Following Entry Posted 2/28/2006 11:12:00 PM

SCOTUS Rules for Abortion Protesters

In a setback for abortion clinics, the Supreme Court ruled today that federal extortion and racketeering laws (RICO) cannot be used to ban demonstrations.

The legal battle began in 1986, when the National Organization for Women filed a class-action suit challenging tactics used by the Pro-Life Action Network to block women from entering abortion clinics.

NOW's legal strategy was novel at the time, relying on civil provisions of the 1970 Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, which was used predominantly in criminal cases against organized crime. The lawsuit also relied on the Hobbs Act, a 55-year-old law banning extortion.

A federal judge issued a nationwide injunction against the anti-abortion protesters after a Chicago jury found in 1998 that demonstrators had engaged in a pattern of racketeering by interfering with clinic operations, menacing doctors, assaulting patients and damaging clinic property.

In the end, the SCOTUS determined that there was no extortion because the protesters had not illegally "obtained property" from the women entering abortion clinics.

From the beginning, I thought that using RICO was an outlandish stretch by the abortion clinics. There's more discussion at Stop The ACLU. Go visit.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/28/2006 10:31:00 PM

SCOTUS Throws Out Price-Fixing Suit

Gasoline distributors filed suit against ChevronTexaco Corp. and Shell Oil Co. claiming that they violated antitrust laws by inflating gas prices by at least $1 billion. The San Francisco-based 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals ruled that there was evidence that ChevronTexaco and Shell had improperly restrained trade. Supreme Court Justices unanimously ruled that the gas distributors had not proved their case and threw out the lawsuit.

I have no interest in the lawsuit itself. I just wanted to make note that the 9th Circuit U.S. Court was overruled. Call it schadenfreude. I derive pleasure out of seeing the 9th Circuit being told to stuff it.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/28/2006 09:21:00 PM

Teacher McKnight Gets Four Years for Sex with Boy

(El Paso, Texas) Initially arrested in August 2005, former second-grade teacher at Vista Hills Elementary School, Donna McKnight, 52, was sentenced to four years in prison for molesting a 14-year-old boy. McKnight pleaded guilty in January to charges of sexual penetration, criminal sexual contact of a minor and conspiracy to contribute to the delinquency of a minor.

In addition, Texas District Judge Stephen Bridgforth said McKnight must serve two years probation after her release from prison and must register as a sex offender.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/28/2006 11:10:00 AM

Hackett Blames Brown for Whisper Campaign

Democratic political hopeful Paul Hackett has written an editorial which describes his recent departure from the race for the U.S. Senate in Ohio. He blames Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D., Nev.) and Sen. Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.) for leading him on and then pulling the rug out from under him. Oh, and then there's that ugly whisper campaign that Sherrod Brown launched.

Nevertheless, he's out of the race and, apparently, none the wiser. If he were, he'd cease to be a Democrat for the simple reason that he was treated like dirt.

Most tantalizing to me, though, is the fact that Hackett's editorial was not written for an Ohio newspaper. Instead, it appears in the Philadelphia Inquirer. Why Hackett would go to Pennsylvania to comment on an Ohio political race is beyond me.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/28/2006 09:09:00 AM

Confirmed Human Bird Flu Infections

(Korea) These cases resulted from close, sustained contact with infected birds.

From Chosun.com:

Korea on Friday confirmed four infections with the deadly human strain of bird flu in the country.

The Korea Center for Disease Control and Prevention said the four tested positive for antibodies of the H5N1 strain of avian influenza but showed no symptoms of the disease, meaning their immune systems overcame the infection.

So, we've seen the bird flu spread from Asia to Europe to Africa. New cases surface in new places almost daily. And, sooner or later, we'll see humans infecting humans. (H/T: Robert Koehler)
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       Following Entry Posted 2/28/2006 06:55:00 AM

Mexico's Dirty War

(Mexico City) A draft report leaked by a special prosecutor's office accuses former Mexican Presidents of conducting a "dirty war" against innocent civilians. A group of 27 researchers, historians and activists prepared the draft report of government counter-insurgency operations during the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s.

From GWU.edu:

The National Security Archive posts on its Web site today a work of history in progress -- a draft of an unprecedented report by Mexico's government on the nation's "dirty war" of the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s.

This document is the result of four years of work by the office of Mexico's Special Prosecutor for Social and Political Movements of the Past (Fiscalía Especial para Movimientos Sociales y Políticos del Pasado - FEMOSPP), Dr. Ignacio Carrillo Prieto. The office was created in 2002 by President Vicente Fox to investigate human rights crimes.

The crimes detailed in the draft report were committed during the administrations of Presidents Diaz Ordaz (1964-1970), Echeverría (1970-1976) and López Portillo (1976-1982). In those years, hundreds of Mexican citizens -- uncounted innocent civilians as well as armed militants -- were murdered or "disappeared" by military and security forces. Thousands more were tortured, or illegally detained, or subjected to government harassment and surveillance.

The final report has not yet been made public. However, according to Kate Doyle, Director of the Mexico Project of the National Security Archive, "We are posting the draft report because the families of the victims of the "dirty war," and the Mexican public, have a right to know."

I would agree. I would also ask why Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, et al. haven't been all over this issue for the past several decades.

Companion post at In The Bullpen.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/28/2006 06:29:00 AM

Cleveland Police Logo

(Cleveland, Ohio) It's being alleged that the logo for the Cleveland Police Department contains a hidden image. The logo dates back to the 1960s when the department revamped its look.

Some people contend that the hidden image is a pig.

You make the call.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/27/2006 11:08:00 PM

Human Smuggler Going Free

(Houston, Texas) In 2003, a human smuggling ring attempted to transport 70 illegal aliens from Mexico to Houston in a tractor-trailer rig. Nineteen ultimately died from hyperthermia, asphyxiation and dehydration inside the sealed trailer. To date, it is the deadliest human smuggling incident.

From Chron.com:

A prosecutor today accused a federal judge of abusing judicial discretion for allowing a member of a smuggling ring blamed for the deaths of 19 illegal immigrants to go free.

U.S. District Judge Vanessa Gilmore sentenced Houston restaurant owner Norma Gonzalez Sanchez to 30 months in prison. Because she has been jailed for 33 months, the sentence meant she could be released as soon as processing is completed at the federal detention center, possibly tonight.

Prosecutors had asked Gilmore to set a stern example in the first sentencing of one of 12 people accused of a role in the bungled smuggling attempt.

Unfortunately, Judge Gilmore didn't share the prosecution's assessment of the seriousness of the crime and decided that sternness wasn't appropriate. Judge Gilmore also refused to delay sentencing to allow for an appeal to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Companion post at Diggers Realm.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/27/2006 05:53:00 PM

Prison Nurses Paid $200,000 Yearly

(Columbus, Ohio) This will open some eyes.

From NewsNet5.com:

One Ohio prison nurse made $198,000 last year, and another earned $196,000. They top a list of state employees who collected the most overtime pay last year.

Because of a nursing shortage in state institutions, the two nurses averaged more than 40 hours of extra work every week in 2005. An analysis by The Columbus Dispatch shows their overtime more than doubled their salaries.

Heh.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/27/2006 05:23:00 PM

Julie Ann Welborn Gets Four Years

(Canton, Ohio) The 38-year-old married mother of two, Julie Ann Welborn, who traveled across country to have sex with a 13-year-old was sentenced today to four years in prison.

Welborn will also have to register as a sexual predator and serve five years probation upon release from prison.

Last November, Welborn was arrested and charged after the victim's mother found incriminating evidence among the child's belongings and alerted authorities.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/27/2006 04:02:00 PM

Homeless Burn Down Home

(Columbus, Ohio) Eureka! We've discovered the reason homeless people are homeless.

From NBC4i.com:

Officials said the house was supposed to be empty, but that homeless people had started a fire in the kitchen in an effort to stay warm. The fire spread and the house caught fire.

Whether a cardboard box or wood-framed structure, it's all just kindling to vagrants. Of course, I'm not so naive that I don't realize it's the Republicans fault.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/27/2006 03:10:00 PM

Chinese Invent Flying Saucer

(Beijing) A professor, Yan Lei, at the School of Earth and Space Sciences at Peking University announced that a Chinese flying saucer will take to the air within two years. It's called an analogue simulation model. Picture is assumed typical.

From Xinhuanet.com:

The analogue simulation model is a five-pointed star shaped platform capable of adjusting itself in the atmosphere so that the amount of electricity generated by the solar panels attached to the top of the platform keeps rising.

"Unlike conventional aerocraft which rely on high-speed movement for lifting force and the fuel-powered engine for dynamics, the newly-developed model employs propellers activated by machinery without bearings," Professor Yan explained.

So the model, which is said to contain more than a score of inventions, is also capable of operating noiseless flights, making vertical takeoffs and landings, remaining in suspension for a longtime in the air.

Based on the description, the Chinese have learned to levitate. I'm skeptical.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/27/2006 02:30:00 PM

Zarqawi Aide Captured

(Baghdad) Iraqi Forces are credited with capturing a top aide for Abu Musab al-Zarqawi during a raid in western Iraq.

From FoxNews.com:

Iraqiya TV identified the captive as Abu al-Farouq, a Syrian. It said he was captured with five other alleged Al Qaeda operatives in the Sunni insurgent stronghold of Ramadi, 70 miles west of Baghdad. The raid was carried out by the ministry's counterinsurgency Wolf Brigade.

According to the Iraqiya report, Abu Farouq was captured along with five other people in Ramadi, west of the capital Baghdad.

In related news, it's reported that al-Qaeda in Iraq, led by Jordanian miltiant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, has implemented a new command structure.

From ADNKI.com:

The new line-up is said to include a sort of shadow government at the head of the organisation mandated to direct all the activities of the group. Al-Zarqawi has been flanked by six 'ministers' and by a chief of staff who will coordinate all the operational brigades, the sources said.

In a document entitled "The strategy of al-Qaeda in Iraq", the group outlines a new decentralised and flexible organisational structure.

In the new hierarchy al-Zarqawi's number two would be Abu Abdel Rahman al-Iraqi who also has the role of 'interior minister' and oversees the internal affairs of the organisation.

The minister of defense is Abu Asir who directs suicide bombers. The religious affairs minister is Sheikh Abu Hamza al-Baghdadi who issues fatwas and the information minister is Abu Maysira al-Iraqi who controls Internet statements.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/27/2006 06:36:00 AM

Pamela Rogers Released From Jail

(McMinnville, Tennessee) Convicted child sex offender and former teacher, 28-year-old Pamela Rogers, was released from jail yesterday after completing about six months of her nine month sentence. Rogers (aka Pamela Turner) earned an early release through good behavior.

To refresh everyone's memory, Pamela Rogers Turner was arrested and charged in February 2005 with 15 counts of sexual battery by an authority figure and 13 counts of statutory rape of one of her students, a 13-year-old boy. In August, she pleaded no contest as part of an agreement with the prosecution and was sentenced. The agreement provided for dismissal of most of the 28 counts against her.

It's important to remember that Rogers was convicted of having a three-month sexual affair with a 13-year-old boy. Her crime was a clear case of child sexual abuse by a person in a position of authority and many observers believe Rogers received very lenient treatment by the court.

Her sentence includes seven years probation which, if violated, will send her back to jail. Rogers is already entered into the Tennessee sex offender registry with her photo posted on its website. In addition, she must complete 90 hours of community service.

In summary, the former teacher and former homecoming queen opens a new chapter in her life as an ex-convict and registered sex offender on probation. She forfeited her career, her good name and her marriage. In return, she's blanketed her life and her future with a dark cloud.

Poor decision-making skills produce poor results.

Companion post at The Jawa Report.


[Update 04/12/06]

Pamela Rogers was arrested last night for violating the terms of her probation.


[Update 07/14/06]

Rogers goes before judge to face new charges.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/27/2006 03:51:00 AM

Coqui Frog Eradication

(Honolulu) The coqui frog, Eleutherodactylus coqui, is an invasive species in Hawaii. It was first introduced on Maui in 1988 from the Caribbean.

The two-inch coqui frog gets its name from its nightly 100-decibel mating call (Ko-kee, Ko-kee) which interrupts the sleep of humans. Naturally, cranky sleep-deprived citizens have called for its eradication.

Consequently, the state Department of Land and Natural Resources will close Manuka State Park and a portion of the Manuka Natural Area Reserve on the Big Island from March 6 through March 10 as a precaution while state crews spray citric acid, killing the coqui frogs.

Apparently, animal rights advocates don't have a problem with killing frogs in Hawaii. They're not making much noise.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/26/2006 11:08:00 PM

Staphylococcus Aureus

Writing in the LATimes, Jia-Rui Chong has put together an informative piece about the threat of expanding colonies of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), a nasty bug. Here's an excerpt.

The bacterium likes to grow in warm, moist areas of the human body, such as the nose, armpit or groin. It can linger on the skin without causing infection, waiting to enter through a cut or an abrasion. Unlike many other germs, it can also survive hours, possibly days, on inanimate objects such as towels or catheters.

Once inside the body, the bacteria can bloom into rashes, pimples and boils. But sometimes the bacteria cause invasive infections, such as pneumonia or meningitis. In a few cases, staph infections can turn into a nightmarish necrotizing fasciitis, the so-called flesh-eating disease. In rare cases, an infection can be fatal.

Lancing a wound is sometimes enough to stop a broader infection. But if the bacteria has spread through a person's body, antibiotics are the only effective cure.

There is a hierarchy of antibiotics, starting with older drugs, such as penicillin, and working up to the most aggressive ones, including vancomycin and linezolid, which can cause serious side effects. Using the most aggressive ones first only helps to foster more drug resistance. Thus, infected patients are often initially prescribed antibiotics that have little effect.

Typically found only in hospitals, the bacterium is now showing up in schools, gyms, and jails. In one recent case in Texas, a woman named Kimberly Kay Jackson died from an MRSA infection she picked up at a local nail salon during a pedicure.

In the United Kingdom, official statistics indicate that deaths due to MRSA increased by 22 percent between 2003 and 2004. The Australians are also raising the alarm regarding MRSA. One researcher conducted a study and estimated that 1,700 Aussies succumb to MRSA in a year.

I think I'll wash my hands.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/26/2006 01:41:00 AM

Teacher Arrested for Raping Boy

(Cross Plains, Tennessee) A 25-year-old married teacher at East Robertson High School, Jennifer Erin Turns, was arrested last Wednesday for allegedly having sex with a 15-year-old male student.

According to court documents, Turns was charged with three counts of statutory rape and three counts of sexual battery by an authority figure. Statutory rape carries a possible two years in prison for each count. Sexual battery can result in six years for each count.

Allegations of sexual misconduct prompted an investigation by school officials. In a meeting with Turns in mid-January, officials discussed concerns regarding the sex allegations and school system policies. Turns resigned her teaching position shortly thereafter.

Turns was booked into the Robertson County Jail and later released on $10,000 bond. She is scheduled for court on March 17.


[Update 08/31/06]

Turns sentenced.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/25/2006 10:54:00 PM

Marine Corps Deserter Wassef Ali Hassoun

(Beirut, Lebanon) From the Khaleej Times comes the report that Lebanese authorities refused to extradite to the United States Hezbollah members suspected of attacking Americans in Beirut during the 1980s.

They also refused to extradite U.S. Marine Corps deserter, Wassef Ali Hassoun.

Authorities have also rejected a US request to hand over Wassef Hassoun, an American of Lebanese origin who deserted the Marines in 2004 and left Iraq for Lebanon and then left the southern port city of Tripoli for the US. It was reported later that Hassoun has left the US and headed back to Lebanon.

The judicial sources said the general amnesty law which was adopted in 1991 after the 1975-1990 civil war ended in Lebanon covered incidents of which the four were accused. As for Hassoun, the sources gave no reason for rejecting his extradition.

The four are Imad Moughaniyeh, Hassan Ezzeddine, Ali Atwe, and Mohammed ali Hamadeh. All but one are accused of helping in the 1983 bombing in Beirut where over 100 U.S. Marines were killed. The other, Mohammed ali Hamadeh, is accused of the 1985 highjacking of a TWA jet during which a U.S. Navy diver was killed.

So, somewhere in Lebanon, fugitive deserter Wassef Ali Hassoun is living his life constantly looking over his shoulder. I hope he suffers from anxiety attacks.


[Update 02/26/06]

(Beirut) In fresh reporting, The Daily Star indicates that Lebanese officials are still considering the U.S. extradition request.

"The issue is still being studied," said a Foreign Ministry spokesperson to The Daily Star in reference to the latest request by a U.S. official to extradite five wanted Lebanese citizens, accused of attacks against Americans, to be tried in the U.S.

"We have no official final comment at this point," said the spokesperson.

To be continued ....

Companion posts at Conservative Thinking and The Jawa Report.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/25/2006 06:23:00 PM

Don Knotts 1924-2006

(Los Angeles) At the age of 81, Don Knotts died at Cedars Sinai Medical Center last night from lung cancer.

He made us all laugh. Rest in peace.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/25/2006 04:16:00 PM

Al Qaeda Leader Killed in Raid

(Baghdad) Here's some good news.

From DefenseLink.mil:

A raid in northern Baghdad by coalition forces, with assistance from Iraqi police, resulted in the death of Abu Asma, the al Qaeda "military emir of northern Baghdad." Intelligence reports indicated Abu Asma was in possession of and expected to use suicide-bomber vests against Iraqi civilians and security forces.

Abu Asma, also known as Abu Anas and Akram Mahmud Al Mushhadani, was an explosives expert with close ties to senior Baghdad-based car-bomb manufacturers. Officials said he was directly responsible for many deaths and injuries among coalition and Iraqi security forces.

Smoke 'em if you got 'em.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/25/2006 02:33:00 PM

Chavez Severely Restricts U.S. Flights

(Caracas, Venezuela) The government of Hugo Chavez announced that it will bar Continental Airlines and Delta Air Lines from flying to Venezuela and severely restrict flights by American Airlines until Venezuelan air carriers are allowed to expand routes to the U.S.

Venezuelan registered planes have been denied access to the U.S. due to safety violations by the country's aviation authority.

From Miami.com:

The new limits will affect thousands of travelers to and from the United States and Venezuela but will have relatively little effect on South Florida passengers -- American will continue its thrice-daily Miami-Caracas flights, and foreign airlines such as Lan Chile and Aeropostal fly there as well.

[ ... ]

Venezuela said it will restrict 70 percent of American's flights to the country, but those limits will be felt elsewhere.

American will not be able to run its five weekly flights to Caracas from Dallas-Fort Worth, two weekly from New York's JFK or its daily flight from San Juan, Puerto Rico, she [American Airlines spokeswoman Martha Pantin] said.

Delta currently services a daily route from Venezuela to Atlanta, and Continental has daily flights to Houston and weekly flights to New York.

Package delivery companies like DHL, UPS and FedEx are in the lurch. The future of their substantial business between Venezuela and the U.S. is uncertain.

In response, the State Department indicated that "Washington will consider retaliating."

It's quite understandable that President Hugo Chavez has taken this action regarding the airlines. It's a required step in his march toward oppressive police-state communism and isolation from the capitalist world. Next, tight border and port controls must be established. And then, he'll have to implement measures to keep his citizens from fleeing the country.

The template for communist dictatorships is fairly standardized. After nationalizing the country's business and industry, the intelligencia must be eliminated. As people start to disappear, others flee. Barriers must be constructed to prevent the country of being depleted of all scientists, engineers, teachers, technicians and skilled workers.

Look at North Korea, Cuba and the former Soviet Union. Each time communism has been tried, it has failed. But not this time. Venezuela will see a different outcome. Ask Hugo Chavez.

I believe there is a word for doing something over and over and expecting a different outcome from what has been empirically proven to always occur.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/25/2006 12:57:00 PM

School Nurse Molests 13-Year-Old Boy

(Scottsdale, Arizona) A 35-year-old school nurse at Horizon High School, Courtney Bisbee, was found guilty in Maricopa County Superior Court of molesting a seventh-grade, 13-year-old boy. Bisbee was acquitted on three other counts of public indecency by Judge Warren Granville.

A single mother, Bisbee faces a prison term of 10 to 24 years upon sentencing. (H/T Don Morgenstern)


[Update 04/15/06]

Bisbee was sentenced to 11 years each for two counts of child molestation, to run concurrently.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/24/2006 11:55:00 PM

No Insurance for Lake George Tour Boat Tragedy

(Lake George, New York) Twenty elderly sightseers from Michigan perished last October when the tour boat Ethan Allen sank.

Astonishingly, it appears that the owner of the boat, Shoreline Cruises, had no liability insurance. The insurance company, Global Property Owners Association, asserts that Shoreline Cruises rejected maritime coverage.

The New York State Insurance Department is investigating.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/24/2006 11:00:00 PM

Teacher Arrested for Sex with 11-Year-Old

(Laurens, South Carolina) A 36-year-old teacher, Wendie A. Schweikert, at E.B. Morse Elementary School was arrested Friday for allegedly having sex with an 11-year-old student. Schweikert was charged with two counts of criminal sexual conduct with a minor.

Schweikert resigned her teaching position around noon and was arrested shortly thereafter. She is currently in jail with a bond hearing scheduled for tomorrow.

Interestingly, Jeff Quinton at Backcountry Conservative attended E.B. Morse Elementary School (some years ago, I imagine) and has posted some details from the neighborhood. Go visit.


[Update 02/26/06 1215 EST]

Presumably, here's a look into the mind of a child molester. And, we have to acknowledge a whole new meaning for "After School Special."

From Fox21.com:

Investigators say Wendie Schweikert told them she had sex with a boy in her fifth grade class, twice, after school on top of her desk. She may call it sex, but investigators say its rape. "She's charged with criminal sexual conduct with a minor," said Laurens Police Chief, Robin Morse.

The prosecution asked for jail without bond, considering the former fifth-grade teacher a flight risk and a danger to the community. However, a judge disagreed and yesterday set bond at $100,000.


[Update 03/28/07]

From a fresh source and much more interesting, though, is the fact that Schweikert, who is white, is accused of sexually abusing a black boy. This information was apparently overlooked by the elite media when the story was originally reported.

Nevertheless, the fact that a white woman is having sex with a black boy is inflaming some pre-existing racial tension in the area. It's claimed that a black man having sex with a white girl would not have been released on bail.

It's odd that the elite MSM failed to fully tell the story. On second thought, no it isn't.


[Update 06/02/07]

Schweikert sentenced to 10 years prison.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/24/2006 09:11:00 PM

Teacher Jailed for Sex with Student

(Goldsboro, North Carolina) A 36-year-old English teacher at Charles B. Aycock High School, Laurie Spurlock, was arrested by Wayne County Sheriff's deputies for allegedly engaging in a sexual relationship with an 18-year-old male student. Spurlock was charged with two counts of a felony sex offense with a student.

According to Sheriff Carey Winders, the Wayne County Board of Education requested an investigation of the relationship between Spurlock and the student. Consequently, Detective Sgts. Tammy Odom and Dean Roscoe determined that sex had occurred between September 2005 and January 2006 in violation of state law. The sex did not occur on school grounds.

Spurlock was booked at the Wayne County Jail and held in lieu of a $15,000 secured bond.


[Update 05/05/06]

Spurlock sentenced.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/24/2006 02:19:00 PM

Directions From Celebrities

Out of the UK comes this report regarding those GPS navigation gizmos being installed in the latest model automobiles. Currently, these smart features guide travelers to their destinations via maps and soft female voices giving instructions. For example, everybody has surely heard a car say, "The door is ajar. The door is ajar."

For those who desire some novelty away from the same mundane voice giving instructions, a company called Voice Skins is marketing a product which allows travelers to hear celebrity voices instead. A traveler can now be told where to go by Clint Eastwood, Patrick Stewart, an evil doctor, or Ozzie Osborne.

I haven't tested the system yet, but I have to imagine that having Clint Eastwood say, "Go ahead, make that turn" would be most entertaining. Plus, the company offers Ozzie Osborne in two versions, bleeped and unbleeped, setting the stage for your car to tell you, "In 400 metres you have reached your f***ing destination." Ah, the perfect accompaniment for the ride to your mother-in-law's house.

The possibilities are limitless. Think of Bette Davis telling you to fasten your seat belt for "a bumpy ride." For that Sunday afternoon drive without timetable or specific destination, pop in the Sylvester Stallone version. Traveling cross-country? Let Rod Serling direct you on the twilight road. And no trip through the streets of New York would be complete without Al Pacino ("Say hello to Mulberry Street") or Robert DiNiro ("You takin' a left? You takin' a left?") giving directions.

The mind wanders.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/24/2006 12:45:00 PM

Lisa Clark Rejects Plea Deal

(Hall County, Georgia) In the latest development of the Lisa Lynnette Clark and boy-husband saga, 37-year-old Clark was arraigned in Hall County Court this morning and entered not guilty pleas to charges of child molestation, statutory rape and enticing a minor for indecent purposes. Defense attorney Daniel Sammons said the terms of the deal were unacceptable. He did not elaborate.

Clark is being at the Hall County Jail where she returned mere days after after giving birth to a boy at the Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville, Ga. The infant, fathered by the boy-husband, is named Sky Cobain.

Sammons requested that Clark be allowed to send a baby bracelet to the boy-husband as a memento. Judge Bonnie Oliver denied the request since it violated the terms of the original court order forbidding contact between Clark and the teen-father. The 15-year-old father is in custody on a probation violation resulting from a burglary charge.

Clark is due back in court on March 15 for a motions hearing.


[Update 1530 EST]

Apparently, the existence of a plea deal was supposed to be confidential.

From AccessNorthGa.com:

"We're not happy with the offer as it presently exists," Sammons said. "I won't discuss the terms of the plea offer unless and until we reach an agreement."

Sammons added he was not happy with Judy Hayles disclosure of a possible plea offer.

Hayles is the boy-husband's grandmother who has nothing positive to say about Clark. In fact, Hayles previously called Clark "a pedophile" and "scum of the Earth." Also, from Sammons:

"I think her enthusiasm unnecessarily complicates the case because it just stirs things up and it makes it difficult to be able to resolve things that need to be resolved."

To be continued ...


[Update 03/15/06]

Lisa Clark sentenced to nine months.


[Update 02/25/08]

Lisa Clark released from prison.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/24/2006 02:58:00 AM

Murders in Mexico

Following up on yesterday's post regarding the murders of a Toronto-area couple, Domenic Ianiero and his wife Annunziata, at a Mexican resort, a government official stated that the killings "had all the hallmarks of a professional job."

From TheGlobeandMail.com:

Gabriela Rodriguez, Secretary of Tourism for Quintana Roo State, also said authorities continue to focus their investigation on two Canadian women who were staying at the same resort and suggested that any local involvement in the crime has now been ruled out.

"The wounds that the couple had were perfectly drawn," she said, speaking with CBC Newsworld. "In both the bodies, it was a perfect, perfect cut. The blood that led from one room to another was erased."

Mexican authorities believe the primary suspects returned to Canada the same day as the killings. In a later report, officials stated they are confident that the suspects fled Mexico for Canada, but they are no longer convinced of their gender. It's possible that they were men dressed as women.

The investigation continues.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/24/2006 01:07:00 AM

Google Teaming With EarthLink

(San Francisco) This is interesting.

Google is joining EarthLink in a bid to build a wireless network in San Francisco that would offer basic Internet access for free and charge about $20 per month to surf the Web at higher speeds.

I'd comment on this but I can't afford to be hauled into court by the ... um ... let's leave it at that.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/23/2006 11:41:00 PM

Woman Gets 60 Days for Rape

(San Bernardino, California) A former San Bernardino High School secretary, Christel Puentes Ochoa, agreed to a deal with the prosecution last December and pleaded guilty to rape. Ochoa's case originally involved multiple counts of rape, molestation, and influencing a witness which were related to sexual relationships she had with at least two students.

Yesterday, in the kind and gentle San Bernardino County Court, 23-year-old Ochoa was sentenced to 60 days in jail on weekends. Even the Probation Department was aghast.

"She needed a little more serious punishment than weekends," Probation Department division director Rick Arden said.

In a pre-sentencing evaluation report, some straight time in custody was recommended but apparently ignored by the judge, whose name wasn't disclosed.

Even so, Ochoa stated in court that the sentence is unfair while claiming no responsibility and expressing no remorse for the crime. I would agree. The sentence is unfair, but not to Ochoa. It's unfair to society for allowing sex crimes against children to be punished so leniently.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/23/2006 10:46:00 PM

Environmentalist Indicted

(San Diego, California) Here's a reminder that the United States faces homegrown purveyors of violence in addition to foreign nutjob terrorists.

From LATimes.com:

Rodney Coronado, 39, of Tucson, a convicted arsonist and leader in the radical Earth Liberation Front, was indicted Wednesday for allegedly giving a speech urging people to commit arson and telling them how to build an incendiary device.

Coronado's speech on Aug. 1, 2003, came one day after a condominium complex under construction in San Diego was destroyed in a fire and an Earth Liberation Front banner was left at the site.

For teaching how to make a destructive incendiary device with the intent that it be used to cause damage, Coronado faces a possible 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/23/2006 09:15:00 PM

Boston Globe Closes Baghdad Office

It's being reported that the Boston Globe is closing its Baghdad operation. This news came as an absolute shock to many of my acquaintances who, without exception, asked the question, "Since when does the Globe use news reporters?"
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       Following Entry Posted 2/23/2006 07:52:00 PM

Journalists Murdered In Iraq

(Baghdad) The bullet-riddled bodies of three Al-Arabiya television journalists were found earlier today in Samarra, the site of yesterday's Askariya mosque attack.

The three, all Iraqi citizens, included a prominent female television correspondent, 26-year-old Atwar Bahjat (right), her cameraman and her soundman, Khaled Mahmoud al-Falahi, 39, and Adnan Khairallah, 36.

From E & P:

Bahjat had been reporting live Wednesday from the outskirts of Samarra, which security forces had sealed off after an explosion at a Shiite mosque.

Officials at the Dubai-based satellite news channel said they lost contact with their team after their last broadcast at 6 p.m. Wednesday.

A fourth team member managed to escape from the ambush and told police about the kidnappings. He said two gunmen pulled up in a pickup truck, shooting in the air and shouting: "We want the correspondent," The Associated Press quoted Al-Arabiya as reporting.

"Atwar was in the news van and shouted to the crowd to help her. The crew tried to speak to the gunmen, but they snatched them and took them an unknown location (sic). By this time, night had fallen," Reuters quoted Al-Arabiya's Baghdad correspondent Ahmed al-Saleh as telling viewers.

Their bullet-riddled bodies were found by their vehicle near the town of Dawr. Notably, by all indications, these journalists were specifically targeted. I have to presume that this is one of the finer examples of how followers of the religion of peace do Allah's good work.

Condolences to the families and friends of Atwar Bahjat, Khaled Mahmoud al-Falahi, and Adnan Khairallah.

Companion post at The Jawa Report.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/23/2006 05:47:00 PM

FCC Upholds Nipplegate Fine

(Washington) While hinting at additional penalties for various other broadcasters, the FCC announced that CBS will be fined handsomely for nipplegate.

From Associated Press:

Federal regulators will stick by their decision to slap CBS with a $550,000 fine for the Janet Jackson flash at the 2004 Super Bowl.

They also plan new sanctions against Fox, NBC and CBS TV stations or affiliates for violating decency standards, according to people familiar with the matter.

The two sources, who declined to be identified ahead of a public announcement, said one of the decisions involves an appearance by Nicole Richie on the 2003 Billboard Music Awards on Fox. During the broadcast, she uttered the "F" word and the expletive for excrement.

It's believed to be the first time that the Federal Communications Commission will address the use of the second expletive on the public airwaves. The FCC has previously penalized networks for allowing the "F" word to be broadcast.

Nobody is talking about who else is to be penalized. All I have to say is, "What a load of [expletive for excrement]?"
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       Following Entry Posted 2/23/2006 05:18:00 PM

FBI Probing Suspicious Car Crash

(Chicago) A fatal multi-vehicle crash on I-55 resulted in the finding of a check written for a large sum of money, along with a sizeable amount of cash and multiple IDs in the car of one of two people killed. The FBI was called in to assist the Illinois State Police with the investigation. It's reported that the investigation could possibly lead to a major counterfeiting operation or terrorist financing.

More at The Jawa Report and OpinionBug.com.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/23/2006 09:03:00 AM

Roof Collapse Kills 27 at Moscow Market

(Moscow) The snow-covered roof of the three-decade-old Basmanny Market in the Bauman District of Moscow collapsed today, killing at least 27 and trapping others.


From Reuters:

Twenty-five others had been taken to hospital suffering from injuries. Sniffer dogs had indicated 11 places where people buried in the wreckage might still be alive.

"People trapped are calling out. They are knocking. The trouble is: time is going by," Emergencies Minister Sergei Shoigu said at the scene.

The accident occurred as vendors were preparing their stalls at the start of a national holiday to mark Defenders of the Motherland Day.

Officials said the death toll would have been much worse if the market had been open for business at the time.

Rescue workers poured into the area and lifting gear was used to raise twisted girders and concrete blocks that came down when the circular roof on the building collapsed.

Officials are anticipating the death toll to increase. Currently, about 500 rescue workers are at the scene.

Well worth mentioning is the fact that the market building was designed by architect Nodar Kancheli who had previously designed the Transvaal Aqua Park which collapsed in February 2004, killing 28 and wounding dozens. In my opinion, Kancheli designs appear to have a generic design defect.


[Update 0910 EST]

This report indicates 38 deaths.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/23/2006 06:48:00 AM

Lobster Blight in Long Island Sound

During the years 1998 and 1999, a blight struck the lobster population in the Long Island Sound and an estimated 75% of the mature lobsters were killed off. Prior to the blight, there was a high level of abundance of lobsters and the number of active, licensed Connecticut lobstermen totaled about 360. Now, there are 187.

The cause of the blight is disputed. Many are convinced that the lobster population collapsed due to pesticide-laden runoff following aggressive mosquito control measures during West Nile virus scares. Whatever the cause, the lobsters have yet to rebound to pre-blight levels.

In order to stave off a complete crash of the lobster fishery and to encourage replenishment, the Connecticut Marine Fisheries Division is boosting the minimum legal size for lobsters caught in the Sound. Effective July 1,

[T]he minimum "gauge" size for lobsters in Long Island Sound will increase from 3.28 inches to 3.31 inches, measured from the eye sockets to the tail. Smaller lobsters must be thrown back.

An attempt by the Connecticut fisheries manager to increase the minimum size to 3.375 inches was overruled. For comparison, New York, New Jersey, and Rhode Island impose a 3.375 inches minimum. Maine has the most liberal requirement of 3.25 inches.

All in all, it's nice to know at least part of the reason that lobsters are so pricey.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/23/2006 05:36:00 AM

Woman Gets 18 Months for Forced Sex with Boy

(Milford, Connecticut) A 38-year-old woman, Jennifer Esposito, was sentenced to 18 months in state prison for engaging in sex acts with a 14-year-old neighbor boy -- including once when the boy was forcefully being held by her ex-husband, Wayne Pysz.

Esposito and her ex-husband were originally arrested in 2000 and charged with luring the boy into their home and molesting him. Pysz pleaded guilty last fall to two counts of risk of injury to a minor and was sentenced to six years in prison.

Esposito pleaded guilty last spring to two counts of risk of injury to a minor and was sentenced to 10 years in prison, all but 18 months suspended. According to her lawyer, Vito Castignoli, Esposito "is a person of limited intelligence" and she was manipulated by Pysz. A Superior Court Judge apparently bought the mitigating argument and suspended the majority of her sentence.

In summary, a sex crime against a child is punished leniently because the perpetrator is stupid. This doesn't make sense to me. Since stupid people are known to repeat actions many times while anticipating different results, it would seem appropriate to punish stupid people more harshly, not more leniently.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/23/2006 03:28:00 AM

Three Jailed in Child Abuse, Grandma Sex Case

(Garden City, Georgia) Here's a bizarre case of child cruelty and adults having sex in front of children.

A 22-year-old man, Lenton Stephen Heath, had sex with his girlfriend's mother in front of his child (her grandchild) and was arrested for child molestation, child abuse and cruelty to children. The girlfriend's mother, 49-year-old Gloria Patterson, was arrested for beating and burning her grandchildren after police found the kids physically abused. The mother of the children and Heath's girlfriend, 22-year-old Monique Waples, was also arrested for severe child abuse. (Note: Monique Waples is also identified as Talicia Waples.)

Police responded to a complaint of noise at the Masters Inn Hotel off Highway 21 outside Savannah. Officers found Waples, her mother, and four children living in the hotel room and evidence indicated that a 6-year-old girl and an 18-month-old boy had been severely beaten. Heath was not present, but was arrested later after the whole story of the situation became known.

In addition to child abuse and molestation charges, Heath, Waples, and Patterson are being investigated for possible welfare fraud since all were collecting state or federal benefits for the children.

This story caught my eye because of two aspects. First is the reported ugly crimes against the children. For the crimes, the culprits should be punished vigorously by the law. And secondly, the nature of the 'family' relationship was that Heath was effectively having sex with his mother-in-law, Gloria Patterson. Now, it seems to me that he has the perfect defense for his actions. He's obviously insane.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/23/2006 02:10:00 AM

Canadian Couple Found Murdered at Mexican Resort

(Quintana Roo, Mexico) About an hour south of Cancun, Barcelo Maya Beach Resort hotel management found the murdered bodies of a Canadian couple in their room. Domenic Ianiero, 59, and his wife Annunziata, 55, of the Toronto suburb of Woodbridge were discovered with their throats slashed early Monday. They had arrived at the five-star resort on Saturday.

Mexican and Canadian authorities are investigating.


[Update]

Follow up post with pic.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/23/2006 12:26:00 AM

Wal-Mart Workers Denied Class Action

(Madison Wisconsin) The Wisconsin 1st District Court of Appeals ruled Tuesday that a lawsuit by Wal-Mart employees claiming they had to work through breaks without pay will not be given class-action status.

Since the only way to determine whether employees actually missed breaks is to examine each individual employee's time-clock entries, the court rightfully ruled that a jury should examine each of the estimated 86,000 claimants cases. The subject lawsuit, originally filed in 2001 by three Wal-Mart employees, will continue to be adjudicated. If they win, it's expected that they'll see no more than $100 judgments.

Right now, I imagine there are a few lawyers crying in their martinis.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/22/2006 11:57:00 PM

From Golden Arches

This report might be a little surprising. MacDonald's is being credited with starting a revolution in British cuisine.

Food in London is now among the world's best, with the greatest variety of ethnic restaurants. Pubs serve cask-conditioned ales and a huge range of international beers. Wines are better than those available in France, both in supermarkets and wine bars. People have been educated to be more discriminating about what they eat and drink. Service has improved beyond measure, largely because it has been taken over by cheerful foreign youngsters using it to support themselves while they get established.

The seed for change was the first MacDonald's in London which opened in the late 1970s.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/22/2006 11:21:00 PM

Google Loses Copyright Infringement Case

(Los Angeles) Google will be prevented from displaying certain copyrighted thumbnail images according to a U.S. District Court ruling on Friday.

From Breitbart.com:

Internet giant Google Inc. infringed copyright rules by posting thumbnail-size photos from other websites on its search results pages, a US judge said in a ruling issued.

US District Judge Howard Matz's ruling, handed down in Los Angeles, stems from a lawsuit filed in 2004 by the pornography firm Perfect 10 Inc., which accused Google of breaching on its copyrights.

The type of search with which Perfect 10 took issue is Google's "Image Search" function, which returns a page with tiny images -- known as thumbnails -- that fit the searcher's query.

The image search function also allows searchers to view the image as it appears on the page.

The judge ruled that because Google receives advertising money from offering search functions, it is not entitled to the same level of free use of the images as other entities would be.

Both sides in the case were instructed to craft the wording for a preliminary injunction barring Google from using the thumbnail-size images. Notably, the ruling applies only to images owned by the Perfect 10 company. For now, that is.

As the godfather of search engines, I would speculate that Google will be taken to court on a fairly regular basis.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/22/2006 10:56:00 PM

Female Teacher Jailed for Sex Assault of Boy

(Wakulla, Florida) A 36-year-old exceptional education teacher at Wakulla High School, Elaine Turner, was arrested Tuesday by Wakulla County Sheriff's deputies and charged with four counts of sexually assaulting a student. Turner allegedly had sexual relations with the boy on four occasions. She was released after posting $10,000 bail.


[Update 10/16/07]

Turner sentenced.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/22/2006 07:07:00 AM

Olympic Team Robbed

(Torino, Italy) It's being reported that thieves broke into at least five of the rooms occupied by Norway's biathlon athletes and stole money, equipment and clothing.

From Aftenposten.no:

The amounts taken were large enough that the secretary general of the Norwegian biathlon federation decided to report the thefts to police.

So much for security at the Olympics. Thieves are bold enough to break into the rooms of the only athletes with guns.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/22/2006 03:07:00 AM

Something Smells

(New York) The Pink Elephant nightclub on West 27th Street in Manhattan will open next month with a new feature to attract and satisfy customers.

From Page Six:

The venue will introduce a high-tech "scent machine," which can supposedly fill the room with up to 30,000 different smells. "We will be shooting various scents through the course of the night to enhance the ambiance and trigger a mixture of sensual and aphrodisiac responses," said Pink Elephant poobah David Sarner.

The club has a machine that shoots smells up to 60 feet. Sitting on it freshens your breath.

Frankly, I don't think this is such a big deal. You could easily enjoy the enhanced ambiance of at least 60,000 smells during a weekend Yankees game. The machine, however, might prove to be useful in controlling protesters and demonstrators.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/22/2006 01:19:00 AM

OIC Sec-Gen Denounces Calls to Kill Cartoonists

(Islamabad, Pakistan) The Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), Professor Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, has denounced calls for killing cartoonists.

From DailyTimes.com.pk:

Such calls are against the teachings of Islam and do no good to the image of Muslims around the world, Ihsanoglu said at a joint press conference with Foreign Minister Khrushid Kasuri after talks between the two. "Nobody has the right to kill anybody," he said in response to a question about a fatwa issued by a Pakistani cleric.

Unfortunately, he followed up his denouncement of killing cartoonists with a call for international laws to criminalize "acts of defamation" against Islam. Ihsanoglu plans to meet with UN Secretary General Kofi Annan prior to issuing a joint declaration stressing the need for laws on "defamation of religion."

It seems that if the Muslims get their way, we can kiss the Bill of Rights goodbye, starting with that pesky First Amendment.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/21/2006 11:57:00 PM

Car Personality

(United Kingdom) According to this report, a survey found that approximately half of all women drivers believe their cars have personalities and 20% worry about the it's feelings.

Strange. Maybe the survey results can be explained by the fact that many Brits also claim to have been abducted briefly by aliens and given medical exams.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/21/2006 03:26:00 PM

Al Qaeda Opines on UAE Ports Contract

Not officially, but I presume the terrorist masterminds are thinking that having the United Arab Emirates operate American port facilities is a godsend of an opportunity to plant sleeper cells. Bin Laden must be saying to himself, "It can't be this easy."

As for the United Arab Emirates being an ally of the U.S., it's interesting that they have blocked their citizens from accessing Michelle Malkin's website.

Here's another provocative morsel of information ("kind of-sort of" related to the ports deal) regarding Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum of Dubai, one of the seven United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Al-Maktoum, Defense Minister of the United Arab Emirates, is also Crown Prince of Dubai-an Arab Muslim country that strongly supported and recognized Afghanistan's Taliban, one of only three countries to do so. According to "From the Desert to the Derby," by Jason Levin, 10 of the 19 September 11th hijackers carried documents and identification from Dubai, a country which also has no laws against money-laundering. Why? Maybe, because money to fund September 11th's terrorism was laundered to ringleader Mohammed Atta, directly from Dubai's banks.

Lots of dots begging to be connected, I'd say.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/21/2006 12:55:00 PM

Ohio Men Indicted on Terrorism Charges

(Toledo, Ohio) Three Toledoans have been indicted on charges of planning attacks to try to kill U.S. military personnel and coalition forces in Iraq.

From FoxToledo.com:

Mohammad Zaki Amawi, Marwan Othman El-Hindi, and Wassim I. Mazloum are accused of conspiring to kill or maim persons in and out of the United States, including U.S. Forces personnel. The Federal indictment obtained by Fox Toledo News Tuesday morning says the three were also solicting funding for jihad training, including government grants and private sponsorship.

The accused had travelled to the mid East to establish training facilities for terrorist activities, among other charges.

Amawi, El-Hindi, Mazloum
[Update 1330 EST]

The three men were apprehended over the weekend.

From Cleveland.com:

The indictment - unsealed today in Toledo - lays out details of a conspiracy that purportedly began in November of 2004 when Amawi and Mazloum met with a third person to discuss violent jihad training.

According to the indictment, the men later trained with weapons at a Toledo firing range, downloaded videos on how to put together suicide bomb vests and talked about shipping chemical explosives for bombs to the Middle East.

In addition, the indictment says some of the men were learning how to make Improvised Explosive Devices - IEDs - out of common household items and at least one hoped to fund their training and attacks by opening a non-profit foundation.

In the end, Amawi and another unidentified person from the Toledo area went to Jordan last year and tried to enter Iraq to join the insurgents in their fight against U.S. and allied forces, but they failed, the indictment said. It's unclear what stopped them.

In a possibly related action, federal agents on Sunday also raided the offices of a non-profit Muslin charity called Kindhearts for allegedly providing support to Hamas. It's presently not clear whether the arrests of Amawi, El-Hindi, and Mazloum are linked to Kindhearts.


[Update 03/06/08]

Toledo terrorism trial of the three begins.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/21/2006 08:09:00 AM

Ohio 13th District Horse Race

With Rep. Sherrod Brown deciding to run for the Senate, the 13th Congressional District in Ohio is up for grabs and seventeen candidates, nine Democrats and eight Republicans, became official after last week's filing deadline. I find it difficult to draw very many conclusions regarding the run-up to the primaries in May other than, it's sure to be entertaining.

Two notables will be competing, Capri Cafaro, with a substantial personal war chest, and Gary Kucinich, with name recognition due to having a brother, Rep. Dennis Kucinich, already serving in an adjacent district.

On the Republican side, the hopefuls are:

Ruth Nader Abboud of Hinckley,
Paul S. Burtzlaff of Avon Lake,
Anthony J. Cirino of Avon,
C.J. Delorean of Medina,
Craig Foltin of Lorain,
Lawrence L. Jaycox Jr. of Elyria,
David McGrew of Akron, and
Joe Ortega III of Strongsville.

The Democrats include:

Capri Cafaro of Sheffield Village,
Norbert G. Dennerll Jr. of Westlake,
Daniel Goulder of Westlake,
William Grace of Elyria,
Gary Kucinich of Strongsville,
Michael Lyons of Richfield,
Thomas C. Sawyer of Akron,
Betty Sutton of Chardon, and
John L. Wolfe of Akron.

I've seen racing forms with fewer entrants. So, sports fans, fasten your seat belts and secure your mud flaps. I expect a touch of national exposure and it could get ugly.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/21/2006 07:38:00 AM

Karaoke Without Liquor

(Hanoi, Vietnam) Over 10,000 karaoke bars in the country, some catering to drug usage and prostitution, are being blamed for 'social evils' by the Vietnamese government. As a result, the communist hierarchy has decreed that alcohol is prohibited at the bars and they must close at midnight.

The logic eludes me. Banning alcohol doesn't necessarily mean there will be less drug usage and less prostitution. In fact, banning alcohol would more likely lead to increased drug usage, especially if someone, without a couple of bracers, anticipated being handed a microphone and asked to belt out a believable rendition of "Buttons and Bows."

Via Medary.com
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       Following Entry Posted 2/21/2006 06:33:00 AM

Shining Path Commander Killed

(Lima, Peru) During a weekend raid of a guerilla jungle stronghold, Shining Path leader Hector Aponte, aka Comrade Clay, was killed by Peruvian police. The Maoist rebel group has been decimated over recent years after the capture of its founder, Abimael Guzman, in 1992.

Although only a few hundred die-hard members remain active in the communist group, one has to assume that Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has reached out to them for support in furthering his wider political goals in South America. Also, Shining Path is likely the template followed by Nepal's Maoist guerillas and continues to be listed as a Designated Foreign Terrorist Organization by the U.S. State Department.

Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Shining Path was responsible for over half of an estimated 70,000 violent deaths in Peru.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/20/2006 06:21:00 PM

CBS Spearheads Global Warming

Last night's 60 Minutes program had an end-of-the-world segment regarding global warming. Of course, the scientific geniuses at CBS have cast their faith in the theory that all climactic changes are caused by civilization, meaning the United States is at fault. The producers cited only those opinions that support their political world view.

For evidence, CBS relied on data that indicates the global ice caps are melting. That's Earth's global ice caps. Naturally, the fact that data also indicates that the ice caps on Mars are melting was not mentioned.

All in all, the program was the usual one-sided liberal dogma we've learned to expect from CBS. I saw a few minutes but had to turn the channel. Frankly, I'm offended when political propagandizing is couched as scientific news reporting. Porkopolis, on the other hand, is made of sterner stuff and was able to watch the whole episode. Go visit and check out some of the salient aspects of the global warming debate that CBS failed to mention.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/20/2006 10:57:00 AM

Get A Load of This

Tomorrow, Sen. Dianne Feinstein plans to introduce legislation to make it a federal crime for someone to burrow a tunnel into the U.S. Apparently, there are currently no laws which specifically make tunneling illegal.

Can you dig it?
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       Following Entry Posted 2/20/2006 02:23:00 AM

Bin Laden Vows Never To Be Captured Alive

(Dubai, United Arab Emirates) The full content of the audio tape of Osama bin Laden, of which excerpts were released by Al-Jazeera on January 19, was posted on the Internet earlier today by the al Qaeda media group al-Sahab.

From KhaleejTimes.com:

Osama bin Laden promised never to be captured alive and declared the US had resorted to the same "barbaric" tactics used by Saddam Hussein, according to an audiotape purportedly by the Al Qaeda leader that was posted on Monday on a militant Web site.

The tape appeared to be a complete version of one that was first broadcast Jan. 19 on Al-Jazeera, the pan-Arab satellite channel, in which bin Laden offered the United States a long-term truce but also said his Al Qaeda terror network would soon launch a fresh attack on American soil.

Bin Laden is likely a fan of film legend James Cagney who I know has said, "You'll never take me alive, Copper!" In any event, it's fine with me and the sooner, the better.

Don't you find the timing of the release of the tape somewhat odd? Typically, bin Laden is quite skilled at managing the media's messages yet, for some strange reason, this tape is posted right when cartoon protests and demonstrations are hogging the news. It's not clear whether the release of the tape was timed wrong or timed to trigger specific actions on the part of sleeper cells. I wouldn't be surprised by either.

Tipped by Mac Powell at In The Bullpen.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/20/2006 01:03:00 AM

Israelis Kill Islamic Jihad Leader

(Nablus, Israel) Today, Israeli Defense Forces killed Hamad Abu Sharif, the head of the armed Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement. Scratch one terrorist.

From Aljazeera.net:

Palestinian security sources said that Hamad Abu Sharif, chief of the Al-Quds Brigades, was gunned down by troops in the old town of Nablus in the north of the West Bank early on Monday.

An Israeli military spokesman confirmed the death of a fighter, saying: "Soldiers operating in the old town opened fire on armed men killing one of them."

Hopefully, the Al-Quds Brigades will be disrupted in their murderous campaign by the loss of a boss.

On a different note, the Agence France-Presse (AFP) has been keeping a running total of deaths in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict since September 2000. I think it's interesting that four-fifths of about 5000 deaths have been Palestinians.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/20/2006 12:34:00 AM

Georgian Help Sought for Possible Iran Strike

Although there has been no formal request by U.S. officials, it's reported that unofficial overtures have been made to the government of Georgia.

From JPost.com:

American officials have been quietly probing whether Georgia, situated just northwest of Iran, will be willing to allow Washington to use its military bases and airfields in the event of a military conflict with Teheran, The Jerusalem Post has been told.

The Americans have been putting out feelers, a high-ranking Georgian government foreign affairs official told the Post, in advance of a possible military strike to prevent Iran from achieving nuclear weapons capability.

Georgian officials expressed fear of civil unrest and possible harsh Iranian retaliation but, given their dependence on American aid and support, feel obligated to help the U.S. There's also the already-strained Georgian relationship with Russia to consider.

Considering the negatives, American forces attacking Iran from Georgia seems like a longshot but, nevertheless, it's on the table. Also being considered is the use of airfields and bases in Azerbaijan, another close ally of the U.S. Officially, everybody everywhere is denying everything. However, despite the denials, Iran appears to be taking the situation quite seriously.

Companion post at The Jawa Report.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/19/2006 11:56:00 PM

Iran To Discuss Russian Nuclear Proposal

(Tehran, Iran) Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki announced earlier today that a high-level delegation will travel to Moscow on Monday for talks on Russia's nuclear proposal.

From the BBC:

Russia has proposed a compromise deal under which uranium for Iran would be enriched on Russian territory.

Moscow is confident it can pull off a diplomatic coup and convince Iran to accept a nuclear compromise.

Under the proposals, Iran would be allowed enriched uranium on Russian soil and in Russian facilities.

That way, Teheran would be able to run a nuclear power programme, which the Iranians say is all they want to do.

But it would not be able to divert fuel to develop nuclear weapons, which is what America and Europe believe is what Iran really wants to do.

Many observers are skeptical, believing instead that the Iranians can't be trusted and this is just an eleventh-hour stunt to delay any decision by European and U.S. officials. As I recall, we've seen this kind of ploy before when Saddam was constantly coming up with last-minute counter proposals prior to the Gulf War.

Nevertheless, Minister Mottaki told reporters today that he was optimistic about the talks.

Companion post at In The Bullpen.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/19/2006 08:39:00 PM

Russians Close Newspaper for Cartoon

(Volgograd, Russia) Because of the following cartoon, the Gorodskiye Vesti newspaper was closed permanently by the Volgograd City Hall.


"We did not teach them to do it!"
There have been no public outbursts. Free press advocates and the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists condemned the action. Some believe that local officials are using the worldwide protests against cartoons as an excuse to close the newspaper in a naked gesture to ingratiate themselves with the Kremlin. President Putin has been slowly trending toward making freedom of the press a rarity.

Mac Powell at In The Bullpen has more.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/19/2006 06:13:00 AM

No Liability for Acts of Foster Kids

(Washington State) According to the state Supreme Court, the government has no liability for damages caused by kids placed in foster care. Logically, with foster kids as wards of the state and nowhere else to assign responsibility and liability, nobody is liable.

Wait a minute! Doesn't the First Amendment specify that citizens have the right to petition the government for redress of grievances? It looks to me like the Supreme Court of Washington has decided otherwise. I clearly view its decision as wrong. Without liability for their actions, the management and employees of the state Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) have no impetus to do a better job.

I'd appeal. But, remember, I'm just a blogger and those folks on the Supreme Court are smarter than the average person reading the Bill of Rights.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/19/2006 06:10:00 AM

Babysitter Gets 90 Months for Sodomizing Boy

(Wichita, Kansas) In the town of Mulvane outside Wichita, babysitter June Saxton performed oral sex on a 12-year-old boy she was watching last October. The incident occurred when Saxton and her boyfriend decided to inject cocaine and drink alcohol in front of the boy. Saxton's boyfriend is serving time in prison for his part in the crime.

Yesterday, County Court Judge Clark Owens sentenced Saxton to seven and one-half years (90 months) in state prison with no probation for a conviction of aggravated sodomy of the boy.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/18/2006 03:29:00 PM

Slut Gets Work Release, Molested Boy Suicidal

(Westminster, Colorado) In 2003, married mother of three Angela Vasquez, 26, initiated a months-long sexual relationship with the 13-year-old son of a friend and ultimately gave birth to the seventh-grader's baby.

From DenverPost.com:

According to her arrest affidavit, Vasquez met the boy and his family at the Life House Church in Henderson. The two families became friends and often had dinner together.

The affidavit states the sexual relationship between the two began in March 2003. The boy told investigators he was picking up toys in the basement of his family's home when Vasquez approached him and "hugged and kissed" him. Shortly after that she asked him if he was a virgin and told him she could "teach him a lot" because she had experience. The affidavit describes how the relationship quickly turned sexual and before it ended in October or November of 2003, the two had engaged in sex about 20 times in various locations including his home, her home and her car.

On Friday, in accordance with a plea agreement, Judge Harlan R. Bochman sentenced Vasquez, now 29, to one-year work release in the Adams County Jail for a conviction of sexual assault on a child. In a statement read in court by the boy's mother, "My once happy little boy is now withdrawn, with thoughts of suicide, not wanting to be here to deal with his unnormal life."

The boy is suicidal and Vasquez will soon be free to prey on another youngster.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/18/2006 09:45:00 AM

Teacher Offered Deal in Preteen Sex Case

(West Palm Beach, Florida) Arrested in 2004 and charged with having a long-term sexual relationship with a student she seduced at age 11, Carol Flannigan has until Tuesday to decide whether to accept a plea deal specifying five years in prison or risk a possible mandatory life sentence if convicted at trial.

The 51-year-old former music teacher at Rolling Green Elementary School in Boynton Beach is charged with capital sexual battery on a child under 12. Circuit Judge Lucy Chernow Brown asked Prosecutor Jennifer Millien to make the plea offer public on Thursday. The boy's family concurred.

The details of the case are sordid. Flannigan, as the 11-year-old boy's teacher, struck up a friendship with the boy's family such that he and his siblings would sleep over at her home. She began having sex with the boy and continued for 19 months, engaging in sexual encounters at the elementary school (classroom, office and storage room), in her vehicle at the parking lot of the Civil Air Patrol, at an Orlando hotel, and at a park. As a reminder, Flannigan was a 50-year-old woman having sex with a boy who was only 11.

And there's more. According to the boy, he and his teacher had sex together while in the same bed with Flannigan's husband, Douglas DePue, who witnessed the sex but chose to ignore it. It's also been reported that Flannigan had sex with the boy's father, which he has acknowledged. Subsequently, and astonishingly, the boy's father sued Douglas DePue and settled with his insurance company for $1.5 million. There are also lawsuits pending against the Palm Beach County School Board and the Civil Air Patrol.

If Flannigan concurs with the agreement, she will plead guilty in exchange for a five-year prison sentence followed by 10 years of sex offender probation. The probation would impose a curfew, allow for warrantless searches and require her to register as a sex offender. Flannigan would also be prohibited from being within "1,000 feet of a school, daycare center or anywhere children are known to congregate."

Interestingly, there has been no mention of drugs or alcohol or insanity or anything else to provide mitigation for Flannigan's crime. Typically, one would expect something to be introduced into the case to excuse such base and immoral behavior. So far, however, there's been no indication of what type of defense Ken Ronan, Flannigan's lawyer, intends.

Based upon the nature of the Flannigan case and all the disgusting details, it would probably be prudent for her to accept the plea agreement. I think a jury would put her away forever. (Tipped by: Don Morgenstern)


[Update 03/01/06]

Carol Flannigan sentenced.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/17/2006 02:34:00 AM

American Among Yemen Prison Escapees

(Buffalo, NY) Readers will recall the "Lackawanna Six" al-Qaeda terrorist cell that was exposed by informants and taken down by the FBI in 2003. One member, 39-year-old Jaber A. Elbaneh, was in prison in Yemen. Now, he's not.

From BuffaloNews.com:

The Buffalo office of the FBI has confirmed that Jaber A. Elbaneh, a former Lackawanna resident accused of having ties to the al-Qaida terrorist network, was among the 23 terror suspects who escaped Feb. 3 from a Yemeni prison along with the mastermind of the USS Cole bombing attack.

The Yemen Ministry of the Interior had indicated that Elbaneh, 39, was one of the men who escaped in the breakout from the Political Security Prison in Sana, Yemen, said Peter J. Ahearn, special agent in charge of the Buffalo FBI office. But because of the difficulty in obtaining definitive information from the Yemen government, authorities were not 100 percent certain until late last week, Ahearn said.

Elbaneh is charged with providing material support to al-Qaida by attending the al-Farooq training camp run by Osama bin Laden in Afghanistan months before the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Elbaneh escaped with Jamal al-Badawi (right) who was convicted of plotting and implementing the USS Cole bombing that killed 17 sailors in a Yemeni port in 2000.

The U.S. government has put a $5 million reward out for information leading to Elbaneh's arrest. It would be irrational for him to show up back in his old neighborhood in Lackawanna but, since it's fairly easy to get into Canada and then sneak into the U.S., anything is possible. Frankly, I'd prefer for him to show up in the Cleveland area and make himself easy for me to spot. I could use the $5 million.

Debbie Schlussel has more on Elbaneh.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/17/2006 01:10:00 AM

Islamic Comedy

(Copenhagen) Check this out. It's from Danish comedian Omar Marzouk who is also a Muslim.

Marzouk says terror humor has receptive audiences in unlikely places. He said he was greeted with hysterical cackles when, in recent shows in Israel and Britain, he suggested that the West recruit Muslims to prevent terrorist attacks by having them sit on buses, strapped with explosives, so when a real suicide bomber gets on, they can say, "Hey, man, it's O.K., I got this one covered."

Talk about tough jobs. Marzouk is trying to make a living telling jokes about Islam which alienates other Muslims while anti-immigrant groups heckle him. Every audience is automatically hostile.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/17/2006 01:09:00 AM

Exclusive Iraq Prisoner Abuse Photos

Without ever going to the place, the UN has called for the shutting down of Guantanamo Bay due to alleged prisoner abuse bordering on torture. Meanwhile, Rusty Shackleford has found substantive prisoner abuse in photos from Iraq that have not even been published by the mainstream media (MSM).

These are not the much-heralded Abu Ghraib photos leftover from last year. The images are damning, new evidence that the media are not being objective in their reporting. All are Jawa Report exclusives. Go visit and see what the MSM won't show.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/17/2006 12:00:00 AM

Iran Renames Danish Pastries

(Tehran, Iran) As far as expressing dissatisfaction, the following makes a lot more sense than burning down embassies and killing people.

From Aljazeera.net:

Bakeries across the capital Tehran on Thursday were covering up the name-plates for Danish pastries after the confectioners union ordered the name change in retaliation for cartoons of Islam's revered prophet first published in a Danish newspaper.

"Given the insults by Danish newspapers against the prophet, as of now the name of Danish pastries will give way to Rose of Mohammad pastries," the union said in its order.

So, instead of ordering a Danish with your coffee, you'll now have to ask for a Rose of Mohammad, "gul-e-muhammadi" in Farsi. Of course, I'll not beguile myself into thinking that the protesters will stop burning down buildings. After a sugar fix from a Rose of Mohammad, the followers of the religion of peace will likely still grab their torches.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/16/2006 07:43:00 PM

Teacher Accused of Intimacy with Boy

(Dripping Springs, Texas) A 28-year-old chemistry teacher at Dripping Springs High School, Rebecca Garrison, was arrested yesterday on suspicion of initiating an intimate relationship with one of her students, a 15-year-old boy. Garrison has been charged with indecency with a child and improper relationship between an educator and student.

The boy's mother had suspicions about Garrison and her son so she checked his email and cell phone records. The mother found references to "sexual activity and declarations of love" so she alerted the principal of the high school, Greg Jung.

If convicted of the charges against her, Garrison faces punishment of two to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. She is currently being held in the Hays County Jail with bail set at $80,000.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/16/2006 02:05:00 PM

ACLU Attacks National Security

Here's a press release from yesterday by the American Civil Liberties Union along with commentary.

ACLU Urges House to Adopt Request for Illegal NSA Spying Documents

The American Civil Liberties Union today urged the House Judiciary Committee to adopt several resolutions that would formally request any and all documents relating to the illegal National Security Agency domestic spying program authorized by President Bush.

First of all, I need to point out the leftist technique used in the wording. Start with a false premise. The tactic surprises few observers of the left since it's used so frequently. Be it known that the illegality of the NSA eavesdropping program has not been established AND the program is not a domestic spying program. As described, the program eavesdrops on communications received or transmitted by terror suspects into and out of the United States.

According to experts, it is completely legal because it falls under the powers of the Executive branch. The President's job is to protect the Nation and wage war when appropriate. In this case, the President's actions were approved by Congress when it said, "use any appropriate force necessary." It is also the Executive branch's authority to collect international intelligence, and the president does not need Congress' approval. This comes under the "separation of powers," despite the fact that Congress does not like this. There is a never-ending battle between the Congress and the Executive branch regarding the "separation of powers."

Moving on, the ACLU continues.

"The need for a comprehensive investigation into the NSA's domestic surveillance is essential to find out exactly which laws were broken," said Caroline Fredrickson, Director of the ACLU Washington Legislative Office.

Okay, first the ACLU says the program is illegal, then they say an investigation is necessary to find out why it's illegal. The astute legal 'rocket scientists' of the ACLU strongly contend the program is illegal just before admitting they have no idea why it's illegal.

Most prudent citizens will surely view this latest ACLU effort as ludicrous, however, it plays directly into the hands of Congressional noise-makers who despise the administration. Consequently, the issue becomes a partisan political football that's kicked into play by a false premise.

Nevertheless, ACLU lawyers are consistent with regard to attacking established measures for fighting terrorism. They have attacked The Patriot Act and they have attacked airline security programs and plans. In fact, at one time or another, the ACLU has complained, protested or vehemently attacked every measure instituted to protect and defend the United States.

Most astonishing and disturbing to me as an American citizen, however, is the ACLU's persistent defense of foreign terror suspects. I cannot logically see how foreign nationals in foreign countries, who are terrorists or terror suspects, can be given the protections of the U.S. Constitution. Of course, I'm not one of the uber-smart ACLU lawyers who desires a socialist America.

This post is written in support of the Stop The ACLU Blogburst. If you would like to join us, please email Jay or Gribbit. You will be added to our mailing list and blogroll. Over 150 blogs already on-board.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/16/2006 01:06:00 AM

Avian Flu Pandemic Preparations

(Minneapolis, MN) In the proceedings of a national meeting on preparing for a lethal bird flu pandemic, it was advised:

When burying a body in the backyard, don't put it too close to the septic system.

Goes without saying, eh? It was also pointed out that a good-quality body bag goes for about $20. I would conclude that the attendees spent considerable time dwelling on worst-case scenarios.

Approximately 200 business representatives participated in the conference discussing the threat posed by the H5N1 avian flu virus and the potential effects of a pandemic on business. The conference was sponsored by the University of Minnesota Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP).

Companion post at In The Bullpen.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/15/2006 05:02:00 PM

Lesbian Molester Gets Wrist Slapped

(Oakland, California) Last November, 32-year-old Tanda Rucker pleaded no contest to having sex with schoolgirls. The former Encinal High School basketball coach pleaded to 18 felony charges, including 10 counts of penetration with a foreign object and eight counts of oral copulation with minors.

Today, Rucker was sentenced. Although she could have been given more than 14 years in state prison, Alameda County Superior Court Judge Thomas Reardon apparently decided to overlook the seriousness of her crimes and instead sentenced Rucker to one year work furlough status at the Cornell Corrections Institute in El Monte. It seems the Cornell facility is close to her current work place so she won't even have to take a vacation day to satisfy the "whereabouts" sentence imposed by Judge Reardon.

Understandably, victims' parents are outraged.

The mother of one victim, who asked that her name not be used, said after Wednesday's hearing that she thinks that Rucker's sentence was "a slap on the wrist" and that Rucker got special treatment because her father, who attended the hearing, is politically powerful in Berkeley.

During the hearing, the mother of another victim told Reardon that to allow Rucker to work while serving her one-year sentence "would be a major injustice to society."

The mother called Rucker "a pedophile" who's highly intelligent and slowly groomed her victims over time by taking them to lunch and flattering them in other ways.

Michael Kinane, an attorney who represents the victims in a civil lawsuit against Rucker, said he's taken depositions indicating that Rucker has molested at least 25 girls.

The civil suit against Rucker goes to trial on June 2. I wonder whether politics will play a part in the civil trial. I don't wonder about its starring role in the criminal proceeding.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/15/2006 12:37:00 PM

Google OTC Censorship

John Ray at Dissecting Leftism has compiled some empirical evidence that Google is censoring his blog on Internet searches. OTC (Other than China) censorship by Google has been suspected for some time. I believe that somewhere, in a left-coast room in a left-coast building, noticeably left-leaning, self-appointed uber-smarties are curtaining Google search results.

Get used to it.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/15/2006 10:33:00 AM

Children Murdered Walking to School

(Baghdad) Highlights in today's religion of peace news include:

From USAToday.com:

A bomb exploded Wednesday on a central Baghdad street, killing three girls and a boy walking to school, police and relatives said. The dead included two sisters and their brother.

[ ... ]

Police said the children were between the ages of 10 and 14 and included two sons and a daughter of Jamil Mohammed, a poor vendor who works in a nearby public market.

"We are poor people who has nothing to do with politics," the father sobbed at the local police station. "We only wanted to live a decent life. What is the guilt of my dead children? They were only heading to school. Now I am left with only two children. This is a disaster for my family."

First of all, does anyone at USAToday proofread? The first paragraph says "two sisters and their brother" were murdered. A couple paragraphs down, it says "two sons and a daughter" were murdered. Hello, USAToday, anybody home? In a WaPo story, three boys are reported to have been murdered.

If one reads several reports, a conclusion can be drawn that four children were murdered, three boys and a girl. Why can't the mainstream media get the numbers right? You tell me. I do know that the MSM are fairly much in unison at providing justification for the killings. Without exception, it's reported that a store which sold black-market liquor was bombed, among other stores, by the way. So, the MSM can't get the number of kids murdered right, but they sure can reach into the minds of the thug criminals and extract a motive to justify the bombing. You see a slant? I do.

Moving on, it has to be assumed that there's no room on the moderate Muslim protest schedule to express outrage at the murder of innocent children. On the other hand, it might be that murdering children doesn't meet the threshold criteria for outrage. Planned protests, I believe, are reserved for more significant criminal acts than the murder of children. Like cartoons.

Companion post at The Jawa Report.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/15/2006 09:26:00 AM

Woman Allegedly Infects 100 Sex Partners with HIV

(St. Charles, Missouri) A 26-year-old mother of four, Angela D. Harris, currently faces three felony counts of recklessly risking another person with HIV infection.

Harris became HIV-positive around the age of 14 and has since had many sex partners. Harris' mother, Cathy Lenceski, estimates that her daughter has had sex with as many as 100 people in the last five years. It's not clear how many knew they were at risk of acquiring HIV. Lenceski fears that Harris will continue infecting people is she's not stopped. Not unexpected has been an increased number of inquiries regarding HIV testing since the Harris story hit the media.

Harris was arraigned yesterday before Circuit Judge Jon Cunningham on the three felony counts, each of which carries a possible sentence of five to 15 years.


[Update 10/21/07]

Harris gets prison.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/15/2006 08:33:00 AM

Woman Accused of Sex with Preteen Boys

(Malone, New York) A 25-year-old woman from the town of Merrill, about 30 miles west of Plattsburgh, faces multiple charges for allegedly engaging in sex acts with two boys, an 11-year-old and a 12-year-old. Misty M. Hosler was charged Monday with second-degree rape, two counts of second-degree criminal sexual act and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child.

Hosler pleaded not guilty to the charges before Judge William A. Tucker in the Town of Burke Court. She is being held at the Franklin County Jail. Hosler's next court appearance is scheduled for March 11.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/14/2006 07:19:00 PM

Lodi Islamic Terror Trial Begins

(Sacramento, California) Regular readers are likely aware of the ongoing story of the Lodi terror probe which resulted in the arrests of Hamid Hayat and his father, Umer Hayat. As a reminder, Hamid and Umer are accused of lying to federal agents regarding Hamid's attendance at a Pakistani terrorist training camp. Hamid is also accused of the more serious charge of planning jihadist strikes against the U.S.


Hamid Hayat & Umer Hayat
Despite vigorous efforts on the part of defense lawyers to have Hamid and Umer released on bail, the court has consistently deemed them to be flight risks. Both have been in the Sacramento County Jail since June of 2005. Indictments followed.

Today, the trial of Hamid and Umer Hayat begins. Notably, procedures for their trial are to be somewhat irregular.

From SacBee.com:

U.S. District Judge Garland E. Burrell Jr. has ordered the pair tried before two juries at the same time in the same courtroom to avoid prejudice to either defendant from incriminating evidence that applies to only one of them. When such evidence is presented to one jury, the other jury will be out of the courtroom.

Twelve jurors and four alternates will be chosen for each defendant.

Okay, so there's going to be two juries, two defense teams, two prosecution teams, two docket numbers, two sets of evidence, two sets of testimony, and one judge. Sounds entertaining, eh? Sort of like The Perry Mason and Jerry Springer Variety Show.

Both U.S. citizens, the Hayats have pleaded not guilty to all charges. If convicted, Hamid faces a possible 23 years in prison, Umer faces an eight-year term.


[Update]

Rusty Shackleford notes that the extent of the information reported by the SacBee indicates that sealed court documents have been compromised. As a consequence, the FBI is investigating how the information was obtained. More details are at The Jawa Report.

It will be interesting to see how forthcoming the newspaper is about its sources. My guess would be not much.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/14/2006 06:47:00 PM

Governor's School and Susan Wiseman Sex Allegations

(Raleigh, NC) New developments have surfaced regarding allegations of sexual activity with a student by Susan Wiseman, a social studies teacher at East Forsythe High School in Winston-Salem.

Wiseman has been identified as one of two (2) teachers who presented an in-depth homosexuality indoctrination and recruitment seminar at the prestigious, taxpayer-funded, six-week Governor's School last summer. The seminar was not listed on any pre-attendance literature so the parents and families of the students were unaware that many would be subjected to a pro-homosexual agenda. Naturally, some parents were outraged.

From Paul Chesser at CarolinaJournal.com:

Jim and Beverly Burrows say their son returned home from last year's Governor's School "confused" about homosexuality as a result of the seminar, and that they have had to seek family counseling.

"We feel that this was totally inappropriate for the students who were 15, 16, and 17 years old," the Burrowses wrote to officials at the State Department of Public Instruction. "We feel that our rights as parents have been violated by this program."

The Burrows also alleged that students were taught to not believe what they had been taught by their parents and that the "Bible was not true, was filled with inconsistencies, and did not apply to society today."

Addressing why the seminar was not on pre-attendance literature, school director Lucy Milner said the seminar was placed on the schedule in the fifth week of the summer session because "she was approached by faculty who said students had been discussing the issue."

Um ... excuse me a second. Cough ... cough. Hold on a second ... cough.

Okay, let me see if I understand. Milner says the faculty heard students discussing the lack of a homosexual indoctrination and recruiting program? I'm supposed to believe that high school students sit around and chat about not having enough discussion of homosexuals? And, I'm supposed to believe that all these students thirsting for knowledge of homosexuals made her put it on the schedule? Excuse me again, but I find Milner's explanation thin, better yet, micro-thin. Nevertheless, it's her excuse for not having the homosexual program in the literature available to the parents.

Moving on, let's say I buy Milner's explanation. Should I then also buy that it was a mere coincidence that ... Voila! two homosexual activist teachers espousing an incendiary homosexual textbook magically appear?

Frankly, I've completely broached the threshold of being able to suspend my disbelief. I frequently suspend disbelief when watching a film, but I'm insulted when expected to do it in real life. The story that's being spewed by Milner is pure hogwash and I'm fairly confident that school officials either unknowingly promoted homosexuality through ineptitude or they knowingly did it surreptitiously to hide their agenda from the parents of the kids.

If the school is going to shove homosexual dogma into the minds of impressionable youngsters, fine, but it should be done with the parents foreknowledge. The Burrows and other families have every reason to be outraged and they should protest loudly. So far, at least three families have reported disturbing behavioral and psychological changes in their children.

With regard to Susan Wiseman's involvement, it's not clear whether or not her teaching homosexuality at the Governor's School is related to the investigation of sexual activity with a student. It is clear, however, that it's not going to help her case if she is found to have engaged in a lesbian relationship with the student. It also probably doesn't help that she is better known as a homosexual activist than as a social studies teacher at East Forsythe High School.

In conclusion, the investigation of Susan Wiseman continues and no target date for completion has been disclosed. In the meantime, someone should take a close look at the agenda of the Governor's School and make sure the parents of all students have prior knowledge of the curricula their children will be subjected to. Lastly, school director Milner should be reassigned, demoted or fired. When someone spews manure in North Carolina and I can smell it in Ohio, it's time to clean house.

Additional coverage: Free Republic

Tip: Jason Cann


[Update 05/15/06]

Susan Wiseman avoids prosecution.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/14/2006 12:56:00 AM

Geena Davis Wants More Females in Cartoons

It's nutty, but Geena Davis, the "Commandress in Chief" (now on hiatus), has studied cartoons and is complaining that too many men are depicted. In particular, she doesn't like Buzz Lightyear and Woody from Toy Story.

Obviously, Geena Davis should stick to acting and leave the thinking to others. For crying out loud, Geena, they're cartoons.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/13/2006 11:51:00 PM

Sting Nets Suspected Internet Predator

(Parma, Ohio) A 22-year-old Canton resident, Nicholas Frascone, was arrested in a sting operation conducted by the Ohio Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Via the Internet, Frascone had set up a meeting to have sex with what he thought was a 14-year-old girl. Unfortunately for him, the 14-year-old girl was actually an undercover police officer.

Frascone was apprehended at the meeting place he arranged with the "girl/undercover officer." He faces several sex charges and is being held at the Cuyahoga County Jail in lieu of $100,000 bond.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/13/2006 11:23:00 PM

Fingerhut Quits Run for Ohio Governor

(Columbus, Ohio) Ohio State Senator and former U.S. Congressman Eric Fingerhut has dropped out of the run for the governorship.

From WCPO.com:

State Sen. Eric Fingerhut, short on campaign cash and lacking widespread support, ended his long-shot campaign Monday to overtake U.S. Rep. Ted Strickland for the Democratic nomination for governor.

In a letter to supporters on his campaign Web site, Fingerhut said he will formally withdraw from the race at a news conference Tuesday, less than six weeks after he announced his candidacy.

Fingerhut lost considerable support when Strickland announced that popular former Attorney General Lee Fisher would be his running mate. Fingerhut's departure leaves Strickland as the only major Democratic hopeful.

On the Republican side, Attorney General Jim Petro and Secretary of State Kenneth Blackwell must file by Thursday for the May primary election.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/13/2006 10:19:00 PM

Putting Lead in Your Pencil

Add this to the "Failed Experiment" file.

From Ananova.com:

A Serbian man needed emergency surgery after sticking a pencil inside his penis to keep it stiff during sex.

Zeljko Tupic, from Belgrade, told doctors he had experienced erectile difficulties in the past.

So as he prepared for a night with his new lover, he decided to insert a thin pencil into his penis.

Tupic had to cut his sex session short when the pencil shifted and became lodged in his bladder, forcing him to call an ambulance, the daily Kurir reported.

In my opinion, this story was either misinterpreted or it's a flat fabrication. I do not, for a second, believe that a man would do what is alleged. Besides the obvious pain of trying this trick, any pencil thin enough to insert into the penis would also probably break with the slightest perpendicular force.

I think this report is likely a hoax.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/13/2006 05:56:00 PM

Say 'I Love You' With Rhinoplasty

(Shanghai, China) Well, capitalism and wacky customer behavior have combined to produce a rather novel medical service. It's the "give yourself and your loved one rhinoplasty for a 20 percent discount" offer for Valentine's Day.

AP:

China's obsession with plastic surgery is finding fresh demand from couples who are going under the knife to get their noses and even their eyes done as a sign of their love for one another, the official newspaper China Daily reported.

"I suggested it as a way of celebrating our relationship and bringing us closer together with a special kind of bond," Liu Yan, 24, was quoted as saying of the matching nose jobs for her and her 28-year-old boyfriend.

Liu said her boyfriend "loved the idea" and readily paid the 10,000 yuan ($1,200) for the surgery.

ConBio Plastic and Laser Surgery Hospital is advertising the 20 percent discount from Feb. 14-17. The devoted couples also get free roses. Ah, nothing says 'I Love You' like, "Cut me."

What is most interesting about this story is that medical procedures are being offered with holiday discounts. Now, to my knowledge, medical professionals in the U.S. haven't, as yet, launched any similar business practice. For example, I haven't heard anything like "Half-price Labor Day Sonograms" or "Get 10% Off Your Christmas Vasectomy" or "Prices Slashed on Memorial Day Breast Reductions."

Nonetheless, given time and the lure of profit, it will come.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/13/2006 01:35:00 PM

Lisa Lynnette Clark Gives Birth

(Hall County, Georgia) The story of Lisa Clark continues to get more interesting. As previously reported, 37-year-old Clark had been predicted to give birth on Feb. 20th, but the baby, a boy, had a different schedule and was born Saturday night.

Named Skye Cobain Gonzales, he weighed 7 pounds, 9 ounces, and was described as a "healthy baby boy with sandy blonde hair."

At the request of Clark's attorney, Dan Sammons, Judge Bonnie Oliver rescheduled Clark's arraignment to February 24. Sammons said he had visited Clark and the child at the Northeast Georgia Medical Center and said his client was "holding up." He wouldn't say she was in good spirits, though, since she's going to jail and the baby is going elsewhere.

Notably, the name of Clark's 15-year-old boy-husband has been consistently withheld and court documents only identify him as "A.S.G." Well, since his child's been given the last name Gonzales, it doesn't require too much thought to conclude that the "G." in A.S.G. is Gonzales.

Furthermore, I hope that Cobain is a family name and the baby wasn't named after a drug-addicted rocker who blew his head off with a shotgun. Little baby Gonzales has enough inherited baggage to contend with in his future.


[Update 02/24/06]

Lisa Clark rejects a deal offered by the prosecution and pleads not guilty to all charges. Another court date is scheduled for March 15.


[Update 02/25/08]

Lisa Clark released from prison.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/13/2006 10:51:00 AM

Convicts Complain About Prison Food

So, what else is new?

In prisons throughout the state of Washington, Muslim inmates are being fed vegetarian diets because they won't eat meat unless it has been slaughtered in a proscribed manner. As a result of inmate complaints, state courts are looking at lawsuits from convicts demanding "halal" (religiously approved) food.

Muslim inmates, who comprise 4 percent of the prison population, have expressed a particular lack of fondness for a diet of leaves and grasses.

I wonder where the vegetarians are on this issue. Customarily, they don't allow criticism of their food ideology to go unchallenged.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/13/2006 07:11:00 AM

Fatwas

Simply put, fatwas, or Islamic legal pronouncements, are confusing to many people. Understandably, non-Muslims have a general unfamiliarity with fatwas. It's somewhat surprising, however, that Muslims also have frequent questions about fatwas. Islamic scholars called muftis issue fatwas but there's no coordination among the muftis, so it's not uncommon for contradictory fatwas to be issued.

Consequently, the editors at Arab News decided to address the subject of fatwas to clear up any misunderstanding.

Nobody's fatwas or rulings are binding on all Muslims. A fatwa is binding only to the scholar issuing it. It is he who considered a particular case, looked into all the relevant evidence and formulated his ruling on the basis of his research and study that is committed to it. If I give you a ruling saying, for example, that music is not forbidden, while you read in Dar Al-Ifta's publications or on their website that it is forbidden, you need to look into the evidence supporting each of the two views. Neither ruling is binding on you, but my ruling is binding on me, and the Dar Al-Ifta's ruling is binding on the scholars who issued it. [Note: Dar Al-Ifta is an Islamic authority for issuing religious edicts, but it does not oversee all edicts. There is more than one Dar Al-Ifta.]

What should be the position of a person who cannot distinguish the validity of evidence, or does not understand the intricacies involved in arriving at a ruling? The answer is that he should simply follow a scholar whom he trusts to be sincere, honest, and would not compromise his religious standpoint in order to please any human being.

Got all that?

My interpretation is that the followers of the religion of peace have options regarding which fatwas to comply with. It's all based on which mufti a Muslim trusts to be sincere and honest.

In summary, muftis issue fatwas which are binding only on themselves and their followers. However, it appears that Muslims can pick any mufti they want to follow. Of course, if a Dar Al-Ifta for a nation, such as Egypt and Saudi Arabia, issues a fatwa, it likely is binding on all Muslims in the country. When a mufti not affiliated with the Dar Al-Ifta issues a fatwa, it's binding only on his followers.

Everybody clear on this subject now?

Frankly, I'm not. The entire scheme seems analogous to having one county with a dozen county sheriffs. Everybody is forced to sidle up to one sheriff just to protect himself from the other sheriffs. Nonetheless, it does explain how one Muslim (Sunni) can go to war with another Muslim (Shiite). Two muftis in one country, like two sheriffs in one county, don't always agree.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/12/2006 04:12:00 PM

VP Cheney Shoots Lawyer

On a hunting trip in Texas, Vice President Cheney accidentally blasted fellow hunter Harry Whittington, a lawyer. Whittington is in the hospital and reported to be "alert and doing fine."

There's no confirmation of the rumor that Whittington is a Democrat.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/12/2006 09:01:00 AM

Muslims Protest Cartoon in Akron Newspaper

(Akron, Ohio) In a seemingly intentional effort to be offended by just about anything, Muslims are protesting cartoonist Chip Bok and the Akron Beacon Journal. Bok's February 5th cartoon is considered insensitive and insulting to Muslim leaders and they have demanded an apology from the newspaper.

Additionally, after an apparent anger consolidation prayer meeting at a local mosque on Friday, one irate follower of the religion of peace, Mustafa Muhammad of Akron, said the cartoon made the prophet look like a crackhead. He also called for Chip Bok to be fired.

According to Beacon Journal spokeswoman, Rita Kelly Madick, there will be no firing and no apology. More appropriate, in my estimation, would be a followup cartoon opining on the relative thickness of the average Muslim's skin. For example, two researchers talking about a recent experiment at the Nanoscience Measurement Lab.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/12/2006 06:35:00 AM

Saddam Starting Hunger Strike

(Baghdad) Apparently, Saddam Hussein believes that he's not getting enough sympathy and media exposure.

From Reuters.com:

Saddam Hussein and the seven co-defendants in his trial are to start a hunger strike on Monday, the former Iraqi president's defense team said on Sunday, citing sources inside the detention center where they are being held.

"Saddam and his followers will start a hunger strike from tomorrow, protesting the illegitimate procedures and bad treatment by the court," Khamis al-Aubeidi, a leading member of Saddam's defense team, told Reuters.

Frankly, the idea of strapping the murdering thug to a gurney and shoving a feeding tube through his nose and down his esophagus doesn't elicit my sympathy. In fact, I'd recommend that the authorities be innovative in force-feeding Saddam and try a new technique. A gnarly tube through the brokeback might work.

Nevertheless, the hunger strike is nicely timed to coincide with continuation of the trial which was interrupted two weeks ago when the defense team walked out of the courtroom and protested the new judge. Since then, Saddam has whined about being abused by prison guards. It appears that Saddam and his co-defendents are trying to do everything possible to disrupt the trial "to fuel concerns about the legitimacy of the tribunal and its eventual verdict."

Companion post at The Jawa Report.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/11/2006 03:51:00 PM

Muslim Leader Accused of Terrorist Ties

(Tacoma, Washington) Last November, 39-year-old Somalia-born Abrahim Sheikh Mohamed was arrested by federal authorities for allegedly being in the U.S. illegally. Mohamed is the imam of the Abu-Bakr Mosque and leader of Seattle's Somali community.

The deportation hearing for Mohamed is currently in progress at Immigration Court in the Tacoma Tideflats' Northwest Detention Center. On Friday, during the third day of the proceeding, an FBI agent testified that Mohamed is also the subject of an ongoing criminal investigation for allegedly diverting funds from his mosque to terrorist groups.

From The Seattle Times:

Agent David Rubincam testified in the immigration case against Abrahim Sheikh Mohamed that officials believe Mohamed was smuggled into the U.S. through Mexico to help raise money for the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF), which wants an independent state for ethnic Somalis in Ethiopia.

Note the words "smuggled into the U.S. through Mexico."

Rubincam testified that a confidential source told the FBI in 2003 about questionable financial dealings at the mosque -- that money to rebuild the mosque was being diverted overseas to the ONLF and to an organization called AIAI, Somalia's largest militant Islamic organization. Rubincam said the FBI put Mohamed under surveillance that year.

Mohamed is also accused of authorizing young men from his mosque to attend jihadist training.

In the immigration case, federal officials say Mohamed lied to obtain legal asylum status after his arrival in the U.S. in 2000, falsely claiming to belong to the persecuted minority Tumal clan. Rubincam testified on Friday that sources have told the FBI Mohamed belongs to the dominant Ogaden clan.

In Mohamed's defense, attorney Hilary Han complained that Mohamed's accusers are confidential sources, therefore, they can't be confronted. The veracity of one FBI source, Peter Coleman, was also questioned since he was a convicted felon and a paid informant. Coleman had testified that he attended the mosque and heard Mohamed talk of holy war and praise Osama bin Laden.

In the meantime, the Somalian community has been mobilized to protest outside the detention center.

Companion post at Diggers Realm.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/10/2006 06:59:00 PM

Valentine's Day Gift Preference

Listen up, readers. Check out the latest gift trend.

From KansasCity.com:

Online shopping market ShopLocal.com says during the two-week period leading up to last year's Valentine's Day, "furniture" was the most researched term used by Kansas City's romantics.

And the second-most popular search term during that same period was "mattress."

Searches for "flowers" came in a disappointing sixth, according to ShopLocal.com.

So there.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/10/2006 06:49:00 PM

Teacher Sex Allegations

(Winston-Salem, NC) Social studies teacher at East Forsythe High School, Susan Wiseman, 27, has been suspended without pay pending the outcome of an investigation of allegations of sexual activity between her and a 17-year-old student.


[Update 02/11/06, 1800 EST]

Thanks to a reader of Interested-Participant, more information regarding Susan Wiseman is available. Wiseman graduated from Wake Forest University in 2002 and immediately started teaching at East Forsythe High School.

Also, according to this website, teacher Susan Wiseman is a homosexual advocate of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, & Transgender (LGBT) agenda within the student body.

Wiseman's LGBT activism may or may not be relevant to her suspension. We'll just have to wait for the authorities to complete their investigations.


[Update 05/15/06]

Susan Wiseman avoids prosecution. Previous update here.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/10/2006 06:09:00 PM

Teacher Accused of Forced Sex with Student

(West Jordan, Utah) Former American Sign Language teacher at Copper Hills High School, Melinda Lee Deluca, 29, has been charged with two counts of forcible sexual abuse of one of her students, a 16-year-old boy.

The abuse is reported to have occurred at the teacher's house and at a baseball park near the school. As a result of the allegations, Deluca was fired from her teaching position last December.

She has been summoned to appear in court on March 16.


[Update 07/04/06]

Deluca reportedly beaten by assailants.


[Update 10/19/06]

Deluca guilty.


[Update 01/11/07]

Deluca sentenced.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/10/2006 05:15:00 PM

ACLU vs. the Boy Scouts of America

The ACLU has attacked traditional American culture and institutions so regularly that people should probably have developed thicker skins by now. Or be angered. Count me in the latter group.

Troops of Boy Scouts in Macomb County and around the country are scuttling their organizational charter agreements with local governments, fearing legal action from the American Civil Liberties Union for requiring allegiance to God.

Millions of American men have had their ethical and moral characters shaped by the Boy Scout's Oath and Law in the 96 years of its effort to help American boys to "Be Prepared," and "Morally Straight" and adult men of character. Every president of the United States has been involved with the Scouts in some capacity before election, with one exception. And all U.S. presidents have agreed to serve as honorary president of the Boy Scouts during his term of office.

Notwithstanding, the Boy Scouts of America has been under nationwide attack by the American Civil Liberties Union by multiple lawsuits against the Scouts for their refusal to admit overt homosexuals as Scout leaders and for the Scout Oath to do "my duty to God and my Country." The ACLU's hate-litigation attack increased in ferocity after the Supreme Court ruled in 2000 in the Dale case that the Scouts have the right to set their own standards for Scout leaders.

Many schools and other local government bodies have withdrawn sponsorship or support for the Boy Scouts due to the chilling affect of the ACLU's lawsuits or threats of lawsuits -- including threats to seek court-ordered, taxpayer-paid attorney fees -- on the ACLU's claim that the Scouts are a "religion" because of the Scout Oath, and any governmental assistance is a violation of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.

Furthermore, the American taxpayer foots the bill for most of the ACLU's handiwork. Needless to say, this fact chafes my glutei.

More people need to be informed of the aims and goals of the ACLU. 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 2/10/2006 08:39:00 AM

Woman Arrested for Sex with Boy

(Hilliard, Florida) A 48-year-old female bus driver, Bambi McCullough, was arrested by Jacksonville Sheriff's deputies and charged with engaging in unlawful sex with a 16-year-old boy.

McCullough, who works with children at a Christian academy, was also found to possess nude photographs of the boy and herself. She is currently jailed in Nassau County on $25,000 bond.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/10/2006 07:42:00 AM

Jesus Pancake Could Be Mohammed

(Beachwood, Ohio) While preparing breakfast, Mike Thompson found that one of his pancakes displayed a facial image. Thompson and his wife concluded that the face looked like Jesus Christ. As a result, the Thompsons decided to sell the pancake on eBay.

There has been controversy concerning whether the likeness is of Jesus Christ or another individual. One observer believes it somewhat resembles the prophet Mohammed or, maybe, that hairy guy at the cycle shop. Obviously, a pancake image authentication expert (Mrs. Butterworth?) needs to weigh in on the issue.

In the meantime, it's reported that bidding on the pancake has been light.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/10/2006 06:30:00 AM

Russia, Spain Sign Anti-Terrorism Agreement

(Madrid) Russian President Putin visited Spain and signed an anti-terrorism cooperation agreement with King Juan Carlos and Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero.

From Xinhuanet.com:

The two countries agreed to establish an international fund to help terror victims and share information about potential terrorists. They urged to maintain the role of the United Nations in fighting terrorism with multilateral efforts.

Excuse me for being somewhat uninformed on the subject, but what role has the UN had in fighting terrorism? I'm unclear on this.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/09/2006 05:37:00 PM

Teacher Gets 30 Days for Sex with Boy

(Granbury, Texas) In September 2004, 24-year-old teacher Stephanie Michelle Glasscock was arrested and charged with sexual assault of a child for engaging in sex with a 15-year-old male student.

Apparently, Glasscock's husband was out of town and she took the opportunity to party with three male high school students at her house. After reportedly consuming 24 beers, Glasscock had sex with one boy. Upon his return, Mr. Glasscock discovered his weapons had been stolen and there was evidence of sexual activity. He notified the Hood County Sheriff's department.

Stephanie Glasscock was able to retrieve the weapons and no charges were filed for the theft. The episode led to the Glasscocks divorcing.

On Tuesday, a 12-person jury convicted Stephanie Glasscock, now 26, of second-degree sexual assault and sentenced her to 30 days in jail and 10 years probation. She was also ordered to get treatment for her fondness for downing beer by the case and she'll have to register as a sex offender.

Interestingly, after her divorce from Mr. Glasscock, Stephanie engaged in a relationship with another student, got pregnant, got engaged and, two weeks ago, gave birth.

Companion post at Conservative Thinking.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/09/2006 08:24:00 AM

Lisa Lynnette Clark and Boy-Husband

The ongoing soap opera of Lisa Clark continues. As a reminder, the 37-year-old woman had a sexual relationship with a 15-year-old juvenile delinquent, got pregnant, married the boy, was indicted for child molestation, and was let out on bail with the stipulation that she have no contact with her boy-husband. Clark goes on trial Monday in Hall County, Georgia, for child molestation.

The 15-year-old, on the other hand, was assigned to a Georgia group home after being ruled in violation of his probation on a burglary charge. (See previous posts here and here.)

In the latest developments, the boy-husband ran away from the group home last week and authorities were able to track him to Ashtabula, Ohio, where he was arrested by U.S. Marshals yesterday. Authorities found the boy by tracking a package, containing money and a cell phone, sent to him by Lisa Lynnette Clark. The boy is currently at the Ashtabula County Youth Detention Center awaiting extradition to Georgia.

As a result of helping the boy-husband, Clark was also arrested yesterday. She is charged with hindering law enforcers in apprehending the 15-year-old. Clark also acted in violation of the terms for her release on bail which stipulated no contact with the boy.

In conclusion, Clark and the boy, identified as 'A.S.G.' in court documents, are both cooling their heels behind bars right now and Clark's trial starts Monday. By the way, Clark is due to deliver on February 20th, so given a lengthy trial, she could give birth in a courtroom.

Stay tuned.

Also covering: Conservative Thinking


[Update 02/13/06]

Clark gives birth to baby boy, Skye Cobain Gonzales.


[Update 02/24/06]

Lisa Clark rejects deal offered by prosecution and pleads not guilty to all charges.


[Update 02/25/08]

Lisa Clark released from prison.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/08/2006 10:54:00 PM

Unpaid Taxes

(Boston) Here's today's tip. If you plan on running for public office, try to pay your taxes.

From Myway.com:

Marie St. Fleur was a candidate for lieutenant governor for less than 24 hours before she had to drop out over unpaid taxes and student loans, leaving voters to ask how a key player in crafting the state budget could make such a mess of her own checkbook.

It is a question Massachusetts voters have asked themselves before.

Massachusetts, dubbed "Taxachusetts" years ago for its tax-happy ways, seems to churn out scofflaw lawmakers unable or unwilling to pay their own taxes on time.

St. Fleur, a state lawmaker who is the vice chairwoman of the budget-writing House Ways and Means Committee, was late in repaying $40,000 in federally backed student loans, failed to pay automobile excise taxes in 2005, and had a $12,711 tax lien placed against her by the IRS.

In fairness to Rep. St. Fleur, not paying taxes seems to be common among Massachusetts lawmakers so she's not unique in that regard. In fact, voters complain that lawmakers in Massachusetts only know how to raise taxes, not pay them.

However, Rep.St. Fleur had a novel explanation for why she didn't pay her taxes. She indicated that "she did not file because she had received a death threat and had to hire bodyguards, leaving her with no money to pay her taxes."

Evidently, if one lives in the Bay State and receives a fatwa, prevailing logic is that a person can avoid paying taxes. Strangely, I don't see anything odd about death threats and unpaid taxes being related. Death and taxes -- just like peas and carrots.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/08/2006 07:52:00 PM

Blind Aiming at Target

(Oakland, California) This is interesting.

From SFGate.com:

A blind UC Berkeley student has filed a class-action lawsuit against Target Corp., saying the retailer is committing civil-rights violations because its Web site is inaccessible to those who cannot see.

The lawsuit, filed Tuesday in Alameda County Superior Court, said the upscale discounter's on-line business, target.com, denies blind Californians equal access to goods and services available to those who can see.

I wonder just how far a retailer has to go to satisfy customer demands under civil rights laws. For example, should the retailer be forced into providing a website that is navigable for a customer who is blind and doesn't speak nor understand English?

(via ROTLC)
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       Following Entry Posted 2/08/2006 02:00:00 PM

1st-Grade Sexual Harassment

(Brockton, Massachusetts) This story is absolutely ridiculous.

From TheBostonChannel.com:

A Brockton first-grader was suspended from school for three days last month after school officials said that he sexually harassed a girl in his class.

NewsCenter 5's Jim Boyd reported Tuesday that officials at the Downey Elementary School called the boy's mother, Berthena Dorinvil, on Jan. 30, and asked her to pick up her child from the school. Dorinvil said that officials told her that her son was being suspended for sexually harassing a 6-year-old female classmate.

"My son told me that the girl touched him first, so he touched her back," Dorinvil said. "I was shocked. I was crying. I was out of control," Dorinvil said.

In a statement which was obviously misinterpreted, the school superintendent reportedly said something about allegations of sexual harassment having to be taken seriously. In reality, I'm sure the superintendent meant, "I'm exceedingly incompetent and in dire need of adult supervision. Please fire my sorry ass."
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       Following Entry Posted 2/08/2006 07:32:00 AM

Hot Roadway Action

Here's how to make that long drive to Grandma's house less safe but more interesting.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/08/2006 07:04:00 AM

Woman Gets 117 Days for Boy Sex

(Franklin, Tennessee) In July 2004, 37-year-old liquor store manager and former model, Gwendolyn "Lea" Stevens, was caught by police right after having sex with a neighbor boy who had just turned 16-years-old. Happy birthday!

From Tennessean.com:

Officers searched Stevens' purse and found marijuana and smoking paraphernalia. Police found two condoms in a trash can in the boy's bedroom. They confronted Stevens with the condoms and told her a DNA test could prove whether she had sex with the boy.

Stevens then told police she "got caught up in the moment" and had sex with the boy, court records state. Stevens was a friend of the boy's parents, according to court documents.

Apparently, she believes in being prepared for "moments" with boys who are home alone by carrying weed and condoms. Nevertheless, she pleaded guilty in May 2005 to statutory rape and drug charges in accordance with a plea agreement.

Yesterday, Stevens was sentenced to 117 days in jail and a year of probation. The divorced mother of a son will also be required to register as a sex offender and pay a $400 fine for possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. Stevens reports to jail on February 13 to begin her sentence.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/07/2006 10:40:00 PM

Germans Release Convicted 9/11 Terrorist

In a move that likely supports the contention that Europeans do not take terrorism seriously, a convicted 9/11 terrorist has been released from custody while his case is being appealed.

From Aljazeera.net:

Mounir el Motassadeq was sentenced to seven years in prison last August by a court in Hamburg.

City judicial spokesman Carsten Grote on Tuesday said Germany's Federal Constitutional Court has now ordered him released. Grote did not give a reason for the higher court's decision.

It was not clear when el Motassadeq, 31, would be released.

In 2003, the Moroccan became the first person anywhere to be convicted with the 9/11 hijackings when he was found guilty of membership of a terrorist organisation.

No reason was given for the court's decision to apparently not consider him a flight risk. I'm astonished! If ever there was a candidate for being a flight risk, it seems a convicted terrorist should qualify. The German court obviously disagreed.


[Update 01/08/07]

Mounir el Motassadeq sentenced again.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/07/2006 05:38:00 PM

Teacher Lesbians Student

(Easton, Pennsylvania) Substitute teacher Sara Singley, 28, pleaded guilty yesterday before Northampton County Judge Edward G. Smith to having a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old female student. After meeting in October 2003, Singley and the girl began having sex in the park and at motels in early 2004. In March 2005, the girl alerted the police.

Singley is scheduled to be sentenced on March 13.


[Update 03/14/06]

Sara Singley sentenced.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/07/2006 02:36:00 PM

Gay History Exhibit Touring U.S.

Coming to a museum near you, the archived collection of gay history at the San Francisco Public Library is being taken on tour through the eastern, Midwest and southern U.S. The exhibit coincides with the tenth anniversary of the library's James C. Hormel Gay and Lesbian Center.

From MercuryNews.com:

The original artifacts won't be making the cross-country trip. Archivists compiled panels with photographs and accompanying histories that could be easily packed and shipped. The original materials will stay with the Hormel Center where the general public can access its contents with the help of an archivist.

Other highlights include leather boots worn by Dr. Mary Edwards Walker, the U.S. Army's first female surgeon, who also happened to be a cross dresser. Volume six of Der Eigene, an early 20th century periodical advocating sexual relationships between men and boys has also been included.

According to Catherine King, San Francisco Library Chief Curator, the exhibit was the most successful of the library's many projects in fundraising and public reaction. Among others, tour stops include Dallas, Minneapolis, Atlanta, New York and, lastly, Massachusetts for the one-year anniversary of the decision to overrule a law banning gay marriage.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/07/2006 09:57:00 AM

Sunni Insurgents Break From Al-Qaeda

(Baghdad) Sunni terrorists have decided that al Qaeda terrorists are not their friends anymore. In recent months, al Qaeda bombs have killed Sunnis. Consequently, a new anti-U.S. and, presumably, anti-al Qaeda insurgency group has been formed.

From Alertnet.org:

Sunni Arabs have formed their own militia to counter Shi'ite and Kurdish forces as part of an attempt to regain influence they lost after Saddam Hussein was toppled.

The so-called "Anbar Revolutionaries" have emerged from a split in the anti-U.S. insurgency, which included al Qaeda.

They are a new addition to a network of militias that have thrived in Iraq's bloody chaos and are tied to the country's leading ethnic and political parties, now negotiating the formation of a coalition government after the Dec. 15 election, the second such polls since the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq.

The newly-organised militia is made up mostly of Saddam loyalists, Iraqi Islamists and other nationalists leading an insurgency against U.S. and Iraqi government forces.

Another reason for the offshoot Anbar Revolutionaries is to confront the Shi'ite Badr Brigades and the Kurdish peshmerga (militia). Officials believe the Anbar Revolutionaries number in "the hundreds."
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       Following Entry Posted 2/07/2006 08:49:00 AM

LA Homeless Program Is Broken

(Los Angeles) Jeez! You give homeless people stuff and more homeless people show up. Imagine that.

From SacBee.com:

The agency that deals with Los Angeles County's homeless population must be overhauled or dismantled because it has failed to curb the problem, officials said.

County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky said Friday that he will seek to "fundamentally reconfigure" the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority.

Since the agency was created in 1993, the number of homeless in the county has jumped from 30,000 to 90,000, Yaroslavsky said.

It's worth noting that the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) isn't directly involved with helping homeless people. It's function is to primarily coordinate the collection and distribution of resources. Typically, the LAHSA gives money to local do-gooder groups who provide actual day-to-day help for the homeless. In this capacity, the LAHSA has little control over the effectiveness of the help provided.

Also worth considering is the fact that estimates of homeless populations are notoriously unreliable for two basic reasons. One is that homeless people are transients. They arrive and depart with regularity. The best method of counting them is a running average based on daily or weekly counts. To my knowledge, no community nationwide has allocated money to count homeless people daily or weekly. Consequently, all estimates of homeless populations are just educated guesses at best.

Secondly, the do-gooder outfits receive funds based on the number of homeless. Therefore, it's to their financial benefit to have as many homeless as possible which, unfortunately, lends itself to having homeless helpers consistently over-estimating the actual population of indigents. This fact was dramatically demonstrated in March of 2004 when the city of Chicago conducted a census of homeless people. Contrary to the homeless advocates estimate of 80,000, the census counted only 958 vagrants in the city of Chicago. Now, even if the census can be criticized for undercounting the total, it's hard to imagine that over 79,000 people were missed.

In summary, once funds start being distributed to homeless helpers, the estimated number of homeless tends to increase. And, of course, when things are being given away, it's natural for more homeless to be attracted to the community.

So to be fair, there is no way for the LAHSA to decrease the number of homeless and the suggestion to dismantle the office should be implemented. If the city is serious about reducing the homeless population, policies would be established which make Los Angeles an unpleasant place for vagrants to live. Then, they'll go to San Francisco or Phoenix or Chicago. That's how to decrease the homeless problem in LA.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/07/2006 06:59:00 AM

Iran Runs Holocaust Cartoon Contest

Want a poke in the eye? Look at this. Brought to the world by aspiring map-wiper Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

From JPost.com:

Iran's biggest-selling newspaper has chosen to tackle the West's ideals of "freedom of expression" by launching a competition to find the 12 "best" cartoons about the Holocaust, the Associated French Press reported on Monday.

Farid Mortazavi, graphics editor for Tehran's Hamshahri newspaper, said that the deliberately inflammatory contest would test out how committed Europeans were to the concept freedom of expression.

"The Western papers printed these sacrilegious cartoons on the pretext of freedom of expression, so let's see if they mean what they say and also print these Holocaust cartoons," he said.

Iran has withdrawn its ambassador to Denmark and has said it plans to review trade ties with all countries where the cartoons were published.

Sick.

Also see: The Jawa Report
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       Following Entry Posted 2/06/2006 06:22:00 PM

Indonesia Extradites Terrorist to Singapore

(Singapore) Announced by Indonesian authorities today, most-wanted Muslim terrorist, Mas Selamat Kastari, was arrested and extradited to Singapore. Kastari is recognized as the leader of the Singaporean arm of al-Qaeda linked Jemaah Islamiah (JI).

From ISN Security Watch:

Singapore accuses Kastari of plotting to crash a hijacked plane into Changi International Airport in 2001. That attack was never carried out.

Kastari has reportedly been on the run from the authorities in Singapore since 2001, when a JI plot to crash seven truck bombs at various locations around the island five years ago was allegedly uncovered. The authorities say Kastari is believed to be mastermind of the attacks.

Mas Selamat's arrest and deportation to Singapore is a significant step forward in anti-terror cooperation between intelligence services in Southeast Asia.

No doubt about it, Kastari is a homicidal fanatic. Let's hope that Singapore is considerably less tolerant of Muslim extremism than Indonesia.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/06/2006 06:32:00 AM

FON - Network of Wi-Fi Hotspots

This idea makes a lot of sense.

From CNN.com:

Aiming to increase access to the Internet, particularly for people away from home, Google, Skype and other leading Internet investors Sunday announced a $21.5 million investment in an innovative new Internet access network called Fon.

The company, founded by Spanish entrepreneur Martin Varsavsky, aims to build a network of WiFi hotspots far larger than those from companies like T-Mobile and Swisscom, none of which have more than 30,000 hotspots worldwide.

In comparison, Fon seeks to grow to one million hotspots in four years. First, Fon needs to overcome the hurdle of existing service agreements users have with their ISPs. Negotiated shared revenue should encourage participation.

Fon will seek to make its money by charging non-members for use of the network. Even so, it's expected to be cheaper than what existing wireless ISPs charge.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/06/2006 02:22:00 AM

Sense of Smell Linked to Body Position

(Montreal) A research team at McGill University's Montreal Neurological Institute, led by post-doctoral researcher Johan Lundstrom, has found that a person's sense of smell is more acute when sitting or standing compared to when he/she is reclining.

From GlobeandMail.com:

Scientists at the McGill institute tested 36 healthy men and women for their responses to 16 increasingly strong concentrations of phenyl ethyl alcohol, a chemical that smells like roses. Each subject had the odour wafted under their nostrils both while sitting up and lying down.

It turned out that most (64 per cent) could "smell the roses" much better when upright in a chair; they needed a higher, more odorous concentration to detect the scent when on their backs, Dr. Lundstrom, lead author of the study, said yesterday from Montreal.

Previous studies have shown that being supine can reduce other senses connected to the brain, including hearing and spatial perception. But the Montreal study is the first to find a link between position and sense of smell, said neuropsychologist Marilyn Jones-Gotman, head of the institute's chemical senses laboratory.

There are numerous theories as to why this phenomenon occurs, but more study of the neurological processes is necessary. I am aware that a person's ability to detect odors decreases with advancing age and coupling that fact with these latest findings appear to indicate that an elderly person lying down might not be able to smell anything.

Now, I don't dispute the data nor the conclusions but, for the life of me, I haven't been able to think of many practical applications where one would use the knowledge. It's probably a rare occurrence when someone would do any serious smelling while lying on his/her back. Simply knowing that a person's sense of smell diminishes when supine or prone might come in handy under a unique circumstance.

Even so, I recognize that the knowledge would be of some value as a subject of conversation. After all, it is an interesting neurological quirk. Also, it might be fun to say to your boss, "Frankly, Bob, you could stand to smell better."
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       Following Entry Posted 2/06/2006 12:40:00 AM

$700 Million Missing From Palestinian Accounts

Now, here's a situation where money turns up missing in a kleptocracy. Not unusual. In all candor, I would have been falling-down astonished if the books had even come close to balancing with all funds accounted for.

From ArabNews.com:

At least $700 million of funds from the Palestinian Authority's coffers have been misused or stolen by officials over the past few years. Citing an internal investigation, Palestinian Attorney-General Ahmed Al-Moghani told reporters yesterday that 50 cases of "financial and administrative corruption" had been discovered and 25 officials arrested so far.

He said 10 officials had fled abroad but that the Palestinian Authority was seeking their extradition.

"The amount of money that was squandered and stolen is more than $700 million," Moghani said. "Some of these millions were transferred into personal accounts here and abroad."

Hamas spokesman Mushir Al-Masri said it will be a top priority for the new government to go after the corrupt officials who stole the money and bring them to justice. Good luck with getting the money back. I expect Hamas will begin complaining and whining about the sorry state of finances, blaming it all on the corrupt previous administration. Then, fresh corrupt officials will go to work in the Hamas government and it will be business as usual.

Companion post at The Jawa Report.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/05/2006 10:35:00 PM

Coach Guilty of Sex with Student

(Akron, Ohio) Last September, cheerleading and dance coach Mishelle Robinson, 31, a married mother of two, was arrested and charged with felony sexual battery for alleged sexual contact with a 16-year-old male student.

On Friday, in accordance with a plea agreement, Robinson pleaded guilty to four counts of sexual battery and two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. The agreement also stipulates that she must register as a sex offender.

Summit County Common Pleas Judge Patricia A. Cosgrove scheduled sentencing for February 28. Robinson faces a possible five years in prison for each count.


[Update 03/01/06]

Mishelle Robinson sentenced to four years in prison.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/05/2006 06:28:00 PM

Aussie Muslims Warn Against Publishing Cartoon

The Muslims from down under have laid down the gauntlet.

From ABC New Online:

The president of the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils, Dr Ameer Ali, says while the cartoon is yet to be published in Australia, the community is already aware of the issue.

"The reaction is already in fact the imams are giving sermons in the mosques saying that this sort of action can only create more bin Ladens than to reduce him," he said.

Dr Ali says publishing the cartoon would cause too much offence.

"Which is more important - to preserve the freedom of speech or to antagonise one fifth of humanity," he said.

I get it. Twenty percent of humanity is more equal than eighty percent of humanity, so Muslims get to make the rules regarding free speech.

It must be the new math.

Companion post at In The Bullpen.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/05/2006 05:20:00 PM

Human Smuggling Ring Busted in Rio Grande Valley

(Edinburg, Texas) Here's some positive news from the border. A smuggling ring has been shut down. Unfortunately, it would be my guess that it's only one of dozens.

From Team4News.com:

Hidalgo County Sheriff Lupe Trevino believes his investigators have dismantled a human smuggling operation responsible for smuggling 10 to 15 illegal immigrants per week.

Trevino says the unnamed organization was based in Reynosa and had been in operation for about three years, charging illegals $1,500 to $3,000.

The illegal aliens ultimate destination after traveling through Hidalgo County was Houston.

The ring was discovered after members who ran the operation started fighting about money, leaving one man, Sylvester Ramos, in a coma. When Ramos recovered, he cooperated with the police.

Two smugglers are still at large and considered armed and dangerous. Jose Antonio Jaimes Vera, aka Tono, and Magdaleno Alvarez Valdez, aka Jarracho, are believed to have fled to Mexico but they're expected back at some time. They were last seen in a green/grey Ford F-150 extended cab truck bearing Texas license plates 06G-CK3.

Companion post at Diggers Realm.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/05/2006 03:29:00 PM

Muslims Choose Christian Schools

Here's a twist.

From NorwayPost.no:

An increasing number of Muslims living in Norway have over the past few years chosen to send their children to private Christian schools, NRK reports.

At the Christian Regnbuen school in Oslo, 20 out of a hundred students are Muslims. Other private schools in Oslo, like St Sunniva and Kristelig Gymnasium, also have many Muslim students.

According to Dean Lars Bjoerge Holm at Kristelig Gymnasium, the Christian schools and students respect and understand Islam to a much greater degree than public schools. I'm fairly certain that the Muslims are not as magnanimous. It also has to be distressing to the fundamentalists that their sons and daughters are walking around school hallways with images of Jesus Christ on the walls.

(via John Ray)

Companion post at The Jawa Report.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/05/2006 08:58:00 AM

Goodbye Boomers & Gen-X'ers, Welcome the Millennials

The Baby Boomers and Generation X are no longer the primary targets for savvy magazine and television advertisers, particularly women who seek relationship tips and fashion advice. Now the focus will be the "millennials," those females who were born between 1980 and 2000. By 2010, the millennials will outnumber both the boomers and the Gen-X'ers.

It seems that strategies for advertising are being developed for almost every conceivable demographic subset in society.

To do my part in the demographic subgroup naming game, I'd like to coin the term for those individuals who purchase absolutely valueless products advertised on television, the Internet and in the press. People who buy the stuff should be called the "Baloney Gomers." Everyone has friends or relatives who regularly take home worthless crap. They're Baloney Gomers and they'll buy anything.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/05/2006 07:20:00 AM

School Psychologist Charged with Rape of Boy

(Mattituck, New York) A 45-year-old school psychologist with East Hampton Middle School, Diane DeMartini-Scully, has been charged with third-degree rape and third-degree criminal sexual act for an alleged sexual relationship with a 15-year-old boy. The boy is reported to have previously dated DeMartini-Scully's daughter. There's a lesson here for girls taking their boyfriends home to meet the family. Watch out for momma.

DeMartini-Scully had previously been arrested in North Carolina on charges that included kidnapping and contributing to the delinquency of minors for actions regarding the same boy and his 12-year-old sister after their family moved south from New York.

Arraignment is scheduled for today in Southold Justice Court.


[Update 02/06/06]

Yesterday, DeMartini-Scully was arraigned before Judge William Price on two felonies, third-degree rape and third-degree criminal sexual act for two alleged encounters with the boy. She pleaded not guilty.

Wearing handcuffs, DeMartini-Scully's husband, John, and her two children -- including the daughter who once dated her alleged victim -- looked on. Judge Price set bail at $10,000 and scheduled another court appearance for Friday.

Companion post at Conservative Thinking.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/05/2006 02:47:00 AM

Teacher Charged with Rape of Boy

(St. Louis, Missouri) A 39-year-old teacher at Normandy Alternative School, Christine E. Duda, was charged Saturday with two counts of statutory rape resulting from alleged sexual relations with a 16-year-old student. Duda is being held at the St. Louis County jail with bond set at $75,000.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/04/2006 07:40:00 PM

The Civilization Bowl

(Damascus, Syria) After days of sit-ins outside the Danish Embassy in downtown Damascus, followers of the religion of peace stormed the building and set it afire. Unfortunately, housed in the same building, the embassies of Chile and Sweden were also torched. Later, it was reported that the Norwegian Embassy was also set ablaze. There were also 'peaceful' overtures in Jakarta, Indonesia, where Muslims stormed the Danish Embassy, throwing eggs, smashing furniture and burning the Danish flag.

Hamas leader Mahmoud Zahar had earlier commented, "We should have killed all those who offend the Prophet and instead here we are, protesting peacefully." I guess arson and murder are peaceful acts in the Islamic lexicon.

[Update 02/05/06, 0930 EST] Danish Embassy in Beirut torched.

The overwhelming swath of Islamic peacefulness and tolerance has triggered a wave of European genuflection and appeasement. A scorekeeper is working full-time tallying the we're-sorrys. The Islamic appeasers team, led by the U.S. State Department and the World Socialists, has issued statements supporting suppression of free speech.

Although this is Super Bowl weekend, some commentary is focusing on the Civilization Bowl.

"Well, Howard. With the latest offensive plays by 14th Century Islam, how do you see the contest going?"

"Frank, you've got to give the strong men up front a lot of credit. The 14th Century team is absolutely manhandling the 21st Century Westerners. Look what they have done. They have the United States government backing Islam's editorial control of free speech. This is tantamount to taking out the Westerners' star running back. Of course, the Westerners' quarterback hasn't spoken yet, but that surely is seen as agreement with the statement from the State Department."

"Howard, I think you're making too much out of the 14th Century's latest moves."

"In all candor, Frank, I don't think so. Consider this. Do you really believe the U.S.S.R. would have lost in the semi-finals if Ronald Reagan had been prevented from talking? After all, he called the U.S.S.R. the "evil empire." Now, try that with the prophet Mohammad and you won't get away with it. Nah, this quarter in the Civilization Bowl is clearly a winner for 14th Century Islam. I'd give them a lead in the contest."

"You're painting a gloomy picture for 21st Century's chances, Howard."

"Yeah, Frank, I know. But, think about it, the 14th Century team has legitimized a 14th Century tactic long abandoned by the Westerners. When offended by someone, burn down his house. Agreed, it's usually considered dirty play but, since the Islamic team is allowed to make the rules, a clear advantage exists. Imagine playing poker where you can make up the rules in your favor. Works, doesn't it?"

"So, Howard, the contest is far from over. What strategy would you recommend for the 21st Century Westerners to get back in the game?"

"In reality, Frank, the Westerners are not holding the line of scrimmage. It took hundreds of years to get where they are. They shouldn't allow the Islamic team to push them back an inch. The 14th Century team will use its big yardage gain against free speech to launch a push for dictated speech. After all, once you control what people say, the next step is to mandate what people are required to say. Hold the line of scrimmage. That's the first thing the Westerners have to do.

"Secondly, the 21st Century team really needs to educate the cheerleaders for the Islamic team. This means the media. In particular, the leftist media in the United States and Europe need to realize that if the 14th Century team wins the Civilization Bowl, they will be out of work. The media support the team that will abolish their independence. Sure, television and newspapers will still be around, but everything said and everything written will be dictated.

"Thirdly, the Westerners need to mobilize the women. They are half the population of the planet and many of them should be speaking up with ferocity. Either that or forget about being educated and having equal rights. Forget about one man, one wife. Forget about style, fashion and beauty. The women can be a powerful part of the 21st Century team. Right now, they're not.

"Those are some ideas, Frank. Unfortunately, all strategy and tactics are meaningless unless the 21st Century Westerners realize one thing."

"What's that, Howard?"

"In a nutshell, the Westerners need to realize that they can lose. Right now, they don't see it as a possibility."

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       Following Entry Posted 2/04/2006 09:59:00 AM

No Couth in Advertising

(Mesa, Arizona) A woman may want to know what kind of underwear a man sports but that doesn't mean she wants to view the happy place.

From AZcentral.com:

A man who repeatedly exposed himself to women in a unique way was sentenced today to seven years in prison by a judge who was unswayed by his recent treatment.

Jeffery Howard Pritchert, 41, admitted to Mesa police that he took pictures of his own genitals and plastered them to the cars of 100 women in Southeast Valley parking lots from 1999 to 2005.

"These offenses occurred over a very long period of time with many victims," said Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Sherry Stephens. "You had very many opportunities to change your conduct and you did not."

You know, if this guy was spamming the Internet instead of a parking lot, he would probably only face a fine.

As an aside, I recall from a few years ago someone telling me that one of these pictures was on his windshield. He thought it was an ad for a new Asian restaurant.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/04/2006 07:46:00 AM

City Workers View Porn at Work

(Portland, Oregon) A city hall snitch leaked information anonymously to a television station.

From KGW.com:

Northwest NewsChannel 8 obtained a copy of computer files from a former technician with the City of Portland. He provided us with the information anonymously. The computer tech is frustrated by the lack of discipline at City Hall for those abusing the Internet.

On the computer disc, we found a half dozen pornographic files and dozens of personal files. It appears the files were created by a manager in Portland's Bureau of Maintenance. The city is now investigating the alleged abuse.

Through a public records request, KGW found that in the past three years, city employees have been disciplined 29 times for Internet abuse. The workers come from various city bureaus including Water, Transportation and Police.

Does this surprise anyone? Not yours truly. And, it doesn't make a difference whether an organization is public or private. Given Internet access, the employees will surf.

According to local Internet expert Tom Gilliham, 20 percent of employees in the workplace regularly surf for porn. Part of the reason could be that a survey found only 59 percent of employers impose actual written policy guidelines for Internet use.

The snitch that started the inquiries expressed frustration at the lack of discipline at City Hall. Evidently, discipline isn't the only problem. The city is apparently hiring people who think it's a good idea to download pornography onto work computers. That's below the "Duh" level of dumb.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/03/2006 08:41:00 PM

Terrorists Seek Cases Tossed Due to NSA Spying

You had to know this was coming. The lawyer for Iyman Faris, convicted of plotting to blow up the Brooklyn Bridge, asked a federal judge today to throw out the case because the National Security Agency illegally spied on him.

From the AP:

Iyman Faris' challenge is among the first to seek evidence of warrantless electronic eavesdropping by the National Security Agency, a practice that began after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Government officials have reportedly credited the practice with uncovering Faris' terrorist plot and several others.

A motion filed by Faris' attorney David Smith in U.S. District Court in Alexandria, Va., argues that investigators improperly obtained evidence against Faris and that his trial lawyer was ineffective.

Given the likelihood that Faris' phone conversations or e-mails had been electronically monitored, Faris' trial lawyer, Frederick Sinclair, should have asked for evidence of such surveillance, Smith said in the motion.

Interestingly, Faris, 36, pleaded guilty to conspiracy and aiding and abetting terrorism. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison. Subsequently, he tried to take back his guilty plea, saying everything is his agreement was false.

And, there are others looking to get their terror-related convictions overturned.

A lawyer for Ali al-Timimi, an Islamic scholar in northern Virginia serving a life sentence for exhorting followers to fight U.S. troops, has said he plans to challenge his case based on NSA involvement. So has an attorney for Adham Amin Hassoun, a Lebanese-born Palestinian living in Florida who is charged with being part of a cell dedicated to supporting violent Muslim extremists.

Obviously, the issue of the NSA eavesdropping will have to be decided in the courts. I hope that the judges ruling on the issue keep in mind that it involves protecting the United States from foreign attack. It would be imprudent to allow Faris and his terrorist buddies to get off.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/03/2006 02:27:00 PM

Teacher Arraigned for Sex with Middle School Boys

(Washburn, Missouri) A 38-year-old substitute teacher, Shanna L. Angle, with the Southwest School District was arraigned Thursday for allegedly having sexual relations with two middle school students.

Angle is accused of having sex with one 13-year-old boy and improperly touching another 13-year-old boy. She faces two counts of first-degree child molestation, one count of first-degree statutory rape and one count of first-degree statutory sodomy.

Angle is free on $40,000 bond. If convicted, she faces penalties ranging from five to 30 years or life in prison.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/03/2006 09:00:00 AM

Iran Most Negative Country, U.S. Second

Somebody needs to start assessing and ranking the validity of polls. On the ten-loaf manure scale, this one is at least a nine.

From ynetnews.com:

A BBC survey undertaken in 33 nations found Iran is seen as the country that has the most negative influence in the world.

[ ... ]

Meanwhile, the survey found the United States was the 2nd most negative country, while the standing of China, Russia, and France also declined compared to a previous poll at the end of 2004.

Negative views of America increased in France, Britain, China, Australia, and Brazil. At the same time, the standing of China in the poll has also declined, with respondents in only eight countries rating it positively.

On the other hand, Japan received the nod from most respondents as the country seen to have the most positive influence in the world. Overall, Japan was ranked positively in 31 of the 33 nations taking part in the survey.

Okay, maybe someone can tell me why people risk and, sometimes, lose their lives trying to get into the 2nd most negative nation.

The survey by polling firm GlobeScan and the University of Maryland was conducted between October 2005 and January 2006 and it questioned over 39,000 people in 33 nations. Based on the results, I'd suggest that GlobeScan and the University of Maryland stick to Coke vs. Pepsi.

Companion post at In The Bullpen.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/03/2006 07:33:00 AM

Teacher Fired for Hard Stuff in Desk

(Port St. Lucie, Florida) Apparently, this is a case of teaching under the influence.

From Miami.com:

A Port St. Lucie teacher is suspected of being under the influence of alcohol and keeping it in her desk at school, according to a police report.

The report says Deborah Dargis, 43, was immediately fired from Village Green Elementary School, but St. Lucie County School District officials said the case is still under investigation and that Dargis has not yet been officially terminated.

The police report said the school site foreman found two open Propel fitness water bottles in Dargis' desk which had a liquid that "resembled Mike's Hard Lemonade" and had an acidic, lemon smell.

Breathalyzer test results were positive.

It seems unlikely that Dargis will be able to present any reasonable explanation for having two bottles of hooch in her desk. Of course, Dargis teaches elementary school and may be unsuited for the job of coping with screaming little cookie-munchers.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/03/2006 06:42:00 AM

Egyptian Cruise Ship Disappears from Radar

(Cairo) All contact with the Egyptian cruise ship Salaam 98 was lost shortly after it left the Saudi port of Dubah on the Red Sea coast.

From WCBSTV.com:

Egyptian maritime officials say lifeboats containing people have been spotted in vicinity of where cruise liner was last seen on radar.

The ship Salaam 98 disappeared from radar screens shortly after sailing from the port of Dubah, western Saudi Arabia, at 7 p.m. local time on Thursday night, maritime officials in Suez said.

They spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to address the media.

The ship was due to have arrived at Egypt's southern port of Safaga at 3 a.m. local time, but did not, the officials added.

The ship, owned by El-Salaam Maritime Transport Co., carried 1,300 passengers, many of them pilgrims returning from the annual hajj to Mecca. Notably, from my reading, these ships are often overloaded and poorly maintained.


[Update] Another report has been filed with more detailed information.

From CNN.com:

State-run Nile Television, quoting the Red Sea governor, said the ship was carrying 1,415 people -- 1,310 of them Egyptians.

"Our understanding now is that there are survivors," said Egyptian Minister of Transport Mohamed Loutfy Mansour, who said the reports came from helicopter pilots.

"The Coast Guard is doing everything in its power to try to rescue the people." Four frigates were expected to arrive at the site soon, he added.

Helicopters have spotted bodies floating on the sea and one lifeboat carrying three people in the vicinity of where the ship was last seen on the radar screens, maritime officials told The Associated Press.

Egyptian officials confirm that the ship has sunk. No cause has been identified, however, the ship is a roll-on, roll-off ferry design known to suffer stability problems. It's also known that the ship, built in 1970, suffered a collision in 1999.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/03/2006 05:12:00 AM

Breathalyzer Results Inadmissible for Spanish Drunks

(Durham, North Carolina) Apparently, if an officer pulls over a Spanish-speaking drunk driver and gives him a breathalyzer test, the results will be thrown out of court unless the officer read the offender his rights in Spanish. According to District Court Judge Richard Chaney, the legal principle doesn't apply to Chinese-speaking drunk drivers.

From U.S. Newswire:

A North Carolina judge threw out the roadside breathalyzer test results of a Spanish speaker, saying that the officers had a duty to give him his rights in Spanish. The decision by Durham County District Court Judge Richard Chaney in a case against Francisco Pereyra is the latest in a string of judgments that have dismissed breathalyzer results due to the language barrier. Chaney's judgment on the rights of Spanish speaking DWI offenders went a step further, when he added "If you're talking about someone who speaks Chinese, you have a different issue."

Therefore, as a travel advisory, any North Carolinians who foresee a possibility of being behind the wheel after a few libations should practice saying, "No hablo ingles."

Seriously, though, I think this whole issue is loony. First of all, there's a fair liklihood that Spanish-speakers in the U.S. are illegal aliens and they can't be arrested for sneaking into the country. Secondly, illegal aliens typically don't have driver's licenses so they aren't legal drivers. And, now, it's apparently an unprosecutable crime for Spanish-speakers to drive drunk unless law enforcement personnel speak Spanish. It's just plain loony.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/02/2006 05:01:00 PM

Dogs As Drug Mules

This report will undoubtedly upset some people.

From Miami.com:

DEA agents in Colombia find bags of liquid heroin packed into the sliced-and-sewn bellies of young Labrador retrievers to get the drugs to the U.S.

 
Drug-Mule Puppies & Liquid Heroin Packets
(DEA photos)
According to a Drug Enforcement Agency announcement yesterday, the smuggling was discovered as a result of a two-year undercover operation. Six Labrador retrievers were found implanted with three kilos of liquid heroin packets in Medellin, ready to be shipped into the United States.

Frankly, this story doesn't surprise me in the least. Not only would I expect the drug smugglers to use innovative methods but the story is old news. In fact, I previously posted about puppies being used as drug mules over a year ago. My source was a report out of Australia. I'm at a loss to explain why it took the DEA and the MSM so long to announce and publish the story.

Dare I suggest that the DEA could have avoided the expense of a year's worth of undercover operations by simply keeping abreast of the news on the Internet?
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       Following Entry Posted 2/02/2006 02:50:00 PM

Female Teacher Shelved for Sexual Relations with Student

(Brownsville, Texas) A complaint was filed with the Brownsville Independent School District last Friday and 25-year-old teacher, Samantha Drash, was suspended with pay for alleged improper sexual relations with a male student. Drash teaches government at Pace High School.

An internal school district investigation has been launched. As yet, no charges have been filed.


[Update 03/02/06]

Pace High School teacher Samantha Drash resigned her position this past Monday amid continuing allegations of inappropriate sexual contact with a student. According to School District Police Chief Oscar Garcia, the criminal investigation also continues.

Interestingly, divorce papers filed by Drash's estranged husband make reference to the sex with the student as an act of adultery on the teacher's part.


[Update 03/19/06]

Last Thursday, Samantha Drash was arrested on sexual misconduct charges one day after being indicted by a Cameron County grand jury. Drash is charged with having an inappropriate relationship between educator and student and sexual assault of a child. If convicted of the charges against her, Drash faces up to 40 years in prison and $20,000 in fines.


[Update 03/28/06]

Drash pleads not guilty to inappropriate sexual relationship with a male student athlete and claims the allegations were an act of revenge by her estranged husband.


[Update 11/29/06]

Drash case dismissed.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/02/2006 02:27:00 PM

Two Sailors Pinched for Smuggling Illegals

(San Diego) Two 2nd-Class Petty Officers in the U.S. Navy were taken into custody on charges of smuggling illegal aliens across the U.S.-Mexico border at the Shore Patrol Station adjacent to the San Ysidro port of entry. Neither was named.

An appearance in federal court is scheduled for later today.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/02/2006 12:03:00 PM

ACLU Fights for City Marijuana Department

(Santa Cruz, California) The American Civil Liberties Union is trying once again to get dope-smoking legalized at the federal level. This time, the ACLU is teaming with the city of Santa Cruz to get authorization to create a department of marijuana distribution.

From MercuryNews.com:

The city of Santa Cruz and a local medical marijuana collective on Tuesday asked a federal court in San Jose to approve the city's plan to provide marijuana directly to sick and dying patients.

The amended complaint represents a renewed legal fight to force the U.S. government to honor medical marijuana laws passed by California and 11 other states.

The American Civil Liberties Union, Drug Policy Alliance, the national law firm of Bingham McCutchen and a handful of private attorneys filed legal documents outlining new constitutional arguments based on an ordinance recently enacted by the Santa Cruz City Council creating the first medical marijuana department in the country. The department is known as the Office of Compassionate Use, but the city has made clear it has no intention of actually distributing marijuana unless it wins the legal battle.

Far out, man. Smoking weed is a civil liberty. Maybe next, California will launch an effort to create a department of opiates and hallucinogens.

In other news this week, the ACLU is pestering officials at Monson High School in Massachusetts about its policy of administering Breathalyzer tests to students upon admission to school dances. Other area schools have been giving Breathalyzer tests for years without complaint yet, for some unknown reason, the ACLU now protests.

And, in Oklahoma City, the ACLU intervened in the case against homosexual Rev. Lonnie Latham, 60, stating that he shouldn't have been arrested for propositioning an undercover policeman because the Supreme Court has ruled that sodomy laws are not legal. Latham pleaded not guilty and asserts that he was only pastoring to male police officers in the area when he was arrested.

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 2/02/2006 08:46:00 AM

ROTC Harassed

(Santa Fe, New Mexico) No surprise in this story. There is little doubt that Santa Fe is a city populated with a preponderance of off-the-table leftists. Consequently, being anti-U.S. military is expected.

From Freenewmexican.com:

Navy Junior ROTC cadets say it's not uncommon to be called "Nazis" or "baby killers" as they walk the hallways of Santa Fe High School. Their classmates are largely anti-military, and school officials discourage students from participating in the program, they say.

"We're not welcome here," Cadet Marin Espinoza said. He said ROTC members are routinely harassed by other students who get especially impolite before ROTC events.

On Saturday, cadets discovered what they called the latest example of that hostility. The unit's 20 drill rifles and only Navy sword were stolen just before a drill competition in Farmington. In December, five swords and more rifles were stolen. The guns are World War II-era M-1 rifles that had been inoperable and were used in competitions and football halftime shows.

In the words of 17-year-old student Cmdr. Jonathan Lujan, "We have no one on our side. Not the community. Not the administrators. Not the students." In a rather lukewarm response, Principal Claudia Krause-Johnson is considering having "an assembly to foster a more welcoming attitude."

I wonder what Principal Krause-Johnson would do if the taunts of "Nazis" and "baby killers" were directed at Muslim students? Hold an assembly to wag her finger? I don't think so.

All that said, I'd like to propose a survey be conducted of the students at Santa Fe High School, asking the following question:

Between George Bush and Hugo Chavez, who would you rather have leading the country?

My prediction? Chavez in a squeaker.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/02/2006 06:05:00 AM

Two Iraqi Journalists Taken Hostage

(Baghdad) A few hours ago, terrorists abducted two journalists from a car traveling the streets of Baghdad.

From Aljazeera.net:

Police and station officials said on Thursday that Reem Zaid, 23, and her colleague Marwan Khaza'al, 25, were returning to the offices of Sumariya TV in Baghdad on Wednesday after attending a press conference when they were kidnapped by gunmen.

A station official who spoke on condition of anonymity said: "They were in a car with two cameramen and their driver when another car blocked them. The five gunmen took the correspondents and their car and left the two cameramen."

Many Iraqi media outlets are also controlled by various political factions inside and outside the government, but the Sumariya official said that the station was privately owned by Iraqis and had no links to any political group.

So, here's a case which appears to be something other than a random kidnapping or the abduction of an opponent.

As journalists, Zaid and Khaza'al apparently were targeted and tracked. Evidently the terrorists recognize that the media exposure associated with kidnapping journalists is exponentially greater than what occurs with businessmen, politicians, or military personnel. Consequently, the terroists are capitalizing on the situation and making journalists their preferred hostages.

Even so, I have to wonder why they didn't take the cameramen also. After all, they too are journalists.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/02/2006 12:03:00 AM

Malaysian Students Linked to Al Qaeda

(Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia) A source close to The Star recently disclosed the details of a terrorist's confession which directly links Jemaah Islamiah in Malaysia and Al Qaeda.

Jemaah Islamiah (JI) has a house in Pakistan where students from Malaysia and Singapore are indoctrinated and prepared for militant activities.

Gungun Rusman Gunawan, a brother of Ridwan Ishamuddin (better known as Hambali, a key man in al-Qaeda's operations in South-East Asia who was captured in Thailand in August 2003) revealed this in his confession to the Indonesian police last year.

Gungun stated that he set up the house for students at the direction of Abdul Rahim, the youngest son of jailed Indonesian Muslim leader Abubakar Ba'asyir. Malaysian students visited the house and were recruited to undergo military training in Afghanistan.

Gungun revealed that recruits for the Afghan military stint had to undergo a 40-day tadrib (military training) before they were introduced to light weaponry for 20 days.

"They were exposed to the theory and handling of AK-47 assault rifles and Pulemyot Kalashnikov general purpose machine guns."

"They were also introduced to RPG (rocket propelled grenade) guns, M-16 rifles and a wide range of pistols."

Gungun, a former student of the Abu Bakar Islamic University, said the recruits were also taught how to read the compass and maps and use explosives like Molotov bombs, grenades, anti-tank mines and TNT.

The total number of Malaysians and Singaporeans who actually received military training is unknown. It's also unknown whether any student houses continue to operate as recruit centers. Let's hope they've been shut down.

Ultimately, Gungun and 18 others, were arrested by Pakistani and American authorities. After his arrest, Gungun was deported to Indonesia and subsequently sentenced to four years in prison for his part in the Jakarta Marriot Hotel bombing.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/01/2006 03:30:00 PM

Muslims Call for Punishment of Newspaper

The Danish cartoon controversy results from images of prophet Muhammad in the daily Jyllands-Posten newspaper which Muslims consider offensive. Yesterday, the offices of Jyllands-Posten in the northern town of Aarhus and downtown Copenhagen were evacuated after receiving a bomb threat.

From ArabNews.com:

Arab interior ministers yesterday called on Denmark to punish Jyllands-Posten. "We ask the Danish authorities to take the necessary measures to punish those responsible for this harm and to take action to avoid its repeat," the ministers said in a statement.

In the meantime, Palestinian gunmen raided the European Union's offices in Gaza to demand an apology. Danish embassies throughout the Arab world were besieged with protesters. And Muslims everywhere are boycotting Danish products. One analyst estimates the loss of over 10,000 jobs in Denmark if the boycott lasts for a year.

In response, right-wing Danish groups have called for anti-Muslim marches and boycotts of Arab shops.

Other countries have also joined the fray. German and French newspapers have reprinted the Danish caricatures of prophet Muhammad, ratcheting up Muslim ire. All the while, an apology from Jyllands-Posten failed to defuse the situation. A conciliatory statement by Danish Premier Rasmussen also failed. It appears that the Muslims won't be satisfied unless someone is imprisoned and Sharia-like prohibitions are written into Danish and other country's laws.

Another aspect of the story that hasn't been getting much attention is that the Muslim outrage at Jyllands-Posten may have been triggered by two Danish imams. Ahmed Akkari and Abu Laban compiled a dossier of racist and culturally insensitive images circulating in Denmark and took them on a 2005 road show in the Arab World. The dossier contained some outrageously offensive images of unknown origin which had never appeared in Jyllands-Posten.

Three, in particular, have produced seething anger. One showed Muhammad as a pedophile, another as a pig and the last depicted a praying Muslim being raped by a dog. None were in the newspaper but were shown throughout the Arab world as indications of Islamophobia in Denmark.

Thankfully, the Muslim response to the cartoons so far is somewhat less strident than previous episodes in which prophet Muhammad was disrespected. As a reminder, author Salman Rushdie wrote some unflattering words about Muhammad in The Satanic Verses and received a death sentence by the Ayatollah Khomeini. Filmmaker Theo Van Gogh was murdered for his film depicting the lives of Muslim women. I'd like to think the Muslims are mellowing and someday will respond like the rest of us do when we see something that offends us. We flip them the bird.

Of course, I may be spitting into the wind.

More details at The Jawa Report and In The Bullpen.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/01/2006 08:29:00 AM

Cindy Sheehan Being Disrespectful

Apparently, Cindy Sheehan was invited to attend the State of the Union speech last night and arrived in offensive attire. She wouldn't cover up and was escorted out for violating the rules.

Sheehan has been euphemistically described as wearing an anti-war T-shirt. It looks to me like an anti-Bush and anti-America T-shirt.

Here's a picture. Make your own judgment.
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       Following Entry Posted 2/01/2006 05:45:00 AM

Casting Director's Nightmare


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       Following Entry Posted 2/01/2006 04:52:00 AM

RSPCA Urges Hemorrhoid Cream for Cane Toads

Originally introduced in Australia during the 1930s to control sugar cane beetles, cane toads are now marching across Australia, poisoning millions of animals - from lizards to crocodiles to family pets. It has become a menace due to its poisonous toxins. To control them, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) is urging the use of hemorrhoid cream. Applying a dollop of cream on a toad's back will put it to sleep, allowing it to be picked up, bagged and frozen.


Cane Toad
Hemorrhoid cream makes them sleepy
Currently, people are using golf clubs and cricket bats to control them. When one is seen, it's whacked. Unfortunately, a problem is created by having rotting toad carcasses drawing flies and littering the environment, not at all unlike Congress. The RSPCA promotes levying fines for toad whacking.

A suggested method of cleaning the mess is to collect the toad carcasses, and mix them with an alkaline solution to create a decomposed toad soup which can be used as fertilizer. An environmental group of "frog conscious" members called FrogWatch hopes the fertilizer will be ultimately sold to the public. It's said to be great for pawpaws.

With the appointment of a frog guru as regional coordinator among various toad fighting groups in northern Australia, hopefully the war against the pest will be more organized and effective.


[Update 03/28/07]

Post repeated.
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