs leading the salmon to its original place of birth spelt ‘Death’. But the other street sign read ‘Life’! There, at those cross roads the salmon would say ‘Adieu’ to his world travels spanning some four years across the ocean. Concurrently the salmon would proffer ‘Fare Well’ to the new generation springing along that traditional old spring, creek or river channel!
Year after year, along the flowing waters of various Northwest water ways new life would flow downstream towards the open ocean’s adventure until at the end of the voyage once again imminent death would battle upstream to bring about new life. The thought of that yearly cycle of new life issued from death going on for millenniums in a seemingly endlessly repetitive process used to captivate my imagination. Year after year watching the same looking salmon, I often questioned if life submitted to death or if death surrendered to life?
I concluded that since the salmon lives on, St Paul was correct in claiming: “Death where is your sting?”
Since my return to Mauritius and lately in Rodrigues, I have also been fascinated by coral life. Corals take hundreds of years to reach any meaningful size. Over decades they know that they can only find new life from and can only grow on the skeleton of their ancestors! Again in a vast sea of life I am amazed to find that there also, death supports new life!
That’s what I love to observe more and more at the animal level. Did God create that sacrificial instinct in animals in order to help us better comprehend the awesomeness of His only Son’s sacrifice? Is that one of God’s ways of helping us find truth and have life along the way?
What goes on ‘naturally’ at the instinctive animal level is exemplified through the strongest possible testimony of Love given to us by Jesus. The reading on the second Sunday of lent out of ‘Living Faith’ and the Bible spoke to that sacrifice. The ‘transfiguration’ precedes the turning point in the life of Jesus and therefore the life of the world through the life of the Word made flesh to die in order for us to have eternal life!
Living Faith: “Jesus’ total gift of His life for and to humanity will be, at the same time, the Father’s gift of His only son to us. John 3:16 – God so loved the world that He gave His only son, so that everyone who believes in Him might not perish but might have eternal life.”
Jesus makes it plain for us to see and Jesus sets the scene for us to grasp the cycle of life from our observations in this world – We are transfigured by the transition from the one form of life to the next.
Death unveils the mystery of life. Death brings about the transfiguration that propels us from a worldly life to an eternal one.
In the same vein, even if unable to fathom the mystery, in a more ‘basic instinct driven will to live’, animals ensure the perpetuation of life through love and through ultimate sacrifice.
All created by the Word, the animal world instinctively chooses life over eternal death of the species!
Hence, because the Word created this world, the Word often uses small miracles/coincidences in this world to increase our awareness of the beautiful life that surrounds us and the supreme life that awaits us through the on going gift of new life.
Here, under the tropics, we are very far from the Northwest salmon runs. I am physically very far from you my children, grand children, old and young friends. But I am never far from those I love so much and from all that I have so loved to observe.
I continue to be fascinated by the thought of life conquering death through love. Even if and when it is at the price of great pain and suffering!
When I was young I had to learn by heart the famous fable from La Fontaine: ‘La Cigale et la Fourmie”.
« La cigale ayant chanté tout l’été se trouva fort dépourvue lorsque l’hiver fut venu… »
It is the story of the cricket and the ant. It illustrates how the care free cricket sang all summer while the laborious ant worked all summer to save for a Seattle rainy winter day. I always felt that the ant was put in a most favorable light while the cricket was pictured as a no good partier!
That old concept and the discovery of the beauty of new life emerging out of a cricket’s death have radically changed my opinion of the cricket.
It took only one day for me to learn to have much more love and respect for crickets. Whether that love and appreciation is born out of myth and local folklore matters little. The first time we drove up the hill on the way to Mont Lubin, the sudden squealing noise of the shrieking massive swarm of crickets was so deafening that, not knowing what it was; Eve and I imagined that it was a loose fan belt screeching. We stopped the car and turned off the engine but the wailing noise went on unabated. Eventually we learnt that crickets endemic to Rodrigues made that constant screeching noise.
Lately, to try and escape from the torrid coastal summer heat, we take afternoon drives up the hill to go walk in the woods under the towering pines and Eucalyptus trees leading us towards the nursery of Solitude. During our walks, deafened by the squeaking endemic crickets, we often searched up the trees through the umbrella like dense growth canopy to see if we could find at least one cricket. But not trained to find that kind of insect within its century’s old natural habitat, we did not know they could be found at eye level. Instead, we searched towards the sky, way too far up. It was a constant vain and fruitless effort. We could never find or pinpoint any of those multitude of insects lost in a confounding sea of noise coming seemingly from everywhere at once!
Luckily last Saturday, as we were returning from Solitude we saw our friend, Cola, who was heading towards his home in Solitude. I asked Cola if he had ever seen a cricket? He laughed! Then he asked how many did we want to not only see but to hold? Effectively he started pointing at dead ones still clinging tightly to the tree bark at eye level all around us! This endemic cricket has so adapted to its environment that it is absolutely camouflaged within its milieu. So much so that unless you know where and what to look for, you can totally miss them a foot away from your eye!
As Cola unclenched a few of those endemic crickets from their age old environment and handed them onto us, we were surprised to note that they were all split open along their ‘backbone’! I asked Cola if it were other insects that came to split them open to eat them up. Again Cola laughed and said: No! They try to overcome death by gripping on to life and by tightly digging their tiny claws in the tree bark. But eventually they realize that life can surpass death. The crickets let go and let God. So! As they surrender to the forces of new life, their whole body splits open and as they die, new life emerges from them! It is symbolic of a simultaneous resurrection!
Some of you children may remember how we used to love to go to Issaquah creek or Soos creek or the Chittendam Locks in Seattle to watch the ‘salmon run’ returning to spawn.
I was always fascinated by that supreme sacrifice …It often reminded me of the passage in John 15: 13… “A man can have no greater love than to lay down his life for his friends”.
Lest we forget, lest we forget…; How a mere salmon or a tiny cricket can bring those words vividly back to mind!
I used to sit by Soos creek or yet again by the Cedar River to watch the returning salmons struggle to live and stay the course to release new life! Time would pass much too quickly as I gazed motionless in sheer wonder. In no way did I want to affect the concentration of the salmon or divert him from his focused end goal… to pass on precious life to the next generation.
Truth is that with much faith, for the salmon; up the river way also lay the way to new life…
In silence I loved to observe the supreme effort of those salmon persevering and battling up the creek. Sometimes the water level was so low at the end of a long dry summer that the top half of the salmons would stick out. In the crystal clear glacial waters, I could see the salmon’s belly being torn while scraping against the round or sharp river rocks. With a common purpose the salmon were all struggling in an uncommon way to live. Did they sense that they were on their way to die so as to leave behind new life? The salmons were certainly being torn from above and from below. Were they also torn from inside at the thought of the ultimate sacrifice they were about to go through? Were those ripples on the water surface vibrating with the echo of their cry: Lord! Oh Lord! Why have you abandoned us?
As with the crack of a whip tearing into the flesh, birds of prey were swirling above the salmon. With precision and regularity, the birds dove to mercilessly tear off pieces of flesh when they could not snatch the whole salmon in one swift passing scoop.
Yes! Indeed, with much admiration I often prayed to have the salmon’s courage some day…Regardless how it was being ‘crucified’, its skin and flesh torn from above and from below, the salmon kept striving forward towards the cross roads of its ultimate sacrifice of love. At that cross road, one of the street signs leading the salmon to its original place of birth spelt ‘Death’. But the other street sign read ‘Life’! There, at those cross roads the salmon would say ‘Adieu’ to his world travels spanning some four years across the ocean. Concurrently the salmon would proffer ‘Fare Well’ to the new generation springing along that traditional old spring, creek or river channel!
Year after year, along the flowing waters of various Northwest water ways new life would flow downstream towards the open ocean’s adventure until at the end of the voyage once again imminent death would battle upstream to bring about new life. The thought of that yearly cycle of new life issued from death going on for millenniums in a seemingly endlessly repetitive process used to captivate my imagination. Year after year watching the same looking salmon, I often questioned if life submitted to death or if death surrendered to life?
I concluded that since the salmon lives on, St Paul was correct in claiming: “Death where is your sting?”
Since my return to Mauritius and lately in Rodrigues, I have also been fascinated by coral life. Corals take hundreds of years to reach any meaningful size. Over decades they know that they can only find new life from and can only grow on the skeleton of their ancestors! Again in a vast sea of life I am amazed to find that there also, death supports new life!
That’s what I love to observe more and more at the animal level. Did God create that sacrificial instinct in animals in order to help us better comprehend the awesomeness of His only Son’s sacrifice? Is that one of God’s ways of helping us find truth and have life along the way?
What goes on ‘naturally’ at the instinctive animal level is exemplified through the strongest possible testimony of Love given to us by Jesus. The reading on the second Sunday of lent out of ‘Living Faith’ and the Bible spoke to that sacrifice. The ‘transfiguration’ precedes the turning point in the life of Jesus and therefore the life of the world through the life of the Word made flesh to die in order for us to have eternal life!
Living Faith: “Jesus’ total gift of His life for and to humanity will be, at the same time, the Father’s gift of His only son to us. John 3:16 – God so loved the world that He gave His only son, so that everyone who believes in Him might not perish but might have eternal life.”
Jesus makes it plain for us to see and Jesus sets the scene for us to grasp the cycle of life from our observations in this world – We are transfigured by the transition from the one form of life to the next.
Death unveils the mystery of life. Death brings about the transfiguration that propels us from a worldly life to an eternal one.
In the same vein, even if unable to fathom the mystery, in a more ‘basic instinct driven will to live’, animals ensure the perpetuation of life through love and through ultimate sacrifice.
All created by the Word, the animal world instinctively chooses life over eternal death of the species!
Hence, because the Word created this world, the Word often uses small miracles/coincidences in this world to increase our awareness of the beautiful life that surrounds us and the supreme life that awaits us through the on going gift of new life.
Here, under the tropics, we are very far from the Northwest salmon runs. I am physically very far from you my children, grand children, old and young friends. But I am never far from those I love so much and from all that I have so loved to observe.
I continue to be fascinated by the thought of life conquering death through love. Even if and when it is at the price of great pain and suffering!
When I was young I had to learn by heart the famous fable from La Fontaine: ‘La Cigale et la Fourmie”.
« La cigale ayant chanté tout l’été se trouva fort dépourvue lorsque l’hiver fut venu… »
It is the story of the cricket and the ant. It illustrates how the care free cricket sang all summer while the laborious ant worked all summer to save for a Seattle rainy winter day. I always felt that the ant was put in a most favorable light while the cricket was pictured as a no good partier!
That old concept and the discovery of the beauty of new life emerging out of a cricket’s death have radically changed my opinion of the cricket.
It took only one day for me to learn to have much more love and respect for crickets. Whether that love and appreciation is born out of myth and local folklore matters little. The first time we drove up the hill on the way to Mont Lubin, the sudden squealing noise of the shrieking massive swarm of crickets was so deafening that, not knowing what it was; Eve and I imagined that it was a loose fan belt screeching. We stopped the car and turned off the engine but the wailing noise went on unabated. Eventually we learnt that crickets endemic to Rodrigues made that constant screeching noise.
Lately, to try and escape from the torrid coastal summer heat, we take afternoon drives up the hill to go walk in the woods under the towering pines and Eucalyptus trees leading us towards the nursery of Solitude. During our walks, deafened by the squeaking endemic crickets, we often searched up the trees through the umbrella like dense growth canopy to see if we could find at least one cricket. But not trained to find that kind of insect within its century’s old natural habitat, we did not know they could be found at eye level. Instead, we searched towards the sky, way too far up. It was a constant vain and fruitless effort. We could never find or pinpoint any of those multitude of insects lost in a confounding sea of noise coming seemingly from everywhere at once!
Luckily last Saturday, as we were returning from Solitude we saw our friend, Cola, who was heading towards his home in Solitude. I asked Cola if he had ever seen a cricket? He laughed! Then he asked how many did we want to not only see but to hold? Effectively he started pointing at dead ones still clinging tightly to the tree bark at eye level all around us! This endemic cricket has so adapted to its environment that it is absolutely camouflaged within its milieu. So much so that unless you know where and what to look for, you can totally miss them a foot away from your eye!
As Cola unclenched a few of those endemic crickets from their age old environment and handed them onto us, we were surprised to note that they were all split open along their ‘backbone’! I asked Cola if it were other insects that came to split them open to eat them up. Again Cola laughed and said: No! They try to overcome death by gripping on to life and by tightly digging their tiny claws in the tree bark. But eventually they realize that life can surpass death. The crickets let go and let God. So! As they surrender to the forces of new life, their whole body splits open and as they die, new life emerges from them! It is symbolic of a simultaneous resurrection!
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That’s cricket! They are a fact of life here! The cricket’s ultimate sacrifice helps it pass instantly from one life to the next! Aside from the new life it conceived, harbored and released all it leaves behind as a reminder of its own passage through the woods under the leaves is the envelope it leaves behind. Along the back of that envelope we can discern the lasting smile that one death and a new life joined together to carve down the spine of the old envelope. Under the vast canopy of leaves, it is a compelling reminder that others now live because some died! One life and all its empty veins has gone by, but not in vain…
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Cola even found a live cricket for us.
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After much wrestling, he managed to unclench it from the tree. As Cola handed it to me, I asked him what do they eat? With much conviction and an obviously deeply anchored belief Cola swore high and dry that unlike Rodrigues goats who ravage all growth, the crickets do not eat and or destroy anything throughout their lifetime! I insisted: “But Cola, to live they have to eat!” No, No, No said Cola. Their food is their song! Singing is what feeds them! That is their one and only nourishment! I said: Come on Cola, how can that be? Cola explained that, that was their one and only purpose in this world. The endemic Rodrigues cricket is born solely to sing to God’s glory. Cola went on to explain that they are born happy.
According to Cola and the local folklore, from birth the cricket inherits such a store of enthusiasm for life that they need absolutely nothing else but song and laughter to live on! And believe me, no one and nothing will ever make Cola believe otherwise!!!
Indeed I realized that, that cricket folklore or myth could very well reflect the spirituality/mentality of many of the people we meet in Rodrigues! It seems that many instinctively believe in just being rather than having, in just living rather than worrying about what more life should they be craving for from a God given life! The Rodrigues natives embrace life with a contagious smile and place all their trust in God’s Providence to go on living happily.
Most Rodrigues natives reject the ways of the world and place no faith in its wildly spinning wheel. Faithfully relying on the wise will of the Word, Rodriguans remain unaffected by the world’s financial crisis or any other form of panic to live another day only to want more.
They are satisfied to learn from nature and to know that Life will go on surrendering to new life with God meeting their needs, as and when only God wills. Cola told me that the cricket is most happy because it understands that in this world it cannot cling to anything, not a scrap of food, not a note that it was born to sing, not even its life; Nothing belongs to ‘us’ in this world We must let it all go…
And laughing Cola said and we, humans, who are supposedly cleverer than animals, we try to cling to ‘our’ life as though we possess it just as our possessions possess us! We would be better off to learn from the happy and care free constantly singing cricket. Like Jesus died on the wood of the cross to give new life to the world, the cricket dies singing to God’s glory on the wood of a tree to give new life to its progeny. The tree of life that heard the cricket sing throughout its life may remain standing but of that cricket all that will be left behind is its happy notes and smiling empty envelope.
Yesterday I asked a local entomologist to verify Cola’s belief about the cricket living only on laughter and song. He told me that according to him that local deep rooted myth that the endemic cricket lives only on laughter and song is embedded in the fable of La Fontaine. I told him that to me it matters not where the belief originated from. But it matters immensely for me to know that even in today’s world there are people who can firmly believe that joy and peace, song and laughter can still feed some of us up to the time we are ready to let go, to split ourselves open and die for others to live a renewed life of happiness!
Jesus referred to the birds of the air and the flowers of the field. I am confident that when He returns, He will refer to the salmon of the Northwest, the endemic cricket of Rodrigues and the trusting local natives of this island that is so remote from the world that it has time to be close to the Word, to its creation, its songs and all the ever present glaring realities that feed it whether they are camouflaged to some yet plainly visible to others!
It seems to me that along that endless channel of perpetual happy new life ensuing from deaf, the prayer of St. Francis: Make me a channel of your peace… takes on its deepest and most real meaning. May we sing to God’s glory as we live every minute as if it were the last of our life.
I love you all. God bless you.
Monday, May 04, 2009
First American Corporation & James J. Dufficy - Fraud - That's not cricket
The symbolic greed of the First American Corporation and its actions through its slave ‘Jump Jim jump…’ have transformed my American life long dream into a nightmare.
Instead of reaping well earned/deserved profits from years of hard work, investments and cautious planning, the fraudulent actions of The First American Corporation as enforced by Jim Dufficy have forced me to presently live in exile far from my children and 21 grand children!
Robbed of millions of dollars by the First American Corporation, having subsequently suffered from cancer surgery, chemo therapy and post ‘Xeloda’ heart problems, I am now forced to live where health care is free and a loaf of bread only costs .20 cents!
Instead of reaping well earned/deserved profits from years of hard work, investments and cautious planning, the fraudulent actions of The First American Corporation as enforced by Jim Dufficy have forced me to presently live in exile far from my children and 21 grand children!
Robbed of millions of dollars by the First American Corporation, having subsequently suffered from cancer surgery, chemo therapy and post ‘Xeloda’ heart problems, I am now forced to live where health care is free and a loaf of bread only costs .20 cents!
To make matters worse, when I think of the problems facing US Corporations like AIG, GM & Chrysler, when I think of the economic problems affecting millions all over the world, I shudder to think that the First American Corporation, one of the main culprits of the current financial crisis, is allowed to continue to do business as usual!
President Obama please check FAF out and rein that shameful other First American in… They should be put out of business.
See New York Attorney General, Andy Cuomo’s remarks about the effects of the fraudulently inflated appraisals of a First American subsidiary on the snowballing financial crisis!
Andy Cuomo said: "The blatant actions of First American and eAppraiseIT have contributed to the growing foreclosure crisis and turmoil in the housing market. By allowing Washington Mutual to hand-pick appraisers who inflated values, First American helped set the current mortgage crisis in motion,"
Also look up FORBES: P.148 of the November 13, 2006. How the American public has been and continues to be ripped off by title insurance companies such as First American!
“In that article, from the smile on Mr. Kennedy's face, I don't think the article turned out exactly as he expected!I especially liked the "Corruption 101" graphic, showing how title insurers do business. (And that was long before Andy Cuomo accused the First American Corporation of triggering the world financial crisis.)Looks like the title industry will have to add Scott Woolley and Steve Forbes to their "disgruntled former employee" list!In the meantime may Dufficy’s soul rest in peace some day! It goes without saying that the First American Corporation has no conscience or soul… Neither do its chief executives appear to have any…
President Obama please check FAF out and rein that shameful other First American in… They should be put out of business.
See New York Attorney General, Andy Cuomo’s remarks about the effects of the fraudulently inflated appraisals of a First American subsidiary on the snowballing financial crisis!
Andy Cuomo said: "The blatant actions of First American and eAppraiseIT have contributed to the growing foreclosure crisis and turmoil in the housing market. By allowing Washington Mutual to hand-pick appraisers who inflated values, First American helped set the current mortgage crisis in motion,"
Also look up FORBES: P.148 of the November 13, 2006. How the American public has been and continues to be ripped off by title insurance companies such as First American!
“In that article, from the smile on Mr. Kennedy's face, I don't think the article turned out exactly as he expected!I especially liked the "Corruption 101" graphic, showing how title insurers do business. (And that was long before Andy Cuomo accused the First American Corporation of triggering the world financial crisis.)Looks like the title industry will have to add Scott Woolley and Steve Forbes to their "disgruntled former employee" list!In the meantime may Dufficy’s soul rest in peace some day! It goes without saying that the First American Corporation has no conscience or soul… Neither do its chief executives appear to have any…
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Might is always right... to some... Viva all First Americans...
The First American Corporation conspired with WaMu. Together they connived to overstate real estate values. New York Attorney General, Andrew Cuomo, filed suit against the First American Corporation. Cuomo denounced their fraudulent practice towards New Yorkers and the whole sub prime industry. Indeed the Attorney General blamed First American for being at the root of the world financial crisis!
But! Why worry? Be happy! It will soon be business as usual! If we are to believe a post read on the First American Corporation/Yahoo message board!
The First American Corporation can count on the other First American to bail them and all the other American financial criminals out!
A bird named Bush in the hand is most definitely worth two eagles in the bush!
Consider the following statement picked up on the Yahoo – Finance – FAF message board on October 24, 2008
“Re: First American Involved in Fraud 24-Oct-08 04:27 pm
Yes I just read the complaint again. Even after they get to respond they will probably be found to have violated business statutes. So what's the downside for FAF? Disgorgement of profits and fees ($12.5MM if one-fourth of the $50MM in appraisal revenues were affected); pay actual damages (big unknown? how to establish in this dropping housing value environment?); punitive damages ($37.5MM at 3x 12.5MM, a wild guess?); terminate that business or divestment. Incidently, the appraisal adjustments quoted in the complaint seem to be about 1-5% for a $500,000 property, and that seems minor against the backdrop of a 25% drop in subsequent housing values. What if they settled for $100MM? That's not so much for a company with a current market cap of about $3B, and which has seen its price already drop from highs: Jun'07=55, Feb'08=42; Sep'08=32; now=18, and with a comparable low in 2001. Houses are selling much better this month than a year ago. Revenues should be going up now. There is an outstanding issue of future regulation and fee capping in this business. Shouldn't we be starting to buy FAF here? Any non-nasty comments? Disclosures: holding FAF common bought around $38/sh awhile ago (ouch!); and bought a house this month with a First Amer Title Policy attached.
.
It is most definitely not a question of ethics. Might is right. It all boils down to a ‘meaningless’ fine for a company worth – excuse me sir - how many billions today? Oh! I almost forgot: The U.S. Govt will provide the bail out funds if need be! No mighty, naughty and haughty could ever become a jail bird! We are having too much fun… The party must go on… at any cost…!
This time it will cost a minimum of $1.5 trillion to feed the greed of the mighty. Jail bail omitted for committed crooks!
But! Why worry? Be happy! It will soon be business as usual! If we are to believe a post read on the First American Corporation/Yahoo message board!
The First American Corporation can count on the other First American to bail them and all the other American financial criminals out!
A bird named Bush in the hand is most definitely worth two eagles in the bush!
Consider the following statement picked up on the Yahoo – Finance – FAF message board on October 24, 2008
“Re: First American Involved in Fraud 24-Oct-08 04:27 pm
Yes I just read the complaint again. Even after they get to respond they will probably be found to have violated business statutes. So what's the downside for FAF? Disgorgement of profits and fees ($12.5MM if one-fourth of the $50MM in appraisal revenues were affected); pay actual damages (big unknown? how to establish in this dropping housing value environment?); punitive damages ($37.5MM at 3x 12.5MM, a wild guess?); terminate that business or divestment. Incidently, the appraisal adjustments quoted in the complaint seem to be about 1-5% for a $500,000 property, and that seems minor against the backdrop of a 25% drop in subsequent housing values. What if they settled for $100MM? That's not so much for a company with a current market cap of about $3B, and which has seen its price already drop from highs: Jun'07=55, Feb'08=42; Sep'08=32; now=18, and with a comparable low in 2001. Houses are selling much better this month than a year ago. Revenues should be going up now. There is an outstanding issue of future regulation and fee capping in this business. Shouldn't we be starting to buy FAF here? Any non-nasty comments? Disclosures: holding FAF common bought around $38/sh awhile ago (ouch!); and bought a house this month with a First Amer Title Policy attached.
.
It is most definitely not a question of ethics. Might is right. It all boils down to a ‘meaningless’ fine for a company worth – excuse me sir - how many billions today? Oh! I almost forgot: The U.S. Govt will provide the bail out funds if need be! No mighty, naughty and haughty could ever become a jail bird! We are having too much fun… The party must go on… at any cost…!
This time it will cost a minimum of $1.5 trillion to feed the greed of the mighty. Jail bail omitted for committed crooks!
Friday, November 07, 2008
A black First American - That's Title To Justice
A black First American – That’s Title To Justice!
Free! Free at last… Americracy has finally freed itself from bitter mediocracy!
From Africa to America a thousand bushes of dim lights have yielded to the shining brightness of millions of red flaming hearts igniting all races and colors to flash new rays of hope sky high!
A weak burnt out Bush, brought to his knees through wrecking general havoc over the world, has surrendered to the power of those who humbly kneel down before the Burning Bush!
The scale of the wealth of the mighty could not tip the scales against the more worthy!
The White house will finally be the Black’s house opening its doors to all without discrimination.
Winning 92% of the International community’s vote, the election of President Obama by Americans was crucial for the welfare of the world village.
Christmas is drawing near. The theme ‘Peace to the world…’ will be soon sung by the ‘Voice of America’ choir. This time, it will strike a meaningful new note in renewed hearts the world over.
And for the first time in years the world should gladly echo back the refrain: God Bless America!
Change! Yes we can! Change if not the color of our skin, at least the color of our thoughts.
In Mauritius our Honorable Prime Minister, Dr. Navinchandra Ramgoolam, the stateliest of international statesman, (as once again evidenced and further confirmed during his recent tour of Asia, Europe and North America) has urged us and shown us how to capitalize on our diversity by strengthening our bonds of unity.
There is a season for everything. May a new young President from the new world humbly accept much wise guidance from an outstanding scholar and a most successful and more seasoned Prime Minister from a much older and most dynamic world.
Change! Yes we can! A bonding and mighty Prime Minister from Mauritius, a relatively small mixing pan, and a budding starting, yet small American President from a once mighty and respected melting pot can and should come closely together to show the world that through change all things are made possible with God’s help. Can we all cheer them on and follow their example to make our entire world a durable one?
America has canned Bush, and sent him to the back of the Barracks. With time, may the world come to forget and forgive the Bush arrogance and hopefully that of his followers…
There is a season for everything… Even for the mighty Prime Minister of a smaller nation to lead the younger President of a mightier country along the visionary highways of our common world village! Thus, for ever more the might of the right will NO longer be right …!
Free! Free at last… Americracy has finally freed itself from bitter mediocracy!
From Africa to America a thousand bushes of dim lights have yielded to the shining brightness of millions of red flaming hearts igniting all races and colors to flash new rays of hope sky high!
A weak burnt out Bush, brought to his knees through wrecking general havoc over the world, has surrendered to the power of those who humbly kneel down before the Burning Bush!
The scale of the wealth of the mighty could not tip the scales against the more worthy!
The White house will finally be the Black’s house opening its doors to all without discrimination.
Winning 92% of the International community’s vote, the election of President Obama by Americans was crucial for the welfare of the world village.
Christmas is drawing near. The theme ‘Peace to the world…’ will be soon sung by the ‘Voice of America’ choir. This time, it will strike a meaningful new note in renewed hearts the world over.
And for the first time in years the world should gladly echo back the refrain: God Bless America!
Change! Yes we can! Change if not the color of our skin, at least the color of our thoughts.
In Mauritius our Honorable Prime Minister, Dr. Navinchandra Ramgoolam, the stateliest of international statesman, (as once again evidenced and further confirmed during his recent tour of Asia, Europe and North America) has urged us and shown us how to capitalize on our diversity by strengthening our bonds of unity.
There is a season for everything. May a new young President from the new world humbly accept much wise guidance from an outstanding scholar and a most successful and more seasoned Prime Minister from a much older and most dynamic world.
Change! Yes we can! A bonding and mighty Prime Minister from Mauritius, a relatively small mixing pan, and a budding starting, yet small American President from a once mighty and respected melting pot can and should come closely together to show the world that through change all things are made possible with God’s help. Can we all cheer them on and follow their example to make our entire world a durable one?
America has canned Bush, and sent him to the back of the Barracks. With time, may the world come to forget and forgive the Bush arrogance and hopefully that of his followers…
There is a season for everything… Even for the mighty Prime Minister of a smaller nation to lead the younger President of a mightier country along the visionary highways of our common world village! Thus, for ever more the might of the right will NO longer be right …!
Friday, October 24, 2008
NYSE symbol: FAF = First American Frauds
On November 3, 2008 the post below will be a year old. On Nov. 5, 2007 after we first sounded the alarm on November 3, 2007, FAF stock was at: $31.53!
Today FAF had a low of: $16.71 – Wow!
What will FAF be at on Nov. 3, 2008?
After we posted on Nov. 3, 2007, savvy financial gurus took heed and dumped FAF.
Fool hardies went in headfirst way over their head.
Will those fund managers get lynched by their clients for jumping on board a sinking ship?
What perks did such fund managers receive for shedding all red flags to the wind and diving in those murky waters blindfolded?
Can a few director nominations justify drowning investors and setting their funds adrift?
Who is next to be sued re this long foreseen and predictable debacle?
Remember back then house prices were never supposed to fall – FAF and WAMU thought they could for ever pump this ‘blow proof’ balloon and fool the world!!!
Today FAF had a low of: $16.71 – Wow!
What will FAF be at on Nov. 3, 2008?
After we posted on Nov. 3, 2007, savvy financial gurus took heed and dumped FAF.
Fool hardies went in headfirst way over their head.
Will those fund managers get lynched by their clients for jumping on board a sinking ship?
What perks did such fund managers receive for shedding all red flags to the wind and diving in those murky waters blindfolded?
Can a few director nominations justify drowning investors and setting their funds adrift?
Who is next to be sued re this long foreseen and predictable debacle?
Remember back then house prices were never supposed to fall – FAF and WAMU thought they could for ever pump this ‘blow proof’ balloon and fool the world!!!
Again we ask: Who has contributed heavily to the present world financial crisis? If none other than the First American Corporation and its subsidiary?
Who recalls this November 3, 2007 Post:
First American involved in fraud…
This is nothing new!!!
In 1996 First American engaged in fraud and defrauded our family of millions of dollars.
At the time, FAF’s senior exec, Ad Zetz was deposed. He was asked why had First American engaged in fraud and violated its company manuals. Under oath, Zetz callously answered: “We had a chance to make a couple of thousand bucks!”
Highly respected attorney. Jerry Lasky Esquire of Moses & Singer, New York, sifted through documents and found a memo stating that the company was prepared to take a “considerable risk for future business.” Indeed in spite of being actively involved in the title industry for over 33 years, Mr. Lasky had never come across any title company doing something so egregious!
Has anything changed at FAF over the last 11 years? Why does FAF senior execs systematically condone at best shady if not fraudulent transactions?
In her post on 11/02/07 janekane12 writes: “First American continues to prove that its leadership is ethically challenged.” Speaking from personal experience I confirm that ‘ethics’ is not a priority at FAF!
Janekane12 goes on to explain why ethics is of concern: “Most of the fines levied against title insurance companies are insufficient to deter improper behavior. Obviously, these types of arrangements are profitable. But this case, however, may be different. This one has the potential to be huge!
Now let us review the huge scope of the present case.
Could it generate a few class action suits in addition to civil and criminal proceedings by New York State, US residents and foreigners ?
Could investors who attended the Lehman Brothers conferences and invested heavily in FAF file suit? What did they hear from ex Lehman insider Frank McMahon that caused the FAF stock to reach an all time high shortly before it imploded? Did Frank and Parker Kennedy warn investors that FAF was about to turn in a loss for the quarter or was about to face major suits?
Could home buyers file a class action seeking refunds for all the extra payments they had to fork out as a result of their homes being overvalued?
On 10/31/07 nysemarketmaker wrote on this board:
“$12 in cash Hey! Should we be impressed? Please advise how much will be left after FAF settles claims? How much more needs to be set aside for upcoming major claims? Is FAF not also exposed to class actions that could allege that FAF and its execs have defrauded stock holders?”
And how about buyers of overvalued homes?
On 11/01/07 Forbes.com reported Cuomo’s statement: “Cuomo said eAppraiseIT and the parent company, ‘First American’ knew its actions were illegal, citing an April 17, 2007 e-mail from eAppraiseIT's president to First American that said: "We view this as a violation of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Office of Thrift Supervision, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice influencing regulation."
On 11/02/07 janekane12 also wrote:
This case has been described as "one of the highest-profile government actions yet to assign blame for the mortgage crisis that is causing havoc in the financial markets." People are looking for someone to blame for the mortgage crisis - here is an excellent opportunity to send a message.”
A few on this board have attempted to opine that neither FAF nor WaMu had much to gain from overvalued real estate!!!
How asinine!
Remember we ‘were’ in a rising market. Remember FAF does not blink an eyelid before screwing a family out of millions of dollars “to make a couple of thousand bucks” and pursuing the lure of future business!!!
How much more did FAF earn for every $10,000 a house was knowingly overvalued by?
How much more did WaMu get to collect monthly for every $10,000 a house was knowingly overvalued by? Did it all not help WaMu inflate its paper?
Furthermore what was the perceived risk?
In a rising market, a higher valued home could increase the risk of the borrower defaulting through higher monthly payments. So what? So much more for FAF and WaMu! WaMu ends up with 'so called' higher assets on its books, FAF ends up insuring and closing more deals through WaMu!!!
Who recalls this November 3, 2007 Post:
First American involved in fraud…
This is nothing new!!!
In 1996 First American engaged in fraud and defrauded our family of millions of dollars.
At the time, FAF’s senior exec, Ad Zetz was deposed. He was asked why had First American engaged in fraud and violated its company manuals. Under oath, Zetz callously answered: “We had a chance to make a couple of thousand bucks!”
Highly respected attorney. Jerry Lasky Esquire of Moses & Singer, New York, sifted through documents and found a memo stating that the company was prepared to take a “considerable risk for future business.” Indeed in spite of being actively involved in the title industry for over 33 years, Mr. Lasky had never come across any title company doing something so egregious!
Has anything changed at FAF over the last 11 years? Why does FAF senior execs systematically condone at best shady if not fraudulent transactions?
In her post on 11/02/07 janekane12 writes: “First American continues to prove that its leadership is ethically challenged.” Speaking from personal experience I confirm that ‘ethics’ is not a priority at FAF!
Janekane12 goes on to explain why ethics is of concern: “Most of the fines levied against title insurance companies are insufficient to deter improper behavior. Obviously, these types of arrangements are profitable. But this case, however, may be different. This one has the potential to be huge!
Now let us review the huge scope of the present case.
Could it generate a few class action suits in addition to civil and criminal proceedings by New York State, US residents and foreigners ?
Could investors who attended the Lehman Brothers conferences and invested heavily in FAF file suit? What did they hear from ex Lehman insider Frank McMahon that caused the FAF stock to reach an all time high shortly before it imploded? Did Frank and Parker Kennedy warn investors that FAF was about to turn in a loss for the quarter or was about to face major suits?
Could home buyers file a class action seeking refunds for all the extra payments they had to fork out as a result of their homes being overvalued?
On 10/31/07 nysemarketmaker wrote on this board:
“$12 in cash Hey! Should we be impressed? Please advise how much will be left after FAF settles claims? How much more needs to be set aside for upcoming major claims? Is FAF not also exposed to class actions that could allege that FAF and its execs have defrauded stock holders?”
And how about buyers of overvalued homes?
On 11/01/07 Forbes.com reported Cuomo’s statement: “Cuomo said eAppraiseIT and the parent company, ‘First American’ knew its actions were illegal, citing an April 17, 2007 e-mail from eAppraiseIT's president to First American that said: "We view this as a violation of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Office of Thrift Supervision, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice influencing regulation."
On 11/02/07 janekane12 also wrote:
This case has been described as "one of the highest-profile government actions yet to assign blame for the mortgage crisis that is causing havoc in the financial markets." People are looking for someone to blame for the mortgage crisis - here is an excellent opportunity to send a message.”
A few on this board have attempted to opine that neither FAF nor WaMu had much to gain from overvalued real estate!!!
How asinine!
Remember we ‘were’ in a rising market. Remember FAF does not blink an eyelid before screwing a family out of millions of dollars “to make a couple of thousand bucks” and pursuing the lure of future business!!!
How much more did FAF earn for every $10,000 a house was knowingly overvalued by?
How much more did WaMu get to collect monthly for every $10,000 a house was knowingly overvalued by? Did it all not help WaMu inflate its paper?
Furthermore what was the perceived risk?
In a rising market, a higher valued home could increase the risk of the borrower defaulting through higher monthly payments. So what? So much more for FAF and WaMu! WaMu ends up with 'so called' higher assets on its books, FAF ends up insuring and closing more deals through WaMu!!!
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
First American Corporation – The Eagle Is Wounded
And lawyers are all over busily digging its grave!
Will it ever rest in peace after all the pain and suffering it has inflicted upon so many?
Can it ever rest in peace after providing so much grease to the wheels of the world financial crisis?
The First American Corporation: I was # 1, once upon a time. The first will be last and the last will be first. How true!
But vanity of vanities - All is but vanity! What did the First American Corporation executives gain by their vain greed?
News of Note from Stanford Law School – Securities Class Action Clearinghouse in cooperation with Cornerstone Research:
“On September 18, 2008, Judge Lewis A. Kaplan granted the motion to appoint the Berks County Employees' Retirement Fund as Lead Plaintiff and further approved their selection of Grant & Eisenhofer P.A. as Lead Counsel.
Named as defendants are First American, the Company's Chief Executive Office and Chairman of the Board, as well as the Company's Vice Chairman and Chief Financial Officer.
The Complaint alleges that, during the Class Period, First American and certain of the Company's officers and directors engaged in an illegal scheme with Washington Mutual, Inc. ("WaMu"), whereby the defendants, through First American's real estate subsidiary, eAppraiseIT LLC, prepared artificially inflated appraisals of homes for use in connection with mortgages issued by WaMu. During the Class Period, in quarterly earnings reports, the Company's management reported increased earnings from appraisal fees and reassured investors that internal controls were adequate. The Complaint alleges that First American's fees from the improper appraisals resulted in the Company overstating its gross profit margins and net income during the Class Period and that throughout the Class Period the defendants made false and misleading statements regarding the Company's internal controls and financial performance.”
Habit dies hard! Posts throughout www.lleclezio.blogspot.com establish that fraud and misleading statements are a systemic way of life at FAF exec level!
Will it ever rest in peace after all the pain and suffering it has inflicted upon so many?
Can it ever rest in peace after providing so much grease to the wheels of the world financial crisis?
The First American Corporation: I was # 1, once upon a time. The first will be last and the last will be first. How true!
But vanity of vanities - All is but vanity! What did the First American Corporation executives gain by their vain greed?
News of Note from Stanford Law School – Securities Class Action Clearinghouse in cooperation with Cornerstone Research:
“On September 18, 2008, Judge Lewis A. Kaplan granted the motion to appoint the Berks County Employees' Retirement Fund as Lead Plaintiff and further approved their selection of Grant & Eisenhofer P.A. as Lead Counsel.
Named as defendants are First American, the Company's Chief Executive Office and Chairman of the Board, as well as the Company's Vice Chairman and Chief Financial Officer.
The Complaint alleges that, during the Class Period, First American and certain of the Company's officers and directors engaged in an illegal scheme with Washington Mutual, Inc. ("WaMu"), whereby the defendants, through First American's real estate subsidiary, eAppraiseIT LLC, prepared artificially inflated appraisals of homes for use in connection with mortgages issued by WaMu. During the Class Period, in quarterly earnings reports, the Company's management reported increased earnings from appraisal fees and reassured investors that internal controls were adequate. The Complaint alleges that First American's fees from the improper appraisals resulted in the Company overstating its gross profit margins and net income during the Class Period and that throughout the Class Period the defendants made false and misleading statements regarding the Company's internal controls and financial performance.”
Habit dies hard! Posts throughout www.lleclezio.blogspot.com establish that fraud and misleading statements are a systemic way of life at FAF exec level!
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Communion is # 1
Dear Children, 21 Grand Children, family and friends,
Imagine living in a society where the priest, Father Alex Perrine, begins his sermon this morning saying: “For those of you who can read – The sign on the altar today says: Render unto God what is His and to Cesar…”
Imagine living in a society where I have seen our elderly neighbor stand at the bank with numerous others patiently and trustingly waiting for someone who knows how to write to come in. He and others can then blindly hand over their bank book and ask ‘a good Samaritan’ to fill their deposit/withdrawal slip!
How far we are from internet banking in such a society? But as I learn every day and specially so today – How close is such a society to God!!!
I have come to ask myself daily: “Is a society that promotes the “I am #1 dogma, a #1 society?”
What makes a #1 society?
Well, today some 47 children received their first communion at our little village church known as St. Pierre.
When you think how so financially poor those children and their parents are, you are certainly moved to tears when, a few hours after church, you hear a little voice outside calling: “Mr. Louis – Mr. Louis – Mrs. Eve –Mrs. Eve!”
And there is a little girl all dressed in her pure white satin dress, with an equally pure white satin basket with lace embroidery full to the brim with ‘Brioches’ and slices of home baked cake destined to all friends and neighbors!!!
And since they have no car they go smiling walking up and down the steep hills that Lou knows under the baking sun to share their bread and the joyful body of Christ they have just received!!!
I attach a picture showing the little bag in which one of the brioches and the cake was delivered!
.JPG)
Eve remarked: Do you realize how spiritually wealthy those people are? Can you imagine how much hard earned savings, how much time, how much sowing, how much baking, how much planning and preparation has been invested by the whole family to make that day so very memorable for that little girl? Could you read the joy on her face as she shared her bread with us?
Obviously, without saying a word, she proclaimed loud and clear: “My first communion is my # 1 day! But I am not #1 – God – My parents and ‘you’ my friends and neighbors are all #1!!!
Could she have justifiably added: Because my society is #1?
People from an industrialized materialistic world sure think differently and love to boast!
But the society in which we live now is far too humble and Christ loving and Christ like to pretend to the kind of vanity Qoheleth warns us so much against! Vanity, vanity, all is but vanity! What do we gain by claiming to be #1?
Instead, that humble little innocent girl chose to state: Serving Christ and all those created in His image is my #1 commitment!
Indeed, with that spirit, that is the message that the little girl, Marie Nancy Eldy Augustin, proclaimed on the card she handed out with the bread she passed around the neighborhood today! She was not scared to knock at any door. She was not worried about having a door slammed in her face by some atheist. She was fearlessly, joyfully and peacefully sharing her joyful day
What true joy can material wealth bring us if and when we are spiritually bankrupt?
Which is worse? A World Financial Crisis? OR A World Spiritual Crisis?
How are we affected in this humble society by a world financial crisis?
Financial crisis has been such a part of our daily world for generations that in our society, we learn from the cradle to turn to the Spirit to meet our daily needs and suppress our daily wants. Thus we are inherently immune to any sort of financial crisis? We are not #1! We look up to #1 and we thank God, for teaching us to live independently from the world of finance.
I wish, I could put into words the sense of love and beauty that exuded from that simple little girl and the gift she shared with all her neighborhood today on her #1 day – It must have all been truly made in the humble image of God – It was so beautiful!!!
It is worth noting that Eldy’s grandfather is our neighbor who cannot read or write and stands waiting at the bank for someone to fill his deposit slip!!! Eldy is happy to live with her grandpa where money may be scarce but the love of Christ does not slip them by, ever!
I hope to get to share this wonderful world first hand with you some day because I love you all so much!!
I love it and so would you! Because the love of God is so very present all over this society, this world is very different from other societies we have experienced!
.JPG)
By tonight we may well have twelve baskets left over…
Imagine living in a society where the priest, Father Alex Perrine, begins his sermon this morning saying: “For those of you who can read – The sign on the altar today says: Render unto God what is His and to Cesar…”
Imagine living in a society where I have seen our elderly neighbor stand at the bank with numerous others patiently and trustingly waiting for someone who knows how to write to come in. He and others can then blindly hand over their bank book and ask ‘a good Samaritan’ to fill their deposit/withdrawal slip!
How far we are from internet banking in such a society? But as I learn every day and specially so today – How close is such a society to God!!!
I have come to ask myself daily: “Is a society that promotes the “I am #1 dogma, a #1 society?”
What makes a #1 society?
Well, today some 47 children received their first communion at our little village church known as St. Pierre.
When you think how so financially poor those children and their parents are, you are certainly moved to tears when, a few hours after church, you hear a little voice outside calling: “Mr. Louis – Mr. Louis – Mrs. Eve –Mrs. Eve!”
And there is a little girl all dressed in her pure white satin dress, with an equally pure white satin basket with lace embroidery full to the brim with ‘Brioches’ and slices of home baked cake destined to all friends and neighbors!!!
And since they have no car they go smiling walking up and down the steep hills that Lou knows under the baking sun to share their bread and the joyful body of Christ they have just received!!!
I attach a picture showing the little bag in which one of the brioches and the cake was delivered!
“Devant mes parents et mes amis, j’ai pris l’engagement de servir le Christ toute ma vie.
La Sainte Communion est venue sceller cette promesse solenelle."
Premiere Communion de : Marie Nancy Eldy Augustin
Le 19 Octobre, 2008.
La Sainte Communion est venue sceller cette promesse solenelle."
Premiere Communion de : Marie Nancy Eldy Augustin
Le 19 Octobre, 2008.
Eve remarked: Do you realize how spiritually wealthy those people are? Can you imagine how much hard earned savings, how much time, how much sowing, how much baking, how much planning and preparation has been invested by the whole family to make that day so very memorable for that little girl? Could you read the joy on her face as she shared her bread with us?
Obviously, without saying a word, she proclaimed loud and clear: “My first communion is my # 1 day! But I am not #1 – God – My parents and ‘you’ my friends and neighbors are all #1!!!
Could she have justifiably added: Because my society is #1?
People from an industrialized materialistic world sure think differently and love to boast!
But the society in which we live now is far too humble and Christ loving and Christ like to pretend to the kind of vanity Qoheleth warns us so much against! Vanity, vanity, all is but vanity! What do we gain by claiming to be #1?
Instead, that humble little innocent girl chose to state: Serving Christ and all those created in His image is my #1 commitment!
Indeed, with that spirit, that is the message that the little girl, Marie Nancy Eldy Augustin, proclaimed on the card she handed out with the bread she passed around the neighborhood today! She was not scared to knock at any door. She was not worried about having a door slammed in her face by some atheist. She was fearlessly, joyfully and peacefully sharing her joyful day
What true joy can material wealth bring us if and when we are spiritually bankrupt?
Which is worse? A World Financial Crisis? OR A World Spiritual Crisis?
How are we affected in this humble society by a world financial crisis?
Financial crisis has been such a part of our daily world for generations that in our society, we learn from the cradle to turn to the Spirit to meet our daily needs and suppress our daily wants. Thus we are inherently immune to any sort of financial crisis? We are not #1! We look up to #1 and we thank God, for teaching us to live independently from the world of finance.
I wish, I could put into words the sense of love and beauty that exuded from that simple little girl and the gift she shared with all her neighborhood today on her #1 day – It must have all been truly made in the humble image of God – It was so beautiful!!!
It is worth noting that Eldy’s grandfather is our neighbor who cannot read or write and stands waiting at the bank for someone to fill his deposit slip!!! Eldy is happy to live with her grandpa where money may be scarce but the love of Christ does not slip them by, ever!
I hope to get to share this wonderful world first hand with you some day because I love you all so much!!
I love it and so would you! Because the love of God is so very present all over this society, this world is very different from other societies we have experienced!
Here, we discovered that a society that is not constantly challenged to accumulate material possessions has time to cultivate much more important and fulfilling non material values. It takes time to count, nurture and share its blessings.
We believe that the heart of such a society best reflects God’s work of art.
Here we feel that a society is decidedly not #1 through what it has above others but rather through how it behaves towards others!
From here it is easier to render unto God all that is His and to the world whatever it may deserve.
Today, we did not deserve all the bread we got! But we are glad, through this public statement, to render unto this society the most honorable credit which is due to it.
We believe that the heart of such a society best reflects God’s work of art.
Here we feel that a society is decidedly not #1 through what it has above others but rather through how it behaves towards others!
From here it is easier to render unto God all that is His and to the world whatever it may deserve.
Today, we did not deserve all the bread we got! But we are glad, through this public statement, to render unto this society the most honorable credit which is due to it.
Needless to say that the first call was followed by numerous others and today we wish you were all here to share so much bread.
By tonight we may well have twelve baskets left over…
Monday, September 15, 2008
Lehman Brothers & First American Corporation Relationship
158 year old Lehman brothers bites the dust with $60 billion in soured real estate holdings.
When will the 100 + year old First American Corporation follow suit?
The First American Corporation recently took a write down of $37.9 million on its Fannie Mae & Freddy Mac holdings.
With Lehman gone, who will McMahon (ex Lehman) now turn to, to promote the FAF dud?
Other than misplaced trust in each other, had FAF invested in Lehman stock in return for all the favors done to it thru McMahon’s good/bad offices?
Interesting times ahead for FAF…
Note that we have alerted the market thru our blog www.lleclezio.blogspot.com and our posts on the Yahoo/Finance/FAF message board about the unhealthy relationship between Lehman, First American and McMahon for months.
Yes… You heard it here first…
When will the 100 + year old First American Corporation follow suit?
The First American Corporation recently took a write down of $37.9 million on its Fannie Mae & Freddy Mac holdings.
With Lehman gone, who will McMahon (ex Lehman) now turn to, to promote the FAF dud?
Other than misplaced trust in each other, had FAF invested in Lehman stock in return for all the favors done to it thru McMahon’s good/bad offices?
Interesting times ahead for FAF…
Note that we have alerted the market thru our blog www.lleclezio.blogspot.com and our posts on the Yahoo/Finance/FAF message board about the unhealthy relationship between Lehman, First American and McMahon for months.
Yes… You heard it here first…
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Financial Gurus Sell Out Of The First American Corporation – NYSE symbol: FAF
Marty Whitman, Charles Brandes, Mason Hawkins, Seth Klarman, Third Avenue Management (Marty), Arnold Schneider and Steve Mandel to name but a few, all sold out of The First American Corporation since the beginning of 2008!
Not surprisingly even Marty Whitman, one of the initial largest holders of FAF stock and one of its most loyal supporters through thick and thin over the past 12 years has finally bailed out, big time!
Smart Marty Whitman is a wise man!
Marty invested in FAF when FAF was still a fledgling in 1996. IMHO, Marty taught the FAF senior execs how to add value to the company and how to manipulate the company’s stock and increase its market cap!
Indeed I suspect that around 1996, Marty worked his way into some 900,000 shares in exchange for his staunch support.
I further believe that Marty was present at the company’s April 22, 1999 meeting when Kennedy guaranteed a dividend increase before year end. That guarantee that never materialized and other false statements blurted out by senior execs at that meeting sent the stock sky rocketing momentarily. Soon after, the stock imploded when actual earnings and true business conditions were revealed.
But, in 1999, Marty faced the outcry of his investors demanding that he dump FAF. Marty faithfully held on!
Now, Marty must be smelling the burning rag or he must have feel the water level getting neck high in that burning or sinking ship for him to jump.
Marty must be comforted not to be the only deserter. Even The First American, blue eyed boy, James J. Dufficy, the one who claims that First American has “no duty vis-à-vis the public to do the correct thing” has defected and has run for cover!
Not surprisingly even Marty Whitman, one of the initial largest holders of FAF stock and one of its most loyal supporters through thick and thin over the past 12 years has finally bailed out, big time!
Smart Marty Whitman is a wise man!
Marty invested in FAF when FAF was still a fledgling in 1996. IMHO, Marty taught the FAF senior execs how to add value to the company and how to manipulate the company’s stock and increase its market cap!
Indeed I suspect that around 1996, Marty worked his way into some 900,000 shares in exchange for his staunch support.
I further believe that Marty was present at the company’s April 22, 1999 meeting when Kennedy guaranteed a dividend increase before year end. That guarantee that never materialized and other false statements blurted out by senior execs at that meeting sent the stock sky rocketing momentarily. Soon after, the stock imploded when actual earnings and true business conditions were revealed.
But, in 1999, Marty faced the outcry of his investors demanding that he dump FAF. Marty faithfully held on!
Now, Marty must be smelling the burning rag or he must have feel the water level getting neck high in that burning or sinking ship for him to jump.
Marty must be comforted not to be the only deserter. Even The First American, blue eyed boy, James J. Dufficy, the one who claims that First American has “no duty vis-à-vis the public to do the correct thing” has defected and has run for cover!
Monday, June 30, 2008
First American Corporation - Class Actions - Galore!
Numerous class action lawsuits in various States across the US have been filed this month against The First American Corporation – NYSE: FAF.
One of the latest suits was filed by Grant & Eisenhofer, P.A., ) in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, on behalf of shareholders who purchased the common stock of the Company between April 26, 2006 and November 6, 2007, inclusive ("Class Period").
The Complaint alleges that, during the Class Period, First American and certain of the Company's officers and directors engaged in an illegal scheme. During the Class Period, in quarterly earnings reports, the Company's management reported increased earnings and reassured investors that internal controls were adequate.
One of the latest suits was filed by Grant & Eisenhofer, P.A., ) in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, on behalf of shareholders who purchased the common stock of the Company between April 26, 2006 and November 6, 2007, inclusive ("Class Period").
The Complaint alleges that, during the Class Period, First American and certain of the Company's officers and directors engaged in an illegal scheme. During the Class Period, in quarterly earnings reports, the Company's management reported increased earnings and reassured investors that internal controls were adequate.
The Complaint further claims that First American overstated its gross profit margins and net income during the Class Period and that throughout the Class Period the defendants made false and misleading statements regarding the Company's internal controls and financial performance.
The defendants are First American, Parker S. Kennedy, the Company's Chief Executive Office and Chairman of the Board, and Fred F. McMahon, the Company's Vice Chairman and Chief Financial Officer. That case is captioned Berks County Employees' Retirement Fund v. First American Corporation.
This is nothing new! It is only one more example of a well established, long enduring systemic approach by senior executives of First American to deliberately deceive investors. How often has First American resorted to creative accounting to overstate figures, inflate stock value and defraud investors in the past? How often has Parker S. Kennedy pumped up the stock through outrageous false and misleading statements in the past?
As an example, a quick review of history reveals that at a shareholders’ meeting held in Santa Ana, California on April 22, 1999, Parker S. Kennedy conceded that the recently, Fed ordered, accounting change had affected the stock price negatively. (Note: After investigation, the Fed had concluded that First American had used creative accounting to overstate its earnings and thus inflate its stock price. As a result of its findings, The Fed forced First American to restate its earnings.)
This is nothing new! It is only one more example of a well established, long enduring systemic approach by senior executives of First American to deliberately deceive investors. How often has First American resorted to creative accounting to overstate figures, inflate stock value and defraud investors in the past? How often has Parker S. Kennedy pumped up the stock through outrageous false and misleading statements in the past?
As an example, a quick review of history reveals that at a shareholders’ meeting held in Santa Ana, California on April 22, 1999, Parker S. Kennedy conceded that the recently, Fed ordered, accounting change had affected the stock price negatively. (Note: After investigation, the Fed had concluded that First American had used creative accounting to overstate its earnings and thus inflate its stock price. As a result of its findings, The Fed forced First American to restate its earnings.)
Unfortunately, no class action suit was filed then!
In the absence of meaningful fines or suits, Parker S. Kennedy was emboldened to blurt out a most deceitful statement at that same meeting on April 22, 1999. Without any authorization from the board, Parker S. Kennedy guaranteed to investors that the corporation would increase its dividend before 1999 year end. Foreseeing an improved return on capital, investors sent the stock momentarily skyrocketing days after Kennedy made that unauthorized and most misleading statement! Sadly the ‘GUARANTEED’ dividend increase for year 1999 never materialized and the stock plummeted!
Unfortunately, once again, no class action was filed!
IMHO, the series of class actions being filed lately against First American and its senior execs are long overdue!
I wish well to all attorney firms who have filed class actions against The First American Corporation. I stand ready to voluntarily assist them with any critical info that I am privy to. I can be contacted at: leclezio@hotmail.com or a comment can be left on my blog: www.lleclezio.blogspot.com
Note: I have an irrefutable audio tape of numerous past statements made by Kennedy. IMHO those statements establish deep rooted intent concerning the deliberate manipulation of the First American stock price by Kennedy and his gang.
Furthermore, it is noteworthy that my book ‘First American Title To Injustice’ has been made an exhibit in The Massachusetts Federal Court. Many revealing statements can be found in my book.
IMHO, the key to understanding the First American overt deplorable modus operandi over the years rests in the statement made in a letter addressed to me by ex First American senior executive, James J. Dufficy: “The company has no duty vis-à-vis the public to do the correct thing”.
Unfortunately, once again, no class action was filed!
IMHO, the series of class actions being filed lately against First American and its senior execs are long overdue!
I wish well to all attorney firms who have filed class actions against The First American Corporation. I stand ready to voluntarily assist them with any critical info that I am privy to. I can be contacted at: leclezio@hotmail.com or a comment can be left on my blog: www.lleclezio.blogspot.com
Note: I have an irrefutable audio tape of numerous past statements made by Kennedy. IMHO those statements establish deep rooted intent concerning the deliberate manipulation of the First American stock price by Kennedy and his gang.
Furthermore, it is noteworthy that my book ‘First American Title To Injustice’ has been made an exhibit in The Massachusetts Federal Court. Many revealing statements can be found in my book.
IMHO, the key to understanding the First American overt deplorable modus operandi over the years rests in the statement made in a letter addressed to me by ex First American senior executive, James J. Dufficy: “The company has no duty vis-à-vis the public to do the correct thing”.
That says it all!
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Louis Leclezio Jr. - Warren Buffet
Dear Dad,
Remember that success is not measured by the hardships a corporation like First American or its henchman, James Dufficy inflicted upon you.
Your resounding success is written in Mommy’s and your book of life according to what you have led your children & grand children to be in the eyes of the world and above all in the heart of God!
You should be most proud to see me in the company of the richest man in the world. He is confidently handing his wallet over to me!
I am proud of who Mommy & you have taught us to be. You have prepared us well enough to meet with the wealthiest man on earth. At the same time we know how to remain focused on the greatest wealth of all – The faith of our fathers and our heavenly eternal rewards!
From heaven, may Mommy continue to smile on us all on earth and may God continue to bless you and all yours abundantly my dearest dad!
Remember that success is not measured by the hardships a corporation like First American or its henchman, James Dufficy inflicted upon you.
Your resounding success is written in Mommy’s and your book of life according to what you have led your children & grand children to be in the eyes of the world and above all in the heart of God!
You should be most proud to see me in the company of the richest man in the world. He is confidently handing his wallet over to me!
I am proud of who Mommy & you have taught us to be. You have prepared us well enough to meet with the wealthiest man on earth. At the same time we know how to remain focused on the greatest wealth of all – The faith of our fathers and our heavenly eternal rewards!
From heaven, may Mommy continue to smile on us all on earth and may God continue to bless you and all yours abundantly my dearest dad!
James J. Dufficy
I picked up the following comment concerning James J. Dufficy aka Jim Dufficy on the net.
I consider it to be so pertinent that I could not resist publishing it!
"Louie – Remember – When the water level gets too high – Rats jump ship.
Jim Dufficy is a brilliant lawyer. He was privy to most of the horrendous legal issues confronting First American!
From his vantage position, Jim could best weigh all the legal issues plaguing those morons.
IMHO, Jim probably left because he feels that the First American market cap will soon drop below $500M.
Arrogant & greedy as he is, Jim is probably further convinced that under his leadership the market cap of Stewart could very well rise over $3.3 billion.
Filled with blinding ambition, Jim must have secured a significant stock option package from STC. That would explain Jim’s move from FAF to STC.
That’s loyalty for you!"
Jim Dufficy is a brilliant lawyer. He was privy to most of the horrendous legal issues confronting First American!
From his vantage position, Jim could best weigh all the legal issues plaguing those morons.
IMHO, Jim probably left because he feels that the First American market cap will soon drop below $500M.
Arrogant & greedy as he is, Jim is probably further convinced that under his leadership the market cap of Stewart could very well rise over $3.3 billion.
Filled with blinding ambition, Jim must have secured a significant stock option package from STC. That would explain Jim’s move from FAF to STC.
That’s loyalty for you!"
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
James J. Dufficy - First American Corporation - Stewart Title
James J. Dufficy leaves the First American Corporation, a NYSE trading company with a current market cap of $3.3 billion to join Stewart Title Guaranty Company. STG is a fully owned subsidiary of Stewart Title Company. STC’s market cap is presently less that $500 million!
IMHO, while The First American Corporation has grounds to rejoice, Stewart Title should have major cause for concern.
Mr. James J. Dufficy’s business philosophy is that ‘his’ company has no duty vis-à-vis the public to do the ‘correct’ thing.
Note that Mr. James J. Dufficy made that statement on a First American letterhead he addressed to me on March 24th 1998.
The Stewart Title board of directors and Stewart Title clients better be wary of this ‘new blood’ and his dubious policies pervading its ranks! Time will tell!
IMHO, while The First American Corporation has grounds to rejoice, Stewart Title should have major cause for concern.
Mr. James J. Dufficy’s business philosophy is that ‘his’ company has no duty vis-à-vis the public to do the ‘correct’ thing.
Note that Mr. James J. Dufficy made that statement on a First American letterhead he addressed to me on March 24th 1998.
The Stewart Title board of directors and Stewart Title clients better be wary of this ‘new blood’ and his dubious policies pervading its ranks! Time will tell!
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
First American Corporation - Goldman Sachs - Reuters Report
NEW YORK (Reuters) –
“Goldman Sachs forecasts global credit losses stemming from the current market turmoil will reach $1.2 trillion, with Wall Street accounting for nearly 40 percent of the losses.
Of the cumulative losses expected by these leveraged players, bad residential home loans will represent about half…”
No thanks to The First American Corporation for allegedly triggering this financial meltdown according to a number of lawsuits filed.
The suits charge a First American subsidiary with fraud. They accuse The First American Corporation and its subsidiary of irresponsibly delivering inflated appraisals for business reasons of its own!!!
Incidentally, what is First American’s market cap?
Are chances in favor of it being wiped out when and if confirmed guilty?
What a Good Riddance!
No thanks to The First American Corporation for allegedly triggering this financial meltdown according to a number of lawsuits filed.
The suits charge a First American subsidiary with fraud. They accuse The First American Corporation and its subsidiary of irresponsibly delivering inflated appraisals for business reasons of its own!!!
Incidentally, what is First American’s market cap?
Are chances in favor of it being wiped out when and if confirmed guilty?
What a Good Riddance!
Friday, March 21, 2008
The First American Corporation - Forbes Follow Through...
Link: http://www.forbes.com/free_forbes/2008/0407/032a.html?partner=yahoomag
Forbes – Scott Woolley: “Title insurance firms rake in $18 billion a year for a product that is outdated, largely unneeded and protected by law, we wrote. Now New York home buyers are leveling the same charges in an antitrust suit against the insurers, including First American (nyse: FAF) …”
Over the years, The First American Corporation figured that fines imposed against it in multiple States & lawsuits were just part of the cost of doing business in an environment that allowed First American to ruthlessly bleed the public.
However with ever increasing lawsuits alleging fraud, profiteering and racketeering against The First American Corporation, how much more will the First American Corporation be required to set aside in reserves in order to face the mounting multi million dollar claims piling up against it?
Can Attorney Generals from multiple States, the public and the lawyers be forever wrong?
Forbes – Scott Woolley: “Title insurance firms rake in $18 billion a year for a product that is outdated, largely unneeded and protected by law, we wrote. Now New York home buyers are leveling the same charges in an antitrust suit against the insurers, including First American (nyse: FAF) …”
Over the years, The First American Corporation figured that fines imposed against it in multiple States & lawsuits were just part of the cost of doing business in an environment that allowed First American to ruthlessly bleed the public.
However with ever increasing lawsuits alleging fraud, profiteering and racketeering against The First American Corporation, how much more will the First American Corporation be required to set aside in reserves in order to face the mounting multi million dollar claims piling up against it?
Can Attorney Generals from multiple States, the public and the lawyers be forever wrong?
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