Women With Troubles - August 2006

The following is a listing of women with troubles reported in the news during August 2006. Each name is linked to an Interested-Participant blog entry displaying detailed information.

(AL) Sharon Linton Rutherford, 30,
teacher, married mother of two - Indicted for sex crimes against students and plotting to murder her husband,

(AR) Deanna Bobo, 38,
teacher, married, 5 kids - Charged with 1st degree sexual assault of male student, 14,

(CA) Ann Elizabeth Miller, 27,
teacher - Guilty of felony lewd contact with male student, 15. To be sentenced on September 26.

(CA) Adriana Renee Rivera, 28,
juvenile camp officer - Pleads guilty to harboring a fugitive. DA drops sex charges. Sentencing scheduled for Sept. 18,

(CA) Genevieve Elise Silva, 20,
porn starlet - Charged with rape, providing drugs, and contributing to the delinquency of a boy, 15,

(CA) Monica Rae Gonzalez, 35,
teacher - Arrested for allegedly molesting male student, 17,

(DE) Rachel Holt, 34,
teacher - Indicted on 28 counts of rape for sexual relations with boy, 13,

(FL) Elizabeth Filsell, 45,
neighbor - Charged with capital sexual battery for having a sexual relationship with boy, 11,

(FL) Jennifer Bloye Rutherford, 35,
neighbor, married - On trial for molesting 14-year-old boy,

(FL) Kimberly Zeller, 30,
neighbor - Charged with lewd and lascivious battery for having sex with boy, 15,

(GA) Natasha McCrary, 33,
school interpreter for the deaf - Indicted for molesting and raping three 15-year-old boys,

(KS) Amy D. Pierce, 30,
teacher - Unlawful sex and furnishing alcohol to male student, 17,

(KY) Michelle Kush, 30,
teacher - Sentenced to 60 days in jail for multiple counts of rape, sodomy of boy, 15,

(MD) Sandra Louise Bull, 45,
teacher - Accused of sex with high school students occurring in the 1980s,

(ME) Katherine Holt, 20,
neighbor - Going to trial for sex abuse, furnishing alcohol to minors,

(MI) Laura Findlay, 32,
teacher - Sentenced to seven years in prison for having sex with six male students,

(MI) Donna Williams, 23
neighbor - Pleaded guilty to sex crimes against boy, 15, whom she met while on work release from a previous conviction and sentence for sex crimes.

(MN) Jennifer Diane Anderson, 29,
foster mother - Pleaded guilty to having sex with foster son, 15. Sentenced to three and one-half years in prison,

(MO) Mary K. Palma, 23,
school bus driver - Charged with rape of boy, 13,

(NC) Sacha Ladonna Moore, 30,
neighbor - Arrested/charged with statutory rape of a child, disseminating obscenity, disseminating obscenity to a minor and indecent liberties with a child,

(NH) Robin Mowery, 35,
neighbor - Charged with sexually assaulting boy, 15,

(NJ) Jodi Marie Thorp, 35,
teacher, married mother of two - Pleaded guilty to endangerment for sexual relations with boy between 14 and 15, to be sentenced next month,

(OH) Crystal McGrath, 26,
neighbor, mother of four - Charged with engaging in sex with two boys, ages 13 and 14,

(OH) Stacey Ostapowicz, 28,
teacher - Pleaded guilty to contributing to the unruliness of a minor after she was discovered to be dating a student, 17. Sentence suspended, loses teaching credentials,

(PA) Krystal Gehret, 20,
neighbor, mother of one - Pleaded guilty to sex crimes against boy, 14. No sentencing date scheduled. Also faces similar charges in an adjacent county.

(SC) Patricia Hartwell, 46,
neighbor - Arrested for allegedly hosting/alcohol parties for high school students,

(TN) Sherie D. Ratliff, 38,
neighbor, married, children - Sentenced to 100 years in prison for raping daughter,

(TN) Jennifer Erin Turns, 25,
teacher, married, children - Sentenced to 6 months in jail for statutory rape of boy, 15,

(TX) Dina Marie Blakley, aka Joan Davis, 35,
neighbor, married - Charged with aggravated sex assault of 11-year-old boy,

(TX) Lisa Ann Coleman, 30,
neighbor - Sentenced to death for starving 9-year-old boy to death,

(TX) Ashley Grisham,
teacher, married - Sentenced to probation for improper sexual relations with student,

(TX) Lisa Minchew, 28,
teacher, married - Charged with sexually assaulting male students, ages 14 through 16,

(TX) Tamara Hoover, 29,
teacher - Resigned her teaching position due a controversy over nude photos on the Internet,

(UT) Leslie Baird, 42,
teacher - Arrested for sexually abusing several students,

(UT) Cameo Patch, 29,
teacher, married - Pleaded guilty to sexual battery of male student, 17,

(VA) Kimberly Anmarie Padua, 39,
teacher - Sentenced to 30 days in jail for reduced charge of contributing to the delinquency of a minor,

(VA) Karen Susan Patton, 41,
teacher, married mother of two - Arrested for allegedly engaging in sex with a male student, 13.

Thanks to all the tipsters who pointed me to the stories.

Teacher Gets No Jail for Sex with Student

(Waskom, Texas) Last May, Waskom High School math teacher, Ashley Grisham, was arrested for allegedly engaging in sex with a student. She reportedly confessed to the sexual encounters and stated they occurred while she was separated from her husband.

Grisham was charged with felony improper relations with a student and released on $25,000 bond. She resigned her position with the school system.

Earlier today, Ashley Grisham pleaded guilty in accordance with a plea agreement and was sentenced to six years probation. She was also fined $2,000, ordered to perform 500 hours of community service and directed to undergo psychiatric evaluation and counseling. Her Louisiana teaching credentials have been revoked for life.

In related news, fellow Waskom High School teacher Daryl Phillips, 31, who was arrested concurrent with Grisham and faces similar charges, is awaiting trial.

Female Condoms

(Johannesburg, South Africa) The government of South Africa today announced its plans to distribute 3 million female condoms to enable women to protect themselves from sexually transmitted diseases including AIDS. The condom is a lubricated polyurethane sheath about six inches long with a "ring on either end."

It's not clear whether women will be easily inclined to use the gizmo but it is clear that they're expensive, costing many times more than male condoms.

In any event, South Africa has to do something for females. The HIV prevalence among females in the 20 to 24 age group is 25 percent, representing a glaring subset of the total 5.5 million HIV positive citizens in the country.

Muslims Protest Freddy Mercury's Birthday

(Zanzibar, Tanzania) Muslims are outraged at the planned 60th birthday celebration for deceased rock star and Zanzibar native Freddy Mercury, born Farrokh Bulsara, because his sexual preferences and flamboyant lifestyle insulted Islam.

From Independent Online:

In a strongly worded letter to the semi-autonomous Tanzanian archipelago's culture ministry, a group of conservative Muslims said plans to honour the lead singer of the supergroup Queen at a gala bash next month must be stopped.

"There are people claiming that Freddie Mercury is a Zanzibari but he grew up outside Zanzibar and then changed his name," the islands' association for Islamic Mobilisation and Propagation (UAMSHO) said in the letter.

"Associating Mercury with Zanzibar degrades our island as a place of Islam," UAMSHO chief Abdallah Said Ali wrote, adding that the singer was known to have been gay, died of AIDS and had lived a wild life many Muslims would condemn.

"Allowing such a function for a person known outside Zanzibar as a homosexual tarnishes the name of Zanzibar," he said in the letter, a copy of which was obtained by AFP. "Let us protect our good culture."

I would speculate that any rock star, not just homosexual ones, would offend Islam. The tolerance exhibited by followers of the religion of peace pretty much stops when an electric guitar is plugged into an amplifier.

Companion post at The Jawa Report.

Postman Suspended for Anti-Junk Mail Advice

Here's the case of a working guy just trying to help his fellow citizens and, in doing so, he faces losing his job as a letter carrier.

From BBC News:

A postman who advised people how to stop junk mail being delivered to their home could lose his job after bosses suspended him for misconduct.

Roger Annies composed and circulated a leaflet about the Royal Mail's opt-out clause for unsolicited mail during his rounds in Barry, south Wales.

Residents are said to be annoyed at their postman's suspension.

A Royal Mail spokeswoman confirmed that a postman employed in Barry was being investigated for "alleged misconduct."

The conflict arose because the Royal Mail Service makes money by passing out mail addressed to "Occupant" and the like. Consequently, if the residents opt-out of receiving junk mail, the postal service loses revenue.

Sounds to me like the Royal Mail is giving the citizens, and the postmen, the royal shaft.

Tip: The Englishman

Woman on Trial for Molesting Boy

(Dade City, Florida) On trial this week is 35-year-old Jennifer Bloye Rutherford for molesting a 14-year-old boy.

From St. Petersburg Times:

The easygoing teenager took the stand Wednesday and described a sickening scene: two adults, two teens, in bed together naked playing a game of sexual truth or dare.

The incident, involving a man and a 13-year-old girl, and his wife and a 14-year-old boy, occurred in the summer of 2003 at a home in Zephyrhills, authorities say.

The man, 37-year-old Timothy Gerald Bloye, pleaded guilty earlier this year to lewd and lascivious molestation against the girl. He is serving a prison sentence just shy of seven years.

Jennifer Bloye Rutherford, who has since divorced Bloye and remarried, is standing trial this week. If convicted, the 35-year-old will face up to 15 years in prison.

Rutherford's defense is to contend that she was not the instigator of the sexual episode and, therefore, is not as culpable as her ex-husband. Uh . . . good luck with that, Jennifer.

Unfortunately, what isn't known is how the whole scenario developed and how the adults knew the teens. Were the kids neighbors? Babysitters? Did the adults know them from church? School? Maybe they were distant relatives? The aberration of having two teens jump into bed with two mid-thirties adults is not clearly explained.

American Mom Urged to Come Home

(Perth, Australia) Updating a previous story, a 30-year-old Californian woman, Karen Anderson, left her toddler behind in the United States to travel to Perth to share a love nest with a 16-year-old schoolboy. High school student, James, and Mrs. Anderson met on the internet and fell in love during five months of chatting each other up via webcam.

In the latest development, pleas are being sent to Karen Anderson to come home.

The young daughter of a Californian woman embroiled in an internet love scandal wants her "mommy" to come home. Karen Anderson, 30, left her two-year-old toddler Amanda in the US a month ago to move to Perth and live with her schoolboy lover James Barry, 16. They met on the web.

Friends and family of Ms Anderson said the romance was bizarre and she should put her young daughter first and return to the US.

Laura Hinkle, a close friend of Ms Anderson's for a decade, was disgusted that her friend had pursued the WA teen and left her daughter.

Ms Hinkle, who has two young sons, said she loved Ms Anderson dearly but could not condone her actions.

"I would like to plead with Karen to just come home - be with your daughter," Ms Hinkle, 30, said.

"No person could ever love you the way your child does. Amanda knows that her mommy is gone and she misses Karen desperately and wants her to come home.

"I love Karen to death . . . she has a great heart, but there has got to be something wrong with her to do this."

Uh . . . I'd agree with your friend, Mrs. Anderson. There's something wrong with you.

Tip: Don Morgenstern


[Update 09/01/06]

Anderson's visa questioned.

Teacher Gets 6 Months for Statutory Rape

(Cross Plains, Tennessee) Last February, 25-year-old married teacher at East Robertson High School, Jennifer Erin Turns, was arrested for allegedly having sex with a 15-year-old male student. Turns was charged with three counts of statutory rape and three counts of sexual battery by an authority figure.

Today, it was reported that Jennifer Erin Turns pleaded guilty to three counts of statutory rape and was sentenced to six months in jail and two and a half years in community corrections.

From Robertson County Times:

She is scheduled to report to the Robertson County Jail on Saturday and serve until Nov. 2, when she will be released for a short time.

White [Assistant District Attorney Jason White] said Turns' planned release is due to the fact that she is currently pregnant and expected to give birth in November. Officials declined to make any further comments about the pregnancy.

So, something is in the oven but nobody is talking about it. Obviously, the paternity of the soon-to-be-born must be on everybody's mind. She has other children and is, presumably, still married.

The end date of her incarceration is May 1 at which time Turns would begin her community corrections period, encompassing registration as a sex offender and the surrender of her teaching license.

100-Year Sentences for Raping Daughter

(Blountville, Tennessee) This is one sick and sad story. A husband and wife have been sentenced to 112 years and 100 years, respectively, for raping their daughter.

From Becky Campbell at TimesNews.net:

The Kingsport woman who allowed her husband to have sex with her daughter and participated in the acts herself was sentenced to 100 years in prison at a hearing Tuesday.

Sherie D. Ratliff, 38, had faced 210 years in prison, but Judge Phyllis Miller chose to not make all the sentences consecutive to each other.

Ratliff pleaded guilty in June to especially aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor, aggravated sexual battery, and six counts each of rape of a child and incest.

Ratliff's husband, Jeffery Ratliff, is already serving a 112-year prison sentence for the same convictions. He went to trial on the charges and was convicted by a jury.

During Sherie Ratliff's sentencing, Miller became emotional and even had to call a recess to regain her composure.

The case has been very emotional for court staff, particularly because the sex acts were recorded by Jeffery Ratliff and during his trial the jury, Miller and the attorneys had to watch it.

No rehabilitation, nor counseling, nor therapy, nor worldly goods will ever correct the damage these two people have done to their kids.

Teacher Pleads Guilty, Gets 30 Days in Jail

(Chesterfield, Virginia) Last January, 39-year-old special education teacher at L.C. Bird High School, Kimberly Anmarie Padua, was arrested after turning herself in to the police. She was charged with taking indecent liberties with a 17-year-old student by a person in a custodial relationship. The victim, however, was not one of Padua's students.

As a result of the circumstances and the fact that Padua takes full responsibility for her actions, she was allowed to plead guilty to reduced charges of misdemeanor contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Also, according to Assistant Commonwealth Attorney B.J. McGee, the victim was reluctant to testify if the case went to trial.

Today, Padua was sentenced to two years in jail with 23 months suspended. She will also be on probation for three years.

Saudis Claim to 'Correct' the Thinking of AQ Sympathizers

(Riyadh, Saudi Arabia) Okay, here's something to chew on.

From ArabTimesOnline.com:

Saudi Arabia has released over 700 suspected militants after clerics "corrected" their thinking in a special programme aimed at stemming a three-year-old campaign of violence by al-Qaeda, officials said.

"They are sympathisers. There are many of this kind of people, who are subject to the process of an advisory committee. Hundreds of them have gone through this and been released," Interior Ministry spokesman Mansour al-Turki said. The men have been released at different stages over the past three years, he explained.

"They were arrested in the first place because they were suspicious, but there was no hard evidence against them linking them to any terrorist act or planning," he told Reuters. Turki said the men had believed in 'takfiri' ideology, which permits branding Muslim governments or ordinary Muslims as infidels because of policies, behaviour or beliefs.

Apparently, the takfiri philosophy allows al Qaeda terrorists to kill anyone, Muslim or not, as directed by Osama bin Laden. Somehow the Saudis believe that they have successfully deprogrammed people away from takfiri.

Sheikh Mohammed al-Fifi, a member of the committee leading the dialogue with suspects, said this week that those released, accounted for over 90 percent of all detainees whose thinking clerics had tried to "correct." He put the number of those freed at around 700.

"First we would deal with them in groups, then individually as they related their thoughts," he told the al-Madina newspaper in an interview published this week.

"They became like this through provocative religious edicts on the Internet or in books, or via preachers who stir up young people's passions in sermons and lectures," he added.

Although Fifi admits that people become al Qaeda sympathizers through books and lectures, he maintains that the Saudi educational curriculum cannot be blamed, only some teachers.

Heh.

Personally, I think the Saudi program to correct the thinking of terrorist sympathizers sounds too much Dr. Phil without any John Wayne. We will have to wait to see if it proves to be effective.

Panties Snipper At Large

(Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia) Local residents have been warned to be on the lookout for a stinking pervert.

From Malaysia Star:

A pervert who breaks into homes to snip pieces of panties off sleeping teenagers has struck again.

[ . . . ]

Siti Aisha Rashid and Nurfiri Razali, both 15, told The Star that the culprit broke into their homes several days ago while they slept. Siti said she was asleep in the hall when she sensed someone touching her thighs, causing her to wake up.

"He had cut my tracksuit and was trying to pull at my panty," she said, adding that she kicked him on the chest and he fled through an open window.

"I could not catch a glimpse of his face as it was wrapped in a towel. But he had bad body odour," Siti said, adding that her fisherman father was at sea when the incident occurred.

She said a window had been forced open, and that she later found her cell phone missing.

Nurfiri, who lives next door, said she was fast asleep and did not realise that someone had cut her long pants and sliced off a piece of her panty until she woke up.

"I must have been hypnotised," she said, adding that she was shocked to find a hole in her thick blanket.

Jeez, Nurfiri must be a deep sleeper. I don't think I could continue sleeping while someone cut a hole in my thick blanket.

SS Minnow on Market

With the Skipper and Gilligan both history, there's no one to object to the sale of their boat, the SS Minnow. A broker named George Shultz says:

"There have been a couple of modifications, so it doesn't look exactly like the original but it's still the original boat."

So, for the right, as yet undefined, purchase price, someone will walk away with an artifact of American popular culture.

Teacher's Asst. Accused of Sex with Students

(Tooele, Utah) One week into the school year, 42-year-old teacher's assistant at Tooele High School, Leslie Baird, has been arrested for sexually abusing several students.

The alleged inappropriate behavior was exposed when "graphic, sexually explicit" text messaging between Baird and the students became known to other students and the victims' parents. Police were alerted.

Baird faces counts of felony forcible sodomy, felony forcible sexual abuse, misdemeanor counts of supplying alcohol to a minor, and felony counts of dealing harmful material to a minor.

Baird is scheduled for a court date on September 12. She was freed from jail on her own recognizance.


[Update 11/22/06]

Baird pleads guilty.


[Update 01/10/07]

Baird sentenced to have her head examined.


[Update 04/17/07]

Baird sentenced to probation.


[Update 06/20/07]

Hold the phone. Apparently, Baird was actually sentenced to one-year in jail. She was then released early.

Utah Teacher Guilty of Sexual Battery

(Tooele, Utah) Last January, 29-year-old substitute teacher at Tooele High School, Cameo Patch, was arrested and booked on suspicion of illegal sexual activity with a 16 or 17-year-old student, a felony.

In the latest development in the case, Patch has pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of sexual battery, a Class A misdemeanor. The charge was reduced in exchange for a guilty plea. Also, Deputy County Attorney Dave Cundick noted that Patch did not rely on her "position of special trust" as a teacher in pursuing her victim.

Patch faces up to a year in jail and a $2,500 fine for the misdemeanor. Judge Mark Kouris in 3rd District Court is scheduled to sentence Patch on September 18.

Not surprisingly, Patch and her husband started divorce proceedings shortly after she was arrested in January.

[Update 09/19/06]

Patch gets probation.

"Hot Fuel" Investigation

Because the price of fuel has risen dramatically, the temperature of gasoline and diesel fuel sold to consumers has become an issue. The reason is that the volume of fuel expands and contracts with changes in temperature while the energy contained therein is constant.

From KansasCity.com:

The California attorney general's office has launched an investigation of gas stations and truck stops selling "hot" fuel to consumers without making adjustments for changes in fuel volume.

Tom Dressler, a spokesman for Attorney General Bill Lockyer, said on Monday that his office will investigate whether any state laws or regulations were broken. The attorney general also plans to make recommendations on how the problem can be fixed.

It's estimated that an energy overcharge of $2.3 billion is collected annually in the U.S. just due to the volume expansion of hot fuel.

Boeing Plans Repair Facility in India

(Nagpur City, India) The Boeing Co. announced that it will outsource repair and overhaul of 777s, 787s and 737s to India. Up to $100 million will be spent on the facility which is part of a 68-plane sales deal with Air India.

I'm just speculating but if India can effectively repair and overhaul Boeing airplanes, how long will it take for them to have the capability of producing the airplanes?

This can't be good news to the aircraft workforce in the U.S. and the unions will likely be outraged.

Darfur: Mujahideen to Fight UN, Journo Arrested

(Darfur, Sudan) The Sudanese government is sending Arab Islamist Mujahideen on late-night, after-curfew plane flights into the Darfur region to train and fight United Nations peacekeeping forces. Furthermore, it's reported that Osama bin Laden and deputy Ayman al-Zawahiri have personally directed Muslims to fight the UN in Darfur.

From Sudan Tribune:

Sudanese Islamist leaders say they will take up arms against United Nations peacekeepers if they deploy to Darfur, and some have warned they will also fight the Khartoum government if it agrees to the force.

President al-Bashir, who swore to lead personally the resistance to a U.N. force, renewed Sudan's rejection to any UN forces in Darfur, considering the draft resolution forwarded by Britain to the Security Council in this regard as a colonial attempt against, a matter which Sudan would not allow.

Despite Sudan's objections, the United States and Britain have introduced a Security Council draft resolution that would deploy up to 17,000 troops and 3,000 police in Darfur, where an overstretched African Union force is monitoring a shaky truce.

It's irrational to think that the U.S. and Britain might consider colonizing Sudan, or any country. I do not believe the public would even entertain the idea. Unfortunately, the Sudanese are being told that foreigners want to colonize the country, so that's the perception that must be dealt with.

It's unclear how the situation is going to play out but it is clear that the existing African Union peacekeepers are ineffective. It's also a safe assumption, based on history, that the UN will be ineffective, whatever it does.

In related news, Chicago Tribune journalist and Pulitzer Prize recipient Paul Salopek was arrested by Sudanese government authorities and charged with espionage and entering the country illegally from Chad.

From NY Times:

Mr. Salopek was traveling in Chad to report for an article about the culture, history and politics of the Sahel region, a vast, arid stretch of earth that spans the continent from east to west.

His trial was to begin on Saturday, but the judge granted his lawyers' request for a delay of two weeks to prepare his defense. Two Chadian men traveling with him, Suleiman Abakar Moussa, an interpreter, and Idriss Abdulraham Anu, a driver, face the same charges.

For reference, filmmaker and human rights advocate Tomo Kriznar was recently sentenced to two years in a Sudanese prison on charges similar to those Salopek faces. I would guess that they don't get cable in Sudanese prisons.

Lastly, there's also speculation that the government is seeking bargaining chips - hostages - to ward off the deployment of a UN force in Darfur.

Lovely.


[Update 09/11/06]

Salopek freed.

Gay Domestic Violence

(San Francisco, California) Who would have thought that there would be a need for battered men's shelters?

From SacBee.com:

[A]s gays and lesbians have achieved greater recognition, so too has the darker side of same-sex relationships. After years of fighting what one service provider called an "invisible epidemic," lawmakers and government agencies are taking steps to abandon the assumption that spousal abuse does not occur in couples who share the same gender.

The California Legislature is considering a law requiring gays and lesbians who register as domestic partners to pay $23 toward domestic violence programs specifically aimed at same-sex couples. If it passes as expected, the measure would be the first of its kind in the nation.

So, the bruisees would benefit from the battered men's shelter surcharges on domestic registration fees. At $23 per registration, the state will have to attract thousands upon thousands of same-sex couples to pay for anything substantive.

Nevertheless, with the identification of a problem area, the first response from the politicians is to create a new program with a new tax rather than try to find a solution within existing mental health and community anti-violence programs. Welcome to the Hotel California.

Ahmadinejad Rebuffed on Iran-Germany Alliance

(Tehran) In July, Iranian President Ahmadinejad sent a letter to German Chancellor Angela Merkel in which he described his perception of historical elements the two nations have in common. Based upon his assertions, both Germany and Iran have been tyrannized and humiliated by the "bullying powers and the Zionists."

Yesterday, the full text of the letter was published in FarsNews.com. It's moderately-long and rambling and contains several key elements. Encapsulated, they are:

- Germany and Iran have been humiliated by the victors of World War II.

- Germany and Iran have been extorted by the Zionists.

- Germans and Iranians together believe in "the teachings of the divine prophets, the teachings of Abraham, Moses and Jesus Christ (peace be upon him) and the Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him)."

- As a consequence of experiencing the same victimization and believing in the same divine principles, Germany and Iran are uniquely suited to be allies to change the international paradigm.

In Ahmadinejad's words:

I have no doubt that with the cooperation of the two governments and the support of the two great nations we can take great strides forward in alleviating the problems and abnormalities of our world today.

Daring and courageous decisions are the key to our success in overcoming the existing problems, countering the violations of rights and defending the rights of nations.

To the extent that I know of the people of Germany, they will come along and join us and want restore (sic) their dignity and influence for the sake of global peace and calm. Our people have the similar spirit.

Together we will be able to prove to some powers that respecting other nations and their rights is good for them as well. Our two nations and governments, next to each other, will be able to play a fundamental role in promoting peace, security, progress, and human dignity at the scale of two countries and internationally.

Therefore, Chancellor Angela Merkel was being asked to team up with Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in his quest to restore dignity and remove humiliation, two themes that pepper the letter. The actual Iranian proposition was for the two nations to found a new movement to achieve noble human ideals by relying on principles of faith that are common to all divine religions.

A caliphate?

A Frau in the caliphate?

I don't think so. The Merkel government soundly dismissed the 10-page document as meritless.

Notably, Ahmadinejad's plan for world reform included no discussion of taking a backward society and vaulting it into the 21st Century. Nor was there any mention of economic growth, expansion of trade, and development of resources and markets.

And, most glaringly, it seems that the Iranian President's storehouse of knowledge regarding world history only goes back to the summer of 1945, when WWII ended. All his assertions and conclusions are based on events occurring since that time. By the way, his view of history explains how he easily denies the Holocaust. It happened before WWII ended.

Two last observations. Throughout the letter, Ahmadinejad depicts a deep, inner hatred of Jews and an almost as deep, inner hatred of the "victors of WWII." He also exudes an immense amount of pride and arrogance while expressing bone-deep humiliation and shame. The man has issues.

In conclusion, Ahmadinejad wrote a letter to Merkel in a personal, almost folksy, tone which asked her to join him in reshaping the world. One must presume that he wrote the letter because he sees German leadership as wobbly by nature and putative commonalities between the two countries makes the proposal doable. One must also presume that he's trying his hardest to get supporters in Europe.

Nevertheless, Merkel told him to stuff it. Others might say he blinked.

School Interpreter Accused of Molesting Boys

(Athens, Georgia) An interpreter for deaf and hearing-impaired students, Natasha McCrary, 33, faces trial this week for allegedly engaging in sex with three 15-year-old Clarke Central High School boys.

In September 2004, she was indicted on charges of aggravated child molestation, enticing a child for indecent purposes and statutory rape. Since that time, McCrary's case has endured delays and legal wrangling.

In her defense, McCrary has asserted and has lodged complaints that her accuser fabricated the story of sexual molestation and, subsequently, the boy's parents allegedly attempted to blackmail McCrary.


[Update 09/02/06]

Jury acquits McCrary of all charges.

The Short Marriage

I found this story to be quite chucklable.

From ArabNews.com:

A couple here was divorced right after they were married after the mother of the bride threw a hissy-fit over the car that was going to escort her daughter from the celebration, the Okaz daily reported yesterday.

For some reason, the practical Toyota Camry just wasn't good enough; the old lady wanted her precious princess to be chauffeured away in a stretch limousine. In fact, she unreasonably insisted on the groom getting a fancier car right there and then. The groom tried to reason with her, that it was too late to be scurrying about town trying to drum up an acceptable ride.

The woman was relentless however, and, finally, the groom came to the sad realization that this raving lunatic of a woman would be his mother-in-law if he didn't break off the nuptials right there and then. And so, alas, he uttered three times the words that ended the marriage, and drove off in his practical car.

Heh.

Kidnapped Fox News Journos Freed

Breaking news!

(Gaza City) The Holy Jihad Brigades have freed the kidnapped FoxNews journalists, Steve Centanni and Olaf Wiig.

From CNN.com:

Two Fox journalists kidnapped two weeks ago in Gaza have been released, according to the Palestinian news service Ramattan and Fox News.

The release came shortly after the broadcast of a video in which the journalists read statements saying they have embraced Islam with the Prophet Mohammed as their leader.

Embraced Islam, eh? I'm more than skeptical. Especially since, according to a Centanni phone interview, the kidnappers had the guns pointing at them so accepting Islam was a given.

Free, safe, and well. Thank God.

Unqualified Scandalous English Teachers

(Seoul, South Korea) Arguably triggered by the arrest of John Mark Karr, the issue of foreigners teaching English to Korean students has been in the spotlight. Competency and qualifications of foreign teachers are being questioned and their objectionable, and frequently vulgar, behavior is being protested.

Some of the anecdotal evidence could lead readers to believe that many of the population of foreign English teachers in Korea are not only arrogant and inept but also sexually aggressive toward students.

I'm guessing the heat will continue to rise in the controversy. Robert Koehler is monitoring at The Marmot's Hole.

State Department Bribery

(Washington, D.C.) The U.S. State Department is suffering some embarrassment since one of its professionals has been accused of taking bribes.

From WaPo:

A U.S. diplomat was charged on Friday with accepting trips with exotic dancers, jewelry and entertainment in exchange for issuing visas to 21 people linked to an international jewel distributor.

U.S. Foreign Service officer Michael O'Keefe, 59, and international jeweler Sunil Agrawal were indicted by a grand jury in Washington on three counts of conspiracy and bribery.

O'Keefe, a 22-year State Department veteran who was working at the U.S. Consulate in Toronto as the deputy non-immigrant visa chief, was arrested on Thursday in Washington, the U.S. Attorney's Office said. Agrawal remains at large.

The indictment said between 2004 and 2006 Agrawal gave round-trip airline tickets to O'Keefe and two exotic dancers to travel to New York and Las Vegas. Agrawal paid for hotels, expensive meals and entertainment during the trips.

Exotic dancers, expensive meals, trips to Las Vegas -- I wanna be a foreign service worker.

Kidding aside, if the allegations are true, O'Keefe should be hammered in a resoundingly public manner. Also, his fellow diplomats likely could use a reminder of what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Bouncer Registration Ordinance

(Buffalo, New York) This is news to me. The Buffalo City Council is considering a proposal to establish registration requirements for bar bouncers. The proposed ordinance was prompted by a few recent incidents where bouncers allegedly pounded customers excessively.

From Buffalo News:

The legislation would require bouncers to register with the city, which would conduct a background check and issue photographic identification to be worn while working.

But speakers Wednesday said several aspects of the proposal need more work.

It seems that the issue is quite controversial among bar and restaurant owners since the proposed ordinance isn't real clear on what is required to be in compliance.

The proposal applies to places where alcoholic beverages are sold for consumption on premise. As it stands, the only people exempt from the requirement would be those already registered with the state in connection with their security work.

Dennis J. Richards, chief of detectives for the Buffalo Police Department, asked about the background investigations of applicants.

I'm not sure that simple registration of bouncers will preclude future poundings of customers. They need to put some teeth in the ordinance, like 'no violent felony convictions.' The City Council might also want to consider providing minimum guidance for acceptably removing a customer from an establishment.

The outlook for the proposed ordinance is indeterminate right now, however, I foresee considerable opposition. I just can't imagine that the hotel, restaurant and bar industries will allow the measure to easily become law. It's more regulation when most owners believe there's too much already.

Brit Thieves Nabbed on Tip from Dallas Web Watcher

(Dallas, Texas) Nobody seems to know who they guy is. It's only known that he loved the Beatles and enjoyed watching live webcam images of Mathew Street, an area associated with the Fab Four and home to the Cavern Club where they frequently played. While watching, he noticed some men breaking into a store so he called the police in Liverpool.

From Dallas Morning News:

A man from the Dallas area -- 4,590 miles away -- contacted police in the northern English town early Tuesday morning (Liverpool time) to report a burglary in progress. The international cyber sleuth was watching a webcam broadcast of Mathew Street in the famed Beatles quarter when he spotted three men breaking into a sporting goods store.

City officials trained on-street cameras on the site as the blaggers bolted with thousands of dollars in clothing toward a getaway car. Bobbies dashed to the scene and arrested them "fairly sharpish," city officials said.

The incident made the front page Friday in the Liverpool Echo newspaper. In the article, headlined "Nicked on the Net," a police inspector told reporter Luke Traynor: "We were amazed when we were informed the person who reported the offence lived in the USA."

Police caught the crooks, but they didn't catch the tipster's name.

It's not surprising that police officers in Liverpool weren't monitoring the surveillance cameras. In most cases, I believe that surveillance camera footage provides evidence to convict criminals rather than to catch them in the act. Simple manpower constraints make it so.

Companion at TDPB.

Violent Child Sex Predator Paroled

[Cue theme from Jaws.]

The Denver Police Department was notified yesterday by the Colorado Department of Corrections that on Thursday August 24, 2006, Julian H. Revolie 11-15-78 will be paroled. Revolie has been deemed a Sexually Violent Predator by the courts. He was convicted of the following crimes: Sex Assault on a Child by a Person in a Position of Trust -- 12/07/04, which occurred in Arapahoe County and Sex Assault on a Child -- 01/10/05, which occurred in Jefferson County.

Okay, would someone tell me how a violent child sex predator, convicted of two sex assaults in two neighboring counties in consecutive months, could possibly be paroled in less than two years?

Oh, I know. He's been rehabilitated. Sure he has.

[Continue theme from Jaws until Revolie gets caught again. I'm not guessing that he'll offend again, empirical evidence provides assurance that he will.]

Lebanese Peacekeeper Roulette

I give up. First I heard that France would be sending 'thousands' of peacekeepers to Lebanon. Then I heard that President Chirac decided to send only 200 troops because a large number of troops would be too big a target.

Then I heard that ten French troops actually showed up on the Lebanese shore from a French warship. Later, that number was revised to fifty and called an advance engineering force and Chirac upped his contribution to 400 troops total.

There was so much criticism that it was then reported that France committed to sending 2,000 troops to Lebanon, which was revised downward to 1,600 troops, then bumped up to 1,700.

Now I hear that Chirac is back to the 400-troop level and he considers a peacekeeping force of 15,000 to be excessive.

Frankly, I beginning to believe that French President Jacques Chirac has one of those magic 8-balls. Prior to making a public statement he shakes it and it tells him what to say.

Meanwhile, with presumably more reliable information, Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt said today that he would initially send 302 peacekeeping troops with the number rising later to 394.

As a result, it's impossible to chart progress toward the deployment of an actual peacekeeping force in Lebanon.

Companion posts at The Jawa Report and The Dread Pundit Bluto.

New York Times Hires Smart Smeller

The New York Times has experts to provide critical analyses of foods and entertainment choices, so why not have a smell expert? Chandler Burr will be critically snorting perfumes and assigning ratings based on a four-star system, the more stars, the better. Burr's olfactory ruminations will debut in the August 27 publication of the NYT style mag.

While discussing this news with my insurance agent, I wondered what it would cost for Burr to insure his olfactory capabilities since he would be relying upon them to provide his livelihood. His response?

"Well, it depends on how near he gets to the newsroom. Surely, if Burr caught even a whiff of the stench coming out of the newsroom, his smell buds would explode. And, there's no insurance company in the world willing to write that policy."

Bus Driver Orders Black Children to Back Seats

(Coushatta, Louisiana) This is somewhat astonishing. A white school bus driver was apparently hired without having to provide evidence of any intelligence.

From KATC.com:

One parent says nine black children attending schools in Red River Parish were directed last week to the back of a school bus by a white driver who designated the front seats for white children.

Iva Richmond, mother of two of the children, told the Associated Press today that all nine children were assigned to two seats in the back of the bus and the older ones had to hold the smaller ones in their laps.

Red River Parish Schools Superintendent Kay Easley, did not return a call for comment.

Even a dolt with only a hint of knowledge would know that ordering black children to the back of the bus is a violation of civil rights. Given that, I suspect there is more to this story. Also, considering the national, and international, attention given to the death of Rosa Parks, arguably the woman that sparked the civil rights movement of the 1960s, it's hard to imagine that anyone would be stupid enough to send blacks to the back of the bus.

If the driver, a woman, wasn't just plain stupid, she had to be drunk, on drugs, mentally unhealthy, blind, deaf, intellectually incompetent due to birth defect, or a combination therefrom. Otherwise, the whole story is difficult to explain. In any event, the school system bears ultimate responsibility and it will likely be asked to provide answers to the NAACP and federal attorneys soon.

UK Freezes Accounts of Muslim Charity

From London, a Muslim charity is alleged to be channeling money to terrorists.

From AlertNet.org:

Britain's charity watchdog froze the bank accounts of aid group Crescent Relief on Thursday as part of a probe to see whether aid money had been channelled to groups suspected of plotting to blow up airliners.

The Charity Commission, a British government department, said it had launched a formal inquiry into the UK-based group, which raised money for the victims of last year's earthquake in Pakistan, after allegations in British newspapers.

People arrested on suspicion of plotting to blow up planes flying to the U.S. earlier this month are allegedly linked to Crescent Relief.

From my perspective, the involvement of Muslim charities with terrorists long ago blasted past the 'allegation stage.' It should be considered as a stone-cold fact, reversible only through complete, open, and 'down to the penny' accountability.

Companion posts at The Jawa Report and The Dread Pundit Bluto.

Woman, 35, Accused of Sex with Boy, 11

Breaking news out of Houston, Texas.

From KHOU.com:

A Katy [TX] woman has been charged with having sex with an 11-year-old neighbor boy.

Joan Davis, 35, was arrested at the house she shares with her husband and booked into the Haris (sic) County jail . . . .

It's rumored that the 11-year-old fathered Davis' 18-month-old child. DNA tests come next.


[Update 08/24/06, 2130 EDT]

From Chron.com:

Dina Marie Blakley, also known as Joan Davis, 37, was charged Monday with aggravated sexual assault of a child. She is being held at the Harris County Jail with bail set at $30,000.

The victim, now 15, told a relative early last month about the alleged abuse, which started when he was 11 and ended at 13, officials said.

The boy reported Blakley after she told him that he was the father of her 18-month-old. The stress of knowing that he is a father prompted him to report Blakley.


[Update 06/08/07]

Blakely pleads guilty and sentenced to prison.

Author William Donahue Interview at STACLU

From Jay at Stop The ACLU.

William H. Donahue is the President of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights based in New York. He received his Doctorate in Sociology from NYU in 1980. He is the author of three books, two of which are very critical on and revealing of the ACLU.

Stop The ACLU has quoted from his books on numerous occasions so it was quite an honor when he returned a call requesting an interview.

His first book, The Politics of the American Civil Liberties Union, was published in 1985.

His second book, The New Freedom: Individualism and Collectivism in the Social Lives of Americans, was written while Bill was a Bradley Resident Scholar at The Heritage Foundation; it appeared in 1990.

Bill's third book, Twilight of Liberty: The Legacy of the ACLU, was published in 1994 by Transaction Press; a new afterward to this book was published in 2001. Source

It was an honor that Mr. Donahue took time from his schedule to allow us an interview. It was even more encouraging that he had heard of Stop The ACLU and expressed his appreciation for what we do. I recommend reading his books to anyone that is interested in learning more about the ACLU and how their actions are actually harming civil rights.

Our conversation was very laid back and informal. After some small talk and introductions I started the interview asking Mr. Donahue his general opinion of the ACLU. Here is what he said.

I believe that the American Civil Liberties Union is based upon a noble purpose. However they often work against that very purpose due to a radical interpretation of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. I wrote about this extensively in my third book, Twilight of Liberty: The Legacy of the ACLU where I focused on how their view of liberty actually works against itself. They are an arm of the radical left.

In my first book, The Politics of the American Civil Liberties Union, I also exposed just how phony their claim of being non-partisan is. The ACLU is not non-partisan.

Social reform, in a liberal direction, is the sine qua non of the ACLU. Its record is far from showing impartiality. It is full of attempts to reform American society according to the ideals of liberalism. The truth of the matter is that the ACLU has always been a highly politicized organization.

In your opinion is the ACLU simply misguided or do they actually have a more malicious motive and agenda?

I have asked myself that question a million times or more. I guess that I think that some of them are just wrong headed and sincere while others are actually more malicious and seeking to actually destroy America from its foundation. Some that are just misguided yet sincere truly believe that they have to defend the extremist speech in order to protect all free speech. Others are actually malicious.

Norman Siegal is one of the few who I believe to be honest and sincere in their passion for civil liberties. He has at least come out and debated his point of view and that is something that is due some respect. So many others are cowards with another agenda that works against the best interest of the country.

At this point I asked Mr. Donahue about other ACLU members that had come into conflict with the organization over their own views and his opinion on their sincerity. I specifically asked about Natt Hentoff.

Read the entire interview at Stop The ACLU.

This has been a production of Stop The ACLU Blogburst. If you would like to join us, please email Jay@stoptheaclu.com or GribbitR@gmail.com. You will be added to our mailing list and blogroll. Over 200 blogs already on-board.

Woman Allegedly Hosts Sex/Alcohol Parties for Teens

(Lexington County, South Carolina) A 46-year-old woman, Patricia Hartwell, was arrested for allegedly hosting sex and alcohol parties for high school students over a two-year period.

Lexington County deputies were alerted to the alleged crimes on August 14 after a parent stated that her daughter got drunk and lost her virginity at one of Hartwell's parties.

From WLTX.com:

Deputies say the parties were for students at White Knoll High School, and these parties happened regularly over a two-year period. Investigators say Hartwell encouraged boys and girls to have sex at her apartment, which is located near the school.

Sheriff James Metts says some of the teens involved were as young as 14 years old.

"It's possible that hundreds of kids were involved," Metts says.

Officers say in addition to alcohol and drugs, Hartwell provided birth control pills. Metts says the pills were given without the consent of parents.

Hartwell has been charged with six counts of transferring beer to a minor, five counts of transferring liquor to a minor and five counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. The investigation continues and more charges may be filed.

Tip: Rusty


[Update 12/08/06]

Hartwell pleads guilty and is sentenced.

Man Claims Self-Defense in Honor Killing

(Zurich, Switzerland) A 24-year-old Pakistani man, Ajmal Butt Aziz, is being prosecuted for bludgeoning his 20-year-old wife Khudeja to death with a hammer as she slept.

Khudeja's honor killing occurred because she allegedly refused to follow Islamic tradition and wear a headscarf. She also wished to find a job and was seeking a divorce. The death occurred in Bellinzona, in the southern Swiss canton of Ticino.

Ajmal Butt Aziz claims that he acted in self-defense after his wife attacked him, apparently, while she slept. No trial date has been scheduled.

LATimes Recoils As Dems Demonize Wal-Mart

In a Los Angeles Times editorial today, the Democrats are soundly criticized for their attacks on Wal-Mart.

Too bad the party can't simply draft Costco or Target to run for president. Instead, Democratic presidential aspirants -- including Sen. Joseph R. Biden Jr. of Delaware, Sen. Evan Bayh of Indiana, former Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina and Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico -- feel compelled to bash one company, the largest employer in the U.S., to score points with labor organizers. The candidates are so intent on gaining tactical advantage in the primary season that they risk alienating possible supporters in the general election.

The key point is that the Democrats are risking alienating voters in the general election by bending over for the unions in the primary. A questionable strategy, I'd say. What are they going to do after the primary? I'd guess a few mea culpas would be in order to try and get back some supporters. In other words, a flip-flop. "I was against Wal-Mart before I was for Wal-Mart" has a true John Kerry ring to it. To refresh memories, Kerry lost.

However, a quite surprising aspect of the editorial is that it comes from the LATimes, typically a liberal, 'Democrats can do no wrong' rag. An editor will probably get fired for letting some common sense words get published. Mark the date. I'm sure it's a fluke.

AQ Khan Has Prostate Cancer

(Islamabad, Pakistan) The founder of Pakistan's nuclear weapons program, Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan, was diagnosed with prostate cancer during a routine medical examination earlier this month. He is at his home awaiting followup evaluation of his condition.

Born in 1935, Khan is quite infamous for being the person who provided Libya, Iran, and North Korea with nuclear weapons technology through a clandestine international network. President Pervez Musharraf pardoned Khan in 2004.

To a large degree, we can hold Khan responsible for the current belligerence we see from Iran and North Korea. I think Khan should be in prison for proliferating nuclear weapons.

Companion post at The Dread Pundit Bluto.

Two New Submarines for Israel

Israel is set to have two new diesel-electric, known as Dolphin-class, submarines in its Navy to add to the three already in operation.

From JPost.com:

In the face of Iran's race to obtain nuclear power, Israel signed a contract with Germany last month to buy two Dolphin-class submarines that will, according to foreign reports, provide superior second-strike nuclear capabilities, The Jerusalem Post has learned.

The submarines will be assembled in Germany and provided with a propulsion system allowing them to remain underwater for far longer than the submarines currently in the Israel Navy's fleet.

The submarines will be manufactured by Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft AG and cost $1.27 billion. They will carry a crew of 35 and have a range of 4,500 kilometers. The deal was approved several months ago by the German government under new Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Companion post at The Jawa Report.

French Speakers Too Dumb to Learn Dutch

French-speaking Belgians are too stupid to learn Dutch says Flanders President Yves Leterme. Additionally, he said the country only has the king, beer and a football team in common. Sacre bleu!

From MSNBC:

Language is inextricably linked to politics in Belgium, where about 40 percent of the people speak French and almost all the rest Dutch, resulting in a complex political structure with five separate parliaments.

There are communities in Flanders where 70 to 80 percent of the people are francophone and are expected to learn Dutch, Leterme said. "But apparently, the francophones do not have the intellect to learn Dutch," he told the French paper.

My guess is that the French are too arrogant to learn another language.

Boobs on Bikes Parade

(Wellington, New Zealand) As part of an Erotica Expo organized by a self-styled porn king, Steve Crow, the Boobs on Bikes parade was held earlier today (remember, NZ is across the International Date Line).

From China Daily:

Thousands of people -- almost all of them men -- lined the main street of New Zealand's biggest city on Wednesday as 25 topless porn stars paraded on motor bikes and two old army tanks.

Businessmen, schoolboys and Japanese tourists lined Auckland's Queen St to watch the "Boobs on Bikes" parade, which went ahead despite the winter chill, a nippy wind and objections by some city officials.

"It does nothing for our image, it does nothing for our city and I just think it gives us indecent exposure around the country and around the world," Auckland city councillor Scott Milne told TV New Zealand.

No arrests were made but about 4,000 union workers interrupted a protest gathering to watch.

There's a pic at the link.

Goose Liver Banned in Chicago

This is absolutely dumb and it shows the spinelessness of the city leaders.

From SunTimes.com:

Mayor Daley urged the City Council Tuesday to come to its senses and repeal a foie gras ban that has made Chicago an international laughingstock in restaurant circles.

"Why would they pick this and not anything else? How about veal? How about chicken? How about steak -- beef? ... Where do you begin and where do you end? People say veal is basically cruelty to animals. I mean -- you could go on and on," Daley said.

Hey, Chicago, if you appease the food nazis, they'll go after other products and businesses. Expect lobsters to be targeted next because "they feel pain when immersed in boiling water."

But there's hope. Mayor Daley says he's not going to dispatch Chicago's finest to go and enforce the ban. I don't have a lot of faith in Daley, though. He could have vetoed the foie gras ban but didn't.

Woman Accused of Sex with 4 Boys

(Asheville, North Carolina) A 30-year-old neighborhood woman, Sacha Ladonna Moore, was arrested for allegedly committing sex crimes against four young boys.

From Citizen-Times.com:

Moore is charged with three counts of statutory rape of a child, five counts of disseminating obscenity, one count of disseminating obscenity to a minor and two counts of indecent liberties with a child. She was released on bonds totaling $113,000.

A November court appearance has been scheduled.

Brit Health System Kills Boy

Tom Blumer pointed me to this story which needs to get wide exposure. In particular, those individuals who are enchanted with the rejected HillaryCare medical scheme need to acclimate themselves to the following. It's a prime example of the type of 'accident' that results regularly in socialist health care systems.

From Daily Mail:

Earlier this month, leading orthopaedic surgeon Simon Moyes, who put patients at risk of infections by re-using surgical equipment, escaped punishment after it was claimed such practices are widespread in the NHS due to cost cutting.

In a nutshell, a doctor screws up, re-uses surgical equipment, a boy dies as a result, and there are no consequences because "everybody does it." Bottom line -- there are no funds for new equipment.

Remember this, all you leftists. Your socialist schemes are doomed to failure for the simple reason that money is finite while Marxist promises are infinite. If everyone is promised everything, bankruptcy results and, in the case of health care, people die.

Tom details the whole ugly event and expresses his anger at BizzyBlog. Go visit.

My Dear Watson, Hand Me The Granola

First came colorization of old black and white movies, now content is being modified for the sake of political correctness.

From AOL.com:

Turner Broadcasting is scouring more than 1,500 classic Hanna-Barbera cartoons, including old favorites Tom and Jerry, The Flintstones and Scooby-Doo, to edit out scenes that glamorize smoking.

The review was triggered by a complaint to British media regulator Ofcom by one viewer who took offense to two episodes of Tom and Jerry shown on the Boomerang channel, a corporate sibling of Time Warner Inc.-owned Turner Broadcasting.

"We are going through the entire catalog," Yinka Akindele, spokeswoman for Turner in Europe, said on Monday.

"This is a voluntary step we've taken in light of the changing times," she said, adding the painstaking review had been prompted by the Ofcom complaint.

Next for the history revisionists is presumed to be removal of all references and scenes involving hunting and, of course, the replacement of Sherlock Holmes' pipe with a granola bar.

Companion at The Dread Pundit Bluto.

Child Sex Offender Suicide

In North Carolina, a teacher accused of having sex with a student was found dead this past Sunday. Whether this is a case of inherent psychological weakness or severe depression is unknown, however, it appears that his soul was tortured.

From Winston-Salem Journal:

Stephen George Kennedy, 26, was found dead at 8:35 a.m. Sunday in his parent's home. His mother found him hanging by a necktie tied to a bedpost. The death appeared to be self-inflicted, the report said.

In May, Kennedy was called out of class and arrested at North Wilkes High School, where he was working as a substitute teacher. Charges included first-degree sex offense and indecent liberties with a minor.

Kennedy had been a teacher and assistant wrestling coach at North Wilkes Middle School in 2004, when he began a sexual relationship with a 13-year-old boy, authorities said.

Notably, people, not just teachers, accused or convicted of child sex offenses are prone to committing suicide. Recent examples, among many, include:

Substitute teacher, Dennis Gene Drummond, 65;
English teacher, Don Hancock, 55;
Animal trainer, Howard Darrell Melton, 35;
Church maintenance worker, Eric Lynn Robbins, 50; and
Registered sex offender, Robert Barnett, 49.

Each of these individuals likely committed suicide to avoid the harsh legal consequences of his behavior and the societal isolation resulting from being labeled as a child sex offender.

On the other hand, maybe they finally surrendered to the notion that their deviant proclivities devastate lives, cannot be cured nor rehabilitated, and the only saving grace for their perverted souls is to commit suicide.

I don't know. You make the call.

Illegal Radio Stations Spew Muslim Hatred

(Karachi, Pakistan) The Taliban and al-Qaeda are backers of illegal FM radio stations which can reach out to a radius of 10 miles in the mountainous regions of Pakistan. Frequently, they are mobile units.

From DNAIndia.com:

Illegal radio stations in Pakistan's North West Frontier Province were preaching religious militancy and sectarian hatred, a senior official said on Monday.

Scores of illegal FM stations are broadcasting in NWFP and in the restive, semi-autonomous tribal areas bordering Afghanistan, and some have been accused of fanning violence.

"We are taking this issue very seriously. Because some stations are creating problems with their hate material which promotes violence," said Gul Bacha Wazir, the provincial interior secretary.

This year at least 26 people have been killed in clashes between factions led by Muslim clerics in a tribal area after one of the clerics used a radio station to incite his followers to attack families loyal to a rival.

One of the drawbacks to fostering irrational hatred among populations is that it has to be done continuously. The people have to be inculcated every day to hate. Consequently, Muslims around the world are reminded incessantly who their enemies are, the Jews and the Americans. It should be expected that the hate mongers would use every source of media available.

It's a guess but I'd speculate that a large portion of the world's Muslim population has never seen nor met a Jewish person. Nonetheless, they are taught to hate them daily.

Companion post at The Jawa Report.

Sunken WWII Submarine Found - USS Wahoo

In September and October 1943, the USS Wahoo (SS-238), skippered by Cmdr. Dudley "Mush" Morton, was on station in the Sea of Japan and the La Perouse Strait on her seventh combat patrol.

From FleetSubmarine.com:

Japanese records showed an aerial attack on a surfaced submarine in the La Perouse Strait on 11 October. With Japanese surface vessels joining the attack, the submarine -- presumed to be Wahoo, as no other American submarine was in that area at that time -- never regained the surface.

Last week, Russian divers from the Far Eastern State Technological University of Vladivostok reported that they had spotted the sunken sub.


USS Wahoo (SS-238)
The USS Wahoo is believed to be in about 200 feet of water in an area of strong currents. The wreckage is considered a war grave site and, therefore, it cannot be disturbed. The remains of 79 brave American submarine sailors are on board.

Moscow Market Bombed - At Least 10 Killed

(Moscow, Russia) Earlier today, it was reported that a faulty gas cylinder caused the explosion(s). Now, it's believed that a hand-made explosive device was used in a suspected terrorist act.

From MOSNEWS.com:

The latest reports say at least ten people were killed and about 30 injured.

"The explosion occurred at around 10:30 a.m., at 2 Sirenevy Boulevard [eastern Moscow]," a police source told the RIA-Novosti news agency. "Then the fire broke out," he added.

Fire brigades and rescuers arrived at the scene.

The Emergency Ministry said the blast occurred after a hand-made explosive device went off at the market.

Some reports said two blasts had been registered at the market, the first having occurred at 10:01, the second followed fifteen minutes later. The blasts caused the market roof to collapse, the ministry said.

According to Moscow First Deputy Mayor Vladimir Resin, two children were among the dead. No claims of responsibility have been reported.

Honey Buckets of Islamic Propaganda

(Tehran, Iran) The Syrian Grand Mufti, Ahmad Bader Eddin Hassoun, arrived in Tehran earlier today for the 19th International Conference of the Islamic Unity.

From SANA.org:

He stressed the significance of Syria's role as a center of human civilizations and a site of meeting among all Islamic and religious spectrums.

More than 150 Islamic personalities from all over the world are participating in the three -- day conference to discuss many issues related to the latest accelerated regional developments following victory of the Lebanese resistance and the necessity of Islamic countries to close ranks in facing the expected challenges targeting the Islamic unity.

So, the 'Lebanese resistance' was victorious and Syria is a 'center of human civilizations.' These assertions would likely be seen as legitimate spin by the mainstream media. I would disagree. The Grand Mufti is distributing honey buckets of propaganda to the obsessed followers of the religion of peace.

Of course, that's not really news.

Companion post at The Jawa Report.

Suspect Minimum Wage Law Weakened Job Growth

It seems the utopians in Santa Fe, New Mexico, may have some 'splainin' to do. In the middle of a robust U.S. economy, the city is in the doldrums, particularly in the area of job growth. For the 12-month period ending June 2006, Santa Fe added only 300 jobs, an increase of less than one-half of one percent.

Some people believe that the mandated minimum wage increases are to blame. As a reminder, Santa Fe jacked up the minimum wage from $5.15 per hour to $8.50 per hour in June 2004 and followed with another increase to $9.50 per hour in January of this year. It's thought that the increased labor costs have produced a chilling effect on business growth and, as a consequence, few jobs have been created.

To be fair, though, opinions differ with two recent studies producing contrasting conclusions. In one, the University of New Mexico studied the period between June 2003 and June 2005 and concluded that "the city of Santa Fe's minimum-wage law hasn't hurt job growth."

On the other hand, the New Mexico Department of Labor studied job data from June 2005 to June 2006 and announced that Santa Fe County had the lowest job growth in four years. Also, the industries most affected by minimum wage legislation, tourism/hospitality, manufacturing, and retail, actually lost jobs according to the Department of Labor.

So, the jury is still undecided about whether the weak job numbers can be attributed to mandated minimum wage increases, but a reconciliation of the data is promised in the near future. Of course, elementary school arithmetic tells us that any company forced by government to use its resources for social welfare will not devote those resources to growing the business and creating jobs.

Companion post at The Dread Pundit Bluto.

Boot Camp Officer Pleads No Contest

(Fresno, California) In January 2006, 28-year-old former teen boot camp officer, Adriana Renee Rivera, was arraigned on charges resulting from an alleged sexual relationship with a 17-year-old ward of the state.

A criminal complaint accused Rivera of sexual intercourse with a minor and accessory for harboring and concealing the boy after he escaped from the Elkhorn Boot Camp in November 2004. The alleged sex and harboring a fugitive occurred in the first half of 2005. All along, Rivera described the boy as a gangbanger with tattoos and claimed she was his captive.

In the latest development, Rivera has accepted a plea deal offered this week by the prosecution which likely will not entail any jail time.

From FresnoBee.com:

Rivera on Tuesday pleaded no contest to being an accessory after the fact -- essentially harboring a fugitive -- which is a felony. She also pleaded to a misdemeanor charge of resisting, obstructing or delaying police.

In exchange, the Fresno County District Attorney's Office dropped charges of unlawful sexual intercourse and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

Fresno County Superior Court Judge David Gottlieb indicated he will give Rivera two years of probation when he sentences her Sept. 19, and will allow her the opportunity to reduce the felony charge to a misdemeanor if she successfully completes her probation.

I guess we'll have to wait until next month to see if the judge rules in accordance with the agreement. Gottlieb has the option of giving Rivera up to three years in jail.

However, despite the final ruling, I'd suggest that the entire experience indicates Rivera is probably not cut out to be a teen boot camp officer.

Tip: Don Morgenstern


[Update 09/20/06]

Rivera sentenced to probation.

Pennsylvania Dems vs. Greens in Capitol Shoving Match

(Harrisburg, Pennsylvania) Katie! Bar the door! I believe the liberals are getting restless. But, rest assured, it's about petition signatures, not national security.

From Post-Gazette.com:

Tension has been growing between Democrats and Green Party members over the validity of the Greens' political petition signatures, and yesterday the rising tempers escalated into a scuffle and shoving match at the state Capitol.

Six Capitol police officers had to be summoned to a room at the Department of State where the two sides were going over thousands of petition signatures the Greens submitted in an effort to get their candidate, Carl Romanelli, onto the ballot for the U.S. Senate race in November.

The process of combing through the signatures "started on Monday and had gone fairly smoothly until [yesterday] morning," said Commonwealth Court staff attorney John Moyer.

"But then it just kind of boiled over. There was a scuffle -- some elbows, some shoving, some name-calling and some people stomping out. No punches were thrown but there was some language that was not nice," he said.

Apparently, the poopy-heads can't get along with the caca-faces, so six Capitol Police officers were dispatched to restore order. No charges were filed.

The Democrats are trying their hardest to keep Romanelli off the November ballot by disallowing the signatures the Greens gathered. They need 67,070 signatures to qualify. The Dems have challenged 69,000 of the 93,000 Romanelli turned in. The two groups will continue the validation process next week, hopefully in a civil manner. A final determination on whether Romanelli will be on the ballot is expected by late September.

French Soldiers Arrive in Lebanon

I just saw it on CNN. A French warship arrived off the coast of Lebanon and ten French soldiers got into little boats for transport onshore. Obviously, they're the first contingent of the promised 200 French peacekeepers [It is 200, isn't it, or has that changed?].

They didn't appear to be carrying much equipment. It will probably be delivered later.

Florida Woman Accused of Sex with Boy

(Spring Hill, Florida) A 30-year-old Spring Hill woman, Kimberly Zeller, was arrested and charged with lewd or lascivious battery for allegedly engaging in sex with a 15-year-old boy. Zeller is also accused of child abuse for providing alcohol and prescription medication to a 16-year-old girl.

From Hernando Today:

The charges stem from May, when three children, including the two victims, stayed over at Zeller's house for the weekend. On Saturday, Zeller had sex with the boy after the two girls passed out from the beer and liquor she had provided, according to the affidavit.

On Sunday, Zeller slipped one girl the tainted beer, then went into the bedroom to have sex with the boy while the two girls watched, the affidavit shows.

Zeller is in jail will bond set at $22,000.

Woman Escapes Cow Flop

Here's something that doesn't happen every day. A woman barely avoided certain death from a cow plummeting off a 50-foot cliff.

From Mirror.co.uk:

The animal struck the ground and died at the spot where Sally Brown had been sunbathing moments earlier.

The 51-year-old, from Cowes, Isle of Wight, had just picked up her body board to ride the waves at Compton Bay when she heard a loud noise.

She said: "I turned round and this cow was hurtling down the cliff."

"It landed where my board had been and if it had hit me it would have been the end of me too."

Joke writers, take note.

Heroin-Soaked Panties

(Shanghai, China) A 42-year-old woman, Wang Zhiqin, is facing charges that she transported heroin soaked into her panties. According to the China Daily, Wang had 1.44Kg of heroin in 15 items of underwear.

From TheAge.com.au:

Wang pleaded innocent during her trial at a Shanghai court, saying the tainted underwear had been planted in her luggage, a pink trunk, after two men in Kunming, capital of the southwestern Yunnan province, offered her a job and a plane ticket to Shanghai.

Her lawyer queried the investigating police's methods, who derived the quantity of heroin by weighing the drug-soaked underwear, the paper said.

"There is no evidence of the exact purity and quantity of the heroin, and there is no evidence proving Wang was aware of what she was carrying," the paper quoted the lawyer as saying.

I'm not buying that she didn't know what was in her underwear. After all, even babies know when something extra is in their diapers. Not only that, but Wang is 42 and not an irresponsible teenager who might lose track of her unmentionables.

Unfortunately, Wang's case is a capital offense and she's facing the death penalty, if convicted.

Linked to Stop The ACLU.

Trapped in Tank of Chocolate

(Kenosha, Wisconsin) Chocoholics might not consider this story to be an emergency.

From CBS2Chicago.com:

A 21-year-old man was trapped in a tank of chocolate for about two hours early Friday, police said.

Capt. Randy Berner said the worker said he got into the tank at the Debelis Corp. to unplug it and became trapped waist deep in the chocolate.

"It was pretty thick. It was virtually like quicksand," Berner said, and co-workers, police and firefighters were not able to get him out until the chocolate could be thinned out.

The man was taken to the hospital for treatment of minor injuries.

Porn Star Genevieve Elise Silva Faces Sex Charges

(Contra Costa County, California) Following up on a previous post, porn starlet Genevieve Elise Silva was extradited to California in January to be prosecuted. She has been free on bail since.

From MercuryNews.com:

The Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office is filing charges against an adult film actress accused of having sex with a De Anza High School student.

The charges against Genevieve Elise Silva, 21, include one felony count of statutory rape, one felony count of furnishing Ecstasy and methamphetamine, and one misdemeanor count of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, said deputy district attorney Dara Cashman.

"The only thing unusual is the reversal of the sex," Cashman said. "That's not a factor for me. ... It's a 20-year-old having sex with a 15-year-old.

The alleged victim, an El Sobrante teenager, ran away from home in the summer of 2005 to live with Silva. They eventually moved to Oklahoma to stay with Silva's mother, police said.

Although Silva has several adult film credits, including "Legal at Last" and "Dirty Debutantes," it's not believed that she has been involved with underage pornography.

A warrant for Silva's arrest is expected to be issued soon.

Airline Tells Laid-Off Workers to Pick Garbage

Regularly, examples of completely boneheaded business decisions arise and there is no way to defend what management is doing. This is one of those cases.

From Bloomberg.com:

Northwest Airlines Corp. is apologizing to workers offended by company suggestions on how to save money, including buying jewelry at pawnshops, getting auto parts at junkyards and taking shorter showers.

The list, entitled "101 Ways to Save Money," was part of a booklet for employees being laid off as bankrupt Northwest reorganizes. The Eagan, Minnesota-based carrier gave out 60 of the booklets before it began getting complaints, and it cut the list from remaining copies, spokesman Roman Blahoski said today.

So, a person loses his job and gets told to go to pawnshops, junkyards and to take shorter showers. Kind of insulting, don't you think? Ah, but there's more.

Suggestions on the money-saving idea list included giving homemade cards and gifts, asking doctors for prescription-drug samples, borrowing a dress for "a big night out" and giving children hand-me-down toys and clothes. "Don't be shy about pulling something you like out of the trash," the list said.

What?

Pick something out of the trash! Northwest is telling its laid-off workers to pick through garbage! I don't know whether directions to the dump are included with the list but I wouldn't be surprised.

Sheesh!

Who in the world is running this outfit? And, is it any wonder that the company is in bankruptcy? It's obvious that Northwest Airlines is being run by absolute jello-heads who have insulted and demeaned their most valuable resource, the workforce.

Some people should be fired.

Tipped by Charley Nestor.

Companion post at In The Bullpen.