Following Entry Posted 1/31/2012 09:42:00 AM

Little Ice Age recognized in top journal

Warmist Michael Mann's "hockeystick" says that the LIA did not happen. And in 2007 bigshot Warmist Prof. Phil Jones said "it's important "not to cling to outdated concepts of the past such as the MWP and LIA"

That the "modelling" of the authors below excludes a solar influence as the cause of the LIA need not detain us of course. You can get anything you like out of a model.

GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS, VOL. 39, L02708, 5 PP., 2012

Abrupt onset of the Little Ice Age triggered by volcanism and sustained by sea-ice/ocean feedbacks

by Gifford H. Miller et al.

Abstract

Northern Hemisphere summer temperatures over the past 8000 years have been paced by the slow decrease in summer insolation resulting from the precession of the equinoxes. However, the causes of superposed century-scale cold summer anomalies, of which the Little Ice Age (LIA) is the most extreme, remain debated, largely because the natural forcings are either weak or, in the case of volcanism, short lived. Here we present precisely dated records of ice-cap growth from Arctic Canada and Iceland showing that LIA summer cold and ice growth began abruptly between 1275 and 1300 AD, followed by a substantial intensification 1430–1455 AD. Intervals of sudden ice growth coincide with two of the most volcanically perturbed half centuries of the past millennium. A transient climate model simulation shows that explosive volcanism produces abrupt summer cooling at these times, and that cold summers can be maintained by sea-ice/ocean feedbacks long after volcanic aerosols are removed. Our results suggest that the onset of the LIA can be linked to an unusual 50-year-long episode with four large sulfur-rich explosive eruptions, each with global sulfate loading >60 Tg. The persistence of cold summers is best explained by consequent sea-ice/ocean feedbacks during a hemispheric summer insolation minimum; large changes in solar irradiance are not required.

SOURCE

Posted by John J. Ray (M.A.; Ph.D.).
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       Following Entry Posted 1/31/2012 07:10:00 AM

Mom Has Daughter, 8, Do Porn

(Bridgeport, Connecticut) Back in 2001, a woman and her boyfriend, two workers at a travel agency, conspired to produce child porn using the woman's eight-year-old daughter. Neither eluded legal consequences for the crime.

A mother formerly from Fairfield was sentenced Monday to eight years in federal prison for participating with her ex-boyfriend in performing and filming sexual acts on her 8-year old daughter.

Senior U.S. District Judge Warren W. Eginton said such a low term won't be the case Tuesday when he sentences Edgardo Sensi, the former boyfriend, who is accused of filming similar acts with other children including a 4-year-old in Nicaragua.

"The court is very disturbed by the film I saw," Eginton said. "It's just so dreadful." He called Sensi a "very evil person" about whom "I will have a lot to say tomorrow."

In sentencing the mother, Eginton said he considered her willingness to spare her daughter from recounting the year-long abuse and to testify herself against Sensi had he gone to trial.[…]

Public Defender Ronald Resetarits blamed some of the mother's issues on mental and psychological abuse inflicted by first her father and then her former husband. He said they criticized, belittled and often insulted her because of her lack of education and her excessive weight.

The woman's name is withheld to protect the identity of the daughter.

Tip: slwlion

Labels: Women With Troubles

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       Following Entry Posted 1/30/2012 11:57:00 PM

Georgia Teacher Accused of Cruelty

(Walton County, Georgia) A 31-year-old teacher at Loganville Middle School, Kelly Guglietta, has been accused of physical and verbal abuse of a sixth-grade student.

Guglietta faces felony charges of cruelty to children, terroristic threats and actions, and misdemeanor charges of assault, battery and simple battery.

“After conducting a very thorough investigation into this complaint, we did find that there was evidence that a crime had been committed,” said Loganville Police Department Lt. Mike Westbrooks, who served as the lead investigator in the case.

“We were able to confirm the child’s story that the teacher put a pair of scissors to her own throat and dragged it across in a threatening gesture and did grab him by his hoodie and attempt to pull him out of his seat.”

Guglietta reportedly took issue with a comment made about a large amount of gel in her hair.

Guglietta was booked into the Walton County Detention Center and released on $8,000 bond.

Labels: Women With Troubles

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       Following Entry Posted 1/30/2012 11:39:00 PM

He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother



Isbac Pacunda

(Lima, Peru) Call this a medical and biological aberration.

Doctors in Peru have found a partially formed foetus inside the stomach of a three-year-old boy.

Isbac Pacunda was found to have tissue from the foetus of his twin brother inside of him. The "parasitic twin" weighs 700g and is approximately 25cm long, Fox News reports.

The tissue is to be removed sometime today by surgeon Carlos Astocondor and 12 other doctors.

The partially formed foetus does not have a brain, heart, lungs or intestines, according to Mr Astocondor. Isbac would have absorbed the foetus when inside his mother's womb.

It has some hair on the head, eyes and some bones.

Paints a pretty graphic picture, eh?
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       Following Entry Posted 1/30/2012 11:08:00 PM

A Girlfriend's Loyalty

You have to hate when this happens.

Jason Elia, a television writer living in Nashville, went to the trouble of getting Super Bowl tickets for himself and his girlfriend and was even going to propose to her at the game on Christmas, but life got in the way.

He was diagnosed with bladder cancer and upon hearing the news, his girlfriend apparently dumped him on the spot.

Now, she still wants the tickets because she claims they were purchased with her in mind. Rather than suffering such an injustice, Jason is auctioning the tickets off on Twitter.

Heh.

Tip: Charley Nestor
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       Following Entry Posted 1/30/2012 10:33:00 PM

Lack of Value

(Kunduz Province, Afghanistan) Reports of women being murdered in Afghanistan are commonplace. Here's another.

An Afghan man and his mother choked the man's wife to death, when the child she gave birth to was a third girl. The man had threatened to kill her unless the baby was a boy.

The husband of a 30-year-old Afghan woman carried out his threat to kill her, if the baby she was carrying was another girl. Demonstrating the lack of value given to women, the victim, identified only as Storay, " was choked to death by her husband and her mother-in-law in a remote village in Khanabad district of Kunduz province," said Sayed Sarwar Hussaini, Times Live reported.

Storay was already a mother to two girls when her husband threatened to kill her if the third child was another female. Her husband murdered her when the infant was three-months-old and he is now on the run.

Sad.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/30/2012 08:08:00 AM

Atheists are a protected class?

We read:

"While it was the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) that defended teen atheist Jessica Ahlquist in her successful quest to have a prayer mural removed from her Rhode Island public high school, the FFRF is also rushing to the young girl’s defense.

Citing discrimination, the organization is filing a civil rights complaint after numerous florists refused to deliver flowers to the girl.

The FFRF reportedly tried to have a dozen roses delivered to Ahlquist with the message, ”Congratulations, and hang in there, with admiration from FFRF.”

After being denied by three florists in the Cranston, Rhode Island, area, the group was eventually able to secure an order from a business located in Connecticut.

According to FFRF Co-President Annie Laurie Gaylor, Twins Florist, one of the businesses that refused to deliver, violated the Civil Rights Act when the business discriminated based on Ahlquist’s atheism. Gaylor released the receipt order from the florist, which reads, “I will not deliver to this person.”

The florists, though, disagree with Gaylor’s stance on the matter. Turnto10.com reports that Raymond Santilli of Flowers by Santilli, one of the companies the FFRF attempted to order from, explains that a foundation representative told him that the person delivering the flowers might need police protection.

He maintains that he has the right to deliver — or not — to whomever he chooses, because he owns the shop.

Twins Florist owner Marina Plowman echoed these sentiments. “I just chose not to do it. Nothing personal, it was a choice that I made. It was my right, so I did that,” she said. ”I’m an independent owner and I can chose whoever I want, whenever I want.”

Source

Posted by John J. Ray (M.A.; Ph.D.).
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       Following Entry Posted 1/30/2012 05:15:00 AM

US Expands Asia-Pacific Presence

Chinese government leaders are not pleased with the latest development in U.S. - Philippines relations.

After two days of talks, senior officials from the United States and the Philippines pledged Friday to enhance security cooperation. The former US colony is locked in increasingly acrimonious disputes with Beijing in the South China Sea.



China claims almost entire South China Sea
In Manila, Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario said the Philippines was looking to doing more joint exercises with the United States as well as having a greater number of US troops rotate through the Southeast Asian country.

But that's not all. Additional U.S. military personnel are going to other parts of the SE Asia-Pacific region.

Obama, on a visit to Australia, announced that the United States would post up to 2,500 Marines in the northern city of Darwin by 2016-17.

The United States also plans to forward-deploy littoral combat ships in Singapore, a longtime US partner with a strategic position.

And to compound Chinese consternation, there's this development.

The Philippines is considering a United States proposal to deploy surveillance aircraft on a temporary, rotating basis to enhance its ability to guard disputed areas in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea), Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said on Friday.

Two days of talks in Washington this week on security ties between the two allies include plans to deploy more littoral combat ships and spy aircraft, Gazmin said.

Curiously, the new military deployments come as the Obama administration announces cuts in military expenditures. How's that work?
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       Following Entry Posted 1/29/2012 09:06:00 AM

Virginia Teacher Accused in Burglary




(Portsmouth, Virginia) A 22-year-old substitute teacher at Douglas Park Elementary School, Tena Lin Neese Artise, has been accused of multiple crimes related to an alleged burglary.

Artise faces charges of burglary, kidnapping and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.

A 14-year-old was home alone and told police she heard a knock on the rear door of her house.

When she opened the door, a woman walked in and pointed a gun at her. A second woman stood in the open door but didn’t enter the house.

The women left after finding no one else in the house.

Artise was identified as the woman who entered the house with the gun, police said.

Details on booking are not available.

Labels: Women With Troubles

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       Following Entry Posted 1/29/2012 08:00:00 AM

Comic about Hitler turning Jews into soap



It's certainly insensitive but it just a comic and, as such, unlikely to harm anyone. There will always be insensitive people around and we have to expect that they will express themselves insensitively on occasions. Free speech protects insensitive people too. We should reserve our concern for people who do actual harm to others. There are plenty of those.

Certain subjects are so inappropriate as a subject for comedy, it’s a wonder any comedian or artist would see fit to take them on. One would hope the suffering of Jews about to be exterminated in Nazi concentration camps would be one of those. Apparently not so for one Argentine comic strip artist, who is now facing complaints from fellow citizens of the Latin American country.

The cartoon, by Gustavo Sala, depicts a DJ performing at a concentration camp and Hitler instructing inmates to “have fun because life is short.”

In the first panel, DJ David shouts: “Let’s f***ing dance! Party! Party!” To which the prisoners reply they have nothing to celebrate because they are going to be exterminated in mass.

None other than Señor Hitler enters in the third panel, telling the inmates in striped garb that a little fun can’t hurt, adding “have fun, because life is short.”

In the fourth and final panel, while the inmates dance wildly, Hitler thanks the DJ and quips, “If they are relaxed then the soap comes out much better.”

Just a day after publishing the anti-Semitic strip, the newspaper issued an apology on Friday.

Source

Posted by John J. Ray (M.A.; Ph.D.).
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       Following Entry Posted 1/29/2012 06:38:00 AM

Kentucky Babysitter Arrested for Beating Child

(Louisville, Kentucky) A 28-year-old local babysitter, Ashley Chapman, has been accused of beating a two-year-old girl she was caring for.

The beating reportedly occurred on January 25 and the girl is currently hospitalized at Kosair Children's Hospital in critical condition. Chapman has been charged with first-degree criminal abuse.

According to Kentucky State Police, Ashley Chapman was babysitting the girl in Vine Grove. State police say the girl was unresponsive and had bruises all over her body.

Chapman was booked into custody at the Hardin County Detention Center with bond set at $25,000.

Labels: Women With Troubles

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       Following Entry Posted 1/29/2012 05:09:00 AM

Robbery with Curling Iron

"Hands up! I can damage your hair!"

(Toledo, Ohio) A 41-year-old local woman, Sonia Watson, has been accused of holding up the Liberty Tax Service office in West Toledo last Thursday using a curling iron.

According to the police report, Watson and her son entered the tax business with their faces covered but realized they had to wait in line so they removed "the cloths" from their faces.

The report states, once the customers left, the bumbling bandits covered their faces again and the tried to hold up the place using a curling iron.

Investigators say once workers realized what was going on they refused to hand over the cash and threw a chair and plastic bottle at the crooks.

Watson and her son were able to get the cash drawer before taking off. The perps were identified pretty easily, Watson had been in the same liberty tax recently to have her taxes done. They are still on the run.

As crimes go, this one doesn't make a lick of sense.

Labels: Women With Troubles

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       Following Entry Posted 1/29/2012 04:23:00 AM

Mass Arrests at Occupy Oakland

From Sacbee:

OAKLAND, Calif. -- About 300 people were arrested Saturday during a chaotic day of Occupy protests that saw demonstrators break into City Hall and burn an American flag, as police earlier fired tear gas and bean bags to disperse hundreds of people after some threw rocks and bottles and tore down fencing outside a nearby convention center.

Dozens of police officers remained on guard outside City Hall around midnight following the most turbulent day of protests since November, when Oakland police forcefully dismantled an Occupy encampment. An exasperated Mayor Jean Quan, who faced heavy criticism for the police action last fall, called on the Occupy movement to "stop using Oakland as its playground."

"People in the community and people in the Occupy movement have to stop making excuses for this behavior," Quan said.

Protesters clashed with police throughout the day, at times throwing rocks, bottles and other objects at officers. And police responded by deploying smoke, tear gas and bean bag rounds, City Administrator Deanna Santanta said.

Heh.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/28/2012 10:21:00 AM

Dakota Teacher Accused of Sex with Student

(Hebron, North Dakota) A 25-year-old former teacher, Jennifer Schultz, has been accused of engaging in sex with one of her male students.

Schultz faces two counts of sexual assault, one count of corruption of a minor, and another count of delivery of alcohol to a minor.

Morton County Sheriff Dave Shipman says Schultz allowed four boys into her home in late October. Shipman says Schultz allegedly had sex with one of the boys while a second told her no. She provided them all with alcohol.

During the investigation Schultz refused to speak to authorities.

Schultz was booked into custody and released on $5,000.

Labels: Women With Troubles

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       Following Entry Posted 1/28/2012 05:16:00 AM

Heavy criticism for an academic who said those who display the Australian flag are likely to be racist

I think criticism of her is justified. She did apparently use the term "racist", which is very inflammatory. Many people would see it as including Hitler-type behaviour and she had no evidence that the people she described would endorse such behaviour.

There are many possible gradations of opinion about race-related matters. It may be noted, for instance, that the man who declared war on Hitler (Neville Chamberlain) was himself an antisemite of sorts -- so any implicit or explicit claim that there is such a thing as a monolithic entity called racism is unscholarly.

And any social scientist making or implying such a claim is ipso facto a very low-grade intellect. Though it might be noted that mean minds are common among sociologists. Many of them are still devoted to the writings of an obsolete economist and proven stimulator of hate named Karl Marx. The term "racist" of no use for anything except abuse. I use the term only in mockery of Leftist abuse.

I made some technical remarks about her research on 24th. but readers may also be interested in an alternative to her kneejerk reaction to the old "white Australia policy". See here for a more philosophically sophisticated look at the issues involved

A PERTH professor whose study found people who fly Australian flags on their cars are more racist than those who don't, says she has received over 70 critical emails which include demands that she go back to her "own country".

Brunei-born University of WA Professor Farida Fozdar [Judging by the name she is ethnically an Indian Muslim], who moved to Australia when she was seven, said she was shocked by the national reaction to her study which also spread as far India and the United States.

“Some emails have been quite polite and I’ve been able to reply and we’ve actually had quite a positive interaction out of it which, I really really value," Professor Fozdar said.

"But some are straight out lots of swear words and suggesting that I should go back to where I came from.

“I’ve also had a couple of emails from people implying that I’m the Grinch that killed Christmas and that now nobody is going to fly a flag because they think it shows that they’re racist.”

Professor Fozdar, a sociologist and anthropologist, said that although the study was reported “relatively accurately” in the media, some people have misinterpreted its findings.

“What has struck me most is that the media has reported the research relatively accurately in most cases, perhaps apart from some headlines, but people have taken it up in the wrong way,” Professor Fozdar said.

“People have taken it as though I was saying that anyone who flies a flag on their car for Australia Day is racist and that flying the flag generally is a racist thing to do and that certainly wasn’t what I was saying.”

Professor Fozdar said the study revealed flag-flyers were significantly less positive about Australia’s ethnic diversity than “non-flag flyers” but that the attitude is not shared by all Australians.

“The fact that there were significant differences doesn’t mean that everybody who flys the flag feel negative towards minorities but it means that a larger proportion of them did compared with people that weren’t flying flags,” she said.

Professor Fozdar said many people ignored her findings that the majority of both flag-flyers and non-flag flyers, interviewed by her research team, felt positive about Australia’s ethnic diversity.

“But that’s not what gets picked up by people,” she said. “That statistic was there, in a lot of media reports, but people took out of it that I’m saying they shouldn’t fly a flag for Australia Day because it’s racist and that we shouldn’t celebrate Australia Day. “That was just nowhere in the research and so that is what has surprised me.”

SOURCE

Posted by John J. Ray (M.A.; Ph.D.).
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       Following Entry Posted 1/28/2012 12:08:00 AM

Ohio Dance Teacher and Boy, 15

(Akron, Ohio) A 34-year-old dance instructor, Kimberly Sauto, has been found guilty of unlawful sexual conduct with a 15-year-old male student.

Prosecutors said Sauto's husband reported the relationship to Sagamore Hills police after finding condoms in his wife's dance bag, and text messages between her and the victim.

Investigators said the victim was a student in Sauto's tap dancing class. They had sex in Sauto's car in August 2011, according to prosecutors. During the trial, Sauto testified, but did not admit to a sexual relationship.

"The defendant admitted that she had written him love letters, admitted to text messages, admitted to kissing him, but did deny having a sexual relationship with him," said Summit County Prosecutor Sherri Bevan Walsh.

On the witness stand, Sauto also said that she still loves the boy today, according to Bevan Walsh.

Sauto is in custody at the Summit County Jail. Sentencing is scheduled for March.

Labels: Women With Troubles

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       Following Entry Posted 1/27/2012 10:42:00 PM

Pennsylvania Teacher and Student, 17

(Bethel, Pennsylvania) A 22-year-old teacher formerly at North Pitt High School, Sarah Holmes, has been accused of engaging in an indecent relationship with a 17-year-old student.

Holmes faces one count of felony indecent liberties.

Investigator Dolenti said age difference was not he key factor in the case.

"The age difference wasn't really the issue, it was just that student teacher relationship. The general statute states that as long as she is a active student at the school and he is an active student, any further relationship is inappropriate," Dolenti said.

A Pitt County Spokesperson said that state Board of Education was notified of the allegations against Holmes in November. If Holmes is found guilty of the charge she could lose her state teachers license.

Holmes was booked into custody and released on $5,000 bond.

Labels: Women With Troubles

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       Following Entry Posted 1/27/2012 07:42:00 PM

Mississippi Teacher Gets Hand Slap in Sex Case - Updated

(New Albany, Mississippi) Former Ripley High School teacher Melissa Mathis pleaded guilty to sexual battery on a minor stemming from improper relations with a former student.

As a result, Mathis was sentenced this week by Circuit Judge Robert Elliott to 15 years, delineated as one year of house arrest and 14 years suspended sentence.

Following her release from house arrest, she will be placed on five years post-release supervision. District Attorney Ben Creekmore tells the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal ( http://bit.ly/wtK7Nn) Mathis must register as a sex offender.

Mathis had been free on bond after being charged with two counts of sexual battery earlier this month. The second charge was dismissed in connection with her guilty plea. She resigned her job before she was arrested.

Interestingly, the usual time required to resolve teacher-student sex cases is months and sometimes years. From arrest to sentencing, this case was wrapped up in two weeks.

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Mississippi Teacher Accused of Sex with Student
[Previous 1/13/12 post]
(Ripley, Mississippi) A 37-year-old teacher formerly at Ripley High School, Melissa Mathis, has been accused of engaging in an improper relationship with a student.

Mathis faces two counts of sexual battery.

According to Tippah County Sheriff's Investigator Jason Willis, the investigation started last Friday after receiving a tip from the high school.

Mathis was arrested Thursday.

Mathis was booked into custody yesterday at the Tippah County Jail and released on $5,000 bond.

Labels: Women With Troubles

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       Following Entry Posted 1/27/2012 11:27:00 AM

Charity




(More....)
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       Following Entry Posted 1/27/2012 10:57:00 AM

Indiana School Bus Driver and Boy, 16

(South Bend, Indiana) A 32-year-old bus driver for South Bend Community School Corporation, Monisha Simpson, has been accused of engaging in sexual acts with a 16-year-old Clay High School student.

Simpson faces two counts of child seduction.

According to a probable cause affidavit, Simpson picked the 16-year-old up at school, and he spent time at her home with her children.

The teenager told authorities he was 18. The South Bend Tribune reported that under Indiana law, a school employee cannot have sex with a student under their supervision.

Simpson was booked into the St. Joseph County Jail with bond set at $2,000.

Labels: Women With Troubles

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       Following Entry Posted 1/27/2012 08:52:00 AM

Church Boots Girl Scouts Over Abortion Ties




(Chantilly, Virginia) St. Timothy's Catholic Church has banned Girl Scout troops from the church and St. Timothy School.

Also, Girl Scouts can no longer wear their uniforms on church property.

The reason stated for the ban is that the Girl Scouts are subjected to influence, through a convoluted connection, by Planned Parenthood with its secular sex and abortion agenda.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/27/2012 08:04:00 AM

Another Gets Prison in Exploitation Case - Updated

(Elkhart, Indiana) The Internet child exploitation case has snagged another woman who molested children at the direction of Steven Demink (aka Dalton St. Clair).

Autumn Marchant, 36, of 1417 Columbus Drive, Elkhart, admitted in May to molesting a young boy on camera the request of an online acquaintance.

Records in Elkhart Superior Court 3 detailed the case against her.

According to Elkhart Detective Lt. Peggy Snider, an investigation by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security brought the allegations against Marchant to light.[…]

Marchant told officers she started out posing nude for Demink on camera, but at some point involved an 8-year-old boy as well as an underage girl, Snider wrote.

She and the girl fondled the boy, and she performed acts on the boy for his “health” and “she was following the instructions of ‘Dalton St. Claire’ so that she could have a happier life,” according to Snider’s affidavit.

For molesting young children, Marchant was sentenced by Judge George Biddlecome in Elkhart Superior Court to 20 years in state prison followed by 10 years of probation.

In her defense, Marchant told Judge Biddlecome that she is a single mom with no income and she has Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

* * * * *
Demink Gets Prison in Exploitation Case - Updated
[Previous 8/4/11 post]
(Detroit, Michigan) Yesterday in U.S. District Court, Steven Demink was sentenced by Judge Gerald Rosen to life in prison.

* * * * *
Woman Gets Prison in Exploitation Case - Updated
[Previous 3/23/11 post]
(Norfolk, Virginia) Following up on the Internet child molestation case involving Steven Demink and women he convinced to molest children, a 41-year-old Virginia Beach woman, Rebecca J. Nail, has pleaded guilty to molesting a boy and broadcasting it live over the Internet.

Nail admitted molesting the teenage boy and producing images at least six times, including taking pictures at a Maine nudist camp. Once, she aired a sex act with the boy over the Internet for a man in another state who, she says, persuaded her to do it.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine Lee Martin said in a court filing that Nail "repeatedly and horrifically sexually abused a minor."

"She allowed that child to be exploited further by some pervert she met on the Internet," Martin said. "And she participated in plans to abuse other children. Accordingly, Nail deserves the harshest possible penalty."

The man on the other end off the Internet, Steven Demink, pleaded guilty to related charges and is awaiting sentencing in Michigan.

As a result, U.S. District Judge Jerome B. Friedman sentenced Nail to 30 years in prison.

* * * * *
Internet Phony Talks Moms into Abusing Own Kids
[Previous 3/3/11 post bumped]
(Detroit, Michigan) In October 2010, a 41-year-old Michigan man, Steven Demink, was arrested for allegedly presenting himself online as a single father and licensed psychologist named Dalton St. Clair who coaxed single moms on the Internet to sexually abuse their own children as a form of therapy.

Sometimes the women would send him pictures of them committing the acts, while other times he watched it happen live via webcam.

The children ranged in age from 3 to 15.

In one case, Demink convinced a woman to perform sexually explicit acts with her 8-year-old autistic son claiming that it would help educate the child about sex. While she committed the acts of sexual abuse on her child, Demink watched it happen on his webcam.

At least seven children have been rescued and three mothers have been arrested.

This week, Demink pleaded guilty to multiple charges related to exploitation of children. Sentencing has been scheduled for June when Demink faces 15 years to life in prison.

Tip: Rita and Eugene

Labels: Women With Troubles

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       Following Entry Posted 1/27/2012 06:09:00 AM

McFlurry of trade brings record year

A nasty one for the food Fascists and food snobs

WE DON'T know how many burgers they made, but the other numbers are big enough. McDonald's rang up record sales of $US27 billion ($25.6 billion) in 33,510 restaurants worldwide last year, an increase of 12 per cent, turning a profit of $US5.5 billion from the 68 million customers it serves each day.

Although there is no country breakdown, it seems Australia was a weak contributor, with our stronger dollar biting into earnings and its chief executive, Jim Skinner, noting "lagging consumer confidence as a result of the economic slowdown".

Just 34 new stores opened in Australia last year, McDonald's US filings reveal, lifting this country's total to 865. That compared with 177 new stores opened in China.

But Australia again lived up to its track record as a hotbed of new ideas for the fast food giant. Chicken McBites have just been launched in the US after being invented here and launched in 2010. The recent launch here of smoothies and frappes have resulted in good sales volumes.

"That's something we're really proud of," said a spokeswoman. "Lots of innovation in McDonald's starts in Australia, like McCafes."

In what feel like hard economic times, McDonald's is trying to focus on value. "The McValue lunch has been very popular," the spokeswoman said.

Worldwide, said the chief operating officer, Donald Thompson, breakfast at McDonald's is booming, driven partly by local offerings such as McMuffins.

"Probably the biggest of all of the menu pieces I would say is breakfast. Breakfast is beginning to circulate around the rest of the world . .. there's some tremendous opportunity there. So we've got a lot of room still in breakfast products, the premium sandwiches. Wraps are travelling. McBites are in the US from Australia and smoothies and beverages are travelling around the world. So those things are going to continue."

In the December quarter, McDonald's reported sales of $US6.8 billion, up 10 per cent on the previous year, and net income of $US1.4 billion, up 11 per cent.

McDonald's does not give a country-by-country breakdown but the Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa were the strongest of its geographic regions, with sales up by 11 per cent both for the quarter, after stripping out currency impacts, compared with a year earlier, and for the 2011 full year.

SOURCE

Posted by John J. Ray (M.A.; Ph.D.).
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       Following Entry Posted 1/27/2012 06:06:00 AM

Bribery Data

(Moscow, Russia) The Russian Interior Ministry oversees economic security by tracking and reporting statistical data on bribery transactions in the country.

Sadly, per transaction bribery amounts have increased dramatically. The ruble value of bribes reportedly more than tripled in 2011 from previous years.

“The size of the average bribe and commercial payoff in reported crimes increased more than 250 percent to 236,000 rubles ($7866),” it said in a statement.

Meanwhile, the Interior Ministry also reports that success is being realized in the fight against corruption. So, even though bribery accounts for one-third of all corruption offenses and bribery has increased, overall corruption is reportedly down. Okay, fine.

It would logically seem that data on bribery comes from criminal prosecutions rather than bribers or bribees filling out tax forms. Therefore, the numbers reflect only those criminals arrested for bribery. It's arguable but I'd suggest most bribery goes unreported and most bribery involves government workers.

And being somewhat cynical, I'd also suggest the news reporting of bribery in Russia is less about informing the public and more about informing those offering bribes that the price of doing business has increased dramatically. In other words, Russian authorities are telling people to expect to pay more.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/26/2012 10:56:00 PM

Teacher Re-Arrested on Drug Charges - Updated

(Portland, Oregon) It appears that previous convictions and jail haven't affected the behavior of former teacher Zuleyma Figueroa, 37, and housemate Concepcion Mendez-Hernandez.

Both are now accused of possession of cocaine after police searched their automotive shop.

Police found Figueroa, 37, and Concepcion Mendez-Hernandez, a co-defendant in her prior drug case, were the owners of the shop. Police did not say where the shop was located, or if Mendez-Hernandez was arrested.

Police said they allowed officers to search the shop's premises. A kilogram of cocaine was found in a trash can, police said. The estimated street value of the cocaine is $100,000.

Zuleyma Figueroa is in custody at the Multnomah County Detention Center.

* * * * *
Teacher Gets 45 Days for Dealing Meth - Updated
[Previous 3/16/10 post]
(Portland, Oregon) Benson High School Spanish teacher Zuleyma Figueroa, 36, pleaded guilty to distributing a large quantity of methamphetamine out of the home she shared with 40-year-old Concepcion Mendez-Hernandez who also pleaded guilty to the meth offense.

Each was sentenced to 45 days in jail.

 
Figueroa -- Mendez-Hernandez
In addition to jail, each woman also received three years of probation, 64 hours of community service and $500 in fines.

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Oregon Teacher Indicted on Drug Charges
[Previous 12/18/09 post]
(Portland, Oregon) A 35-year-old Spanish teacher at Benson Polytechnic High School, Zuleyma Noemi Figueroa, has been indicted for delivery and possession of methamphetamine.

Detectives executed a search warrant at Figueroa's Southeast Portland home in late November. They found approximately one ounce of methamphetamine and nearly $10,000 in cash, as well as packaging materials and scales.

"At this time we're not aware of student involvement or other teacher involvement," added Sergeant Greg Stewart of the Portland Police Bureau.

A search warrant showed detectives used two informants to make drug buys at the home on the 142 block of Southeast Lincoln on at lkeast three occasions. The informants identified Figueroa and another woman who lived at the home, 40-year-old Connie Mendez-Hernandez, as the ones who sold the meth.

"Nobody would've expected it," said student Nick Blank. "She's pretty nice, a pretty fair, good teacher, taught her students well."

Figueroa was released with supervision. A court date is scheduled for February 5.

Labels: Women With Troubles

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       Following Entry Posted 1/26/2012 10:42:00 PM

Nevada Teacher Sentenced in Sex Case - Updated

(Reno, Nevada) Former Reed High School teacher Bethyl Shepherd, 35, pleaded guilty to unlawful sex with a student and has been sentenced.

[She] was sentenced Jan. 26 to 60 days in jail and five years probation for unlawful sexual relations between a school employee and pupil.

She had been a special education teacher at Reed High School when a 17-year-old boy reported to school officials in April that he had a sexual relationship with Shepherd. Another boy came forward and reported the same thing.

Shepherd said there were five other boys, one who was 15, with whom she also engaged in sexual misconduct.

She blamed her bi-polar disorder for her crime.

Washoe District Chief Judge David Hardy stated Shepherd's behavior indicated a pattern of misconduct rather than an isolated incident.

In any event, Shepherd had sex with seven male students and received 60 days in jail. That's less than nine days in jail per victim. Harsh punishment? You make the call.

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Nevada Teacher Accused of Sex with Two Students
[Previous 4/25/11 post]
(Reno, Nevada) A 34-year-old special education teacher at Reed High School, Bethyl “Beth” Shepherd, has been arrested for allegedly engaging in sex with two students.

Shepherd faces two counts of felony sexual conduct between a school employee and a pupil.

According to a probable cause affidavit filed in Sparks Justice Court, school police detectives learned through an unidentified source that Shepherd allegedly was involved in a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old student on April 7.

Investigators accused her in the court filing of having sex with two 17-year-olds in her personal vehicle, away from school grounds.

Shepherd was booked into custody at the Washoe County Jail with bond set at $4,000.

Labels: Women With Troubles

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       Following Entry Posted 1/26/2012 07:12:00 PM

Ohio Teacher Guilty in Sex Case - Updated

(Aurora, Ohio) Avoiding a trial scheduled for this week, 25-year-old teacher Mary E. Schnell pleaded guilty before Portage County Common Pleas Judge Laurie Pittman to engaging in sex with one of her male students in early 2011.

While convicted on one count of third-degree felony sexual battery, Schnell agreed to a plea that dismissed a second count.

Sentencing is up to Pittman, who ordered a pre-sentence investigation by the Portage County Adult Probation Department. The charge carries a potential sentence of one to five years in prison.

Schnell will be labeled a sex offender and be required to register with the Portage County Sheriff’s Office. She is free on bond, on the condition she have no contact with the victim, according to court records.

The relationship was considered illegal because Schnell was a teacher and therefore in a position of authority over the student.

Despite her ultimate sentence, it's sad that Schnell has effectively torpedoed her career in education, which just recently began. Even though one could blame her crime on a momentary lapse in judgment or maybe immaturity, it will undoubtedly blemish the rest of her life.

* * * * *
Ohio Teacher Accused of Sex with Male Student
[Previous 7/18/11 post]
(Aurora, Ohio) A 24-year-old substitute teacher with the Aurora School District, Mary Schnell, was indicted last week for allegedly engaging in inappropriate relationship with a 16-year-old male student.

Schnell faces charges of two counts of felony sexual battery.

Sheriff David Doak said the charges were filed as a result of an investigation by the Aurora and Streetsboro police departments and the Portage County Sheriff’s Office.

The investigation revealed that Schnell and the student were involved in a sexual relationship.

During the relationship, the two engaged in sexual conduct in Mantua Township, according to the Portage County Sheriff’s Office.

Schnell pleaded not guilty at her arraignment today. She is free on $50,000 bond. Trial is scheduled for October.

Labels: Women With Troubles

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       Following Entry Posted 1/26/2012 09:01:00 AM

Apology sought from Wisconsin school superintendent who bullied Christian teen over homosexual adoption

This disgraceful episode is now in the hands of the lawyers

"A 15-year-old Wisconsin boy who wrote an op-ed opposing gay adoptions was censored, threatened with suspension and called ignorant by the superintendent of the Shawano School District, according to an attorney representing the child.

Mathew Staver, the founder of the Liberty Counsel, sent a letter to Superintendent Todd Carlson demanding an apology for “Its unconstitutional and irrational censorship and humiliation” of Brandon Wegner.

Wegner, a student at Shawano High School, was asked to write an op-ed for the school newspaper about whether gays should be allowed to adopt. Wegner, who is a Christian, wrote in opposition. Another student wrote in favor of allowing gays to adopt. Wegner used Bible passages to defend his argument, including Scripture that called homosexuality a sin.

The school immediately issued an apology – stating Wegner’s opinion was a “form of bullying and disrespect.”

But Staver said what the school system did next was absolutely outrageous. He said the 15-year-old was ordered to the superintendent’s office where he was subjected to hours of meetings and was accused of violating the school’s bullying policy.

“The superintendent called him ignorant and said he had the power to suspend him,” Staver said. “He’s using his position to bully this student. This is absolutely the epitome of intolerance.”

FOX News & Commentary offered Carlson a chance to address the allegations. He refused to submit to questions, but did say he would send a statement. That statement never arrived.

Staver said an apology from the superintendent may not suffice – and they may consider taking legal action. “It was a very intimidating situation for this 15-year-old boy,” he said.”It was uncalled for. He crossed the line. It’s absolutely outrageous and he needs to apologize for his actions.”

Source

A good illustration of how twisted a Leftist mind can get. The kid was the one being bullied but he was accused of bullying!

Posted by John J. Ray (M.A.; Ph.D.).
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       Following Entry Posted 1/26/2012 05:14:00 AM

Georgia Educator Accused of Sex with Boy, 10

(Valdosta, Georgia) A 33-year-old employee at Lowndes County Middle School, Annetta Nikki Terrell, has been accused of forcing a 10-year-old boy to engage in sex with her in September 2005.

Nikki Terrell has been charged with child molestation. Her former husband, 36-year-old Joseph Terrell, faces a similar charge.

The Lowndes County school board released this statement:

"This is a personnel matter of a confidential nature. Lowndes County Schools will follow Georgia law and local school board policies in dealing with the situation. While this is under investigation, safety is our first priority. This employee will not be allowed on any Lowndes County campus or around any students."

Getting convincing evidence of the crime is probably difficult for an episode that occurred six and one-half years ago.

Labels: Women With Troubles

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       Following Entry Posted 1/26/2012 12:37:00 AM

Regarding the Penn State Scandal

Educator, journalist and blogger Walter Brasch weighs in on the Penn State child sex scandal, describing in detail the chaotic actions of several university functionaries as they haltingly throw Joe Paterno under the bus in a reverent, supportive and loving manner.

Tip: slwlion
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       Following Entry Posted 1/25/2012 11:04:00 PM

Living Longer With Booze

(Los Angeles, California) Researchers at UCLA have discovered that consumption of alcohol doubles the lifespan of certain test subjects, uh, worms.

The discovery was described as "shocking" by biochemist Steven Clarke, senior author of a study published in PLoS One, a peer-reviewed journal published by the Public Library of Science.

So, if you have worms and they're dying off too quickly, give them some hooch. Heh.

Frivolity aside, the researchers have no evidence that the increase in longevity of boozy worms is translatable to humans.

"One of the most dangerous things you can do is try to make extrapolations from one organism to another, especially over this evolutionary distance," he said.

But he is haunted by the fact that numerous research projects have shown that a limited amount of alcohol is beneficial to the human cardiovascular system.

Therefore, some agreement exists regarding the beneficial effects of a "limited amount of alcohol" consumed by humans.

The "limited amount" isn't delineated but it probably means that people should keep their consumption to less than a 12-pack of beer or a bottle of wine daily.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/25/2012 12:51:00 PM

Carolina School Principal Dies



Principal Barry Bowe
(Charlotte, North Carolina) The 54-year-old principal at the Northwest School of the Arts, Barry Bowe, reportedly committed suicide by carbon monoxide at his home on Monday.

According to police, a Charlotte-Mecklenburg school employee went to check on Dr. Bowe at this home, but got no response. That's when officers say the employee called police.

A neighbor, who had a key to Dr. Bowe's home, let officers inside where they found his body inside a car in his garage.

CMS Interim Superintendent, Hugh Hattabaugh, called Dr. Bowe's death a tragic loss - saying the school system was very saddened that Bowe had died.

"Mr. Bowe had been at Northwest School of the Arts since 2008 and was cherished by the students, staff and families at the school," the school district said in a statement on Tuesday. "All of us at CMS are mourning the loss of a valued educator, colleague and friend. We extend our deepest sympathy to his family and friends."

It's not clear why Mr. Bowe offed himself. However, some believe there may be a link to a gun incident at the school last month.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/25/2012 09:07:00 AM

Topless Tobogganing World Championships



(Laukvik, Norway) Mark your calendars, sports fans. On March 17th, the second annual Topless Tobogganing World Championships will be held at Laukvik, above the Arctic Circle. Naturally, it's expected to be nippy.

According to organizer Sten Hansen,

In 2010, some 500 people watched bare-chested Norwegian sledders barrel down the village’s hills. A year later, 1,000 spectators looked on as 30 entrants tumbled semi-clad through the Arctic snow for the inaugural World Championships, he said.

“It’s quite incredible considering there are only 450 people here in Laukvik,” said Hansen.

While he harbours hopes of the village securing national arena status, Hansen conceded this remained something of a pipe dream.

“We’re not affiliated with the Norwegian Olympic Committee yet, so we have some way to go. We’re also some distance away from recognition as an Olympic sport,” he said.

Nevertheless, record numbers of participants and spectators are expected this year.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/25/2012 05:56:00 AM

Hostages Rescued by US Navy SEALs



Jessica Buchanan & Poul Hagen Thisted
(Mogadishu, Somalia) U.S. Navy SEALs flew into Somalia last night and rescued two hostages, American Jessica Buchanan, 32, and Dane Poul Hagen Thisted, 60.

In the process, nine pirates were killed.

According to the U.S. officials, two teams of Navy SEALs landed by helicopter near the compound where the two hostages were being held. As the SEALS approached the compound on foot gunfire broke out, the U.S. officials said, and several of the militants were reportedly killed. There is no word that any of the Americans were wounded.

The SEALs gathered up Buchanan and Thisted, loaded them onto the helicopters and flew them to safety at an undisclosed location. The two hostages were not injured during the rescue operation and are reported to be in relatively good condition.

Pirates kidnapped Buchanan and Thisted in October, expecting $10 million in ransom. Expectations went unrealized.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/25/2012 02:46:00 AM

India to complain to US over Jay Leno joke



Indian religions might seem strange to us but Indians take then very seriosly -- almost as seriously as cricket. A Prime Minister of India (Indira Gandhi) was assassinated for desecrating the Golden temple. I would advise Mr Leno to apologize profusely. There are a lot of Sikhs in the USA.

India is to formally object to a joke by US TV host Jay Leno in which he said that the Golden Temple, the holiest shrine for Sikhs, was a summer home for wealthy presidential candidate Mitt Romney.

Minister Vayalar Ravi termed the gag by "The Tonight Show" host as "quite unfortunate and quite objectionable" and said the Indian embassy in Washington would raise the issue, the Press Trust of India reported on Monday.

In a dig at Mr Romney's privileged background during a show last week, Leno used a photo of the ornate Sikh shrine in the northwestern Indian city of Amritsar during a segment on the vacation homes of US Republican presidential candidates.

Angry members of the Sikh community in the US circulated an online petition protesting the "derogatory depiction" of the Golden Temple, adding that "Jay Leno's racist comments need to be stopped right here".

Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Ravi said he had not watched the show himself but that the Sikh community in the US had lobbied him to take action against it.

"Freedom does not mean hurt the sentiments of others ... This is not acceptable to us and we take a very strong objection for such a display of an important place like Golden temple," Mr Ravi was reported to have said.

Source

It was just a joke but humor can be dangerous these days. Perhaps it always was.

Posted by John J. Ray (M.A.; Ph.D.).
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       Following Entry Posted 1/25/2012 12:36:00 AM

Vermont Woman Gets Prison in Child Sex Case - Updated

(St. Albans, Vermont) Convicted of multiple counts involving sex assault and restraint of two boys, 35-year-old Misty Smith was sentenced Monday by Franklin County District Court Judge Robert Mello. The proceedings were emotional.

Mello said she needed significant structure and treatment for the rest of her life.

“The court thinks that the two victims came closest to articulating what is needed here,” Mello said. “What Ms. Smith needs is a structure that she’s never had in her life. They don’t want to see her spend her life in jail, but they realize in order for her to succeed, which they want her to do, she’s going to need very strict supervision; as much supervision as possible.”

In total Smith received three years to life for the two sexual assault charges and three to five years for each count of unlawful restraint.

Sad case. Smith has a previous conviction for aggravated assault and a suicide attempt. Her criminal behavior is partly blamed on Smith being borderline mentally retarded due to fetal alcohol syndrome.

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Vermont Woman Guilty in Child Sex Case - Updated
[Previous 8/11/11 post]
(St. Albans, Vermont) In exchange for reduced charges, a tearful Misty Smith, 35, pleaded guilty before Superior Court Judge Mark Keller to hiding and sexually assaulting two 11-year-old boys in her home.

“The first step toward rehabilitation is taking responsibility for your actions,” Keller said. “I’m trying to help you take that first step.”

Smith responded “Yes” when Keller asked whether she assaulted the boys and later hid them from their parents and the police. Earlier in the hearing, Smith had said she hid the boys because they wanted to stay with her.

In exchange for her guilty plea Tuesday in Vermont Superior Court in St. Albans, prosecutors reduced two charges of aggravated sexual assault to the two counts of sexual assault, and dropped 13 other charges, including a third count of aggravated sexual assault, as well as two counts of lewd and lascivious conduct with a child.

Smith faces a possible term of life in prison when sentenced at an as yet to be scheduled future date.

* * * * *
Vermont Woman, 34, with Boy, 11
[Previous 11/11/10 post]
(St. Albans, Vermont) Yesterday, a 34-year-old Vermont woman, Misty Smith, was arrested for several offenses stemming from the alleged kidnapping and sexual assault of an 11-year-old boy.

Smith faces charges of aggravated sexual assault on a child, lewd and lascivious conduct with a child, simple assault, second-degree unlawful restraint, kidnapping/unlawful sheltering, aiding a runaway child, contributing to juvenile delinquency and furnishing alcohol to minors.

On Tuesday police started looking for the boy who had been last seen leaving school Tuesday and was headed to Smith's home.

Police say Smith told officers and the boy's parents he was not there.

When officers later returned to speak with Smith again they heard noises upstairs that led them to the boy. Police say he'd been there the whole time.

Smith was booked into custody with bail set at $250,000.

Labels: Women With Troubles

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