In the News and On my Mind

UPDATE: Ryan Rancher Sentenced

2008-12-09T16:07:00.000-08:00

Update: Birmingham News
Click here

Manhattan Socialite Dies after nearly 30 Year Coma

2008-12-06T14:24:00.000-08:00

Martha "Sunny" von Bulow has passed away in a New York city nursing home after being in an irreversible coma for 28 years.

Von Bulow’s husband, Claus - a Danish born lawyer, was convicted and later acquitted of making 2 attempts to kill his wife with insulin overdoses. He is alive and well living in London.

The story was dramatized in a 1990 movie, "Reversal of Fortune," starring Glenn Close and Jeremy Irons, based on a book by Alan Dershowitz. Dershowitz is a law professor who also defended Claus von Bulow.

Seeking Employment in Atlanta, GA? Here's a Tip!

2008-12-06T06:54:00.000-08:00

Ryla, a customer service center located in Kennesaw, GA, is seeking hundreds of new employees by years' end. CEO and founder, Mark Wilson said they expect to add more than 1000 jobs by years' end.

Ryla provides outsourced call center and customer contact solutions to a plethora of companies nationwide.

More info from Marketwatch.com

-- Ryla has made job offers to nearly 3,000 individuals for both full-time and seasonal positions during the period of October 2007 and October 2008 -- more than most area Fortune 500 companies

-- The company moved to using an in-house recruiting model exclusively in 2007, resulting in improved margins and increased employee retention rates. In fact, employees now represent a significant referral pipeline that not only aids in candidate identification, but also supports a heightened commitment from current employees who feel they have a stake in the company's growth and unique culture.

-- Ryla's employee additions would rank the company within the top 15 employers in Cobb County (according to Dunn & Bradstreet).

Ryla has placed its focus on quality of experience for more complex and unique customer contact needs and has maintained that focus over the course of its lifecycle. Unlike some in the call center space, Ryla has not specialized in one or two industry niches and has therefore insulated itself from challenges that meet one type of business or sector such as the financial industry's recent upheaval or the mergers and acquisitions that regularly take place within the energy sector.

Because of its reputation and track record, Ryla has been recognized by several organizations for growth, including rankings in the 75 fastest growing companies in the Atlanta area by the Atlanta Journal Constitution and the Inc. 5000 for 2 consecutive years. Ryla's name has also recently been noted as Minority Supplier of the Year and a top small workplace by the Wall Street Journal and Winning Workplaces.

"Ryla's potential to grow was one of the drivers in our decision to become involved as a supporting funder," comments Andrew Lindner, managing partner for Charlotte, NC based Frontier Capital. "Their potential doesn't come strictly from market opportunity, but from the ability Ryla has to capture and capitalize on that opportunity. They repeatedly prove their value to clients and their ability to maintain focus on what they do best."

Information About Ryla:

Ryla is a leading provider of global customer contact solutions for companies and government agencies requiring Excellent Interactions Every Time.SM Domestically focused, Ryla delivers both ongoing and on-demand customized solutions and staffing to meet each client's business goals, including quick ramp-up, project-based solutions for crisis response, seasonal retail and political needs. Headquartered in Kennesaw, Georgia, Ryla is a different kind of call center, ranked one of the fastest growing private companies in the nation by Inc. magazine and nationally recognized as a top workplace.

To learn more, visit www.ryla.com or call 1-888-YES-RYLA.

Average starting pay: $10 to $12/hr.

All product and company names herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.

SOURCE: Ryla Inc.

Ryla Inc. 
Jill Purdy, Public Relations, 704-236-2501, 
jpurdy@ryla.com or 
Karen Clay, VP Marketing, 678-322-5037, 
kclay@ryla.com

Former Bessemer revenue director Ryan Rancher indicted

2008-05-20T12:10:00.000-07:00

Source: The Birmingham News

Posted by Robert K. Gordon -- Birmingham News May 20, 2008 11:07 AM

A grand jury has handed down a 48-count indictment against former Bessemer revenue director Ryan Rancher related to his work as a securities adviser, according to court records unsealed today.

Rancher, 40, is charged with 20 counts of fraud, 10 counts of selling unregistered securities, eight counts of acting as an unregistered investment adviser, nine counts of first-degree theft and one count of a sale by an unregistered agent. Among the victims named in the indictment is Bessemer City Councilwoman Louise Alexander, who said she lost $25,000.

"I thought he was legit," said Alexander, who said that some of her constituents are also named as victims in the indictment.

For more details see Wednesday's The Birmingham News.

Exclusive statement from Obama accuser, Larry Sinclair

2008-01-21T16:22:00.000-08:00

Please visit Larry's website for any future updates : Click here. Link updated 12/5/2008.

UPDATE (2/24/2008) Polygraph results for Larry Sinclair are in. Deception shown.
Dr. Ed Gelb, Former President of the American Polygraph Association was the Polygraph expert selected by Whitehouse.com. Read more here.
Whitehouse.com also administered a second polygraph exam. Results of second exam to be reported soon.

UPDATE (2/9/2008)
Larry Sinclair's radio interview with The Right Perspective radio show: Listen here.

UPDATE (2/5/2008)
New videos by Larry Sinclair:

On January 18, Larry Sinclair posted a YouTube video in which he claims to have engaged in oral sex and used cocaine with Democratic Presidential candidate, Barack Obama, in 1999. Requests for a statement from the Obama camp have not been acknowledged.

In an attempt to provide additional details, Larry Sinclair has provided the following statement:

My name is Larry Sinclair, (True), I was born in S.C. (I am not and have not been a resident of S.C. since 1975).

Please understand that the names of the driver, limo company and my hotel are not being disclosed at this time due to the threat of retaliation against them and or their businesses. I assure you they will be forthcoming at the appropriate time.

I was in the Chicago area from November 3, 1999 thru November 8, 1999 to attend the graduation of my God son from the Great Lakes Navy Training Center outside Chicago. While out for a night on the town, I hired a limo. After expressing to the limo driver that I wanted some company for the night with someone who knew Chicago, I was introduced to Barack Obama by my driver at a bar on Rush street. Mr. Obama and I had a few drinks and talked for about an hour or so at the bar. I mentioned to Mr. Obama that I could really use a couple of lines to wake up, as I was really tired but I wanted to do a night on the town while in Chicago. Obama asked if I was referring to coke and I stated I was. Obama then stated he could get it for me.

After Obama made a phone call, we left the lounge together in the limo I hired. Obama instructed the driver as to where we were going. After about what felt like a 30 or so minute drive we stopped and Mr. Obama got out after telling me he would be right back. Obama returned to the car after about 5 minutes had passed, at which time he pulled a packet out of his pocket and handed it to me. I took a CD case I had in the limo with me and put out three lines of cocaine on it. While resting the CD case on Obama's leg and taking a rolled up dollar bill, I snorted one line.

During my conversation with Obama, I had made it very clear that I was openly gay. In my lifetime, I have always been good at judging whether or not a person is interested. My instincts told me that Obama was interested. After snorting the first line, I used my right hand to rub Obama's left leg up to his crotch. After Obamaa became aroused, I snorted the second line. While snorting the second line, Obama had undone his pants and had his semi erect penis pulled out of his pants. Obama then began rubbing his fingers through my hair and then cupping the back of my neck. Obama pulled and pushed me to and down to his semi-erect penis, placing his penis in my mouth.

As I began to perform oral sex on Obama I noticed him pulling out another packet from his pocket along with a glass cylinder. Obama asked to borrow my lighter. As I came up off of Obama's penis to hand him my lighter, I see Obama placing a crack cocaine rock in a glass pipe. Obama asks me if I want to smoke it and I inform him I only snort, I do not smoke it. Obama then stated that smoking crack makes him harder and hornier longer.

Obama then pushed my face back down into his crotch. I returned to performing oral sex on Obama while he smoked the crack pipe. After smoking the crack pipe, Obama began running his fingers through my hair in a soft, sensual manner using his fingertips to trace over the outline of the ridges of my ear on the outer and inner edges; massaging the back of my neck, rubbing my face, holding my head in his hands in the most sensual manner I have ever known.

Obama lights the pipe a second time, and afterwards lowered his pants completely to his ankles, while telling me to suck his balls, to lick under his balls and sack.

I continued to perform oral sex on Obama for what seemed like eternity. When Obama had his orgasm he pulled my face up and gently kissed the small of my neck. I laid back and rested against his chest as Obama smoked the pipe a third time. I then did another three lines of coke and stood up out of the sun roof. As I was standing up out of the sunroof, the wind blew off a baseball style cap that was given to me by a very dear friend. I told the driver to pull over, I got out of the limo and ran down the freeway to recover my cap.

Shortly after recovering my cap, after having a couple more drinks in the limo, we (both Obama & I) decided to call it a night. It was decided that the driver would take me to my hotel first and return Obama to his car after dropping me off.

I told Obama I really enjoyed myself, enjoyed meeting him and hoped to be able to visit Chicago and him again soon. Obama told me he enjoyed himself and no one has ever "sucked" him as good in his life.

Larry Sinclair

The above statement and the statements made in the below video by Larry Sinclair are not representative of the opinions or views of the owner of this blog.

Another wrench for the Obama camp

2008-01-20T15:05:00.000-08:00

View Larry Sinclair's detailed statement here.
Larry Sinclair, the gentleman in the video (see below), claims that he used drugs and engaged in adult activities with Presidential hopeful Barack Obama in 1999 when Obama was an Illinois Senator. Obama admits to using drugs when he was a teen, however, claims that he has not used any drugs since. If Mr. Sinclair's claims are true, this would mean that Obama's admission of drug use was only partially true.

Sinclair challenges Obama to take a lie detector test if he denies his (Sinclair's) allegations. Sinclair is also willing to take a polygraph. Sinclair further states that he has given Obama and his camp ample opportunity to come forward with the truth prior to his YouTube video. Obama's camp has not commented on the allegations thus far. More to come...

Warning: This video obtains language of an explicit nature that may be offensive to some.

Ryan Rancher's arrest - more details

2008-01-03T17:08:00.000-08:00

UPDATE (1/30): Ryan Rancher, who has been incarcerated since 12/15/2007, bonded out of the Jefferson County jail today at 4:48 p.m. (CST).

UPDATE (1/29): Ryan Rancher appeared before the Honorable Eric Fancher, Sr. today. Rancher has a total of 3 cases. Bond was set on each of the three cases at $75,000, $75,000, and $60,000. His case has been bound over to the grand jury. It is not known when the grand jury will meet to determine whether or not the case goes before a higher court. As of the afternoon of the 29th, Rancher has not made bond and remains incarcerated in the Jefferson County Jail. Rancher was ordered not to have any contact with any of his victims and not to leave the county without first notifying the court. Read today's article by Birmingham News reporter, Robert Gordon here.

UPDATE (1/22): To victims: Only one victim was able to have a lien placed against Rancher's property prior to the auction. At this point, according to sources at the court, the only recourse for the rest of you is to file a civil claim if you have not already done so.

Rancher's criminal preliminary hearing will be held on January 29 at 2pm. This is only a preliminary hearing. The monetary issues will not be addressed in the setting of criminal court. It is possible that the judge could order restitution at Rancher's sentencing hearing. The sentencing hearing could be many months away. Even if restitution is ordered by the judge, please keep in mind that Rancher could receive a prison sentence. Of course, as long as he is incarcerated and unemployed, he cannot be made to pay any restitution. If I receive any additional information, I will pass it along to my readers.

UPDATE (1/19): Rancher's court date was pushed back to January 29 at 2pm. I am researching information on the auction of his home and will post my findings here.

Please see link for more information (Birmingham News 01/3/2008): Click here.

I am very interested in hearing your comments on this issue. Please feel free to post your comments. You may also subscribe to this blog in order to be alerted of future updates.

Additional comments:
I recently spoke to a former high school classmate of Ryan Rancher. This person stated that Ryan was a very bright student and an all around great guy. He stated that he is truly shocked that Ryan is accused of such deceitful criminal acts. Rancher earned a bachelor's degree (accounting) as well as an MBA from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Sounds like Rancher could have been a very successful person in life (legally). It is such a shame that his life is now ruined.

Being that he resorted to the same criminal acts when he was released on bond after the first arrest, I am very doubtful that he will be granted bond on 1/14. His home is also set to be auctioned on the same day. According to the Board of Equalization, he and his wife purchased their home at 8457 Carrington Lake Cove (Trussville) in January of 2006 for $626,545. The tax assessor's office shows an assessed value of $490,500. The person whom I spoke with at the Board of Equalization stated that it is normal for the assessed value to be about 20% lower than the actual market price. He was living a life of luxury, apparently at the expense of others (to some degree).

Rancher is married and has three children.

To view Rancher's Jefferson County Jail inmate roster listing (including booking photo): Click here.

Please check back for future updates on Rancher. If you have additional information on this case (or other interesting news) that you would like to share and see on my blog, please email me at daviskimdavis@yahoo.com. I am happy to research the info and add it to my blog.

Ron Paul video montage -$6 million dollar man

2007-12-19T06:52:00.000-08:00

Enjoy! Click here to view videos:

Note: If when clicking on any of the videos you get an error stating, 'this video is no longer available', try refreshing your browser and clicking on the start button once again.

From Fox&Friends (December 18, 2007)

From CNN (December 17, 2007)

From MSNBC (December 18, 2007)

From Glen Beck's show (December 18, 2007)

From CNN American Morning

George W. Bush's eye color

2007-12-18T10:06:00.000-08:00

Like me, I am sure that many of you love gazing at the handsome face of our super-intelligent president, George W. Bush, but have you ever noticed the color of his eyes? Check out some of his finest moments. Click here for video:

Note: If you receive the error, 'this video is no longer available' when you click on the play button, simply 'refresh' your browser and click the play button again.

Dan Hesse named President and CEO of Sprint Nextel

2007-12-18T07:07:00.000-08:00

Embarq CEO, Dan Hesse,54, has been named CEO of Sprint Nextel. Hesse will be filling a vacancy that was created in October by Gary Forsee when he resigned amidst investor and board disputes. Forsee assumed the role in 2003.

Hesse has served as CEO of Sprint company Embarq since 2006. Prior to his tenure at Embarq, Hesse was CEO of AT&T Wireless Services. He worked a total of 23 years for AT&T in various senior management positions.

One of Hesse's primary tasks will be to shape WiMAX.

According to Sprint Nextel representatives, James Hance who had been named non-executive chairman following Forsee’s departure, will remain in that post.

Hesse currently serves on the board of directors of Nokia and VF Corporation and serves on the national board of governors of the Boys and Girls Clubs of America.

Hesse earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Notre Dame, a Master of Science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a Master of Business Administration from Cornell University.

Ryan Rancher, former Bessemer revenue director arrested again -now held without bond

2007-12-18T06:06:00.000-08:00

(Bessemer, AL) Former Bessemer revenue director, Ryan O. Rancher, was arrested a second time on Friday (12/14). He is being held in the Jefferson County Jail with no bond. A court date of January 29 (2pm) has been set. Rancher will be held until this date at which time the court will determine if he is eligible for bond.

Rancher was initially arrested on Wednesday (12/12) and charged with one count of Acting as an Investment Advisor without a License and Fraud Related to Providing Investment Advice, both Class C felonies under Alabama law. Additionally, Rancher was charged with one count of Theft of Property First Degree, a Class B felony under Alabama law according to a statement released today by the Alabama Securities Commission (ASC). Rancher was released on $40,000 bond after his first arrest.

The ASC released a second statement today announcing Rancher's second arrest. According to the statement, Rancher's bond was revoked on Friday (12/14) and he was picked up on the same day at about 4pm by the Birmingham Police Department for alleged ongoing criminal conduct in violation of the Alabama Securities Act.

Allegedly, Rancher solicited more than $25,000 from a Birmingham area resident for investment purposes, and did not invest the solicited funds. It is also alleged that Rancher failed to disclose to potential investors that he had been previously barred by the ASC from the securities industry in Alabama.

The director of the ASC encourages anyone who may have invested with Rancher to contact the ASC Enforcement Division immediately at 1-800-222-1253.

UPDATE: Click here for details on why Rancher's bond was revoked. Only a day after his first arrest, he was attempting to take $10,000 from a Birmingham area resident.

PHOTO: Rancher's mug shot from his Saturday arrest.

UPDATE AS OF JANUARY 30,2008: Click here.