Monthly Archives: August 2012

Western Alliance Bancorporation to Acquire Western Liberty Bancorp

Posted: August 18, 2012 at 9:14 am

PHOENIX & LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Western Alliance Bancorporation (WAL) and Western Liberty Bancorp (WLBC) announced today that they have signed a definitive agreement pursuant to which Western Alliance Bancorporation will acquire Western Liberty Bancorp. Immediately following the completion of the acquisition, Western Libertys principal operating subsidiary, Service1st Bank of Nevada, will merge with and into Bank of Nevada, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Western Alliance Bancorporation.

The Agreement provides that each shareholder of Western Liberty Bancorp may elect to receive either $4.02 in cash or 0.4341 of a share of Western Alliance Bancorporation for each Western Liberty share owned (based on existing shares of Western Liberty stock outstanding as of the date hereof and assuming the conversion of outstanding restricted stock units), subject to certain collar and proration provisions. The exchange is expected to be tax free, to the extent shareholders receive shares of Western Alliance Bancorporation. In aggregate, the transaction is valued at approximately $55 million.

Robert Sarver, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Western Alliance Bancorporation, commented, This transaction further strengthens our capital position, increases our core deposits, and enables us to further leverage our existing infrastructure in Las Vegas. We expect the transaction to be immediately accretive to our tangible book value.

Bruce Hendricks, Chief Executive Officer of Bank of Nevada, added, With significant customer overlap between Bank of Nevada and Service1st Bank, we anticipate quickly integrating the two institutions, giving added convenience and services to clients of Service1st.

By joining a strong, service-oriented regional banking franchise, we add greater lending capacity for our customers and new opportunities for growth for the bank. I am confident that both our organizations will benefit from this combination, said William Martin, Chief Executive Officer of Western Liberty Bancorp. As we considered all of our strategic growth options, it became clear that choosing to partner with Western Alliance can provide the greatest benefits and opportunities for our stockholders, employees, customers, and the communities we serve.

This transaction has been approved by the board of directors of each company and is subject to certain terms and conditions, including approval by stockholders of Western Liberty Bancorp and banking regulatory authorities. It is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter 2012.

About Western Alliance Bancorporation

With $7.2 billion in assets, Western Alliance Bancorporation is the parent company of Bank of Nevada, Western Alliance Bank doing business as Alliance Bank of Arizona and First Independent Bank, Torrey Pines Bank, and Shine Investment Advisory Services. These dynamic organizations provide a broad array of deposit and credit services to clients in Nevada, Arizona and California, and investment services in Colorado. Staffed with experienced financial professionals, these organizations deliver a broader product array and larger credit capacity than community banks, yet are empowered to be more responsive to customers' needs than larger institutions. Additional investor information can be accessed on the Investor Relations page of the company's website, http://www.westernalliancebancorp.com.

About Western Liberty Bancorp

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Western Alliance Bancorporation to Acquire Western Liberty Bancorp

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2 Chainz Tells The Breakfast Club That He Is Not In The Illuminati [VIDEO]

Posted: at 9:14 am

by Alvin aqua Blanco (@aqua174) August 17, 2012, 10:17am

It's safe to say 2 Chainz is having a very G.O.O.D. week with the release of his long anticipated debut, Based On A T.R.U. Story. The Def Jam rapper took his promotional interview tour to Power 105.1'sThe Breakfast Club and he spoke on a number of topics including working with Kanye West, staying grounded, his first week album sales (he's set to debut at #1 on Billboardwith about 130,000 album sold it first week), not being in the Illuminati and much more.

"I'm looking at it like I worked my A$$ off," said the "No Lie" rapper about his first week sales. "It's not about the record. I'm not even tune with what the charts are doing. When it first happens I get geeked and then I go back to work." 2 Necklaces then added, "Just this year alone I've done two tours with two people I feel are major artists with diverse fan bases," referring to hitting the road with Drake and Nicki Minaj.

Check out the first part of the extensive interview with 2 Chainz after the break, and part two on the next page.

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2 Chainz Tells The Breakfast Club That He Is Not In The Illuminati [VIDEO]

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2 Chainz Talks Illuminati Rumors, First Week Sales & Kanye West (Video)

Posted: at 9:14 am

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2 Chainz Talks Illuminati Rumors, First Week Sales & Kanye West (Video)

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Young people protest for gun rights in front of D.C. city hall

Posted: at 9:13 am

About 40 young people waved signs and voiced loud support for Second Amendment rights in the front of D.C. city hall on Friday, an unusual sight in a heavily Democratic city that is known for its strict gun-control laws.

For about two hours, they captured the attention of passing motorists and tourists with their argument that increased gun ownership equals increased public safety.

Their rally comes two days after an unarmed building manager was shot in the arm at the Family Research Council, a conservative organization in the Districts busy downtown. Mayor Vincent C. Gray has pledged to preserve the citys strict gun laws after the incident renewed debate about firearm safety in the city.

Protests are a frequent occurrence in front of the John A. Wilson Building, which houses the offices of Mr. Gray and D.C. Council members. Yet pro-gun rallies are unusual and the sight of young protesters touting traditional conservative views at city hall made it stand out.

Hey, hey! Mayor Gray! We want concealed carry, the protesters chanted.

The group was consistently loud and lively, riffing off popular songs by Twisted Sister and the Beastie Boys You gotta fight. For your right. To caaaaarrrry! to get their message across.

I really do believe we should be allowed to have our Second Amendment rights, protester Amanda Haas, 21, said.

Ms. Haas said she is a single girl whos living in the city and should have the right to protect herself with a firearm if, for instance, she is accosted while walking at night from the Metro to her home near Eastern Market.

While some were D.C. residents, many of the protesters told The Washington Times they lived across the river in Virginia.

Organizer Mike Armstrong, 25, of Arlington, said almost all of the protesters lived in the D.C. metro region. He said many of them know each other and were able to organize the rally over the Internet.

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Young people protest for gun rights in front of D.C. city hall

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LOHAS 2012_Avatar Course Interview – Video

Posted: at 9:12 am

17-08-2012 10:20 The Avatar Course, often simply called Avatar, is a series of LGAT self-development courses founded in 1986 by Harry Palmer and run by his privately held company, Star's Edge, Inc., which trains and licenses Avatar Masters (teachers) to deliver the Avatar Course worldwide. Free Speech TV's Michael Tipton sat down to discuss three Avatar teaches at the Lohas Forum 2012. He gets a quick treatment and understanding of "compassion".

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LOHAS 2012_Avatar Course Interview - Video

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LOHAS 2012_Colorado Carbon Fund Interview – Video

Posted: at 9:12 am

17-08-2012 15:25 Free Speech TV's Michael Tipton caught up with Carrina Waneka the Business Outreach Associate, Colorado Carbon Fund. This discussion was recorded at the 2012 Lohas Forum in Boulder, Colorado.

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LOHAS 2012_Colorado Carbon Fund Interview - Video

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LOHAS 2012_Rembrandt Yard Exhibitor_011 – Video

Posted: at 9:12 am

17-08-2012 09:05 Free Speech TV's, Michael Tipton interviews 2012 Lohas Forum exhibitors who were set up at Rembrandt Yard Gallery in Boulder, Colorado.

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LOHAS 2012_Rembrandt Yard Exhibitor_011 - Video

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LOHAS 2012_Rembrandt Yard Exhibitor_012 – Video

Posted: at 9:12 am

17-08-2012 09:23 Free Speech TV's, Michael Tipton interviews 2012 Lohas Forum exhibitors who were set up at Rembrandt Yard Gallery in Boulder, Colorado.

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LOHAS 2012_Rembrandt Yard Exhibitor_012 - Video

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Revised free-speech Catawba County ordinance up for vote

Posted: at 9:12 am

NEWTON, NC Catawba County commissioners will decide on Monday whether to approve an ordinance that makes clear free speech uses of county property.

The use of county government property for protests became an issue after a group, Catawba Valley Citizens Against Hate, wanted to use the Catawba County Justice Center grounds to protest an anti-gay rights sermon that Providence Road Baptist Church Pastor Charles L. Worley gave on Mothers Day.

At the time, the countys ordinance for using the Justice Center for an event required an application at least 14 days in advance. But the ordinance didnt take into consideration expressions of free speech, officials said after the protests, Debra Bechtel, county attorney, said at the time.

The group was given the go-ahead to use the Justice Center at the end of May for a protest but the request highlighted a problem in the countys ordinance.

Thats when county staff got to work to amend the ordinance that addresses free speech.

The proposed ordinance revision to Chapter 34, Article II of the Catawba County Code of Ordinances says certain county government-owned property can be used if certain conditions are met.

One condition is that if a protest, or gathering, is 25 people or more, an application has to be submitted and include the group name, contact person and information, date of the gathering, the site location and how many are anticipated to attend.

Other conditions include:

The proposed amended ordinance doesnt allow camping on county property, campfires unless given the OK or someone to tie or chain themselves to each other or an object to prevent free movement of people.

Bechtel said she and other county staff looked at changes other municipal and county governments have made to their ordinances to address free speech expression and read cases that address the issue. Some of the cases included US Supreme Court cases on constitutional and First Amendment law.

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Revised free-speech Catawba County ordinance up for vote

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Freedom comes with responsibility — Tay Tian Yan

Posted: August 17, 2012 at 10:12 am

AUG 17 The controversies over the section 114A of the Evidence Act are not hard to comprehend. The key lies with the correlation between the freedom accorded and accountability.

To enjoy freedom of expression, one is ethically bound to shoulder the responsibility of exercising such a freedom.

This is a basic social norm and the core spirit of a community ruled by law. Any orderly democratic society cannot do away with this prerequisite.

That said, there is often a grey zone standing in the way of freedom and responsibility. It is at times next to impossible to draw a distinct line between the two opposing attributes.

Several days ago, a friend forwarded me a joke that somewhat epitomises such a conflict.

A Beijing reporter asks a visiting leader: What do you think of the hostesses here?

Appearing shocked, the leader asks: You mean you have hostesses in Beijing as well?

The newspaper headline the following morning: Visiting Leader asks for Beijing hostesses.

The leader rings up to clarify: Please, Im not interested in hostesses!

Another days headline: Uninterested in local hostesses, the Leader has higher tastes for after-dark pleasure.

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Freedom comes with responsibility — Tay Tian Yan

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