wallstreetlosses.blogspot.com
www.wallstreetlosses.blogspot.com
I have been watching very carefully the economic downturn and the bailouts. What has happened to the regular investor who has lost thousands if not millions? Who is bailing them out.
A very interesting blogspot is out there and I will be spotlighting it from time to time. It is:
www.wallstreetlosses.blogspot.com. I encourage anyone who has lost their retirement or their life savings to visit the blog run by an experienced and anonymous stockbroker.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Thursday, February 26, 2009
El Radio program tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. on 104.9 FM (Tejano)
Homer Villarreal, founder of El Defenzor will be radio tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. on 104.9 FM. The show is know as "Defenzor Radio." The Defenzor will be covering the Corpus Chriti city elections and the issue of Memorial Hospital re: how some health specialists and staff treat many a poor person that need medical services.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
HOMER VILLARREAL (EL DEFENZOR) HAS BEEN INVITED TO APPEAR ON RADIO 1440 KEYS TO PROMOTE IT'S UPCOMING EDITION OF EL DEFENZOR
Our upcoming edition of El Defenzor newspaper will analyze both the mayor and city council races. Homero (Homer) Villarreal, founder of the newspaper that has operated for almost 14 years, will more than likely appear next week on the KEYS MORNING SHOW hosted by Bob Jones.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Bruce Holstien Respondd to El Defenzor ...
On Mon, Feb 23, 2009 at 12:33 PM, Holstien, Bruce wrote:
Dear Mr. Villarreal,
Thank you for providing CHRISTUS Spohn with an opportunity to respond to your inquiry. I have forwarded your inquiry to Estela Chapa, Vice President for CHRISTUS Spohn Hospital Corpus Christi – Memorial.
I appreciate your contact and have asked Mrs. Chapa to respond to your inquiry promptly.
Sincerely,
Bruce Holstien
=================================================
On Mon, Feb 23, 2009 at 4:58 PM, Chapa, Estela wrote:
Mr. Villarreal:
Thank you for the opportunity to respond to your recent inquiry, unfortunately, we are unable to discuss the care provided to any particular patient; as such a discussion would violate federal law.
The federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act ("HIPAA") prohibits health care providers from discussing the care provided to patients with third parties, including the media. We value the privacy of our patients, and we are not in a position to explain what care was rendered or the circumstances under which it occurred.
CHRISTUS Spohn takes seriously the duties imposed on all hospitals under Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act ("EMTALA"). Patients that present to our emergency room are provided with an appropriate medical screening examination and appropriate medical care under EMTALA.
As you are aware, CHRISTUS Spohn Health System has a rich and enduring tradition of providing care to all. We provide care in our emergency room to any patient suffering from an emergency medical condition regardless of age, race, sex, sexual orientation or the patient's ability to pay. Last year, we provided $54 million in charity care and community benefits to patients in South Texas. Not only is this commitment to our neighbors and community consistent with EMTALA but also the mission statement of CHRISTUS Spohn Health System.
Thank you for the opportunity to respond to your inquires.
Sincerely,
Estela Chapa, FACHE
Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
CHRISTUS Spohn Health System
Dear Mr. Villarreal,
Thank you for providing CHRISTUS Spohn with an opportunity to respond to your inquiry. I have forwarded your inquiry to Estela Chapa, Vice President for CHRISTUS Spohn Hospital Corpus Christi – Memorial.
I appreciate your contact and have asked Mrs. Chapa to respond to your inquiry promptly.
Sincerely,
Bruce Holstien
=================================================
On Mon, Feb 23, 2009 at 4:58 PM, Chapa, Estela
Mr. Villarreal:
Thank you for the opportunity to respond to your recent inquiry, unfortunately, we are unable to discuss the care provided to any particular patient; as such a discussion would violate federal law.
The federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act ("HIPAA") prohibits health care providers from discussing the care provided to patients with third parties, including the media. We value the privacy of our patients, and we are not in a position to explain what care was rendered or the circumstances under which it occurred.
CHRISTUS Spohn takes seriously the duties imposed on all hospitals under Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act ("EMTALA"). Patients that present to our emergency room are provided with an appropriate medical screening examination and appropriate medical care under EMTALA.
As you are aware, CHRISTUS Spohn Health System has a rich and enduring tradition of providing care to all. We provide care in our emergency room to any patient suffering from an emergency medical condition regardless of age, race, sex, sexual orientation or the patient's ability to pay. Last year, we provided $54 million in charity care and community benefits to patients in South Texas. Not only is this commitment to our neighbors and community consistent with EMTALA but also the mission statement of CHRISTUS Spohn Health System.
Thank you for the opportunity to respond to your inquires.
Sincerely,
Estela Chapa, FACHE
Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
CHRISTUS Spohn Health System
Corpus Christi Mayoral Candidate Linked To Personal Agenda Of The "Big Boys"!!!
Corpus Christi, Texas – Many key “Big Boys” (associated as being part of the core of the “Municipal Ruling Class” and who seemed to be the influential members of the Corpus Christi Regional Economic Development Board) are turning against Mayor Henry Garrett day by day, many independent political observers are alerting. They are aligning with a bitter candidate -- Joe Adame – that has “an axe to grind with the incumbent mayor” (one insider told El Defenzor).
The big questions are now circulating -- “Why do they have more confidence in mayoral candidate Adame?” and “Is Adame the guardian of their lynch-pin?”
“Joe Adame is the former President of the EDC (or Corpus Christi Regional Economic Development Corporation). He is more likely to vote in their interests. The ‘Big Boys’ did not want to see Angel Escobar as the city manager – but Mayor Garrett did for pragmatic reasons.
There are other issues. Adame himself has a few corporate properties in the downtown area (which fall under the TIFF). Recently one of the old buildings he (and Joe Adame and Associates) asked a permit for was turned down by the city council in that it was determined by authorized city officials that some of the materials that were used (e.g., siding) were of inferior quality and thus did not meet the code,” an inside source within the city told El Defenzor. “Adame, in my interpretations of things, when he was turned down acted like a wild beast tangled in a net – a tantrum that gave him the courage to enroll and run for the top seat in the city… Did you know that if Adame were to be elected mayor, he cannot vote or participate in the discussion off many downtown issues because he owns properties in the TIFF? Garrett has no vested interest in that parcel of land.”
According to a cluster of important sources, Adame after the above incident decided to throw in his hat in the the mayoral race. Recently, Adame haughtily told the editor of El Defenzor: “I went and told Henry (Garrett) personally I would be running against him.” The aforementioned meeting took place at the HEB Store located on Violet Road in the Annaville area. About two weeks, ago, he braggingly hinted that the Whataburger “high-ups” were going to back him up and were prepared to criticize the tenure of Mayor Garrett.
Well it can of no surprise to El Defenzor (last week) when Whataburger CEO -- Tom Dobson – attended a fundraiser at Gaslight Square in support of Adame. Dobson said Whataburger’s latest declaration that it is relocating headquarters to San Antonio came after failed discussions with Garrett and other officials to work out some issues via an incentive plan. Dobson was quoted in a local newspaper as saying: “Garrett saying, ‘We are doing everything we can.’ ”
“There seems to be a deep reason that has not been explicitly voiced,” Mayor Garrett detailed. “Is is on record that the city closed the street by Whataburger’s headquarters at their request (i.e., the company’s) … They were approached to fill out the required forms for incentives, incentives that I believe the city was willing to support them but they just did not.”
Bush Escobedo, a local businessman, said: “It appears that Dobson is using the issue to manipulate votes Adame’s way. Hey, this is the nature of politics. Blame someone else for exiting the town.”
A city official that wanted to remain anonymous provided other insight: “Whataburger made an official announcement in November, citing their reasons for leaving -- “cost-efficient office space for our expanding headquarters staff, ease of travel to the 10 states where we currently do business, a skilled technology work force to build our systems for the future and protects us from the impact of hurricanes.”
The genuineness of this subject matter seems to hint that Dobson is tied in with a powerful political clique that was mentioned at the commencement of this article. Dobson has gone as far as to disparate the municipal leader publically calling Mayor Garret – “Uncle Henry … who has not been an inspiring leader.” Joe Adame – this candidate represents is weak and malleable to Dobson’s interests and vision. Dobson has gone as far as to allow Adame’s political signs to be placed at some of the businesses he controls.
While Adame seems to be catering to an elite of powerful interests groups, Mayor Henry Garrett is trying to work with the entire community – not just his immediate supporters. “He wants to be a mayor in the most representative and broadest sense of the word,” David Noyola, a local activist and former City Councilman and former City Commissioner said.
On the surface, Adame seems to be projecting that he is trying to “reach very young people, but he is really trying to be a voice of an insatiable business elite. “I believe Mayor Henry Garrett stepped on some of the toes of persons who are affiliated with the EDC board (i.e., the Corpus Christi Regional Economic Development Corporation) by providing his vote to appoint Angel Escobar as City Manager.
Mayor Garrett did not want to significantly underline the issue but did state: “I have had some persons who are very angry with me. But I felt that by appointing Angel Escobar – whom I have known for a longtime and who very efficient and professional – it would be a benefit to the city overall. … Angel (Escobar) since then has implemented a participatory form of decision-making that allows staff on many occasions to come up with ideas and solutions to problems in specific areas being faced by city management. Some staff can say: ‘This is one of the ideas I helped put in place.’”
The big questions are now circulating -- “Why do they have more confidence in mayoral candidate Adame?” and “Is Adame the guardian of their lynch-pin?”
“Joe Adame is the former President of the EDC (or Corpus Christi Regional Economic Development Corporation). He is more likely to vote in their interests. The ‘Big Boys’ did not want to see Angel Escobar as the city manager – but Mayor Garrett did for pragmatic reasons.
There are other issues. Adame himself has a few corporate properties in the downtown area (which fall under the TIFF). Recently one of the old buildings he (and Joe Adame and Associates) asked a permit for was turned down by the city council in that it was determined by authorized city officials that some of the materials that were used (e.g., siding) were of inferior quality and thus did not meet the code,” an inside source within the city told El Defenzor. “Adame, in my interpretations of things, when he was turned down acted like a wild beast tangled in a net – a tantrum that gave him the courage to enroll and run for the top seat in the city… Did you know that if Adame were to be elected mayor, he cannot vote or participate in the discussion off many downtown issues because he owns properties in the TIFF? Garrett has no vested interest in that parcel of land.”
According to a cluster of important sources, Adame after the above incident decided to throw in his hat in the the mayoral race. Recently, Adame haughtily told the editor of El Defenzor: “I went and told Henry (Garrett) personally I would be running against him.” The aforementioned meeting took place at the HEB Store located on Violet Road in the Annaville area. About two weeks, ago, he braggingly hinted that the Whataburger “high-ups” were going to back him up and were prepared to criticize the tenure of Mayor Garrett.
Well it can of no surprise to El Defenzor (last week) when Whataburger CEO -- Tom Dobson – attended a fundraiser at Gaslight Square in support of Adame. Dobson said Whataburger’s latest declaration that it is relocating headquarters to San Antonio came after failed discussions with Garrett and other officials to work out some issues via an incentive plan. Dobson was quoted in a local newspaper as saying: “Garrett saying, ‘We are doing everything we can.’ ”
“There seems to be a deep reason that has not been explicitly voiced,” Mayor Garrett detailed. “Is is on record that the city closed the street by Whataburger’s headquarters at their request (i.e., the company’s) … They were approached to fill out the required forms for incentives, incentives that I believe the city was willing to support them but they just did not.”
Bush Escobedo, a local businessman, said: “It appears that Dobson is using the issue to manipulate votes Adame’s way. Hey, this is the nature of politics. Blame someone else for exiting the town.”
A city official that wanted to remain anonymous provided other insight: “Whataburger made an official announcement in November, citing their reasons for leaving -- “cost-efficient office space for our expanding headquarters staff, ease of travel to the 10 states where we currently do business, a skilled technology work force to build our systems for the future and protects us from the impact of hurricanes.”
The genuineness of this subject matter seems to hint that Dobson is tied in with a powerful political clique that was mentioned at the commencement of this article. Dobson has gone as far as to disparate the municipal leader publically calling Mayor Garret – “Uncle Henry … who has not been an inspiring leader.” Joe Adame – this candidate represents is weak and malleable to Dobson’s interests and vision. Dobson has gone as far as to allow Adame’s political signs to be placed at some of the businesses he controls.
While Adame seems to be catering to an elite of powerful interests groups, Mayor Henry Garrett is trying to work with the entire community – not just his immediate supporters. “He wants to be a mayor in the most representative and broadest sense of the word,” David Noyola, a local activist and former City Councilman and former City Commissioner said.
On the surface, Adame seems to be projecting that he is trying to “reach very young people, but he is really trying to be a voice of an insatiable business elite. “I believe Mayor Henry Garrett stepped on some of the toes of persons who are affiliated with the EDC board (i.e., the Corpus Christi Regional Economic Development Corporation) by providing his vote to appoint Angel Escobar as City Manager.
Mayor Garrett did not want to significantly underline the issue but did state: “I have had some persons who are very angry with me. But I felt that by appointing Angel Escobar – whom I have known for a longtime and who very efficient and professional – it would be a benefit to the city overall. … Angel (Escobar) since then has implemented a participatory form of decision-making that allows staff on many occasions to come up with ideas and solutions to problems in specific areas being faced by city management. Some staff can say: ‘This is one of the ideas I helped put in place.’”
HOMERO VILLARREAL IS BACK ON 104.9 RADIO AT 1PM weekly
keep your dial tuned to 104.9.I will try to appear this Friday with Mr. Carlos Lopez help on KTMV and Magic 104.9.
Relax Joseph I am not coming after you. :-). You have an excellent radio program. We are all trying to educate the public and get to the truth out- we just sometimes differ in opinion. I am more concerned with the unfair treatment of the poor and my focus will be on that. Even our own commissioner Oscar Ortiz was treated badly at memorial. It must stop! The way we treat the indigent of South Texas and the hispanic at Memorial Hospital ER: THERE IS NO EXCUSE. If they treat a man like GEorge Sanchez with the congressman's ear and his own private attorney horribly and they do the same to Oscar Ortiz what do the rest of us expect in that ER. It's a death sentence if we do not change the racism and the way they treat the Mexicano there! Rise up brothers! The Congressman needs to do something about this.
I also want to explore the Celis issues. I am not for one side or the other but merely seeing the phenomenon unravel. CNN should get ahold of this. Makes for a great movie as well. Who will play Mauricio: Antonio Banderas, Luis Guzman? Input please! Tony Canales: Ricardo Montalban? Carlos Valdez: James Edward Olmos? See you soon on the airwaves.
Seriously, both of these issues also tie in with the elections coming up. We will explore justice and fair treatment in and out of the courtroom. Defenzor TV is coming soon as well.
Perhaps even Bob Jones will have me on some time again.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
SAN ANTONIO PAPER'S JOHN MCCORMICK HAS NOTHING TO SAY ON CELIS
Now that Celis got off for the most part it is interesting that McCormick is not being fed any information. Strange....I guess when the shoe is on the other foot and the trial lawyers lick their wounds...Think about it brothers and sisters, not one word on the trial. Very strange...commentary please
CHRISTUS SPOHN MEMORIAL REFUSING TO RESPOND! ARROGANCE OR CULPABILITY?
Christus Spohn Memorial refuses to respond or comment to El Defenzor. No matter. We will proceed to call them again and assemble the group of concerned citizens. We all are tired of the arrogance and Spohn controlling all of the healthcare in South Texas as a monopoly. Report them to Medicare if needed! I leave to the citizens of South Texas! Our voice will be heard. Send that to the fancy lawyers and adminstrators. Fuera! Fuera! Fuera! Libertad! Libertad!
WILL MAURICIO WALK AWAY ON PROBATION OR IS THERE ANOTHER AX READY TO FALL. KAELIN'S PICTURES SAYS: MAURICIO, I GOT THREE HOTS AND A COT, BOY!
RAINMAKER BEATS CAREERMAKER?
Tony pulling this out of the fire for Mauricio ...is this sending a message that the jury was turned off by this case? Did the jury see that Mauricio was being railroaded or did they not buy into the D.A.'s theories.? Either way, some whisper that Carlos has egg on his face. All were abuzz when Tony stamped all over Carlos' exhibits!! The indignation that Tony showed some thought was a bit over the top but he did win the war of public perception. Caller Times did take Tony's side. The story in the Sunday paper spun this as a case of first impression and there is a good shot for appeal. How DID perceptions change when the law was so clear? No one had the chuzpah to do what Mauricio did and establish law firms. Carlos Valdez if he wanted to win should have come out and said: THIS GUY IS A RUNNER. He should have said, THIS GUY IS A RUNNER! I WILL SAY IT AGAIN!. What is solicitation: getting your foot in the door of a grieving family?. But then again we all know of others who do just that on a daily basis without redemption. But, they don't put their name up on the wall. What to do? Round one for Tony. Mauricio smirking to the cameras as he won this round. Will they go after money laundering? Will they look to bigger fish to fry like the Club who dealt with him. Text book prosecution: Where were the multiple defendants to get the desired effect of turning on each other. Why were'nt any of the CGT members ever indicted? Food for thought. Hada? Pineda? Why was Pineda in the courtroom? Mr. Church guy with the canary yellow porshe?????
Will Mauricio if sentenced to six months subject to probation be able to stay clear of danger and trouble in Kaelin's jail? Mucho Cuidado Mauricio! Alalva!
Is Carlos Valdez taking the whips and scorns of time and the proud man (Tony C's) contumely as Shakespeare would say until Round 2 when he brings out heavy artillery and the checks or will he take it on the chin and move on? Will the A.G. lick its wounds and then the might of Abbott (ironsides) come back with vengeance and fury like an archangel?
Tony pulling this out of the fire for Mauricio ...is this sending a message that the jury was turned off by this case? Did the jury see that Mauricio was being railroaded or did they not buy into the D.A.'s theories.? Either way, some whisper that Carlos has egg on his face. All were abuzz when Tony stamped all over Carlos' exhibits!! The indignation that Tony showed some thought was a bit over the top but he did win the war of public perception. Caller Times did take Tony's side. The story in the Sunday paper spun this as a case of first impression and there is a good shot for appeal. How DID perceptions change when the law was so clear? No one had the chuzpah to do what Mauricio did and establish law firms. Carlos Valdez if he wanted to win should have come out and said: THIS GUY IS A RUNNER. He should have said, THIS GUY IS A RUNNER! I WILL SAY IT AGAIN!. What is solicitation: getting your foot in the door of a grieving family?. But then again we all know of others who do just that on a daily basis without redemption. But, they don't put their name up on the wall. What to do? Round one for Tony. Mauricio smirking to the cameras as he won this round. Will they go after money laundering? Will they look to bigger fish to fry like the Club who dealt with him. Text book prosecution: Where were the multiple defendants to get the desired effect of turning on each other. Why were'nt any of the CGT members ever indicted? Food for thought. Hada? Pineda? Why was Pineda in the courtroom? Mr. Church guy with the canary yellow porshe?????
Will Mauricio if sentenced to six months subject to probation be able to stay clear of danger and trouble in Kaelin's jail? Mucho Cuidado Mauricio! Alalva!
Is Carlos Valdez taking the whips and scorns of time and the proud man (Tony C's) contumely as Shakespeare would say until Round 2 when he brings out heavy artillery and the checks or will he take it on the chin and move on? Will the A.G. lick its wounds and then the might of Abbott (ironsides) come back with vengeance and fury like an archangel?
Saturday, February 21, 2009
MAURICIO CELIS GETS PROBATION -- BUT FACES OTHER CHARGES: ARE INDULGENCES FOR SALE AGAIN? SHOULD MARTIN LUTHER NAIL REFORMATION DOCUMENTS UP AGAIN
CORPUS CHRISTI — Mauricio Celis (despite the fact that he was found guilty of 18 of 24 counts – associated with impersonating a lawyers) will not face jail time, but only ten years of probation and a $10,000 fine.
Our regional Catholic Bishop Edmond Carmony spoke on Celis’ behalf (addressing a previously unbending jury of mostly Hispanics) saying he (Celis) had engaged in humanitarian gestures, and especially in financially supporting (with $100,000) their new Catholic High School named after the late Pope John Paul II.
On Thursday, before the sentencing phase, the mentioned jury had convicted Celis on fourteen of twenty-two charges. However, the “Catholic Bishop-Variable” on Friday, many analysts are postulating seemed to have aided to “soften hearts” before deciding sentencing. There were other external variables at play that sipped into both the hearts and minds of the decision-makers of the final sentencing. Many leaders – from leaders of the American GI Forum to LULAC activists and Mexican/Tejano-oriented media – had stood on Celis’ corner in that they felt there was both a racially charged and Republican variable at play against a “successful Hispanic” (who had been tolerated for the longest time until he – Celis – decided to contribute funds to regional Democratic Party candidates).
“I feel the Bishop’s motives were more selfish. It left a bitter taste in the courthouse that ‘the rich’ should be tried via a different standard if they engage in ‘humanitarian and generous gestures.’ I also presuppose that Celis had some of his attorney friends (sizeable contributor to the ‘collection basket’ that called the Bishop to do some trouble-shooting,” a local lawyer told this publication. “The Bishop preached to a jury of mostly Catholic jury members – adding to the flurry of sudden outrage in many a circle of the Hispanic community in the area that Celis had become a target of convenience during the last major political campaign… both then-State Representative Juan Garcia and State Representative Abel Herrero were made targets by Republicans in that they were associated with Celis’ hefty contributions.”
When all was said Friday, the jury’s verdict was that Celis be sentenced to a decade behind closed doors; but surprisingly added that the sentence be incised by comparative interpretation and Celis be allowed to serve only a 10-year probation term and face a $10,000 fine.
Attorney Tony Canales has affirmed that he will proceed with an appeal for Celis’ conviction in the next week or so. Canales said the sentencing was “fair” – Valdez, who had insisted on the maximum sentence for each of the counts, felt he did his part as a prosecutor.
Several emails have been sent to thedefenzor@gmail.com astonished that how could a Catholic Bishop ignore all of the sexual cavorting and licentious activities linked with Mauricio Celis. “It is quite something. Celis was portrayed as virtually LIVING in topless bars. Will the Bishop stand up for a common guy someday? Hell no! Why did the retired-Catholic Bishop Rene Gracida, on the other side of the table, in the last election insisted that 'Catholic not support Juan Garcia and Abel Herrero.' The collection plate is major determinant.”
According to a local lawyer, “Probation, however, is not an absolute conviction. Celis was convicted of fourteen felonies, but his sentence was really watered down upon the circumstances outlined by the State.” “Will Celis successfully complete his probation is another matter. At this point, before any appeal has been officially filed, he is considered a 'convicted felon.' If his conviction is overturned it might be wiped out entirely at a later date… There is no doubt that Republicans will use this to win election in the next cycle ... In addition, what bothered me the most is that the Bishop implied that there seem to be ‘indulgences’ that can be bought with money – an argument made by Martin Luther long ago.”
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