Following Entry Posted 4/30/2005 10:58:00 PM

Rough Town

From Orlando, Florida, comes this headline:

Deputy Fatally Shoots Motorist During Traffic Stop

Implemented as a governing policy, the number of repeat offenders goes to zero.
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/30/2005 11:57:00 AM

Mexican Border-Hoppers Enrolled in Arizona Schools

(Lukeville, Arizona) Over a year ago, it was reported that Mexican children were crossing the border daily to attend public school at American taxpayer expense. Arizona Superintendent of Education Tom Horne ordered an investigation to be conducted. Yesterday, Horne said nothing has been determined about where students actually live. "The investigation is proceeding," said Horne. In other words, he's sitting on his thumbs.

Lukeville (pop. 65) sits walking distance across the border from Sonoyta, Mexico. Every morning, 85 children board two school buses bound for the school in the town of Ajo. School officials "are at a loss to explain the discrepancy." In reality, officials just don't want to explain the discrepancy. It's not a secret.

Each school day, the routine is the same. By 6:30 a.m., two empty school buses, sent by Pima County, pull into the tiny town of Lukeville and park within a few hundred yards of the border crossing.

Dozens of boys and girls walk from the Mexican town of Sonoyta into the United States through the port of entry, some chatting, dribbling basketballs and toting backpacks. A line of roughly 15 to 20 trucks, cars and minivans forms at the border as parents wait to drop their children at the bus stop and then head back into Mexico.

It's fairly common knowledge that children who live in Mexico are attending school in the U.S. with taxpayer dollars allocated for each of them. In fact, if the estimated 80 to 85 students who now catch the bus at the U.S.-Mexican border are eliminated from the total enrollment, the Ajo School District is estimated to lose about $425,000 in funding.

In summary, not only is the American taxpayer paying to educate illegal aliens living in the U.S., the taxpayer is also paying to educate illegal aliens who don't live in the U.S. I guess the "They pay taxes, too" argument wouldn't work in this case.

However, the state education chief, Tom Horne, is investigating to see "if there is abuse of taxpayer money." If so, "we will seek disciplinary action," he says.

Notably, Mr. Horne is prominent in a related story from this week where he has asked the U.S. Department of Education to exempt Arizona from "too rigid to be fair" federal accountability rules. Specifically, Horne wants academic and attendance requirements reduced so that Arizona can meet them.

Companion post at Diggers Realm.
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/30/2005 08:19:00 AM

School Project Halted by Salamanders

(Ann Arbor, Michigan) Environmentalists have filed suit to stop construction of a high school because a $100,000 search effort of a pond found a handful of salamanders that "may be endangered." They aren't certain that the salamanders they found are the endangered 'smallmouth salamander.' Nonetheless, the project gets shut down anyway.

A lawyer for the environmentalists said "they don't want clearing anywhere." According to school system spokeswoman Liz Margolis, the lawsuit is a continuing attempt "to stop construction on this site at all costs." It sure seems the environmentalists are considerably more "anti-progress" than "pro-salamander."

Think about it. The greenies spend $100,000 looking to find some reason to shut down a multi-million dollar school project and then they file suit because they might have found something. If you ever wonder why school systems constantly are asking for more money, it's because of costs being jacked up by this type of foolishness. Delays in construction are expensive and the delay caused by the salamander that might be in the pond will be paid for by property owners in Ann Arbor.

Interestingly, according to Todd Hogrefe, Endangered Species Coordinator for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, despite whether the high school is built or not, the salamander in question is probably not going to survive in its current location. Hogrefe suggests its fate was determined long ago by fragmentation of the area with subdivisions and highways.
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/30/2005 07:42:00 AM

Teacher Arrested for Sex with Student

(Hanford, California) Former 25-year-old Hanford West High School biology teacher, Elisa Kawasaki, was arrested Wednesday for having sex with a minor, a 16-year-old student. According to Captain David Scott of the Hanford Police Department, Kawasaki was arrested "based on newly received information from the victim."

Kawasaki taught at the school from January until April 21, when she resigned. After booking in Kings County Jail, she was released on $10,000 bail.
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/29/2005 06:17:00 PM

Hot Live Lobster

(Mt. Desert Island, Maine) According to this report, two people wearing ski masks and "paddling a small boat in the dark of night" were recorded on surveillance cameras as they boosted crates of live lobsters from Thurston's Lobster Pound in Tremont.

Similarly and not far away on Little Cranberry Island, another live lobster heist was recorded on camera at the Cranberry Isles Fishermen's Co-op. In total, 40 crates of lobster weighing about 90 lbs. each and worth more than $20,000 were stolen.

Based on the report, it appears that live lobster is being sold at the wharf in crates for about $5.50 a pound. This would explain why I see it in the grocery store for twice that amount and in a restaurant for three times that amount. I imagine that a person with cash could approach the lobsterman as his boat pulls in and buy a few for a little less.

There also appears to be little benefit to be derived by installing surveillance cameras to watch over crated live lobster. That is unless one likes to watch thieves at work. My suggestion would be to have the video signal sent to some central monitoring location so action could be taken while a theft was in progress.
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/29/2005 09:54:00 AM

Zell Miller Hospitalized

(Gainesville, Georgia) While giving a speech last night at an event for the Gainesville Care Center, former Senator Zell Miller felt faint and emergency personnel were summoned. He was taken to the Northeast Georgia Medical Center and was reported to have flu-like symptoms.
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/29/2005 09:21:00 AM

Outsourcing Jobs to the Love Boat

Outsourcing jobs to ships at sea? You bet. Digger has the story of two men, Roger Green and David Cook, whose company, Seacode, has a business plan to outfit a cruise ship with foreign software engineers and park it three miles off the coast of California. Immediately eliminated are taxes, immigrant visas, and parking, of course.

It will be interesting to watch this project in action and see the unintended consequences. More...
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/28/2005 07:44:00 PM

Unlawful Sexual Contact with Student

(Bath, Maine) A 44-year-old science teacher, Deborah Lepkowski, at Morse High School has been arrested on a charge that addresses inappropriate conduct between a teacher and a student. Court documents indicate that Lepkowski embraced a female student and licked her ears while at the teacher's home in January. Lepkowski has taught for several years at Morse High School and functioned as the track coach and the head field hockey coach. She is on leave from her teaching position.

There's got to be more to this story than ear-licking.


[Update 12/01/05]

Lepkowski gets no jail.
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/28/2005 06:30:00 PM

Damned Are The Missing

Continued at The Jawa Report is the series on missing American Roy Hallums. Along with Matt Maupin and others, Roy Hallums was taken by enemies of the U.S., enemies of freedom, and enemies of a democratic Iraq. They have been forgotten by the elite media and the U.S. government, almost like they never existed. It's wrong and it's not characteristic of America's normal response when people are lost, abducted, or even killed. America has historically gone after its people and returned them home. But, apparently, not now.

Consequently, it's up to the blogosphere to make missing Americans an everyday issue and a focus for prayers and dialogue. Let us collectively try to help the abducted in Iraq, and their families, and their friends. Let them not be forgotten.

Follow the link and read the story.
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/28/2005 06:07:00 PM

OBL Rumored Dead

Rusty Shackleford at The Jawa Report is skeptical. Supposedly, President Bush is to make an announcement tonight regarding Osama bin Laden which coincides with a vague reference by an Islamist website to OBL's demise. I agree with Rusty in being skeptical. More . . .
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/28/2005 02:35:00 PM

Woman Shoots Rapist

(Savannah, Georgia) While sitting in a parked car Monday night, a woman and her boyfriend were approached by two men and, at gunpoint, ordered out of the car.

The two men took a purse and wallet from the couple and then attacked the woman. They ripped her pants off and began sexually assaulting her, police said. But when one of the men put his gun down, the woman grabbed it and fired four shots. One of the shots struck one of the attackers in the neck, causing him to fall over.

The woman and her boyfriend jumped back into their car and drove off. The men followed and, using the gun, broke the car's rear windshield, police said.

At home, the couple called police who tracked down a bleeding Eric Easterling, 20. He faces prosecution for armed robbery and sexual assault charges. Police continue to search for his accomplice. The woman was treated and released from the hospital.
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/28/2005 06:36:00 AM

ACLU Sues Over 'Choose Life' License

(Columbus, Ohio) What a shock! The ACLU has filed suit against the state of Ohio over the 'Choose Life' license plates signed into law last February by Gov. Taft. It's contended that the plates only show one side of the abortion debate.

I have a solution. Pass a bill to allow the creation of 'Choose Death' license plates. Then the public would have an option and both sides of the abortion debate would be represented.
--------------
In other license plate news, Ohio Rep. Michael DeBose, (D) 12th District, has introduced a bill to make it mandatory for convicted sex offenders to be issued pink license plates.


Since Ohio has been issuing mandatory bright yellow license plates for multiple drunk driving offenders, DeBose believes his idea has a precedent and that sex offenders deserve their own color.

My take is that very few rational people will drive with pink license plates. They would move to another state first --- which may be the goal of the proposed legislation.
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/28/2005 05:15:00 AM

Cell Phones in China Exceed Population of U.S.

(Beijing, China) According to the latest data from the Chinese Ministry of Information Industry, there are 349 million cell phone subscribers in China. This means that there are about 50 million more cell phones in China than there are people in the United States. The total number of telephone subscribers is reported as 674 million Chinese.

From any perspective, the numbers of anything coming out of China cannot be ignored.
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/28/2005 04:59:00 AM

Argentina Protests Falkland Islands in EU Constitution

(Brussels, Belgium) Through the Argentine Embassy in Brussels, the Foreign Affairs Ministry has officially protested to "European institutions" the inclusion of the Falkland Islands, South Georgia, and South Sandwich Islands as British Antarctic Territory in the EU Constitutional Treaty.

As I recall, the last time Argentina played this tune, it resulted in a war. Let's hope that the issue doesn't escalate to that level. Nonetheless, the fact remains that the EU Constitution is going to meddle with the authority of individual states to define their boundaries. I don't think that's wise.

Imagine if there were an American Union with a majority of Latin American representation that had the authority to define the boundaries of the U.S. You could probably say goodbye to Texas, California, Arizona, and New Mexico.
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/27/2005 09:26:00 PM

DMV Mails Licenses to Wrong People

(Ft. Worth, Texas) Statewide, the Texas Department of Public Safety mistakenly mailed hundreds of driver's licenses to the wrong people. About 500 to 600 people who recently applied for a license renewal or replacement were sent someone else's license. Department of Public Safety spokeswoman Tela Mange said a sorting machine malfunctioned.

I'm a little curious to know what else was sorted improperly, if anything. The Department sends out lots of mail.
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/27/2005 09:11:00 PM

Teacher's Aide and Student

(San Jose, California) A 47-year-old teacher's aide, Catherine Rose, at Branham High School was arrested and accused of having unlawful sexual relations with a 17-year-old male student.


Catherine Rose
Apparently, Rose was apprehended by a police patrol while she was under the influence of drugs. Upon investigation, the relationship with the student was discovered. Allegedly, the student was also given illegal drugs by Rose.
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/27/2005 06:09:00 PM

Slanting The News

Compliments to Chad Evans at In The Bullpen for posting a blatant example of media spin. One story is explained by two different news sources with diametrically opposed messages. Chad's post provides all the justification necessary to insist that it's a mistake to rely on one outlet for information.

Go see for yourself.
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/27/2005 09:34:00 AM

Teens Arrested for Group Sex Video

(Springfield, Ohio) The Springfield News-Sun reports:

Four girls and one boy were arrested on Tuesday after deputies said the teens made a video of themselves having group sex.

The youths, ranging from sixth grade to 12th grade, reportedly were caught after one girl showed the sexually explicit video to two 12-year-old boys. Two of the girls charged are sisters.

"This is just beyond belief. And they're very cavalier about it and are acting like everybody's doing it," Clark County Sheriff Gene Kelly said.

The video included a 12-year-old sixth-grade girl from Reid Middle School, two 15-year-old sophomore girls and one 17-year-old senior girl from Shawnee High School, and a 16-year-old sophomore boy from North High School.

The kids were not seen to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs and, astonishingly, they exhibited no sense of shame or embarrassment. How can such amorality be explained? In my mind, the media, the entertainment industry, and the Internet share responsibility and I can't honestly exclude Bill Clinton for being a catalyst.

There is also a fad in schools in which the youths participated whereby colored jelly bracelets are worn to indicate their sexual experiences. According to Lt. Russell Garman of the Clark County Sheriff's Department,

Different colored bracelets represent certain sex acts, Garman said. Black bracelets indicate the wearer is willing to have intercourse. Blue stands for oral sex, green stands for touching private parts and pink stands for kissing.

Someone can walk up to a person wearing a bracelet and break the band. The person wearing the bracelet then is obligated to perform the act represented by the color of the bracelet, Garman said.

The five youths were held overnight in juvenile detention. They are scheduled to appear in Juvenile Court at 1pm today.
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/27/2005 09:04:00 AM

School Nurses in Canada Now Prescribe Birth Control

(Montreal) In an effort to reduce an increasing teen pregnancy and abortion rate, the college of physicians in Quebec now authorize school nurses to prescribe birth control pills and to counsel students without waiting for the teen to ask. There's no requirement to see a doctor nor is there any parental notification.

Holy moly! I don't know which system is screwier, the Canadian, where there seems to be no control, or the American, where a student can't get an aspirin in school without the written approvals of a parent and the family doctor. Also, why wouldn't the next "progressive" step for the Canadians be to have the school nurses start prescribing medical marijuana?
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/27/2005 02:41:00 AM

Teacher Arrested for Methamphetamine

(Omaha, Nebraska) A 33-year-old second-grade teacher, Jolene Cortez, at Conestoga Elementary School in Omaha was arrested Monday night for possession of methamphetamine.


According to police, Cortez was involved with methamphetamine to make money, therefore, she was charged with intent to deliver. Investigators found her in possession of two ounces of meth and a scale. Cortez appeared in court yesterday and bond was set at $10,000.
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/26/2005 11:58:00 PM

Cleveland Councilman Gets DUI

(Cleveland, Ohio) Cleveland City Councilman Zack Reed was arrested Tuesday for drunken driving and resisting arrest. Known as an outspoken member of the city government, Reed has vowed to fight to preserve his reputation. I'm not sure what reputation he wants preserved, but I'm certain to remember that Zack Reed can really toss back the booze and be stupid enough to get behind the wheel of a car.
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/26/2005 11:53:00 PM

Teacher Investigated for "Inappropriate Touching"

(Columbus, Ohio) A Columbus Public Schools elementary teacher is the focus of a criminal investigation by Columbus Police. According to a statement released by the school district,

"On April 18, 2005, the principal at Winterset Elementary School became aware of allegations of inappropriate behavior by a teacher at the school," the statement said. "Upon learning of the allegations, the principal immediately notified the proper authorities and removed the teacher from the classroom. The district is conducting an internal investigation and is cooperating fully with Franklin County Children Services and the Columbus Division of Police in their investigations into this matter. The teacher in question has been assigned to home pending the outcome of the investigations."

The number of students involved was not disclosed.
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/26/2005 11:16:00 PM

Teachers Protest Standardized Tests

(Sterling Heights, Michigan) The Utica Community School System serves several townships north of Detroit with a total student enrollment of almost 30,000 taught by 1,700 teachers. Over 14,000 students attend seven junior and four senior high schools. To provide for consistency in the quality of education from classroom to classroom, the district has instituted a policy of "common assessments" which requires all students within a school be given the same end-of-semester exams in given subjects.

The teachers from each subject area collaborate to create the common assessment exam bank. Teachers then prepare exams for their classes with the requirement that common assessment exam questions must comprise at least 75% of the test. The balance of the test content is at the discretion of the individual teachers. Obviously, giving a similar exam to a multitude of students scattered through many classrooms will provide the district with data to better allocate resources. Administrative focus can be directed to areas identified as needing additional help.

The new policy seems beneficial to the overall student body, however, the teachers are not happy. In fact, they're so unhappy that the teachers union organized a protest rally outside the administration offices this past week to voice their concerns. According to Utica Education Association Executive Director Emalee Baldwin,

"Uniform tests do not take students with special learning styles or other individual needs into consideration."

Would anyone like to take a stab at explaining what her statement means? Would anyone like to explain "special learning styles?" Baldwin seems to be pumping smoke and, as such, it's not clear whether or not the teachers have a valid complaint.

I am not in academia and I might be way off base, but it sure appears to me that the teachers union is stifling progress to protect the incompetent among the faculty. If standardized tests are given and results are unsatisfactory, effectively a finger has been pointed towards the teacher. When subsequent and repeated corrective action doesn't solve the problem, then the teacher must be reassigned. It would seem that the common assessment approach also prevents individual teachers from significantly altering course content, for whatever reason, and depriving students from gaining necessary knowledge.

Standardized tests are a method to assess, monitor, and document progress and the teachers shouldn't complain. In the long run, students become more knowledgeable and the teachers become more proficient. What's not to like?
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/26/2005 09:56:00 AM

World TV Turnoff Week

(Toronto) Anti-TV activists this week will be using remote controls to turn off other people's televisions as part of their annual TV Turnoff Week. The radical leftist groups Adbusters, Britain's White Dot, and the TV Turnoff Network are behind the mischief. The stated goal is to remove television from public spaces.

"We are going to be going into pubs and either turning off the TV and leaving information or asking people, 'I just turned off the television. Did you notice?'" White Dot spokesperson David Burke told Agence France-Presse in London.

"People may think it is intrusive for an anti-television campaigner to go into a [bar] and turn off the television, but a lot of people find the television intrusive."

Frankly, I'd like to see these leftist loons show up at one of the "social clubs" in Queens or Brooklyn and turn the television off. I sense they would only do it once.

TV Turnoff Week events are also planned in other countries and they encompass picnics, concerts, and art. The whole scheme seems to be: make trouble and have a party. It would be nice if they just had their party and left everyone else alone.

Whatever happened to "live and let live" and "mind your own damn business?"
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/26/2005 06:32:00 AM

Marijuana Makes You Less Stupid Than Email

(London, England) Apparently in between hits on the hookah, researchers at the University of London Institute of Psychiatry found time to report that email makes a people dumber than if they just smoked marijuana. Researchers say that the constant interruptions of email makes a person feel tired and lethargic with a loss of ten IQ points. On the other hand, marijuana smokers are already tired and lethargic after losing only four IQ points.

Although it's not mentioned in the news story, the researchers have provided scientific data to prove that apples can be compared to oranges when everybody gets stoned.
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/26/2005 05:18:00 AM

Man Gets 30 Years for Impregnating Daughter

(Cleveland, Ohio) A 30-year-old local man, Eric Banks, was convicted of raping and impregnating his 11-year-old daughter. He said he looked at her as a girlfriend, not as his daughter, and had sex with her to prove his love. Nonetheless, Judge Kathleen Sutula yesterday sentenced Banks to 30 years in prison for 29 counts of rape and 29 counts of kidnapping.

The Banks' daughter gave birth to his child.
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/25/2005 10:41:00 AM

Hunger Striking Against the Minutemen

(San Pablo, California) From the San Francisco Chronicle comes the story, with John O'Hara photo, relating the inspirational story of Diana Ponce who is enduring the fifth day of a hunger strike to protest the Minuteman Project.


Hunger Striker - Diana Ponce
With her decision to endure hunger, I've personally developed some empathy for Diana Ponce. If you'll look how she's planned her hardship, you'll see that she has a large comfortable bed for reclining, she has a television with a remote control, she has a boom box at her feet, a cell phone in her hand, and a huge ice chest nearby, probably full of Diet Pepsi aching to wash down some potato chips. The only thing missing from the image is food, a natural accouterment. Just by resisting the temptation to order a pizza, Ponce indicates a willingness to suffer and demonstrates superhuman willpower.

Sarcasm aside, one thing is certain. Ponce is unlikely to gain much public support unless she puts some noticeable breathing room in that XXXL shirt she's wearing. I suggest a StrikerCam to monitor progress from the Internet. Others weighing in include, Ramblings' Journal, who prognosticates a lengthy fast, and Say Anything, who imagines a price dive in McDonald's stock.
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/25/2005 09:05:00 AM

Ten Arrested for Downing Bulgarian Helicopter

Updating a previous report about the downing of a civilian helicopter in Iraq, the U.S. military was tipped by several local residents as to the location of six terrorist attackers and arrested them on Saturday. According to a spokesman for the U.S. Army 3rd Infantry Division,

"The Iraqi citizen told the soldiers he knew where the blue pickup truck the terrorists used during the attack was parked and led them to the site."

"When the soldiers got there, several other local residents confirmed the first tip and showed the soldiers where the terrorists lived."

Three men and bomb-making material were found in one house, and three others who in the process of making bombs were found in a second house, the military said. All six were detained for questioning.

From a more recent report, additional tips to the American military has resulted in the arrest of four more terrorists, bringing the total to 10 suspects in custody. According to Col. David Bishop, Commander of the U.S. Army 3rd Brigade Combat Team, the U.S. seized large-caliber anti-aircraft ammunition, along with a diagram explaining how to shoot down aircraft, in searches of homes where the 10 terrorists were apprehended.

There's more coverage of the story with still shots and links to video at The Jawa Report and In The Bullpen. Go visit.
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/25/2005 06:54:00 AM

Everything is Safe For Work in Norway

(Oslo, Norway) Two workers were fired for surfing the Internet to view pornography while working at the Ekofisk Field for Conoco Phillips. After losing their jobs, the workers filed suit for damages against Conoco Phillips and won in municipal court. They also won their case in the appeals court.

Conoco Phillips appealed the decisions to the Supreme Court in order to have a clarification of what employees can do on company time and what employers can do to enforce violations of company policy.

The Supreme Court has ruled that the firings were not justified and have (sic) awarded the two NOK 250,000 (USD 40,000) each in compensation.

This is an absolutely ludicrous decision by the Norwegian Supremes. They have decided that people cannot be fired for failing to perform the jobs they were hired to do. Despite what they were doing, the workers weren't working.

If satisfactory job performance is no longer a prerequisite for keeping a job, why go to work? Hell! It wouldn't surprise me if the Norwegians ruled that people have a right to keep their jobs even when they don't show up. Theoretically, there's an infinite number of jobs a person could be hired for and not do from home. The Jawa Report notes that this type of insanity is quite consistent with the leftist approach to utopia where nobody works and everybody gets paid.
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/25/2005 06:27:00 AM

American Military Vehicles Turn Up in North Korea

Aftenposten reports that the Norwegian government is embarrassed that six U.S. military trucks given to Norway have shown up in North Korea.

For decades after WWII Norway received US weapon and infrastructure aid via NATO, including several thousand American M-6 trucks produced in the 1960s.

In 2002 the Norwegian Defense gave 203 discarded M-6 vehicles to Norway's Red Cross and about 1,000 more trucks in 2003. Formally these vehicles were still US property and the transfer required US clearance, something which is still lacking, VG reported.

Norway's Red Cross has transferred many vehicles to the International Red Cross and six of these ended up in North Korea last summer. Even though these owned and administered by the Red Cross, the North Korean regime can reportedly used them when desired.

American authorities were reportedly surprised to learn this and are displeased that US-made equipment is in North Korean hands.

U.S. Embassy press spokesman Andrew Schilling said an investigation is underway. Apparently voicing a policy that it's not responsible for what it does, the Norwegian government indicated that the affair is between the Red Cross and American authorities.

So, if I understand this "affair" correctly, North Korea could very easily be hauling around material for its nuclear weapons program in American trucks. How neighborly.
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/25/2005 05:07:00 AM

Train Disaster in Japan


(Amagasaki, Hyogo Prefecture) The Mainichi Daily News reports:

Forty-nine people died and over 200 people were injured after a high-speed JR train derailed here, overturning the first three carriages, one of which slammed into an apartment block, police said.

The accident occurred on the JR Fukuchiyama Line at about 9:20 a.m. on Monday. Many people remained trapped in one of the wrecked carriages early Monday afternoon and rescue workers surrounded the accident scene to pull them out.

The Japan Times reports:

At least 37 people were killed and nearly 240 others were injured when four cars of a seven-car express train derailed and two of them slammed into an apartment building Monday morning in Amagasaki, Hyogo Prefecture, police and firefighters said.

Almost 600 commuters were on the seven-car express train. West Japan Railway Co. (JR West) officials quickly apologized for the deaths and promised to release more information as the investigation ensues. Preliminary reports suggest that the train was a few minutes behind schedule and speeding to make up time. Witnesses said that the train driver applied the emergency brakes before the derailment, possibly to avoid hit a vehicle at a railroad crossing.
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/24/2005 11:41:00 PM

Dying Woman Pleads for Surgery

(Sydney, Australia) A dying woman, Pamela Grady, 55, has publicly announced her dissatisfaction with the Australian National Health Care System for having to wait two months for life-saving surgery. While her health deteriorates, Grady is on a waiting list for a complex surgical procedure called a peritonectomy. The wait is blamed on the cost of the surgery and the limited resources of the hospital. Plus, the surgery is only performed at St. George Hospital and only one surgeon, Professor David Morris, in the entire country is qualified to perform the operation. According to Health Minister Morris Iemma,

"Professor Morris has made the clinical judgment that there are other cases more urgent than Ms Grady's."

"(The hospital) will arrange for Ms Grady's case to be reviewed this week to see if she requires her surgery sooner."

So, it appears that Pamela Grady is competing for a schedule opening with other people who are dying and awaiting life-saving treatment. Obviously, Grady is distressed, but it appears that others are in the same situation.

"I just thought when you've got a life-threatening illness, you have the operation done the next week. Apparently not," she said.

Naturally, Pamela Grady's case is disturbing and it's possible that public attention will allow her to receive her operation sooner. Nevertheless, from a big picture perspective, it seems virtually impossible to dispute the contention that a system of socialized medicine with obscene waiting times actually contributes to poorer health and earlier death. There also appears to be a dismal lack of planning by the central authorities when only one doctor in the entire nation is qualified to perform a particular procedure.

Of course, as we learned from another report, waiting times are so long that it's become generally recognized that patients may die before their turn is called. This explains why the Canadian socialized health care system includes computer-generated condolences in correspondence with patients in case they die while waiting for their appointments.
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/24/2005 10:39:00 PM

Man Finds Finger Slice in Arby's Sandwich

(Dayton, Ohio) Unlike the Wendy's chili finger case, this event seems to be genuine. David Scheiding filed the lawsuit in Montgomery County Common Pleas Court on April 1 against the owner of an Arby's franchise in Tipp City. He seeks damages of $50, 000 for being sickened when he found a slice of a human finger in his chicken sandwich. The manager of Arby's admitted to slicing his thumb while shredding lettuce and incompletely cleaning the area.
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/23/2005 06:37:00 PM

Dogfighting Bites

Robert Stevens, 64, of Pittsville, Virginia, will be spending 37 months in federal prison as a result of his conviction for selling mail-order videos of dogfights. Stevens violated the provisions of a federal animal cruelty law enacted after being signed by President Clinton in 1999. Maybe I'm too much of a traditionalist, but it seems that animal cruelty should be within the purview of state and local governments, not the feds. Holy moly, what's next? Federal leash laws?

Nevertheless, it's probably a good thing that Stevens was only taking videos of the dogfights and not holding them. Walter Tyrone Ware, 32, of Mobile, Alabama, was found guilty of six counts of dogfighting and sentenced to 20 years in prison on each count, to run concurrently. Ware was also convicted of possession of steroids and sentenced to 20 years to be served in addition to the dogfighting sentence. The total penalty of 40 years in prison was handed down by Circuit Court Judge Charles Graddick.

Readers of Interested-Participant are encouraged to remember Judge Graddick's name and are advised to stay the hell away from his court.

Trackback to COTT VIII.
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/23/2005 04:52:00 PM

Citizens Leave When Economy Improves

(Harlingen, Texas) According to U.S. Border Patrol spokesman Roy Cervantes, a total of 147 illegal aliens from Brazil were recently captured at six locations along the South Texas border, ranging from the Rio Grande River to a roadway north of McAllen. The breakdown of men and women was not reported, however, six were identified as children. Cervantes indicated the apprehensions appear to be 'random' since they occurred at various locations and the illegals came from cities throughout Brazil.

The first group was caught at about 9:30 a.m. after crossing the river illegally near the international ferry crossing at Los Ebanos, Cervantes said.

Over the next three hours, groups were caught near Sullivan City, in the brush near La Joya, during a Department of Public Safety stop about 30 miles northwest of McAllen, south of McAllen and at the McAllen bus station.

Curiously, it was only last month that another apprehension netted 40 illegals from Brazil at a remote location in Starr County.

Okay, let's recap. In the recent past, 187 people living in various cities in Brazil decided to come to the U.S. Since they arrived in groups after traveling about 5,000 miles, it appears that a coordinated intercontinental people-smuggling business is operating with measurable success. Notably, the increase in Brazilian migrants to the U.S. coincides with an improvement in the economy in Brazil. Although many have assumed that a better economy in Brazil or Mexico or any country would dissuade the citizens from migrating, the exact opposite seems to be occurring. As their home economies improve, citizens are capable of acquiring the nominal few thousand dollars it takes to migrate. Then, they do so.

In a nutshell, as foreign economies grow and prosper, their citizens are able to earn enough money to pay for travel to the U.S. So, despite improvements in their native country, America is still a more desirable place to be.

Of course, this only happens because the borders of the U.S. are globally recognized to be as secure as the hull of the Titanic.
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/23/2005 02:00:00 AM

Arab American National Museum

(Dearborn, Michigan) Mark your calendars. The Grand Opening of the Arab American National Museum will be celebrated on May 5 at the intersection of Michigan Avenue and Schaefer in Dearborn. Of 15,000 major American museums, it will be the first to tell the Arab-American story.

A 38,500-square-foot space, the museum will function as an educational facility, an institution of preservation, and a community center, with a 158-seat auditorium, classroom space, a library resource center, and shop. The permanent exhibitions focus on two themes: the Arab world and the Arab-American experience.

Since a person can't swing a cat in the U.S. without hitting a museum of some kind, it seems odd that this will be the first for the Arab community.

Arab Americans, as defined by the U.S. Bureau of the Census, are "an ethnic group that originates from seventeen Arabic-speaking countries in northern Africa and western Asia." Specifically counted as Arab were people who reported Arab, Egyptian, Iraqi, Jordanian, Lebanese, Middle Eastern, Moroccan, North African, Palestinian or Syrian as an ancestry. The 2000 Census counted about 1.2 million people of Arab ancestry in the U.S. However, due to lack of consensus about the definition of an Arab ethnic category, the Census Bureau has expressed low confidence in the accuracy of its data. Helen Samhan, Executive Director of the Arab-American Institute Foundation, believes the census data is undercounting by a factor of three. As such, Samhan estimates that there are 3.6 million Arab Americans.

Interestingly, a 2000 Zogby survey found that only 23% of Arab Americans are Muslim, which is likely contrary to widespread belief. The balance is broken down as 42% of Arab Americans are Catholic, 23% are Orthodox Christian, and 12% are Protestant. So, there's a high likelihood of error if one automatically associates Arab ancestry with Islam.

As for the population of Muslims in the United States, Ms. Samhan said, "There's probably around 5 million, of which 20 percent are Arabs."

Approximately 40 percent of Muslims in this country, she said, are American blacks and another 30 percent hail from countries in South Asia including India, Pakistan, Indonesia and Malaysia.

I'm fairly certain that most Americans are unfamiliar with the details of what comprises Arabic ethnicity and the history of Arabs in America. The Arab American National Museum will surely help in promoting a better understanding and Interested-Participant applauds its opening.
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/22/2005 07:11:00 AM

Civilian Helicopter Downed Near Baghdad, 11 Dead

A Bulgarian civilian helicopter was shot down 20km north of Baghdad by a surface-to-air missile or a rocket-propelled grenade, killing three Bulgarian crew members, six Americans, and two others (reports conflict as to whether they were Fijian or Filipino). The Islamic Army in Iraq claimed responsibility for the downing, posting a video on the Internet showing the shooting of one crewmember, the sole survivor of the crash. According to Chad Evans at In The Bullpen, the terrorists claim in the video that they downed the helicopter as an act of revenge "for the Muslims killed in the mosques of Fallujah." Chad also links to the video.

The Americans worked for Blackwater Security Consulting, a subsidiary of the North Carolina-based security contractor, Blackwater USA, supplying security support for U.S. diplomats.

The helicopter was a Russian-made MI-8, owned and operated by a Bulgarian company, Sofia-based Heli-Air, chartered by SkyLink Air of Toronto, Canada, and flying under contract to the U.S. Department of Defense. It's believed to be the first civilian aircraft downed in Iraq. If so, I don't think it's because of restraint on the part of the terrorists. They are out to kill anybody they can. Innocent women, men, children, and babies have been regularly slaughtered. They have killed their family members and their neighbors. So, it is not surprising nor a change in strategy that they have shot at and hit a civilian aircraft. They have tried before. Unfortunately, this time they hit their target.

Bastards!

[Update] The Australian reports that the two Fijians who perished were former soldiers, Jim Atalifo and Timoci Lalaqila. They worked for Global Risks Strategies, a Fijian company, and provided security for diplomats.

The Bulgarian News Network has identified the helicopter crewmen as pilots Lyubomir Kostov and Georgi Naidenov and board-engineer Stoyan Anchev.
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/22/2005 04:26:00 AM

Student-Boffing Teacher Wants Plea Deal

(Sacramento, California) As previously reported, 30-year-old Margaret De Barraicua was caught by police having sex with a 16-year-old boy. It happened in her car behind the Leonard Da Vinci Elementary School in Sacramento and her two-year-old son was in the backseat. Ultimately, she was arrested and charged with four felony counts of rape.


De Barraicua
In an update to the story, De Barraicua's attorney, Phil Cozens, presented a proposed plea agreement in a hearing Wednesday at the Sacramento County Superior Court. Cozens said that his client would plead guilty or no contest in exchange for the charges being reduced to misdemeanors. He also proposed limited jail time or community service. So, in a nutshell, De Barraicua will admit guilt to misdemeanor rape in return for a hand slap.

Although not frequently, rape is recognized as a misdemeanor in some places. Last year, for example, a high-profile case involving a popular athlete revealed that the law in the state of Georgia has provisions for misdemeanor rape. I personally think the concept is ludicrous, but it hasn't seemed to raise too many eyebrows in the judicial and legislative communities. Of course, rape as a misdemeanor may represent a trend in the reclassification of crimes and next we'll have misdemeanor kidnapping or possibly felony double parking. It all seems screwy to me.

Nevertheless, in the De Barraicua case, she remains out on bail and her next hearing is scheduled for sometime in May.


[Update 09/15/05]

De Barraicua pleads guilty.
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/22/2005 01:25:00 AM

'Mad Cow' Infects Dutch Woman

(Amsterdam, Netherlands) A 26-year-old woman in Utrecht has been diagnosed with the human form of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), also called variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (vCJD). It's the first reported human case of the disease in The Netherlands.

According to Health Ministry spokesman Bas Kuik, the woman has never lived outside The Netherlands and must have become infected before 1997 when the government imposed strict controls on testing Dutch beef. It's believed she acquired the disease from eating tainted beef.

Testing performed in Scotland and the Netherlands confirmed that the woman has vCJD and her "prognosis is poor," said Health Ministry Inspector Jan van Wijngaarde. The disease is fatal and incurable.
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/21/2005 11:58:00 PM

Escaped Murderers Used Turbans to Scale Prison Walls

(Quetta, Pakistan) Seven convicted murderers serving long sentences escaped from Mach Central Jail by unraveling their turbans to help in scaling the prison walls. Eight prison officials were immediately suspended. Interestingly, Mach Central Jail had 10 prisoners break out in 2002.

Although the Mach Central Jail is in western Pakistan and not far from the Afghanistan border, none of the escapees are known to be involved in terrorism or sectarian violence, said the Balochistan Minister of Prisons Mir Habibur Rehman Hasni.
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/21/2005 11:34:00 PM

School Interpreter Charged with Sexual Assault

(Clinton, Arkansas) A 34-year-old interpreter for the Clinton School District, Michelle Sikes, will face a jury trial the week of May 9 at the Van Buren County Circuit Court. Sikes face 11 charges of first degree sexual assault for having sexual relations with a 15-year-old boy. If convicted, she faces a possible 30 years in prison.
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/21/2005 11:02:00 PM

Iran Closes Al Jazeera for Provoking Subversion

(Tehran, Iran) According to the Gulf Times, angry complaints from Iranian Members of Parliament prompted the government to close the Tehran branch of the Arabic television station Al Jazeera.

“We have ordered the temporary closure of the Al Jazeera bureau,” said Mohamed Hossein Khoshvaght, director general of the culture and Islamic guidance ministry.

“This suspension will last for as long as is needed for our experts to examine the possible actions of the Al Jazeera channel to provoke subversive elements in the troubles that took place.”

Apparently, lawmakers are upset about Al Jazeera's reporting and alleged involvement in last week's demonstrations in Khuzestan Province marking "80 years of Iranian occupation.” The London-based Popular Democratic Front of Ahvazi Arabs in Iran called for peaceful demonstrations to voice the concerns of a small ethnic Arab minority. When the government decided to shut down the protest with military force, the demonstrators turned violent resulting in three deaths and 200 arrests.

“All the troublemakers were arrested,” Intelligence Minister Ali Yunessi was quoted as saying by state run television.

“It appeared that they were linked to the subversive groups and television stations,” he said, using the term for those who are trying to overthrow Iran’s Islamic regime.

Because some members of Al Jazeera were among those arrested, the network was implicated for provoking subversion. The government also was angered by Al Jazeera's characterization of the violence as "separatist unrest by Iran’s Arab minority." Iranian Arabs represent the majority in Khuzestan Province's main city of Ahvaz, but only 3% of the entire Iranian population.

Khuzestan is a far western province in Iran, bordering Iraq and the Persian Gulf. Consequently, it's much closer culturally to ethnic Arab influences from Iraq and the Gulf than the predominantly ethnic Persian influences in the rest of Iran. Also, since the median age of the population in Iran is young (23.5 years), it's understandable that there would be exuberant ideological protests. However, Iran is a large country (larger then Alaska) and it's unreasonable for a relatively small group of protesters to be called a separatist movement. The government is exaggerating the importance of the demonstrators, probably to justify its harsh suppression of any dissent and its call for the "expulsion of representatives" of Al Jazeera.

Of note is that the recent events indicate that there is a solid starting point for pursuing widespread agreement between the Iranians and the Americans. Neither of them likes Al Jazeera.
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/20/2005 11:54:00 PM

Puckered Profs to Picket

(Akron, Ohio) Unionized professors at the University of Akron are puckered about lack of progress in contract talks, therefore, they plan to picket next month's commencement ceremonies.

I'm not sure the picket idea makes much sense. Professors don't have to be in attendance to hand out sheepskins and the students are probably not union, so what good does it do to picket the ceremony? Maybe they just intend to hold a protest gathering and it has been reported wrong.
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/20/2005 11:39:00 PM

Ex-Congressional Candidate Plotted to Kill Husband

(Warren, Ohio) Federal agents arrested Maridee Constanzo for plotting to kill her husband, Roger Bauer, after her accomplice disclosed the scheme to the police. It's alleged that Constanzo was to pay her accomplice $10,000 and a share of her inheritance to kill Bauer.


Maridee Constanzo
Constanzo ran in the Democratic primary for the 17th Congressional District seat in 2002 and lost. Interestingly, the 17th Congressional District seat was occupied for many years by Jim Traficant. Then he went to prison for racketeering and bribery.

Jeez! What a shock? Two crooked politicians in one congressional district!

[Update] Another source reports that Roger Bauer called 9-1-1 twice in the last month because of threats from Constanzo. Also, the name of Constanzo's accomplice is Bill Cindea who was to kill Bauer on a May trip to Florida. Constanzo was scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday, but she became ill and had to be hospitalized. When she does go to court, the prosecution is expected to ask the judge to have her remain in custody "so she cannot carry through on her alleged plans."
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/20/2005 11:01:00 PM

Teacher Arrested for Making Out with Student

(New York City) A 27-year-old math teacher, Joann Hernandez, at IS 55 in the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn has been arrested and charged with sex abuse and endangering the welfare of a child. Another teacher saw Hernandez and a 15-year-old eighth-grade student kissing in full embrace in a classroom during the school day. Hernandez has been reassigned to a regional education office in Queens until an investigation is completed. If convicted, she will be fired from her $45,583 per year teaching position.

[Update 4/21/05] According to this report, Hernandez, accompanied by her mother, father, and husband, pleaded not guilty at her night court arraignment. Apparently, she left her three kids with a babysitter.
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/20/2005 07:34:00 PM

Stem Cells Linked to Cancer Risk

Some medical researchers may be moderating their optimism with the news that stem cells replicated in the laboratory have produced aggressive cancers when transplanted into animals. The likelihood of creating cancerous cultures is tied directly to the amount of time cell division occurs in the laboratory. Stem cells that are allowed to age longer outside the body are thought to produce an enzyme, telomerase, which overrides the cells' ability to limit the number of times they divide. The finding is not a deal-breaker, though. Evidence suggests that adult stem cells are safe if the number of times they are allowed to divide outside the body is limited.

Research teams at the Autonomous University of Madrid in Spain and the University Hospital of Odense in Denmark are credited with discovering the stem cell-cancer link. Unfortunately, it's likely to slow progress on current stem cell projects while tempering the tunnel vision of the most enthusiastic researchers. Certainly, everyone will hurry up to go a bit slower.
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/20/2005 06:40:00 PM

Great Expectorations

(Kansas City, Missouri) During a book-signing event last night, Michael A. Smith handed a book to Jane Fonda and then spit on her. He was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct.

There are two schools of thought on this incident. Some people are likely to think it's quite appropriate to spit a nice ugly wad on Jane Fonda. Others think she doesn't deserve it.

My take is simple. By thrusting herself into the public spotlight, Jane Fonda is opening deep and abiding wounds from which many lives were unavoidably destroyed. Hanoi Jane helped in the destruction. So, she should have expected an adverse reaction. Whether she deserves being spat on would be a value judgment. I wouldn't do it but I'm not unhappy that someone did.
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/20/2005 05:47:00 PM

Man Shoots His Car

(Lauderdale-By-The-Sea, Florida) John McGivney got mad at his miserable 1994 Chrysler LeBaron, so he pumped five rounds from a .380-caliber semiautomatic into the hood. When asked, McGivney said, "I'm putting my car out of its misery."

Ultimately, he was arrested for discharging a firearm in public and released on $100 bail. However, he has no regrets. "I think every guy in the universe has wanted to do it," McGivney said.

In my case, probably a few times.
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/20/2005 04:52:00 PM

70 Bodies Found in Tigris River & Soccer Stadium

(Baghdad, Iraq) Totaling more than 70, the bodies of men, women, and children were recovered from the Tigris River at Suwayra, south of Baghdad, and in a soccer stadium in Haditha, northwest of Baghdad. Some of the bodies in the river were decapitated. In the soccer stadium, at, least 20 men had been lined up against a wall and shot.

President Jalal Talabani announced the discovery of the bodies in the river, which are believed to have been hostages taken from the town of Madain last week. Suwayra is downstream on the Tigris from Madain. The Iraqi President also stated that the names of the victims are known as well as the names of the terrorist murderers who are responsible.

Shiite Muslim leaders and the government blame Sunni Muslim killers for the deaths of the people found in the river. The Sunnis had issued threats to the Shiites in Madain saying they would be killed if they didn't leave the town. Next came the abductions and murders.

In Haditha, the men shot and killed in the soccer stadium are believed to be off-duty Iraqi Forces personnel in civilian clothes that were abducted while shopping. The murderers have been incorrectly called "insurgents" even though the massacre has all the telltale attributes of a Zarqawi-led terrorist atrocity.

[Update] Chad Evans provides his take at In The Bullpen that the murders in Haditha were most likely the evil work of Ansar al-Sunnah which has a history of repeatedly targeting the Iraq military and executing people by gunshot. Although there's presently no information to confirm who is responsible for the murders, I'll defer to Chad's judgment.
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/20/2005 10:21:00 AM

Sgt. Matt Maupin - Missing Over One Year

Compiled from a report by Major Patricia C. Anderson, Command Information Officer: In early April 2004, terrorist insurgents ambushed a fuel convoy west of Baghdad which was manned by Halliburton employees and U.S. Army soldiers from the 724th Transportation Company. Over half of the convoy detail of more than 40 individuals were killed or wounded. Three were captured, two Halliburton employees, Timothy Bell and Thomas Hamill, and one soldier, Private First Class Kenneth Matthew "Matt" Maupin.

A week after the ambush, on April 16, Al-Jazeera aired a video showing a presumably uninjured Matt Maupin surrounded by five masked men with automatic weapons. Maupin was positively identified in the video. On June 28, Al-Jazeera aired another video purportedly showing Maupin being shot and then being pushed into a grave. The quality of the video was, however, of such poor quality that neither the military nor Maupin's parents were convinced that the man was Matt Maupin.

Based upon available information, the U.S. Army has classified Maupin as "missing-captured" and it intends to find him. One Halliburton employee, Thomas Hamill, escaped from his captors after 24 days and returned to the U.S. Authorities also continue to search for Timothy Bell, the other Halliburton employee captured during the ambush.

For the U.S. military, Brig Gen. Vincent K. Brooks, Chief of Army Public Affairs, stated:

"I want to make sure everyone is clear about this - we do not abandon our comrades. We will not abandon Matt Maupin, or his family."

"While Matt is in a captured status the operational commands keep looking for anything that would lead them to him. We cannot, and must not, detail those efforts, but we are certain at the Department of the Army that the operational commanders are active. Remember that Soldiers live by an ethos that includes an all-important tenet -- 'I will never leave a fallen comrade.'"

Last Friday, a routine board of inquiry met to review recently-promoted Sgt. Keith "Matt" Maupin's status. The board recommended that Maupin continue to be listed as "missing-captured" and, according to U.S. Army spokeswoman Shari Lawrence, their recommendation was subsequently approved by the adjutant general. As such, the Maupin family's fears that the search for Matt would be abandoned have been allayed -- for now.

Given the fact that the mainstream broadcast, cable, and print media rarely mention captured and kidnapped Americans, it's quite understandable that the Maupin family fears that the search for their son will be abandoned. The MSM have provided scant information and no emphasis. Obviously, public pressure for more strident action in finding missing Americans won't ever occur if the public isn't informed.

Roy Hallums - Missing Since November

Also missing is Roy Hallums. He was kidnapped last November from his residence in Baghdad where he was working as a civilian contractor. The MSM completely ignored the Hallums abduction, however, The Jawa Report and others have been diligently keeping the story alive. Notably, Rusty Shackleford's efforts to track and keep current on all those missing is commendable. At present, The Jawa Report continues ongoing stories about the missing military and civilian personnel in addition to Part 1 of an interview featuring Roy Hallums ex-wife, Susan. Go visit and note the linkage.

After people wade through and filter out the abundant chaff on the Internet, they will find a sense of conscience in the blogosphere. Whenever a grievous error or evil is detected and announced, bloggers race to become involved and highlight the injustice. It's not organized nor programmed nor scheduled. Rather, it's seamless, it's spontaneous and, to the chagrin of the MSM, it's frequently effective. For the sake of the families and friends of Matt Maupin, Roy Hallums, Timothy Bell, and others, the blogosphere must step up and keep their stories alive.

[Update] Part 2 of the Susan Hallums interview has been posted. One thing that's apparent is that demands for the release of the missing men have not been accompanied with any sort of public outcry. The MSM can be faulted for keeping the issue somewhat hidden, but that doesn't explain why the 'so-called' human rights organizations haven't shouted for accountability. Think about it. The Red Cross, the ACLU, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and many others, are infected splinters in the backside when it comes to the U.S. military, but are narcoleptic puppy dogs when it comes to the enemies of America.
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/19/2005 10:24:00 PM

Kindergartners Accused of Sex at School

(Mission, Texas) Two 6-year-old boys are alleged to have performed oral sex on each other at the Emiliano Zapata Elementary School. A third 6-year-old reportedly walked in on the boys while they were in the restroom and later told his parents. School authorities and the police were subsequently notified. It's not clear what corrective measures are to be taken.

If the incident occurred as alleged, it must be an indication of something very sour in the community. In reality though, whether it occurred is not as troubling as the realization that 6-years-olds have the subject of homosexual oral sex on their minds. This is outrageously wrong! And, it is wrong despite how 'is' is defined.

I'm disgusted.
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/19/2005 03:39:00 PM

Oklahoma City - April 19, 1995

In loving memory of the 168 men, women, and children who died from violent domestic terrorism in and around the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City on April 19, 1995.


Oklahoma City Memorial - Field of Empty Chairs
At the Oklahoma City National Memorial, the Field of Empty Chairs individualizes the atrocity. The small chairs represent the children whose lives were taken. (Hat tip: Conservative Dialysis)
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/19/2005 03:47:00 AM

Teacher Arrested for Sexually Abusing Two Boys

(Jemison, Alabama) A 36-year-old substitute teacher, Tiffany Elkins, at Jemison Middle School in Chilton County was arrested Friday and charged with sexually abusing two boys last year.


Tiffany Elkins
(Photo - NBC13.com)
Elkins was formally charged with five counts of rape and four counts of sodomy for abusing two boys under the age of 16. Tipped of the alleged abuse by a third boy, the Sheriff's Department said that other victims may been announced. Elkins has no previous criminal record. She currently sits in jail, probably trying to figure out how to explain her predicament to her two daughters.

Interestingly, Elkins is the second female teacher this week that has been arrested in Chilton County for abusing underage boys. The other was Christy Lynn Chapman.
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/19/2005 02:43:00 AM

Trophies of Death

Rusty Shackleford at The Jawa Report has a post up which describes how Al Qaeda is now using graphic art images of beheadings in its propaganda and recruiting. It's disgusting. Evidently, Al Qaeda targets its propaganda and recruiting at people who are personally ingratiated by the beheading of another human being.

I'm no expert, but it seems that about the only other groups since the dawn of civilization who considered severed heads to be desirable trophies were primitive tribes in the tropics of South America, Africa, and some South Pacific Islands. The practice alone indicates a primitive mentality that honors only barbarism. This uncivilized worship of the severed head has arguably been best encapsulated and illustrated by the fiction of William Golding in Lord Of The Flies. In the novel, an isolated society ruled by thugs worships the severed head of a pig.

Take a look at the images here. They're stylized representations, which might make them less objectionable to the general Muslim public, but it doesn't make them less ugly.
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/18/2005 03:11:00 PM

The Pearcy Story Revisited

Digger informs me that Steve and Virginia Pearcy, infamous for hanging the American military in effigy, are now threatening bloggers with lawsuits for covering the story of their anti-Americanism. Their unflushed-toilet diplomatic approach in expressing their political beliefs has to be viewed as aberrant behavior. It's seldom prudent to create enemies and then issue threats.

Get complete coverage at Diggers Realm.
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/18/2005 01:39:00 PM

Chocolate Stops Cancer

(Washington, D.C.) From a report in Science Daily comes the results of a lab study conducted by researchers at the Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center at Georgetown University. The findings indicate that a natural compound found in chocolate, pentameric procyanidin (pentamer), has cancer-fighting properties. According to Robert B. Dickson, Ph.D., Professor of Oncology, the research finding "does not mean that people who eat chocolate will either reduce their cancer risks or treat a current case." However, it does appear to indicate that chocolate contains natural anti-oxidants which protect cells from cancer.

Interestingly, the funding for the research was provided by MARS Incorporated, makers of M&M's, Snickers, TWIX, and Mars Bars. Isn't modern medical science absolutely wonderful? Society has already been given a reason to stay high on medical marijuana and now it appears there's a trend toward the munchies being controlled by medical M&M's. Legally, and with a clear conscience, a person can sit at home smoking dope and eating bon-bons. How great is that? A conspiracy theorist might believe that this is all a political scheme to create the perfect liberal voter.

Of course, I'm being facetious. Nonetheless, once the news of a link between chocolate and cancer deterrence disburses among the public, there's no telling how it will be interpreted. And, as soon as MARS or Hershey is able to legally announce a direct link between chocolate and a reduced incidence of cancer, it will probably be emblazoned on a candy wrapper. Consequently, we can expect the food-Nazis to be outraged. It's also probably safe to assume the obesity alarmists and the dentists will weigh in.
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/18/2005 06:17:00 AM

China Signs Oil Deal with Canada

(Beijing, China) Current plans are that, by 2009, Canada will be exporting 200,000 barrels of crude oil per day to China from the Calgary Oil Sands. An agreement of understanding has been signed between PetroChina Company Limited and Enbridge Inc., a leading energy transportation and distribution company. Enbridge will build a 1,160 kilometer pipeline from the oil sand deposits to the Canadian west coast for shipment by tanker to China.

It is anticipated that a binding contract will be in place within a year with the total project cost estimated to be about $2 billion. It will be the first time that Canadian oil is exported to Asia.
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/18/2005 05:30:00 AM

Comoros Volcano Kills 17

(Comoros Islands) Ash, boulders, and molten lava spewed from the crater of Mount Karthala yesterday as islanders fled. Thus far, reports indicate that seventeen people have died.


Comoros Islands
According to this report:

"Villagers are in total darkness, gritty rain is falling and visibility is zero," a resident from the village of Idjinkoundzi on the western flank of Mount Karthala, who gave his name as Charif, told Reuters by telephone.

The 2,361-meter (7,746-foot) Mount Karthala and its forested slopes form most of the land mass of Grande Comore, the main island in the Comoros chain, which lies 300 kilometers (190 miles) off east Africa, and which has witnessed periodic eruptions.

Jean Marc, a pilot with Comoros Aviation who flew over the summit, said: "I saw the start of a lava flow, but for the moment it's confined to the inside of the volcano."

Families from the villages of Trelezini and Tsorale piled into taxis and buses and headed for the capital, Moroni, which lies on the west coast of Grande Comore, about 15 kilometers (9 miles) from Karthala's crater, towering above the Indian Ocean.

A former French colony, Comoros is one of the world's poorest nations with about 650,000 people, mostly Sunni Muslims. The country is not self-sufficient in food production, therefore, rice is its largest import.
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/18/2005 04:44:00 AM

Indonesia Approves Nuke Power Plants

(Jakarta, Indonesia) Indonesian authorities have approved a plan for four 1,000 megawatt nuclear power plants with construction and startup scheduled for completion in 2016. The site of the project is the Muria peninsula on the north coast of the island of Java which was chosen for its volcanic and seismic stability.

Indonesia's energy requirements have grown rapidly with current electricity production supplied by hydro and fossil-fueled power plants. The country is a member of OPEC, however, it has been unable to reliably and profitably supply oil for the world market recently due to internal demand and depletion of existing oil fields. There has even arisen some political pressure to have Indonesia cease being an OPEC member due to the cost. Consequently, nuclear power has become an attractive alternative.

As an aside, it's unusual to cite 'volcanic and seismic stability' in a discussion about Indonesia. Even so, we're sure to see the environmentalists erupt.
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/17/2005 09:31:00 AM

Principal Allegedly Helped Students Cheat

(Chester, Pennsylvania) A principal and administrator for Edison Schools, Jayne Gibbs, was suspended pending completion of an investigation of allegations that she gave students the answers to tests.

Jayne Gibbs was placed on a paid leave Thursday after eighth graders at Edward E. Parry Edison Junior Academy said she had given them answers to questions on the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment test, said Wayne Emsley, Chester Upland School District assessment director.

As principal of a district middle school from 2002 to 2003, students testing proficient in math on the PSSA exam jumped from 11 percent to 71 percent. A 60% increase in math proficiency in such a short period of time should have raised some curiosity, but it seems unlikely that a principal would give answers to students. A school principal usually doesn't have direct day-to-day contact with students. If students were getting test answers, it would seem most likely to have been from a teacher. In any event, if cheating occurred, the teachers must have known or, at least, they must have been suspicious.

[Update] From another report, the Chester Upland School District became aware of the cheating by students who came forward. According to Wayne Emsley, Director of Assessment,

"We were made aware of it by students," Emsley said. "I think that's to their credit. They were uncomfortable with some of the things they were asked to do and they brought it to a staff member's attention."

It's worth noting that the students displayed a level of ethical behavior even though it appears their superior, the principal, was unprincipled. I consider the students' actions to be praiseworthy.
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/16/2005 09:04:00 PM

Two Towns Fight for Wal-Mart

(Dumas, Arkansas) In southeast Arkansas, Wal-Mart has plans of building a Supercenter in the town of Dumas and closing a store in McGehee, about 20 miles away. The people in McGehee are upset, complaining that the loss of their Wal-Mart will severely decrease sales tax revenue which is relied upon for their hospital.

This is the first story I've seen where communities are fighting for a local Wal-Mart. Most of the time, we can rely on the MSM to tell us that Wal-Mart is not wanted.
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/16/2005 02:55:00 AM

Nazi Death Camp Liberation - April 1945

Bergen-Belsen Concentration Camp
(Bergen-Belsen, Germany) Although it wasn't classified as a 'factory death camp,' Bergen-Belsen, near Hanover, Germany, was a Nazi prisoner-of-war and slave labor death camp where tens of thousands of people died slowly through starvation, dehydration, and disease.

Bergen-Belsen camp was liberated by British troops on 15 April 1945. A total of 100,000 prisoners from 40 countries, among them 50,000 Soviet prisoners of war and 30,000 Jews, had died in the camp.

In a further tragedy, British doctors were powerless to save the worst off. Of the 55,000 men and women who managed to stay alive until help came, some 14,000 never recovered from serious illness.

Notably, among those killed was teenage diarist Anne Frank. An official memorial ceremony at the site of Bergen-Belsen is scheduled for Sunday while another ceremony will occur at Hyde Park in London.

Also on Sunday will be memorial ceremonies in the camps of Sachsenhausen and Ravensbrueck near Berlin and Buchenwald in eastern Germany.

Buchenwald Concentration Camp
(Weimar, Germany) Sixty years ago, soldiers of the 3rd United States Army under General George S. Patton liberated 21,000 prisoners at Buchenwald concentration camp near Weimar.

Shortly before the Allies arrived, there were still 50,000 prisoners at Buchenwald. But as the troops approached, the SS began to evacuate them. Buchenwald's commandant ordered 28,000 people to be taken either by foot or train to other camps including Dachau, Flossenbuerg and the Theresienstadt ghetto. Although the exact number of people who perished in the death march is not known, at least 10,000 died of hunger, exhaustion or murder. In total, of the nearly one quarter-million people from all across Europe who entered the gates into Buchenwald between July 1937 until April 1945, some 56,000 died there as well.

A reunion last Sunday gathered more than 500 survivors of Buchenwald. It is considered to be the last 10-year anniversary for actual victims of the death camp since most will pass away before the next memorial ceremony.

---

On May 10, a National Memorial to Jewish victims of the Holocaust will be dedicated in Berlin.

Interestingly, although many news media sources are reporting on the anniversaries of the liberation of concentration camps, the subject doesn't seem to get widespread and focused attention inside Germany. In a quick sampling of Der Spiegel, Deutsche Welle, and Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, I found a single story about Buchenwald. There may be more, but there doesn't seem to be any emphasis on the camps as part of German history. Others (see here, here, here, and here) have also apparently noticed that, inside Germany, reporting on the subject of the Holocaust is somewhat muted or missing.

We must never forget.
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/15/2005 11:21:00 PM

Fine French Whine - Chirac Pleads for EU Constitution

(Paris, France) In preparation for the May 29 referendum on the EU Constitution, President Jacques Chirac appeared on a two-hour television political infomercial to plead with and insist that the French electorate vote for the measure. According to the Deutsche Welle:

French President Jacques Chirac urged a skeptical electorate to support the European constitution, warning that a 'no' vote would make Paris the "black sheep" of the European Union.

In a high-stakes two-hour live television appearance aimed at jumpstarting the flailing 'yes' campaign in France ahead of a May 29 referendum, Chirac also insisted the treaty could not be renegotiated if the 'no' camp were to prevail.

But the French president -- who has staked his prestige on approval of the constitution -- said he would not resign should voters reject the landmark text.

Shucks! That's a shame. Either way the vote goes, Chirac stays. He continues:

"The reality is that you would have 24 countries that voted yes and then the black sheep that blocked everything", he said.

"France would be considerably weakened," he warned, adding that within Europe, "France would cease to exist politically."

Chirac also cautioned that "European construction would stop," adding: "The argument that we could renegotiate (the treaty) is not a serious one."

"Let's not be afraid," he urged the audience.

Chirac obviously believes in exaggeration. Maybe it's due to some nervousness about the referendum. Undoubtedly, he's seen the recent poll which indicates that 55 percent of the voters want to reject the proposed constitution.
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/15/2005 10:27:00 PM

Germany Considers Minimum Wage

By law, Germany does not have a minimum wage, however, through agreements between unions and workers, minimum wages are strictly established for most industries. The system has worked swimmingly for decades but, with the eastern expansion of the European Union, many migrants are willing to work for less than the recognized traditional wage minimums.

Having foreigners in Germany working for less than the going rate has angered the unions and political pressure is being applied to stop the practice. Since the entry of Poland, the Czech Republic, and the Baltic States into the European Union last year, wages in Germany have noticeably dropped with a resultant loss of tax revenue.

Consequently, Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder this week said, "We can't allow people to bring in workers from other European countries, let them work here for peanuts and thereby destroy healthy German businesses." Something is disingenuous about his statement since businesses customarily benefit by reducing their costs of production and a cheaper work force does just that.

Nonetheless,

[T]he cabinet decided to adopt a draft law by May that would allow minimum wages in all sectors of the German economy. Falling short of the introduction of a statutory minimum wage, the law would extend a law that applies only in the construction sector. Under this law, foreign employees must be paid the same rates as German workers under the collective bargaining deals reached by labor unions and employers.

Presumably, the law would remove the economic incentive to hire foreign workers because they would have to be paid the same as German workers.

A national minimum wage law would naturally please the socialist elements in the government, but it probably will have a negative effect on business and unemployment. For one thing, it's generally recognized that minimum wage laws cause jobs to disappear and, secondly, they provide ample encouragement for businesses to outsource. The systemic socialism that infects the German political system will be well served by a minimum wage law but businesses will be less competitive because of increased labor costs and the dismal 10+% unemployment rate will probably grow due to outsourcing.

In summary, the unionized German economy is struggling to compete with free market influences from neighboring countries. The ingrained socialist policies are in conflict with global capitalism. The Chairman of the Social Democratic Party, Franz Muentefering, said as much in a speech this week.

"The internationally imposed strategy of profit maximization poses a long-term threat to our democracy."

So, it doesn't really make much difference whether Germany tinkers with the minimum wage or not. If they impose a national wage standard, businesses will outsource jobs or possibly move entire factories. If they don't clamp down on wage minimums, businesses will hire cheaper foreign labor. Either way, the motive to maximize profit will be paramount.
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/15/2005 06:50:00 AM

China Wants Asian as UN Secretary-General

With Kofi Annan's term as UN Secretary-General ending in 2006, China has started a push to have his successor be from an Asian country. According to Zheng Qirong, an expert from the China Foreign Affairs University,

"Since U Thant from Myanmar assumed the UN secretary-general from 1962 to 1971 an Asian hasn't had the opportunity to take up the job," said Zheng. "Therefore, the public opinion holds that the United Nations should be put under the leadership of an Asian this time."

I don't know how Zheng got from A to B in the quote. It must be Chinese logic.
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/15/2005 05:54:00 AM

Annan Says U.S. & UK Share Blame for Oil-for-Food Scandal

According to a report from Aljazeera.com, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said that the United States and Britain share responsibility for the oil-for-food scandal. Annan contends that most of the money Saddam Hussein made from oil sales was not governed by the oil-for-food program, but rather income was generated through smuggling operations to Turkey and Jordan that had the tacit approval of the U.S. and the UK.

I don't get it. If oil was being smuggled out of Iraq and not part of the UN oil-for-food program, how would that make the U.S. and UK responsible for the oil-for-food scandal? Kofi seems to be making a baseless charge.

Interestingly, Annan also stated that most of the American media has an ideological bias and, therefore, hasn't reported that the U.S. and UK are to blame for the oil-for-food scandal. This statement is bizarre. Agreed, the American media have a bias but it's normally in full support of the UN and the Secretary-General. Holy moly! The MSM normally ignores or glosses over the peccadilloes of the UN.

Frankly, I fear that I'm missing some major point or something because this recent contention from Kofi Annan couldn't make less sense. It seems he's trying to make the U.S. and UK responsible for UN programs. It would naturally follow that he thinks the U.S. is responsible for UN 'peacekeepers' raping children in the Congo. Or the U.S. is at fault for inaction by the UN in Darfur.

I'm confused.
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/14/2005 11:40:00 PM

Man Buys Shirt, Finds $2,000 in Pocket

Larry Hoffman then returns the $2,000 to the Goodwill Store in West Bend, Wisconsin, where he bought the shirt. Good for him! Hooray for Larry!
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/14/2005 10:13:00 PM

HS Counselor Booted For Sex with Boy

(New York City) A 29-year-old guidance counselor, Samantha Solomon, has been booted from her position for having an affair with a student at the High School for Health Professions and Human Services in Mahattan.


Samantha Solomon
Although she denies the allegation, Solomon is to meet with Education Department officials tomorrow to discuss disciplinary action. With the booting of Solomon, students and faculty at the school have had two scandals this week of female teachers having sex with male students. Social Studies teacher Rhianna Ellis has been accused of having a 10-month affair with a student which resulted in the birth of a child.
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/14/2005 04:35:00 PM

Two Hurt in High School Cat Fight

(Cleveland, Ohio) Seven girls have been suspended from South High School for fighting that resulted in one student and an assistant principal going to the hospital. Apparently, the girls were mixing it up over the weekend and carried the fight into the school on Monday. The assistant principal, Ruth Billingsley, got knocked unconscious by a thrown chair.

South High School has a reputation for violence even though security is provided by five guards and two off-duty Cleveland police officers.
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/14/2005 03:53:00 PM

ACLU Says Death Row Inmates 'Least Dangerous'

(Akron, Ohio) The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has filed papers with the U.S. District Court to stop state prison authorities from transferring Death Row inmates from Mansfield Correctional Institution to the Mahoning County super-max prison. Prison officials contend the move is being made to save money.

In opposition, ACLU lawyers stated that the move is in violation of a judge's order that requires a hearing for super-max inmates and that the super-max is "cruel and unusual" punishment. One lawyer, Staughton Lynd of Niles, stated that super-max prisons cause inmates to deteriorate mentally and the doors are solid metal. Another lawyer, Michael Benza of Cleveland, said, "These guys on Death Row are the least dangerous inmates."

Really?
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/14/2005 03:09:00 PM

'Wrongful Birth' Lawsuits

(Columbus, Ohio) The Ohio Supreme Court is considering Ohio's first 'wrongful birth' cases where mothers seek damages from hospitals and doctors for misreading prenatal tests and not informing them that their fetuses have profound genetic disorders. The mothers claim that they would have terminated their pregnancies if they had known.

Being considered on appeal are the lawsuits of Lois Coleman, whose child was born with a fatal genetic disorder, and Helen Schirmer, who gave birth to a son with severe mental retardation and physical disability. Defendants in the cases include Dr. Vikram Dogra, University Hospitals of Cleveland, Cleveland Women's Health Center, and the Mount Auburn Obstetrics & Gynecologic Associates in Cincinnati.

The Ohio Supremes has previously rejected 'wrongful life' lawsuits filed for damages on behalf of a child due to a doctor's negligence. However, the court has allowed 'wrongful pregnancy' lawsuits for damages from failed sterilization procedures. Although the 'wrongful birth' cases are the first before the Ohio court, precedents have been set by 20 other states which allow similar malpractice actions.

Interestingly and seemingly out of character, two Ohio Justices, Evelyn Lundberg Stratton and Terrence O'Donnell, have expressed reservations "about broadening the scope of medical malpractice claims, suggesting this is a public policy issue more appropriate for the Ohio General Assembly." I don't claim a lot familiarity with the subject, but this is the first time I can recall in recent history that higher court judges have indicated that an issue should be decided by the people's representatives. It seems that courts usually just give orders to legislatures.

Recent news reports from across the nation indicate that a number of state courts have considered the legality of 'wrongful birth' lawsuits. Examples are:

In Idaho, the Supreme Court turned downed a suit claiming that four doctors - Donald Smith, Marc Astin, Monte Crandall and Darren Coleman - failed to properly diagnose birth defects which resulted in a 'wrongful birth.'

In South Carolina, a 'wrongful birth' case alleging that Donald S. Wu, MD, didn't properly perform ultrasound testing is pending in court. A 'wrongful life' lawsuit against Dr. Wu by the same claimant had been previously disallowed.

And, in Massachusetts, in an arguably ludicrous case, a woman, Deborah Gaines, filed suit against an abortion clinic for the 'wrongful birth' of her daughter. While Gaines was at the clinic for an abortion, a gunman went on a rampage, ultimately murdering two people, and Gaines couldn't return for her abortion. Her lawsuit claims inadequate security at the clinic and seeks damages for having and raising a child.

The Ohio Supreme Court is expected to rule on the 'wrongful birth' issue by this fall.
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/13/2005 01:55:00 PM

Student Fathers Teacher's Baby

(New York City) The New York Post has the exclusive story of Rhianna Ellis, a 25-year-old high school teacher who had a child fathered by one of her students.


Rhianna Ellis
(Photo - Steven Hirsch)
The relationship apparently began when the boy was in the 10th grade. Interestingly, Ellis only gave the boy a barely passing grade of 65 in Social Studies even though he had her personal attention at a Queens motel for three to four times a week over ten months. Maybe if he got her pregnant in fewer months, his grade would have been higher. It's been recommended that the New York City Department of Education fire Ellis from her $40,225 per year teaching position.

[Update 04/14/05]
Rhianna_Ellis
According to this report in the Daily News, Ellis had the sexual relationship with Cesar Pozo, starting when he was 17. Pozo even introduced Ellis to his parents but neglected to mention that she was his teacher. Ellis has been on unpaid medical leave from the school and it's unclear what action will be taken by Education Department officials.

It should be noted that Rhianna Ellis' sexual relationship with a student is one of two announced this week at the High School for Health Professions and Human Services in Mahattan. The other sex scandal was that of guidance counselor Samantha Solomon.
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/13/2005 07:39:00 AM

Rejected From the Carnivals

It's only Wednesday and this has already been a bad week for Interested-Participant. My submission for the Carnival of the Vanities was rejected because the host had already received enough entries to keep him busy. This week's host, Dr. Zen at yeah whatever, showed some consideration by notifying me via email with the caveat that if I'm "really ticked off," he would reconsider.

Well, I'm not really ticked off, but I am somewhat chafed, especially since my rejection from the CotV followed right on the heels of being rejected from the Carnival of the Capitalists. However, unlike Dr. Zen who notified me by email that he was swamped and, therefore, rejecting my entry, this week's CotC host, TJ at TJ's Weblog, wasn't as considerate. There was no email. Instead, after the CotC had been posted for the better part of a day, I looked for my entry only to find I'd been rejected because my post wasn't good enough. Since over 20 other bloggers also submitted unacceptable posts, I don't feel singled out, but I do feel insulted. I was scratched from a competition that I didn't enter and I don't even know why. The best I can figure is that my post was unacceptable because it wasn't what TJ liked this week. Frankly, I think it's a fairly turd-worthy way to treat fellow bloggers.

I suspect that my rejections from this week's carnivals have little to do with the content of my specific entries and everything to do with the actual work involved with putting the carnival together. Over the past two years, I've frequently seen comments and, occasionally, complaints about the time required to collect, format, insert links, check links, and publish the carnivals. Don't get me wrong, there's nothing difficult about hosting. In fact, it's relatively easy, but quite time consuming. The host has to track down the entry, read it, extract a portion or write something descriptive, place it on his blog, insert links, check links, and then go on to the next of possibly 50 or more entries. Doing all this stuff, my own experience was spending approximately 16 hours over the two to three days before publication. I don't know if that's representative, however, I do know that hosting the carnival consumes many hours. That said, I think that some hosts are not aware of the time required and they put things off until the last minute and get deluged. Dr. Zen said as much. TJ, on the other hand, seems to have an agenda to turn the CotC into a competition. That would be fine as long as the rules were announced beforehand.

Above all, the hosts of the carnivals deserve thanks and recognition for volunteering to do a laborious task from which many bloggers benefit. Nonetheless, it must be emphasized that hosts need to block out a significant number of hours from their schedules to complete the carnival on time. This is particularly important information for those with packed schedules already.
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/12/2005 08:29:00 PM

Teacher Accused of Sex With Boy

(Fairfax, Virginia) A 24-year-old Fairfax County Public School substitute teacher, Dana V. Snyder, has been arrested and charged with two counts of carnal knowledge with a minor for allegedly having sexual relations with a 14-year-old boy.


Dana V. Snyder
Snyder was released on $5,000 bond. She faces a possible 20 years in prison and a $200,000 fine if convicted.

[Update 04/14/05] Replaced photo. Also, according to this report, Snyder faces possible penalties of 2-10 years in prison and a fine of up to $100,000. The sexual encounters with the boy allegedly occurred on Saturday, March 26, and Monday, April 4.
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/12/2005 05:03:00 PM

UN Report: Indigenous Canadians' Lives Suck

(Geneva, Switzerland) According to a United Nations human rights special investigator, Rodolfo Stavenhagen, indigenous Canadians are poorer, sicker, less educated, more socially excluded and more prone to end up in prison than almost everyone else in Canada. TheStar.com (reg. req'd) reports that the findings resulted from an investigation conducted by Stavenhagen at the request of the Canadian government. Paraphrasing the comments of Paul Meyer, Canada's ambassador to the UN, he stated, "Yeah, we know."

Apparently, the nanny state liberal government has neglected to include a portion of the population as passengers on the bus to utopia.
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/12/2005 04:15:00 PM

Bonfire of the Vanities #93

Go to MY VWRC to see a particularly enjoyable presentation of the Bonfire of the Vanities.
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/12/2005 03:54:00 PM

Harvesting Human Brains

From the Ironman at Political Calculations comes the report of a scandal in King County, Washington, involving the practice of the local medical examiner removing the brains of the deceased and selling them for $8,300 each to a research lab, all without the consent of the next of kin. It appears the malleability of ethical standards in the State of Washington knows no limits. What's next? Harvesting muscle tissue for animal feed?

Hat tip: GruntDoc, JSLogan
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/12/2005 02:33:00 PM

Grand Rounds

Ready to be mined as reality-based source material for the chronic cavalcade of medical shows in film and television, Grand Rounds is hosted this week at GruntDoc. The editor's choice is an eyewitness account of the Vesuvius of Poo. Go visit.
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/12/2005 01:32:00 PM

Anti-Porn Queen Andrea Dworkin Dies

(Washington) Feminist writer Andrea Dworkin, known for her campaigns against pornography, died at her home on Saturday at the age of 58. The cause of death has not been reported, however, Dworkin had suffered from osteoarthritis and other chronic ailments for years.

Sister feminist Gloria Steinem said Dworkin helped the human race to evolve.
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/11/2005 05:10:00 PM

Dead Man Indicted

(Birmingham, Alabama) A grand jury in Tuscaloosa has indicted a corpse for the murders of two people in 2003. The dead body of Steven Kyle Kimbrell was charged with two counts of capital murder for causing the deaths of Clay Stanton North and Lindsay Brooke Whatley. Prior to his suicide last year, police didn't have enough evidence to charge Kimbrell with the murders, but now they do. He has avoided arrest because he's dead and not a flight risk.

It's not clear why the authorities are going through the motions of charging a dead man with crimes. I presume it has something to do with paperwork. One thing seems certain, though. Any enterprising lawyer could easily get the charges against Kimbrell dismissed in court. If Kimbrell can't understand what he's being charged with, which he can't because he's dead, and he can't confront his accusers, which he also can't because he's dead, it's inconceivable that he could be convicted by a court. Um, well, it should be inconceivable. Unfortunately, American courts sometimes do strange things.

There should be a statute of limitations on formally charging someone with a crime - death of the accused.

[Update] Based upon a different report, it seems that Kimbrell was not indicted by a grand jury nor were formal charges filed. The grand jury appears to have been asked to function only in a consultative capacity to add credence to the determination of police investigators that Kimbrell was the killer. It's unclear why it was believed to be necessary, however, it does explain why there was confusion in the reporting. Nevertheless, I still question whether it's appropriate for a grand jury to be used as a catch-all forum for determining the acceptability of an investigation.
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/11/2005 04:12:00 PM

Fading Beauty

It may not be fathomable to some people, but lobsters are getting uglier.
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/11/2005 03:29:00 PM

Woman Charged for False Accusation of Terrorism

(Columbus, Ohio) This morning the FBI arrested Khadrah Farah Ali, 42, for falsely reporting that her husband was involved in terrorist plots to bomb the U.S. and Saudi embassies in London. Ali admitted she was mad at her husband, Osman Yusef Dirie, because he only married her to obtain residency status in the U.S.

Ali could be sentenced to five years in prison if convicted. To be reasonable, she should be forced to pay compensation to the government for the funds used to investigate the false claim. To be realistic, she'll probably only get a hand slap.
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/11/2005 02:09:00 AM

Parkinson's Linked to Drinking Milk

From research performed at Korea University, a link has been suggested between consumption of milk and Parkinson's disease. Middle-aged men who drink a pint of milk daily had Parkinson's at more than twice the rate of men who drank no milk. The scientists believe that a contaminant and not calcium is causing the higher incidence of Parkinson's.

Next week, we'll probably hear that milk is good for the brain. Frankly, I've become somewhat jaded about health alerts. Too many turn out to be junk science.
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/10/2005 11:59:00 PM

Female Teacher Arrested for Rape of Students

(Clanton, Alabama) A 31-year-old physical education instructor, Christy Lynn Chapman, was arrested by sheriff's deputies and charged with five counts of rape and three counts of sodomy for having sexual relations with two male students over the course of several years.


Christy Lynn Chapman
According to this report, both boys were under the age of 16 at the time of the alleged sex.

"You see these kinds of things on television but you never expect for it to happen in your community," said Chilton County Sheriff Billy Wayne Fulmer. "I'm glad we were able to get Ms. Chapman away from other children and stop this from continuing."

The sheriff's investigators continue to search for other possible victims while Chapman sits in jail under $203,000 bond.

[Update 4/12/05] Added photo. Corrected spelling.
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/10/2005 08:41:00 PM

Alabama State Whiskey

In April 2004, the Alabama State Legislature overrode Gov. Bob Riley's veto of a measure to make Conecuh Ridge Whiskey the "official state spirit." As the official spirit, a picture of Conecuh Ridge Whiskey was placed in the kid's section of the website produced by the Alabama Department of Archives and History. Widespread publicity increased demand for the whiskey, producing a very happy distiller. But, it appears the situation is about to change.

Trouble for Conecuh Ridge began in December, when state liquor agents charged the brand's founder, Kenny May of Troy, with misdemeanor violations in two counties - selling liquor without a license, possessing excessive quantities of liquor in a dry county, and selling to an 18-year-old girl in a state where the legal drinking age is 21.

May admitted the violations and paid fines, and the Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board decided to quit selling his product in state-run liquor stores.

The sponsor of the 2004 resolution honoring Conecuh Ridge, Rep. Alan Boothe, D-Troy, got the Alabama House to pass another resolution Feb. 3 repealing the product's designation as the "official state spirit." The resolution went to the Rules Committee, where it has been sitting ever since.

It seems the legislative schedule is full and the whiskey issue has been relegated to the bottom of the list. Oddly, the removal of the distinction of being the official state whiskey will probably cause demand to explode.

And, I have to ask. Why would the State of Alabama put a picture of whiskey on a kid's web page? It makes no sense.
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/10/2005 03:48:00 PM

Unprotected Medical Records

(San Jose, California) Police are investigating a burglary of two computers from the San Jose Medical Group which reportedly contained the names, addresses, Social Security numbers, and billing codes for as many as 185,000 patients. The computers were stolen on March 28th from the Race Street administrative office of the Medical Group. Current and former patients are being alerted to the possibility of identity theft and the invasion of their privacy. It should be noted that the Medical Group's chief doctor doesn't believe the computers were stolen for the data.

"I think those were the prettiest. They were the newest," said Dr. Dean Didech. "They were the most expensive. They were the most powerful computers."

As corrective action, the San Jose Medical Group committed to installing 'new security systems' and to assuring that confidential information is not stored on desktop computers.

Interestingly, it was only last Tuesday that a significant number of medical records were compromised in Cleveland when a truck, for some unknown reason, dumped them on city streets while being transported to the Cleveland Clinic. Like litter, approximately 3,000 patient and billing records were scattered, containing "patient names, home addresses, insurers and policy numbers, treating physicians, admission and discharge dates and detailed billing information."

Obviously, the organizations and people responsible for disclosing patient information in the two instances cited are apologetic. However, they are also liable for penalties from violating the provisions of the Healthcare Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). A quick look at the HIPAA schedule of penalties indicates that a maximum $25,000 fine can be imposed. That's not a large sum, but there is also the threat of possible civil suits if actual harm is realized by the people whose records were compromised.
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/10/2005 11:35:00 AM

IRS Plans Private Revenue Hunters

The Internal Revenue Service has announced plans to hire contract firms to collect taxes, paying them a bounty of up to 25% of the money they recover. Deputy IRS Commissioner Rich Morgante said the project is scheduled to start by the end of 2005.

So, the revenuers are not going to be government agents anymore. They'll be hired gunslingers out to collect a bounty on confiscated funds. I don't see how they would be any different than any other of America's bounty hunters who have been known to break down the wrong door.

Also, it's common practice for collection agencies to torment people via the telephone. Therefore, it's conceivable that call centers in India or Pakistan could be subcontracted to telephonically harass U.S. citizens who haven't paid their taxes. For that matter, I don't know why it wouldn't be possible for the call centers to do outsourced skip tracing on debtors and tax delinquents. Maybe they already do. If phone sex and school tutoring can be outsourced, why not tax collection?

The whole idea of the IRS contracting out tax collection is smelly. Tax forms collect a tremendous amount of privileged information. Making it available to a common bill collector looking for a bounty is unnerving. Nonetheless, Morgante presumably thinks there is no reason to be apprehensive about the bounty hunters because:

"They are going to be held to the same standards as government employees."

In my estimation, that doesn't support his argument.

Companion post at eTALKINGHEAD.
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/09/2005 08:25:00 PM

Gaming Rage

Apparently, Gaming Rage has resulted in at least one death in the Far East. Chances are that the phenomenon will ultimately migrate to the U.S. The Marmot has the story.
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/09/2005 08:02:00 PM

Mom Let 5-Year-Old Daughter Smoke Pot

(Angleton, Texas) Last December, Amanda Williams, 22, allowed her 5-year-old daughter to smoke marijuana, according to Angleton Police Detective David Steves. Wiiliams was arrested Friday and charged with felony endangering a child. She was released on $7,500 bond.

If convicted, Williams faces a possible two years in jail and a $10,000 fine.
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/09/2005 06:25:00 PM

Ohio Supreme Court Refuses to Honor Pope

(Columbus, Ohio) Contrary to Governor Taft's directive, the Ohio Supreme Court refused to lower the flag to respectfully honor the passing of Pope John Paul II. According to Chris Davey, spokesman for the court, it is a tradition in the court to ignore what the governor directs.

"That proclamation does not apply to us," Davey said. "We are a different branch" of government.

It is critical for the court to maintain judicial independence, Davey said.

Since when did recognizing the loss of a great statesman have anything to do with the branches of government? Apparently, the justices of the Ohio Supreme Court believe that they have been elevated above humanity, like they are no longer part of the human race.

In my estimation, their stunt was small-minded, tactless, and ugly. And, more and more, it seems that American courts are trending towards adopting those and other undesirable attributes.
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/09/2005 06:19:00 PM

Tops Cutting Butchers

(Northeast, Ohio) It was only a few months ago that Tops Markets LLC, operator of dozens of supermarkets in NE Ohio, announced a blanket reduction in business hours and the closing of six stores. The cutbacks resulted in a loss of about 400 jobs and were implemented to minimize costs. At the time, I predicted that Tops would continue cost-cutting measures if it was unable to offer products at prices that are generally comparable to those offered by the competition.

Well, as predicted, Tops is continuing the trend. Slowly, the company is reducing its footprint in NE Ohio. This week, Tops announced the elimination of all butchers at its 49 local stores and the closing of two. The Solon store, located off Som Center and Aurora roads, and a Cleveland store located on Clark Avenue will disappear. It's anticipated that another 400 people will lose their jobs when all the changes have been completed.

I predict more layoffs and future closings. It appears that Tops is slowly fading as a prominent business entity in NE Ohio. My recommendation for employees is to man the lifeboats.

Of course, I could be wrong. I'm just a blogger.


[Update 07/09/06]

All TOPS stores in NE Ohio to be sold.
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/08/2005 09:19:00 PM

British Muslims Feel Victimized

Anti-terrorism laws put followers of Islam under a high level of scrutiny and they don't like it. They feel victimized.

On the flip side, anti-terrorism laws provide non-followers of Islam with an increased level of security and they like it. They have been victimized.
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/08/2005 07:29:00 PM

In-Store Liquor Sampling

(Phoenix, Arizona) The Arizona Republic reports that a proposed change to the state's liquor laws would allow shoppers to sample beer, whiskey, and wine inside grocery stores.

Liquor sampling at places like Costco and Bashas' stands as one of the most controversial parts of the legislation. Shoppers unsure about dropping $60 on that bottle of pinot noir or the latest brand of liqueur could get a taste inside grocery stores. The move has been torpedoed previously at the Capitol, but its chances appear brighter now that it's part of a wide-ranging bill.

This would probably give entirely new meaning to the phrase "shop 'til you drop."
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/08/2005 06:50:00 PM

Woman Alleges Herpes Infection From Vick's Rub

(Flowery Branch, Georgia) A geriatric health worker filed a civil suit against Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick for knowingly giving her genital herpes. Sonya Elliott, 26, who says she is a former girlfriend of Vick, alleges "negligence by Vick, unwanted physical contact, pain, suffering, and potential future medical complications." Vick has not commented on the lawsuit nor has he been seen riding a bicycle.

Companion post at The Jawa Report.
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/08/2005 02:11:00 PM

GM Pulls Ads From LA Times

Expressing strong objections to the editorial coverage, General Motors decided to stop advertising in the Los Angeles Times. GM did not cite specific concerns, rather just objections to "factual errors and misrepresentations in The Times editorial coverage." However, an anonymous source said that GM found auto critic Dan Neil's recent review particularly offensive. Apparently, Neil suffers from environmentalitis and his writing reflects that he is upset that GM builds SUVs and not enough fuel-efficient vehicles.

It's fairly clear that the LATimes and Dan Neil promote a political agenda which is not exactly compatible with the business goals of GM to sell the maximum possible number of cars to the maximum number of customers. I think that the LATimes may be shooting itself in the foot. Advertising revenue is the lifeblood of the newspaper business and it's foolish to dam up a stream of cash for the sake of activism for a controversial political issue. The loss of the General Motors account has to hurt.
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/08/2005 12:38:00 PM

Lawyer Suspended For Jailhouse Sex

(Olympia, Washington) Updating a previous report on Public Defender Theresa Olson, the State Supreme Court has suspended Olson's license for two years for having sexual relations with her client, Sebastian Burns, while on a jailhouse visit. It's worth noting that Burns was Olson's only client for three years and that he ultimately was convicted of three murders.


Theresa Olson
(KING5.com Photo)
Dissenting Justices Sanders and Johnson believe the two-year punishment is excessive. Using a modified Clinton-Lewinsky argument, they contend that there is "no evidence" that sexual relations had occurred. Even though:

"[O]n Aug. 10, 2002, guards outside a King County Jail conference room saw her client, Sebastian Burns, standing behind her with his pants down and his penis erect. Her long dress was pulled up around her waist, the guards testified."

Justice Sanders' dissent was based upon dictionary definitions and the fact that there was no evidence of "coitus" and "sexual intercourse." He apparently expected to have something like a stained blue dress as evidence of intercourse between Olson and Burns. Nonetheless, despite the dissent, the two-year suspension was imposed. As an aside, one could say that the essence of the Clinton legacy has been formally argued by the Supreme Court of Washington.
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/08/2005 08:42:00 AM

Terrorist Bombers Get Probation

According to a FAZ.NET report from Munich, Germany:

Five people received probationary sentences of 16 to 22 months on Wednesday for plotting to bomb a ceremony marking the beginning of construction of Munich's synagogue in 2003. The court convicted the three men and two women of belonging to a terrorist organization. The defendants admitted that they had planned to carry out the attack, but denied they were part of a terrorist organization. The group's leader, Martin Wiese, is being tried separately.

But wait! While a court in Munich lets bomb plotters go with laughable punishment, law enforcement authorities in Cologne are unable to apprehend them after they successfully explode a bomb and injure tens of innocent people.

Police on Thursday released a new composite drawing that shows a man who may be linked to a nail bomb that was set off last June in the western German city. The picture is based on the description of a witness, police said. The man is in his middle 20s, and is between 1.75 meters and 1.80 meters tall (5.7 feet to 5.9 feet). The bomb that exploded on Keupstrasse injured more than 20 people.

If specific bombers can't be found after an explosion, it's negligent to treat them with leniency before the explosion. Given the fact that the Munich bomb was planned to explode during a ceremony, the intention was to wound or kill those attending. As such, their crime should be considered attempted murder. Probation for attempted murder is outrageous.

Some significant details have been left out of the FAZ.NET reports, such as the names of anything, so there possibly are additional aspects to the story of why bomb threats are not taken more seriously. Also, since the bomb plot was against a synagogue by an alleged terrorist organization, why are there no accusations that the planned attack was a hate crime against Jews?

[Update] According to this report, four of the bomb plotters were convicted of being part of the "Kameradschaft Sued" neo-Nazi group. Being found guilty of membership in a terrorist organization is considered a "serious charge" in Germany, however, no explanation is provided for the leniency in sentencing. The fifth defendant was found guilty of aiding the plot by obtaining explosives and illegally possessing a firearm.
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/08/2005 07:21:00 AM

Mac Security

Considered by some people to be a major reason to use a Mac:

"Most Mac users gaze on smugly as reports of each new Windows security crisis break. And they have good reason - research from Sophos PLC showed that 68 viruses have affected the Mac while 97,467 have affected Windows. Of those 68, most are a decade old or older and don't directly affect OS X," Digit Magazine reports.

More information regarding Mac security is here and here.
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/07/2005 11:23:00 PM

SUV Full of Illegals

(Cleveland, Ohio) Cleveland Police pulled over a Ford Explorer this morning on I-90 with 15 illegal aliens inside. They were all from Mexico and not one could speak a lick of English.
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/07/2005 07:17:00 PM

Teacher Has Sex with 3 Students

(Tulare, California) First-year Tulare Western High School teacher Elizabeth Stow, 26, was arrested Monday and charged with having sex with three students. She resigned her teaching position.


Elizabeth Stow
Rumors in the school led to an investigation and arrest by Tulare Police. All three students are 17-year-old males and two are cooperating with the police. Stow was released after posting $10,000 bond.

[Update 04/14/05] According to this report, formal charges were filed Thursday against Stow. She will face seven counts of having sex with a minor and five counts of oral copulation with a minor for incidents with three underage students between September and December of last year. If convicted, Stow could be sentenced to 10 years in prison and be required to register as a sex offender.
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/07/2005 04:19:00 PM

Trapped In The Elevator

(New York City) Everyone has probably heard the story from earlier this week about the Chinese restaurant worker, Ming Kung Chen, who was trapped in an elevator for three days. Chen was rescued and will be fine. However, while he was getting so much media attention, it was revealed by the NYPD that he was an illegal alien who paid a smuggler $60,000 to come to the U.S. Evidently, releasing that information is contrary to the sanctuary policy of the NYC government concerning illegals.

So, it appears there's a real chance that some cops within the NYPD will be disciplined, just for telling the truth. Of course, this begs a question. Since the courts recognize doctor-patient and clergy-church member confidentiality, will they now be honoring the illegal alien-city worker confidentiality? If so, Ming Kung Chen should sue the city of New York.
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/07/2005 03:02:00 PM

Venezuelan Arrested For Hacking Air Force Computers

(Denver, Colorado) Venezuelan computer hacker Rafael Nunez-Aponte, 25, of Caracas, was arrested on Saturday in Miami, according to Jeff Dorschner, spokesman for the U.S. Attorney in Denver. He is suspected of hacking into a U.S. Air Force computer system in Denver, bringing down a network.

According to the federal arrest warrant unsealed Tuesday, Nunez-Aponte is charged with unlawfully accessing a nonpublic government computer, and damaging a protected computer. Authorities indicated that Nunez-Aponte goes by the screen name "RaFa" and is a member of a computer hacker group called World of Hell. Conviction of the charges carries a possible 11 years in prison.
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/07/2005 01:57:00 PM

Female Teacher Faces Sex Charge

(Colorado Springs, Colorado) A female teacher at Wasson High School was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of having sexual relations with a 17-year-old male student on numerous occasions over a two-month period. The 33-year-old English teacher, Gwen Anne Cardozo, faces a charge of sexual assault on a child by one in a position of trust. Cardozo has resigned her position with Colorado Springs Schools.


Gwen Anne Cardozo
Apparently, the illicit relationship was discovered by a student teacher who found love letters from the student to Cardozo, some sexually graphic. When questioned, Cardozo initially denied everything, but changed her story when confronted with evidence. She admitted to having sex with the boy three times a week for two months.

Cardozo was booked into the El Paso County Jail and released on $5,000 bail. The felony sexual assault charge carries penalties of a possible six years in prison and $500,000 in fines. Sadly, Gwen Cardozo has a husband and four children, all destined to be scarred by her criminal lapse in judgment.

Tipped by Chad Gilloth.
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/07/2005 09:16:00 AM

Illegal Alien Girls Held On Fear of Suicide Bombing Plot

From a report in the New York Times:

Two 16-year-old girls from New York City were arrested last month and charged with immigration violations after the F.B.I. asserted that they intended to become suicide bombers, according to a government document.

Both girls are illegal aliens, one from Guinea and the other from Bangladesh. The Immigration and Customs Enforcement Division has not elaborated on their arrests other than to confirm that they are in custody.

According to Adem Carroll, a community activist with the Islamic Circle of North America, as a result of a family dispute between the Bangladeshi girl and her parents, police became aware of some of the girl's writings which discussed suicide. Subsequently and after the girl was questioned, a detective notified the family that the girl "had extremist beliefs and promoted concepts like suicide bombing."

Whenever Islamic fundamentalist illegal aliens writing about suicide are identified, it's entirely reasonable to investigate them as threats. I would.
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/07/2005 06:02:00 AM

Harvard Professor Charged with Stealing Manure

(Rockport, Massachusetts) Martin Weitzman, Harvard University Professor of Economics, was charged with larceny, trespassing, and malicious destruction of property for stealing manure from the farm of Charles Lane. It's unclear why Professor Weitzman takes the manure, but universities in America have been known to frequently shovel a lot of it. There may be a link.
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/06/2005 06:51:00 PM

High School Counselor Fired for Sex with Student

(Indianapolis, Indiana) A 26-year-old female counselor, Desiree Lawrence, at Ben Davis High School was fired over allegations of sex with a male student and her poor job performance.


Desiree Lawrence
Lawrence vehemently denies the allegations. The 17-year-old student claims he had sex with Lawrence three times. Lawrence's attorney suggested the boy made up the story. The sheriff's department is investigating possible charges of child seduction.
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/06/2005 05:38:00 PM

Another Al Qaeda Beheading Video

Abu Musab al-Zarqawi's thugs are responsible for the murder by beheading of Iraqi Security Guard Jassim Mohammed Hussein Mahdi. A video of the gruesome event was posted on an Islamic bulletin board. Apparently the terrorists turned the episode into a drawn-out affair with different camera angles and lighting changes and several takes. The Jawa Report has images and a link to the video.

Bastards!
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/06/2005 03:48:00 PM

Photographer Embedded With Terrorists

Just the thought of the Associated Press embedding its photographers with terrorist organizations is outrageous. Of course, it would explain how the AP is able to get up-close pictures of murdering thugs in action. Rusty Shackleford at The Jawa Report presents persuasive evidence that some form of collusion exists between AP journalists and Zarqawi's murderers.

Of course, this suggests that the AP has probably tucked away a portfolio of pictures implicating themselves. It wouldn't surprise me if the AP photographers were in attendance during some of the horrific beheadings of innocents. Additionally, if my speculation is correct, somewhere there is a "burn before viewing" cabinet with folders full of evidence that the AP does have a special working intimacy with the terrorists.

On the same subject, Paul at Wizbang has a post pertaining to the AP photo of the street execution of an Iraqi poll worker which was recently awarded the Pulitzer Prize. Interestingly, there is considerable controversy as to whether the photo opportunity was staged because the photographer was given a tip about the circumstances. See the comment thread.
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/06/2005 09:16:00 AM

Carnival of Education

Interested-Participant invites everyone to see this week's attractions at the Carnival of Education. There are no pop quizzes nor after-school activities and all the girls are pretty and all the men are brave. As a personal testimonial, I believe the carnival compiles some of the most interesting reading in the blogosphere. Logically, people associated with academia are quite on their toes when putting thoughts into writing. Not only are their peers liable to blast them for errors in thinking and writing, but there are the students to consider. Go visit.
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/06/2005 08:34:00 AM

Man Kills, Goes To Prison, Released Early, Kills Again

(Columbus, Ohio) In 1987, Michael Grover stabbed Cyrus Gatewood to death and was convicted of the killing and sent to prison. In 2003, the Ohio Supreme Court issued a ruling called the Layne Decision which allowed Grover to get an early release from incarceration. Last Sunday, Grover stabbed Jason Schmalenberger multiple times, killing the father of three.

The Layne Decision imposed more restrictions on the criteria the parole board uses in granting parole. I'm no expert, but apparently the parole board could no longer consider whether the convict was a threat to society. In the case of Michael Grover, a proven threat to society, the parole board could not prevent his release, thanks to the Ohio Supreme Court.

Incidents of this nature, where a convict is released and kills again, provide all the justification many people need to support the death penalty.
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/06/2005 07:52:00 AM

Florida Voucher Threat Makes Schools Improve

From a report by Brendan Farrington for the Associated Press:

Gov. Jeb Bush's education accountability plan is working a lot better than his brother's is in getting low performing schools to improve, a Harvard University study found.

The stigma of receiving an F grade under the governor's "A+ Plan" combined with the threat of losing students to private schools has led to an increase in test scores, according to the study distributed Tuesday.

Simply put, the threat is that inadequately performing schools will lose students to private schools unless they improve. Consequently, public school educators are motivated to teach the students for fear of losing their funding.

On a school-by-school basis, performance is measured by how much classroom knowledge students actually acquire as demonstrated through testing results from the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test. It's assumed that the testing doesn't cover self-esteem or tolerance or diversity or feel-good factors and other subjects that frequently crowd the curricula away from classes on core subject material.

The Harvard study also states that the Florida voucher-threat system achieves better results than the No Child Left Behind law.

President Bush's No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) doesn't quite have the same impact, largely because the stigma of not making the grade isn't as strong and its school choice provision doesn't have as much of an impact on school districts, the study said.

The researchers are indicating that the provisions of the NCLB law are not as threatening as the Florida plan and, therefore, not as effective.

Opponents of the NCLB law believe that it is too threatening now. Nonetheless, according to the study, if it were more threatening, better results would be achieved.
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/05/2005 10:58:00 PM

Truck Dumps Medical Records

(Cleveland, Ohio) A truck carrying a load from Marymount and Lakewood Hospitals dumped approximately 3,000 patient and billing records onto the streets of downtown Cleveland earlier today. Included in the records were "patient names, home addresses, insurers and policy numbers, treating physicians, admission and discharge dates and detailed billing information." Officials do not know why it happened.

Comforting, don't you think?
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/05/2005 10:28:00 PM

Appeals Court Denies Freedom of Expression Case

(La Habra, California) The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals declined to reconsider a decision that upheld a law requiring that dancers stay at least two feet away from customers. The law had been challenged by Badi "Bill" Gammoh, owner of several strip clubs, as vague and an infringement on freedom of expression. In simple terms, the court indicated that there is no constitutional right to a lap dance.
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/05/2005 03:58:00 PM

Gore Launches Short Attention Span Cable Network

(San Francisco, California) Former VP Al Gore and legal services businessman Joel Hyatt have announced plans for a new cable television network called Current TV. The programming is scheduled to premiere August 1 and will be directed at audiences with 'short attention spans' [Their words, not mine - ed]. Current will broadcast snippets of network news and short videos submitted by viewers via the Internet. And, periodically, viewers will see segments showing what Google searchers are looking for. Some people are optimistic about the new network, however, it remains to be seen how successfully it can compete in a field that's crowded already.

Somehow, I'm reminded of Monty Python. Wasn't there a comedy routine of the Python Circus called Short Attention Span Theater? I can't remember. I might be experiencing plunging attentiveness from writing about this subject.
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/05/2005 09:42:00 AM

Undercover Drug Bust at High School

(Batavia, Ohio) A 23-year-old female college graduate posed as a high school student for seven months in an undercover operation at Milford High School resulting in the Friday arrests of 16 students, four of which are adults. The school district, in conjunction with the police, hired North American Security Solutions Inc. to conduct the sting. The undercover agent was able to buy a variety of drugs from classmates, including ecstasy, marijuana, and hallucinogenic mushrooms. The transactions occurred inside the school, on school grounds, at a convenience store parking lot, and at private homes.

The adult students charged with drug trafficking are Stephen Kyle Dewitt of Milford; Jackson M. Tubbs of Milford; Andrew McAllister of Loveland; and Jared A. Schwartz of Milford.

After spending the weekend in the Clermont County Jail, the adults students pleaded not guilty to drug trafficking charges before Municipal Magistrate Gregory Chapman. They were released to their parents with the stipulation that the parents pay $10,000 to $30,000 bond if the accused fail to appear at an April 13 hearing.

The 12 juvenile students were also charged with drug trafficking and released to their parents. They are slated to appear in Clermont County Juvenile Court on April 26.

The undercover investigation cost the Milford Exempted Village School District $60,000. I consider it to be a wise investment.
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/04/2005 11:23:00 PM

SCANDAL IN CANADA

Kevin Aylward at Wizbang pointed me to the breaking scandal in the Canadian political system which is being referred to as ADSCAM. Although I've completed a quick read of Joe Katzman's synopsis at Winds Of Change and started looking through the material posted at the Captain's Quarters, I honestly don't have a comfortable understanding of the situation yet. From Captain Ed Morrissey, here's an overview of the scandal.

A political scandal involving the Public Works Ministry, a government effort called the Sponsorship Program, and allegations of corruption in the ruling Liberal Party has Canada abuzz with rumors of payoffs, Mob ties, and snap elections. For the last two years, Canadian politics has been gripped by the so-called "sponsorship scandal" - tens of millions of dollars in government contracts which were funneled into advertizing firms closely connected with the Liberal government for little or no work, but with shadowy rumours that much of the money found its way back into Liberal coffers. Prime Minister Paul Martin, himself a Liberal, appointed the Gomery Commission to investigate these charges and determine whether to bring charges against government officials for corruption and malfeasance.

Of note is the fact that the Canadian government has imposed a news blackout on the media and it apparently also pertains to bloggers. Entities printing or broadcasting any information concerning the scandal are liable to be prosecuted. The restriction obviously doesn't apply to U.S. bloggers.

From what I've seen written in the blogosphere thus far, there seems to be a sense of something akin to a delightful dread, or maybe, a gloomy anxiousness about the scandal. It's like catching something big and dangerous on your fishing line. You eagerly want to reel it in but, at the same time, you're apprehensive of what the hell it is you hooked. I'm fairly certain that any scandal involving tens of millions of dollars, which seems to be the degree of alleged corruption, is going to inflame the Canadian public, particularly those in the national health system and the military.

Needless to say, this story is developing.

[Update - 04/05/05, 0815 EDT] The Toronto Star reports:

In an extraordinary move, a lawyer representing the Liberal party yesterday told the Gomery inquiry examining the sponsorship affair that the party has asked the RCMP to "investigate the possibility that the party itself may have been the target of fraud or other harmful acts by certain individuals."

Calling the cops appears to be an attempt to put the Liberal Party leadership in a position to claim it was a patsy.
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/04/2005 07:45:00 PM

Vagrancy Court

(Denver, Colorado) The city of Denver has decided that crimes committed by vagrants are different than crimes committed by functioning residents in the community. Therefore, a separate Denver Homeless Court will be launched. According to this report, the court will have "a judge and other officials specially trained to handle problems facing the city's homeless." Roxane White, Director of Human Services, said the court will only adjudicate minor offenses.

The goal of the project is to help homeless people have clear criminal records "if they turn their lives around." It appears that a person must be homeless to get the special treatment.
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/04/2005 05:34:00 PM

Program Allows Workers To Be Late For Work

Workers in Cleveland can sleep late if they go to the opera. Yeah, this will work.
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/04/2005 04:55:00 PM

Female GIs Told to Delay Having Kids

From the Stars and Stripes:

CAMP CASEY, South Korea - Female soldiers should avoid having children until they are ready to leave the Army or have established careers, members of a panel of female first sergeants advised troops here Thursday.

Panel members who spoke at a meeting convened by the 177th Finance Battalion to observe Women's History Month cited their own mothers as role models, and all but one are mothers themselves.

First Sgt. Mary Maczko joined the Army 21 years ago as a 30-year-old mother of two. The Queens, N.Y., native said it's natural for younger soldiers to want to have children.

"Between 21 and 30 is when they have children. But we are an Army at war. The best thing to do is not have any children," she advised the soldiers.

I agree. Under the best circumstances, it's a monumental task to succeed at a career and as a parent simultaneously. Potentially being in harm's way as a soldier separated from family members makes it even more difficult.
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/04/2005 10:40:00 AM

Abu Ghraib Attacked by Ten Suicide Bombers

Chad Evans at In The Bullpen has posted the story and commentary of the weekend Al Qaida attack on Abu Ghraib. Apparently, there were ten suicide bombers used in the assault on the prison, coming from four sides. It appears that "martyrdom seekers" are now being used in force battle planning. I guess they would be called, at least in an analytical sense, 'designated attrition companies.' Legitimately, Chad questions whether the suicide bombers knew they were suicide bombers. I wonder too. Read the rest.

Also, Chad has posted a compilation of links to new terrorist videos for download. Go visit.
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/04/2005 09:16:00 AM

California HS Purges Non-Resident Students

(Fremont, California) Today, the 9,500-student Fremont Union High School District will order approximately 300 students to immediately pack their bags and leave if they are unable to prove residency in the district. Parents were informed of the action weeks ago by telephone and mail.

"We're taking a gentle course," said Polly Bove, deputy superintendent. "We'll call them in between classes and call home to let parents know what's going on."

[ ... ]

Still, she said, "We expect to hear from people who will say they didn't think we meant it."

The Cupertino-based school district administration is making the change to cut costs.

Well, my, my, my! In California, no less! They are not going to spend money on kids that don't live in their district. Holy moly! Is this a grassroots message with momentum?

Can we expect the school district to next require that a student be a legal resident?

Let's hope.

[Update 04/05/05] It's being reported that 29 students were called to the principal's office yesterday at Fremont High School, while a large number of others simply left. To keep their kids in school, it's also being reported that some parents may be creating phony evidence of residency.

Dr. Steve Rowley, district superintendent: "There are lots of rumors about mail boxes being sold for high prices and we understand from certain flea markets that dummy-upped property taxes are being sold."

The district says an estimated 300 students who don't belong are costing the district millions, because unlike other districts, their funding isn't based on attendance.

Peggy Raun-Linde, Fremont High principal: "We're a basic aid district, so we get our money from the tax pool, it's one lump sum of money divided amongst all the kids."

According to Cary Matsuoka, Cupertino High Principal, by asking some students to leave, an unknown number of others are being dissuaded from trying to sneak in. Nonetheless, whether students are asked to leave or don't sneak in, the net effect will be additional demands placed on schools in adjacent communities. If the surrounding school districts also impose residency requirements, maybe a regional movement will start and progress toward a statewide initiative.

Or, maybe not.
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/03/2005 11:19:00 AM

Mexican Officials Warn of Anti-Mexican Sentiment in U.S.

(Mexico City, Mexico) Seven members of the Mexican Senate visited Arizona last month and reported that the American public is becoming increasingly intolerant of illegal aliens. Written by Sen. Mariano Gonzalez Zarur, the official report warns of a "desolate panorama" of public sentiment toward invading illegals.

"The anti-Mexican climate in the state of Arizona is undeniable," delegation member Miguel Sadot Sanchez Carreno said in a separate statement. "The anti-Mexican atmosphere that prevails there, far from diminishing, is being felt with ever-increasing force."

Besides complaints about Americans not wanting trespassers, the report contains other nuggets, particularly regarding Proposition 200. As a reminder, Prop 200 requires proof of citizenship to vote and denies certain welfare benefits to illegals.

The report calls for the Mexican government to give more support to groups fighting Proposition 200 in court, and to lobby against similar measures in other states.

It calls for Mexico to keep pressuring the United States to reform its immigration laws and suggests a campaign to improve the image of migrants among Americans. [Emphasis mine]

It also recommended further visits by lawmakers, saying they "will permit us to continue giving the support that our compatriots in the United States so need, especially the most destitute, who are the undocumented, in light of the xenophobia and discrimination they encounter in that country, as highlighted by the state of Arizona."

All the dismay and criticism coming from the Mexican side of the border occurs at the same time that Hispanic gangs are terrorizing parts of Los Angeles and other major cities, law enforcement agencies are overwhelmed with illegal aliens committing crimes, and health care providers are gasping for financial help. And, the American public is forced to pay the bill. I believe the United States has more reason to complain about the border situation than Mexico.

One really disturbing aspect of the border situation is the smug arrogance of the Mexican government and people toward the U.S. It's as if Mexico is entitled to trespass on U.S. territory and claim ownership of rights granted in the Constitution. For some bizarre reason, Washington lets cocky Mexican President Vincente Fox get off with a free pass. One thing is sure, President Bush and Congress had better do something to control the border soon. The issue is a political time bomb and I don't think our leaders realize the level of anger seething in the minds of the public. For those that can't understand why, consider for a moment all you've read and heard about women who have been raped. Without exception, they describe the trauma and sense of horror they feel from being violated. It's tattooed on their psyche. That feeling of being violated is the reaction Americans have about foreigners trespassing in the U.S. The government is trusted and supported to the extent that the citizenry feels safe. Simply keeping current on the news will show that people have a reason not to feel safe. One of the fences bordering the U.S. has fallen and, across the political divide, people feel they are being violated. Americans are mad and getting madder. Mexicans are smug and getting more demanding and arrogant.

I'll close by mentioning that a number of bloggers have been covering the insecure border problem, dedicated to getting the word out to the public. I personally have relied on Diggers Realm and Michelle Malkin to keep informed and I avoid writing about immigration issues until I've consulted their sites. Also, a new group blog, The Immigration Blog, has been launched by Michelle Malkin to focus exclusively on immigration. All are highly recommended.
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/02/2005 07:58:00 PM

Teacher Arrested for Sexual Assault on Boy

(Grapevine, Texas) A 27-year-old former teacher, Michelle Dawn Sewell, was arrested and charged with repeatedly performing sex acts on a Carroll High School student at her Grapevine apartment.


Michelle Dawn Sewell
The victim, a 16-year-old boy, gave a written statement indicating that Sewell performed sex acts on him on March 4 and March 6. Apparently, another teacher alerted officials about Sewell's relationship with the boy and an investigation was launched on March 8. Sewell has denied the allegations. She was released after posting $10,000 bail.


[Update 03/24/06]

Sewell on trial before jury.
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/02/2005 07:56:00 PM

Must Wear Head Scarf During Basketball

(Tampa, Florida) After the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) complained, the Amateur Athletic Union reversed its previous decision and said a 12-year-old Muslim girl can wear a head scarf in a basketball tournament.
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/02/2005 06:52:00 PM

Pro-Nazi University Professor Fired

(Teaneck, New Jersey) History professor Jacques Pluss, 51, was fired from Fairleigh Dickinson University for the official reason that he missed too many days of class, but many believe his dismissal is tied to his membership in the National Socialist Movement, a pro-Nazi organization. This is somewhat surprising. Given the extreme leftist proclivities of academia, one would expect that Nazi membership in Pluss' character would assure him the fast track to promotions, not dismissal.

Entered in the Carnival of the Trackbacks V.
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/01/2005 07:49:00 PM

Woman Charged with Raping Boy

(Columbus, Ohio) A 27-year-old mother, Maria Rose White, will face 16 counts of rape for allegedly having sexual relations with a 12-year-old boy who lives in her neighborhood.


Maria Rose White
In the state of Ohio, unlawful sexual relations with a child under the age of 13 is called rape. The indictment states that White had sex with the boy for a period of nine months.

"It's fairly unusual, I would say rare, to have an adult female charged with sexual conduct with a minor male," Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O'Brien said.

Obviously, Mr. O'Brien is referring to his local experience. However, in recent months on a national scale, there has been a flurry of adult women being charged with having sex with minor males.

Interestingly, the boy's parents stated that their son's behavior changed dramatically when his alleged sexual relationship with White began. Thus far, there's been no information forthcoming about court proceedings. Maria Rose White was released from jail after posting bond.
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/01/2005 01:22:00 PM

Probation for Lying on Resume

(Spring Branch, Texas) Based upon his resume, Mike Maloney was hired in 2002 by the Spring Branch Independent School District as an associate superintendent of facilities. After a couple years of employment with questions raised regarding his job performance, somebody decided to verify his education. It was found that he lied. Maloney's claim that he had bachelor's and master's degrees from Cal Southern University was fiction. There is no such university.

Last week, Maloney pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor for lying on his resume and was sentenced by Harris County Judge James Anderson to a year of probation with deferred adjudication, community service, and a fine of $750. By the way, Maloney resigned his position.

How often do organizations hire people without verifying education and experience? My guess is quite often.
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/01/2005 10:35:00 AM

Ohio Trash Tax Increase

The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency has proposed raising the state trash tax by more than 135% to make up for budget cuts. The tax would jump from $2 to $4.75 for each ton of trash dumped in Ohio landfills. Opponents believe that increasing the cost of trash disposal will cause communities to send their refuse to Indiana or another state where it is cheaper.

Let me restate, the tax increase will be more than 135% and, if adopted, it becomes effective October 1. It has no purpose other than giving the EPA more money to convince me that global warming is my fault. Environmental protection, my backside! It ought to be called the emergency promotion agency because every time an EPA official makes an announcement and every time a letter is written, it's an emergency. Based upon what I've heard, I breathe the country's filthiest air, I ingest toxic levels of PCBs and mercury, and the food I eat has dangerous levels of pesticides. So, naturally, I should pay more in taxes. I'm obviously sick.

And, while I'm at it, how about the group of anti-civilization pointy-heads that oversees the Endangered Species List. All too often, a bridge or residence or factory can't be built because a meandering biologist found a colony of ... what? ... goosewacking chili beetles. Or the biologist closed an entire region to resource development because it's the natural habitat of the stinking desert wasp. This is crazy and it makes no sense. Typically, the pointy-headed biologists are the same people that oppose teaching creationism in schools, fervently demanding that the theory of evolution be taught instead. Hypocritically, while they want everyone else to adopt the theory of evolution, they go behind the scenes and try to fiddle with it. Survival of the fittest is fine until it involves human civilization and the needs of people.

The hunt for endangered species also seems to follow announced plans for development and, it seems, something is always found. I suspiciously think that there have been instances where the initial identification of a species or subspecies was immediately followed by its inclusion on the Endangered Species List. And it all occurred because a biologist was looking for a reason to stunt development of an area of land.

Now, there wouldn't be a problem if the pointy-headed biologists would let evolution work, but they don't. Recently, construction of Lakeside High School in Ashtabula County was halted because a biologist found a pregnant bat nesting 'near' the area. I don't know exactly how much money was wasted by having the entire project stopped in mid-stream, but I suspect it was several hundred thousand dollars which the taxpayers will be forced to cough up. Congressman Steve LaTourette even got involved to try and get the project moving after months of delay.

No matter how long I live, I cannot imagine giving one whit about spotted owls. I can say, however, that I'm constantly reminded of the price of lumber. Therefore, I suggest letting companies responsibly harvest timber and have the spotted owls find new digs. Survival of the fittest, right? If the biologists want to get involved, capture a few breeding pairs and take them to New York. I understand that if they can make it there, they can make it anywhere.

In conclusion, don't increase the trash tax to give more funds to the Ohio EPA. They would just hire more biologists, resulting in more emergencies and impediments to growth of business. And, excuse the rant, but I'm obviously sick from living in one of the worst scumholes in the country. Just ask the EPA.
|

       Following Entry Posted 4/01/2005 05:46:00 AM

Educator Accused of Buying Sex From Students

(Pearland, Texas) A 32-year-old after-school program instructor for Pearland High School, Delesondro Deshon Sims Jr., has been arrested after being accused of paying for sex with male students. Sims has been charged with "two felony counts of improper relationship between an educator and student."

The alleged inappropriate activities occurred between Sims and two students, ages 17 and 18, on the high school campus between November and February, said Pearland Police Officer Rick Fernandez. Police learned of the alleged improper relationships Wednesday morning after another student notified authorities.

Fernandez said he had not been provided with information that the educator was paying to have sex with the students. But a Brazoria County court document states the 18-year-old student said Sims told him he could earn points for sex acts performed with him.

The two had sex with each other on four separate occasions, the document states.

The 18-year-old student alleged Sims would credit his account, which was used to pay for items needed in the extracurricular program, for anal and oral sex.

Sometimes the male students were just given money for sex, $50 for each oral sex act. In effect, Sims, as an authority figure at the school, has turned the students into homosexual prostitutes. This is outrageous.

Sims is currently in the Brazoria County Detention Center on $100,000 bond. If convicted of the charges against him, he could be sentenced to 20 years in prison on each count.
|