Pat Schwind Presents: Strategic Edge Thursday, 05/07/2009

Kenpo Black Belt Instructors Ted Goldberg & Jack Wimbish: Self Defense for Women. Pat Schwind plays 'Snidely Whiplash'.

Minutes of 04/23/2009

1. Attended 04/23/2009 : Rich Woods, Powell Gammill, Frank Rickey, Mark Sordahl, Pat & Marie Schwind, Ed Stroup, Cecil Ash, Jack Lapota, Sterling Smith, Chris Braughton, John Stuart, S/E webmeister Mike Ross, Victor Aronow, Teddy Eichenouer, Les Landon, Jim Shahbazian, Olga Strickland, Tom Costanzo, James Casey, & our speakers, ASU Law students Scott Seymann & Katie Puzauskas of Project Justice.

2. Do we really 'lock up' innocent people? The Innocence Project was started many years ago by some professors & students, (at the Cardoza Law School?), to fight bogus convictions all over the US. The affiliate at ASU is The Justice Project, founded in '98 by Larry Hammond & members of the Az. Attorneys for Criminal Justice. They use volunteer attorneys, students, paralegals, investigators, doctors, scientists, & others; they're funded by donations. On a similar topic recently, I stated: "I personally know 'the system' is so corrupt & 'stacked against the little guy',...especially the poor & Brown people." Innocence Project affiliates have obtained many of the 225 post - conviction DNA exonerations in the US, (as of 12/2008). Everyday, innocent folks are wrongly convicted in the US.

   Scott & Katie did a great job on this subject. Many folks in the room had been victims of horrendous abuse by the police & prosecutors, including me. I have a real 'bad attitude' about these people. I know they lie, cheat & withhold evidence routinely. It happens everyday, almost everywhere, because too many "authorities", locally & nationally, have an 'authoritarian complex', & no regard for justice in general, or those they hurt specifically. They can be evil monsters, & a big reason why America, with ~ 5 - 10% of the world's population, has ~ 20% of the world's prisoners. (The other big reason is that almost half are simply victims of the insane War on Drugs!)

   Only 25 states & DC now provide exonerated innocents with compensation; & it's often grossly inadequate. If you know somebody who's 'getting the shaft' from the system, (& not just capital cases), call me for more info. Finally, you can meet one of the most famous exonerated innocents in US history, Ray Krone, right here at a fundraiser in Phoenix, May 21, Thursday, 5 pm; call me for details. And if you're a "lock 'em up & throw away the key" whack-job, perhaps you'd like to fight a mean SOB, e.g. ME, in front of a couple hundred people; ('white collar boxing'; almost nobody gets hurt). I can arrange it; just call me.

3. Our next meeting is this Thursday, 05/07/2009

   Please arrive before 7:30 AM at “JIM’s CONEY ISLAND CAFE”, 1750 No. Scottsdale Rd., Tempe, at the southwest corner of Scottsdale & Cavalier, Click Here for a map, 1 block south of McKellips, ~ 1 mile north of the 202 Freeway.

   Our speaker will be Kenpo Black Belt Instructors Ted Goldberg & Jack Wimbish: Self Defense for Women. Pat Schwind plays 'Snidely Whiplash'.

   Bring Guests!

4. Future Speakers
   • 5/7- Kenpo Instructors Ted Goldberg & Jack Wimbish: Self Defense for Women. We'll have a real live 'Hands On' demonstration, in the parking lot, (on thick carpet). Pat Schwind plays 'Snidley Whiplash'.
   • 5/21- DEBATE: Do Gay Folks Choose to be Gay or are they Just Born That Way? Speakers so far: Sharon Slater of 'Family Watch International', Bill Gemmill, & local Attorneys Marc Victor & David Braun.
   • 6/4- Dr. Tamara Divic of WHEAT, (World Hunger, Education, Advocacy & Training Organization): "Can we Eradicate World Hunger"?
   • 6/18- Atheist Monti Gaither: How Religion has Messed Up the World, Forever!
   • TBD- Former Olympic Wrestler & Current Mixed Martial Arts Fighter, Mike Van Arsdale.
   • TBD- The Holocaust: History's Greatest Genocide or Outright Hoax? Pat Schwind (& hopefully a real expert from the Jewish community), will debate Holocaust Denier Friedrich Paul Berg. I've been studying the subject for many months, & hope to be "up to speed", &/or have a 'real pro' handle this debate, by late '09 or early '10.
   • TBD- Nuclear Power: I need a 'Greenie" to debate my good friend & nuclear engineer, Joe Napier.

5. Publisher's Note: In case you haven't heard, most Phoenix area home values have fallen 50% since the peak of '06, (N.Y. Times, page 1, 4-29-9). Many folks who bought homes or refinanced in '04 - '08, now face some miserable choices, or at least some severe short term pain. The "other side of the coin" is that, for folks with some equity in property, &/or cash to work with, and can prove their income, this is an amazing oppurtunity. I do Real Estate loans, & I'd like to help you profit from these tough times. Call me for mortgage info on your specific situation.

Sincerely, Pat Schwind, MBA