U.S. Pursues Sweeping Insider-Trading Probe

Power Broker

U.S. Pursues Sweeping Insider-Trading Probe - WSJ.com:

"Federal authorities, capping a three-year investigation, are preparing insider-trading charges that could ensnare consultants, investment bankers, hedge-fund and mutual-fund traders and analysts across the nation, according to people familiar with the matter.

The criminal and civil probes, which authorities say could eclipse the impact on the financial industry of any previous such investigation, are examining whether multiple insider-trading rings reaped illegal profits totaling tens of millions of dollars, the people say. Some charges could be brought before year-end, they say.

The investigations, if they bear fruit, have the potential to expose a culture of pervasive insider trading in U.S. financial markets, including new ways non-public information is passed to traders through experts tied to specific industries or companies, federal authorities say.

Since banking is involved, the sexy banker in Boston story must be related somehow.

One focus of the criminal investigation is examining whether nonpublic information was passed along by independent analysts and consultants who work for companies that provide 'expert network' services to hedge funds and mutual funds. These companies set up meetings and calls with current and former managers from hundreds of companies for traders seeking an investing edge."

You would think that after all that has happened recently, these guys would figure out how to behave.  At least they could learn how to behave in the highly regulated environment where they choose to work.  Without looking at the additional information I can guess that many of the acts that resulted in charges were things no reasonable person would consider "insider trading."  I can also guess that enough of it was true, illegal insider trading.

In general, I still view the US government's enactment and enforcement of 'insider trading' as a sham.  Doing thorough research should not be punished.  Neither should cutting beneficial deals with your fellow business people.


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Slashdot | Real-Time, Detailed Face Tracking On a Nokia N900

Slashdot | Real-Time, Detailed Face Tracking On a Nokia N900:

'Researchers at the University of Manchester this week revealed a detailed face tracker that runs in real-time on the Nokia N900 mobile phone. Unlike existing mobile face trackers (video) that give an approximate position and scale of the face, Manchester's embedded Active Appearance Model accurately tracks a number of landmarks on and around the face such as the eyes, nose, mouth and jawline. The extra level of detail that this provides potentially indicates who the user is, where they are looking and how they are feeling. The face tracker was developed as part of a face- and voice-verification system for controlling access to mobile internet applications such as e-mail, social networking and on-line banking.'

In both Suki book series, voyeur cams have some capability of tracking individuals. It is a bigger factor for Suki in the Suki With A Twist series.


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Order the paperback edition of Suki V: The Collection
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Man Wearing Burqa Robs Md. Bank | WUSA9.com | Washington, DC |

Updated at the bottom.
Man Wearing Burqa Robs Md. Bank | WUSA9.com | Washington, DC |:

SILVER SPRING, Md. (WUSA) - Detectives from the Montgomery County Police Major Crimes Division, Robbery Section and the Federal Bureau of Investigation are investigating an armed bank robbery that occurred Tuesday afternoon in the Briggs Chaney area of Silver Spring.

Police said the robber was wearing a long black burqa, blue jeans, and tan boots. He entered the bank, displayed a gun, and demanded cash.

. . .

Anyone who has information about this bank robbery and/or the suspect involved is asked to call the robbery section at (240) 773-5100.

Those who wish to remain anonymous may call Crime Solvers of Montgomery County, toll-free, at (866) 411-TIPS (8477). Crime Solvers will pay a cash reward of up to $1,000 for information provided to them that leads to an arrest and/or indictment for this felony crime."

Note: The initial report does not give the name of the bank.


Maybe he can be the first customer at the proposed Ground Zero gay bar, right next to the proposed Mosque? (link to announcement)


Update: Interesting additional incidents. This is not a new technique:

Burqa-Wearing Bandit Baffles Detectives Oct. 18, 2007

Authorities in North Carolina don't know whether they are looking for a man or a woman in the search for a burqa-wearing bandit who walked into a bank Tuesday and pointed a gun at a teller before exiting with a bag full of money.

Burka-wearing gunmen raid French bank 08 Feb 2010

Employees let the pair through the security double doors of the banking branch of a post office, believing them to be Muslim women. But once inside, the men flipped back their head coverings and pulled out a gun, officials said.

They seized 4,500 euros (£4,000) in cash, according to staff at the branch in Athis Mons, just south of Paris, and made their getaway.

Gunman disguised in burka and sunglasses robs cash courier May 06, 2010

A gunman dressed in a head-to-toe black burqa and sunglasses robbed a cash courier in a shopping centre car park.The courier had just withdrawn a large amount of money from a bank yesterday when he spotted two men following him, Australian police said.

Interesting article by Amy Alkon that leads right back to the Ground Zero Gay Bar. It is about how gays are treated under Islamic law.


Obligatory tie in: A theme throughout both Suki series is voyeur cameras everyplace tracking people of interest wherever they go. In 2030's USA there are restrictions on law enforcement  using evidence from them in court, but individuals use them like mad.

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Copyright 2009, 2010, SJE Enterprises, all rights reserved.

Barney Frank demands $1 Ferry Discount

Barney Frank, James Ready - NYPOST.com:

"Massachusetts Congressman Barney Frank caused a scene when he demanded a $1 senior discount on his ferry fare to Fire Island's popular gay haunt, The Pines, last Friday."

Suki Series BackgroundSuki Series TechOrder the paperback edition of Suki V: The CollectionBrowse the series on Google: Suki I, Suki II, Suki III, Suki IV, Suki VFan Fiction: John and Suki: Vacation Fun

John and Suki's news and comment area, from a Libertarian perspective.
Copyright 2009, 2010, SJE Enterprises, all rights reserved.