Feeding The Homeless BANNED In Major Cities All Over America
The Economic Collapse blog
by Michael T. Snyder, Esq.
March 21, 2012

What would you do if you came across someone on the street that had not had anything to eat for several days?  Would you give that person some food?  Well, the next time you get that impulse you might want to check if it is still legal to feed the homeless where you live.  Sadly, feeding the homeless has been banned in major cities all over America.  Other cities that have not banned it outright have put so many requirements on those that want to feed the homeless (acquiring expensive permits, taking food preparation courses, etc.) that feeding the homeless has become "out of reach" for most average people.  Some cities are doing these things because they are concerned about the "health risks" of the food being distributed by ordinary "do-gooders".  Other cities are passing these laws because they do not want homeless people congregating in city centers where they know that they will be fed.  But at a time when poverty and government dependence are soaring to unprecedented levels, is it really a good idea to ban people from helping those that are hurting?

Read more here

The National Center on Family Homelessness
Americas Youngest Outcasts 2010

America's Youngest Outcasts 2010 documents the numbers of homeless children in every state, their well-being, their risk for child homelessness, and state level planning and policy activities. Using findings from numerous sources that include well-established national data sets as well as our own research, we rank the states in four domains and then develop a composite of these domains to rank the states from 1 (best) to 50 (worst). Read more here

Brother's Keeper
Blessed Trinity Catholic Church
5 S.E. 17th Street
Ocala, FL 34471
(352) 629-8092

Brother's Keeper is the social service outreach ministry of our parish. We have been assisting the needy and marginalized of our parish and of our community since the early 1970's.

Brother's Keeper also operates a Soup Kitchen. We serve a lunch meal from 12:00 to 1:00 every day of the year - including holidays, Christmas and Easter. See below for directions to the Soup Kitchen and for opportunities to volunteer. The Soup Kitchen phone number is 629-1292. Call between 9:00 and 2:00

Our office for emergency assistance is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 to 12:00 and from 1:00 to 4:00. We can make special arrangements for parishioners. Our office phone number is 622-3846. You can also always call 732-4444 - the County's emergency contact network for hard to handle questions or circumstances.

At the same location - the corner of Fort King and Magnolia - Brother's Keeper operates a THRIFT AND USED CLOTHING STORE AND A USED FURNITURE STORE. Come by and see our great deals and great prices. Our retail hours are Monday through Friday 9:00 to 4:00 and on Saturdays from 10:00 to 2:00. The furniture store number is 732-7988 and the thrift store number is 622-5544.

Read more here

Charles Blow

It Takes a Village
The New York Times
by Charles Blow
September 23, 2011

"...as Broadway Housing Communities points out on its Web site, "permanent supportive housing for an individual costs taxpayers $12,500 annually, compared to annual costs of $25,000 for an emergency shelter cot; $60,000 for a prison cell; and $125,000 for a psychiatric hospital bed."

Around the corner came a little golden ball of sunshine named Madison, dressed head to toe in pink, hair arranged in Afro puffs, one wrist covered in turquoise beaded bracelets, arms opened wide. She wrapped those arms around a teacher’s legs, hugged them close and looked up with the kind of smile that sets the world right.

Madison is 4 years old. She is happy and thriving. This is her second year of Head Start in the basement of a building that houses the poor and homeless in one of Manhattan’s poorest neighborhoods. Read more here

Booking photos of police officers Manuel Ramos, and Jay Cicinelli

Kelly Thomas: D.A. charges two officers with murder, manslaughter
Los Angeles Times
by Abby Sewell

and Richard Winton
September 21, 2011

Two Fullerton police officers have been criminally charged in the violent confrontation that left a homeless man dead, Orange County Dist. Atty. Tony Rackauckas announced Wednesday.

Officer Manuel Ramos has been charged with second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter in connection with the beating of 37-year-old Kelly Thomas, a homeless schizophrenic man. Officer Jay Cicinelli has been charged with involuntary manslaughter and excessive use of force.

Officers approached Kelly Thomas on July 5 at the bus depot in downtown Fullerton while responding to a report of someone trying to break into cars. According to witness accounts, Thomas ran when officers attempted to search his bag. Exactly what happened next is unclear, but witnesses said they saw multiple officers hitting Kelly and shooting him with a Taser while he was on the ground. Read more here

Kelly Thomas

Kelly Thomas begged for his life from 'menacing' officer, D.A. says
Los Angeles Times
by Abby Sewell

and Richard Winton
September 21, 2011

Scared and bleeding, Kelly Thomas begged for his life to no avail as Fullerton police officers beat him and Tasered him in a violent confrontation that led to his death, Orange County Dist. Atty. Tony Rackauckas said at a news conference Wednesday.

Rackauckas gave a painfully detailed narrative of the July 5 events leading up to Thomas' death -– details that he said resulted in second-degree murder and manslaughter charges being filed against two police officers.

Rackauckas said Officer Manuel Ramos put latex gloves on his hands and brandished a fist at Thomas. Then, Rackauckas said, the officer, in a "menacing" manner, threatened Thomas: "These fists are ready to F you up." Read more here

Coroner's report completed in Kelly Thomas' death
Los Angeles Times
by Abby Sewell
and Richard Winton
September 21, 2011

The Orange County district attorney is set to announce Wednesday whether criminal charges will be filed against six Fullerton police officers involved in a violent confrontation that led to the death of a mentally ill homeless man.

A coroner's report in the controversial death of Kelly Thomas, 37, was handed over late Tuesday to Dist. Atty. Tony Rackauckas, but the findings have not been made public.

Witnesses have alleged that Thomas, a familiar figure in downtown Fullerton, was repeatedly shocked with a stun gun and beaten until he was unconscious by officers. On a video, Thomas can be heard over the sound of a Taser calling out for his father.

Police have said they were simply trying to subdue Thomas. Thomas died five days after the July 5 confrontation when he was taken off life support. Read more here

Kelly Thomas

Death of Kelly Thomas
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Kelly Thomas (April 5, 1974 – July 10, 2011) was a 37-year-old homeless man suffering from schizophrenia, and living on the streets of Fullerton, California. He was fatally beaten by members of the Fullerton Police Department on July 5, 2011. Thomas was initally taken to St. Jude Medical Center in Fullerton but transferred to the UC Irvine Medical Center. He was comatose on arrival there and not expected to recover. He never regained consciousness. Medical records show that bones in his face were broken and he choked on his own blood. The coroner concluded that compression of the thorax made it impossible for Thomas to breathe normally and deprived his brain of oxygen. His parents removed him from life support five days later, and he died from his injuries on July 10, 2011. Officer Manuel Ramos was charged with one count of second-degree murder and one count of involuntary manslaughter; Cpl. Jay Cicinelli was charged with one count of involuntary manslaughter and one count of excessive force. Read more here

Dumpster Diving?
The Economic Collapse Blog
by Michael T. Snyder, Esq.
September 15, 2011

Have you ever thought about getting your food out of a trash can? Don't laugh. Dumpster diving has become a hot new trend in America. In fact, dumpster divers even have a trendy new name. They call themselves "freegans", and as the economy crumbles their numbers are multiplying. Many freegans consider dumpster diving to be a great way to save money on groceries. Others do it because they want to live more simply. Freegans that are concerned about the environment view dumpster diving as a great way to "recycle" and other politically-minded freegans consider dumpster diving to be a form of political protest. But whatever you want to call it, the reality is that thousands upon thousands of Americans will break out their boots, rubber gloves and flashlights and will be jumping into dumpsters looking for food once again tonight. Read more here

Dumpster Diving?
Zero Hedge
Submitted by Ilene
September 16, 2011

This is a re-post of the Michael Snyder story, and is posted here so readers can see this is a widespread problem. It also provides additional witness by the commenters.

Wikipedia quotes Dante Chinni: "Everyone wants to believe they are middle class...But this eagerness...has led the definition to be stretched like a bungee cord — used to defend/attack/describe everything...The Drum Major Institute...places the range for middle class at individuals making between $25,000 and $100,000 a year. Ah yes, there's a group of people bound to run into each other while house-hunting."

Wikipedia also notes, "Middle class persons commonly have a comfortable standard of living, significant economic security, considerable work autonomy and rely on their expertise to sustain themselves."...and..."Seen from a sociological perspective based on class-cleavages, the majority of Americans can be described as members of the working class." Read more here

Homelessness is a problem across age, race, class, education, everything. Cornel West said that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., died for sanitation workers in Memphis April 4, 1968. We all have value.

Below are some ideas for working while homeless. These include day labor (work today, paid today) taxi driving, and recruitment, employment agencies or temp services, like Kelly Services. These jobs can lead to regular employment too. 

A green hybird taxi, Arlington, VA

Taxicab
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


A taxicab, also taxi or cab, is a type of vehicle for hire with a driver, used by a single passenger or small group of passengers, often for a non-shared ride. A taxicab conveys passengers between locations of their choice. In modes of public transport, the pick-up and drop-off locations are determined by the service provider, not by the passenger, although demand responsive transport and share taxis provide a hybrid bus/taxi mode. Read more here

Kelly Services

Kelly Services, Inc. is a Fortune 500  company headquartered in Troy Michigan, offering services that include temporary staffing services, outsourcing, vendor on-site and full-time placement. Kelly operates in 37 countries and territories. Kelly employs more than 530,000 individuals annually, in areas including office services, accounting, engineering, information technology, law, science, marketing, creative services, light industrial, education, and health care. Revenue in 2010 was $5 billion. Read more here

Labor Ready

Each year, Labor Ready dispatches approximately 400,000 Temporary Associates to jobs in construction, manufacturing, hospitality, events, restoration, auto services, logistics and warehousing, retail support, waste and recycling and more. More than 225,000 businesses of all sizes throughout the United States and Canada use Labor Ready when they need a dependable source of labor. We take pride in quickly matching the right worker with the right job. That means not only knowing our Temporary Associates strengths – it also means knowing the policies and working styles of every one of our customers. Read more here

Manpower

Whether you're just entering the workforce or have decided on a career change, Manpower can help. We've been a world leader in employment services for more than 60 years. We know what it's like to look for a job. That's why our goal is to make the experience better and easier for you. We start by listening closely to understand your skills, interests and goals. Then we work to give you choices that suit your work style and fit your lifestyle. Plus, we arm you with everything you need to get a great job - and to succeed on the job. Read more here

Spherion

Spherion Staffing Services is a leading recruiting and staffing provider that specializes in placing administrative, clerical, customer service and light industrial candidates in temporary and full-time opportunities. As an industry pioneer for more than 60 years, Spherion has sourced, screened and placed millions of individuals in virtually every industry through a network of offices across the United States and Canada. Read more here

Apple One

Founded in 1964, and built on a policy of helping quality individuals like yourself achieve your employment goals, AppleOne has grown to become the single largest privately owned employment service in North America.

Offering full-service career assistance and numerous special benefits, AppleOne can help you with everything from temporary projects to direct hire (permanent placement) positions. And, with over 200 offices located throughout the United States and Canada, you'll always find an AppleOne close to the places where you live and work! If you are moving to a new location, chances are there's already an AppleOne in place, ready to serve you. Read more here

Adecco

The Adecco Group is the world’s leading provider of HR solutions. With approximately 33,000 employees and over 5,500 branches, in over 60 countries and territories around the world, we offer a wide variety of services, connecting over 750,000 associates with well over 100,000 clients every day. The services we offer fall into the broad categories of temporary staffing, permanent placement, career transition, talent development and workforce management solutions, as well as outsourcing and consulting.

The Adecco Group is based in Zurich-Glattbrug, Switzerland and we are a Fortune Global 500 company listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange. Read more here

The Select Family of Staffing Companies

The Select Family of Staffing Companies is an American company that provides temporary and permanent staff.

A member of the American Staffing Association, The Select Family is ranked as the 8th-largest employment agency in the United States (2nd-largest for industrial staffing, 8th-largest for office/clerical, and 12th-largest for finance/accounting) and the 16th largest in the world. The company primarily offers services in human resources, and has over 400 offices in 45 states.

The company's major divisions include Select Staffing, Remedy Intelligent Staffing, RemX Financial Staffing, RemX IT Staffing, RemX OfficeStaff, RemX Search & Placement, RemX Engineering, RemX Scientific, Select Truckers Plus, Project Solvers (design), Westaff, and Select Medical Staffing. Read more here

In Steinbeck's footsteps: America's middle-class underclass
By Paul Mason
BBC Newsnight
July 28, 2011

In The Grapes of Wrath, John Steinbeck describes the harrowing journey of the Joad family - migrant workers forced to leave their home during the Great Depression - a story still relevant to those facing the realities of America's current economic crisis.

Read more here

Hard times generation: homeless kids
CBS News, 60 Minutes
by Scott Pelley
March 6, 2011

For some children, socializing and learning are being cruelly complicated by homelessness, as Scott Pelley reports from Florida, where school buses now stop at motels for children who've lost their homes.

One of the consequences of the recession that you don't hear a lot about is the record number of children descending into poverty.

The government considers a family of four to be impoverished if they take in less than $22,000 a year. Based on that standard, and government projections of unemployment, it is estimated the poverty rate for kids in this country will soon hit 25 percent. Those children would be the largest
American generation to be raised in hard times since the Great Depression.

In Seminole County, near Orlando, Fla., so many kids have lost their homes that school busses now stop at dozens of cheap motels where families crowd into rooms, living week to week. Read more here on 60 Minutes, CBS News

Jacob Braverman, age 14

His family lost their house suddenly in October. When he got off the bus that day, the door was locked. "That was the last thing that I expected," he told Pelley. His mother, Rosa, lost her job. But the eviction was a shock. The bank told Rosa she had 30 days, but it was five days later that the cops moved them out. There's a lot of chaos in foreclosures all across the country because of the sheer number of them. Read more here on 60 Minutes, CBS News

Destiny Corfee, age 11, joined the line at one local motel a year ago. "I never really noticed what people were actually going through until now; until we're actually going through it too," she told "60 Minutes" correspondent Scott Pelley.

Destiny's parents David and Theresa never imagined their family homeless. Together they were making about $40 an hour detailing expensive cars. There was a three-bedroom home, vacations and extras for the kids. But both jobs went, and then the house. Evicted, they found that the homeless shelters wanted to split their family up - boys and girls. "That was definitely something that I wasn't gonna have, was being separated at a time like this. I figured the time like this that we needed to be together more than anything," David Corfee said. So David, Theresa, Destiny, Jorge and Chance, moved into their van. "I was embarrassed that maybe one of my friends might see me. I don't want anybody to know that I was actually in there," Destiny told Pelley.

The van, according to Destiny, was parked at a WalMart. "We would actually go in WalMart and clean our self up before we'd go to school," her brother Jorge remembered.

"How would you do that?" Pelley asked. "I would like wash my face, and like, take a tissue and wash my arms and stuff," Jorge explained. "We would bring the toothpaste and the toothbrush and the brushes so we'll go brush our hair in the mirror and people would see us," Destiny added. "And it would be kind of weird. But we worked through it."

"Tell me about the motel that you're living in now," Pelley said. "Well, it's a lot better than the van!" Destiny replied. But Jorge pointed out the living space is small: two rooms for the five of them. Their possessions, family photos - you name it - went into storage. And they lost it all, seized and sold, when they couldn't pay that bill. "Most of my stuff was in there; my scooter, my game system, all my games, my clothes. So I lost most of my stuff," Jorge said. "I had so many of my toys and things. My Barbie dolls, clothes, and it was just all gone," Destiny said. The neighborhood around the motel is scary, she added. "You hear on the news all the time about shootings, and it's all right there."

Read more here on 60 Minutes, CBS News

National Law Center On Homelessness and Poverty
1411 K Street NW, #1400
Washington, DC 20005

The mission of the NLCHP Law Center is to prevent and end homelessness by serving as the legal arm of the nationwide movement to end homelessness. To achieve its mission, the organization pursues three main strategies. Read more here


Jack Cafferty

For the first time maybe since the Vietnam War or certainly since the civil rights movement, there are some darkening storm clouds on the civility horizon. A growing number of voices are continuing to suggest that if this economy doesn't turn around, and people can't start feeling optimistic about their futures again, we could be headed for some ugly scenarios. A new CNN poll says 48 percent of Americans think the country is headed for another Great Depression in the next twelve months. That is a stunning number. Read more here

Homelessness
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Homelessness categorizes the condition of people without a regular dwelling because they are unable to acquire and maintain regular, safe, and adequate housing, or lack "fixed, regular, and adequate night-time residence. "The legal definition of "homeless" varies from country to country, or among different entities or institutions in the same country or region.

 The term homeless may also include people whose primary night-time residence is in a homeless shelter, a warming center, a domestic violence shelter or other ad hoc housing situation. Government homeless enumeration studies also include persons who sleep in a public or private place not designed for use as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings. Read more here

Matt O'Brien

Las Vegas Author Matt O'Brien Exposes Plight Of Underground Homeless
The Huffington Post
by Jessica Prois
February 28, 2011
updated June 17, 2011

Below the flashing neon, imagine an underground Las Vegas of winding flood channels, drippy and dark. The channels seem inhabitable if not for the threadbare mattresses and some out-of-place artwork on the walls. People actually live here.
And Las Vegas author Matt O'Brien writes about them -- real, raw stories of the desert homeless who were drawn to the Strip's intrigue but now live unseen, below the surface of the city.

O'Brien, a 14-year Las Vegas resident, is an advocate for the homeless and others who are systematically ignored in Las Vegas. He says he fights for the "losers" versus the "winners," documenting their stories and running a nonprofit to help the homeless get out of the tunnels.

He recently released his second book, "My Week at the Blue Angel: And Other Stories from the Storm Drains, Strip Clubs, and Trailer Parks of Las Vegas", a nonfiction novel describing his ethnographic experience living with those who make their home at the battered Blue Angel Motel. Read more here

Outcasts: Tonight Tens Of Thousands Of Formerly Middle Class Americans Will Be Sleeping In Their Cars, In Tent Cities Or On The Streets

The Economic Collapse Blog
by Michael T. Snyder, Esq.
July 13, 2011

Economic despair is beginning to spread rapidly in America. As you read this, there are millions of American families that are just barely hanging on by their fingernails. For a growing number of Americans, it has become an all-out battle just to be able to afford to sleep under a roof and put a little bit of food on the table. Sadly, there are more people than ever that are losing that battle. Tonight, tens of thousands of formerly middle class Americans will be sleeping in their cars, even though that is illegal in many U.S. cities. Tens of thousands of others will be sleeping in tent cities or on the streets. Meanwhile, communities all over America are passing measures that are meant to push tent cities and homeless people out of their areas. It turns out that once you lose your job and your home in this country you become something of an outcast. Sadly, the number of "outcasts" is going to continue to grow as the U.S. economy continues to collapse. Most Americans that end up living in their cars on in tent cities never thought that it would happen to them. Read more here

Anna44 responded to Chris Finstad who commented to the above story "you need to understand that most of the people on unemployment are lazy and worthless."

Anna 44 responded "The sad thing about this, is too many employeed people think the same thing. My B-I-L was a dealership owner/manager who worked long hours over 38 years and had to close his doors when Saturn was dissolved. When his dealership went under, 72 others lost their job. That’s 72 families who took a hit. He lost his home, everything. A few of his former employees lost their homes as well eventually. They were not lazy or WORTHLESS. It took him a year and a half to finally find something, but now he lives in a hotel unable to qualify for a house or apartment. This is an educated man who competed nationwide for top dog and got it more then once. His biggest fault? He’s almost 60, young enough to need the work, but too old to be hired."

"As for my husband- 26 years AF officer, handling millions & billions on International & National levels has just entered his 7th month of unemployment. Two tours abroad- lazy he is NOT. He doesn’t qualify for unemployment, nor is he counted because he gets a retirement check. He wants and needs to work- yet there is little out there. If he doesn’t find something soon, we too will lose the home we sunk every cent into after 20 years of saving for it!
Mr. Finstad, your outlook is not only harsh on those who have fallen on hard times, it’s incorrect. Many people on unemployment are not lazy. And they are certainly not worthless". Read more here

Poverty Insights

Poverty Insights bring together social advocates, politicians and community members from throughout the United States to encourage nationwide dialogue about these crucial issues. By uniting people with differing opinions, coming from different regions and walks of life, we provide a platform for the creation of innovative new strategies to combat homelessness across the country.

Public Storage is Affordable Housing of Last Resort
Poverty Insights
by Joel John Roberts
October 25, 2010

The refrigerator is the clue that something is exceptionally wrong where Sarah lives. With its spattering of magnets securing family snapshots, you would think the refrigerator was purchased at the local Best Buy and placed in a suburban home.

Sarah points out the photos like they are digital trophies of a life lost years ago. Some of the images depict two deceased sons. Others are of beloved family friends. At more than 60 years old, Sarah appears to be a grieving widow. Not too shocking for a person leaning toward the last phase of a long life.

It is the location of the refrigerator, however, that reflects her abysmal life situation. I am standing with Sarah in a small Public Storage unit in a rough Los Angeles neighborhood.
Sarah is homeless, but manages to use her disability checks to rent a tiny space that is supposed to be used for storage for middle-class excess. Instead, public storage has become a hideaway from the unsafe streets of America’s second largest city. Read more here

Tent Cities, Homelessness And Soul-Crushing Despair: The Legacy Of Decades Of Government Debt And Mismanagement Of The Economy
Economic Collapse Blog
Michael T. Snyder, Esq.
November 19, 2010

For decades, our politicians have been deeply addicted to government debt, they have stood idly by as millions of our jobs have been shipped overseas and they have passed countless business-crushing regulations and they never thought that it would catch up with us. Well, it has. America has been living in the biggest debt bubble in the history of the world, and now that bubble is starting to pop. There has never been such an extended period of unemployment in the United States since the Great Depression, and millions of Americans are losing their homes. Homelessness is skyrocketing, tent cities are popping up everywhere and countless numbers of American families are experiencing the soul-crushing despair that comesfrom desperately trying to hang on for month after month after month.

Read more here

Abandoned storage unit reveals converted apartment

Fox 30 WAWS
February 21, 2011

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Bidding on abandoned storage units is something Melissa Hatcher does all the time.

"A couple times a week I go to different places, and I usually sell whatever I find inside," she told Action News.

Monday seemed like a typical bidding day, when she arrived at Uncle Bob's Self Storage on Lane Avenue. A partial preview of a single unit that was delinquent in payments since October of 2010, didn't bring any offers. Nonetheless, management went ahead and broke the lock they placed on the unit months ago, and opened the garage door.

"When they opened up the unit it was like a house," Hatcher said, as she remembered the shocking moment.

"There was a front door and walls, and it was all separate rooms with a living room and a bedroom."

A 10x10 unit had been converted into an apartment. The renter of the single unit had knocked out the walls to the three surrounding 10x10 units and made himself a home.

"He painted it so it was like a house, but there was still trash in there, and some food. It wasn't decorated very nice."

Multiple bidders told Action News the kitchen was equipped with a counter and electrical outlets.

"He had a bucket, so I'm assuming that was the bathroom, but that was about it."

It was a surprise that bidders couldn't believe, and left them thankful that noone made a bid.

"I guess it's cheaper then rent," joked Hatcher. No electricity bill or anything."

Company representatives said they've never had a situation this serious before. They are conducting their own investigation and said they do plan to file a report with the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office. Once that investigation is complete, they plan to donate to charity whatever decorations and furniture can be saved.

Read more here

Mark Boyle

The Moneyless Man
Huffington Post
August 28, 2010

In 2008, economics graduate and former businessman Mark Boyle gave up the one resource we all crave more of: money. He sold his house, found a place to live where he could trade labor directly for accommodation, set up a rocket stove made from discarded catering cans, a solar shower, a veggie garden, and a compost toilet. And on November 28th (International Buy Nothing Day 2008), he became The Moneyless Man.

In his new book "The Moneyless Man: A Year Of Freeconomic Living," Mark tells us how he did it and why. He answers practical questions, offers useful tips to cut down daily expenses, and relays the philosophical lessons he learned. What Mark discovered is that not only could he successfully eliminate his bills and reduce his carbon footprint, but that by living without money he ended up more productive, healthier and happier than ever.

In the slideshow, Mark documents all the challenges and experiences of his moneyless year. For more information about Mark and his book, check out his profile for CNN.

The Moneyless Man: A Year of Freeconomic Living

Mark Boyle, author

Imagine a year without spending even a dime. Former businessman Mark Boyle did just that. Following his own strict rules, Mark learned ingenious ways to eliminate his bills and flourish for free. Encountering seasonal foods, solar panels, skill-swapping schemes, cuttlefish toothpaste, and a cash-free Christmas, Boyle puts the fun into frugality and offers some great tips for economical (and environmentally friendly) living. A compelling story, you'll never look at money in the same way again. Read more here

Shurgard Self Storage Europe was founded in 1994 as a result of a joint venture between Shurgard Inc. (USA) and a Swedish Real Estate Company. In 1995 it opened its first self storage center in Brussels, Belgium. Today Shurgard is the European market leader with more than 170 self-storage facilities in seven European countries and more than 90,000 customers.

The company is specialized in all aspects of the self-storage industry for both private and commercial users.

In August 2006, Shurgard became a subsidiary of Public Storage, the world's largest owner and operator of self-storage facilities with over one million customers and more than 2,100 stores in 38 states (USA) and seven European countries.

Home sweet home, an air-conditioned storage unit with a window. Only $305 per month, utilities included.

A personal power plant. Can jump start your car too.

A casual, bohemian lifestyle. Escape the rat-race.

Dinner is on the stove, chicken soup. The stove doubles for camping trips.

Original art, right outside the door.

Pets can add enjoyment to your home and life. This is Fluffy the Bunny. Fluffy did okay until she was treated at UF College of Veterinary Medicine by student-doctor Debbie Myers.

RIP Fluffy, 2001-2007.

A used 1990 Dodge Grand Caravan bought on eBay for $617.00. That was February 3, 2004. I'm still driving the van. I removed the back seats and installed a flat woodboard floor, then a foam camping pad, sleeping bag, ice cooler, and homemade shelves for clothing and supplies.

The mobility allowed me to work day labor jobs. Night parking spots included Kinkos, Walmart, and shopping center lots. 

Fluffy took the wheel as I slept. Let's Go!

Fluffy’s cage sat where the passenger seat used to be.

James Worley is a videographer who filmed the 2011 Ferrari 458 Italia run over by a Ford F150 truck. The video has gone viral and was featured on MSNBC.

News anchor Dara Brown produced "Don’t Park on My Ferrari" using James Worley’s video.  

I have known James Worley for many years. James shot video for the Justice Network of the Judicial Nomination Commission (JNC) in Tampa, Florida June 15, 2010. The JNC shoot was difficult because the applicants for judge were tight-lipped. Nonetheless James Worley maintained his professionalism throughout. In all my dealings with James Worley I found him honest and hardworking.

In a way James Worley reminds me of Ted Williams, the homeless man with the golden voice. James is homeless too.

James and I met in 2004 when we were both homeless and living at the Shurgard Storage Center in Tampa, Florida. But there is much more to James Worley. Life for James has not been easy. His Mother was murdered when he was fourteen by his step-father, Michael W. Rippley, who is serving a life sentence for the crime. 

True American Stories

Extreme Auto News

JamesWorley’s Channel

Ferrari 458 ran over by Ford truck
Tampa Sports Car Examiner
By Michael Berenis
January 29th, 2011

Brandon, FL - It appears that a brand new Ferrari 458 driven by CEO of I-Pathology with about 500 miles on it and a late model Ford pickup truck have collided, resulting in the destruction of the front end of a beautiful Italian exotic. The accident took place January 28, 2011 on South Parsons Ave in Brandon, Florida.

Ferrari crash pictures here

Thanks to the quick video and reporting skills of YouTube user JamesWorley, we get to see what it looks like to have a giant Ford climb on top of a Ferrari! He was there on the scene to get all of the info, a big thanks to James for bringing his video and information to our attention! Damages to the Ferrari are rumored to be in excess of $25,000 USD according to several interviewed Ferrari body repair professionals.

According to a comment posted below from a witness, it appears the Ferrari was illegally attempting to pass to get into the turn lane, thus possibly responsible for the accident. "I was at the car wash when this happened. The traffic was backed up on northbound Parsons Av and the Ferrari was passing across a double yellow line (illegal) to try and get to the small left turn lane I believe."

Update as of 2/2/11! The witness from above has contacted me today with the following information: "I know there are many witnesses including the lady who was parked just to the right of the 458 when this happened. I was putting my change in and I heard a "crackling" noise. I looked around and cars where lined up front and rear stopped while the Ferrari was as shown. A small dark compact car (maybe a older Dodge or something) was immediately beside the 458. The stopped traffic (the lady in the compact) was letting the Ford turn out of the car wash."

Whatever happened, once the truck was removed from the hood of the Ferrari, you can see the ample amount of damage done to the Ferrari and minimal amount done to the truck. This was not a good day for the Ferrari owner! As I get more information, I will post it here. Stay tuned! Read more here

This Emotional Life - The TV Series
Premiered January 2010

The Emmy Award-winning team of Vulcan Productions and the producers of NOVA have created a three-part series that explores improving our social relationships, learning to cope with depression and anxiety, and becoming more positive, resilient individuals.The series was produced by Kunhardt McGee Productions.

Harvard psychologist and best-selling author of Stumbling on Happiness, Professor Daniel Gilbert, talks with experts about the latest science on what makes us "tick" and how we can find support for the emotional issues we all face.

Each episode weaves together the compelling personal stories of ordinary people and the latest scientific research along with revealing comments from celebrities like Chevy Chase, Larry David, Alanis Morissette, Robert Kennedy, Jr., and Richard Gere. Read more here

Richard Kreimer

Homeless Man Is a Frequent Plaintiff, Collecting Hundreds of Thousands of Dollars
ABA Journal Law News Now
by Debra Cassens Weiss
August 3, 2011

It can be costly to arrest Richard Kreimer, or to throw him out of your business.

Richard Kreimer is homeless, but not exactly penniless, the New Jersey Star-Ledger reports. Over the years he has filed nearly 20 lawsuits alleging violation of his First Amendment or civil rights, bringing "a good bit of media coverage and hundreds of thousands of dollars in settlements," the story says.

Kreimer may be most famous for his successful suit against the library in Morristown, N.J., for barring him from the premises, which garnered him an $80,000 settlement in 1991. He had claimed he was unlawfully ousted for his hygiene and odd behavior. In another suit against Morristown claiming police harassment, he won a $150,000 settlement.

Other defendants have included a pharmacy, a coffeehouse, a Chinese restaurant, and other municipalities, the story says. His most recent suit accuses New Jersey transit police of tossing him from a train station based on an unconstitutional anti-loitering law.

The Star-Ledger spoke with Bruce Rosen, who represented Kreimer in the Morristown Library case. Kreimer is "making a life out of these lawsuits," Rosen said. "It’s become kind of like a sting operation, where he’s waiting for someone to violate his rights. ...This is a way for him to make money." Read more here

Richard Kreimer

Homeless N.J. man sues NJ Transit 4 times, most recently over loitering, search

The Star-Ledger
by Alexi Friedman 
August 2, 2011

Richard Kreimer calls himself NJ Transit’s most valuable commuter. He has also called himself a plaintiff in four lawsuits filed against the agency, most recently in June.

"Nobody travels the trains more than me, but I’m not going to tolerate being harassed," the 62-year-old Kreimer said last week from NJ Transit’s Secaucus Junction station, where he was sitting on a bench eating lunch.

Kreimer, who is homeless, has made a name for himself over the years by suing NJ Transit, the Morristown Library, CVS pharmacy, a coffeehouse, a Chinese restaurant and various municipalities and mayors, all alleging First Amendment and civil rights violations. In most instances, he has been barred from or thrown out of a location. Kreimer believes he is a target because he is homeless. Read more here

Bruce Rosen, Esq.

McCusker, Anselmi, Rosen, & Carvelli, P.C.

Bruce Rosen, partner in the firm, leverages over 25 years experience in civil litigation and criminal defense coupled with a successful 15-year career as an award-winning newspaper reporter and editor in bringing about the best result for his clients. Bruce has long been associated with headline-grabbing litigations involving First Amendment issues related to free speech, media law and religious activities. More recently, web defamation, workplace privacy, appropriation of image and data theft issues have also come into focus for this accomplished litigator.

In representing individuals and clients who own and manage both public and private businesses, Bruce has extensive experience in complex and standard commercial litigation, including environmental law and insurance coverage, class action defense, land use, RLIUPA (Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act), business disputes such as minority shareholder litigation, and employment litigation. Read more here

Pro Bono Goes High-Tech, and Homeless Veterans Benefit
ABA Journal Law News Now
by Debra Cassens Weiss
August 5, 2011

Skype can be used to talk to your spouse, catch up with a friend, or talk over a business matter. The Minnesota Justice Foundation has found another use for the technology—linking low-income people in need of legal help with lawyers who have the expertise to counsel them.

This spring, the foundation used video technology to link homeless veterans in Duluth with volunteer bankruptcy lawyers in Minneapolis. Sara Sommarstrom, program director of the Minnesota Justice Foundation, explained at an ABA Annual Meeting program Thursday how that was accomplished.

The foundation sent about a dozen volunteer law students from Minneapolis to help homeless veterans in Duluth fill out legal forms for their pro se cases. Two legal aid lawyers with expertise in family and elder law were there to help.

Also standing by were volunteer bankruptcy lawyers at Faegre & Benson in Minneapolis. The firm had interactive TV, the same technology that is used at courthouses throughout Minnesota. One vet being chased by debt collectors used the courthouse video system to meet with a Faegre & Benson lawyer. Another used Skype on a law student’s laptop to meet with a lawyer at different firm recruited at the last minute to avoid a conflict of interest.

Sommarstrom says video technology has lots of potential in a state where lawyers and law students are concentrated in just two cities: Minneapolis and St. Paul. Some rural counties have fewer than 10 lawyers in all, and they can’t provide pro bono help to all the residents who need it. "We have a county that literally has two attorneys," she said.

She spoke at a program called "Lawyering in the Digital Age: Using Technology and Social Media to Assist Underserved Populations." The ABA Division for Public Services was the primary sponsor. Read more here