Legal Search Firms

Is it common for French lawyers to move from one law firm to another before getting their CAPA? I am a legal recruiter in the US. I have a resume of an attorney who appears to have spent short periods of time with different law firms the same year he received his CAPA. Is that normal?

Need Advice from lawyer or recruiters: I want to work with a lawyer....? I need some tips and advice from a lawyer or someone that had experience, If i have no legal experience what whould be my first steps? what skills need to stand out? or what impresses them the most..? any advise will help

Can an Illegal who is mother to a US citizen get citizenship without leaving the country This is complicated, and made me change my mind about Immigration Amnesty laws. An acquaintance of mine was born and raised in America, so she thought, but when she was 17 about to graduate and asked her parents about her social to get a job, they dropped a bomb on her. That she was brought over here at age three. Well 6 years later she is still here, and has 2 year old little girl with an American, who doesn't want to be a dad and skipped state. She knows NOTHING of Mexico and is scared to go there especially with no family there (she has legal uncles and aunts here) and now she has a little girl to worry about. Is there anyway that anyone knows of for her to work on her citizenship whithout being deported. I have read that many get into the military, illegally and gain a greencard/visa. Can anyone provide us with a recruiter that is sympathetic towards this cause, or any lawyers who work for free on cases like these. I know they are out there, where does she turn with no money or family thats willing to help? And for the wise rude comments that I am sure I will get, have a heart could you imagine how you would feel in her situation, she isn't mexican she was raised American, and Lord knows what will happen to her in Mexico talking like a preppy white girl..... and much less her daughter. Its her parents that are the culprits here. And God Bless her for wanting to join the military just to become the American that she thought she was all along! At least she won't take being an American for granted like the rest of us, if she can get though this! Thank you! NO she is not 17 she is 25 now....with a 2 year old.. but wen she found out she was illegal she was a senior in highschool and being raised that way she never realized the implications of her situation, Now that she cant get a job to support her child its hitting her how serious this is. She knows nothing of mexico. From what she knows, because her parents wont give her any info on the situation, her mother had a Visa at the time. her father jumped the boarder, she has no paperwork, nothing so I don't even know if she would be considered a citizen of Mexico since she never existed over there either. But her extended family are all legal citizens. Just not her parents. And she does not know if her mother had a legal visa at the time. Its a "we don't talk about that" issue. And I am a PROUD military wife, daughter and granddaughter! And I told you this recent situation had changed my view point on immigration laws totaly, there are certain circumstances, and I see that now. And futhermore, if a person, immigrant or not, really wants to join the Military and willing to DIE for this country then they should be able to. ( I have an honorable peruvian friend going on year 7 former Navy now army) Bless them, they are far more patriotic and trustworthy than the MILLIONS of welfare scamers out there, immigrant and native american wise. Talk about patriotism, we are all immigrants to an extent.... our ancestors stole this land and only 1/3 of us fought to keep it, those immigrants that fought, are called our founding fathers! So please I am ok with the bad news we realize this is a tough situation, but like I said wise cracks do nothing more than show your level of maturity, and ability to FOLLOW DIRECTIONS! Thank you to everyone else! :-)

this is my legal status problem.! =( pls help me? i need people who will answer according to the law and not racism, to be against me and with me at the same time.! i need help and not comments.... my mom brought me here when i was 10 i finished middle school and now im a sophmore.! I am undocumentaded immigrant according to the law until i turn 18.5 i will be illegal.! i have good grades 3.5 GPA and i wish i could join the U.S. NAVY after highschool, but there is no way to legalize a illegal immigrant not even marriage, the rules changed alot.! now i am 16 right now and i have a very powerful rich grandpa from mexico from my dads side who has alot of money in mexico but wont give a single penny to my dad or my mom.! but me and my sister are his only grandchilds.! he said he wants to help me join the military! i wanna do this and my mom and dad agreed and my granpa.! to have my granpa adopt me i think thats what they call it. (so that my granpa can be my tutor) this summer and go back to mexico.! from over there my grandpa will sign me up for a student visa and then i can come back legally with an auntie (she lives in deming nm) which she IS legal here actually i think she was born here.! and then i only will have one more year of highschool, then i graduate and the navy recruiter that i spoke to he said he can enlist me in the navy with a student visa.! What do you think of this risky plan.? what are the risks.? what kind of laws am i violating by doing this.? (im confused) should i speak to a lawyer.? both from mexico and united states.? thank you, i appreciate all answers.! i just wanna make it right.!!! Now that my parents brought me here this way :( and i wanna join the navy so freaking bad.! yeah.! but he told me since the navy pays for my collegue then its like if i am going to a collegue or somethin like that but to do that you gota join the navy, then thats when they come in and petition me for a residency.! :) i am very exited, 3 months ago.! i thought my life was over and i wasnt gonna be anybody in life because i wouldnt goto collegue or go back to mexico cause mexico its a fuuuucccked up country. but now :) im happy i just need some answers on what you guys think and what kind of laws am i breaking by being in here before and in school then going back and coming in again. (confused)

What can a solo lawyer in MA expect from joining the National Guard? (Rank, pay, deployment, work, OCS time)? I am a solo employment / business lawyer in Massachusetts and have been considering the National Guard for some time. I would love to hear from recruiters and current JAG officers or other officers who are lawyers in civilian life about what I can expect. In particular, I am wondering about: the length of commitment; the total continuous time spent in training / OCS (away from my business); deploy-ability options; initial rank and pay; bonuses and benefits; the work itself (one weekend a month isn't much time for legal work); whether a lawyer can enter with the same rank in a non-legal officer position; and anything else that I should know (or ask) before signing up. Thank you!

Have you ever heard of a recruit someone that is fixing to apply to officer school bring their lawyer with? them at the recruiting office to make sure that they know their legal rights before they applied to officer school? What would the recruiter think if someone done this?

trying to get in the army but i have legal problems...? ok so i'm trying to enlist in the army been talking to my recruiter even went and took the asvab but i do have some obstacles 5 years ago i was charged with debt card abuse (it was the lowest felony they have) ended up on probabtion and the whole charge got dismissed well the actual term my lawyer used is it not being convicted on my record. now 2 years ago i have a dwi that has not been resolved yet so i'm not convicted of it. i know today i'm sure this will all come up...is it worth continuing to try to get in or should i just give it up now?? any help would be appreciated i don't want to waste any more time and get my hopes up i'm dying to go to the army!!

U.S. Navy Law Program, how soon can I start talking to them? I have my Bachelors. I'm signed up for the LSATs. I have a rough idea of the schools I wish to go to for law school (2-3 mains, 2-3 secondarys, 2-3 just-in-cases). From here, if I'm interesting in becoming a Navy lawyer... where do I go? My LSATs won't be till June/Sept with results in July/Oct. Can I go ahead and start the process now of talking to the Navy recruiters who handle the legal program and scholarships? I do have some medical concerns... nothing 100% baring but something I'm sure will need at least a waiver... can I begin the process of having them look into that now? Or will they not deal with me in any part till my LSAT scores are in and/or I'm accepted into a law school. Lastly... the Navy recruiters that handle law applicants, do they do the kind of underhanded things the Enlisted recruiters are sometimes known for? Or they pretty much a differant breed where I can extend them more trust?

Do I have a case for defamation/slander by my employer and coworkers? I recently completed a travel assignment as a nurse. I have since been labeled as not being a team player and arrogant by some coworkers. To my close friends and colleagues I am considered the exact opposite, I am considered a valued member of the team and very good friend and resource. Since I left that assignment I have been unable to obtain employment. Today I was informed by a recruiter of being labled not a team player and arrogant by several colleagues, as the result of recent interviews conducted of my colleagues. Is this a case of defamation/slander? Is it worth involving a lawyer and taking legal action?

I finished my Econ degree with math and poli sci minors-what job options do i have? im willing to go admin.? I just finished my econ degree with math and poli sci majors. My GPA is a 3.34. I can't find jobs in Econ right now...i guess those jobs don't exist anymore. I havent done much accounting. I do know the basics though. My experience in the field are two financial services internships (7 months total) and a legal internship (9 months...i used to want to become a lawyer. I was also a teaching assistant for 5 months (my first ever job when i was in high school). When i try to go in the admin route, the recruiters and temp agencies tell me that since i have no "receptionist" title experience, i won't get any jobs that require two to three years receptionist experience, even though i try to explain to them that a lot of what i did was administrative because i was an intern. I am looking for other admin assistant jobs, but i never get called back for them, despite my experience. I would even be open to a clerical accounting position (like accounts payable or receivable), but even they require two to three years experience as an A/P or A/R. HOw does one get started in the clerical accounting field? Is a degree in accounting necessary even for that? I am proficient in quickbooks and basic A/P and A/R. Is it likely that a fresh undergrad like me with decent degrees won't get hired for even an administrative job in this market? or is it just that the hiring is slow during Christmas? I would appreciate any advice. Thank You.

Navy and Air Force people please answer? I am considering joining the military as an officer, and the Navy and Air Force are my first choices. I have a bachelor's degree (B.A., graduated summa *** laude) and have completed 1 year of law school (in top third of my class by GPA), but I know for sure that I don't want to be a lawyer, so no JAG for me. Unfortunately, I have heard that it is hard to join as an officer in either branch unless you have a technical degree, for something like engineering or nursing. Does anyone know how hard it would be for me to be accepted as an officer candidate in either the Navy or the Air Force? I was thinking the one thing that could help me is that I have the 1 year of law school training, which means I know a good bit about contracts, legal procedure, criminal law, etc. Also, no one needs to tell me to talk to a recruiter. I know to do that already, but I just want to get some unbiased advice before I talk to one(I'm guessing they will be like the enlisted recruiters I talked to in the past).

Dose any one know some one who can help my friend in harassment? my friend is in DEP navy and his ship date is in a couple of days he decided he wanted to go to college and study he told the recruiter he did not want to go and the recruiter told him NO you cant get out or ill have you arrested so he left to mexico and they found the number there and he still told them he wants no part and the recruiter said well you know what you can go fu** your self and i will make shure i screw up you life well anyways can any one help me find a number i can call for a lawyer or help in this he doesn't know what they can do and im not so good in all this legal stuff ?

Would this be a conflict of interest? My brother was trying to get into the military and ran into some legal trouble over the summer from a group he used to hang out with. Because he is working hard at turning his life around and he was really only guilty by association the State's Attorney gave him a break and dismissed the case saying that if he was using the military as just an excuse with no real intentions of going he would pick them back up. He tried all he could but was crushed when the recruiter told him they couldn't take him because they are downscaling and something on his record wouldn't get a waiver. Since then the SA has stepped down and the guy taking over is the lawyer my brother had for his case, can the charges be pick back up with him now the SA or would it be a conflict of interest?

i am an illgeal.! seeking help :(? i asked this q like 10 ago but no answers barely i need people who will answer according to the law and not racism, to be against me and with me at the same time.! i need help and not comments.... my mom brought me here when i was 10 i finished middle school and now im a sophmore.! I am undocumentaded immigrant according to the law until i turn 18.5 i will be illegal.! i have good grades 3.5 GPA and i wish i could join the U.S. NAVY after highschool, but there is no way to legalize a illegal immigrant not even marriage, the rules changed alot.! now i am 16 right now and i have a very powerful rich grandpa from mexico from my dads side who has alot of money in mexico but wont give a single penny to my dad or my mom.! but me and my sister are his only grandchilds.! he said he wants to help me join the military! i wanna do this and my mom and dad agreed and my granpa.! to have my granpa adopt me i think thats what they call it. (so that my granpa can be my tutor) this summer and go back to mexico.! from over there my grandpa will sign me up for a student visa and then i can come back legally with an auntie (she lives in deming nm) which she IS legal here actually i think she was born here.! and then i only will have one more year of highschool, then i graduate and the navy recruiter that i spoke to he said he can enlist me in the navy with a student visa.! What do you think of this risky plan.? what are the risks.? what kind of laws am i violating by doing this.? (im confused) should i speak to a lawyer.? both from mexico and united states.? thank you, i appreciate all answers.! i just wanna make it right.!!! Now that my parents brought me here this way :( and i wanna join the navy so freaking bad.! I don't like Mexico and I wanna join the navy.! My grand pa doesn't give anything to any body not even my dad you gotta earn it somehow!!! all his land he already gave it to the church when he dies

Possible DUI and joining the military (OCS)? I've read through some of the postings on the internet to try and find information as to whether one would be able to join the military with a DUI charge. Here's a situation that Im looking for a bit more clarity on. I was stopped for speeding, and was taken in for DUI over the 4th of July weekend (BAC: .09). I hired a lawyer. I know a DUI on my record reduces my chance at becoming an officer in the Army. However, I am trying to get a heads up as to how a dismissal of the charge, or reduction of the charge such as reckless driving, or any other reduction of the initial offense is looked upon. At the moment, my license is NOT officially suspended, and a hearing date has not been determined yet. I know that I must wait until the pending issue is resolved, but this is a HUGE concern for me because this is not indicative of my behavior at all. Because of my age, (late 30's) I must go through a PT test, AND AN INTERVIEW WITH A BOARD OF OFFICERS TO SEE IF I AM OFFICER MATERIAL. I was told by my recruiter that OCS slots are filled for this fiscal year. The fiscal year would end in October 2010. My legal history: - Rolling through a stop sign - Not paying a subway fare (2 times, did community service) Education: B.A. Work history: Advanced & promoted quickly in almost every position I had...especially as of the past few years Question: 1. Again, how would a reduced charge from a DUI look on my record? 2. During my interview process with the board of officers, I would be asked about this reduced charged (IF I GET A REDUCED CHARGED). Obviously, I tell the truth. How COULD it effect the possibilities of attending OCS? Thank you in advance

Article - Latin America 700 cases child trafficking. What are the Governments doing to protect the Children? The Governments of the World are supposed to protect the children. What makes you think that your children or your children's children won't be the next victim of child sex slavery? *Perilous Times Latin America's secret slave trade* Oliver Balch reports from the triple frontier of Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina, where humans have become the most sought-after contraband. Wednesday December 20, 2006 Guardian Unlimited Sit by the swimming pool of the exclusive Iguazú Jungle hotel and you can watch the "contrabandistas" emerging from the undergrowth. All day, an army of smugglers can be seen passing along the mountainous path that separates Argentina from Brazil. Locals know it as the "pique". It is just one of a dozen or more unofficial crossing points on the so-called triple frontier, the name given to the porous border area where Argentina, Paraguay and Brazil meet. Article continues Everything from fake branded clothing to Class A drugs are ferried back and forth along these clandestine routes. The list of contraband goods now also extends to human beings. The human-trafficking business is estimated to be worth over £10bn a year, making it the world's third most profitable criminal activity after drug-smuggling and gun-running. Many of those trafficked through the triple frontier are destined for the illegal labour market in Brazil or Argentina. The trade in babies for adoption is also widely reported. But a large proportion end up as sex workers. Many end up in brothels across the region, although a high number are destined for the triple frontier's own thriving sex industry. Children are particularly vulnerable to human traffickers. Charities working with at-risk children in the border region estimate that as many as 3,500 young people could be involved. "Many girls are trafficked via the pique. It's all highly organised", explains Marcelina Antunez, director of Luz de Infancia, a children's care centre in the Argentine town of Puerto Iguazú. Driving the trade is the flood of foreign tourists who come to visit the world famous Iguazú waterfalls. Much of the demand for prostitution is casual. Yet the region also attracts a hardened group of sex tourists. The region's reputation for prostitution is not new. In the late 1970s, around 40,000 workers flooded into the triple frontier to help build the colossal Itaipú hydroelectric dam. Around 97% of the new workforce were men. As the dam went up, so too did the demand for paid-for sex. "The triple frontera is the Bangkok of Latin America...after the tsunami, many sex tourists started coming here instead of Asia," notes Cynthia Bendlin, director of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) for the triple frontier area. IOM runs a number of awareness programmes to highlight the dangers of the trafficking trade. But it is an uphill struggle. Many of the children most at risk either live on the street or come from very impoverished families, Ms Bendlin explains. In some cases of extreme destitution, children are even contracted out by their parents. There is a blind beggar in Puerto Igazú, for example, who walks the streets hand-in-hand with a seven year-old girl. He makes his living by renting her out for sex. She is his neighbour's daughter. The situation is complicated further by the "recruiters". Often known to the victims, they promise the opportunity of work across the border. When the fictitious jobs never materialise, the victims finds themselves trapped and unable to return home. IOM also works with local government agencies and the police in an attempt to develop coordinated strategies to stop the traffickers. Again, prgress is slow. In Argentina alone, there are at least five separate security agencies operating in the border zone. Between the three countries, the problem of coordination becomes triply complicated, Ms Bendlin admits. At a national level, there are some signs of encouragement. This week, Argentina's lower house is scheduled to discuss a bill that would officially recognise underage human trafficking in the criminal code. Victim organisations welcome such measures, but remain sceptical about how much difference they will make on the ground. Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay all have separate laws and legal processes. Add to that the variety of municipal, provincial and national legislation and you have a complex legal web to navigate. It is a journey that many victims would rather not undertake. In addition to the psychological and financial implications of pursuing a court case, many fear the threat of reprisals. "Although we know about more than 700 cases of child trafficking, we have only reported 40 in the last three years", confesses Benigno Cáceres, a lawyer with CEAPRA, a children's charity in the Paraguayan border town of Ciudad del Este. Only one of these complaints resulted in a guilty verdict. The relative impunity for sex-related crimes is in keeping with cultural attitudes in the triple frontier. The region's strong culture of machismo holds that sex with underage girls is safer and a sign of male virility, says Norma Pereira, a child psychologist in Ciudad del Este. In addition, the mothers of trafficked children are frequently themselves the victims of abuse or involved in prostitution, she explains: "Families often refuse to recognise the problem. It's as if this new form of slavery has become natural." · Oliver Balch is a freelance journalist based in Argentina.

Enlistment Contract USA for the "Few & the Proud" How much Misdirection is acceptable.? Below is an excerpt from a letter from my son to the Recruiting Command in my city. In it, he explains something very wrong has happened. He was led to believe he would go take a test and after the test he would be offered a position and then he would decide if he wanted to join. At the test they had him take the oath and sign the Enlistment Document as he simultaneously was told by the Recruiter "sign, it's no big deal, it's only a preliminary paper to see what job you qualify for". He was written letters and made it clear he does not want to volunteer for the USMC. <<<<<<<<<partial content of letter sent in August 2006>>>>>>>>>>>>>> -I was a not even 16 when I met the first USMC Recruiter, long before I could drive. A guy in uniform took some time to tell me about the Corps Band. Glossy brochures, pretty uniforms and the glamour, made me curious. Subsequent calls to my cell and home through the years pushing for my commitment made me curious. Current Situation- Fast forward to May-June of 2006. First time at the Recruiter's office, I understood -Take the test find out if I qualify for a job then sign up. I wanted information about band and in intelligence. I was told, I could only get the information by taking the test. I accepted a day-meeting and took the mental and physical aptitude tests and since I understood this was the only way to find out with no commitment. A preliminary look one of many preliminary steps, I accepted. I understood, if I wanted, there were ways to void the agreement I was about to sign. I confidently trusted and followed the “sign here-here-here.” More so, since my Recruiter told me, as I showed him the form "no big deal, you can get out". If the job is what I want, I finish my other 2 years of college, join as an officer in the reserves and sit behind a desk and play in the band and work in intelligence. I finished the testing and with my trusted recruiter by my side as my guide. The words “I cannot get out” never crossed my mind. Only after my father found out, from me, that I had signed, going into DEP, interrupting my college, to work in Intelligence and play in the band, did I read the content/fine print and heard the loud “you cannot get out” as it reverberated in my mind. At the same time, still in denial I listened, while my father clarified the written words, -I had joined the “regular component of the Marine Corps”, not the Reserves, with the lowest rank possible, no job assignment, and the word “None” boldly written in section “B”, meaning NO agreements to be honored. My father called the recruiting office and confirmed: -Regular Marine Corps, 8 years/4 active starting after boot camp. No band; No intelligence; Worst of all, no job assignment, no bonus, no more college, no officer rank or career path, and no recourse. My first thought was, -did I misunderstand? -I will be sent to Jail if I don't comply? All because I wanted to know if I qualified for a job. They had hired me before agreeing or telling me if I qualified for a job? I trusted the guys my Dad told me to always trust. This is a great misunderstanding, or a great injustice, and as a direct result, the enlistment document of July 3rd 2006 does not reflect the cumulative intent and spirit of the verbal communications that transpired from day one. I respectfully request a fully executed release for this case (no response to the request other than they are looking at it. Soon it will be 4 months). 1,) Is a contract of this sort enforceable, if the person or persons improperly, by design or by negligence, avoided or misrepresented and improperly disclosed for the USA, the intent and the repercussions of the written words? 2,) Mention has been made of legal repercussions for not showing up to the recruiting station, (I understand jail, dishonorable discharge, looking over your shoulder the rest of your life, etc). How do we put an end to this torture, as we are held emotionally hostage by the "no answer position"? 3,) I know there are ways to get out if honor is not an issue. My son has done no wrong. He trusted someone in uniform, the same way a student trusts a teacher, and the same way a citizen trusts a Police Officer. For the life of me I cannot believe we are talking about this today. Are we alone? Could it be there are more victims out there that have resigned themselves to "taking it on the chin like a man" and go on and allow themselves to be victimized? It is commonly known that when a person gets "tricked", "Conned" "Swindled" into something improper, they are too embarrassed to contact the authorities or their family? The lawyers have said there is nothing we can do. Our military family and friends say there is nothing we can do. I don't believe it! In America the reason we go fight, is so we have the freedom to pursue legal recourse for "injustice or negligent action, that will cause undue harm on an individual." Are you one of the silent victims? There are predators, officially sanctioned by the authorities we trust, which are paid to get close to our kids far before they are mature, and entice them to not trust their parental advise, and instead trust them as advisors. This way they control the young minds behind the parent's backs. Tell me your story. Has something happened to you? leonco@yahoo.com

Why do people believe the Army still enforces awol with prison? Here is my story! This is a factual experience of going AWOL and being discharged from Ft. Knox. Do not listen to people who have not gone through such an experience, they don't know what they are talking about or are trying to scare you to stay in. Military law holds that you can receive the death penalty for desertion, but the reality is that it never happens. Same deal with going AWOL, the reality is right here in this thread. Profile : IET soldier, completed basic, no pending charges/article 15's. (There were permanent party soldiers with me at Knox too and they received the same deal as IET soldiers. I think if you go AWOL while serving overseas they treat you differently. There were also soldiers with a record of field grade article 15's, but as long as they are over and done with, you are treated the same as this profile) I waited till I had confirmation that I was DFR'd, and took the bus to Ft. Knox and arrived on a Teusday. I did not want to be apprehended because you will be held at a local jail until they get you on a bus/plane to Knox/Sill. I avoided going this route because you can be held up to 30 days in local (usually 3-10 days), and won't shower, eat well, etc... *If you are taking the bus, take it to Elizabethtown and not Louisville. Louisville is about 30 miles from Knox while Elizabethtown is only 15. What to bring? >Underwear/boxers. They let me keep a solid white undershirt and solid white ankle socks. >A couple of good books. >Money for food/drinks on (for some people) can be a long ride to PCF and back home. Anything else will be put away into a locked room. Valuables such as keys, cellphone/charger, money, wallet, etc... will be sealed and put away and given to you moments before you are ready to leave the base and go home. Unopened cigarettes can be put in this bag as well, but if they are open they will be destroyed. If your profile is like mine, the only way you will be held longer than the customary 3-4 days is if you bring up any issues that the Army has to investigate. Ie, recruiter fraud, problems with cadre/other soldiers, or if you put up a legal defense to the charge of going AWOL. Arrive on a Teusday morning, eat a good meal, make sure you get there by noon so they can process you in that day. Theoretically you can still make a Friday departure if you get there on a Wed, but don't bet on it, just get there on Teusday. Here is my experience : I arrived at the gate where the civilian security frisked me, and searched all of my belongings. If you have cigarettes they will tell you to smoke a cigarette because you will not be able to smoke at the PCF. MP's pick you up, cuff you, and drive you to the MP station. There you will be fingerprinted and the initial paperwork is done. This process isn't long at all. After they are done with you, they drive you to the PCF facility. At PCF you will surrender your belongings and fill out in processing paperwork. You will get a foot locker, lock, Army sweats, sheets, pillow, blanket, and hygiene bag. Your head will be shaved. The rooms generally hold 3 people at most. When I arrived there was less than 10 people at PCF, by the end of the week that number would swell to over 30, but by the time it gets that large, most of those people go home. The bed is comfy and you will sleep well. There is FG and CQ every night. The food is provided by the RCF (military prison of Knox) and it is absolutely horrible. You get fed 3 times a day. All day long you will sit in the day room and do nothing but talk to each other or stare at the wall. I only went on detail once, and I was glad to go because we bummed cigarettes of our civlian handlers. The man in charge of PCF is Lt. Laplace. He is not an Army Lt. He is a cop Lt. There is no PT or morning stretches whatsoever but if you are a real jackass Sgt. Rich will drop you. Wake up is around 5:30a. Free time is around 6p. You can watch t.v., they generally let you watch whatever you want (they have cable). Or you can just go upstairs and pass out. Lights out is at 10p. You get ACU's not BDU's, and no they do not fit right at all. Here is the procedure: If you get there on a Teus. Teus - In-processing into PCF. Wed. - You meet civilans on the second floor to gather up your legal documents requesting a Ch. 10 OTH. Thurs - You meet JAG lawyers, they only meet you on Mon, or Thurs. If you accept the Ch. 10 and they sign off on it, you are almost out the door. In the afternoon you are given a class detailing what this discharge affords you benefits wise, and all that other good stuff. Fri - In the morning you hand everything in and basically outprocess. You change into your civies, are given your leave papers, and board a bus that usually comes around 11a. Yes, you leave in the morning. The bus takes you to 1 of 2 destinations, the airport or bus in Louisville. The best time to get a ticket is 1am or past. Those that had a 12:30 bus ticket just barely made i

Is "Good Old Boy Politics" good for South Carolina? I found these quite interesting. Just when you think you heard all the ways to sneak money around, along comes another one. I wonder if the governor will sue the legislature for an unconstitutional budget? Someone should, or else what good is a constitution? BTW, have you looked at the proposals I sent for referendum items? Please do. Another suggested referendum item is a recall provision, which was brought up in the state legislature this year. Should we have that in the city? Joseph Azar S.C. State seeks halt to 'funneling' Lawmakers have used school to direct funds to f avorite charities By Diane Knich (Contact) The Post and Courier Thursday, June 5, 2008 The Post and Courier Sen. John Matthews Rep. David Mack, D-North Charleston Previous story Read Sundays story "Schoo ls act as money funnels". South Carolina State University's Board of Trustees wants state lawmakers to stop using the school to channel tax dollars to their favorite charities. Board Chairman Maurice Washington said at a board retreat in C harleston Wednesday that the board will ask its lawyer whether it can legally adopt a policy prohibiting the practice. The group was responding to a Post and Courier investigation that ran in the newspaper on Sunday. The analysis revealed that So uth Carolina legislators used the state's public universities to quietly channel nearly $2 million in tax dollars to their favorite charities during the past three years. Some legislators sent the money to nonprofit groups with which they have direct tie s. That includes Rep. David Mack, D-North Charleston, who sent $700,000 through S.C. State to a nonprofit where he works and receives money. It also includes Sen. John Matthews, D-Bowman, who sent $350,000 to a charity where he is a nonvoting mem ber of the group's board of directors and his wife is the board's vice chairwoman. Matthews also sent another $150,000 through S.C. State for a "historical analysis study on African American wealth creation," although much of that money has not y et been spent. The lawmakers' decisions to place money in S.C. State's budget for other groups "weren't done in consultation with university officials," Washington said in an interview Tuesday. When the board first learned during a budget presentation at its retreat in June 2007 that money was being passed through the university, "We thought it was a little weird," Washington said. "It didn't seem like an appropriate thing for us to be involved with." Board members asked former Pr esident Andrew Hugine and John Smalls, the university's senior vice president for finance, "to end the practice," Washington said. Smalls said Tuesday that he doesn't have any choice but to pass on money that legislators place in the university's budget for other organizations. "These are legislators. This was passed by the General Assembly," Smalls said. The newspaper's analysis looked at seven of the state's largest institutions of higher learning and found that lawmakers funneled mone y through five of them: Clemson University, Francis Marion University, South Carolina State University, the University of South Carolina and Winthrop University. Here's how it works: State legislators take money from the state budget and tuck it into universities' state appropriations, sometimes without the schools' knowledge. The universities then hand over that money to the charities. Among the universities surveyed, the largest amount of money, $1.2 million, was passed through the bud get at S.C. State. Smalls said the funds show up as specific items in the university's budget. "We didn't request them," Smalls said. "They kind of appeared." Smalls said when such items appear in the university's budget, he does nothing u ntil "the appropriate legislator calls." Then he asks the legislator to send a letter that includes the name and address of the receiving agency, a tax identification number and a budget. After he receives the information, he said, he sends the mo ney. "If money is put in your budget for a purpose," Smalls said, "I don't know what to do about it. The ideal is not to put it in there." When lawmakers funnel money, he said, they "put the agency in a very precarious position. These tend to be legislators who are very supportive to the institution." Roger Leaks, an alumnus and member of the university's Board of Visitors, which is different from the Board of Trustees, said some alumni he's talked to in the past few days have said they wish the university could stop the practice and use the money on campus. The university has many needs, he said, especially to improve the poor condition of many older buildings on which maintenance has been delayed. "The way I see it," Leaks said, "if the money comes into the university, it should be used by the university, not diverted somewhere else." Reach Diane Knich at 937-5491 or dknich@postandcourier.com. Governor Sanford found what he thought were 69 items we could do without this year. Just think what he DIDN’T find! I’ve often heard that “people in the know” have ways to hide things that can never be found but with this year being the “Year of Disclosure” (Earmark Reform, Campaign Finance R eports online), I thought we had stopped all this. *********** Schools act as money funnels By Diane Knich The Post and Courier Sunday, June 1, 2008 South Carolina legislators are using some of the state’s public univers ities as funnels, quietly channeling nearly $2 million in tax dollars to their favorite charities during the past three years, a Post and Courier investigation found. Some legislators sent this money to nonprofit groups with which they have direc t ties. For instance, state Rep. David Mack, D-North Charleston, has sent $700,000 through South Carolina State University to a Columbia-based nonprofit organization where he works and receives money. But it was far from an isolated case. The new spaper’s analysis found that legislators funneled money through most of the state’s major public institutions of higher learning. The practice raises questions about conflicts of interest and how legislators distribute public money. “It l ooks like a way to camouflage money to do something they can’t do or don’t want to do directly, something that might be politically embarrassing,” said John Crangle, director of the government watchdog group Common Cause South Carolina. Here’s ho w it works: State legislators take money from the state budget and tuck it into universities’ state appropriations — sometimes without the schools’ prior knowledge. The universities then hand over that money to the charities. The Post and Courier requested information, under the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act, from seven of the state’s largest public universities about money legislators had them pass through their budgets to charity groups over the past five years. Legislators went th rough all of the schools except the College of Charleston and The Citadel to funnel tax dollars. State politicians for years have used budget mechanisms to send tax dollars to pet projects. But the amounts tend to be higher for money funneled thr ough universities. In Mack’s case, he sent $300,000 to S.C. State in the 2006-07 school year and asked the university to send the money to a Columbia-based nonprofit organization called the Palmetto Center for Advocacy. The center conducts health education programs statewide, especially obesity prevention programs. Mack sent the group another $400,000 through S.C. State in the 2007-08 school year. Anastasia Shaw, deputy director for Palmetto Center for Advocacy, said the $700,000 from the state is the only money the group has brought in so far. But, she said, the center is “looking to diversify funding.” According to the group’s Web site, Mack is employed as its “outreach director.” In a telephone interview, Mack said he now does consulting work for the group and previously was the organization’s interim director. He also said he is paid for all of his work with the center but declined to say how much. By law, nonprofits must allow the public to view tax forms, w hich include salaries of directors. But the center is relatively new, so its tax records are not yet publicly available. When asked why he chose to send the money through the university instead of going through the state’s competitive grants prog ram, Mack said, “We just chose that way.” S.C. State benefited from the arrangement, Mack said, because Palmetto Center for Advocacy organized some health education programs on the university’s campus. Another legislator who used S.C. Stat e as a funnel was Sen. John Matthews, D-Bowman. Matthews sent $150,000 in the 2006-07 school year and $200,000 in the 2007-08 school year through the university to the Lower Orangeburg-Upper Dorchester Community Development Corp. Matthews said th e program mostly helps low-income people in the high-poverty region prepare for and land jobs. According to the group’s Web site, Matthews is a non-voting member of the organization’s board of directors. His wife, Geraldine Matthews, is the board ’s vice chairwoman and serves on the board’s personnel, finance and overview and assessment committees. Matthews said Wednesday that neither he nor his wife are compensated for their work with the organization. He also said that he gave up his ro le as a voting member of the board when he brought state money to the organization. The program was launched with a private grant, Matthews said, but the money ran out. He’s temporarily helping it stay afloat with state funds, he said. Ma tthews said he was “just following tradition” by passing money through a state institution to a nonprofit group. Matthews also passed $150,000 through S.C. State in the 2006-07 school year for a “historical analysis study on African-American comm unity wealth creation.” The project is looking at impediments for blacks in the areas of education and economic development and will provide “a comprehensive analysis of the Interstate 95 corridor,” which basically runs along the state’s poverty belt, he said. The university sent $50,000 of the $150,000 for that project to DESA, a Columbia-based management consulting firm, to complete a portion of the project, Matthews said. DESA President Diane Sumpter said her company will conduct focu s groups and gather information that will be used to make videos to help low-income parents become more involved in their children’s education. Matthews said the other $100,000 will be dispersed at S.C. State to complete the rest of the report. < BR> Joe Pearman, assistant vice president of business and finance and vice president of financial affairs and management information systems at S.C. State, said so far, none of the $100,000 has been spent, and only $19,000 has been committed for salar ies. Evelyn Fields, who is chairwoman of the university’s Department of Education and in charge of the project, said the money will be used to gather baseline research data to develop a program for culturally relevant teaching for children in pov erty. At the University of South Carolina, legislators funneled $225,000 to the Epilepsy Foundation of South Carolina over the past three years, said Russ McKinney, director of communications for the university. Barbara Comar Brothers, ex ecutive director of the Epilepsy Foundation, said she doesn’t know which legislators are involved in her organization receiving the money. But, she said, representatives from the foundation met with staffers from the House Ways and Means Committee to req uest the funds. The foundation used the money for a program that trains state employees to better deal with people with epilepsy in emergency situations, Brothers said. The university also passed $100,000 to EngenuitySC for the National H ydrogen Association Convention, McKinney said. The university, he said, has no record of specific legislators involved in such transactions. Kyle Michel, a lobbyist for EngenuitySC, said the money will be used to promote South Carolina, especiall y the Columbia region, as “a place for hydrogen fuel cell economic development” during the 2009 convention. Neil McLean, executive director for the group, said the money came from the Legislature but no specific legislator. Sen. Nikki G. Setzler, D-West Columbia, and Rep. Joan Brady, R-Columbia, are members of EngenuitySC’s board of trustees, he said. Legislators also used other schools as funnels, including Clemson, Winthrop and Francis Marion universities. None of the legislato rs involved in those transactions were employed by the organizations to which they passed money, nor were they members of the groups’ boards of directors. –Sen. Harvey Peeler, R-Gaffney, sent $115,000 in the 2007-08 school year through Winthrop t o the Lake Wylie Chamber of Commerce to expand the Lake Wylie Small Business Center. Chamber President Susan Bromfield said the money allows the group to provide a place for small-business owners to get a solid start. She said Peeler has no conne ction to the chamber other than being the state senator who represents the area. Peeler did not return calls seeking comment. –Sen. John Hawkins, R-Spartanburg, sent $100,000 in the 2007-08 school year through Clemson to the Spartanburg H umane Society. Hawkins has no connection to the group other than being the state senator who represents the area, he said. He also said he would have been willing to use the state’s competitive grant program or any other funding mechanism, “but this work ed.” –Frances Marion University has funneled $187,294 to the Mount Pleasant-based Palmetto Project over the last three school years, and nearly $300,000 has been passed through the university over the past five years. John Kispert, vice president for business affairs for the university, said he is unaware of the name of the legislator associated with the money. –Kispert said the university receives correspondence about the money from Palmetto Project Executive Director Steve Skardon. Skar don said the money has been coming from the Legislature for years, but not from a specific lawmaker. He said the money has been used for the Omega Project. According to the group’s Web site, that project “offers intensive training to those commun ities looking to improve the quality of public dialogue and personal trust among citizens of diverse racial and cultural backgrounds.” Skardon said the Palmetto Project doesn’t include current public officials on its board or staff because of the potential for conflicts of interest. Reach Diane Knich at 937-5491 or dknich@postandcourier.com. Posted by nathansnews ************************************************************************************************* Governor: Budget Unconstitutional, Could Lead to Legal Challenge GOVERNOR SAYS A SUIT MAY BE NEEDED OVER CONSTITUTIONALITY OF BUDGET Columbia, S.C. - June 5, 2008 - Governor Mark Sanford today said the Genera l Assembly may have broken the law in passing a budget they knew to be out of balance - and therefore unconstitutional - and that doing so could open the state up to a legal challenge. In budget hearings earlier this year, the Educatio n and Corrections departments both told the legislature that next year's budget would force them to run a deficit, to the tune of $28 million. In fact, when warned repeatedly about potential deficits at the Department of Corrections, Senator Hugh Leatherman suggested multiple times in an April 2 meeting that the agency run a deficit. In the state Cons! titutio n, Article X, Section 7(a) requires the General Assembly "to provide by law for a budget process to insure that annual expenditures of state government do not exceed annual state revenue." Since the legislature has now passed a budget in which they know and are fully aware this requirement will not be met, the governor said today that the budget in effect b reaks the law. "There's no way around the fact that if the General Assembly has passed a budget that they know will require deficits, then it's not a balanced budget, period," Gov. Sanford said. "We have real concerns about the legality of this budget - and at this point, we're not convinced that a lawsuit would be a bad thing, given that it may indeed be the only way to prevent the legislature from engaging in this kind of recklessness in the future." Last week, the go vernor vetoed 69 items from the legislature's spending plan, for a total of $72 million, saying that m! oney sh ould be put toward the anticipated deficits at Education and Corrections. Of those 69 vetoes, the legislature only sustained five that had implications for the state's general fund, for a total of $369,000. -#####- Joel Sawyer Communications Director Office of Gov. Mark Sanford (803) 734-5254 - work (803) 446-6713 - cell (803) 734-6447 - fax ***************************************************** -- --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "The Azar Newsletter" group. To post to this group, send email to theazarnewsletter@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to theazarnewsletter-unsubscribe@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/theazarnewsletter?hl=en Joseph Azar may be reached directly at josephazar@upstairsaudio.com, and by telephone at 803-513-3357. Or at his business, Upstairs Audio & Video, 746 Harden St., Columbia, SC 29205 803-256-EARS -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~--- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.524 / Virus Database: 269.24.6/1485 - Release Date: 6/5/2008 10:07 AM No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG. 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