It's one thing to read that foreclosures are "riddled with fraud." It's another to hear numbers like 84 percent. These are some seriously shocking numbers. Via Working America:

San Francisco recently carried out an audit on a number of foreclosures. Their findings were released in a report this week that shows just how rampant mortgage fraud has been. From Reuters:

The audit of almost 400 foreclosures in San Francisco found that 84 percent of them appeared to be illegal, according to the study released by the California city on Wednesday.

Similar studies around the country show comparable results. These numbers are astounding. And worse, they’ve essentially gotten away with it.

In many cases during the housing bubble that burst in 2008, original mortgages were repackaged and sold to so many investors that it is now unclear who actually holds the loans. O’Brien could only find the current owners of the mortgages he studied in 287 out of 473 cases.

In the San Francisco study, which studied properties subject to foreclosure sales between January 2009 to November 2011, 45 per cent were sold to entities improperly claiming to be the owner of the loan.

“It is not impossible that there are homeowners who are alleged to have defaulted on loans to which they never fully agreed to and, further, are being foreclosed upon by lenders that might not even own such loans,” the report stated.

This should be unimaginable. Instead it is chilling – the story of a largely unregulated financial industry gone amuck. The consequences to homeowners and their families is devastating. Of course the most chilling aspect of the whole mess is that the banks have never admitted to any wrongdoing. There have been no prosecutions. No banksters are wearing orange prison jumpsuits as a result of their role in defrauding millions of US homeowners.

But wait, wait! I'm sure you'll be reassured to know that Nancy Pelosi wrote a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder, asking him to look into possible violations of federal law.

I'm sure he'll jump right on it. Just as soon as he gets done busting people for medical marijuana...

An animation of an audio recording of James Joyce reading from Ulysses, courtesy of Poetry Animations.

Happy Bloomsday!

Arguably one of the greatest achievements in literature in modern history, Ulysses follows protagonist Leopold Bloom over the course of a single day. June 16, 1904, to be exact.

So every June 16th, from Dublin, Ireland to Spokane, Washington, Joyce lovers gather to celebrate the words of James Joyce. Here in San Francisco, I have some friends who organize a pub crawl, complete with readings from Ulysses.

Can you name another book deserves this kind of commemoration?

Open thread below...

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The Supreme Court of the United States struck a blow against civil liberties and transparency by not one, but two decisions protecting the privacy of those who don't believe in Equal Protection under the 14th Amendment. Ironic, non?

The Supreme Court on Friday intervened for the second time this week in a question of whether those who oppose expanding gay rights face threats and harassment by public disclosure of their views.

The court agreed to decide whether it was unconstitutional for the state of Washington to make public the names of 138,500 voters who signed a petition for a referendum on whether to overturn a state "everything-but-marriage" law. The statute expanded rights for those who entered into domestic partnerships, both homosexual and heterosexual.

The group that championed the referendum said rival organizations planned to make the petitioners' names available on the Internet and subject them to "threats, harassment and reprisals." Those groups denied such intentions, and the state said its public-records law required disclosure of the names as part of the transparency that comes with democratic participation.[..]

But the petition-signers' names have not been disclosed. The Supreme Court blocked the release in October while considering whether the case presented a significant question about political speech. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit said Washington's public-records law did not violate constitutional protections.[..]

The court earlier this week ruled 5 to 4 that a federal judge presiding over a trial in San Francisco contesting California's voter-approved ban on same-sex marriage may not transmit video of the proceedings to other courthouses. Proponents of Proposition 8 asked the court to act, warning of "harassment, economic reprisal, threat and even physical violence" against witnesses in the case if the video were widely distributed.

The conservative Christian group that started the petition drive in Washington is represented by James Bopp Jr., who has frequently challenged campaign finance laws before the Supreme Court. He told the justices in court papers the issue of whether confidentiality should be protected "is arising with great frequency across the country, as changes in technology have made it possible for individuals and groups seeking to prevent public debate from occurring to obtain the names and contact information of petition signers and post that information online to encourage harassment and intimidation."

Harassment and intimidation? You mean, like tying a homophobe to a fence post and beating him to death? Oh wait, it didn't happen that way, did it? It's not people who believe in equal protection that are advocating violence, you cowards, it's your group.

Continue reading »

Well, maybe not:

The Supreme Court Monday blocked a broadcast of the trial on California's same-sex marriage ban, at least for the first few days.

The federal trial was scheduled to begin Monday in San Francisco. It will consider whether the Proposition 8 gay marriage ban approved by California voters in November 2008 is legal.

The high court on Monday said it will not allow video of the trial to be posted on YouTube.com, even with a delay, until the justices have more time to consider the issue.

It said that Monday's order will be in place at least until Wednesday.

Opponents of the broadcast said they fear witness testimony might be affected if cameras are present. Justice Stephen Breyer said he would have allowed cameras while the court considers the matter.

The San Francisco proceeding is the first federal trial to determine if the U.S. Constitution prohibits states from outlawing same-sex marriage.

The proceedings, which are expected to last two to three weeks, involve a challenge to Proposition 8, the gay marriage ban approved by California voters in November 2008.

Regardless of the outcome, the case is likely to be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, where it ultimately could become a landmark that determines if gay Americans have the right to marry.

The decision sided with proponents of Prop. 8, who claimed that their witnesses would feel a "chilling effect" on their testimony. With all due respect to the Supreme Court, if you feel the presence of cameras in the courtroom for a delayed broadcast on YouTube chills your testimony against gay marriage, maybe that should tell you something about the strength of your argument.

One other important point: California's Attorney General, Jerry Brown, would normally be the one defending the state of California, and therefore, in this case for the continuation of Prop. 8. However, Brown--who is considering another run for Governor--has consistently and repeatedly said that he felt Prop. 8 should be repealed, and refused to represent the State in trial.

** corrected to reflect the decision came from the federal Supreme Court, not the California Supreme Court.

God, I love being a San Franciscan... I can't think of a more appropriate dedication for this administration.

Some presidents get carved into Mt Rushmore; others have airports, motorways, and even entire cities named in their honour. But when George Bush leaves office, his most visible memorial may be a mouldering patch of human effluent.

In November, alongside casting their ballot for the next president, the people of San Francisco will also vote on a measure to rename one of the city's largest sewage works the George W Bush Sewage Plant, to provide a "fitting monument" to the outgoing commander-in-chief's achievements.

Activists from the Presidential Memorial Commission of San Francisco, a mischievously-named group behind the move, will ask supporters to participate in a "synchroni(z)ed flush".

It may sound like a student prank, but the proposal is almost certain to be passed. Democrats usually secure between 70 and 80 per cent of the vote in San Francisco - and in 2006 passed a proposition to impeach Mr Bush and his Vice-President Dick Cheney by a majority of almost two to one.

"In 50 years from now, we want people to see George Bush's name on that plant, and ask each other what went wrong," said Brian McConnell, the Memorial Commission's organi(z)er. "We want them to be reminded of the Iraq war, and his other dramatic mistakes, and this is the perfect way to do it."

Blondie was one of the few bands to break out of the late 70s CBGB's scene into the Top 40. Their 1976 eponymous debut album was a hit in the U.K. and a hit on American college stations and was re-released in 1977 when Chrysalis bought the small indie label that had put it out. Their choice of singles was "Rip Her to Shreds," which was a fave around KUSF, the San Francisco station I was working then. It's also our song tonight:

Thorogood was such a trooper in the 80s, playing constantly in clubs in San Francisco, that I actually thought he lived in the Bay Area. But he's from... Delaware. In the late 70's "Move It On Over" and his cover of "Who Do You Love" were hits on San Francisco radio and we were playing his high energy rootsy blues alongside the Pretenders, Clash, Blondie, Talking Heads, Generation X and (pre-Michael Savage) the Dead Kennedys. Bad to the Bone, his sixth album, came out in 1982. Here's the title track:

at The Aristocrats, here's an excerpt:

Republicans, when confronted with a 'problem' choose several activities from the list below:

ignore it, deny it
borrow a mountain of money for you know, whatever
talk to your prostitute about it
email Wright "goddamn America" youtube
blame it on Dems 'San Francisco values'
capitalize it collateralize it securitize it and sell it to the world
call it al Qaeda in (wherever it is)
cover it with a big flag
pretend you've already solved it in the future

Open thread below...and we've also got the Oregon/Kentucky Primaries Open Thread going at the same time...

No, it's not the latest ranting of Grampa McSame, but a news item my local San Francisco news affiliate carried. The context was a new way to combat the problem of loitering in high crime areas. The answer is a technology that struck me: "The Mosquito." an ultrasonic device that emits a high-pitched noise that only teenagers can hear.

Marketed under the banner "Kids Be Gone," the device emits a high-frequency modulated tone that has been likened to fingernails on a blackboard or a mosquito buzzing in the ear. Because the ability to hear higher frequencies fades with age, the Mosquito affects only people younger than about age 25. Also, according to the makers and various media reports, the sound does not annoy young children or dogs, only people in the 13 to 25 age bracket.[..]

A website focused on the Mosquito — www.kidsbegone.com — says studies have shown the device is safe and does not damage teenagers' hearing. The effective range is about 50 feet, according to the website.

In a sneaky twist, the same technology is available as a cellphone ring tone, alerting teens to calls that teachers, parents and other adults can't hear. The Kids Be Gone website has a link to the high frequency ring tone. In a test at The Courant, a 22-year-old said he could clearly hear the tone, while several staffers over age 25 heard nothing.

The technology rests with little tiny hair perceptors in our ears that usually die off by the age of 25. Although the manufacturers say that no permanent damage is done from The Mosquito, I'm a little wary of such assurances. The technology has been used in the UK and is now the subject of a protest for its indiscriminate use. (YouTube)

Download | play Download | play (h/t Heather)

C&L fan Richard Lewis (I saw him perform here in San Francisco a few weeks back and he actually plugged the site! Thanks, Richard :0)) on last night's Countdown discussing politics today. Richard's book The Other Great Depression is now out on paperback.