Community Partnership Banking – Worm Farm 2? (updated 5mar2011)

George Rebane

[This is the transcript of my regular radio commentary that aired tonight 4mar11 on KVMR-FM 89.5.  I have addended some observations from attending the 4mar11 meeting where the described banking concept was presented.]

Something called ‘community partnership banking’ is being sold to Nevada City right now as you listen to this commentary.   Helping to sell the city on this new kind of banking service are none other than the good people of the Nevada City Sustainability Vision Team.  These are the same folks who wear many hats and belong to organizations like A.P.P.L.E. that brought you the well-known Nevada City worm farm.  Haven’t heard about the worm farm?  Don’t ask.

But you might want to ask what is community partnership banking.  To get answers, the place to go is the well-designed website of the Unified Field Bank.  There you immediately learn that this is an organization with a mission to “serve the global environmental, social and cultural bottom line.”  I have never heard of such bottom lines, but at this point the journey is just beginning and one should not lose heart.

As we go deeper into the website, we are immediately flooded with some very familiar sounding words and notions – nurturing, sustainable, renewable, holistic, transparent, empowerment, and so on.  These describe things like the bank’s vision, commitment, and intended operations.

As I went through the website in detail, it became clear that Unified Field Bank is actually not a bank, at least not yet anyway.  They are really the Unified Field Corporation, a group of marketing and media developers loose on the country trying to set up a network of touchy-feely banks in communities that have a critical mass of sensitive, inclusive, and touchy-feely folks.  And as you might suspect, we here in Nevada County are blessed with a goodly portion of such people mainly concentrated in Nevada City and its environs.

The founders and top management of Unified Field Corporation are Mr David Rose and Ms Paulynn Cue.  Neither of them tout any banking experience, but they have “built and restructured mission driven projects, teams, and enterprises” and they intend to set up “an accelerated platform of narrative media and social web campaigns and projects”.  They are joined by Mr Michael Suprenant, also not a banker, but he does specialize in “negotiating and structuring highly nuanced entity formations for securitizations, joint ventures, and purchased & leased bank instruments.”

Now since Nevada City has been doing a lot of financial cliff walking in recent years and operates arguably one of the most opaque city budgets in the state, it may be that bringing into the city some talent to structure a passel of highly nuanced entity formations is just what is needed to keep the auditors at bay for a while longer.

But seriously, how can this town of a progressive bent reject an organization with a vision statement that includes “nurturing holistic financial ecology”.  An organization that will commit “to partner with the keepers of culture so that together we may preserve the strength of ancient wisdom and values while supporting the constant renewal of their applicability to the here and now.”  Honest, dear listener, I’m not making this stuff up.  It’s there for all to see.

This outfit has been in business since 2008 and has yet to set up its first community partnership bank.  But then, these things do take time.  You see, one of the first things Unified Field Corporation does is to check our alignment, which they are presumably doing tonight in the city council chambers.  In this task, they “explore your group’s strength of alignment with the Core Ideologies for bank and media projects, as well as with an initial draft of a compelling vision of your work.”  To do this, they have “developed something we call the Alignment Process.”  Not to worry, if our head is not on right, they’ll help us get it there so that we’ll be ready for the new bank.

Besides convincing the progressive elements of Nevada City, this corporation claims to have made inroads with other California cities like Santa Barbara, Oakland, San Francisco, Santa Monica, Sonoma County, South Los Angeles, and Ojai.  Do we detect a pattern here?

You did notice South LA thrown in there didn’t you?  Well, on the Dark Continent this company is involved with something called DEEP – Developing Empowerment and Economic Prosperity – that does “social business incubation” using a “Hybrid Social Enterprise model” for “sustainable development in Africa”.  Presumably, the successes from that region of buzzing entrepreneurial expansion will serve as templates for us to apply here in Nevada County.

When all is said and done, what could be finer than socialist banking coming to the Sierra?

My name is Rebane and I also expand on these and other themes in my Union columns, on NCTV, and on georgerebane.com where this transcript appears.  These opinions are not necessarily shared by KVMR.  Thank you for listening.

[5mar2011 update]  Last night, along with Jo Ann and Russ Steele, I sat in the Nevada City council chambers listening to the well-attended talk by UFC CEO David Rose who explained in all available detail what a Unified Field Bank was and how it would work.  All three of us really paid attention and took a lot of notes.  Mr Rose is an experienced salesman and gave an excellent presentation.  Russ Steele has a good summary of the presentation on NC Media Watch, along with his assessment on what was said.  Here I’ll just add a couple of points from my takeaway.

1. The basic idea behind a UFB is high sounding, hits all the progressive hot buttons, and is totally untested.  It requires $500K cash up front to buy the franchise offered by UFC and start operations.  In the meantime UFC itself is attempting to raise $3,600,000 to fund its operations selling and promoting these franchises across the country and around the world.
2. Regarding their expertise in banking, business, and especially doing business in California, there doesn’t seem to be any there.  Presumably UFC will hire some people when they get money, but that will be then and this is now.
3. The entire UFB concept of ‘holistic’, ‘sustainability’, ‘local’, ‘freeze dried’, ‘money flow’, and so on is a paper plan whose economics have not been tried anywhere – at least not with any business success that would invite more people to practice it and make money.  The plan forward here seems to be ‘you pay us first, and then we’ll earn while you learn to see whether/how it will all work out’.
4. I believe that our local Nevada City Sustainability Vision Team people can do at least as well in trying out such local sustainability concepts by using the same money they would raise to partner with an established bank in the county – like Citizens Bank – and charge forth in a phased approach executing a crawl, walk, run plan that is tailored to our community.  Citizens Bank is an operating bank and would bring all the local banking know-how needed for such a project.  Hell, if the Vision Team wants some expertise from tried and true capitalists (successful in making profits and meeting payroll, but not necessarily “aligned” according to the ways of UFC) in planning such a venture, I’d even pitch in, and also offer to see if SESF would join them in the effort.
5. Bottom line, I don’t see what Mr Rose and his team of enthusiastic naifs would bring to this party.  If it can be dood, we can do it ourselves.

Comments

[RL Crabb]

This is the dawning of the Bank of Aquarius

Bank of Aquarius

Uh - quar - eeus!!!!

[George Rebane]

Spot on Robert! We just returned from the kumbayah meeting at NC council chambers where Mr David Rose held forth for over two and half hours (w/o a pee break). Leaving a little early, we ran into a group of ladies sitting in the hall outside the chambers doors. They asked for our takeaway and offered that it wasn't clear what Mr Rose and compatriots would be bringing to the party. Among the many things that clarified during the presentation, one was that as a resident of Hawaii, Mr Rose knows very little of how California welcomes new commercial enterprises, which is what ultimately a UFB turns out to be.

[Todd Juvinall]

Sounds to me like you could deposit your money, get a mental health analysis and buy some dope. What a concept!

[Greg Goodknight]

The phrases attributed to the presenters are eerily similar to the venerable random phrase generators that date to the early days of computing.

“explore your group’s strength of alignment with the Core Ideologies"
“negotiating and structuring highly nuanced entity formations for securitizations"
“nurturing holistic financial ecology”

These are almost as good...
"The Ancient hyperdimensional torsion field balances spiritual inner peace."
"The hyperdimensional new paradigm awakens unseen enlightenment."
"Our hyperdimensional new paradigm promotes unseen quantum entanglement."
courtesy http://sentence.bigparadox.com/

[Mike Sherman]

My gawed George, thank you for shining a light on an absolute farce. But then, I would expect nothing less from that certain segment in Nevada City. They can be most entertaining at times, and provide quite a laugh for us in the real world. The Community Partnership Banking concept just has no legs, and apparently no success story to point to.

[D. King]

"...media alliances enhancing mainstream awareness..."

and.......free Tibet!

[Dixon Cruickshank]

What will they think of next

[Dixon Cruickshank]

How do you guys out there usually take your freeze dried food - plain or fried

[Steve Enos]

George... it would be great to really discuss local banking.

Maybe you will look into and wrote abuot what Citizen's Bank has been up to for years and what their current condition is and do a story on that too.

Start by reviewing Citizen's latest, required bank filing report. It will amaze you to see the condition Citizen's Bank is in and what the report has to say about the bank.

Citizen's has taken millions and millions of taxpayers money and hasn't made their required repayments. Citizen's took over 10 Million in TARP money in 2009. Citizen's Bank keeps going down and down and down in a deeper hole.

Where did the money go?

Well from some research it's clear a LOT went to failed. pie in the sky real estate development projects that Citizen's Bank board members, bank officers or their clients were involved in.

Why did Judy Hess, former Citizen's Bank CEO refuse to disclose the banks bad loans to the public? This was even covered in a Union story when Hess was "demoted/fired" from her position as CEO and President of Citizens bank.

Why not disclose the basic information about these million dollar plus failed loans for bad development projects? Where did the money go?

Here's part of a story from June 25, 2009 that ran in The Union:

"The directors and officers of Citizens Bank of Northern California hold $11 million in loans with the bank they watch, a bank official confirmed, but the lending institution's leader would not divulge who received the loans when, or how much they are for".

“We're a private bank... so that information is not public,” said bank president and CEO Judy Hess, who confirmed the $11 million figure this week.

Let's see how this stacks up...

"the lending institution's leader would not divulge who received the loans when, or how much they are for".

"“We're a private bank"

BUT... Citizen's Bank had no problem taking 10.5 million of public, taxpayers money from TARP in 2009.

I predict at some point we will see Citizen's Bank closed or taken over by the Fed's or taken over by another Bank at the hands of the Feds.

Exit question: Why not shed light on what has gone on at Citizen's Bank, who got the big loans and where the money went?

[Steve Enos]

The following is from Citizen's Bank own website:

"A True Community Bank... Only a true community bank can share the joy of helping a neighbor start a new business, expand into new locations or move into world markets; only a community bank cares enough to make sure that the “next generation” will be able to take the reigns of a family business or renovate an old family home; only this community bank has a vested interest in this historic community, and is committed to doing all possible to preserve the continued well-being of its historic buildings, its population and its sense of self".

Exit question... is using terms like "only a community bank cares enough" or "its sense of self" just "kumbayah" speak too?

[George Rebane]

SteveE - thanks for the remarks about Citizens Bank. I only know them as a local bank that has been having trouble with bad loans like thousands of banks across the country (hundreds of which have shut down). I have no business interest in the bank, but would like to see them pull out of their doldrums since they are 'our' local bank. It is only for that reason that I bring their name up in the context of this post.

However, if you have specific information about any alleged wrongdoings that have not seen the light of day in the local news media, then you can post them here on RR or any of the other local blogs.

[Steve Enos]

George, it's not about "alleged wrongdoings' it's about our "community bank" failing to provide the facts to the community that has invested and lost a lot of money into that bank (Citizen's Bank).

It's about Citizen's refusal to disclose to the public and the taxpayers that have provided the millions that has been "invested" to try and keep Citizen's afloat.

Where did the Citizen Bank loans go to? Why does Citizen's refuse to provide that information to the public, the same public they are asking to buy their expanded stock offerings?

George it was you that used Citizen's as an example of what to do and how to do it... based on what information? You posted the following above and provided your advice:

"I believe that our local Nevada City Sustainability Vision Team people can do at least as well in trying out such local sustainability concepts by using the same money they would raise to partner with an established bank in the county – like Citizens Bank"

"Citizens Bank is an operating bank and would bring all the local banking know-how needed for such a project".

Sorry George, but your advice and position about Citizen's Bank needs to be revisited after doing some research.

Since it was you that made the statements and advice about Citizen's Bank how about you reviewing the bank reports for Citizen's and read some of the past Union strories about Citizen's and maybe ask... where did the money go and why does Citizen's Bank refuse to disclose?

[D. King]

Wow Steve. If you have a specific charge to make….make it! If it’s just a feeling, state it as such and enlighten us. There is nothing wrong with being skeptical.

[Steve Enos]

Oh please D. King read my posts and the issues I raise and try again. I'm not claiming Citizen's Bank did anything illigal.

It was George that held up Citizen's Bank as an example... well what facts was that based on considering the information available and the lack of information availiable since Citizen's has refused to disclose information about the loans, who got them and where all the money went and where it was "lost".

Since Citizens Bank took and has not yet paid back taxpayers bailout money they should disclose where the money really went as it a lot was borrowed by the Board members, bank officers and their clients

Where did the money and the loans go? for what?, to whom? are these loans current?

[George Rebane]

Echoing DaveK's comment, it seems that SteveE has some very specific bones to pick with Citizens. If Citizens is not making disclosures required by law, then our DA and other legal apparatus should get on the case. If they don't have to disclose info about their loans, and don't want to tell us; well then, they are in their rights to take a pass on that. And we are in our rights to get angry and jump up and down because they are not behaving like we want them to. I assume that you've already closed all your accounts at that dastardly bank.

However, having made bad loans is not yet retroactively illegal; but I'm sure someone in the administration is working on it. And in the spirit of this post SteveE, if you have another bank that Reinette and her worthies should consider, please let everyone know. It all helps to push the peanut ahead.

[Dixon Cruickshank]

Small community banks serve a great purpose in a rural and small town atmosphere. Not sure why them having bad loans on the books is a surprise to anybody as all banks big and small have a bunch right now. I don't think airing the towns peoples dirty laundry serves any purpoase at all. I mean really you want them to publish everybodys name that is behind on their mortgage. You should hope that it can stay alive, you would not find B of A nearly as friendly or responsive to local needs.

Steve maybe you have some comments on Maxine Waters and TARP money, lots more public on that to sink your teeth into, and saw somebody wondering what happened to this case its been crickets for months.

[Dixon Cruickshank]

Of course as usual I also have been sucked in by the troll changing subject away from worm farm 2.

[Steve Enos]

Typical respond I would expect from George... just spin, spin and more spin.

George you are the one that brought Citizen’s Bank into the discussion. They have taken taxpayers bailout money, something that you deplore and they have refused to let the public know where the money went. A whole lot went to the bank board members and bank officers.

Local banks are about trust, based on communty trust. Maybe this is why Citizen's stock offering to raise funds has so far failed and why their stock price has tanked, maybe this is why they have not made their repayments for the millions in bail out money they took from the taxpayers.

George it's clear you have two standards that you apply. Seems you put Citizen's up as an example without doing the research first... start by reading their latest bank filing for some facts.

[D. King]

"Oh please D. King read my posts and the issues I raise and try again. I'm not claiming Citizen's Bank did anything illigal."

"Since Citizens Bank took and has not yet paid back taxpayers bailout money they should disclose where the money really went as it a lot was borrowed by the Board members, bank officers and their clients"

O.K. I get it now.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AnFxAnbJD8A

[Steve Enos]

Dixion.. can you understand this issue:

Citizen's Bank took millions in taxpayers bailout money, something that you deplore and they have refused to let the public know where the money went.

A whole lot of the money went to the bank board members and bank officers. So you are just dandy with the bank refusing to disclose where the money went?

Can you grasp this simple issue?

[D. King]

From the UFB web site FAQs

"3. Does UFB offer checking and savings products?
Yes but again, these products will have very important differences from what we are all used to. The details of how we can offer these products in a more transparent and mutually empowering way, while still being secure and legally compliant are being worked out now."

"...are being worked out now."

That's a tough one.

[D. King]

This is like a nightmarish version of the Bailey Savings and Loan. Your money is not here, it’s in Sustainability, Transparency, and Worm Farm 2.0.

Really?

Hey lefties... You’re going to get ripped off!

[Steven Frisch]

Leave it to D. KIng to make a hero of Mr. Potter.

[D. King]

Love it Frisch, you people are so used to misleading folks, you don't even bother to tell each other the truth any more.

[Steven Frisch]

I'm not sticking up for UFB, I'm pointing out that you are making a hero of Potter.

By the way the real debate is over at Pelline's. I will be going back there and not darkening George's door
any more. Would not want him to get lost on the "Dark Continent".

[Dixon Cruickshank]

Steve I get it just fine - the next bank that might come in - BofA or Citi they got billions not millions and their not telling you shit either. Maxine Waters is the biggest story in the TARP rip offs why no answer to that?? maybe cause she has D in front of her name?? Your such a slimebag and yes I called you a name so just live with it.

back to the point of the article Stevie boy - how about worm farm 1 - we are now on worm farm 2 - maybe just update us on worm farm 1 and what happened to that one - after I wasted my time reading all your posts yapping about that and how great sustainablity will be and the jobs APPLE will create with it - I want my time back or an answer at least - you owe everybody that at least.

[Steven Frisch]

How about this Dixon you moron, I called for Maxine Waters to resign.

Your the slime ball a$$wipe here. The use of the term Dark Continent to refer to South Los Angeles is flat out flippiing racism. And if you countenance it, you are there with Georgie boy.

I owe you NOTHING. I never yapped about the composting PROJECT, I objected to your friends misrepresenting the situation, and did an educational piece about the benefits of composting. You are a serial liar.

Enos, WTH are you doing over here---we are just boosting the web hits for a bunch of racist scum.

[Dixon Cruickshank]

By the way since both of you are so lathered up over the " Dark Continent" reference it has nothing to do with it being full of jiggaboo's or anything else for that matter. Its an astrological refernce - you dumbass'es - 35+ posts at pelines cesspool and nobody knows is telling

[Steven Frisch]

Here's the difference--George was referring to LA not sub-Saharan Africa--and George knew exactly what he was saying and doing, and nothing you can say or do can ever change that.

[Steven Frisch]

That's it for me--you guys are like heroin--you are so stupid that it is just too tempting.

[Russ Steele]

From Answer.com Why is Africa called the "dark continent"?

Africa is called 'The Dark Continent' NOT because of the complexion of the original inhabitants nor the absence of lights, primarily because most people know very little about it. It is not a dark continent but a land flushing with sunshine and vivid light. It is last of the continents to feel the influence of Western civilization; therefore many people consider it a backward continent.

Wikipedia on dark continent:

A 19th century expression previously used to describe Africa, particularly Sub-Saharan Africa. As little was known about the continent's interior geography, map-makers would often leave this region dark.

I do not see any racist connotation in these definitions anywhere, except in the mind's of the Pelline Blog Readers and Commentors, which are promoting a "dark hole" of assumptions about nothing.

[Bob Hobert]

"By the way the real debate is over at Pelline's. I will be going back there and not darkening George's door"

Promise? Thanks for saving all of us scroll-thru time.

[George Rebane]

Re 'Dark Continent', the alternative source of that name is due to how suddenly it gets dark and stays dark. The sun track in the tropics is pretty vertical to the horizon. Since dusk and dawn durations are a function of how long the sun is below but close to the horizon, you get very sudden sunrises and sunsets. It gets dark really fast down there, hence “darkest Africa” and “dark continent” hit our lexicon thanks to the Brits.

For the same reason sunrises and sunsets are long and spectacular at the more northern and southern latitudes; the sun does its trick at low grazing angles. Near the poles it grazes so gently that it literally never gets dark during the local summers.

[Dixon Cruickshank]

"Well, on the Dark Continent this company is involved with something called DEEP – Developing Empowerment and Economic Prosperity – that does “social business incubation” using a “Hybrid Social Enterprise model” for “sustainable development in Africa”. Presumably, the successes from that region of buzzing entrepreneurial expansion will serve as templates for us to apply here in Nevada County."

Sure sounds like a reference to Africa and the the companys programs there to me. Possibly could we a have selective reading comprehention just to try and drum a false pretext with George ??? wouldn't be the first time

[Steven Frisch]

Bullshit--pure unadulterated bullshit.

[D. King]

Unified Field Bank

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RAKsMnAM8vk

[Account Deleted]

Let's all take a look at how the left covers up fraud and embezzlement at good ole' ACORN. Yes, the same ACORN that used tax payer dollars to sign up Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck to vote. They know the guy stole the money, but they hide it until a whistle blower goes public. Another organization that Obama is tight with.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/09/us/09embezzle.html
Caution: this story is from a well known right wing newspaper, so it's highly suspect.
As for Steve's charge that George referred to South LA as the dark continent - please! try to learn to read and comprehend English. I do feel for Steve and his fellow travellers right now. Things are going badly for the socialists as the second half of that famous quote is coming into play. Something about spending other peoples money being the bee's knees until you run out of other peoples money. Michael Moore has weighed in on that problem here: (and yes, pun intended)
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2011/03/02/moore_on_wealthy_peoples_money_thats_not_theirs_thats_a_national_resource_its_ours.html
Have a great weekend, everyone!

[bill tozer]

Loaned my wayward brother-in-law $600.00 and told him not to ask for anything again until he pays me back. He has not paid a dollar back. Have not even heard from him in quite a spell. Come to think about it, that bad loan is turning out to be the best loan I ever made. Continues to pay wonderful dividends in so many ways.

[Dixon Cruickshank]

Mr Frisch I owe you an apoligy, my earlier post was to Enos, not you and I didn't make that clear enough. Thats why it probably made no sense to you - sorry.

[Steve Enos]

The following was posted by Dixon Cruickshank who lives in Florida. It's yet another example of the racist terms used by some of the posters here and it fits right in with Rebane's use of racist terms like "raghead":

"it has nothing to do with it being full of jiggaboo’s."

The above is yet another example of the mind set of some of the posters here.

Exit question: Will Barry Pruett say anything about this discusting, racist post? Why hasn't Rebane or any other regular posters here said one word about this racist comment?

[Steven Frisch]

Damn good question.

[Todd Juvinall]

It appears to me the SOP of Steve Enos and the wimp Steve Frisch are evident once again. Enos hates Citizens because why? Because most of our local citizens of importance started it and are on the BOD. Enos can't hack them so he goes after the crap he thinks will besmirch them. Sorry StevE, those people are important in the community, you aren't. They try and make the community a better place, you just carp and whine.

Regarding Frisch, he is a plum himself. He just likes to show his phony outrage about some words he dislikes. Yet, he calls people here names and uses profanity like he is some kind of social arbiter. He runs a rent seeking non profit that sucks taxpayers money and produces nothing of value. Yet he has hours of free time to post on all the blogs, quite extensively too. I wonder if his BOD knows he spends his time here and there.

George has pointed out the apparent scam fest of another leftwing group. They must have all taken the Bernie Madoff course on how to remove money from the pockets of trusting people. So when you read the tripe from Frisch or Enos give it its due, throw it in the trash bin.

[Dixon Cruickshank]

Took you quite awhile to respond, I'm disappointed as it was meant just for the Steve's

but if you read the rest of the post the term as used for 2 century's has nothing to do with the color of peoples skin there

Why would Barry have anything to say? the post was directed at you, I guess fisherman sometimes have to be patient

[Steve Enos]

It's clear and simple.... Dixon Cruickshank's post below is RACIST:

"it has nothing to do with it being full of jiggaboo’s."

George... nice, posters you have here.

[Todd Juvinall]

STEVE eNOS HAVE YOU EVER USED THE TERM TEA BAGGER, BAGGER OR THE LIKE? oops, sorry about the caps.

[D. King]

There is so little OPM (other people’s money) out there, that the left are starting to feed on themselves.

The Unified Field (theory) Bank sounds like a good hedge for the left. What better way to invest than to go all in on Sustainability and Transparency in our new Post Petroleum World.

Think of the UF(T)B as your safety net.

[bill tozer]

Won't be the first time some slick pitchmen entered a small town peddling snake oil and promising the new cure all. Heck, I enjoyed the movie "The Music Man". He was clever to point out how the evil game of billiards was corrupting the youth of the community and he had a better idea. A good pitchman, like a good Disney movie, always has a great evil villain. Trouble is, I love my bank. Won't surprise me if the Nevada City Council falls hook, line, and sinker for some theory written on paper. Shucks, I meant to say fall for some theory soon to be put down in black and white. Wonder why they are pitching to the city instead of peddling to real experienced business leaders or establish a real banking institution. Paperless banks? I won't shed any tears when the cacophony reaches the third heavens in a woeful cry of "We have been bamboozled."

[Dixon Cruickshank]

Dear Mr Enos:

I know you issues with some things I post so here is a suggestion - write down a list of some the things you find most repulsive I have posted and things you most disagree with -

then light it on fire

[Steve Enos]

It's clear and simple.... Dixon Cruickshank's post below is RACIST and he defended it:

"it has nothing to do with it being full of jiggaboo’s." post Dixon.

Cruickshank's response when I raised this issue???... "then light it on fire"... like what Dixon, crosses in front of peoples houses?

You see readers Dixon lives in Florida, a place with a lot of good old boy racists. So Dixon's racist rant that "it has nothing to do with it being full of jiggaboo’s" doesn't come as a big surprise.

I lived in southern Florida for a few years and this type of racist comment is sadly far too common in Florida.

Dixon Cruickshank's post... "it has nothing to do with it being full of jiggaboo’s." is RACIST.

George... nice blog and nice posters you have here!

[Todd Juvinall]

Enos, do you get a thrill up your leg constantly repeating the term Dixon used? Seems to be.

[Dixon Cruickshank]

Steve your so gullible and predictable

I don't think they use that in S Fla either, I don't think it translates to spanish well which is all that is spoken down south. The last english speaking person brought the flag to Ft Lauderdale years ago - local humor. I haven't heard the term for 30 yrs but reading your tripe about the dark continent somehow it popped up and I couldn't let a good crisis go to waste.

[Steve Enos]

Dixon your post... "it has nothing to do with it being full of jiggaboo’s." is RACIST.

Spin and run all you want Dixon, but it was you that used this RACIST slur and it's you that refuses to take responsibility for your own RACIST statement.

George... nice blog and nice posters you have here!

[Dixon Cruickshank]

Yes Steve, and it was only to get this exact reaction from you - nothing more nothing less. Played like a hillbilly banjo, your so funny honest, and I do enjoy this.

[D. King]

George I'm now convinced, you don't even need bait, just a hook.

[Steve Enos]

Try again with another BS spin on your RACIST post Dixon.

"it has nothing to do with it being full of jiggaboo’s." post Dixon Cruickshank.

It'simple, it's a RACIST post and you have shown the readers what you really are.

Between George Rebane's repeated name calling use of the term "raghead" and Dixon Cruickshank's RACIST "full of jiggaboo’s" post it should now be clear what this blog site is really about.

Exit question: notice how the only respsonses to raising the issue about Dixon Cruickshank's RACIST "full of jiggaboo’s" post are those defending the comment?

[Todd Juvinall]

No SteveE, we think it is hilariously funny a person such as yourself is so outraged. You have a PC license?

[bill tozer]

Look at the bright side. Its not as if Dixon called anyone ragheads. I sense a drooling of self serving satisfaction and superiority masked as feigned outrage going on here. Come on, quit chucking your spears at Dixon and please quit acting like a bunch of diaper heads.

[Steve Enos]

George... such nice posters here on this blog.

The posts here defending the use of RACIST terms like Dixon Cruickshank's "full of jiggaboo’s" post makes it clear what types of folks make up your readership.

Sad, very, very sad.

[Todd Juvinall]

Got a tingle up your leg Steve? Why is it you never answer the questions you are asked by folks here? Have you ever used the term tea bagger Steve? Moron? Stupid? Come on now, tell us the truth.

[Steve Enos]

Todd, do you know what RACIST terms are?

[Todd Juvinall]

Steve, you sound like a racist, lighten up.

[Dixon Cruickshank]

Raghead - Raghead - Raghead - Raghead - Raghead - towelhead - towelhead

I tired now

[Steve Enos]

It’s really nice and informative that folks can see and read the posts by Todd Juvinall and Dixon Cruickshank above to see for themselves the nasty, insulting, racist posts that are provided here by George Rebane's two most prolific posters.

George, it’s so sad that you allow this type of posting to go on by these two guys day after day. It totally undermines this blog as a place to have a rational, respectful, issue based discussion.

Exit question: George… is this type of thing that you want your blog to be know for? Why George do you fail to address Todd Juvinall and Dixon Cruickshank’s “Charlie Sheen” style posts that have nothing to do with the issues raised?

[Todd Juvinall]

SteveE you are the only one posting here that can be considered a racist. I am not a racist and I am appalled you continue to use racist slurs here. Are you not aware of your apparent problem? I would suggest you take a course on anger management and I think Sierra College has one. Perhaps one on self esteem as well. I personally love all races and it appears you pick and choose SteveE. Maybe a application to the Foreign Service and a stint overseas would help you become more tolerant.

[Steve Enos]

Try again Todd.

I was not the one that made racist comment.

As all can see above I raised issues about local bankning in response to George raising that issue. My posts were about local bankning until Dixon Cruickshank made his RACIST post.

FACT... "it has nothing to do with it being full of jiggaboo’s" was posted by... Dixon Cruickshank.

All readers can see the truth by reading the posts above so you can stop posting your foolish attempts to change the subject away from the truth. Why are you defending Cruickshank's RACIST comment Todd?.

Dixon Cruickshank was the one that posted...
"it has nothing to do with it being full of jiggaboo’s"

Dixon Cruickshank made that RACIST comment and I called him on it because you and the other posters here failed to... you sat back an watched and now you try to defend Cruickshank's RACIST comment just like a spectator at a cross burning.

[Todd Juvinall]

SteveE, I have met people like you many times. They repeat their phony outrage about a topic because they are actually punishing themselves. That is what I see you doing. You are actually the racist and by repeating the comments as you are you receive some sort of demented satisfaction. I would suggest you contact a psychologist for a few sessions to better understand what all of us are seeing and reading from your posts.

[Steve Enos]

Nope... try again Todd.

All readers can see the truth by reading the posts above. Stop posting your foolish attempts to change the subject away from the truth.

Dixon Cruickshank was the one that posted...
"it has nothing to do with it being full of jiggaboo’s"

Dixon Cruickshank posted the RACIST comment, not me.

[George Rebane]

Gentlemen - My being attacked on Pelline's blog is something that I cannot help. But the invective there has leaked onto RR, and now it looks like this comment thread has become a hot-button-pushing, mud-slinging contest. Emails from respected friends show dismay with which I agree.

I am just returned from a road trip during which my ability to go online was limited. I invite all commenters to return to the topic of the post or let this thread drop. Thanks for your co-operation.

[Todd Juvinall]

Will do George.

[Steven Frisch]

Any of your highly respected friends tell you that referring to South LA as the "Dark Continent" is just as racist as Dixon using the term "jiggaboo", only more insidious because it was a dog whistle call to your right wing buddies to rally around the burning cross?

[Todd Juvinall]

Grow up Frisch. What a baby.

[George Rebane]

I'm happy to have highly respected friends who know that the two semantic pedigrees of 'Dark Continent' as a nom de plume for Africa have no racial connotations whatsoever. They also know that there is no formal jurisdiction in LA County known as 'South LA', a large region of the LA basin that is generally comprised of poorer municipalities of populations that are highly diverse ethnically and racially.

None of them are so ignorant as to patch these two labels together from two separate sentences and ascribe them to a pejorative connotation of African-Americans. However, this is a claim that not all can make of their respected friends.

[Todd Juvinall]

The left are truly the racists because they are obsessed with it. If you say the Dark Knight they go apoplectic but we know it means simply Batman. I have listened to people like Frisch and Enos spew their hate and thankfully, America has wised up and doesn;t fall for their old trap. I asked Frisch many times for the racial makeup of his employees because he was slamming conservatives on race hiring. He has dodged it every time.

[Steven Frisch]

George, people are not idiots. You define dog whistle perfectly...make a racist comment then use plausible deniability to distance yourself from it.

When someone serial uses terms like "raghead", evokes images of racial and religious conflict, advocates separatism through the 'great divide', and connects 18th Century European fears and images of a dark unknown and dangerous African continent to the neighborhoods of South Los Angeles, it is pretty obvious that they are sending a message to their cohorts about the dangers of the idea connected to these evoked fears.

I'm going back to not commenting here because your entire readership (that comments) is basically unworthy of precious time, but rest assured the community knows who you really are, and what you believe, and will act accordingly.

[Todd Juvinall]

Yeah that George. Retired military, taxpayer, family man. Just a really amazing fellow eh SteveF? What I find amazing about the peabrained liberal is they are always on guard to point ut others mistakes but never their own. Arrogance is your middle name. Since this blog is so beneath you, do everyone a favor and stay away. We wouldn't want your patent leather white shoes to get soiled.

[Steve Enos]

Just more nasty personal insults from Todd Juvinall.

George, why do you fail to address Todd Juvinall and Dixon Cruickshank’s “Charlie Sheen” style posts that have nothing to do with the issues raised?

George… is this type of thing that you want your blog to be know for?

[Greg Goodknight]

The linguistic niggards from the FUE's sandbox just can't stop.

Perhaps they should invest their own cash in the so-called "United Field Bank" branch for Nevada County and keep us informed about all the great things that are in the pipeline.

[George Rebane]

The follow-on post on community partnership banking is my 12mar11 Union column here
http://rebaneruminations.typepad.com/rebanes_ruminations/2011/03/dancing-the-cpb-sidestep.html

[Rick]

Im very curious about this UFB ?? Does anyone know of anyone who has invested monies model ? Have people been scammed? Told that they would get a return and havent,because I think I do..How can I find out??

[George Rebane]

For more information on community partnership banking, I recommend contacting Nevada City councilwoman Reinette Senum.

[Olga]

David Rose lives in Hawaii. The question one has to ask is, "why hasn't his UFC model been tried or accepted there? Hawaii imports 90% of its food and is looking for ways to be sustainable. Mr Rose has had little or no success in any of the businesses he has been associated with and was fired by his last two employers in Hawaii. Its very easy for a person to misrepresent his qualifications especially if no one asks or looks into his background. I've read the company website and it looks very much like a scam to me.