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Category: Uncategorized

  • More Lance

    From here; there may be some mitigating circumstances pertaining to a resolution, but that doesn’t change the offense.

    The USPS wanted to sponsor a clean racing team. They put it in all the riders’ contracts that they could not dope. Not only did they dope, but also (it is alleged) the team turned out to be a criminal doping conspiracy run by Armstrong so that he could win races and get rich.

    The Federal Claims Act covers knowingly causing a false statement or record to be made in order to induce the government to pay a false claim – in this case, $30M worth of them. Technically, each of the riders is liable (for treble damages plus civil fines), but of course, Armstrong was the ringleader, and he wound up with all the money.

    Additionally, any favorable publicity the USPS may have reaped at the time of the team’s wins has now been offset by all the negative publicity and abuse heaped on them at the worst possible time.

    That’s the case. Armstrong has apparently offered to pay $5M to settle it. The DOJ believes it can recover a lot more for American taxpayers in court.

    The sermonizing, philosophical conclusions are that bad things come back to haunt you, etc…  Practically, you can see the logic behind “deny, deny, deny.”

  • The Pristorius Case

    There is news every day and for now it is just about bail.  This is a story that promises to be a blockbuster for months to come.

    I remember Oscar Pistorius from the Olympics, especially his interviews.  He and his relay teammates seemed like really nice guys, sort of like Lance Armstrong.

    The man has some serious skeletons in his closet, many having to do with guns (restaurant incident, more licenses), and others having to do with an apparent ego, temper, partying (boat incident) and bullying personality.

    Was it intentional?  For now, and perhaps always, that will be debatable.  Is he guilty?  That is going to be the ongoing question.  If you play with guns…

  • Hanlon’s razor: Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity.  link

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  • The Richard Hauptmann Case (Lindbergh Kidnapping)

    The incredible corruption I have witnessed the last few years (e.g., Jefferson County, Amanda Knox case) has caused me to look at things differently.  Recently I saw the NOVA program on the Lindbergh kidnapping.  It wasn’t great and it didn’t offer anything really new factually, but it spurred me to look into the whole thing.  Call it an American Experience.  From the PBS website:

    Program Description

    In the aftermath of his 1927 solo transatlantic flight, Colonel Charles Augustus Lindbergh–the Lone Eagle–became the most famous human being on earth. And when he and his lovely wife Anne produced an adorable baby son, Charlie, an eager press quickly dubbed him Little Lindy or sometimes just the Eaglet. But on the evening of March 1, 1932 Lucky Lindy’s luck ran out. Bold kidnappers snatched his baby from the family home near Hopewell, New Jersey, while everyone in the house was awake. Negotiations with the kidnappers stretched out for weeks. But Little Charlie never came back. His body was discovered not five miles from Hopewell. Now, NOVA is reopening one of the most intriguing, grisly, and confounding crime mysteries of all time as a team of expert investigators employ state-of-the-art forensic and behavioral science techniques in an effort to determine what really happened to Lindbergh’s baby and why.

    (more…)

  • The L.A. Dorner Situation

    The comments here are amazing, e.g.,

    Cops in general have serious psychological problems, ones that can be do more harm to the public than good. In fact, most cops are in it to boost their ego because they have to prove to themselves that they are not the losers. They are hungry for power and authority. Most of them have no college degree because they cannot compete with the smart ones. So they join “the force” to impose their stupidity on those who are smarter than them, cowardly hiding behind the badge. Most cops are corrupt or corruptible. They’ve committed extortion and other crimes at the blessing of a failed justice system.

    Good photos from the UK.

    Does this look like a grey pick-up truck?

  • 101 Questions for Ted Mink

    The opus on Ted Mink and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s department begins here.  It is a work in progress.

    1. Why did he refuse mediation (a program, which per a link, he supports)?
    2. Why did Scott Taborsky and Mr. Frazier (no first name provided) say “There will be no cards” when they came to my home unannounced and unexpected?
    3. Why did a dispatcher tell me Stagecoach Park is private property?  (I corrected him explained it is a special district, i.e., “instrumentalities of the state.”
    4. Why did Mr. Gibson (no first name provided) call me twice from a caller ID-blocked line, weeks after #3 to say Stagecoach Park is private property, then, it is public property.
    5. Why did Mr. Gibson, referring to Jeffco Planning and Zoning, say “they’re the ones who determine if it (Stagecoach Park) is public or private property.”  (Fri 7/27/12)
    6. Why wasn’t my IA complaint RE J. Swartz ever investigated, reported, and a resolution sought?
    7. Why did J. Swartz say to me:  “Get a life.”
    8. Why did Scott Taborsky call me, on a caller ID-blocked line on 7/4/12 in an extremely disturbing conversation.
    9. Why did the sheriff’s department refuse to investigate Fed Ex truck damage to my driveway?
    10. Why did the sheriff’s department refuse to stop the “Monday volleyball group” from repeated illegal activity at Stagecoach Park and on nearby streets?
    11. Why does the sheriff’s department not respond to anonymous tips and e-mails?  (Why the callback/personal visit policy even for clearly-visible crimes?)
    12. Why did Mr./ Lt. Timothy Sylvester tell I would receive a letter RE my IA complaints and I never did?
    13. Annual reports indicate IA complaints resolved and not resolved; how can a complaint be resolved if the complainant does not approve of/is not satisfied with the “resolution.”
    14. Why was my IA complaint on 10/7/12 not addressed at all (two e-mails and several calls)?
    15. How often are there regular patrols in my neighborhood (“El Pinal”) in Evergreen?
    16. Why did Del Kleinschmidt say there couldn’t be speed limit enforcement because of “ditches” along the roads?

  • Harassment by Ted Mink

    In-person harassment by Ted Mink (deputies coming to my home):

    1. 10/28/12 coming to my home (I wasn’t there).  They said I was there but not answering the door…  They searched my backyard without a warrant (not “exigency”).
    2. 10/29/12 coming to my home with a pre-prepared summons (I called to inquire about the stolen items and was told I would receive a call).  Accusation of criminal trespassing and criminal tampering.  No fence, no letter, no sign, not intent, etc.  They never even spoke with me.
    3. 10/7/12 coming to my home to harass and threaten me; two deputies; would not provide cards.  I said, provide threat (harassment!) in writing; not done.  I sent two e-mails requesting an IA investigation; no response.  I asked to speak with a lieutenant, no response.
    4. Refrigerator refuse incident:  coming to my home and calling; I said NO calls when reporting the crime.  (J. Swartz)
    5. Neighbor chimney light incident:  Coming to my home close to midnight, accusing me of trespassing; letter (fax) to Mink never responded-to.
    6. Street/mailbox incident:  Coming to my home and calling:  threatening charge of second degree criminal tampering.  Right of way, never touched mailbox, driving wrong side of street, etc.  Department refused to perform IA investigation.
    7. Neighbor abused/barking dogs incident:  Two deputies and a “ride along” came to my home;  erroneously accusing:  illegal letter, no covenants, dogs to wear bark collar.
    8. Letter to Renals:  Deputy to my home accusing me of violating USPS regulations.

    Calling/e-mailing:

    1. Call from J. Swartz after leaving anonymous crime report/sending e-mail.  I never provided my name or phone number.
    2. E-mail from sergeant.
    3. e-mail from Klienschmidt
    4. Abandoned vehicle incident:  two calls; sheriff tried to declare public park private property in order to avoid responding.
    5. 10/7/12 incident:  three caller ID blocked calls from Taborsky.
    6. 7/4/12 re repeated Monday volleyball violators at Stagecoach Park.  I said NO calls or visits; call with very disturbing elements:  e.g., threat, meet, “want me to tell you what I think.”

    An e-mail to Ted Mink last year asking that this harassment stop was ignored.  Numerous other e-mails asking about failure to respond to reported crimes were also ignored.

    I have dozens of e-mails and voice-mails as evidence.

    This list will grow as I continue to pour through my notes.

    It is very clear to me that the Jefferson County Sheriff’s department has a policy of threatening and attempting to intimidate citizens who report crimes.  Per Colorado law it is the “duty” for citizens to report crime.

    I strongly believe, at least in my extended case over eight years, this is malice (i.e., not subject to qualified immunity).

    Internal investigations simply are not conducted and reported.  (I believe associated data in the sheriff’s annual report are falsified.)

     

  • Vanguard

    There really isn’t any point in writing this down but I suppose that is what I do.  That is one way I learn about customer satisfaction.

    I had this money market fund at Vanguard that I thought I closed over five years ago.  I transferred what I thought was the balance electronically through a website transaction. Vanguard did not give me the entire balance.  Two days ago I discovered a check for $203 sent by Vanguard on the date of this transaction with additional (dividend) proceeds.  The check says “Please cash this check within six months.”

    So I called, and virtually right away I could tell these were people who I wouldn’t get anywhere with.  The first woman put me on hold and then inexplicably transferred me; the next woman told me the money had been escheated to the state.  She told me to call some other Vanguard department which didn’t answer their phone.  I called the second person’s boss (Chris Lohman, 800/896-7309, x47870) in “Resolution Services”–I probably spoke with him five times that day and got absolutely nowhere.  Oh, and the third woman–someone from the unmanned department called back–she told me to call the state of Oregon; a person at the state of Colorado, where I live, had no record of the escheatment.  Her boss has not returned my call.

    It starts with the bizarre circumstance that this would even happen in the first place.  (This is a company in the business of building large mutual fund accounts.  I have another okay-sized holding there.).  They didn’t give me my money!  Just to be clear, I did not ask for, expect, or want a subsequent check…  Plus, they have held it all this time without paying interest, and did not inform me of it!

    The second story, or for me finding, is the incorrigible nature of Vanguard customer service.  No one would do anything–they are their only to obfuscate and waste time.  They all seem like first level customer service reps with no authority or responsibility.  I called the main Vanguard headquarters line (610/648-6000) and asked for Bill McNabb, the president.  The receptionist asked me a lot of identifying questions and then, without my consent, transferred me to another low-level csr supervisor in North Carolina.  Again, Nada.

    Here’s the thing, Mr. McNabb:  either you take me call, designate someone to take my call, or you have the personnel and management structure to resolve such situations some other way.  Who’s responsibe for my particular problem?  For lack of other input, either Bill McNabb is responsible or no one is responsible.

    I spent an entire day on it and got nowhere.  Mr. Lohman, the manager of resolution services would not even provide me with an e-mail address to write to.  My conclusion is, no responsibility…  broken.  No way I am going through another day of that again.  And my money, and trust, is better placed elsewhere.

     

  • Harassment by Ted Mink

    • I don’t want Ted Mink telling me I violated USPS regulations when I didn’t (actually, I don’t want him impersonating a USPS inspector at all).
    • I don’t want Ted Mink telling me I can’t put landscaping lights in my backyard.
    • I don’t want Ted Mink preventing me from collecting evidence for a trial.
    • I don’t want Ted Mink telling me I can’t put mulch on the right-of-way in front of my home.
    • I don’t want Ted Mink (or his deputies) repeatedly calling me from caller ID-blocked numbers (actually, I don’t want any calls, especially from a local government agency, calling me from caller ID-blocked numbers).
    • I don’t want Ted Mink’s representatives to threaten me.
    • I don’t want Ted Mink’s representatives to insult me.
    • I don’t want Ted Mink telling me there are no covenants in my neighborhood.
    • I don’t want Ted Mink’s deputies banging on my front door at close to midnight threatening me with outrageous, completely inexplicable crimes.
    • When I call to report a crime–that is the only way his department will accept a report–I don’t want Ted Mink’s deputies calling or coming to my home when I say I do not want contact.
    • I do not want Ted Mink’s deputies coming to my home threatening me orally with baseless crime charges.
    • I don’t want Ted Mink’s representatives telling me, and calling me specifically, to say the public park in front of my home is private property.
    • I don’t want Ted Mink’s deputies telling me I cannot light a work area temporarily in my backyard.
    • I don’t want Ted Mink trying to tell me where the property line is with a neighbor.
    • I don’t want Ted Mink to file baseless criminal charges to try and intimidate me.