The number of FOIA requests sent to the NSA increased tenfold in the aftermath of disclosures revealing the agency’s mass surveillance programs, including PRISM, Boundless Informant and others.
Newly-designed $100 bill to finally reach the public Tuesday
The newly-designed $100 bill with strengthened authentication safeguards will go public on Tuesday, the bill’s first redesign since 1996 and two years behind schedule.
Benjamin Franklin’s image on the $100 bill stays the same, but other measures taken in the redesign will make verification easier and counterfeiting tougher.
The new features – from left to right when looking at Franklin on the note – include an embedded security thread that runs vertically in the bill and is engraved with“USA” and “100”; a blue, 3-D security ribbon in which a Liberty Bell will turn to a“100” when tilted back and will move up and down if tilted side-to-side; color-changing ink that turns another Liberty Bell from copper to green when the bill is tilted; and a quill alongside imprinted phrases from the Declaration of Independence.
In addition, the bill will feature “raised printing” throughout its surface.
The new bill was scheduled for release to the public in 2011, but the Federal Reserve pushed the date back given aspects of the new security features were causing the bills to crease during printing, leaving blank spaces on the notes.
In August the Bureau of Engraving and Printing reported that 30 million of the new $100 bills were improperly printed, citing a taxpayer cost of $3.79 million to correct.
The $100 bill is the second most common US bill in circulation. As of Dec. 31, 2012, the top three in circulation were $1 bills (10.3bn), $100 bills (8.6bn) and $20 bills (7.4bn). Over 75 percent of the around $1tn of currency in circulation is in $100 bills, CNN reported.
Older designs of the $100 note will stay in circulation, though any new notes given to banks by the Federal Reserve will feature the new design.
The new note’s anti-counterfeit tech will not come cheap, however. Each new $100 bill will cost 8 cents to produce, while the proposed budget for printing will be 7 percent higher than the year prior. According to the Federal Reserve that increase is“primarily attributable to a higher volume of more-expensive new-design $100 notes.”
Boehner prepares to let the US default
The top Republican in the House of Representatives warned President Barack Obama over the weekend that he’s ready to let the United States default — and that the White House is to blame.
House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) told ABC’s “This Week” on Sunday that Republicans in his chamber would not immediately honor the White House’s request to raise the US debt ceiling, setting the stage for what would be the first ever federal default in the history of the country.
Answering whether he thinks a default is imminent, Boehner said, “That’s the path we’re on.”
Boehner warned that Obama was “risking default by not having a conversation with us.”
US Treasury Secretary Jack Lew told Fox News that defaulting on the country’s debt would be both “irresponsible” and “reckless.”
The Obama administration has urged Congress to raise the US debt ceiling, essentially increasing the amount of money that the US Treasury can borrow from other nations. Should the ceiling not be raised ahead of an October 17 deadline, however, the US is expected to default and likely damage further its reputation within the international community.
The Republican refusal to increase the debt ceiling in Congress comes amid a government shutdown expected to enter its second week on Tuesday. The reluctance of the GOP to approve a budget that includes President Obama’s hallmark Affordable Care Act turned chaotic last Tuesday when a 12 a.m. deadline came and went without a compromise.
Again, Republicans insist that catastrophe could be averted if the White House agrees to discuss its spending habits with Congress and perhaps reach a compromise ahead of the looming Oct. 17 deadline.
“The nation’s credit is at risk because of the administration’s refusal to sit down and have a conversation,” Boehner told ABC’s “This Week.”
According to Boehner, House Republicans are not interested in approving any “clean” debt limit bill. Instead, the speaker says the White House should engage in a conversation that could yield a compromise between both parties.
“I told the president, there’s no way we’re going to pass one. The votes are not in the House to pass a clean debt limit,” Boehner said. “And the President is risking default by not having a conversation with us.”
“I don’t want the United States to default on its debt,” Boehner said. “But I’m not going to raise the debt limit without a serious conversation about dealing with problems that are driving the debt up. It would be irresponsible of me to do this.”
“He knows what my phone number is. All he has to do is call,” added Boehner.
As House Republicans and the White House remain locked in stalemate, figures on both the right and left largely agree a default would only worsen matters.
“On the seventeenth we run out of our ability to borrow, and Congress is playing with fire,” Lew, the treasurer, told CNN this week.
On Monday morning, National Economic Council Director Gene Sperling suggested that the White House may come up with a compromise that would call for a shot-term increase of debt ceiling in order to save the country from default.
At an event in Washington on Monday, Sperling told ABC reporter John Karl that a short-term deal wasn’t off the table.
“I think longer is better for economic certainty and jobs, but it is ultimately up to them,” Sperling said of Congress.
DHS City Council proclamation
The City Council met for its regular meeting on October 1, 2013 at the Carl May Center. Fire Chief Pat Tomlinson talked about fire prevention, and was given a proclamation by Mayor Yvonne Parks naming October as “Fire Prevention Month in Desert Hot Springs.”
The late Jack Becker was honored with a proclamation naming the youth CERT program after him. Present to receive the proclamation were his widow Lorraine, children, and his dog Rohrer. More photos by Bruce Montgomery
Pink Pajama Party
The 3rd annual Susan G. Komen “Sleep In For The Cure” was held on Oct. 4th and 5th at the Renaissance Esmeralda Resort and Spa in Indian Wells. The 2 day event included a Frenchy’s Slumber Party and a Pink Ladies Fashion show.
The Pajama Party is usually a sold out event as ladies are treated to entertainment and hospitality suites.There were rooms for Pampering with Massages, makeup, facials face paintings and false eyelashes,all with foods and pink candies and treats. There was a contest at the Pajama party in 4 categories, Cozy and comfy, most pink, themes and groups of 2 or more pajama dressed women. Prizes were donated by the Susan G. Komen inland Empire cancer affiliate.
Saturday started with a Silent Auction and Hors d’ oeuvres. Caroldean Ross of Resale Therapy provided the fashions for the style show and served as emcee. Susan G. Komen foundation works to end breast cancer in the US and around the world thru research and outreach programs in more than 30 countries.
Hard Rock Hotel Palm Springs
The Hard Rock Hotel Palm Springs held an invitation only party on Oct. 3rd for the grand opening of their new luxury hotel. The much anticipated Hard Rock Hotel opened their doors for business on Oct.4th. This is the 18th hotel in their world wide chain of businesses. Hard Rock has hotel, casino, restaurants and music venues in more than 50 countries. They started as a small cafe looking for a good hamburger.
Hundreds of guests waited outside for the lighting of the building before being able to take a peek inside. There is a collection of more than 75 memorabilia items on display chosen from their huge warehouse of rock and roll guitars, costumes, rare photographs, original contracts, sheet music, motorcycles, band instruments and much more from every genre of music. Items from Elvis, Cher, Lady Gaga, Sammy Davis Jr. Johnny Cash to name a few. Millions were spent in the renovation of this new hotel in downtown Palm Springs.
Special guests included the famous Carol Channing who posed for photos with fans and took time to talk to many guests. Palm Springs Mayor Steve Pougnet spoke to the crowd along with Andy Carpiac and Michael Shindler. The Three then flipped the switch that lit up the outdoor lights of the Hotel. Screams were heard with excitement and everyone made their way into the new hotel.
Mayor Pougnet said this was a party so everyone should have a good time. Drinks and Hors d’ oeuvres were served as guests toured the entrance, bars, rooms and memorabilia.
