Following Entry Posted 1/31/2006 11:44:00 AM

Teacher Gets No Jail, $100 Fine for Sex Charges

(Mays Landing, New Jersey) Last September, 28-year-old teacher Traci J. Tapp was arrested on charges of official misconduct and sexual crimes involving three male students. Ultimately, Tapp was charged with one count of sexual assault, two counts of aggravated criminal sexual contact and three counts of official misconduct.

From CourierPostOnline.com:

Between January and February 2001, Tapp sexually fondled a 17-year-old male student whom she invited to her office in the girls' locker room at the high school, according to Atlantic County Prosecutor Jeffrey Blitz.

Tapp invited another 17-year-old boy to her home, where they engaged in sexual activities under her direction in June 2001, Blitz said.

Tapp also invited a 16-year-old student to her home in 2003 and they engaged in multiple acts of sexual intercourse one night, according to the prosecutor's office.

In summary, Tapp regularly had sex with students over a period of years. Had Tapp been convicted of the charges against her, she could have received a possible 50 years in prison.

Strangely, Tapp pleaded guilty yesterday to harassment by offensive touching in accordance with a plea agreement and was fined $100. The prosecutors asked for a probationary period but Judge James Isman declined. However, Isman directed revocation of Tapp's teaching credentials. All in all, Tapp pays a few dollars and walks.

I am at a loss for words to describe my astonishment.


[Update 1630EST]

It appears that Traci Tapp has read this post and decided to comment. For the sake of discussion, I'll reproduce her unedited comment here.

Just to let you all know... I decided to take the plea b/c my lawyer told me there is always that 20% chance of going to jail. I guess this is strange that I only loss my lic and a small fine but the truth is this should not have even went that far. To me, (on what i know) think they would not have even had a case, but that "what if" ...jury finds me guilty on 1 count. The system is too screwed up to take chances.Its hard to trust others with your life. I have too good of a family to not see them everyday, esp my neices and nephew. These kids that made these accusations will never care how much they can affect ones lives b/c either they all wanted money, didn't like me, i didn't give them a chance, but whatever it is it will come back to haunt them.There is no protection for teachers. Everyone will believe what they want but I can move on, not deal with these types of kids. Though I will always wonder if i made the right choice. I just felt like for those of you who helped me needed to know this.

Thanks.
tt | 01.31.06 - 1:12 pm

Thanks for commenting, Traci. I appreciate that you are going through a very difficult period right now.

According to your comment, you pleaded guilty to a lesser charge primarily to avoid the chance of being sent to prison. And, based on available evidence, the lesser charge was offered because the prosecution did not have a strong case supporting the charges initially filed. All this makes sense.

However, with regard to your accusers, you state that their actions will come back to haunt them but you didn't actually deny their truthfulness. This leaves an observer to wonder if there was actually any basis for the allegations. If the boys lied, there should be some followup corrective action. Arguably, few professionals are as vulnerable as teachers to allegations of sexual impropriety. It's important that all teachers be extremely vigilant in avoiding circumstances that could lead to false accusations.

Nevertheless, as a disinterested observer, I still have no feel for whether there was any substance to the allegations. I don't know whether you're innocent or guilty. I don't know whether the boys lied or not. All I know is that a 28-year-old woman was charged with sex offenses regarding relations with three students and she was sentenced in court to be fined $100. The gross disparity between the seriousness of the charges and the ridiculousness of the final outcome is the basis for my astonishment. And, to my knowledge, the court discussed no significant mitigating factors.

I'm a believer that teachers who engage in inappropriate sexual behavior with students should be treated harshly. I also believe that female teachers and male teachers should be treated comparably when convicted of inappropriate sexual behavior. Frankly, Traci, if you were a guy who was guilty of harassment by offensive touching of high school girls over a period of years, I don't think you would walk away with a $100 fine.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/31/2006 10:19:00 AM

Earwax-Derived Genetics

If a scientist swabbed your ear and examined the earwax, the result would indicate whether you are European, African, or Asian. And, although seemingly unrelated, the pungency of your armpit would also be known.

Junk science? You make the call.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/31/2006 07:59:00 AM

Iraqi Tribesmen Detain 270 Al Qaeda

Chad Evans at In The Bullpen has the report. It's not clear how the tribesmen were able to capture a force of 270 armed terrorists but there must be an interesting story behind it.

Everyone has come to know al Qaeda as largely a fight-to-the death organization so walking them down the road in captivity is quite unusual. Involvement of tribal leaders in the security of Iraq is a necessity and, as attested to by these latest captures, very effective.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/31/2006 07:19:00 AM

Wife of Imam, Infants Killed Outside Baghdad

(Baghdad) Here's a Deutsche Presse-Agentur report of three seemingly senseless murders.

From M&C:

The wife of an Imam of a Sunni mosque was killed with her two infants was killed [sic] when gunmen broke into her house and opened fire in Muqdadiya, 100 kilometres northeast of Baghdad, hospital sources said Tuesday.

The sources said the attackers broke into the house of the Imam of Rasoul Allah Mosque in the city, Qasim Daham al-Hamadani, and killed the woman and her two small children, aged two and five, late Monday.

Witnesses said Hamadani was away when the massacre took place.

These killings just don't make a lot of sense to me. There seems to be absolutely no rational benefit to be derived from the murders. Even if fellow Sunnis were mad at Hamadani or al-Qaeda was after Hamadani, why kill his wife and kids? Hopefully, there'll be a followup report explaining the motive.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/31/2006 05:00:00 AM

Men Want Jessica Alba

Usually, public opinion polls are disputable. I think this one has merit because it's what Mom would want for her son also.

From BostonHerald.com:

"Fantastic Four" gal Jessica Alba is the woman most men want to bring home to meet Mom, according to AskMen.com.

Jess is "long-term relationship material," according to the Web site's 2.5 million readers and staff surveyed for the annual Top 99 List.

Angelina Jolie was a runner-up and, oddly, Britney Spears didn't even make the list. Also, no veiled ROPMA women were in the Top 99 List. Imagine that.

Companion post at The Jawa Report.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/31/2006 03:35:00 AM

Mexicans Arrest Four Illegal Iraqis

(Mexico City) Four Iraqi citizens entered Mexico illegally and were on their way to enter the United States when they were arrested by Mexican federal agents.

From WashingtonPost.com:

Wasim Francis Schamoun and Ivan Yalda, both 23, and Refon Chlil Oraha and Thaer Salem Yelda, both 27, were found on a bus in the northern city of Navajoa after police received an anonymous tip, the attorney general's office said in a statement.

Mexican officials are investigating. The AP reports that many Iraqis have been captured in Mexico, but none have been linked to terrorism.

I guess we should all feel safer because there hasn't been an instance of a terrorism-linked Iraqi being caught. Sorry. The fact that "many Iraqis" have been caught is unnerving. If "many Iraqis" are able to sneak into Mexico, I imagine a few Saudis, Yemenis and Iranians could also sneak into Mexico.

Couple the capture of illegal Iraqis with the news that Mexicans are hurling gasoline-soaked rocks and taking shots across the border and I don't feel better at all.

And another thing, the level of corruption in Mexico would lead a prudent observer to believe that the results of any Mexican investigation would be entirely dependent on the amount of cash available for bribes. Consequently, I don't automatically believe that Middle Easterners captured in Mexico are not linked to terrorism.

Hat tip: Area417

Companion post at Diggers Realm.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/30/2006 05:39:00 PM

Teacher Indicted for Indecent Liberties with Boy

(Greenville, North Carolina) Substitute teacher Jacquelyn Faith Garrison, 19, allegedly made significant overtures, some sexual, through telephone calls and text messages toward a 15-year-old student, making him uncomfortable. Consequently, the boy alerted South Central High School authorities who commenced an investigation and notified the police. According to court documents, Garrison was arrested on January 6 and, last week, she was indicted for having an inappropriate relationship with a student.

It's noteworthy that, at 19, Garrison is only four years older than the student yet she was able to teach because there is no minimum mandated age for teachers and she met the school system requirement of having completed 32 college credits. Garrison attends East Carolina University in pursuit of a teaching degree.

Garrison's case is scheduled for trial on February 26 and, if convicted, she faces a possible eight months in prison.

Incidentally, South Central teacher Garrison was indicted for taking indecent liberties with a student on the same day that former South Central teacher Katy Tew was found guilty and sentenced for taking indecent liberties with a student. Somebody needs to analyze the water at South Central high School.

Tipped by Jason Cann.


[Update 02/02/07]

Garrison given "time-out."
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       Following Entry Posted 1/30/2006 04:13:00 PM

Dell Grows 5,000 Jobs in India

Today, Dell Inc. announced plans to add 5,000 jobs over the next two years at existing and new facilities in India. Existing call centers in Bangalore, Hyderabad, and Mohali will get new hires. A new call center in Gurgaon, outside New Delhi, is scheduled to launch in April with 700 to 1,000 new hires. And the product testing center in Bangalore will see a doubling of staff, adding 300 engineers.

The growth will result in a total of 15,000 Dell workers in India.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/30/2006 02:49:00 PM

Ten-Year-Old Girl Pregnant by Stepfather

(Abbeville, South Carolina) A neighbor says 26-year-old William "Billy" Edward Ronca should be hanged in the city square for raping his 9-year-old stepdaughter who, now 10-years-old, is seven months pregnant. The girl is reportedly doing fine, that is, if a 10-year-old in the third trimester of pregnancy can be considered fine. The girl's mother has filed for divorce from Ronca.

Ronca, on the other hand, is locked up in the Abbeville County jail, charged with criminal sexual conduct with a minor. A DNA test confirmed Ronca as the father. He could be facing 35 years in a South Carolina prison.

Police made a point of mentioning that Ronca is originally from Boston and has only lived in South Carolina for five or six years. His bail has been set at $250,000.


[Update 04/25/07]

Ronca sentenced to 25 years in prison. He asked for mercy from God and the court.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/30/2006 09:26:00 AM

Unchecked Violence Against Women

Gender abuse and violence in Malawi are rampant.

From NationMalawi.com:

If the girl-child manages to make it to school, she is likely to face the advances of the male teachers. High marks at the exams for girls are dangled as carrots to a horse in exchange for sex. If they say no, the girls face the teacher's barbaric wrath, which may take many forms -- physical, psychological and even mental.

Where are the reporters? Where is the outrage from women's rights groups?
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       Following Entry Posted 1/30/2006 08:08:00 AM

Ottawa's Gun Amnesty Program

(Ottawa, Canada) As a reminder to our Canadian readers, Ottawa's gun amnesty program ends on February 15. Although the program officially began last week, Ottawa Police collected 55 firearms before it launched. This probably resulted high fives and sticky skivvies for Mayor Bob Chiarelli and Chief Vince Bevan, the rocket scientists behind the idea.

The way the program works is the public can call the police to pick up any firearm, ammunition or explosives they want to turn in and, if the weapon isn't tied to a crime, no charges will be filed for having an unregistered firearm. Notably, the police demand that weapons be picked up as opposed to having the public deliver them to police stations. It's unsafe to transport firearms through the community, say the police.

Okay, where do I start? Historically, gun amnesty programs have done nothing more than make do-gooders feel good and capture a few headlines. Taking guns away from the law-abiding public only reduces the ability of citizens to defend themselves against criminal elements, which I guarantee are not going to turn in their guns.

Kevin Haggerty, Director of the University of Alberta's criminology program, agrees and goes one step further. Haggerty asserts that gun amnesty programs are little more than waste disposal. How true. It's been generally proven that guns being surrendered in amnesty efforts are mostly garbage, decades-old pieces of rusted or broken junk that someone found in a tool shed or attic. Logically, the sheer volume of guns turned in makes it likely that something of value would surface. In Ottawa so far, the haul has included an 80-year-old German Walther .380 and a rusty antique breechloader from the 19th century.

Sadly, unlike other amnesty programs, the cheapskates in Ottawa are not giving anything in return for the surrendered weapons. No gift certificates, no cash, no free meal at KFC. The only beneficial result is groups of do-gooders will get to feel warm and fuzzy. My take? Liberal do-gooders have a remarkably successful track record of wasting taxpayers' money while not making things gooder.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/30/2006 05:35:00 AM

Oil Workers Freed

(Yenagoa, Nigeria) Earlier today, Briton Nigel Watson-Clark, American Patrick Landry, Bulgarian Milko Nichev and Honduran Harry Ebanks were released by their kidnappers. They were flown to the Nigerian capital, Abuja.

The men were taken hostage earlier this month when about 40 armed men attacked an oil industry service vessel named Liberty Service. A previously-unknown group called the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND) claimed responsibility for the attack and the kidnappings.

A source said that 100 million Nigerian Naira ($771,000) was paid as ransom for the hostages release.

Companion at The Jawa Report.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/29/2006 04:07:00 PM

Teacher Jailed for Boffing Boy

(Wytheville, Virginia) A 41-year-old English teacher at Scott Memorial Middle School, Karen Susan Patton, was arrested for allegedly engaging in sex with a 13-year-old student. Patton is specifically charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor, carnal knowledge of a 13-year-old, and having oral sex with a 13-year-old boy.

Apparently, the boy's mother had noticed sexual references in instant messages between her son and Patton which prompted her to alert the police. Patton resigned her teaching position with the school on Friday.

Reportedly, she is married with two children. Patton is being held without bond at the New River Valley Regional Jail. A court appearance is scheduled for Monday.


[Update 08/08/06]

Patton waives preliminary hearing. Case goes to grand jury.


[Update 10/18/06]

Patton indicted.


[Update 03/13/07]

Patton pleads no contest.


[Update 06/26/07]

Patton sentenced.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/29/2006 02:16:00 PM

Camels With Arms

(Pakistan) Regional police of the Kurram Agency raided a smuggler's den about 4am Saturday in the Afghanistan-Pakistan border area. After a firefight, the smugglers fled, leaving behind 12 camels laden with weapons and ammunition. Confiscated were kalashanikovs, light machine guns, bags of gunpowder, and a large quantity of ammunition.

Typically, one would expect smuggling to be an activity that is hidden, conducted on the sly. A caravan of a dozen camels hauling several tons of arms would likely not fit that characterization. It's more like smuggling in plain view and I'm sure a Predator unmanned eye-in-the-sky could track the camel train all the way across the mountains. The bigger questions are: Where do the arms originate and how are they paid for?
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       Following Entry Posted 1/29/2006 09:28:00 AM

Heroin Girl, 11, Collapses

(Glasgow, Scotland) An 11-year-old girl is recovering in the hospital after collapsing in class from heroin intoxication. According to authorities, the girl didn't accidentally ingest the heroin. Evidently, she told doctors that she had been smoking the junk for about two months, not thinking it was anything out of the ordinary.

I think there is definitely something wrong with this little girl's family and neighborhood and a thorough investigation is warranted. Afterward, someone should be prosecuted.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/29/2006 07:35:00 AM

Flight of the Dentists

An insensitive running joke on American late-night television is presumed poor dental care of citizens in the United Kingdom. Jay Leno, David Letterman and others regularly make fun of the apparent lack of dentists serving the Brits. Unfortunately, the joke is a reality. Currently, more than a quarter million patients in Scotland alone must forego dental treatment due to lack of dentists.

From Scotsman.com:

THE number of newly graduated dentists staying to treat patients in Scotland has plummeted, according to official figures.

The alarming statistics, revealed by the Scottish Executive, show that in 2004 a third of all students graduating from Scotland's dental schools left the country to work elsewhere. In 2003 only 11% left.

Dentists' leaders claim the appalling state of NHS funding for dental services is putting many graduates off working in practices north of the Border.

Health officials fear the fall in numbers will make it harder for the Executive to meet its target of recruiting more dentists to cut the country's dental crisis.

Hundreds of dentists are walking away from working for the socialized National Health System (NHS) and, instead, are opening private practices. The chief complaint is money. The socialized dental care scheme of the NHS apparently can't compete with the capitalist rewards of private practice. Consequently, not only are established dentists leaving the NHS, but one-third of those graduating from universities are leaving the country.

The Scottish dental crisis is not new. Last year, the government allocated increased funding of 295 million British pounds ($521 million) to encourage dentists to keep NHS patients. Apparently, it didn't work.

The British Dental Association insists the government needs to do more. This means more money and training more dentists. In the meantime, financial incentives are being offered to lure dentists from less-developed countries such as Poland.

In summary, the socialist scheme to provide everything to everybody for nothing results in the NHS leaving over 250,000 Scots with no dental care.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/28/2006 08:57:00 PM

Border Alert: 5 Mexicans Headed to S.F. to Sell Explosives

A U.S. Border Patrol "Intelligence Alert" issued to law enforcement authorities on January 12 warned of five Mexican nationals traveling to San Francisco to sell explosives to an unknown Iraqi national. The memo provided specific details.

From DailyBulletin.com:

"The source stated that five individuals would attempt entry by foot with an unknown quantity of plastic explosives hidden in the soles of their shoes. The report indicated the group's final destination is San Francisco. Once in the city, they are to sell the explosives to an unknown Iraqi national," the memo stated.

On Jan. 11, at about 5 p.m., Tucson, Ariz.-sector headquarters received information from a "source of unknown reliability" that the five individuals would travel from Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico, en route to Nogales, Sonora, Mexico, according to the document.

The source also stated that the five individuals would be driving in a white Nissan Maxima that has Sonora license plates. The source indicated to law enforcement officials that one of the individuals is named Vicente Banuelos, who is a Mexican citizen from Mazatlan, Sinaloa, Mexico. The intelligence alert asked officials to watch for Banuelos - a photograph and fingerprints of a man by the same name were issued with the alert. But it is uncertain whether those are from the same individual authorities are seeking.

Officials with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, which is part of the Department of Homeland Security, would not comment on the documents late Friday evening.

Apparently, a copy of the memo was obtained by the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin this week. Since customs and border officials declined to comment, it's assumed that the alert for the five Mexicans is still in effect. Notably, Department of Homeland Security spokesman Russ Knocke stated there are doubts regarding the credibility of the threat.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/28/2006 07:21:00 PM

Female Teacher Charged with Sex Assault

(Cornwall, Ontario) A 40-year-old teacher at Rothwell-Osnabruck Public School in Ingleside, Jennifer Dorland, was charged Wednesday with sexual assault of a 13-year-old male student. Police confirmed that the sexual incidents occurred at the school.

Dorland, a mother of two, is scheduled to appear in a Cornwall court on February 6 to face charges of sexual assault, invitation to sexual touching, and sexual interference.


[Update 02/13/07]

Dorland has hearing, finally.


[Update 12/21/07]

Dorland found guilty. Sentencing in February.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/28/2006 04:12:00 PM

San Francisco Dumping Homeless

(San Francisco) City officials created a program last year to give homeless people one-way bus tickets out of town. Thus far, more than 960 homeless have left San Francisco under the program, Homeward Bound.

Apparently, San Francisco is passing the buck or officials have been deluded into thinking that derelicts become valuable contributors to society after being dumped in a new location. Either way, the program is merely a conveyer out of town. San Francisco's homeless problems are just being farmed out to other locations with the hope that somebody else accepts responsibility. The program has been called Greyhound Therapy. Unfortunately, there have been complaints.

From SacBee.com:

City welfare officials have agreed to stop sending homeless people to Humboldt County without notifying their counterparts in the far northern county.

The agreement reached Friday resolves a dispute that began after Humboldt County officials learned that San Francisco had sent at least 13 homeless people north on one-way bus tickets over the past year.

San Francisco officials said they will start informing Humboldt officials whenever homeless people are sent over its borders through the city's Homeward Bound program. They will also verify beforehand that the person is actually from Humboldt, located about 200 miles north along the coast.

Shipping vagrants out of town is nothing new. Communities have been doing it for ages. And, it's much better for San Francisco's taxpayers than the previous program which paid every vagrant and attracted newcomers.

I'm hoping that San Francisco gets into a homeless dumping duel with another city. Imagine the fun.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/28/2006 01:38:00 PM

Border Patrol Hires Illegal Aliens?

Here's the story. A Mexican from Tijuana, Oscar Antonio Ortiz, sneaks into the United States, obtains a fake birth certificate, and gets hired by the U.S. Border Patrol. He's assigned to patrol east of San Diego and commences to smuggle people through his patrol area into the U.S. during every shift. Astonishingly, it took more than a year for someone to figure out what was happening and, fortunately, last August Ortiz was arrested.

From MercuryNews.com:

(San Diego) An illegal immigrant pleaded guilty Friday to conspiring to smuggle people into the United States while working as a Border Patrol agent, the U.S. Attorney's office said.

Oscar Antonio Ortiz, 28, admitted to conspiring to smuggle at least 100 people when assigned to the Border Patrol's El Cajon station, east of San Diego. He also pleaded guilty to making a false claim to U.S. citizenship.

Ortiz applied for the Border Patrol job in 2001 with a fake birth certificate that said he was born in Chicago even though he is a Mexican citizen who was born in Tijuana, Mexico, according to the federal complaint. He resigned after his arrest in August.

So, big deal. We have one illegal alien smuggling other illegal aliens. Hardly earthshaking, I'd say.

But what about the Border Patrol screening process? Evidence strongly indicates that the Border Patrol has a significant problem in hiring people. And, what's this crap about he "resigned after his arrest?" His illegal carcass should have been immediately terminated upon arrest. This has to be a case of gross ineptitude or corruption. It's not simply one illegal smuggling other illegals.

Personally, I think the Border Patrol roster should be reviewed to see if there are any agents named Abu or Muhammad ostensibly born in Chicago.

Companion post at Diggers Realm.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/28/2006 05:42:00 AM

Big Ice on Alaskan Coast

(Barrow, Alaska) I learned a new word today. Ivu. Ivus are walls of ice that surge onto the coast like frozen tsunamis. The comparison to a tsunami is figurative rather than literal since ice moves much slower than water.

Anyway, ivus are in the news because two of them have slammed onto the northern Alaskan coastline this week. Automobile-sized ice cubes surged on shore, putting fear in the minds of hunters and residents. Barrow officials were caught by surprise by the phenomenon -- named "ivu" in the Inupiaq language.


Beaufort Sea ice pushed into Barrow, Alaska
(Photo - John Tidwell)
From Washingtonpost.com:

The ivus crashed ashore Tuesday after strong winds from Russia and eastward currents began pushing pack ice toward Barrow last weekend, said North Slope Borough disaster coordinator Rob Elkins.

By late Monday, thick, old sea ice known as multiyear ice had shoved younger, thinner ice onto shore.

Witnesses here said the northernmost ridge was about 20 feet high and 100 feet long and contained car-size blocks. Ice left a coastal road with only one lane, they said.

According to Lloyd Leavitt, a 49-year-old whaler and Barrow city administrator, the ice easily blocked a road 250 feet from the sea.

From News-Miner.com:

The ivu is the first since 1978 when ice pushed more than 450 feet inland, Barrow residents said. Leavitt said ivus happen every 30 to 40 years. There was another in 1976 and elders remember more in the 1950s. Leavitt said he spent part of his day allaying the fears of worried officials. He categorized the ivu as relatively minor considering what could have been.

He said much of the ice pushed ashore was first- or second-year ice--3 feet thick at most. If the sea around Barrow had been filled with multiyear ice, the push might have caused damage in the city of 4,500.

"As soon as (young ice) hits land, it breaks into small pieces," Leavitt said. "If it was 8- to 12-foot thick like we used to have before global warming, it would have been a problem."

Wait a minute! We've got a 49-year-old whaler and city administrator who is also a climatologist and expert on weather phenomena that occurs every 30 to 40 years? Huh? Besides being a genius, where does he find the time?

Nonetheless, our whaler-city administrator-climatologist-weather phenomena expert says that the ivu, a natural disaster, was mitigated by global warming. This means that the ivus were worse before President Bush created global warming. Just a guess, but I bet Bush won't get any credit. He should. After all, he got the blame for the Gulf Coast hurricanes and the Indian Ocean tsunami.

As an aside, for years I've had to contend with something akin to an ivu but on a much smaller scale. After shoveling my driveway clean of snow, the highway department snowplow invariably zips by and shushes a three-foot wall of ice and snow right across the entrance. It's guaranteed that I won't curse the snowplows any less, but I'll have a word to use in describing the wall blocking the driveway. An ivu.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/28/2006 03:54:00 AM

Woman Gets 10 Years for Molesting Little Boy

(Bozeman, Montana) This case sickens me. A 19-year-old woman, Patricia Lynn Cook, pleaded guilty in Gallatin County District Court to molesting a 7-year-old boy in exchange for 10 years in the Montana State Women's Prison and 20 years probation. At a trial, Cook would have faced life in prison and, given the details of her crimes, I think a life sentence was certain.

From Bozemandailychronicle.com:

She told police on Aug. 11 she began touching the boy inappropriately six years ago when he was 8 months old, according to court records. The touching began while changing his diaper and progressed from there.

She continued touching the boy and felt "a little bit sexually aroused," according to court records. She said the molesting continued for several years.

She also said she had been sexually abused as a young child.

Cook punched the boy in the stomach, spanked him and slapped him to keep him from telling anyone.

Cook was arrested after telling police that she was homicidal and suicidal.

Sentencing is scheduled for March 7. Meanwhile, Cook is locked up in the Gallatin County Jail in lieu of $50,000 bail.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/27/2006 02:46:00 PM

Woman Gets 9 Months for Sex with Boy

(Skowhegan, Maine) Earlier this month, 25-year-old Jessica Bowring pleaded guilty to one count of gross sexual assault of a 13-year-old boy. Yesterday, Bowring was sentenced in Somerset County Superior Court to five years in prison, with all but 9 months suspended. She'll also serve three years probation and have to register as a lifetime sex offender.

It's unclear what will transpire with the other charges against her; two counts of gross sexual assault, tampering with a witness, terrorizing and two counts of violating her conditions of release. I sincerely hope that the prosecutors aggressively pursue adjudication of those additional charges.


[Update 12/16/07]

Bowring faces new charges related to the same boy.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/27/2006 11:41:00 AM

Female Teacher Has Student's Love Child

(Strongsville, Ohio) With the prevalence of teacher-student sex episodes in American schools, one would imagine that the last thing needed is a "Win A Date With Teacher" contest. Strangely, that's exactly what was offered by 36-year-old Strongsville High School teacher Christine Scarlett and the winner, 17-year-old Steven Bradigan, won not only the date but also regular sharpenings of his pencil.

Upon notification of the sexual relationship, Strongsville City Schools officials acted quickly and fired Scarlett. Here are some details.

From Cleveland.com:

At first, Bradigan kept quiet about his dinner date with the teacher. But a week later, Scarlett arranged for a secret meeting with Bradigan at his friend's house and brought along a six-pack of beer. The friend's father discovered Scarlett hiding in a bedroom closet and blew the whistle to Bradigan's parents.

Schools Superintendent James Gray said he fired Scarlett as soon as he heard about the closet incident, and two weeks later he called the Department of Children and Family Services to report Scarlett, which agency Director James McCafferty confirmed.

Although not surprising, the Scarlett-Bradigan sexual relationship, which reportedly lasted for two years, ultimately resulted in offspring, a baby boy. DNA tests confirm that Bradigan is the father.

In an interview, Steven Bradigan and his parents became emotional as they talked about the repercussions of the affair. Someone at the school scribbled profanity on his locker. Classmates taunted him in the cafeteria. Teachers mentioned the affair in class, and a coach asked Bradigan what it felt like to have sex with Scarlett, Bradigan said.

Frankly, I'm skeptical. My guess would be that Bradigan was BMOC and probably enjoyed every minute of his celebrity.

Jump forward to present time. Bradigan, now 20, and his family are pressing a case for custody of his son in Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court. Concurrently, the family has notified Strongsville City Schools and the Strongsville Police Department of its intent to sue, claiming both organizations were negligent in not pursuing a criminal investigation of Scarlett. Notably,

Steven Bradigan thinks his case will be bolstered by X-rated photos of the couple snapped by his high school buddies.

Holy moly! This is reading like a teen coming-of-age movie. 'Coming soon! Star quarterback boffs hot teacher while football buddies take pictures.'

On the other hand, Scarlett, now 39, is shocked and mortified by the situation and very sorry. Currently, she works part time at a furniture store and lives with her supportive new husband, her son, and a 9-year-old daughter from a previous marriage.

Tipped by Jason Cann.

Companion post at Conservative Thinking.


[Update 05/28/06]

Steven Bradigan and Christine Scarlett agreed to share custody of their son.


[Update 06/26/06]

Christine Scarlett arraigned on 18 counts of sexual battery.


[Update 05/13/07]

Scarlett pleads guilty to avoid trial. Sentencing in June.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/27/2006 03:34:00 AM

Taliban Attacks Afghan Girls' School

(Kabul) The Taliban has been intensifying its campaign against girls' schools.

From Xinhuanet.com:

Suspected Taliban militants set fire on a girls school Thursday night in Afghan eastern province of Laghman, a local police said.

"Last night at about 12 p.m. (8:30 p.m. GMT) some suspected Taliban militants blazed a girls school in Haidar area, but there is no casualty of school staff," Hizbullah, the spokesperson of the governor told Xinhua.

The spokesperson blamed Taliban to carry out this kind of attack, and said the investigation is still going on.

According to some reliable resources, four school staff have been kidnapped by the militants, but the spokesperson denied.

There are no details about the four hostages.

In the southern Kandahar Province where the Taliban previously had a stronghold, attempts to intimidate teachers and students at girls' schools have been ongoing. With these attacks against women, I wonder how in the world the feminists can consistently come out against the global war on terror. Logic would indicate that women's rights advocates should be first in line to support the Bush administration and its efforts to defeat the Taliban and other terror groups.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/27/2006 02:49:00 AM

Teacher Gets No Jail for Child Sex

(Shediac, New Brunswick) Last August, a 27-year-old teacher at Ecole Pere Edgar T. LeBlanc, Renee Florence Gaudet, was charged with sexual assault and sexual exploitation of a 13-year-old male student.

In November, Gaudet pleaded guilty to sexual assault.

Yesterday, Gaudet was sentenced to two years house arrest and told to go to a mental health clinic for assessment and necessary treatment. She was also restricted from having any contact with the victim, his family, or anyone under 14 years of age. A DNA sample must additionally be provided to the sex registry.

Harsh treatment? I don't think so.


[Update 11/04/06]

Appeals court sends Gaudet to jail.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/26/2006 03:48:00 PM

ACLU vs. Patriot Act

(New York) This latest lawsuit by the American Civil Liberties Union attacks the Patriot Act presumably for the benefit of one Muslim scholar.

From UPI.com:

Acting on behalf of a prominent Muslim scholar, the American Civil Liberties Union is seeking to amend the Patriot Act.

The ACLU has filed a federal lawsuit in an effort to knock out the clause that bars foreigners who endorse terrorism from entering this country.

The suit cited Tariq Ramadan, a prominent Muslim scholar who has been barred from the United States because of that clause.

And, justifiably so if you take into consideration that Ramadan has a history of being uncomfortably cozy with terrorists, extremists, and jihadists. He also doesn't recognize the bombings in Bali and Madrid, nor the horror of 9/11, as terrorist acts. Bali, Madrid, and 9/11 were "interventions," says Ramadan. (Source)

Nevertheless, even if Ramadan had pristine bona fides, the ACLU filing suit against the Patriot Act to benefit one person doesn't seem to make any sense. I'd compare it to seeking changes to the U.S. Postal Service charter because a package was delivered to the wrong address or was lost. It's either that or the ACLU doesn't believe endorsement of terrorism should disqualify foreign nationals from entering the United States.

The more significant question I have is why is the ACLU involved with the Ramadan case in the first place? Ramadan is a foreign national, not an American. Whether or not a foreign national's civil liberties are offended shouldn't be the ACLU's concern. Should it?

Join the Stop The ACLU Blogburst, mailing list, and blogroll. Send an email to Jay@stoptheaclu.com or GribbitR@gmail.com.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/26/2006 11:48:00 AM

Female Teacher Arrested for Sodomy

(Ferguson, Missouri) A 46-year-old special education teacher at Ferguson Middle School, Cathy Heminghaus, has been charged with nineteen (19) felony counts of statutory sodomy resulting from allegedly engaging in oral sex with some of her students. Heminghaus apparently told her friends that she had performed oral sex on students since October. Her friends told school officials. The incidents occurred at the school and at one outside location.

Special School District officials placed Heminghaus on administrative leave. Heminghaus was booked into the St. Louis County Jail. Bond was set at $500,000.

Tipped by Jason Cann.


[Update 07/09/07]

Heminghaus pleads no contest. Sentencing in September.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/26/2006 08:31:00 AM

Muslim Terrorist Jailed for Murder Plot

Here's a case of a young guy, a citizen of the United Kingdom, who had been inculcated at an early age to be an extremist, willing to commit murder for Islam. For planning to kill a decorated British soldier, he gets six years in prison.

From Scotsman.com:

British-born Abu Mansha, 21, who was obsessed with al Qaida leader Osama bin Laden, obtained an address for Corporal Mark Byles after he led a "perilous" bayonet charge, killing up to 20 Iraqi rebels.

When Mansha's flat was searched, police found a blank-firing gun in the process of being converted to shoot live rounds and a newspaper cutting detailing the soldier's exploits.

A stash of DVDs brimming with "virulent anti-western propaganda" was also recovered, London's Southwark Crown Court heard.

While some featured bin Laden, another depicted the beheading of British hostage Ken Bigley.

In my opinion, dramatic and wide-sweeping measures are needed to rid Britain, and other countries, of home-grown Islamic extremists. A start would be to refute political correctness in its entirety. If the religion of peace is actually the culture of death, it should be dealt with accordingly.

And, just so you know, I'll forever be pissed off by the senseless and barbaric murder of Ken Bigley.

One final observation, if you look at his picture closely, you'll notice that it looks like he's had his nose broken. Also, his left eyebrow has an apparent permanent lift and his left eye seems to be wandering. I'd guess his facial modifications resulted from an altercation with someone of a differing viewpoint.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/26/2006 06:24:00 AM

Playboy Is Porn, Sellers Should be Arrested

(Jakarta, Indonesia) The planned publication and sale of Playboy magazine in majority-Muslim Indonesia has prompted angry protest from several groups. It's believed the magazine will destroy the morality of young people and the nation.

From Antara News:

The Indonesian Journalists Association (PWI) Chairman Tarman Azzam has said every effort should be taken to prevent the publication of the Indonesian version of playboy magazine or the sellers should be arrested should the pornographic magazine reaches the children.

"If the magazine publication comes into being and their circulation reaches the children, the producers as well as the sellers should be arrested, and bring them to the court to make them afraid," Tarman said after inaugurating the temporary board members of the PWI here on Tuesday.

Several rejections to the planned publication of the Playboy magazine among other things came from Youth Affairs Minister Adhyaksa Dault, and the country's two largest Muslim organizations respectively Muhammadiyah and Nahdlatul Ulama (NU).

Opposition groups are calling for arrest and prosecution under pornography and child protection laws. Pretty extreme, I think. According to Ahmad Rofiq of the Association of Muhammadiyah Students (IMM), assertions by the publisher that the magazine would contain only lifestyle, conventional issues, culture and politics and no nude pictures are not believed.

Interestingly, the Indonesian public protest and debate of a free press issue is in stark contrast to the way the Chinese communists deal with free speech. In Indonesia, a democratic (albeit Muslim) country, the controversy is open to public discourse and, presumably, a decision will be made in a democratic manner. Conversely, China, a police-state dictatorship, yesterday specified the manner which Google would censor information on Internet searches. No debate and no discussion allowed. It makes no difference what the public wants in China.

The Indonesian version of Playboy was licensed in November 2005 and is planned to hit the news stands starting in March for 40,000 rupiah (about $4.30).

Companion post at The Jawa Report.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/25/2006 02:31:00 PM

1960s Feminism Is Officially Dead

On the heels of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, women began asserting themselves, claiming their rights had been denied by a male-dominated society. Women were enraged and took their message to the streets, to the courthouses, and to the politicians. They cast off the shackles of generations of male dominance and, in mass, they took off their bras and burned them. Bra-burning protests and rallies were held on city streets and college campuses. The feminists demanded equal rights, proudly sauntering in public with their breasts flopping, the signature feature of their political identity. Bra-burner and feminist became synonyms.

Slowly, over the past four decades, bras have found their way back into women's wardrobes and, slowly, feminism has been fading as a political identity. The bras returned out of necessity. Active women in a vibrant society need supportive undergarments.

All the while, the feminist movement over 40 years made great strides in breaking down barriers, changing attitudes, and achieving equality. In fact, some people believe such great progress has been realized that women now are virtually equal in society to men in most regards. As a result, there are not the same big 'equality issues' from the 1960s which originally sparked the feminist movement and, consequently, support has vaporized. People saw the end coming. When and how? Nobody knew. But 1960s feminism had served its purpose and the sun was setting.

And then it happened. And it came in the form of a rejection of the defining image of 1960s feminism, the braless woman. Thank Drew Barrymore. Not for being braless, but for allowing society to unanimously disapprove of her appearing on stage at last week's Golden Globe Awards ceremony without one.

Throughout the 60s, the 70s, the 80s, Barrymore would have been heralded as a feminist leader, an individual proud of her womanhood, her body, and her self. She would have been praised by younger feminists for being bold and fearless.

But not in 2006. Barrymore walked on stage in a long green dress, braless, to present an award. That is all. If she had set herself on fire, she probably wouldn't have created a bigger stir. All because she was braless. Every media outlet from Hollywood to New York to London to Rome to Tokyo to Sidney to Singapore to Bombay led off their reporting with a plea to Drew Barrymore to put on a bra. I've read dozens and dozens of reviews and, without exception, they carry the same disapproving message.

To be clear, no one disapproved of Barrymore's physique. In fact, I got the impression that most people found her to be physically pleasant. The complaints were directed exclusively at her not wearing a bra. Two or three decades ago, there would have been no complaints. Nobody would have protested or even commented. She would have been seen as a typical bra-burning feminist showing defiance to the status quo by flaunting her lack of underwear. Society accepted feminists and their signature characteristics. No comment necessary. Not in 2006. Now society comments, everywhere and at length, when a women goes braless.

If society no longer recognizes the need for 1960s feminism, then it's over. Just like Seinfeld and M.A.S.H. and NYPD Blue, it's over. It's been a good run, but now it's time to turn out the lights.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/25/2006 12:00:00 PM

Carlos the Jackal Wants Out of Solitary

Arguably one of the nastiest terrorists in history, Carlos the Jackal, wants out of solitary confinement. Carlos, whose real name is Ilich Ramirez Sanchez, appealed through his lawyer to the European Court of Human Rights on Wednesday. A Venezuelan by birth, Carlos claims the eight years he has been held in solitary confinement in a French prison violates a European human rights treaty.

As a reminder, Carlos was a free-lance mercenary and terrorist who committed murders, bombings, kidnappings, and hijackings for pay throughout Europe, Africa, and the Middle East for three decades. He was captured in 1994, tried in France and sentenced to life in prison. Now, in prison, he believes his human rights are being violated.

That's a shame.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/25/2006 10:44:00 AM

Chris Penn Found Dead

(Santa Monica, California) Actor Chris Penn was found dead in his condominium yesterday. It's been reported that there is no indication of foul play regarding the death. The 43-year-old brother of Sean Penn was best known for performances in "Footloose" and "Reservoir Dogs."

Even though there has been some confusion about Penn's age (some say he was 40), it's clear that he died early. And despite assertions of no foul play, one has to wonder what caused a presumably healthy man to die at such a young age. My wild guesses would be a drug overdose or an undiagnosed heart/respiratory ailment. We'll know soon enough.

Rest in peace.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/25/2006 09:41:00 AM

Dan Rather Ponders Next World War

(Portland, Oregon) Dan Rather visited Portland on Monday to speak at the World Affairs Council of Oregon's 2005-2006 International Speaker Series. In a 45-minute speech, he shared some opinions about trans-Pacific geopolitical issues.

From OregonLive.com:

If there's another world war, it's likely to ignite among nations in the North Pacific region, rather than Europe, as past widespread conflicts have.

That was among the prognostications presented to a Portland audience Monday night by Dan Rather, the longtime CBS News reporter and former anchorman.

North Korea, China and Russia have nuclear weapons and all three have leaders with ambitions for greater influence, Rather said.

Frankly, I expect that Rather's assessment is not anything new to military and political strategists.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/25/2006 07:00:00 AM

Westinghouse Offers Bounty for Nuke Workers

From Post-Gazette.com:

Apparently feeling good about its prospects under Japanese ownership, Monroeville-based Westinghouse Electric Co. yesterday hoisted a big help-wanted sign, offering a $1,000 bounty to employees for referring successful job applicants for the 400 or more openings it expects to have this year.

The nuclear power plant designer, which employs almost 9,000 worldwide, is looking to hire at least 400 people a year corporate-wide over the next six to seven years, with many of the openings in the Pittsburgh region where it employs about 3,000.

The employee referral program was launched a day after Tokyo-based Toshiba Corp. was identified as the winning bidder to buy Westinghouse from British Nuclear Fuels Plc. Toshiba's reported $5 billion offer is expected to win final approval at a BNFL board meeting tomorrow.

Toshiba may have different ideas about hiring, of course. Still, the engineering and electronics giant yesterday indicated it envisioned a bright future for Westinghouse.

Heh.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/25/2006 03:14:00 AM

Google Bows to Beijing

(San Francisco) When Google opened a research office in Beijing last year, the obvious purpose was to convince the communist government that the company could adequately deny Chinese citizens access to information. Well, guess what? Google succeeded.

From Reuters:

"In order to operate from China, we have removed some content from the search results available on Google.cn in response to local law, regulation or policy," Andrew McLaughlin, Google's senior policy counsel, said in a statement.

"While removing search results is inconsistent with Google's mission, providing no information (or a heavily degraded user experience that amounts to no information) is more inconsistent with our mission."

Google, known for its "Don't do evil" mantra, is developing its China approach as it seeks to strike a balance between the freedom of information it champions and the censorship demanded by Beijing, which controls access to China's 111 million Internet users.

John Palfrey, an Internet censorship investigator, estimated that tens of thousands of search terms will be blocked to Chinese Web users. However, according to Rebecca MacKinnon of the Berkman Center for Internet & Society, if the average Chinese user is adequately informed of the censorship, "That is defiantly a significant step toward transparency and honesty with the users." I think MacKinnon is justifying Google censorship in China by indicating it's a "foot in the door."

One question that hasn't been answered thus far is whether Google will be providing information to the government about the users who search for censored information. Google has refused to comply with a similar request from the U.S. government.

Notably, Google will not offer email or blogging services until it can figure out how to strike a "balance between user interests and local conditions." Whatever that means.

Companion post at The Jawa Report.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/24/2006 04:17:00 PM

Maps For Illegal Aliens

(Mexico City) The Mexican government is providing detailed maps for foreign nationals to sneak into the United States.

From AZCentral.com:

The maps were designed by a Tucson-based group, Humane Borders, which plans to hold a joint press conference today with the National Human Rights Commission in Mexico City to announce its strategy.

The maps are the latest effort by activists to aid undocumented immigrants as they trek across the border, helping to fuel a raging debate over illegal immigration in Arizona and other parts of the United States.

Two rights commission officials confirmed the quasi-governmental agency had agreed to print and distribute the maps through its state offices to reach Mexican migrants before they ever leave their hometowns.

Although the National Human Rights Commission is called a quasi-governmental agency, I don't buy it. It couldn't be more governmental if Vincente Fox, cowboy hat and all, were driving truckloads of Mexicans to the border himself. In response, the U.S. should have trucks waiting to collect them for deportation.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/24/2006 02:48:00 PM

Sniper Rifles to Iran

Here's an ominous report dated ten days ago.

From Telegraph.co.uk:

Britain and America are furious with Austria for exporting to Iran 800 sniper rifles that could be used against their troops in Iraq.

HS50 Steyr-Mannlicher .50 calibre rifles can pierce body armour from up to a mile, shoot down helicopters and penetrate Humvee troop carriers that have not been fully reinforced.

The weapons are highly accurate and fire a round called an armour-piercing incendiary, a bullet that the Iranians manufacture.

There are fears in the Pentagon that some will reach insurgents fighting allied forces in Iraq.

Austrian officials didn't see any reason to question the deal.

Obviously, Austrian officials don't read the newspaper. The current geopolitical climate should warrant increased scrutiny of any weapons transactions involving Middle Eastern countries.

More coverage at In The Bullpen.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/24/2006 12:34:00 PM

Anti-Nudity Law Ruled Unconstitutional

(Daytona Beach, Florida) U.S. District Judge John Antoon ruled that the anti-nudity laws of Daytona Beach violate the 1st and 14th Amendments and are, therefore, unconstitutional. The laws suppress free expression and deny equal protection, according to Antoon. City officials are considering an appeal.

I'm not sure this is a good idea. Although I haven't been to Daytona Beach recently, my recollection from years ago is that there are occasional problems with keeping the peace. In fact, over the years there have been some riots. Naked folks walking around would surely complicate the police officers' jobs.

Now, strictly from a personal perspective, I wouldn't mind planting myself in a lawn chair, after ordering up a tall cool beverage, and watch an afternoon's worth of attractive beach-goers pass by. It would be perfectly academic, mind you, and, of course, the anti-nudity custom would remain in effect for all males.

With regard to the law being unconstitutional, I'm going to guess that the ruling by Judge Antoon would be overturned by Judge Alito if he had to decide on appeal. From a 1st Amendment standpoint, it would seem that allowing nudity in a city bulging with hormonal youths would not be unlike shouting "Fire!" in a crowded theater.

From an equal protection standpoint, it's stickier. Men and women are different, but the Constitution doesn't do a good job recognizing it. Probably the best method to address the disparity in clothing required for men versus women would default to "community standards" or some other boilerplate. What's interesting historically, though, is that the women who push the equal protection basis for clothing on the beach are typically the women one would least like to see unclothed. Frankly, many times they look better in a muumuu.

Anyway, if there is an appeal, I think Judge Antoon will be overruled.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/24/2006 08:51:00 AM

The Horror of Saddam's Torture

Rusty Shackleford has compiled some videos and images of the torture committed by Saddam Hussein and the Baathist regime. Don't view if your sensibilities are easily offended. If, however, you think the United States military is involved in torture, by all means, take a look at Saddam's work and compare. If you're honest, you'll realize that any rhetoric which states or implies that Americans are committing the same acts is rubbish. From the source comes this warning.

These images are brutal and disturbing - they are not intended for all audiences. But for those who want to understand the evils of the Saddam regime, and especially for anyone inclined to excuse or minimize the crimes committed, these videos demonstrate that Saddam was a ruthless mass murderer and a threat to all humanity.

If you can handle the truth, take a look.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/24/2006 07:50:00 AM

Conservatives in Canada Win

Congratulations to Stephen Harper and the conservative Tories on their election win. Harper is known as a free-marketeer who strongly supports the Bush administration. Leading the conservatives, Harper promises to clean up corruption, lower taxes, and make government smaller.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/24/2006 07:08:00 AM

Deep Freeze in Russia

(Moscow) The body count is increasing from Russia's coldest winter in 25 years. Seven people died of hypothermia over the weekend resulting in a total death count of 135 since October.

From Mosnews.com:

The cold has severely strained the nation's crumbling infrastructure, with electricity use surging to record levels as towns and cities struggled to keep indoor temperatures up and Russians turned to supplementary heating sources, including electric radiators to keep warm.

In far eastern Russia, a blizzard on Kamchatka Peninsula stranded 18 people in a truck convoy for four days. Rescuers reached the snowbound drivers yesterday.

All in all, this winter has been particularly nasty in Russia and there has been occasional mention of the conditions in the news. Interestingly though, the miserable cold doesn't deter the hardline global warming cultists.

In an early morning news program I watched on Fox News yesterday, Molly Hennenberg (sp?) asked the resident weather scientist (didn't catch his name) to explain the deathly cold Russian winter. True to form, he blamed global warming. Evidently, it makes no difference whether the temperature goes up or whether it goes down, global warming caused it, dammit! And, of course, President Bush is responsible.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/24/2006 05:13:00 AM

Ex-Teacher Gets Probation for Indecent Liberties with Student

(Greenville, North Carolina) Former English teacher at South Central High School, Katherine B. Tew, 31, was convicted of taking indecent liberties with a student and given a prison term of six to eight months, suspended, and two years probation.

After her sex-toy student boyfriend, 17, spilled the beans last February, an investigation was launched which resulted in finding that Tew, known as "Katy" Tew, was engaging in an extended-term, passing-love-notes relationship with the boy. The nature of their relationship explained behavior that included late-night prancing in pajamas while pulling plugs from a bottle of tequila. Tew was arrested and released on $10,000 bail.

Tew denied the charges, however, she was unable to explain why her cell phone records indicated that she had talked to the boy 129 times in a two-month period when she had only talked to her husband 67 times during the same period. Tew could not refute the boy's testimony that the relationship was serious. As a result, the jury convicted her of taking indecent liberties. Tew was found not guilty of the more serious charge of having sexual relations with the student.

Judge William C. Griffin Jr. of Williamston also ordered Tew to undergo psychological evaluation and perform 36 hours of community service. Tew additionally loses her license to teach for a period of two years and will have to register as a sex offender.

It's my belief that teachers convicted of having inappropriate relationships with students should always be treated harshly. This would include some time, however minimal, behind bars. Incarceration forces a wrongdoer to reflect on his/her transgressions. In that regard, Tew skated.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/23/2006 06:22:00 AM

Substitute Teacher Arrested for Sex with Student

(Tooele, Utah) A 29-year-old substitute teacher at Tooele High School, Cameo Patch, was arrested Friday and booked on suspicion of unlawful sexual conduct, a third-degree felony, and lewdness, a class A misdemeanor.

It's alleged that Patch met with a 16- or 17-year-old student one evening and had sex. Subsequently, the boy talked about it at school and, after a resource officer learned of the incident, police were alerted. When interviewed by police investigators, the boy acknowledged the sexual contact.


[Update 08/30/06]

Patch pleads guilty to reduced charge according to agreement with prosecution.


[Update 09/19/06]

Patch gets probation.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/23/2006 05:44:00 AM

Brits Spying in Moscow?

(Moscow) This story is breaking world wide but little has come out of Russia.

From Reuters:

Russia's intelligence services accused British embassy officials on Monday of spying in Moscow after state television said diplomats had used a transmitter in a fake rock to secure state secrets.

"Yes. I can confirm that everything that was shown was true and based on our information," a spokesman for FSB intelligence told Reuters.

"The diplomats were shown to be involved in activities that were incompatible with their diplomatic status," he said, using diplomatic jargon to refer to spying.

The Foreign Office in London has denied the allegations. However, according to ABC News Online:

"Four British diplomats are suspected," a Federal Security Service (FSB) spokesman said. "I am not ready to give their names yet but this is all being investigated."

The FSB admitted seeing one of the diplomats near the fake rock which they thought was a dead drop. Later, they found the rock to be a high-tech receiving and transmitting communications device. One FSB officer said:

"This was absolutely new spy technology."

No doubt, designed by Q. I'm sure Ian Fleming would be proud.

Companion post at The Jawa Report.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/23/2006 02:02:00 AM

Teacher Allegedly Had Sex 200 Times With Boy

(Rockland, Maine) A 33-year-old married teacher at Warren Alternative School, Amy Bramhall, was arrested last Wednesday and charged with sexual abuse of a minor for allegedly engaging in sexual relations with a 15-year-old student.

According to court documents, teacher and student would party together with Bramhall bringing the booze and the boy providing marijuana. On one occasion, Bramhall's cuckolded husband caught the pair doing the horizontal mambo in the couple's home.

According to the court affidavit, the affair lasted nearly a year and the boy alleges he had sex with Bramhall 200 times. Ultimately, the relationship soured, only to have the boy get upset when Bramhall started dating again. The 15-year-old then alerted his father who, presumably, notified the police.

After her arrest, Bramhall was released on $200 bail with the condition that she not have unsupervised contact with children under the age of 16.


[Update 12/21/06]

Bramhall sentenced.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/22/2006 08:23:00 AM

When I Was Your Age

Interesting.

A reporter at News.com noticed an extremely unintentional inside joke with Apple's closing share price today. On the very day the company officially announced its first Intel-based product, Apple's stock price closed at $80.86. If you don't get it, it's time to read up on your computer history.

From Ozguru.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/22/2006 07:25:00 AM

Cleanup in Aisle 2!

This must have happened at a big box store.

A woman collapsed in a supermarket when her vibrating panties made her faint with pleasure.

There's more.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/22/2006 05:47:00 AM

Eco-Terrorists Seek Bail

(Sacramento, California) Three members of the Earth Liberation Front, designated as an "eco-terrorist" movement by the FBI, were arrested last week after federal agents observed them scouting potential arson targets. It's reported that the FBI has extensive evidence supporting a case of domestic terrorism against them.

From SacBee.com:

Lauren Weiner, one of three people charged in Sacramento federal court with plotting domestic terrorism, once said, "The government blows up stuff, why can't we?" an FBI agent testified Friday. [Emphasis mine - ed.]

His testimony came at a bail hearing for the 20-year-old Weiner, who is charged in a criminal complaint with conspiring to use fire or explosives to damage property as a protest against what she perceives as an erosion of the environment in America.

After listening to nearly two hours of testimony and lawyers' arguments, U.S. Magistrate Judge Gregory G. Hollows said he hopes to rule next week on whether to grant bail.

Co-defendants Eric Taylor McDavid, 28, and Zachary O. Jenson, 20, are scheduled for bail hearings Tuesday before Hollows.

There is a real risk of flight by eco-terrorists. They operate in small secret and mobile groups that eschew any home base. Communication is esoterically conducted via the Internet. Bail should be high.

If convicted, they should be given substantive prison terms. It would allow them the opportunity to recalibrate their thinking away from destroying private and public property. Eco-terrorists have a demonstrated history of not being able lead their lives without being a danger to others.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/22/2006 05:14:00 AM

Female Officer Accused of Sex with Juvenile

(Fresno, California) This story is about two weeks old.

From FresnoBee.com:

A former Fresno County probation officer has surrendered to police on charges of having a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old ward whom she met while working at Elkhorn boot camp.

Adriana Renee Rivera, 28, is free on $17,500 bail. She will be arraigned in Fresno County Superior Court on Jan. 23.

A criminal complaint charges Rivera with felony sexual intercourse with a minor and felony accessory in that she allegedly harbored and concealed the boy from authorities after he ran away from the Elkhorn facility.

Rivera also faces misdemeanor counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor and of obstructing or delaying a peace officer.

Rivera faces up to five years and eight months in prison if convicted of all four charges, Assistant District Attorney Bob Ellis said.

The boy is described as a "gangbanger with tattoos" and Rivera claims he threatened her. Even so, it appears that Rivera is unsuited for law enforcement work.


[Update 08/20/06]

Rivera accepts plea deal.



[Update 09/20/06]

Rivera sentenced to probation.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/21/2006 06:33:00 PM

Hamas Hires Spin Doctor

With generations of Jew-hating suicide bombers as members, Hamas has been perceived as a group of fanatical murderers. This apparently conflicts with a desire to be seen as a peaceful community outreach organization. As a result, Hamas has hired a spin doctor to establish a new image among the Europeans and Americans.

From the Guardian:

The organisation, also known as the Islamic Resistance Movement, has hired a media consultant, Nashat Aqtash, to improve its image at home and abroad because it expects to emerge from next week's Palestinian general election as a major political force, and wants recognition and acceptance by the US and EU.

"Hamas has an image problem. The Israelis were able to create a very bad image of the Palestinians in general and particularly Muslims and Hamas. My contract is to project the right image," said Mr Aqtash, who also teaches media at Birzeit University in Ramallah.

That's it. Hamas has an image problem because it was created by the Israelis. Mr. Aqtash may have difficulty selling that notion.

Aqtash has encouraged Hamas' leaders to quit saying they want to destroy Israel and to stop celebrating suicide bombings. Unfortunately, the destruction of Israel is in the founding charter of Hamas. Take it away and there is no reason for Hamas to exist. With regard to stopping celebrations after murders, good luck. Hamas has successfully created a whole culture centered on weapons, explosives, and hatred of Jews.

Nevertheless, Mr. Aqtash will reportedly get $180,000 for his efforts. It's not clear whether he has to achieve results to get paid. On a related note, if Mr. Aqtash is getting paid to paint Hamas in a positive light, one has to wonder how much the BBC, Reuters, NYTimes, WaPo, Ass. Press and others are collecting.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/21/2006 07:04:00 AM

Swine Program Teacher Arrested for Sex with Boy

(Orange, California) A 26-year-old teacher in the 4-H programs offered by the University of California Cooperative Extension Program, Lilian Pennington, was arrested by Orange Police Department officers for allegedly having sex with a 15-year-old student. The boy's parents became suspicious of Pennington and alerted the police.

According to Susan Schroeder of the Orange County DA's Office, Pennington was charged yesterday with statutory rape and oral copulation of the boy. The sex acts allegedly occurred multiple times at her home and in her car since last July. Pennington pleaded not guilty to the charges before Orange County Superior Court Judge David Hoffer. Bail was set at $100,000. If convicted, Pennington could face five years in prison.

Pennington was the 4-H Club "Market Swine Project" leader and the extra-curricular activities director for children between the ages of 6 and 18. Deputy District Attorney Heidi Garrel stated that Pennington met the boy when he was 12 and began a 'romantic relationship' with him when he was 15.

To be tasteless, one might render that there was foul husbandry in the swine project.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/20/2006 10:27:00 PM

Father Arrested in Deaths of Twin Daughters

(Matthews, North Carolina) This story is an example of evil and it's sickening. I can't stop the sadness I feel.

From News14Charlotte.com:

Two twin girls were stabbed to death Friday at their home on Creek Pointe Drive, police said.

The father of the 5-year-olds, David Lauren Crespi, has been charged with murdering them.

Medic reported that Crespi, 45, called 911 at 12:45 p.m., saying he fatally stabbed his daughters. He also threatened to kill himself, Medic said.

When police arrived at the scene, Crespi was waiting for them outside the home. The children were inside, and there was nothing paramedics could do to save them.

So, while many of us were having lunch today, David Crespi apparently stabbed his little girls.

"We're not anywhere where we can talk about a motive in this, or any reasons why someone would take the lives of two little girls," said Keith Bridges, a spokesman for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department.

[ ... ]

"I can't describe to you how horrific this is and how sad," he said. "It has been a toll on the police officers who were the first on the scene and got control of it."

The twins' mother and three older siblings were not at home when the murders occurred. They are currently being counseled by chaplains at police headquarters. Crespi is an executive for Wachovia.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/20/2006 08:36:00 PM

Nasty Comments Shut Down WAPO Blog

It's always entertaining when the mainstream media (MSM) gets puckered by the real world. In this case, it's the Washington Post.

From Editor and Publisher:

Jim Brady, executive editor of The Washington Post's Web site, who took down a popular reader blog Thursday after it overflowed with harsh messages about Ombudsman Deborah Howell, said the blog would likely return in the future. But, he said the Web site would have to find some better screening technology to filter out obscenities.

"We got about 1,000 posts and at least 150 to 200 were using either profanity, hate speech or personal attacks," Brady said about the responses to Howell's controversial column last Sunday, in which she stated that indicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff gave money to both political parties, when most research shows he only gave directly to Republicans.

Brady said the comments forced his staff to spend hours time reviewing the responses and tossing out those that were unusable for the blog. "We don't allow profanity or name-calling and we need to figure out a way to keep it clean," he told E&P late Thursday. "It was a real burden."

Brady is trying to figure out how to solve the problem. In the meantime, he feels like he's being picked on.

[I] t is a little frustrating to be accused of not taking criticism when I think we did a good job of that," he said.

Sniff ...

Companion post at Diggers Realm.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/20/2006 07:54:00 PM

Jawa Nabs Jihadist

Congratulations to Dr. Rusty Shackleford!

Through his efforts at The Jawa Report, the FBI was alerted to jihadist Mohammed Radwan Obeid, a Jordanian-born American living in Dayton, Ohio. Obeid was attempting to form a terror cell to conduct "a big operation that will make 9/11 nothing but a little bit of headache." The FBI arrested Obeid and charged him with immigration violations and, later, for lying to federal investigators. Notably, the FBI case against Obeid necessitated the use of evidence gleaned from public library records as provided for by the Patriot Act.

Read Blogoversary Surprise and raise a toast to Dr. Shackleford.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/20/2006 04:33:00 PM

Latinos Shut Out on Free Credit Reports

An unintended consequence of the government requiring each credit bureau to provide Americans with one free credit report each year is that the credit bureaus communicate in the English language. Not all Americans do. Consequently, if a person doesn't speak English, navigation through the website, Annual Credit Report, is impossible.

From KansasCity.com:

Consumers Union said it is getting calls from Latinos in the United States and in Puerto Rico asking for translation assistance to navigate the new Web site where Americans can get a free annual credit report.

The consumer organization, which publishes Consumer Reports, is asking the three big credit bureaus that operate the Web site to voluntarily make this information available in a bilingual format.

The credit agencies, Equifax, Experian and TransUnion, are not required to be bilingual so the consumer organizations are starting to apply pressure. So far, letters have been drafted to request the change. If they don't get results, I expect the consumer advocates won't stop there. Ultimately, some politician will probably get involved and pressure the system to change.

I wonder if other non-English-speaking segments of the population will demand the same concessions? There are people who speak Chinese, Russian, Vietnamese, Arabic, Portuguese and other languages in the U.S. also. They would probably like to see their credit reports.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/20/2006 02:31:00 PM

Teacher Gets No Jail for Lesbian Sex with Student

(Lecanto, Florida) Updating a previous report, 36-year-old teacher and coach at Lecanto High School, Amy Gail Lilley, was arrested last November for engaging in a sexual relationship with a 15-year-old female student. Subsequently, Lilley resigned her teaching position.

Yesterday, as part of a plea agreement, Lilley pleaded no contest to a charge of lewd and lascivious battery of a child under 16 and was sentenced to two years house arrest and eight years probation. Terms of the probation require Lilley to permanently surrender her teaching certificate and to undergo counseling as a sexual offender. Lilley could have received up to 15 years in prison.

From FirstCoastNews.com:

Circuit Judge Ric Howard agreed to what he called a significantly reduced sentenced based on statements from Assistant State Attorney Rich Buxman and Lilley's attorney, Michael Blackstone.

Judge Howard also prohibited Lilley from having any contact with the victim. Oddly, it appears that Judge Howard will not require her to register as a sex offender.

It's worth noting that Lilley is the divorced mother of two and possibly the judge took that into consideration when he decided that she would get no jail. After all, who would take care of the kids? I can understand ... somewhat.

But I can also understand that Lilley is a 36-year-old college-educated woman, previously married, with kids, teaching and coaching for at least a decade, who had a sexual relationship with one of her students. She committed a serious felony. She should have known better. Much better.

This is not a May - December love story. Lilley was an adult in a position of authority who molested a young girl. Lilley should have been sentenced to some time behind bars, maybe not 15 years, but something. She should also be required to register as a sex offender.

In closing, I'll beat a dead horse. What would have been the sentence had a 36-year-old male teacher molested a 15-year-old girl? No jail? I think not.

Companion post at Conservative Thinking.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/20/2006 12:54:00 PM

Teacher Winkis Faces Multiple Child-Sex Charges

(York County, Pennsylvania) Updating a previous report, 30-year-old female English teacher at Central York High School, Robin Winkis, resigned her position as an employee of the school district, effective December 21. The school board voted to accept her resignation on Monday.

On Tuesday, Winkis waived her preliminary hearing before District Justice Barbara Nixon. Winkis is scheduled to enter her pleas to multiple charges on February 17 in York County Common Pleas Court. She currently faces ten misdemeanor and four felony counts related to corruption of a minor and child sex abuse.

Hat tip: Jason Cann


[Update 04/06/06]

Winkis pleads guilty.


[Update 07/19/06]

Winkis sentenced to prison.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/20/2006 10:30:00 AM

Health Plan Requires Sex Pledge

Homosexual partners or just roommates? Take the pledge.

From Gainesville.com:

University of Florida employees have to pledge that they're having sex with their domestic partners before qualifying for benefits under a new health care plan at the university.

The partners of homosexual and heterosexual employees are eligible for coverage under UF's plan, which will take effect in February. The enrollment process began this month, and some employees have expressed concern about an affidavit that requires a pledge of sexual activity.

Some people believe that pledging to an active homosexual relationship "could potentially bar an individual from participation in organizations like the Boy Scouts or the military."

I guess having to sign an affidavit that one is a homosexual inhibits future mendacity.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/20/2006 06:55:00 AM

Cleveland Named America's Smartest City

Yeah, I couldn't believe it either. But, apparently, the Intelligent Community Forum (ICF), a New York think tank, chose Cleveland among seven finalists globally for the Intelligent Community of the Year Award. No other American city was among the finalists.

The ICF chooses the cities based on the prevalence of high-speed Internet service. The winner will be chosen at a June conference.

This shows how nutty the world is. Last I checked, Cleveland has a school dropout rate hovering around 50 percent.

Even so, WOO-HOO! Hurrah for the home team!

Linked to Samantha Burns.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/20/2006 06:15:00 AM

American Civil Liberties Union vs. National Security Agency

In the subject lawsuit, Debbie Schlussel and Stop The ACLU.com are the primary interveners against the ACLU in their challenge of the NSA. This effort needs to be supported by every right-minded American. Add your name.

Go here to provide moral support, join the effort, and contribute if possible. Debbie will donate her time but filings fees must be paid. Pass it on.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/19/2006 10:29:00 AM

Chirac Threatens Nuclear Response

Since France has been largely passive with regard to global terrorism, this comes unexpectedly.

From KhaleejTimes.com:

ILE LONGUE MILITARY BASE, France - President Jacques Chirac warned on Thursday that France reserves the right to a nuclear response against any state that launches a "terrorist" attack against it.

"Leaders of any state that uses terrorist means against us, as well as any that may be envisaging in one way or another using weapons of mass destruction, must understand that they would be exposing themselves to a firm and appropriate response on our behalf," he said.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the only possible state he could be referring to has to be Iran.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/19/2006 07:36:00 AM

Readers Must Pay to Email the NY Times

Last year, the New York Times put its eight Op-Ed columnists behind a subscription wall called TimesSelect which required readers to pay to access the thoughts of Maureen Dowd, Paul Krugman, Frank Rich and the others. Now, the NYT has also decided that only TimesSelect subscribers should be allowed to e-mail its Op-Ed columnists.

It's been contended that the NYT is trying to force people into subscribing. Times spokesman Toby Usnik disputes the contention.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/19/2006 06:51:00 AM

Regarding Ken Blackwell for Ohio Governor

From Betsy's Page:

Whether Blackwell can pull off a victory in Ohio is in doubt. He may hold the lead now, but wait while the unions, NAACP, and other liberal interest groups unleash all their attacks. And the GOP in Ohio is so full of RINOs that they're opposing him too. The same Ohio GOP who have been raising taxes for years and electing weak leaders like Voinovich and Bob Taft don't want a real conservative like Blackwell to become the leader of their state party. We can hope that Ohio voters are more savvy than the Ohio GOP.

She's right. I've watched as Ohio Republican leaders have tried to duct tape themselves as conservatives while bending over for every liberal political breeze. It's worth noting that Mike DeWine is no different from Voinovich and Taft.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/19/2006 06:13:00 AM

CNN Hires Conservative Glenn Beck

Looking to siphon viewers from Bill O'Reilly, Joe Scarborough and other conservative hosts, CNN has hired former top 40 deejay and nationally syndicated radio host, the ultra-conservative Glenn Beck, to do an hour-long talk show.

Since CNN is a bastion of liberalism, I expect this move will produce considerable grumbling and maybe even fireworks. Beck will surely find an oil and water work environment.

Also: In The Bullpen.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/19/2006 05:17:00 AM

Convicted Rapist Gets No Jail

(Brockton, Massachusetts) Despite the prosecution's recommendation and the desires of the victim's parents, Judge Suzanne V. Delvecchio ruled that former teacher and child rapist, 26-year-old Gregory Pathiakis, hadn't been naughty enough to warrant any jail time.

After pleading guilty in Brockton Superior Court to one count of rape of a child, enticement of a child under 16, five counts of possession of child pornography and one count of distribution of harmful material to a child, Delvecchio gave him a suspended sentence and probation.

The case against Pathiakis resulted after a 15-year-old boy told authorities that the Middleboro High School teacher had raped him in December 2003. The teen stated he was subsequently forced to leave Middleboro High to be home schooled.

The prosecutors expressed disappointment in Delvecchio's decision but stopped short of being openly critical. The victim's parents feel cheated. I think it's a hand slap, at best. The only substantive element of Pathiakis' sentence appears to be a requirement to register as a sex offender. He'll probably take care of that as he walks out the door.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/19/2006 04:19:00 AM

Cushy Secret Prison for Sex Convicts Exposed

(Devens, Massachusetts) For the last year, the federal government has quietly deposited 459 convicted sex offenders at a cushy hospital in Massachusetts and, according to prison spokesman John Colautti, "very rewarding" psychiatric benefits to sex offenders are provided. Unfortunately, nobody told the local residents.

From Bostonherald.com:

[N]ews that Devens has quietly become home to hundreds of perverts shocked the Devens region, where the former military base is being transformed into housing and businesses.

"That's just scary," said Devens resident Kristi Stoltzfus, who learned of the program yesterday from a reporter. "They probably figured do it first, apologize later."

[ ... ]

The program wasn't intentionally kept secret, Colautti said. But Faye L. Morrison, chair of the Ayer board of selectmen, blasted the feds for keeping mum.

"I'm not saying it's not safe, but we need to know in case something happens," she said.

Interestingly, calls to the office of the district congressman, U.S. Rep. Martin Meehan (D-Lowell), were not returned. Meehan is probably in consultation with his damage control committee. I'm certain that the residents of just about Anytown, U.S.A., would be galled to all of a sudden learn that they had been swamped with perverts.

From Jay Tea at Wizbang who opines that the influx of federal sex offenders is likely a government program to counter Massachusetts' disturbing decline in population.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/18/2006 11:45:00 PM

Catherine Bosley Reporting Again

(Cleveland, Ohio) Congratulations to Catherine Bosley for finally getting a chance to repair her career in broadcast journalism. After Bosley disrobed in a Key West bar at a wet T-shirt event in a monumental lapse in judgment, resulting in her naked images being plastered on the Internet, she resigned her news anchor position with a Youngstown television station.

Bosley is now doing local news segments for 19 Action News in Cleveland. Just recently, I noticed that Bosley was doing narration for video news stories, and today I saw her actually reporting a local story. Strangely, the station's web page for the 19 Action News Team hasn't, as yet, been updated to reflect Bosley's presence.

No doubt the nature of the Internet will assure that the images of her one misstep will continue to haunt her, but I think she's strong enough and professional enough to overcome the criticism. Most reasonable people likely believe as I do, that the whole naked episode in her life, albeit sensational, really wasn't all that big a deal. I wish her luck.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/18/2006 08:27:00 PM

Kellogg Targeted by Food Nazis

It appears to me that some consumer advocate groups are simply extortionists.

From Adage.com:

Consumer groups upset about food marketing to children are unveiling today a "last resort" legal attack, a $2 billion suit accusing Kellogg and Nickelodeon of engaging in unfair and deceptive "marketing and sale of food of poor nutritional quality" to children under 8 years old.

Seizing on a Massachusetts consumer protection law that lets consumers sue on behalf of the state attorney general, the Center for Science in the Public Interest, the Center for a Commercial-Free Childhood and two Boston-area parents today said they are giving Kellogg and Viacom's Nickelodeon a required 30-day notice of an intent to sue and expect to proceed to court once the notice period expires.

The groups are willing to settle if they get the authority to dictate what Kellogg may market and what Nickelodeon may advertise. Otherwise,

The notice asks for $25 each time a Massachusetts child under 8 saw a Kellogg's ad for "nutritionally poor" products; an ad on Nickelodeon for any company's nutritionally poor products; or Nickelodeon characters like SpongeBob SquarePants promoting nutritionally poor food over the past four years, a total that the suit claims could reach billions of dollars.

So, in a nutshell, these groups want final say on the products a business sells and a broadcaster advertises or they want their vigorish. Presumably, if Kellogg and Nickelodeon pay the vig, they'll get "protection."
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       Following Entry Posted 1/18/2006 05:35:00 AM

Weapons Found in Car at U.S.-Canada Border

(Blaine, Washington) The erratic behavior of a traveler prompted Canadian officials to search his car at a border crossing. Weapons and a suspected bomb were found.

From ABC News:

The firearms a 9 mm handgun, two shotguns and a rifle were found in a car that had just passed through the Peace Arch border crossing at about 9:30 p.m., Royal Canadian Mounted Police said in a statement.

RCMP initially said a device found in the car's engine compartment was an improvised explosive device but later said it was not a bomb after an explosives team examined it.

The device "had some wires protruding from it and was suspicious in nature," according to a statement signed by RCMP Cpl. Roger Morrow.

The border was closed for about two and one-half hours. According to Cpl. Morrow, the man appeared to be mentally ill and no criminal charges are planned.

Okay, I've got a question. Which jurisdiction allows mentally ill people to have weapons? It's my understanding that mental illness disqualifies a person from buying or owning a weapon.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/18/2006 04:40:00 AM

Teen Sex Party at Beach

(San Diego, California) As a parent, this story is disturbing to me. Sheriff's deputies caught three teenagers having sex at a Southern California beach.

From NBCSandiego.com:

Deputies said the incident, which happened early Tuesday morning at Swamis Beach in Encinitas, is not an isolated one.

Deputies on patrol said they spotted a teenage girl talking on a cell phone and pacing in the parking lot. After making contact with her, they looked into a nearby vehicle and saw two other 14-year-old girls and a 17-year-old boy having sex.

Police said the teens involved had been drinking. They took the teens in for medical testing before releasing them to their parents.

Deputies said the teens would likely not face any charges. Like I mentioned, as a parent, this is disturbing. However, as a hormonal and hedonistic youth in a previous life, this is totally awesome.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/18/2006 03:38:00 AM

Kidnap Plot on Tony Blair's Son Foiled

(London) Scotland Yard sources have confirmed that police have foiled a plot to kidnap Prime Minister Tony Blair's five-year-old son, Leo.

From the Guardian:

Detectives have investigated a plot to kidnap Tony Blair's son, Leo, after it emerged that extremists linked to the fathers' rights group Fathers4Justice were allegedly intending to snatch the Blairs' youngest child as a form of direct action.

Downing Street last night refused to comment on a report in the Sun newspaper that the police had foiled the attempt in which Leo would have been held hostage to highlight the plight of fathers denied access to their children.

Authorities believe the plot was to hold the boy only for a short period of time and then let him go unharmed. Anti-terrorist police took immediate action to investigate rumors of the plot, visiting members of Fathers4Justice and warning them that someone would likely be shot on sight if the plan was acted on.

Matt O'Conner, founder of Fathers4Justice, condemned the plot unreservedly, stating, "We're in the business of uniting dads with their kids not separating them." Even so, some extreme members or former members have been implicated in the kidnap plot prompting O'Conner to shut down Fathers4Jusctice.

From Fathers4Justice Official Website:

F4J leader Matt O'Connor announced last night that he was suspending the operations of the group pending enquiries into allegations contained on the cover of this mornings Sun Newspaper that 'extremist sympathisers' associated with the group had planned to kidnap the Prime Minister's Son, Leo Blair.

F4J say they condemn any such action unreservedly and that the group is increasingly having it's name 'hijacked' by a growing number of militant extremists and that it would seriously consider the long term viability of the campaign.

O'Conner also called for the police to immediately release the names of the likely suspects and prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law. I give O'Conner credit for taking immediate action to condemn the plot and to distance himself from the perpetrators. However, criminal plots don't materialize from thin air in activist organizations without word getting around, so one has to wonder just how extreme the Fathers4Justice membership is at its core.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/17/2006 11:57:00 PM

Saudis Arrest Al Qaeda Terrorists

(Riyadh, Saudi Arabia) Good news! Saudi Arabian officials have announced the apprehension of nine suspected militants (their words) in two different operations by security police.

From Arabnews.com:

Security forces have arrested five suspected Al-Qaeda militants, including one foreigner, following a raid in Riyadh. The security forces also learned that the group was planning terrorist attacks in the Kingdom.

The statement from the Interior Ministry carried by the Saudi Press Agency said: "Four nationals and one (foreign) resident were arrested during a raid on a hide-out in Riyadh."

There was an improvised bomb-factory inside the hide-out. None of the five men were on a list of 36 most-wanted terrorists issued by the ministry last year.

"During a search of their hide-out, the (security forces) confiscated ... explosive materials in addition to electronic CDs and documents which prove that they are members of the deviant group," the ministry said. The documents also indicated "criminal plans to carry out destructive attacks inside the Kingdom," the ministry said. The security forces also discovered "equipment to forge documents."

Also confiscated were 12 hand grenades and 1,000,000 Saudi riyals (about $267,000).

In another operation on Monday,

[S]ecurity sources said that police arrested at least four suspected militants in raids on different houses in the northeast Riyadh neighborhood of Al-Fahs Al-Dawry. Dozens of police cars backed by security forces filled the streets of the neighborhood which includes a number of male-only cafes and rest houses.

Although this is great news, it's a little troubling that we never hear what happens to these terrorists when they go to court. Given that Saudi Arabia is a Muslim nation, I wouldn't be surprised if many terrorists are let go with minor punishment. Frankly, not knowing is the hard part.

It's also somewhat ironic that the Arab News can call al Qaeda a "deviant group" which was "planning terrorist attacks," but real care is used not to call the terrorists terrorists. Maybe they want to fend off accusations that Saudi Arabia is a breeding ground and home for terrorists (i.e. "We have no terrorists, just militants."). If so, they're late. That train has left the station.

Companion post at The Jawa Report.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/17/2006 11:41:00 PM

Rep. Murtha - Muslim Media Star

Check out the lead story on the English Home Page of Aljazeera.com for January 17, 2006.

Truth Buried Under Bush's Lies

"Bush is trying to fight this war with rhetoric. Iraq is not where the center of terrorism is .... We're inciting terrorism there.... We're destabilizing the area because we're the targets..."

Quoted from a speech by Rep. John P. Murtha (D-Pa.)

The Aljazeera piece is a scathing bag of distortions and lies. And credit for the eye-catching tagline goes to Congressman Murtha. I guess this is an example of how the Democrats support the global war on terror and the troops.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/17/2006 12:58:00 PM

New Orleans Mayor Nagin

The leftists really need to get everybody voicing the same message. For the last year, the Democrats have framed the argument that President Bush was directly responsible for the upsurge in natural disasters. They claimed that Bush directly causes the global warming that results in tsunamis and hurricanes.

Well, apparently New Orleans Mayor Nagin didn't get the memo. Nagin claims that God caused the hurricanes because he is mad. Now, that is definitely not in the Democrats essentially secular playbook. God is never in the equation as far as the liberals are concerned.

However, there is a bit of redemption possible for Nagin since he claims that the reason God is mad is that Bush started a war in Iraq. Maybe he'll be forgiven by the Democrats since he made Bush ultimately responsible.

My opinion is that Mayor Nagin's God must be in his colon. Otherwise, Nagin couldn't hear the divine messages on which he bases his assinine statements.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/17/2006 10:21:00 AM

Kidnapped American Oil Worker Identified

(Lagos, Nigeria) The story of the four foreign oil workers kidnapped a week ago has been slowly developing. Very slowly.

From the BBC:

The four foreign oil workers kidnapped by Nigerian militants have told Reuters news agency they are in good health.

The four - from the UK, US, Bulgaria and Honduras - were taken hostage by armed men on speedboats a week ago while in the Niger Delta region.

[ ... ]

"I'd like y'all to contact my family and let them know that I'm alright, these people are treating me good, but the climate is not what it should be," a man identifying himself as US citizen Patrick Landry told Reuters by telephone.

So, based on the reporting thus far, we know the names of three of the four abducted oil workers: Brit Nigel Watson-Clark, Bulgarian Milko Nichev, and American Patrick Landry. The fourth hostage is believed to be Honduran and has yet to be named.

With the slow progress toward resolving the crisis, the kidnappers, called the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND), have added to their list of demands. Now, their demands include:

- Local control of the region's oil wealth
- The payment of $1.5bn by Shell to Bayelsa State to compensate for pollution
- The release of separatist leader Mujahid Dokubu Asari, being held on treason charges
- The release of former Bayelsa State governor Diepreye Alamieyaseigha, accused of corruption and money-laundering
- The release of another ethnic Ijaw militant. [Note: The Ijaw is a tribal population who inhabit the Niger River delta.]

I suppose the Nigerian military is slowly inching toward confronting the kidnappers but, in the meantime, there's no measurable progress. That is, except for the terrorist kidnapperss, who attacked another oil pumping installation over the weekend, prompting Royal Dutch Shell to evacuate 330 workers.

Shell currently operates 1,000 wells with about 80 pumping stations in the delta region. Recent attacks have caused oil production from Nigeria to drop 10 percent putting upward pressure on world oil prices. Ominously, MEND stated its goal is to "totally destroy the capacity of the Nigerian government to export oil" and advised all oil workers to leave because they cannot be adequately protected.


[Update 1105 EST]

From The Jawa Report, the fourth hostage has been identified as Honduran Harry Ebanks.


[Update 01/30/06]

Workers freed.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/17/2006 07:36:00 AM

Female Counselor Pleads Not Guilty to Sex Crimes

(Klamath Falls, Oregon) A 33-year-old youth counselor, Naomi Morton, was arraigned Friday before Judge Richard Rambo in Klamath County Circuit Court for alleged sexual abuse of a 17-year-old boy. Morton pleaded not guilty to three counts of sexual misconduct, three counts of contributing to the sexual delinquency of a minor and three counts of sex abuse.

Morton met the boy through a Lutheran Community Services program contracted by the Klamath Falls City Schools. Schools Superintendent Cecelia Amuchastegui stated that parents of students who had contact with Morton have been notified of her arrest.

The Oregon Department of Human Services has taken custody of Morton's two children and placed them with relatives. Morton will be allowed supervised visitation. Specifying that she have no contact with the victim, Judge Rambo released Morton from jail on her own recognizance. Her next court appearance is scheduled for February 7.


[Update 01/11/07]

Morton reversed herself, pleaded guilty and was sentenced.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/17/2006 06:55:00 AM

Woman, 38, Arrested for Raping Boy

(Lincoln, Alabama) A 38-year-old unidentified woman was arrested last Wednesday for allegedly raping and sodomizing a 15-year-old high school student from Ragland. The boy is reported to be a friend of the woman's daughter. Police started an investigation after being alerted by the boy's mother who caught the woman having sex with her son.

If convicted of the charges against her, second-degree rape and sodomy, the woman faces up to 20 years prison on each count.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/17/2006 06:38:00 AM

Woman Jailed for Sexual Abuse of Boy

(Rockton, Illinois) For an alleged months-long relationship with a 15-year-old boy, a 40-year-old South Beloit woman, Marie Ehrhart, was jailed last Thursday in Rockton and charged with aggravated criminal sexual abuse. The same day, the boy's mother took out an order of protection for Ehrhart to stay away from the 15-year-old. After posting 10 percent of $5,000 bond, Ehrhart was released.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/16/2006 11:27:00 PM

Death From Sucking Engine

(El Paso, Texas) On occasion I've heard of this happening, but this is the first time I've seen it reported by the media.

From KFOXTV.com:

Continental Airlines confirmed a mechanic at El Paso International Airport was killed Monday morning after he was apparently sucked into the jet engine of a Houston-bound plane.

Airline officials say the accident involving Flight 1515 happened during a maintenance check before takeoff.

The man wasn't identified.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/16/2006 07:58:00 PM

ACLU Throws More Manure

From Jay at Stop The ACLU:

The ACLU put out a full page ad today using the legacy of MLK to further their anti-Bush campaign over NSA. They took the history of how MLK was illegally wiretapped, and compared it to what Bush did with NSA. The ad is very disrespectful, and I found the wording interesting, how they automatically called the terror suspects under NSA surveillance innocent Americans, and assume Bush automatically guilty.

No matter how we view MLK, we all know he was against violence as a means of achieving political goals. Opposite that of the terrorist the ACLU defend, and compare him too in this ad.

I just can't understand how people join and donate to the ACLU. It seems everything it does attacks traditional America in the name of civil liberty. In this latest case, it's equating Martin Luther King with terror suspects.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/16/2006 07:45:00 AM

The Money Train

(New York) The New York subway's secret "money train," which has historically made early-morning cash collections from station booths throughout the system, has stopped running. According to the Post, the train has been retired and cash pickups will now be made by armored car. Of course, transit officials continue to maintain their policy of keeping the existence of the train a secret, even though it doesn't exist any longer.

"We do not discuss the money train," said James Anyansi, a transit spokesman. "And we will not say whether it is still running."

Got that? Baghdad Bob couldn't have said it better.

Since there was a Hollywood movie about the "secret" money train, distributed world-wide over ten years ago, one has to assume that NY transit authority personnel keep secrets as well as the CIA.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/15/2006 05:39:00 AM

Nikon Sunsets Film Cameras

This should come as no surprise.

Nikon Corp., which helped popularize the 35mm camera five decades ago, will stop making most of its film cameras to concentrate on digital models.

The Japanese company said it would discontinue seven film-camera models, leaving in production only the current top-line model, the F6, and a low-end manual-focus model, the FM10.

It will also stop making most of its manual-focus lenses.

Products will be discontinued when stocks run out. Except for maybe some selected applications, I guess we can expect the end of photographic film too.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/15/2006 02:16:00 AM

Female Teacher Kissed and Fondled Young Girl

(Augusta County, Virginia) Last July, 49-year-old former music teacher at Beverley Manor Middle School, Shelby Sue Shelton, was arrested and charged with carnal knowledge of a minor and taking indecent liberties with a child. Shelton had been accused of having sex on multiple occasions in the 1990s with a former female student who was 13 and 14 years old at the time.

Last Thursday, Shelton was found guilty by a judge of sexually abusing the young teen girl. The prosecutor described Shelton as a ravenous sexual predator who kissed and fondled the young girl on at least 100 occasions. Sentencing on the Shelton case wasn't disclosed.


[Update 06/04/06]

Shelton sentenced to four and one-half years in prison.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/14/2006 08:44:00 PM

Teacher Arrested For Indecent Liberties

(Chesterfield, Virginia) A 39-year-old special education teacher at L.C. Bird High School, Kimberly Anmarie Padua, was arrested Wednesday and charged with taking indecent liberties with a minor by a person in a custodial relationship.

For some reason, the Chesterfield County School authorities are not releasing any information which has upset some parents of students. They have been having to rely on the media for information about their school system. Consequently, few details about Padua and her alleged offenses are available.

Padua bonded out of jail and is scheduled to appear in Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court next Wednesday.

(Hat Tip - Jason Cann)


[Update 08/30/06]

Padua pleads guilty, sentenced to 30 days in jail.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/14/2006 07:38:00 PM

Teacher Gets 90 Days for Sex with Boy

(San Francisco, California) A 32-year-old former teacher at Luther Burbank Middle School, Nieka Arreola, was sentenced to 90 days in the county jail for seducing and engaging in sex with a 14-year-old boy. According to Deputy District Attorney Rebecca Wagner, Arreola started "grooming" the boy for sex starting at the age of 13. It apparently took a year. Ultimately, she and the boy were caught in February 2004 by the police as they were steaming up the windows of a car in McLaren Park.

In accordance with the terms of a plea agreement, Superior Court Judge Herbert Donaldson could have sentenced her to one year but decided not to. Arreola will, however, spend 90 days on house arrest after she is released from jail and she will have to register as a sexual predator. She also loses her teaching credentials.

In my opinion, the sentence is lenient but there appears to be some justification. Arreola has a newborn baby at home and maybe Judge Donaldson took that into consideration. I don't know. What I would like to know, however, is how her husband is handling the situation and whether it's been determined who the baby's father is. Hopefully, it's her husband.

Companion post at Conservative Thinking.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/14/2006 06:01:00 PM

Shelley Winters (1922-2006)

(Beverly Hills) Veteran actress, two-time Academy Award Winner and former roommate of Marilyn Monroe, Shelley Winters, has died of heart failure at the age of 83. With more than half a century in the movie business, Winters was also noted to have been a companion to many of Hollywood's famous leading men.

Winters received Oscars for performances in "The Diary of Anne Frank" and "A Patch of Blue." She's been a personal favorite performer of mine. May she rest in peace.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/14/2006 12:44:00 PM

Gay Activists Intentionally Taint Blood Supply

(South Africa) This story is disturbing.

From the Independent Online:

The Gay and Lesbian Alliance (GLA) yesterday declared war on the South African National Blood Service (SANBS), as scores of its members turned up to donate blood under false pretences.

And, a shocking 65 percent of the gay men who donated blood without disclosing their sexual preference are unsure whether they are HIV- positive.

On Friday, about 300 men complied with a plea by the GLA to its claimed 100 000 male members to donate blood to SANBS centres across the country, but not to disclose their sexual orientation.

The request is a part of an ongoing national campaign to protest the SANBS policy of excluding men who engage in sexual activity with other men from donating blood.

David Baxter, media director for GLA, said on Friday that 65 percent of the members of GLA who had donated blood were unsure whether they were HIV-positive. He later said one of the donors had full-blown Aids.

Someone should be prosecuted, pure and simple. Afterward, the Gay and Lesbian Alliance (GLA) should be sued into bankruptcy. Tainting the blood supply should not be viewed as a prank.


[Update 01/22/06]

A week has transpired since South African homosexuals declared war on the nation's blood supply and largely nothing has happened except talk.

From Independent Online:

The South African Blood Service (SANBS) said on Friday it still considers a gay and lesbian organisation's claim that some of its members donated blood without disclosing their sexual status a threat.

This week SANBS publicity manager Gail Nothard said: "It hasn't been confirmed, so we still have to consider it a threat unless we know for absolutely sure. We can't disregard it as a hoax. We would never disregard a claim that we can't confirm."

On the other side, David Baxter of the Gay and Lesbian Alliance said, in a somewhat watered-down followup to last week's statement, that "some members who may have been HIV positive had donated blood to SANBS centres across the country." Previously, he said that one donor even had full-blown AIDS. Also,

Baxter said he would continue to urge the organisation's members to donate blood without disclosing their sexual orientation until the SANBS change a donor questionnaire question which asks whether or not the male donor has engaged in sex with another man or men in the last five years.

Consequently, it appears that the homosexual community has issues with the screening questionnaire more than anything else. Simply put, they're protesting a piece of paper.

I sincerely must be the only person that sees this as an act of terror, or at least extortion, against the health care system in South Africa. As such, somebody should be arrested. I don't see any difference between the threat to taint the blood supply of a nation and the threat to release a cloud of sarin gas in a crowded subway system.

And for what? Adding potentially HIV-infected blood to the system provides no benefits, only more risk. Not only that, but this is all happening in a part of the continent that already has an HIV/AIDS epidemic. Even considering the political aspects of the situation, it seems clear that the South Africans need some adult leadership.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/14/2006 11:10:00 AM

Terrorist Set Free

(Vancouver, British Columbia) I don't get it. What loose logic allows the release of terrorists? They regularly prove that they're willing to commit suicide to kill innocent victims. Why ever release them?

From the Seattle Times:

An Algerian-born man accused of helping in the millennium plot to bomb the Los Angeles airport was quietly deported from Canada after years fighting for refugee status there, officials said Friday.

Samir Ait Mohamed was put aboard a flight leaving Vancouver airport Wednesday, officials said, after he voluntarily agreed to drop his fight against the deportation order.

Janis Ferguson of the Canada Border Services Agency said Canada had been seeking Mohamed's detention after the United States dropped its extradition request last August. Ferguson said she could not reveal his destination, but said suspects were typically returned to their homeland. Though Algerian by birth, Mohamed lived in Britain and Germany before coming to Canada in 1997.

So, there you have it. Mohamed is implicated in the plot to attack the Los Angeles International Airport and what's his sentence? Nothing. He walks. Or, rather, he flies -- somewhere. For some reason, his destination is protected information.

This episode with Samir Ait Mohamed illustrates the exact wrong way to fight terrorism. Mark my words. The thug bastard will show up again and chances are that some innocent people died along the way.

Companion post at In The Bullpen.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/14/2006 09:04:00 AM

Woman Bugged for Sex by Boy

(Centralia, Illinois) A 27-year-old Deerwood Mobile Home Park woman, Larrisa Ann Bray, apparently could not resist the advances made toward her by a 16-year-old boy and succumbed to having sex with him. Bray's statement to the Centralia Police was that the boy had been "bugging her for sex."

Bray pleaded guilty in Clinton County Court to criminal sexual abuse and will be sentenced on March 30th. She faces from three to seven years in prison and a fine of up to $25,000.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/14/2006 07:37:00 AM

Nigerian Oil Worker Kidnappings

(Lagos, Nigeria) At present, the news reporting on the attack and kidnappings in the Nigerian offshore oil field in the Gulf of Guinea continues to be spotty. It's known that about 40 armed men boarded an oil industry service vessel named Liberty Service and took four foreign workers as hostages. The Nigerian Navy was able to track and locate the kidnappers and hostages on another boat. Contact was made and the four foreigners were reported to be safe.

The names of two of the kidnapped workers have been confirmed: Bulgarian Milko Nichev and Brit Nigel Watson-Clark. A third name was mentioned, Brit Pat Crawlay, but there's been no confirmation. An American was kidnapped according to several reports, however, he has not been identified.

A previously-unknown group called the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND) has claimed responsibility for the kidnappings and has demanded the release of two political leaders from jail. They are former Nigerian state governor Alamieyeseigha, jailed in the capitol of Abuja after being arrested in London for money laundering, and Niger Delta guerrilla chief, Alhaji Asari Dokubo.

The leader of the group of kidnappers has been identified as Brutus Etikpaden, who indicated that his group would fight any rescue attempt and the hostages would die in the crossfire. Notably, but unconfirmed, among the abducted foreign workers is a Honduran or a Hungarian.

In closely-related news, a pipeline explosion killed several people and caused a reduction of Nigerian oil production. Developments in the story will be blogged.

More details are here.

Companion post at The Jawa Report.


[Update 01/30/06]

Workers freed.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/13/2006 08:08:00 PM

Zawahiri Targeted

Hopefully, there's a followup report that indicates success.

From a Reuters report:

A U.S. airstrike in Pakistan targeted al Qaeda's No. 2 Ayman al-Zawahiri but it was unclear if he had been killed, CNN quoted U.S. sources as saying on Friday.

Keep your fingers crossed.


[Update]

Chad Evans has the story covered. Go visit.

Unfortunately, civilian fatalities resulted from the strike of the safe house believed to have housed Zawahiri. Pakistani officials will count and recover bodies at first light. Identification may take some time.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/13/2006 05:21:00 PM

Ted Koppel Joins N.Y. Times Op-Ed Team

While fine young commentators can't wait for the chance to jump from a newspaper job to a national television slot, old warhorses usually go in the opposite direction. So, Ted Koppel trading the television lights to write opinion pieces for the New York Times is just part of the natural chain of events. Ted Koppel probably won't, however, have a noticeable effect on the the overall editorial slant. He'll just be absorbed into the existing MSM nucleus.

Nevertheless, it will be a change for Koppel. He admits that sitting and writing op-ed pieces is a much more time-consuming job than preparing for half-hour "Nightline" shows. Of course, Koppel is up to the task of doing commentaries but, at heart, he considers himself to be a reporter.

"I still think it's possible to keep those two things separate," he said.

Consequently, Koppel is going to walk into the offices of the New York Times with the notion that there's a difference between reporting the news and commenting on the news.

At the New York Times, I think Koppel might want to keep that thought to himself.

Submitted as SBP.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/13/2006 07:55:00 AM

Lebanon Arrests 13 Al-Qaeda Suspects

(Beirut, Lebanon) Here's some good news.

From KhaleejTimes.com:

Lebanese security forces have arrested 13 suspected members of Al Qaeda on charges of weapons possession, security and judiciary sources said on Friday.

They said investigations were underway to determine whether the suspects -- seven Syrians, three Lebanese, one Saudi, one Jordanian with Lebanese nationality and one Palestinian -- had carried out or were planning to launch attacks.

Although the announcement was made earlier today, the actual arrests are believed to have taken place two weeks ago. Nonetheless, the fact that the alleged terrorists are in jail is great news.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/13/2006 06:51:00 AM

German Spies Helped U.S. in Iraq Invasion

(Berlin) Two news outlets reported on Wednesday that German intelligence agents assisted the United States military during the invasion of Iraq. The German Foreign Minister has denied the allegations.

From Deutsche Welle:

In a front page story in the respected Suddeutsche Zeitung (SZ), renowned investigative journalist Hans Leyendecker and colleague Wolfgang Krach quoted a high-ranking German security source as saying that two Federal Intelligence Agency agents (BND) in Baghdad helped the US military assess targets during the air invasion of Iraq in the war's opening weeks.

The office of Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, who thrust US-German relations into an ice age through his disapproval of the Iraq invasion, reportedly knew about the cooperation and approved of it, according to the article. The cooperation was made after a "political decision" by Schroeder's coalition government. "This wasn't the decision of some department head," the SZ quoted their source as saying.

Well, well, well! Give the man a knockwurst and a stein of good German beer. All along, the Germans were giving the impression that they were not helping and they allegedly really were. Of course, we can also credit someone for leaking classified information and a loudmouth media. Here's some details.

The report was indirectly confirmed by a former US defense official in the German television program "Panorama." Whereas the article in the SZ said the agents were involved in reporting targets on the ground that shouldn't be attacked, the US defense official claimed the agents did much more.

The BND gave "direct support" in "selecting targets," said the official. One example of that support: a BND agent drove to the Baghdad district Mansur in an armored limousine in order to confirm US suspicions that a caravan of cars carrying Iraqi officials, including Saddam Hussein, was driving through the area. The information he relayed on April 7, 2003, was reportedly used in an immediate bomb attack on a complex of buildings in which at least 12 people died.

Support in the selection of targets where people died indicates the Germans were directly participating in the war.

All the German leftists are having a fit.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/13/2006 05:40:00 AM

Oil Workers Taken Hostage in Nigeria

(Lagos, Nigeria) Three boats carrying armed men stormed a servicing vessel at a Royal Dutch Shell-operated offshore oil field and took four workers hostage. Reporting is sketchy regarding the names and the nationalities of the hostages. Unconfirmed as kidnapped are:

Milko Nichev - Bulgarian

Pat Crawlay - UK

Nigel Watson-Clark - UK

Other nationalities mentioned are American, Hungarian, and Honduran. (Source)


[Update 0600 EST]

Little-Known Group Claims Responsibility

From Novinite.com:

In an e-mail message, whose authenticity has not been verified, the group, calling itself the Martyrs' Brigade, demands for the release from prison of a former governor from a state in the southern delta of Niger.

The group, which says to be a breakaway faction of the Niger Delta People's Volunteer Force, also claimed responsibility for the attack on the pipeline operated by Royal Dutch Shell, for which the four hostages worked.

All four hostages, who are believed to be Bulgarian Milko Nichev, a Honduran, an American and a Briton, were employed by Nigerian company Tidex, which is a subsidiary of the American company.

A spokesman for Shell Oil indicated that the four were a Honduran, a Bulgarian, a Briton and an American. The reporting continues to conflict.


[Update 1930 EST]

From the Scotsman, there's confirmation that Mr. Nigel Watson-Clark is one of the hostages.

During a phone call to the Associated Press in Lagos, Nigel Watson-Clark, a former paratrooper and father of three from Saltford, near Bath, said: "They're treating us fine.

They want control of their oilfields and the release of (militia leader Mujahid) Dokubo-Asari."

The kidnapping of the four oil service workers was directed by a man named Brutus Etikpaden who indicated that his group would fight any rescue attempt and the hostages would die in the crossfire.

To prove his group was holding the hostages, Etikpaden passed the phone to two of the men he said his group had abducted - one identified himself as American, the other as Mr Watson-Clark.

The report doesn't name the American.


[Update 01/14/06, 0800 EST]

Followup post.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/13/2006 03:00:00 AM

Former Neo-Nazi Manages Black Workers

(Kansas City, Kansas) See what you think of this story.

From KansasCity.com:

Ten months ago, the self-proclaimed national director of Aryan Nations, a virulently racist and anti-Semitic group, announced plans to move its headquarters to Kansas City, Kan.

The resulting community outcry led the director, Charles J. Juba, to quit the group, which proclaims that Jews are "the children of Satan" and blacks are "beasts of the field." His supposed successor then announced the Aryan Nations would move to Sebring, Fla.

Juba, however, stayed in town, taking a job with a 63-year-old Kansas City die cutting business. In short order he became the plant manager of the business, Gasket Engineering Co.

That might not be particularly noteworthy -- except that more than 80 percent of the plant's 87 employees are black. And Juba's immediate supervisor, besides being black, is gay.

I would disagree with the reporting since I believe that advancing from temporary worker to plant manager in a matter of weeks is particularly noteworthy. Nonetheless, that's fine and laudable. Being successful shouldn't be criticized.

However, Juba being consumed with hatred for blacks and Jews is worthy of comment, especially when he has to get along in an environment with a majority of blacks on the workforce. And, even more troubling, Juba "continues to spout many of his old beliefs." During a recent interview in his supervisor's office, he called Jews the "spawn of Satan" and said races shouldn't mix. Juba is also quoted as saying,

"My opinions are my own. I think I'm entitled to them. I never let them affect my work in the past, and I won't now."

True enough, Mr. Juba, but what about the work environment? I imagine that there is more than a little tension in the air. About 60 black workers are not going to forget what you represent.

Looking at the situation from the company's standpoint, placing Mr. Juba in a decision-making position over a largely black workforce has to be courting disaster. Even a relatively insignificant dust-up between Juba and a black worker could be amplified into a major civil rights case by the greenest of law school graduates. After all, the groundwork in proving bias and malice is essentially a matter of record. And, there's also the potential for other civil lawsuits against the company.

Since I'm not a civil rights attorney, maybe my cynicism and alarm is overreaching. But just from a common sense standpoint, putting an avowed bigot in a position of authority over black employees is equivalent to putting the fox in charge of the chickens.

I personally wouldn't take the risk. If it works out that Juba and the workers can coexist peacefully, fine. But, if it doesn't work, Gasket Engineering Co. can probably anticipate some very costly lawsuits. Prudent business strategists customarily attempt to avoid such a degree of vulnerability to litigation.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/12/2006 07:08:00 PM

Why Me?

I just got an email that begs me to jump up and join an effort to stop Judge Alito from being confirmed by the Senate. It appears to have originated from MoveOn.org and came to me via an environmental activist. The sender, identified as wethepeople@emailtocongress.com, tells me that I have to act to save the country from the new American dictatorship.

Now, it's obvious to me that the people sending the email haven't read Interested-Participant. Had they, they would know that I consider leftists to be socialists in liberal skins. They would also know that I believe socialism is a proven method to guarantee poverty and the loss of freedom. And, lastly, my unqualified support for Judge Alito would be quite apparent.

Their mailing list needs to be vetted. Even so, I have to wonder how I ended up on it in the first place.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/12/2006 05:52:00 PM

Blogger Outage

Received this message:

Blogger will be down for ~10 minutes this afternoon at 3:30pm PST, for some network maintenance.

Very considerate, I'd say. Ten minutes, though, is not very long.

Hmmm ...
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       Following Entry Posted 1/12/2006 05:42:00 PM

Teacher Absconds with Boy to Mexico

(Tompkinsville, Kentucky) A former eighth-grade teacher at Monroe County Middle School, Angela Comer (right), was arrested at a hotel in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, after allegedly running away with a missing 14-year-old Kentucky student. Comer (aka Angela Combs), 26, with her 4-year-old son and the 14-year-old boy were turned over to U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers by Mexican authorities at the Laredo International Bridge.

According to FBI spokesman Rene Salinas, the missing boy and Comer's young son were taken into protective custody while Comer was booked into the Webb County Jail. Tompkinsville Police Chief Dale Ford said that Comer faces a charge of custodial interference in Kentucky and she is also wanted on a federal warrant for unlawful flight to avoid prosecution.

Tompkinsville police believe there's evidence to indicate that Comer and the boy had been engaged in a romantic and intimate relationship. It's currently not completely clear what prompted them to flee to Mexico. The investigation continues. (H/T to reader Jason)

Companion post at Conservative Thinking.


[Update 05/09/07]

Comer pleads guilty.


[Update 07/19/07]

Comer sentenced.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/12/2006 08:57:00 AM

ACLU Wants Jesus Censored

Jay Stephenson of Stop The ACLU is getting the word out on the story of the ACLU attacking the Fredericksburg City Council and efforts by one councilman, Hashmel Turner, to fight back.

The ACLU threatened to sue the Fredericksburg City Council if it didn't change its prayer policy to eliminate references to Jesus Christ, which it did. Notably, the ACLU in all cases attacks only Christian prayer while allowing other beliefs. On this basis, Turner filed suit claiming the new prayer policy violates his constitutional rights.

Filed in the U.S. District Court in Richmond, Turner's lawsuit calls the new prayer policy "an unlawful attempt by the City Council to prescribe the content of prayers given at City Council meetings by Turner and other members of City Council." Turner seeks no damages. He only wants to say Jesus Christ at the end of the prayer. More details on the Turner case are here. Go visit.

This post is part of a Stop The ACLU Blogburst. If you would like to join, please email Jay at Jay@stoptheaclu.com or Gribbit at GribbitR@gmail.com. You will be added to our mailing list and blogroll. Join over 115 blogs already on-board.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/12/2006 07:05:00 AM

18 Registered Sex Offenders in One Home

(Lorain, Ohio) No less than other states, Ohio must deal with the problem of helping convicted sex offenders transition back into society after their prison terms have been completed. All ex-cons have a hard time returning to society, but it's even rougher for sex offenders. Most troublesome is the fact that state and local laws are being enacted which restrict where they may live.

To provide for the transition of sex offenders into society, the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections is funding a facility in Lorain called the Compass House, formerly a drug and alcohol rehab center. Eighteen registered sex offenders from throughout the state will soon call Compass House home. Not everyone is pleased.

According to Lorain Police Chief Cel Rivera, "The housing of 18 registered sex offenders under one roof creates a direct threat to residents who already are living in one of the city's more dangerous neighborhoods." It's hard to disagree.

Compass House is in a residential neighborhood filled with children, schools and churches, and Rivera is concerned that executives at Compass House have become too concerned with money rather than the community's best interest.

"They're chasing the money," Rivera said. "They're going to lose support from the community and become a liability -- it only takes one."

That's right. It will likely take only one sex crime for the community to explode with rage. Given the circumstances, it sure seems to be an exceedingly high-risk location for a transitional housing program. There's way too much temptation.

Keep an eye on the news. Unlike social workers, I don't believe that sex offenders can be cured nor rehabilitated. Registered sex offenders are ticking bombs and there are 18 of them in one house in Lorain, Ohio.

Nevertheless, to be fair, the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections is trying to solve a difficult problem and, frankly, I don't have a better solution. That is unless the transition program could be outsourced to another country.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/12/2006 01:50:00 AM

Muslim Leader Investigated for Homophobia

(London) Here's a case where the rules of political correctness will completely muffle Scotland Yard.

From the Independent Online:

The head of the Muslim Council of Britain is being investigated by police after denouncing homosexuality as immoral and claiming it spreads disease.

Sir Iqbal Sacranie also provoked outrage last week when he complained that civil partnerships risked damaging society's foundations.

Scotland Yard's community safety unit, which investigates homophobia and hate crime, is considering whether Sir Iqbal has broken telecommunications laws or the 1986 Public Order Act, which forbids the use of "threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour within the hearing or sight of a person likely to be caused harassment, alarm or distress or thereby."

Two things. First of all, in my opinion there's no way that Scotland Yard will prosecute Sacranie ... for anything. The Brits bend over for the Muslims all the time and they'll surely not go after one that's been knighted by the Queen.

Secondly, I don't see the homosexuals making too big a stink about Sacranie's remarks since they don't want to make themselves a primary target of Muslim hostility. Also, the gay and Muslim communities are essentially bedfellows pursuing defeat of mutual foes -- Christianity, Judaism, and President Bush. Don't get me wrong, it's not a conspiracy. It's just that the Islamists and the homosexuals generally end up on the same side of most issues.

All in all, I foresee Scotland Yard letting the Sacranie investigation die.

On a different note, the Brits really need to revisit their idea of free speech. The fact that insults are considered illegal according to British law is most troubling. Holy moly, a guy could get arrested and jailed for simply talking about his mother-in-law.

Companion post at In The Bullpen.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/11/2006 11:43:00 PM

Fetuses Do Not Count

(Phoenix, Arizona) A municipal court judge declared that a pregnant woman may not legally use the carpool lane by claiming that another individual is in the vehicle with her. Fetuses do not count.

From Local6.com:

Candace Dickinson was fined $367 for improper use of a carpool lane, but contended the fetus inside her womb allowed her to use the lane.

Motorists who use the lanes normally must carry at least one passenger during weekday rush hours.

Municipal Judge Dennis Freeman rejected Dickinson's argument Tuesday, applying a "common sense" definition in which an individual is someone who occupies a "separate and distinct" space in a vehicle.

"The law is meant to fill empty space in a vehicle," the judge said.

Sgt. Dave Norton stopped Dickinson's car Nov. 8. When asked how many people were in the car, Dickinson said two, pointing to "her obvious pregnancy," the officer said.

I wonder if fetal rights advocates will protest.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/11/2006 08:53:00 AM

Judge Alito Dissed by the ACLU

Not a real shock, but somewhat unusual. The ACLU leadership announced that it officially opposes the confirmation of Judge Samuel Alito. It's only the third time the ACLU has opposed a nominee in its history.

Jay analyzes the ACLU statement at Stop The ACLU. Go visit.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/11/2006 06:17:00 AM

Woman Pleads Guilty to Sex with 13-Year-Old Boy

(Canton, Ohio) Last November, 38-year-old Julie Ann Welborn was arrested for engaging in sex with a 13-year-old boy she met over the Internet. Since that time, Welborn has been held in Stark County Jail in lieu of $500,000 bond.

On Monday, Welborn pleaded guilty before Stark County Common Pleas Judge Charles Brown to felony charges of having unlawful sex with a minor and importuning. Judge Brown scheduled a sentencing date of February 17.

Welborn faces up to six years in prison and possible designation as a sexual predator. I think it would be appropriate to sentence her to the maximum.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/11/2006 05:14:00 AM

Teacher Pinched with Smack, Hypodermic Needles

(Westford, Massachusetts) A 30-year-old sixth-grade English teacher at Stony Brook Middle School, Jessica Palkes (right), was arrested last Friday and charged with possession of heroin and hypodermic needles after a traffic stop. According to Westford Police Lt. Victor Neal, Palkes admitted that she was a heroin user. Her arraignment was yesterday in Ayer District Court. Palkes pleaded not guilty to all charges.

The Superintendent of Schools, Stephen Foster, has notified the parents of current and former Stony Brook students of Palkes' arrest. It's notable that in 2004, Westford Academy teacher Rosemarie Pumo was convicted of distributing heroin to students and sentenced to prison.

Two teachers from different schools in the same small town being involved with heroin would appear to indicate a generic drug problem far removed from the crime-ridden center of the big city. An inquiring mind would have to wonder just how extensive the rural Massachusetts drug problem is.

Companion post at The Jawa Report.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/10/2006 10:26:00 PM

Teacher Resigns After Sex Allegations

(Ayersville, Ohio) A 29-year-old English teacher at Ayersville High School, Nicole Long, resigned her position after allegations became public that she engaged in sex with a 17-year-old student. Long is married and seven months pregnant. Nonetheless, the sheriff's department is investigating and Long could be charged with felony sexual battery for the alleged sex with the boy.

A grand jury is scheduled to review Long's case on January 18.


[Update 01/23/06]

Nicole Long pleaded guilty today to sexual battery. In accordance with a plea agreement, prosecutors recommend probation, a 'short' jail sentence, and loss of teaching credentials. Long is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Joseph Schmenk on March 13.


[Update 03/15/06]

Nicole Long sentenced to 90 days in jail.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/10/2006 04:09:00 PM

Cuban Spies Arrested in Florida

(Miami, Florida) A husband and wife spy team affiliated with Florida International University (FIU) was arrested last Friday and accused of operating as covert agents for the communist Cuban government for decades. FIU professor Carlos M. Alvarez, 61, and his wife, FIU counselor Elsa Alvarez, 55, were charged with failing to register as foreign agents and were remanded to custody after being denied bond by U.S. Magistrate Judge Andrea Simonton.

From Miami.com:

Simonton said she believed that the gravity of the charges -- admitted by the couple last summer to the FBI -- their past academic trips to Cuba and their contacts in Fidel Castro's government made them a flight risk if allowed to return to their South Miami home.

"As a practical matter, these are people who admitted they were spying," Simonton said. "They would indeed return to Cuba, rather than face the consequences of their actions here."

According to prosecutors, the Carlos and Elsa Alvarez transmitted information about Miami's Cuban-exile community to communist handlers via high-tech and low-tech means, including a short-wave radio and a backyard antenna. Notably, the couple were apparently quite effective at espionage since they were awarded commendations by the Cuban communists in the 1990s.

The Alvarezes are jailed at the Miami Federal Detention Center and a January 19 arraignment date has been scheduled. Conviction for failing to register as a foreign agent carries a seven- to ten-year prison term.

In my opinion, federal agencies cannot possibly be overzealous in the prosecution of communist spies, but it should be their duty to try.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/10/2006 08:09:00 AM

Human Smuggling Rings Busted

(El Paso, Texas) Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents busted the two largest human smuggling rings on the border, concluding a two-year investigation.

From Borderlandnews.com:

The rings, one led by Michael Lynn Price, 53, and his wife, Fabiola del Carmen Moguel de Price, 39, and the other led by Sam Jarvis, 52, all of Socorro, Texas, were responsible for moving about 200 undocumented immigrants each month from El Paso to Dallas in the back of tractor-trailers, Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials said.

"They were not smuggling two or three people at a time. They were smuggling 79 people in one instance. They were into making a lot of money," Daniel Page, acting assistant special agent in charge, said.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials said the organizations generated more than $1.6 million between March 2003 and October 2005. On Monday, 13 people, including the alleged ring leaders, were behind bars and three were being sought by officials.

Indictments for conspiracy to smuggle aliens may each result in a 20-year sentence and $250,000 fine. Several people were indicted on multiple counts, allegedly smuggling people from Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua and Ecuador.

Companion post at Diggers Realm.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/10/2006 07:15:00 AM

Central America Rejects U.S. Border Plan

(Mexico City) This story should be filed in the "Cajones el grande" cabinet.

From Xinhuanet.com:

The foreign ministers of Central American countries rejected a U.S. anti-immigrant plan in a joint declaration issued on Monday.

Foreign ministers from Mexico, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala and other Central American countries held a meeting Monday to findways to defend the rights of migrants who travel to the United States seeking jobs.

"Migrants, regardless of their status, are not and should not be treated like criminals," the declaration said.

The U.S. House of Representatives approved a plan on Dec. 16, which would extend a frontier wall with Mexico by a further 1,200 km, increase the number of agents on the border, and send undocumented workers to prison instead of merely deporting them.

There's no shortage of illegals crossing the border and there's no shortage of arrogant oligarchs pushing them across.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/10/2006 06:38:00 AM

Spanish Arrest 17 Terrorists

(Madrid, Spain) Here's some breaking great news!

From CNN.com:

Spanish police have arrested at least 17 suspected Islamic terrorists for alleged recruitment and indoctrination of so-called "holy warriors" to be sent to fight in Iraq, officials say.

"There are at least 17 people arrested," a government source told CNN.

Tuesday's arrests broke up a terrorist cell that was based in the town of Vilanova y la Geltru, near Barcelona, a national police spokesman said.

Spanish Interior Minster Jose Antonio Alonso told the SER radio network that the operation was ongoing and that more arrests were possible.

Splendid.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/10/2006 04:33:00 AM

Convicted Cannibal Can't Stomach Bio-Pic

(Rotenburg, Germany) German cannibal Armin Meiwes, convicted last year of killing and eating a man he met through the Internet, seeks a legal ban on the distribution of a feature film telling the story of his crime.

Meiwes was sentenced to eight and one-half years in prison but the case is being appealed. Meiwes wants an injunction against the film being shown since it may prejudice the jury for his appeal. He also feels it is an inaccurate portrayal and shows him in a bad light as a bestial killer.

Injunction or no injunction, I believe it's impossible to show Armin Miewes as being any worse. Cannibalism is a subject that simply can't be made pretty.


[Update 10/23/07]

Meiwes gives interview -- said human flesh tastes like pork.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/10/2006 02:41:00 AM

Judge Alito Live Blogs His Confirmation Hearing

Yeah, if you can believe it. Using his Blackberry, he opines on the members of the Judiciary Committee during the proceeding. Take a look.

Now, in the anonymous ether of the Internet, it's a mistake to take everything at face value. Nevertheless, I believe that the blog of The Right Honorable Samuel A. Alito, Jr., is the real deal. What is hard to believe is that he offers his unrestrained opinion about some of the senators who will be voting on his confirmation. If it were me in the same circumstance, I'd try not to piss them off beforehand.

Of course, unless something dramatic and unexpected occurs during the hearings, the minds of the committee members are already firmed up. All that's left is the show, a formality that's usually boring but has been known to offer some interesting moments (remember Justice Thomas' confirmation?). The only unknown that remains prior to Judge Alito becoming Justice Alito is the amount of noise the liberals will make. I expect there will be some.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/09/2006 11:43:00 PM

Toledo - Recruiting Hub for Teen Prostitutes

(Toledo, Ohio) Police and social service workers are stunned.

From ToledoBlade.com:

[A] two-year U.S. Justice Department probe of underage prostitution revealed a nationwide problem of such magnitude that it took many police and social-service agencies by surprise.

"Innocence Lost," the cooperative investigation by federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies so far has saved 200 minors from the sex trade and led to more than 500 arrests.

The federal probe also revealed a "loose confederacy" of Toledo men who, according to investigators, have recruited local girls as young as 12 years old - shuttling them across the country and forcing them into the sex trade.

The perpetrators are alleged to have lured young girls in troubled circumstances into running away with promises of glamour and travel. Once taken, the girls were forced into prostitution at locations throughout the U.S.

It would be nice to know how long the "loose confederacy" was operating and how many of the girls disappeared, never to be heard from again. I personally think that the dismal circumstances of some foster care programs are at least partially responsible for the teen girls being easily lured away.

Companion at The Jawa Report.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/09/2006 03:54:00 PM

Mom May Be Too Permissive

(West Bend, Wisconsin) Okay, here's the deal, allegedly. A 15-year-old boy visits and sleeps with his 15-year-old girlfriend with the girl's mother fully aware that it's happening and not doing anything to stop it. Guess what? It's a crime.

From gmtoday.com:

A 39-year-old West Bend woman was charged in Washington County Circuit Court Friday for knowingly allowing her 15-year-old daughter to have sex with a boy - while she was home.

The woman was charged with failure to act/sexual assault of a child, which is a class F felony punishable to up to 12 years in prison.

A criminal compliant states the youths had sex more than 30 times this past summer, the majority in the girl’s bedroom while the mother was home.

The situation came to light when the boy's mother approached the girl's mother who refused to do anything to stop the sex in her home.

You know, my personal experience in high school couldn't have been more different. My girlfriend's father, a big, intimidating police lieutenant, explained to me the paramount importance of his daughter's maidenhood. Needless to mention, I was well-behaved. As luck would have it, she eventually dumped me for a school dropout who rode a motorcycle. Last I heard, they married and had a bunch of kids. Moral of the story? Hell, I don't know.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/09/2006 07:07:00 AM

Israelis Arrest Suspected Iranian Spy

The Israeli Security Agency has been watching the activities of Jaris Jaris, who has been taken into custody for suspected spying for Iranian Intelligence. Jaris was indicted earlier today in Haifa District Court.

From the JPost.com:

The arrest of Jaris, 58, by Israel Police's Serious and International Crimes Unit together with the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) was released for publication last Friday.

He was arrested on December 12, after police discovered that he had been recruited by Iran and was asked to use his political contacts to infiltrate the government and the Israeli political system by becoming a member of Knesset.

"Jaris' interrogation reveals a web of Iranian espionage activity against Israel," defense officials said. "The efforts included attempts to infiltrate an Iranian agent into the Knesset with the primary goal of obtaining classified information and influencing the government decisions."

Frankly, I'm surprised the Israelis allowed Jaris to work openly in the country. He was caught operating a terror cell in 1970 and fled the country, only to return and get elected to a local political council. Apparently, Israeli Security wasn't keeping very close surveillance or, maybe, they were just giving him enough rope to hang himself. Nevertheless, at least for the last two years, Jaris' activities have been monitored.

Interestingly, concurrent with Iran's attempt to put Jaris in the Knesset, the Shin Bet has seen a significant increase in Iranian efforts to recruit spies out of the Israeli public. The fact that Iran is devoting more resources toward spying on Israel then before, coupled with the desire to infiltrate the Knesset, represent a level of hostility consistent with the tone of recent speeches by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Sadly and by all indications, it appears that a peaceful resolution to growing Iranian belligerence is not likely.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/09/2006 12:28:00 AM

NY Times Journo Dies After Mugging

It appears to have been a simple street crime against a random victim in an upscale neighborhood.

From WashingtonPost.com:

David E. Rosenbaum, a longtime editor and reporter in the Washington bureau of the New York Times, died yesterday after being beaten and robbed Friday night near his home in upper Northwest Washington.

Rosenbaum, 63, died at Howard University Hospital, where he was treated for a head injury suffered during the attack on Gramercy Street NW, said Philip Taubman, chief of the Times's Washington bureau.

Doctors had operated on Rosenbaum on Saturday to relieve pressure on his brain.

D.C. police were canvassing the neighborhood yesterday for clues in the attack, which occurred in a quiet section between Connecticut and Wisconsin avenues. No arrests had been made.

Condolences to the family and friends of David Rosenbaum.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/08/2006 10:30:00 PM

Jeweler Uses Acid to Protect Stores

As common practice, using acid to provide store security could never happen in the U.S. The first person who tried it would be bankrupted by lawsuits. This story comes from Malaysia.

From thestar.com.my:

A proprietor keeps acid in all his 16 jewellery outlets in Perak instead of employing security guards.

N.G. Mohamed Ismail, whose shop in Jalan Pasar, Taiping, was robbed on Friday said the reason was purely economic.

“It only costs me about RM20 to buy a bottle of acid,'' he said yesterday.

At around four Malaysian ringgits (RM) to the dollar, Ismail provides security for his jewelry stores for about five bucks each. Not bad when you consider that insurance would cost him about RM5,000 month.

Implementation is simple. Robbers walk in, the employees splash them with acid, they leave, usually screaming with their hands covering their faces.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/08/2006 07:13:00 AM

Brits Push Contraceptives on Early-Teens

This is interesting.

From The Sunday Times:

THE National Health Service has been giving girls as young as 13 contraceptive injections and implants that make them infertile for up to three years, in an attempt to cut teenage pregnancies.

Figures released under the Freedom of Information Act show that in a sample of five primary care trusts, seven 13-year-old girls have received either an implant or an injection in the past year.

If, as thought likely by experts, this pattern is mirrored across England's 302 trusts, about 400 13-year-olds will have received long-lasting contraceptives.

The figures also show children as young as 12 have been given the morning-after pill. In the same five trusts, one 12-year-old girl and 40 13-year-old girls have been given the emergency contraception after unprotected sex in the past year.

The figures suggest that across England about 2,400 girls aged 13 received the morning-after pill in 2004.

This makes me wonder if a sterilization program is being contemplated. It's also notable that medical personnel do not routinely inform the parents without the child's consent.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/08/2006 05:28:00 AM

No Jail for Sex with 10-Year-Old Boy

(Toms River, New Jersey) A 21-year-old woman, Christine Sprague, pleaded guilty to child endangerment resulting from incidents of sexual conduct with a 10-year-old boy between July 1 and August 21 in 2003. According to the plea agreement, the prosecutor's office will recommend dismissal of a charge of aggravated sexual assault and for Sprague to receive no jail time.

Before formal sentencing is scheduled, Sprague must undergo an evaluation to determine if she is a repetitive and compulsive sexual offender. All in all, it appears that she will only face probation for a yet to be determined period of time and, possibly, registration as a sex offender.

In summary, we have a 21-year-old woman molesting a 10-year-old boy and she gets to walk away without punishment. Hand slap? I believe so.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/08/2006 04:32:00 AM

French Hostage Bernard Planche Is Safe

(Baghdad) Good news! French hostage Bernard Planche has been released!

A little-known terrorist group called the "Surveillance for the Sake of Iraq Brigade" claimed responsibility for abducting the French engineer last month and threatening to kill him if France didn't end its illegitimate presence in Iraq. Fortunately, the terrorists' plans were changed yesterday.

From Reuters:

France confirmed the release of Bernard Planche, who was seized in early December in Baghdad where he had been working for a non-governmental organization at a water treatment plant.

The Iraqi sources said it appeared Planche's captors were trying to move him from one area to another on Saturday when they encountered a joint U.S. and Iraqi army checkpoint near Abu Ghraib prison, west of the capital.

They pushed the Frenchman out of their car and escaped.

"He is now safe and in the hands of the U.S. military," the Interior Ministry source said.

It's not clear whether the kidnappers planned on releasing Planche or they panicked but, either way, Planche is free and French President Jacques Chirac expressed delight. For emphasis and just because I like the way it sounds, I'll repeat, "He is now safe and in the hands of the U.S. military."
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       Following Entry Posted 1/08/2006 02:37:00 AM

Environmentalists Suspected in Fish Farm Sabotage

It's happening in Norway and Canada. Fish farms have been damaged and fish released, resulting in losses of hundreds of thousands of dollars. Militant environmentalists are suspected to be responsible.

Interestingly, with both Norway and Canada having liberal governments and liberal electorates, they have only themselves to blame for the actions of radical environmentalists. They spawn and encourage the extremism.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/07/2006 07:09:00 PM

Sarah Bench-Salorio Gets 6 Years for Molesting Boys

(Orange County, California) Following up on previous reports, former teacher and prominent child molester, Sarah Bench-Salorio, was sentenced to six years in prison after pleading guilty to 29 counts of lewd conduct with three schoolboys.

From NBC4.tv:

In pronouncing sentence, Orange County Superior Court Judge Richard Toohey said Sarah Bench-Salorio, 29, had violated the trust parents put in teachers.

"One thing the court cannot escape as it relates to this matter ... is it involved the violation of trust ... the defendant being a teacher in the school system," Toohey said.

The judge said parents "expect there will be appropriate conduct" when they put their children in school.

"I realize there is no excuse for what I did," Bench-Salorio said Friday.

Bench-Salorio, an English teacher, entered her guilty plea Sept. 28 and could have been sentenced to a term between three and six years. She would have faced up to 64 years in prison had she gone to trial, defense attorney Allan Stokke said.

According to evidence at a hearing, Bench-Salorio molested three boys ranging in age from 12 to 14.

I contend that Bench-Salorio is being given a gift. Think of the damage she's done. Think of the victimized boys, their families, her own family, the school. Think of what would be the punishment for a man committing similar crimes.

We must also remember that one boy "estimated the number of times he and his teacher had sex by the condoms in a box that he went through -- 22 of them, he said -- and added that sometimes no condom was used." Bench-Salorio experienced no momentary lapse of judgment. She was engaged in the seduction and long-term, serial sexual molestation of children. The victims' parents called her a "pedophile and sexual predator." I agree.

Given all the circumstances, is six years reasonable punishment? I don't think so. Not even close. Bench-Salorio should be looking at double or triple that amount or more.

Nonetheless, her attorney, Allan Stokke is planning on wheelbarrowing a buttload of boo-hoos on the judge to get her sentence reduced. He'll say the married mother of three foster children is bipolar and suffers from depression and he will present doctor's reports and "all kinds of information" from "various people to show her absolutely excellent background."

What happens next is anyone's guess. Will the judge reduce the sentence? Maybe. It's a California judge in a California court.

Previous Posts:

01/07/05 - Teacher Charged For Having Sex With Young Boys
09/29/05 - Sarah Bench-Salorio Pleads Guilty to Sex Crimes

Companion post at The Jawa Report.


[Update 08/21/06]

Removed dead links.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/07/2006 04:16:00 PM

Woman Accused of Sex with 12-Year-Old

(Portage, Wisconsin) From alleged offenses occurring in the town of Randolph, a 26-year-old woman, Andrea M. Yurowski, has been charged with three counts of first-degree sexual assault of a child. Yurowski allegedly engaged in sex on multiple occasions with a 12-year-old neighbor boy. Court records indicate that Yurowski professed her love for the child.

If convicted of the charges, Yurowski faces a possible 60 years in prison. She appeared in court last Wednesday and was released on a signature bond with the condition that she have no contact with the victim.


[Update 02/15/07]

Yurowski sentenced.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/07/2006 06:55:00 AM

"Housewives" Flops in Ratings

The debut airings of the first season of "Desperate Housewives" in China failed to attract many viewers. In fact, the show was soundly pounded in the ratings by South Korean soap operas shown at the same time. Some blame the unfavorable time slot, the difficult translation of English to Chinese, and government censorship of racy content, but there are other, more fundamental, reasons.

From ChinaDaily.com:

For one thing, American serials like "Desperate Housewives", with their witty innuendoes and multiple twists, are too fast-paced for Chinese taste. Some viewers complained they would get lost with the plot after a bathroom break. But with South Korean soaps, even if you skip three episodes, you can still follow the story lines.

On a deeper level, life on Wisteria Lane, the fictional California community in Housewives, is too far removed from ordinary Chinese, even the burgeoning middle class. A Chinese teenager would never, in her right mind, advise her single mother on the etiquette of dating. When Chinese housewives get into an adulterous mood, they would not turn to teenaged gardeners, who are usually migrant workers in rags, but to people with deeper pockets and higher ranks. A Chinese woman may act as fastidious as Bree Van De Kamp, but she would not take on the arch-conservative stance of an American Republican. A Chinese super-mom, in a country with family planning policy encouraging for one child, faces challenges very different from tending four unruly kids.

About that last point, I doubt the Chinese culture would tolerate merely one unruly child. Obedience from Chinese children is demanded. Nonetheless, there are wide differences between American and Chinese cultures and the program is, therefore, quite difficult to follow for the average Chinese television viewer.

Even so, if the producers of "Housewives" wanted to attract more East Asian viewers, they could consider introducing some Asian characters to the plot. Say, for example, a buff Chinese pool boy starts working on Wisteria Lane. Or, maybe a ravishing Asian widow moves in to distract all the men.

Tipped by the Marmot.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/06/2006 07:10:00 PM

Magnet Therapy - Fleecing the Fluxed Flock

One would imagine that most rational, educated adults would not have to be told that magnet therapy is nothing more than a flux job with no discernible health benefits. Strangely, it's news to some people. More than a billion dollars is spent annually on magnet therapy.

In my opinion, the only way that magnetism will ever provide health benefits is by using a compass to find the way to a hospital.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/06/2006 05:50:00 PM

Zawahiri Adds Bluster to Democrats' Message

As a followup to recent statements by Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid and DNC Chairman Howard Dean, al-Qaeda head Ayman al-Zawahiri has reinforced the Democrat political message by broadcasting it in Arabic via Aljazeera television. It's not clear who originally wrote the script of dreams for America's defeat in Iraq but, since the Democrats speak loudest and the most often, I'll give them credit.

From the BBC:

"I congratulate the Muslims on Islam's victory in Iraq. I said more than a year ago that the Americans' departure from Iraq is only a matter of time," he says.

"Bush, you must admit that you have been defeated in Iraq and that you are being defeated in Afghanistan and that you will soon be defeated in Palestine, with the help and strength of God," he also says.

The media are making bigger news of Zawahiri's statements than they are actually worth. The content of his words is indistinguishable from Democratic Party harangues. If anyone is really interested in today's message from Zawahiri, search the web for recent speeches by Dean, Reid, Pelosi, Durbin, Murtha, Kerry, and a host of other Democrats. They're all on the same scow, hoisting the same flag, day in and day out.

For detailed analysis of the Zawahiri spew, Chad Evans takes a close look.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/06/2006 07:35:00 AM

Cleveland Imam Being Deported

After being convicted of lying about his links to Islamic Jihad and other terrorist organizations when he applied for U.S. citizenship in 1994, Fawaz Damra, 44, was sentenced to two months in prison and stripped of his citizenship. Damra's deportation will not need a hearing before an immigration judge since he now willingly accepts being booted from the U.S.

From Cleveland.com:

Fawaz Damra, spiritual leader of the Islamic Center of Cleveland, agreed Thursday to a deportation order that will send him to one of four Middle Eastern countries or the Palestinian territories.

After Damra's first choice, Canada, rejected his request, the imam reached an agreement with the U.S. government to relocate to Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Sudan, Egypt or the Palestinian territories, said a spokesman for the Justice Department's Executive Office for Immigration Review.

I think it's interesting that Canada refused to accept him since the Canadians have historically been exceedingly tolerant towards followers of the religion of peace. Nonetheless, Ottawa's position is understandable. From what is generally known, there's reason to peg Damra as being way too cozy with terrorist organizations.

Companion post at In The Bullpen.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/06/2006 05:06:00 AM

Bail Denied in Lodi Terror Case

There's a new development in the Lodi terror case.

From SacBee.com:

U.S. District Judge Garland E. Burrell Jr. ruled that the Lodi properties proposed as collateral and the owners of the properties do not offer adequate assurance that Umer Hayat will not flee to his native Pakistan.

I think Judge Burrell made the most prudent decision. I'm fairly confident that, had bail been granted, Umer Hayat would have disappeared.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/06/2006 03:35:00 AM

Woman Jailed for Rape of 11-Year-Old Boy

(Florissant, Missouri) A 37-year-old Florissant woman, Judith Zweifel, was arrested and charged with 30 felony sex offenses for repeatedly engaging in sex with an 11-year-old boy. The crimes allegedly occurred from December 2004 to August 2005. Zweifel specifically faces 19 counts of statutory sodomy, 10 counts of statutory rape and one count of child molestation.

Zweifel, a married mother of two, is alleged to have befriended and preyed upon an 11-year-old playmate of her 9-year-old son. The boy's family became suspicious and alerted the police.

Zweifel is being held at the St. Louis County Justice Center in lieu of $500,000 bail. A court appearance is scheduled for the end of January.

Companion post at Conservative Thinking.


[Update 11/04/06]

Zweifel pleads guilty.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/06/2006 02:32:00 AM

H & R Block Privacy Snafu

Apparently, H & R Block recently had a problem protecting prospective customers' privacy.

From KansasCity.com:

As part of a promotional campaign, the Kansas City-based tax preparation giant sent complimentary copies of its TaxCut tax preparation software to an undisclosed number of people around the country. Owing to a mail production mix-up, the mailing labels on some of the recipients' packages included their Social Security numbers.

It is unlikely that anyone but the recipients noticed. The nine-digit number was embedded in a 47-character source code. Nonetheless, out of an abundance of caution, Block recently sent letters notifying recipients of the glitch.

In the letters to the "undisclosed number" of recipients, H & R Block was quite apologetic for its breach of confidentiality. Of course, it's presumed that H & R Block had all the Social Security numbers in its existing customer data bank. They surely wouldn't have the SSNs of people who have never done business with them. Right?
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       Following Entry Posted 1/06/2006 01:33:00 AM

Woman Pleads Guilty To Sex Assault of 13-Year-Old Boy

(Skowhegan, Maine) Last October, a Somerset County grand jury indicted 25-year-old Jessica Bowring on three counts of gross sexual assault of a 13-year-old boy. On Wednesday, Bowring pleaded guilty to one count of gross sexual assault but not the other two.

From MaineToday.com:

The plea was unusual because it was not part of a plea agreement with prosecutors. That means 25-year-old Jessica L. Bowring still faces trial on two counts of gross sexual assault, tampering with a witness, terrorizing and two counts of violating her conditions of release.

Normally, a defendant pleads guilty only after reaching an agreement that typically limits jail time. Bowring could be sentenced later this month to as many as 30 years in jail for the crime to which she pleaded guilty Wednesday. She is scheduled to go to trial this month on the other charges.

It's unclear what Bowring is trying to do. It is clear, though, that she's doing a pretty good job of screwing up her life and the lives of her several children. And, that's over and above what she did to the 13-year-old boy.

Bowring is currently out of jail on bail with conditions. She is on house arrest at the home of a family friend and she is prohibited from owning or using a computer.


[Update 01/27/06]

Bowring sentenced.


[Update 12/16/07]

Bowring faces new charges related to the same boy.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/06/2006 12:03:00 AM

Female Teacher Faces Felony Sex Charges

(Taft, California) A 31-year-old Buena Vista High School math teacher, Jennifer Lynn Sanchez, resigned from her teaching position and turned herself in to police after a warrant was issued for her arrest on child molestation charges. The charges include four counts of unlawful sexual intercourse with a 17-year-old student, and one count each of oral copulation and sodomy with the same student.

Sanchez, a mother of three, pleaded not guilty in the Taft division of Kern County Superior Court and is free on $25,000 bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for January 26.


[Update 02/22/06]

On Tuesday, 02/21/06, in Kern County Superior Court, Jennifer Lynn Sanchez was arraigned on three counts of unlawful sexual intercourse. Her trial is scheduled to begin on May 15.


[Update 07/02/06]

Sanchez sentenced to probation.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/05/2006 09:37:00 PM

Teacher Arrested for Sex with Teen

(Garden City, Kansas) A 40-year-old English teacher at Garden City High School, Nadine Nunnelee, has been arrested for having sex with a 16-year-old male student. The alleged sex is believed to have occurred in her home. School officials have suspended Nunnelee with pay while the investigation of the alleged relationship continues.

Nunnelee was booked into the Finney County Jail with bond set at $15,000. According to Police Capt. Mike Utz, the alleged sexual relationship was discovered while police were investigating an unrelated runaway case.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/05/2006 06:06:00 AM

Taliban Behead Afghan Schoolmaster

(Zabul, Afghanistan) The Taliban is being blamed for beheading schoolmaster Malim Abdul Habib late Tuesday in southern Afghanistan. Habib was murdered in his home.

From Xinhua.com:

In the latest wave of violent attacks, the anti-government militants in Afghanistan beheaded a headmaster of a school in the country's southern Zabul province Tuesday night, director of provincial education department said Wednesday.

"Armed militants entered the house of the headmaster of the Shikh Mati Lycee in Zabul's provincial capital Qalat last night and brutally beheaded him in front of his children," Mohammad NabiKhoshal told Xinhua.

The attack is part of an overall campaign by the Taliban to target schools because they educate girls and teach boys subjects other than religion.

From Boston.com:

Four armed men stabbed Malim Abdul Habib, 45, eight times before decapitating him in the courtyard of his home in the town of Qalat late Tuesday, according to provincial government spokesman Ali Khail and a cousin of the victim, Dr. Esanullah.

Habib was slain after he refused to go with the militants to meet their commander, said Esanullah, who like many Afghans uses one name.

The assailants made Habib's wife and four sons and four daughters, ages 2 to 22, watch but did not hurt them physically, Khail said.

I need to be reminded why we must treat these thug murderers with tenderness.

Additional coverage: In The Bullpen
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       Following Entry Posted 1/05/2006 04:51:00 AM

USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76)


USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76)
On her maiden deployment, the USS Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group deployed yesterday from San Diego in support of the Global War on Terrorism and maritime security operations.

Other strike group vessels departing yesterday included guided-missile destroyers USS McCampbell and USS Decatur and guided-missile cruiser USS Lake Champlain, all based in San Diego. Soon, a supply ship from Bremerton, Washington, and a submarine from Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, will join the strike group.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/05/2006 03:44:00 AM

Female Teacher Arrested for Lewd Acts with 12-Year-Old Boy

(Buttonwillow, California) A 41-year-old language arts teacher at Buttonwillow School, Sherry Brians, was arrested yesterday on charges of engaging in lewd acts with a 12-year-old boy. The charges resulted after the boy's mother alerted the Kern County Sheriff's Office that she had found a romantic letter from Brians to the boy. Investigators believe the alleged lewd acts occurred at the school.

Brians was booked into the Kern County Jail with bail set at $100,000. Her arraignment is scheduled for tomorrow in the Shafter division of Kern County Superior Court. If convicted of the charge against her, Brians faces a minimum of three years in prison.


[Update 03/06/07]

Brians pleads no contest to reduced charges.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/04/2006 11:54:00 PM

Cocktails in Space

The Russians want to make liquor available to the crew of the International Space Station.

"They fly in orbit for half a year and perform a heavy workload, especially during exhausting space walks when they shed several kilos in weight over a few hours," said a source in the Russian medical support teams for the manned space program. "Many people think a small ration of alcohol would help restore their strength."

Why not? It always helps me. In fact, I remember one time years ago that I had my strength restored to the point where I was strong enough to lift a car. Boy, it's a good thing someone stopped me because I might have accidently dropped it.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/04/2006 02:18:00 PM

Female Officer Arrested for Sexual Misconduct with Boy

(Lake County, Florida) A 28-year-old Lake County Sheriff's Office corrections officer, Krystal Benn, was arrested yesterday and charge with sexual misconduct at a county detention facility. Benn is accused of entering the jail cell of a 16-year-old boy on several occasions and fondling him.

According to Sgt. Christie Mysinger, Benn was fired after her arrest. Benn allegedly confessed to the incidents.

After posting $10,000 bail, Benn was released.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/04/2006 04:07:00 AM

Only One Survivor in W.Va. Coal Mine Explosion

(Tallmansville, West Virginia) Contrary to earlier reports that twelve miners survived, officials are reporting that there is only one survivor.

From NBC4i.com:

Mine company officials have confirmed that only one of the 13 miners who hadn't been heard from since an early Monday morning explosion at an Upshur County, W.Va., mine survived the ordeal.

Ben Hatfield, CEO of Sago Mine owner International Coal Group, told reporters that there was a "miscommunication" earlier when rescuers in the mine that had indicated all 12 miners were alive.

Hatfield said the initial report from the rescue team to the command center indicated multiple survivors, but that information was incorrect.

The survivor, 27-year-old Randal L. McCloy, was taken to St. Joseph's Hospital in Buckhannon, W.Va. McCloy is listed in critical condition early Wednesday morning.

Condolences to the families who lost their loved ones.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/04/2006 02:26:00 AM

Across The Fruited Plain

Mainstay in the blogosphere, Digger, recently relocated from the West Coast to the East Coast and took the long way. He and his family traveled almost 5,000 miles through 16 states in 12 days. All along, Digger documented his travels, took pictures, and regularly posted his progress at Diggers Realm.

I followed Digger's travels through his posts and experienced a bit of envy. For one thing, I also have traveled across the fruited plain but I didn't document the experience. That I regret because I know that I could have relived every exciting, and...uh...not so exciting, mile had I done so. Digger can.

Now that he's settled in at his new home in New York, Digger has taken the time to compile his pictures and commentary and post all of it up at a new website called, appropriately, Our Family Adventure. I mention this not because Digger is a fellow blogger, but because the account of his travels is quite informative and entertaining. If Digger decides to give up the rat race and become a vagabond, his writing style, photographic skills, and eye for detail will surely land him work as a travelographer.

In all seriousness, though, if you haven't freshened your daydream file lately, take a look at Our Family Adventure. It'll make you want to plan your own trip.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/03/2006 11:38:00 PM

Austrian Art Porn

(Vienna, Austria) Stating that they only want to satirize the European Union, a group of artists from throughout Europe has produced a series of posters in a campaign against globalization. Not all Europeans are amused.

From Spiegel Online:

Just as Austria takes over the rotating presidency of the European Union, a dispute about good taste is raging in the country's capital. The art campaign "euroPART" has landed the group, named "25 peaces" and led by former Austrian Broadcasting Corporation culture boss Wolfgang Lorenz and federal theater boss Georg Springer, in hot water.

A topless woman sprawls on a bed with her legs spread wearing blue panties decorated with the EU's symbol, a circle of yellow stars. A few streets away three individuals are hard at it: their unambiguous, naked poses show them indulging in a menage a trois. The participants wear masks of France's President Chirac, the British Queen and US President George W. Bush. The images have caused an uproar among the Viennese since they were put up on Dec. 27.

 
Austrian Porn Art
Some critics of the campaign are outraged, with one tabloid newspaper claiming that "wild sex posters" have been produced. Insiders did not expect such a negative response and believe it demonstrates that the general public is not familiar with the displays in art museums and galleries. However, when the art is taken out in the streets, conservative people are offended.

I tend to agree. As long as pornographic and offensive material is kept behind doors in museums and art galleries, people usually don't complain. However, when those same images are plastered on billboards, the sensibilities of the entire population are attacked.

Even Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schussel has gotten grief about the contemporary art project. It's alleged that the project was funded partly by 500,000 euros from the Austrian taxpayer. Schussel denies that any taxpayer funds were used to finance the art but clearly admits that the "boundaries of acceptable taste had been overstepped and that he knew nothing about the content of the campaign."
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       Following Entry Posted 1/03/2006 05:50:00 PM

City Officials Push Tap Water, Buy Bottled

(Los Angeles, California) File this story under "Do as I say, not as I do."

From LATimes.com:

Despite spending $1 million in the last two years to assure Los Angeles residents that their tap water is not only safe to drink but also top quality, city officials spent $88,900 in public money during that time on bottled water from private firms.

The Department of Water and Power, which supplies the city's water and promotes it, spent the most on bottled water, paying $31,160 to Sparkletts.

"I am stunned," said City Controller Laura Chick, whose office compiled the bills in response to a Public Records Act request from The Times. "This is the same department which spent millions of dollars for public relations promoting themselves and the quality of their drinking water."

Frankly, having one stunned Chick probably won't accomplish as much as a bunch of angry voters. Unfortunately, I doubt the liberal voters will care about this issue unless it can be tied to immigration, same-sex marriage, or the Republican Party. Remember, this is California.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/03/2006 06:30:00 AM

British Sex-For-Visas Scandal

(London) Authorities have initiated an investigation into an alleged sex-for-visas scam by British immigration officials.

From Sky.com:

A former worker at an immigration centre in Croydon told The Sun that women were allowed to stay in the UK in return for sex.

Anthony Pamnani, 23, said he quit after four years in disgust at the goings-on.

He said "ugly" applicants were often made to queue for hours while those considered good-looking would be seen straight away.

The whistleblower also told the paper that vital security checks on immigrants were not carried out.

Since this story has hit the newspapers and involves alleged inadequate security screening, the public will likely demand a comprehensive review of the entire immigration department. I believe it should be simple to verify the accuracy of specific claims. However, if true, it may be more difficult to determine how widespread the corruption is and how long it's been occurring.

It will be interesting to see how the British public reacts if it's found that people are discriminated against because they're ugly.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/03/2006 03:21:00 AM

Library Violations Include Sex, Smells, Bathing

(Dallas, Texas) In order to create a reader-friendly environment, the Dallas Public Library has instituted a code of conduct which bans offensive and distracting behavior. Critics say the rules unfairly target homeless people. Worth mentioning is the following comment by homeless advocate James Waghorne.

[T]he city does not provide facilities for some of the library's neediest patrons to keep shower-fresh.

Jeez! It seems that there is some expectation that the city should provide free shower facilities.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/02/2006 11:58:00 PM

Abortion Leads to Mental Problems

(Christchurch, New Zealand) The results of a study conducted to address the dearth of reliable data found that women having abortions risk developing later mental health problems - including depression, anxiety and drug and alcohol abuse. A team of researchers at the Christchurch School of Medicine and Health Sciences, led by Dr. David Fergusson, conducted the study with the results to be published this week in the Journal of Child Psychiatry and Psychology.

From SMH.com.au:

The findings tipped the balance of scientific evidence towards the conclusion that abortion increased psychological distress rather than alleviating it, said Professor Fergusson, who supports unrestricted access to abortion and describes himself as "an atheist, a rationalist and pro-choice." That could make it more difficult for doctors to claim they were performing an abortion on health grounds, he said.

"There'll be cheering for our results on the pro-life side and denouncing us angrily on the pro-choice side," said Professor Fergusson, a psychologist and epidemiologist at the Christchurch School of Medicine and Health Sciences.

That's an understatement, Doc. The abortion rights advocates will be screaming about this research. I'm sure they'll dispute the methodology of the study and significance of the findings. It's also probably a safe assumption that the mainstream American media will downplay the research, if it's reported. And, that's a big 'if.' Leftist news outlets likely will not want the public to know that abortions lead to long-term adverse consequences.

Companion post at Diggers Realm.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/02/2006 11:09:00 PM

Iran Has Uranium Separation Machinery

(Tehran, Iran) This isn't good news.

From DailyTimes.com:

Iran said on Sunday it had developed machinery to separate uranium from its ore, part of the Islamic state's ongoing drive to become self-sufficient in nuclear technology.

The mixer-settler machinery was developed by Iran's Atomic Energy Organisation (IAEO), state television said.

"Unfortunately, because of the problems that exist, it was not possible for us to buy this machine from abroad and we had to build it domestically. Fortunately, we succeeded," an unidentified IAEO official said.

Although the Iranians deny it, they have been accused of developing a nuclear weapons program. Their frequent belligerent words, coupled with the threat of having a nuclear weapon and a missile delivery system, are not going unnoticed. I wonder how much longer the international community is going to just watch. My guess? Not much longer.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/02/2006 07:02:00 PM

Bank Offers Sharia Compliant Services

(Ann Arbor, Michigan) Since Sharia Law prohibits paying or receiving interest, the Ann Arbor-based University Bank has formed a subsidiary which allows Muslims to open accounts where any profits are shared rather than paid as interest. In a nutshell, Muslims won't pay home mortgage interest nor be paid interest on savings, they'll "share profits."

From IQNA.ir:

The bank's Islamic deposit accounts allow Muslims to open accounts where any profits are shared rather than paid as interest.

University Bank also offers a mortgage alternative loan transaction program - or MALT - which replaces a traditional home loan with a redeemable lease.

The bank holds the home in trust, and a home buyer makes monthly payments to that trust. Each rent payment includes a set amount of savings, which builds the buyer's equity in the home. When the savings account equals the home's original purchase price, the buyer owns it.

While I'm no accountant, I do know about mortgages and savings accounts and it sure seems like this new Sharia-approved scheme is no more than an exercise in relabeling. Interest on savings is going to be called 'profit' while home mortgage interest will be paid under the name of 'rent.' I welcome readers to provide additional insight. Right now it appears that compliance to Sharia Law in the banking world only requires an English major to fiddle with file names.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/02/2006 01:07:00 PM

Coal Miners Trapped After Blast

(Upshur County, West Virginia) An explosion occurred about 8AM EST this morning more than a mile-deep in a West Virginia coal mine. Thirteen miners are trapped.


The mine is known as the Sago Mine owned by Anker West Virginia Mining Co. It's about 100 miles from Charleston. Six miners escaped unharmed.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/02/2006 09:43:00 AM

Man Gets Prison in Tattoo-For-Sex Case

(Honesdale, Pennsylvania) For agreeing to pierce the nipples of a 16-year-old girl in exchange for sex, 37-year-old Robert Scott Shaffer was sentenced to a term of nine months to two years in a state prison. Shaffer pleaded guilty to corruption of a minor and tattooing of a minor without parental consent.

I think it's interesting that the law in Pennsylvania considers tattooing and piercing to be the same. I would classify the actions differently since piercings can be easily removed while tattoos cannot.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/01/2006 11:56:00 PM

Bullet Falls Into Woman's Face

(Orlando, Florida) Some irresponsible New Year's reveler fired a .45-caliber gun into the air and, when the bullet came down, it seriously wounded 26-year-old Ruby Cintron in the face. Cintron was holding her 7-month-old baby when she was struck. The incident occurred on the north shoreline of Crooked Lake in the Highlands Lake subdivision off Hiawassee Road.

Doctors at the Orlando Regional Medical Center were unable to remove the bullet from Cintron's head and the damage caused her to lose an eye. Police are investigating.

This story reminds me of the many times I've seen television footage of Middle Eastern gunmen indiscriminately firing AK-47s into the air in celebration. Apparently, simple minds believe bullets fired into the sky just stay there.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/01/2006 02:49:00 PM

Russia Stops Supplying Gas to Ukraine

Today, in a move considered by many to be primarily political, Russia started cutting off mid-winter natural gas supplies to the Ukraine. Russia raised the price of 1,000 cubic meters from $50 to $230, the European market price, and Ukrainian authorities said they won't pay more than $80. Eleventh-hour negotiations failed. Consequently, the supply was cut off.

Notably, about 25 percent of Western Europe's gas comes from Russia, largely through the Ukraine. So, gas has to travel through pipelines in the Ukraine, but none is to be delivered to Ukranian customers. Hmmm ... I wonder if someone would be tempted to illegally tap into the pipeline?

Both the Western Europeans and Washington are concerned that Russia may be using its energy supply as a political weapon against the Ukraine in retaliation for pursuing membership in the European Union and NATO. The Russians have denied the allegations and contend that they raised prices to break away from Soviet-era subsidized rates.

Interestingly, the Ukraine agreed to renounce nuclear weapons in exchange for a commitment from the U.S. and Russia to support the former Soviet republic in case of a threat. Ukrainian President Viktor Yushcenko said today that the severance of natural gas supplies is a threat to Ukrainian national security and he's prepared to ask nuclear club nations and the European Union to intervene in the conflict with Moscow.

Obviously, the Russia-Ukraine gas controversy has become a major geopolitical issue involving not only Europe but, also, the United States. And, although the Russians may be irritated by political considerations regarding the Ukraine, it seems perfectly reasonable for them to sell their gas at market price. Sooner or later, the Ukranian economy has to succeed without subsidies from a neighboring nation.

Companion post at In The Bullpen.
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       Following Entry Posted 1/01/2006 08:53:00 AM

13 Middle East Hostages Released

The New Year brings some positive news for the friends and families of 13 hostages kidnapped recently in Iraq, Yemen, and the Gaza Strip.

From TheStar.com:

Those released yesterday include Juergen Chrobog, a former German foreign minister, his wife and their three children, who had been held in Yemen by tribesmen for the past three days.

Also released yesterday were five Sudanese embassy staff -- including Abd al-Munim al-Huri, the Sudanese embassy's second secretary -- who were seized by kidnappers in Baghdad Friday.

And on Friday, kidnappers in the Gaza Strip released Kate Burton, a 25-year-old British human rights worker, and her parents. The three were abducted Wednesday in the chaotic southern town of Rafah on the Egyptian border.

While both Yemen and Sudan complied with the kidnappers' demands, the Palestinians released abducted Britons as a purported gesture of goodwill.

The Yemeni government agreed to the demand to hold talks with tribal leaders regarding release of five members of the tribe currently being detained. Sudan agreed to the demand to close its embassy to free the abducted diplomats and allow them to leave Iraq.

Britons Kate Burton, her father Hugh, and mother Helen were abducted by a group called the Brigades of the Mujahideen-Jerusalem with demands that,

Britain and the rest of Europe apply pressure on Israel to end the "no-go" zone it imposed in northern Gaza last week to stop rocket fire. The group also wants Israel to free prisoners, pull back troops in the occupied West Bank and end the assassination of militant leaders.

Presumably with considerable unofficial negotiation, Burton and her parents were released unharmed "as a gesture of goodwill." The masked, armed kidnappers released a video in which the following statement was read.

"We have decided to pardon the three Britons as a gesture of goodwill in return for a seriousness in answering our demands."

So, they kidnap and threaten the lives of three people, only to release them in return for a promise of "seriousness." Personally, that's a steamy pile of used oats. What are we going to be asked to believe next? The bus full of Israelis was bombed because there was insufficient seriousness? Not likely.

Although it's good news that the hostages were released, it comes at a price. In two of the three cases, the message was clearly sent to the thug terrorists that kidnapping works. Yemen and Sudan rolled over like trained dogs.

Companion at Jawa.
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