Following Entry Posted 4/30/2006 02:48:00 AM

Mexican Lawmakers Pass Bill to Legalize Drugs

The federal legislature of Mexico has passed a bill to legalize "small amounts of cocaine, heroin, even ecstasy" for personal use. President Vicente Fox's signature is expected to be forthcoming since his office has voiced support for the measure.

From KFMB.com:

Currently, Mexican law leaves open the possibility of dropping charges against people caught with drugs if they can prove they are drug addicts and if an expert certifies they were caught with "the quantity necessary for personal use."

The new bill drops the "addict" requirement, allows "consumers" to have drugs, and sets out specific allowable quantities, which do not appear in the current law.

Specifically, the new law would allow a person to carry the following:

- Marijuana (5 gms),
- Heroin (25 mgms),
- Cocaine (0.5 gm),
- Peyote (2.2 lbs), and
- An array of other drugs, including:

- Methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA),
- Methylenedioxymethamphetamine/Ecstasy (MDMA),
- Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD), and
- Amphetamines.

I am stunned! A person could be a legal walking pharmacy. More surprising is the fact that the measure is being pushed while drug addiction among Mexicans is increasing.

To be fair, though, the bill reportedly stiffens some penalties for trafficking and possession by government employees and near schools. In support of the bill, backers say it will free up police to go after major drug traffickers and avoid crowding jails with small-time offenders. Of course, using their logic, Mexico should legalize convenience store robberies to allow police to focus on bank heists.

Interestingly, the timing of the announcement of the intent to legalize drugs probably could not have come at a more troubling time. At present, tensions between the U.S. and Mexico are heightened due to a variety of factors. These include:

Monday's planned skip-work day by hard-working illegal aliens to prove that Mexicans are hard-workers. Ostensibly, the hardest workers will take the whole week or month off.

Hundreds of thousands of illegal aliens demonstrating in the streets, demanding citizenship, and carrying Mexican flags.

Calls by activists to open the borders to hard-working trespassers while tagging as racist anyone who wants a secure border.

Prisons and jails, hospital emergency rooms, school systems, and welfare rolls all being overburdened by illegals.

And, not a small issue, calls for the Star Spangled Banner to be sung in Spanish.

Not to be overly dramatic, but I feel that someone unwelcome moved into my house and there is nobody to call for help. My only options are to tolerate the trespassers or leave my home. It didn't used to be that way. I recall when the government protected and defended the citizens and territorial boundaries of the United States.

Nevertheless, with all the existing problems associated with having an imaginary border between the U.S. and Mexico, the last thing needed is the implied promise that every illegal alien crossing the border will soon be carrying "personal use" amounts of a variety of illicit drugs. To quote the Mayor of San Diego, Jerry Sanders, it's "appallingly stupid." I agree.
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       Following Entry Posted 4/29/2006 04:38:00 AM

Saudi Women Given Right to Sell Underwear

Currently in Saudi Arabia, only men are permitted to conduct retail business and the practice proves to be awkward when the items being sold are primarily female products. Therefore, whether purchasing panties, brassieres, see-through nighties, or lipstick and other cosmetics, women are helped by bearded and moustached male sales assistants. But times have changed and Saudi society is about to make a dramatic leap forward.

From Telegraph.co.uk:

It is hailed as a major step forward for women's emancipation in Saudi Arabia: in the coming weeks they will enjoy the right to buy lingerie from female shop assistants.

This may be a far cry from bra-burning feminism but in Saudi Arabia the notion of buying one's brassiere from a woman is nothing short of revolutionary.

A new decree requiring shop owners to hire female staff to sell undergarments illustrates the cautious liberalisation the kingdom is undergoing - and how far it has yet to travel.

The change will probably be quite welcome since most women are reluctant to discuss their unmentionables with men who are likely total strangers. On the other hand, the lingerie shop owners are ambivalent. Some intend to darken their premises to hide the fact that women are working while others complain that business will be stunted since most customers for women's underwear are men. (As an aside, I'm astounded by the fact that Saudi men are buying most of the women's underwear in the Kingdom. There has to be a psychological angle here somewhere.)

King Abdallah is the impetus behind the recent liberalization of Saudi society. He's even hinted at lifting the prohibition on women driving. Naturally, traditionalists believe that the changes go too far and are "not compatible with Islam."

Companion post at The Jawa Report.
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       Following Entry Posted 4/29/2006 01:25:00 AM

The Boob Tube

(Tampa, Florida) In 2001, 16-year-old high-schooler Monica Pippin exposed her breasts during a spring break wet T-shirt contest. Some time later, neighbors called Monica's parents to say that their daughter's boobs are being shown on a Girls Gone Crazy video on the Playboy cable network. Not only that, but she won the contest.

However, as a consequence, an embarrassed Monica retained a lawyer and sued for a billion dollars (Yes, that's billion) which equates to about $50,000 for every video and pay-per-view sold. The case was filed in 2002 and is still being adjudicated, giving reason that the story is still in the news. Presumably, since Monica comes from a solid farm family, the enduring celebrity is probably not welcome.

I think it's safe to assume that this type of embarrassing eventuality occurs much more often than is reported. Infomercials for crazy girl videos appear throughout the cable channels despite the fact that most parents trust their little princesses to behave during spring break. Apparently, many don't.
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       Following Entry Posted 4/29/2006 12:02:00 AM

Mexicans in Space

At first, I thought it was a hoax. The idea of a Mexican space program sounded like something from ScrappleFace or FARK. Apparently not.

From Reuters.com:

Mexican lawmakers are preparing to launch a national space agency they hope could one day stand tall beside the United States' NASA.

Mexico's lower house passed a law on Wednesday, which if approved by the upper chamber, would create a space agency to coordinate research and work with universities and the private sector to launch communication and weather satellites.

The proposed budget to kick off the Mexican Space Agency is less than $2 million. Nonetheless, there's hope that they will someday challenge NASA.

"We'd love it to become the Mexican NASA, but obviously the levels of investment are incomparable. It's very distant, perhaps not in the vision but in resources," a spokesman for the Mexican Congress's Science and Technology Commission, which drew up the law, said on Thursday.

Undoubtedly, for a Mexican space program to become reality, a monumental commitment will be required on the part of the government and the hard-working and dedicated citizens of Mexico. It likely won't be forthcoming in the near future since, based upon the latest media reports, all the hard-working, dedicated Mexicans are in, or on their way to, the United States.

Companion post at Diggers Realm.
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       Following Entry Posted 4/28/2006 08:19:00 PM

Air America Losing New York

According to MediaWeek, Air America will lose its flagship station in New York City. The lease with WLIB-AM runs out as of August 31. As a network, Air America will no longer determine programming for the station. Instead, station owners are expected to offer liberal local programs.

A spokesperson for Air America, however, promised that the liberal radio network would "not grow silent on the New York City airwaves." It's not clear what that means. Maybe Air America has found another station that has no interest in accumulating an audience. Given enough seed money to prop it up, Air America will surely find a taker. Then, it will only be a matter of time before the backers back out.

Companion posts at The Dread Pundit Bluto and The Jawa Report.
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       Following Entry Posted 4/28/2006 10:10:00 AM

Cab Driver Beheaded by Taliban

(Angoor Ada, Pakistan) Here's a gruesome reminder that the Global War on Terror is far from over.

From DailyTimes.com.pk:

Suspected tribal militants beheaded a cab driver in South Waziristan for being a "US spy" and a frequent visitor to an American military base in Afghanistan, official sources told Daily Times on Wednesday.

The body of the man, identified as Khan Mati, was found on Tuesday near Angoor Ada, the last Pakistani town before the Afghan border in South Waziristan, sources said.

Mati, who had been missing since April 17, was believed to be a frequent traveller to the US military base in Macha Dadkot in Paktika province in Afghanistan. He is the second taxi driver to be abducted and killed in Angoor Ada over suspicion of being a US spy.

Sources said that Haji Omar, the Taliban chief in South Waziristan, said that "we do not waste bullet on such suspects and prefer beheading them."

In my mind, the Taliban terrorists are murdering scum with no chance of redemption. Those poor cabbies were likely only trying to go with the flow and put food on the table for their families. Instead, they're murdered by Taliban fanatics.

And, all the while, Sen. Dick Durbin claims the U.S. is the bad guy and Yale University recruits students from the Taliban. The leftists have turned America into bizarro world.

Companion post at The Jawa Report.
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       Following Entry Posted 4/28/2006 08:43:00 AM

Yahoo Helps Send Chinese Writer to Prison

(Beijing) Following closely on the reported kidnapping of Chinese blogger Hao Wu by state security police is this story.

From Reuters:

Yahoo Inc. has been cited in a Chinese court decision to jail a dissident Internet writer for 10 years for subversion in 2003 -- the fourth such case to surface implicating the U.S. Internet giant.

Wang Xiaoning, born in 1951, was convicted of the charge of "incitement to subvert state power," the New York-based watchdog Human Rights in China (HRIC) said in a statement.

Evidence cited in the verdict included "information provided by Yahoo Holdings (Hong Kong) Ltd. stating that Wang's "aaabbbccc" Yahoo Group was set up using the mainland China-based email address bxoguh@yahoo.com.cn.," HRIC said.

Yahoo Holdings (Hong Kong) Ltd. also confirmed that the email address ahgq@yahoo.com.cn, through which Wang sent messages to his Yahoo Group, was a China-based account, it said.

Although it's clear that Yahoo provided specific information regarding Wang's identity, it's not clear whether it was Yahoo Holdings (Hong Kong) Ltd. or Yahoo China.

Wang's prosecution by the ChiComs was a result of his advocating democratic reform and a multi-party system. Consequently, he was deemed to be a subversive needing ten years in a Chinese prison. Without question, it's heavy punishment and "illustrates the risks Chinese people expose themselves to through no more than the peaceful expression of political views."

I think if I were Chinese, the ChiComs would have already sent me away for a long time.

Companion posts at The Dread Pundit Bluto and In The Bullpen.
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       Following Entry Posted 4/28/2006 07:55:00 AM

Senior Al Qaeda Leader Killed

(Baghdad) I admit my addiction to this type of news. Keep 'em coming.

From Reuters.com:

Iraqi and U.S. forces have killed a senior member of al Qaeda in Iraq, Interior Ministry sources and the U.S. military said on Friday.

Humadi al-Takhi, who they said was a district commander of the group, was killed in a raid on a house on Friday about 10 km (6 miles) northeast of the city of Samarra, 100 km (60 miles) north of Baghdad.

Samarra is a stronghold for Sunni Arab miscreants, the city where a Shi'ite shrine was attacked in February. Intelligence reports led to the raid in which Humadi al-Takhi and two other thug terrorists were killed. According to Reuters, the news hasn't been independently verified. It appears that someone wants to see the body.

This latest success follows yesterday's news of the Iraqi Forces' capture of Abdul Khadir Makhol, senior leader of al Qaeda in the Tikrit region.

Companion post at The Jawa Report.
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       Following Entry Posted 4/28/2006 06:17:00 AM

Bad Info From Unknown Source

Washington Post reporter Jim VandeHei lodged an official complaint with White House spokesman Scott McClellan about not being able to watch CNN on the televisions on Air Force One. VandeHei said he heard that everybody was forced to watch Fox on Air Force One.

In response, McClellan said there is no such policy and asked VandeHei if he had tried to have the channel changed. VandeHei said that he spoke to the "magic people at the other end off (sic) the phone" and was told he can only watch Fox.

With a chuckle, McClellan went and had the channel changed.

I believe this episode perfectly encapsulates and illustrates a major flaw in the way mainstream media reporters perform their duties. Based on erroneous information from an unknown source, an official complaint was lodged.

Bad poop with no source. Yeah, that's the MSM's biggest shortcoming in a nutshell.
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       Following Entry Posted 4/27/2006 10:57:00 PM

ChiComs Kidnap Blogger

It's been two months since Chinese blogger Hao Wu was last heard from.

From IFEX.org:

Reporters Without Borders has said it considered Chinese blogger Hao Wu to be the victim of state abduction as more than two months have gone by since his arrest by the National Security Bureau in Beijing without his family getting any news about him. His lawyer has not been allowed to see him, but has been told his client is under house arrest.

"This case shows the Chinese security services operate without any control by the courts," Reporters Without Borders said. "Hao is the victim of an arbitrary system that interprets the law as it sees fit. We call on European and American diplomats to raise his case at their meetings with the Chinese authorities. We are curious to know how they will justify the National Security Bureau's procedures."

I think it's somewhat naive to expect a communist police state to respect freedom of expression. The Chinese live under a dangerous and repressive political system and Hao was taking big risks by just having a blog. Nevertheless, action should be taken at every opportunity to exert political pressure on the ChiComs for Hao's release.

Hao's blog is Beijing or Bust where he writes under the name Beijing Loafer. He also contributes to Global Voices under the name Tian Yi.

Companion posts at The Dread Pundit Bluto and In The Bullpen.
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       Following Entry Posted 4/27/2006 10:14:00 PM

Woman Sues Company for Spankings

(Fresno, California) A 53-year-old woman, Janet Orlando, is suing her former employer for office spankings. Orlando seeks more than $1 million in damages because she says she was embarrassed and permanently scarred by a 2003 incident.

Officials for Alarm One, the former employer, stated the "spankings were just part of an exercise to build better work relationships." Oh, I see.

"Come here, honey. Bend over and let me whack your fanny so we'll work better together."

It's a novel approach, for sure. Add to it the fact that the company also made employees wear diapers and eat baby food. All in all, the company probably doesn't have a prayer of winning in court.


[Update 04/29/06]

A jury found that Janet Orlando had suffered from sexual harassment and sexual battery during the fanny whacking, team-building exercise by her employer, Alarm One. She was awarded $1.7 million. Thus far, Alarm One officials, ostensibly having experienced an alarm no.2 event, have not commented.

In related news, yours truly has sent an email to Alarm One expressing chronic personal naughtiness and willingness to participate in its team-building program.

Companion post at The Dread Pundit Bluto.


[Update 09/09/06]

Having been spanked, Orlando now has been pinched.


[Update 01/17/08]

Verdict overturned on appeal.
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       Following Entry Posted 4/27/2006 08:05:00 PM

Homemaker Has Sex with Boy

(Allen, Texas) A 38-year-old female homemaker, Regina Bowling, was arrested by Allen police for allegedly having a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old boy. Last Friday, an officer found her and a boy in a vehicle about 4:40 a.m., apparently steaming up the windows.

Bowling has been charged with indecency with a child by contact and furnishing alcohol to a minor which carry punishment of up to 20 years in prison. On Saturday, Bowling was released after posting $7,500 bond.

I'm wondering who allows a 14-year-old boy to be out and about at 4:40am. I'd suggest a lack of parental guidance and adult supervision.


[Update 10/12/06]

Bowling arrested again.


[Update 06/30/07]

Bowling indicted.
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       Following Entry Posted 4/27/2006 06:28:00 PM

We Don't Need No Stinking Tests

Arizona state education officials announced that the SAT and ACT tests would no longer be used in determining students' acceptability for admission to public universities.

People familiar with the subject will see that this is part of a national effort by liberal activists to negate the No Child Left Behind law. The anti-testing crowd is opposed to any data benchmarks which expose serious flaws in the current educational system.
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       Following Entry Posted 4/27/2006 06:15:00 AM

Woman Accused of Sex with Another Boy

(Telford, Pennsylvania) A Telford woman who is a self-described Christian singer, Krystal Joy Gehret, surrendered to police last month to face charges resulting from an alleged sexual relationship with a 14-year-old boy.

Gehret, a 20-year-old mother of a one-year-old boy, was specifically charged with felony counts of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, unlawful contact with a minor, statutory sexual assault, and aggravated indecent assault.

Gehret was arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Charles Baum and bail was set at $50,000. In total, one would imagine that Gehret had acquired enough trouble but, apparently, the girl can't help herself.

From NBC10.com:

A Telford woman has been charged with sexually assaulting a 14-year-old Hilltown Township boy, less than a month after police charged her with having sex with another township boy over a five-month period.

According to a news release from the Telford police, 20-year-old Krystle J. Gehret, of the 200 block of North Main Street, was arrested on charges of having sex with the second boy in May or June.

Police said Gehret went to a Telford park with her infant child, the 14-year-old and a 16-year-old boy and gave the teenagers marijuana. She then had sex with the 14-year-old, leaving the infant with the other boy.

While police were investigating, Gehret allegedly contacted the 14-year-old, who has since moved out of the township, and tried to persuade him to give false information to police, according to the news release.

So, Gehret not only mixed it up with another 14-year-old but she also attempted to tamper with a witness. As a result, she's doubled up on the previous charges she faces along with adding an intimidation of a witness charge. Gehret was arraigned and released on $50,000 unsecured bail.


[Update 08/11/06]

Gehret pleads guilty to sex crimes in Bucks County.



[Update 01/15/07]

Gehret pleads guilty/sentenced in Montgomery County.
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       Following Entry Posted 4/27/2006 04:25:00 AM

'Babysitter From Hell' Gets 3 Years in Prison

(Bismarck, North Dakota) A 22-year-old Bismarck woman, Erin Seehafer, was sentenced to three years in prison for abusing a child over a two-year period when the child was ages five through seven.

South Central District Judge Sonna Anderson imposed the sentence Tuesday as part of a ten-year package in which seven years were suspended. With credit for time served, seven months, Seehafer will only be required to finish two years and five months.

This case is particularly horrifying to me and, from a child's perspective, quite psychologically injurious. The poor kid was probably scared to death.

From BismarckTribune.com:

[Seehafer] duct-taped her charge's mouth, pinned clothespins to the child's genitalia and ran spurs over the genitalia - during a two-year period when the child was age 5 to 7.

The prosecuting attorney, Lloyd Suhr, said that Seehafer also "sexually molested the child on a number of occasions" and recommended a sentence of 15 years with five years suspended.

On the other hand, Seehafer's attorney, Kent Morrow, believed she should have her entire sentence suspended because she had a troubled childhood and represents a low risk of re-offending.

Nevertheless, the court will require that Seehafer spend only the next two years and five months behind bars. Hand slap? I think so. However, if she violates her probation, Seehafer could be re-sentenced to life in prison.

Companion post at Conservative Thinking.
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       Following Entry Posted 4/26/2006 11:23:00 PM

China Shows Off New Hooters

(Shanghai, China) It comes as no surprise to me that a world-famous Hooters Restaurant franchise opens in China at the same time that it's being reported Chinese women are becoming more bosomy.

From Courier-Mail:

"It's so different from the past when most young women would wear A- or B-cup bras," Triumph brand saleswoman Zhang Jing told the Shanghai Daily from the Landmark Plaza of China's commercial hub.

"You . . . never expect those thin women to have such nice figures if they are not plastic."

The report, seen on the daily's website on today, said that the Hong Kong-based lingerie firm Embry Group no longer produces A-cups for larger chest circumferences and has increased production of C-, D- and E-cup bras to meet pressing demand.

In my estimation, this shouldn't be a big problem to resolve. Furthermore, the 'pressing demand' could likely be a sales opportunity for American manufacturers who have been known (probably NSFW) to market F-, G-, and H-cup sizes. Improved nutrition is considered responsible.

As a logical consequence, young Chinese women at the Shanghai Hooters are dressing in the same tight and scanty shirt and orange shorts as their American counterparts while displaying their enhanced busts.

From MSNBC.com:

Located in an upscale mall in the foreigner-friendly Hongqiao district, the outlet adds to the more than 375 stores now operated by the chain famed for its busty waitresses clad in clingy low-cut tank tops and high-cut shorts -- an image the company describes as "delightfully tacky, yet unrefined."

"The people of Shanghai deserve something fun with good service and we're happy to bring it to them," manager Cameron Jiang said as smiling waitresses whisked plates of chicken wings and glasses of cold lager to guests at a launch party.

Hooters' arrival marks another milestone in Shanghai's rise as China's commercial hub, but also underscores how growth is challenging traditional conservative views on sexuality.

So, in summary, through better nutrition Chinese women are growing larger breasts and at least one establishment has opened to show off the country's achievements.

Companion post at The Dread Pundit Bluto.
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       Following Entry Posted 4/26/2006 09:53:00 PM

Counseling Staffer Accused of Sex with Boy

(Lincoln, Nebraska) A 24-year-old worker in a group home for young sex offenders, Leah T. Pleskac, was arrested Monday for having sex with a 15-year-old boy.

Pleskac was charged in Lancaster County Court with first-degree sexual assault of a child. According to police, Pleskac had sex with the 15-year-old eight to ten times while under her care as a sex offender.

This sure is an odd case, a sex offender allegedly abused by a sex offender. She was fired from her job at the group home operated by the Child Guidance Center.

Bond has been set at $50,000. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 4.


[Update 02/10/07]

Pleskac sentenced.
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       Following Entry Posted 4/26/2006 06:25:00 PM

Undocumented Americans in Mexico

According to data from the Mexican National Migration Institute, the federal immigration agency, nearly 1,000 Americans are deported every year from Mexico after being caught working in restaurants, bars and clothing shops.

Obviously, a fair comparison with deportations from the U.S. is impossible. Instead of 1,000 a year, the U.S. boots upwards of 1,000 a day, mostly Mexicans. (Source)

Companion post at Diggers Realm.
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       Following Entry Posted 4/26/2006 04:22:00 PM

Gorgeous Pamela Rogers Busted Again

(McMinnville, Tennessee) Gorgeous Pamela Rogers, the 28-year-old teacher who was convicted of a child sex offense last year and sentenced to nine months in prison, was arrested earlier this month for violating the terms of her probation.

Contrary to the court's order, Rogers had contacted the victim's family via the Internet. At a subsequent hearing two weeks ago, Rogers was allowed to remain free on $10,000 bond until a July 12 hearing.

Well, hush my puppies! It seems Gorgeous Pamela Rogers was arrested again on Monday for contacting and sending sexually explicit videos to the now 14-year-old victim.

From KnoxNews.com:

"These were videos of the defendant involved in sexual activity and she was nude in the pictures," arrest warrant records show. "The defendant requested from the victim he send pictures and videos, and phone records indicate she received the same on her phone."

It's not clear what happens next but letting Rogers out of jail appears to be a mistake. Treating her leniently doesn't seem to work very well. In my opinion, Gorgeous Pamela needs a serious attitude adjustment.

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


[Update 05/01/06]

Pamela Rogers video released.


[Update 05/09/06]

Gorgeous Pamela Rogers ordered jailed until July hearing.


[Update 07/14/06]

Rogers goes before judge to face new charges.
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       Following Entry Posted 4/26/2006 07:27:00 AM

Pakistani Minister Vows to Support Iran Upon U.S. Attack

(Islamabad, Pakistan) Pakistan's status as an ally of the U.S. seems to disappear when one travels into the hinterlands. Fundamental Islamic roots are deep and many in the population want Shariah Law imposed globally.

From NewKerala.com:

Northwest Frontier Province (NWFP) Minister Sirajul Haq said the public would confront those who remained neutral if US attacked Iran. "As a Pakistani, I announce that if US attacks Tehran, it would be considered as an attack on Pakistan and Peshawar," he said.

In another development, the leader of Pakistan's largest Islamist party Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), Qazi Hussain Ahmed, announced on Sunday that he would have the religious parties' alliance, Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA), "force the government to support Iran if America attacked it." Ahmed also praised terrorists who are fighting coalition forces in Iraq and Afghanistan.

And from the Northwest Frontier Post (no link), it's reported that the goal is nation-wide Shariah Law and that Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) is achieving considerable success at recruiting.

The NWFP Senior Minister Sirajul-Haq has said MMA government would pave way for enforcement of Shariah based on social justice to remove centuries old English system of human exploitation from the country.

MMA was gradually heading towards success and we would soon emerge triumphant in this mission, he added.

[ ... ]

On this occasion, eminent religious scholar and Muhtamim Darul Uloom Taleemul Quran Maulana Saleh Faqir announced joining J.I. alongwith 70 other Ulema and hundreds of students and followers by appreciating active role of the party for enforcement of Shariah in the country. A local political and social figure Bashir Shakargah also announced joining JI with his 72 supporters.

Prudent observers should also note that Senior Minister Sirajul-Haq has recently spent time assuring Iranian President Ahmadinejad that the Pakistani people would support Iran in the event of U.S. aggression. "The people of Pakistan would not shy away from making any sacrifice for their Muslim brethren," he said.

Companion post at The Jawa Report.
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       Following Entry Posted 4/26/2006 05:43:00 AM

Woman Claims Consensual Sex with Boy

(Las Cruces, New Mexico) A 22-year-old woman, Amber Roach, was arrested by Las Cruces Police for allegedly engaging in sex with a 15-year-old boy. Apparently, police found Roach and the boy in a parked car in an alley as they were coupling.

Although Roach claims the sex was consensual, she was arrested and charged with criminal sexual penetration of a minor. Roach was booked into the Dona Ana County Jail with bond set at $5,000.
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       Following Entry Posted 4/26/2006 04:18:00 AM

Congratulations! Diggers Realm

Yesterday, Diggers Realm surpassed two million page views and 1.5 million visitors.

Woo-hoo! Go visit and wish Digger continued success.

Of course, Interested-Participant will be sending over a magnum of Dom Perignon as soon as I collect enough cans.
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       Following Entry Posted 4/25/2006 05:11:00 PM

Senior Terrorist Captured in Philippines

(Manila) Good news! Filipino authorities made a major arrest yesterday. Abu Sayyaf member Sharie Amiruddin, aka Abu Omar, is linked to al-Qaeda and the southeast Asian terrorist network, Jemaah Islamiah.

From ABS-CBNNews.com:

The military arrested a suspected Abu Sayyaf member linked to kidnappings and bombings that has killed Americans and Filipinos since 2000, an Army spokesman said Tuesday.

Maj. Bartolome Bacarro said soldiers seized Sharie Amiruddin, a suspected member of the Abu Sayyaf group, on Monday in Zamboanga City.

"He was the planner of the Dos Palmas kidnapping," Bacarro told reporters, adding Amiruddin was also blamed for bomb attacks in three Mindanao cities in 2002.

As a reminder, the Dos Palmas kidnappings occurred on Palawan Island in 2001 and involved 20 people, including three Americans of which one, Guillermo Sobero, was beheaded. During a rescue mission in 2002, another American, Martin Burnham, was killed and his wife, Gracia, was wounded. They were Christian missionaries. The other hostages were Filipino tourists.

It's worth noting that the Philippine government appears to be quite determined and aggressive in its pursuit of terrorist cells and criminals in the country.

Companion post at The Jawa Report.
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       Following Entry Posted 4/25/2006 04:37:00 PM

Zarqawi Video Released

A video of terrorist butcher Abu Musab al Zarqawi has been released. It shows the scum murderer holding an AK-47 and he appears to be wearing a suicide bomb vest (or it may be a standard ammo vest).

In the video, Zarqawi quotes religious verse and reminds all to love their fellow Muslims and to hate and kill all infidels, even their relatives. So, what else is new?

Stills and video are at The Jawa Report. Go visit.
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       Following Entry Posted 4/25/2006 09:49:00 AM

Porn Mama Wants Osama

Have you seen this? Blonde porn star Cicciolina, aka Anna Ilona Staller, wants to give Osama bin Laden a freebie. The high-mileage, 55-year-old believes she is just the woman for the world's most wanted terrorist.

To momentarily digress, I really think her odometer has been notched backward at least a few clicks.

From Ananova.com:

Speaking at an erotic fair in Bucharest, Romania, Cicciolina said: "It is time someone did something about Bin Laden, and I am ready to do it.

"I am ready to make a deal, he can have me in exchange for an end to his tyranny. My breasts have only ever helped people while Bin Laden has killed thousands of innocent victims."

Cicciolina previously offered herself to Saddam Hussein. He passed on the offer.

Hat Tip: Samantha Burns
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       Following Entry Posted 4/25/2006 08:40:00 AM

Muslims on Toilets Prohibited From Facing Mecca

Here's another oddity about the practice of Islam.

From The Sun Online:

Jail bosses are rebuilding toilets so Muslim inmates don't have to use them while facing Mecca.

Thousands of pounds of taxpayers money are being spent to ensure lags are not offended.

The Islamic religion prohibits Muslims from facing or turning their backs on the Kiblah -- the direction of prayer -- when they visit the lav.

Muslim lags claimed they have had to sit sideways on prison WCs.

But after pressure from faith leaders the Home Office has agreed to turn the existing toilets 90 degrees at HMP Brixton in London.

Jeez, with stuff like this going on, one would expect there to be a thriving community of Muslim comedians. And, what in the heck does a Muslim do in an airplane lavatory? I don't think it's possible to sit sidesaddle on an airplane toilet.

Hat Tip: PCWatch

Companion post at The Jawa Report.
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       Following Entry Posted 4/25/2006 07:54:00 AM

Cab Drivers Protest Tickets

(Cleveland, Ohio) About 30 immigrant cab drivers from Somali have complained about receiving unfair treatment from the police. Previously, the drivers used two airport cab lines to pick up passengers but, in the interest of improving traffic flow, airport management eliminated one cab line and any cab not in line is ticketed.

According to a WJW - Fox8 News broadcast, the drivers claim they are unfairly targeted because they are minority immigrants who periodically leave their cabs for prayers at which time they are given tickets for illegal parking.

The drivers decided to take their complaints to City Hall and protest the treatment they have received. Those drivers who parked in front of City Hall to protest their tickets were ticketed again for parking illegally.
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       Following Entry Posted 4/25/2006 07:11:00 AM

Black Activists Joining Minutemen

Illegal aliens are taking jobs away from blacks and activists are becoming aware.
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       Following Entry Posted 4/25/2006 06:51:00 AM

Remember ANZAC Day

ANZAC was the name given to the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps soldiers who landed on the Gallipoli Peninsula in Turkey early on the morning of 25 April 1915 during the First World War (1914-1918).

As a result, one day in the year has involved the whole of Australia in solemn ceremonies of remembrance, gratitude and national pride for all our men and women who have fought and died in all wars. That day is ANZAC Day - 25 April. (Source)

Australians, New Zealanders and Turkish people crowded Anzac Cove in Turkey to commemorate today's 91st anniversary of the Gallipoli campaign.

Hats off to our Australian and New Zealand friends and those who have served the cause of freedom.
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       Following Entry Posted 4/25/2006 04:57:00 AM

Chinese Demand Bigger Bras

(Shanghai, China) According to a report issued by the Beijing Institute of Clothing Technology, Chinese bra manufacturers are being forced to offer larger cup sizes because women's average chest measurements have been busting records.

From Courier-Mail:

"It's so different from the past when most young women would wear A- or B-cup bras," Triumph brand saleswoman Zhang Jing told the Shanghai Daily from the Landmark Plaza of China's commercial hub.

"You . . . never expect those thin women to have such nice figures if they are not plastic."

The report, seen on the daily's website on today, said that the Hong Kong-based lingerie firm Embry Group no longer produces A-cups for larger chest circumferences and has increased production of C-, D- and E-cup bras to meet pressing demand.

In my estimation, this shouldn't be a big problem to resolve. Furthermore, the 'pressing demand' could likely be a sales opportunity for American manufacturers who have been known (probably NSFW) to market F-, G-, and H-cup sizes.

The new phenomenon of 'nice figures' on Chinese women has been attributed to better nutrition resulting from an increased standard of living. This has been brought about by a growing economy sustained by massive foreign trade with the U.S., largely via Wal-Mart. As a result, an assumption can be made that every sale at a Wal-Mart store, which promotes trade with the Chinese and improves their standard of living, also indirectly produces larger breasts in China.
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       Following Entry Posted 4/24/2006 08:37:00 PM

Muslim Small Talk Banned in Bathrooms

According to Islamic rules, talking in the bathroom is prohibited. In response to an inquiry from a reader concerning the acceptability of simple greetings in the john, an expert provided the following.

From ArabNews.com:

The Islamic greeting, Salam alaikum, uses one of God's names, Salam, which means "peace," and offers it to whomever we are greeting. We should always show profound respect to God and His attributes. A bathroom is not a place where people should indulge in conversation or discuss any matter. It is a place where people answer the call of nature and leave, or they take off their clothes to have a shower. Islamic manners make it clear that the less said in a bathroom the better.

Hence, we must not mention God's name or the name of the Prophet Muhammad or any prophet there. We are better advised to do whatever we need to do and leave.

Reflecting on personal experience from working at a large firm with many Muslim engineers, the no-talking-in-bathroom characteristic was noticed but attributed to a general standoffishness. Who knew?

Nevertheless, the specific punishment for talking in the bathroom isn't discussed in the article. I would guess that it includes the washing of the offender's mouth with soap and a few Islamic demerits. Naturally, all infidels should be forewarned not to expect a response when they say, "Hey, Abu. What have you been eating, man?"
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       Following Entry Posted 4/24/2006 09:14:00 AM

Juvenile Home Worker Accused of Sex with Teens

(Bellefontaine, Ohio) A 26-year-old house parent at the Logan County Group home for juveniles, Mary Brautigam, was arrested for having sexual relations with two 16-year-old boys. Brautigam was charged with four counts of sexual battery and three counts of contributing to the delinquency or unruliness of a minor. She was also suspended from her contract job with the Logan County Juvenile Court.

Brautigam posted bond over the weekend and was released.
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       Following Entry Posted 4/23/2006 08:50:00 PM

Osama Claims Islam is Victim of West and Zionists

A presumably new bin Laden audiotape was aired by Aljazeera today. It's not clear when the recording was made and it hasn't been authenticated but the voice sounds similar to previous tapes from the Osama studiocave.

From Aljazeera.net:

Aljazeera has aired an audiotape attributed to Osama bin Laden in which he attacks the West for boycotting Hamas and accuses Western governments of waging a "Crusader war" against Islam.

In the recording, aired on Sunday, the al-Qaeda leader said the isolation and cutting off of aid to the Hamas-led Palestinian government reaffirmed that the West was at war with the Islamic nation.

"The blockade which the West is imposing on the government of Hamas proves that there is a Zionist crusaders war on Islam," he said.

Evidently, bin Laden wants everyone to believe that Islam is being victimized by the West and the Zionists. He goes on to say that since the populations of the West support their governments, they too become legitimate targets for al-Qaeda. This apparently justifies indiscriminate killing of innocent civilians.

Bin Laden also urges his thugs to fight American attempts to divide Sudan and to take action against any country who has sided with Denmark in the cartoon controversy. Bin Laden's previous message in January extended an offer of a truce with the American people. Today's message had nothing similar, only belligerence and victimhood.

Hey, Osama, how about a peace offering? I could have a pizza delivered. What is your location? Sausage okay?

More:
The Jawa Report,
Stop The ACLU,
The Dread Pundit Bluto,
Wizbang.
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       Following Entry Posted 4/23/2006 03:29:00 PM

Lesbian Coach Gets Two Years Prison

(Newark, Ohio) Last December, 26-year-old former coach at Newark High School, Jessica Spain, was arrested for having an inappropriate sexual relationship with a 15-year-old girl.

On Friday, Spain was convicted of three counts each of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor and sexual battery. As a result, Licking County Common Pleas Judge Jon Spahr sentenced Spain to two years on each count, to run concurrently. Spahr also ordered Spain to register as a sexually-oriented offender.
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       Following Entry Posted 4/23/2006 07:42:00 AM

Band Teacher and 13-Year-Old Girl

(Okeechobee County, Florida) A 30-year-old former band teacher at Yearling Middle School, Shanando Ashley Jackson, was arrested this week on accusations that she had sex with a 13-year-old girl in her class.

Okeechobee County Deputies launched an investigation in February after a former student, now grown, said that Jackson touched her inappropriately and it continued for several years.

Jackson was arrested in adjacent Highlands County and booked on "one count each of sexual battery on a child, lewd and lascivious battery, and lewd and lascivious or indecent act." As of Friday, Jackson remained in custody in Highlands County Jail in lieu of $100,000 bond.
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       Following Entry Posted 4/23/2006 06:55:00 AM

Teacher Accused of Sexually Abusing and Piercing Students

Laura Sieradzki post updated and bumped. See here.
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       Following Entry Posted 4/23/2006 05:51:00 AM

Being True to Your School

(Chicago) Read the following report. In my estimation, it's likely an accurate snapshot of the problems plaguing many American schools. And, if you are able, dispel for me the notion that the patients are running the asylum.

From ChicagoTribune.com:

Typing rambling screeds in an anonymous blog he called "Fast Times at Regnef High," a Fenger High School teacher unleashed his frustration over the chaos he saw around him.

He labeled his students "criminals," saying they stole from teachers, dealt drugs in the hallways, had sex in the stairwells, flaunted their pregnant bellies and tossed books out windows. He dismissed their parents as unemployed "project" dwellers who subsist on food stamps, refuse to support their "baby mommas" and bad-mouth teachers because their no-show teens are flunking.

He took swipes at his colleagues, too--"union-minimum" teachers, literacy specialists who "decorate their office door with pro-black propaganda," and security officers whose "loyalty is to the hood, not the school."

In his blog, the teacher did not identify himself or his students, the exact name of his school or the city where he taught. But like most bloggers, he wanted an audience, so he wrote in his blog that he had leaked news of his site to a few co-workers. Soon enough, the 30-year-old teacher's name was the talk of the school.

This week, after returning from spring break, the students read how they were depicted and flamed the blog with profane threats and righteous indignation toward the teacher.

There's more. Most notable is that the teacher/blogger is no longer showing up to teach class because he fears for his safety.
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       Following Entry Posted 4/23/2006 05:11:00 AM

Arkansas Teacher Accused of Sex with Boy

(Malvern, Arkansas) A 35-year-old substitute teacher at Malvern High School, Marsha Henderson, turned herself in to police to face charges that she had sexual relations with a 16-year-old male student. Also, allegations of drug usage and harassment have surfaced with regard to the relationship. The boy's father, Gary Bell, stated that his son is extremely disturbed by the situation and has left home.

A spokesperson for the Malvern Police Department said Henderson and the boy met at the school and subsequently had sexual intercourse. At first, Henderson denied the accusations but changed her tune when police let her listen to some recorded telephone messages she left for the boy. Her response was a simple, "Damn!"

Notably, the age of consent in Arkansas is 16, however, sexual relationships between an authority figure and a student are illegal. It's not clear when Henderson will see a judge.

Malvern is approximately 35 miles southwest of Little Rock in Hot Spring County.


[Update 01/26/07]

Henderson was in court this week and vehemently denied the accusations. It's also reported that her first name is Marcia, not Marsha. Her next court appearance is scheduled for April. Apparently, the delay in the case is caused by new evidence being presented which requires evaluation by the crime lab.


[Update 05/09/07]

Charges dropped. Prosecutor stated that there wasn't enough evidence to go to trial.
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       Following Entry Posted 4/22/2006 06:48:00 PM

Li'l Baby Cruise

Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes decided on the name 'Suri' for their baby which apparently has Hebrew roots. Not everyone agrees as to the exact meaning of Suri. Variously, it means "princess" or "noblewoman" or "red rose." Scholars of trivia may debate the subject for a while.

Nonetheless, Baby Suri's name is regarded as traceable to an ancient Hebrew or, possibly, Persian word with a general inference that Tom and Katie searched dusty manuscripts prior to anointing their offspring. My take is somewhat different.

To saddle a soon-to-be young lady with the label of Miss Suri Cruise or Ms. Suri Cruise, I believe a Freudian element is working and probably derived from Tom and Katie watching too many hours of Gilligan's Island.
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       Following Entry Posted 4/22/2006 04:00:00 PM

Nurse Indicted for Rape

(East Greenbush, New York) Last month, 47-year-old home-care nurse, Susan McDade, was arrested for sexually abusing a developmentally-disabled 17-year-old boy in her care. The teen has the developmental skills of a 5-year-old and is incapable of giving consent. The charges resulted after a family member caught McDade and the boy in bed naked together.

McDade has now been indicted on charges of rape, sexual abuse, sexual misconduct and endangering the welfare of an incompetent person. If convicted, she faces a possible 25 years in prison.


[Update 04/29/06]

Susan McDade pleads not guilty to charges of rape, sexual abuse, sexual misconduct and endangering the welfare of an incompetent person.

According to the latest report, she faces up to 15 years in prison, if convicted. McDade continues to be free on bail. (Tip: Don Morgenstern)


[Update 02/13/08]

McDade convicted by a jury and sentenced to prison.
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       Following Entry Posted 4/21/2006 11:24:00 PM

Woman Accused of Raping Boy

(Dutchess County, New York) A 21-year-old woman from Wingdale, Tracy Williams, has been arrested and charged with rape and criminal sex for alleged sexual relations with a 16-year-old boy.

The boy's father found a photograph showing inappropriate acts between the woman and the boy and he alerted the police. It's alleged that the two had sex on multiple occasions at Williams' and the boy's homes.

Williams is in custody in the Dutchess County Jail in lieu of $10,000 bail.
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       Following Entry Posted 4/21/2006 04:37:00 PM

Proposed Gun Law Requires Tagged Shell Casings

(Sacramento, California) State Assemblyman Paul Koretz, D-West Hollywood, has introduced a bill to require all semi-automatic handguns to make microscopic indentations on all shell casings for identification.

Supporters of the bill contend that the gun feature will allow the police to catch more criminals. Opponents believe the markings could easily be adulterated by sanding or filing the firing pins, thereby making the law academic.

My take is that it's just another attempt by gun-control advocates to hector gun makers and owners and to make ownership of a weapon more expensive. If the bill is passed, I predict it will have no statistically significant impact on the crime clearance rate.
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       Following Entry Posted 4/21/2006 02:37:00 PM

No Proof of CIA Renditions in Europe

I'm convinced this report will not get much exposure by the mainstream media.

From SeattleTimes.com:

(Brussels, Belgium) Investigations into reports that U.S. agents shipped prisoners through European airports to secret detention centers have produced no evidence of illegal CIA activities, the European Union's anti-terror coordinator said Thursday.

The investigations also have not turned up any proof of secret renditions of terror suspects on EU territory, Gijs de Vries told a European Parliament committee investigating the allegations.

The European Parliament's inquiry and a similar one by the continent's leading human-rights watchdog are looking into whether U.S. intelligence agents interrogated al-Qaida suspects at secret prisons in Eastern Europe and transported some on secret flights through Europe.

The left will likely experience chafing. Of course, the seriousness of the charges always trumps their veracity.

Companion post at The Jawa Report.
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       Following Entry Posted 4/21/2006 10:07:00 AM

Student Indicted in Terror Plot

(Atlanta, Georgia) A 21-year-old mechanical engineering student at Georgia Tech, Syed Ahmed, was arrested last month by FBI agents on charges related to terrorism.

From 11Alive.com:

"Mr. Ahmed knowingly and unlawfully attempted to provide, conspired to provide materials, support, and resources, knowing the materials, support and resources were going to be used in the preparation for and the carrying out of two other federal terrorism laws," said U.S. Attorney David Nahmias.

Ahmed's family suspects a videotape of their son made of a building is what made authorities suspicious but FBI agents will not confirm that. The family reportedly allowed federal agents to take computer information from their son's room.

"Yesterday, Mr. Ahmed appeared in court for his initial appearance and arraignment in front of Judge Feldman," said Nahmias. "He entered a plea of not guilty and is presumed not guilty until the government proves his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt."

Ahmed's family came from Pakistan in 1997 and became U.S. citizens. Syed is reported to have become increasingly involved with Islam and allegedly attended a terrorist training camp in Pakistan last year.

Ahmed was taken into custody and ordered held until trial. No date has been set.

Companion post at The Jawa Report.
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       Following Entry Posted 4/21/2006 06:24:00 AM

Indonesian Playboy Magazine Suspends Operations

(Jakarta, Indonesia) Although it's considered tamer than existing glossy magazines on sale, Playboy has caused some rioting in Indonesia.

From KhaleejTimes.com:

The Indonesian edition of US adult magazine Playboy has suspended operations for security reasons in the wake of violent protests by Muslim hardliners, its editor said on Thursday.

"For the time being, we are prioritizing security. We have vacated our office and we have halted our operational activities," chief editor Erwin Arnada told reporters.

The announcement follows violent demonstrations by the hardline Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) over the publication of the magazine, a toned-down version, which does not carry nudes.

About 300 members attacked the local publisher's office last week, smashing windows, injuring two policemen and tearing up copies of the magazine which had quickly sold out after debuting this month.

Frankly, I believe that the protests against Playboy have less to do with its content and more to do with the fact that the magazine is a prominent icon of Western civilization. Hardline Muslim followers probably see its publication as breaking down a significant cultural barrier.

Companion post at Diggers Realm.
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       Following Entry Posted 4/21/2006 05:48:00 AM

Senior Al-Qaeda Suspect Killed

(Khar, Pakistan) There's strong indication that a close associate of Ayman al-Zawahiri was killed yesterday in a gunfight in northwestern Pakistan. As a reminder, Zawahiri is second in command of al-Qaeda after Osama bin Laden.

From Aljazeera.net:

The suspect, thought to be Saudi-born Abu Marwan al-Suri, was killed on Thursday close to the Afghan border.

Major-General Shaukat Sultan, the Pakistan army spokesman, said al-Suri was in a vehicle on the outskirts of Khar, a town near the Bajur tribal region.

Al-Suri opened fire when he was asked to stop his vehicle at a roadblock. He killed a Pakistani security official and wounded two others before he himself was killed.

His body has been transported to a hospital in the city of Peshawar for identification.

Seized from al-Suri's vehicle were a video camera, a laptop computer, hand grenades and some documents. However, according to a Pakistani intelligence officer, al-Suri is probably not the man's real name. Nonetheless, since al-Suri was so closely associated with al-Qaeda leadership, I tend toward the thought that his elimination means the perimeter around bin Laden is tightening.

See also In The Bullpen and The Jawa Report.
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       Following Entry Posted 4/21/2006 04:44:00 AM

Al-Qaeda Dupe Judged Hostage Ken Bigley at Mock Trial

British engineer Kenneth Bigley was taken hostage in September 2004 and beheaded in October. A senior al-Qaeda member, 33-year-old Louia Sakka, confessed to Turkish authorities that he was present at Bigley's phony trial.

From Guardian.co.uk:

Louia Sakka, a Syrian associate of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the organisation's leader in Iraq, maintains that he presided over a mock trial of Mr Bigley shortly before the 62-year-old was beheaded.

Sakka made the confession while being questioned about his alleged role in suicide bomb attacks against four targets in Istanbul, including the British consulate general and the local headquarters of the HSBC bank, in which 61 people died and more than 600 were injured.

He was arrested after a later explosion ripped through the bomb factory he had constructed inside an apartment overlooking the Mediterranean at the resort of Antalya, where he was planning to attack an Israeli cruise liner.

Sakka's defence lawyer says the terrorist has repeated his claims about his involvement in Mr Bigley's murder to him, and is convinced they are true. "My client has been a warrior for Islam for the last 10 years," said the lawyer, Osman Karahan.

So far, however, Sakka has refused to say who carried out the murder, or reveal the whereabouts of Mr Bigley's body.

Sakka is a chameleon who has been in and out of Turkey at least 55 times using 18 different identities and appearance changes by plastic surgery. Also, Sakka claims to have met bin Laden and later provided passports for several of the 9/11 hijackers. All in all, there's reason to be skeptical about anything Sakka asserts. However, from what I've heard and read, the Turks are particularly successful in getting prisoners to be truthful. They have their ways.

The British Foreign Office has committed to following up on the Bigley case. It's very important to many people for Ken Bigley's remains to be recovered. It's also important to go after the specific thug terrorists responsible for Ken Bigley's murder.
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       Following Entry Posted 4/20/2006 06:35:00 PM

Cologne Killing Young Saudi Men

(Jeddah, Saudi Arabia) Social science experts are calling for a national awareness campaign after a rash of deaths of young Saudi men who drank cologne containing methyl alcohol. Although alcohol is prohibited in the Kingdom, 17 young Saudis have died in the recent past believing anything that lists alcohol as an ingredient is safe to drink.

From ArabNews.com:

Al-Nadwa daily recently launched an investigation into the practice in an effort to warn young people and hopefully save lives.

"This problem started four years ago when a number of university and high school students fell victim to it," said Dr. Saleh Awad Al-Garni, an expert in Islamic studies. "At that time, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry withdrew all the cologne from the market where ethyl alcohol exceeded 90 percent and methyl alcohol exceeded 50 percent."

Unfortunately, a typical result of banning a product is the creation of a black market.

"It's very sad that these people are buying the cologne to drink it," said Dr. Muayad Al-Hashmi, a general practitioner. "The Ministry of Commerce warned us about these colognes and limited sales to spray bottles. Smugglers, on the other hand, import the dangerous colognes into the Kingdom caring only about making fast money -- not about people's health.

Experts blame a variety of causes for the behavior of the young men. These include personality disorders, social and family troubles, and satellite television. I don't know, but if I lived in a hot, desert environment, I'd want a cold beer. You could blame it on my . . . uh . . . personality disorder . . . or anything you'd like. And despite flowery-pleasant breath, I'll pass on the foo-foo.

Companion post at The Jawa Report.
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       Following Entry Posted 4/20/2006 12:17:00 PM

Missile Smuggler Pleads Guilty

(Los Angeles) Born in China, naturalized American citizen Chao Tung Wu, 54, pleaded guilty in federal court yesterday to conspiring to smuggle 200 Chinese QW-2 shoulder-fired missiles into the U.S.

From TheStar.com.my:

When Wu was indicted in November along with another man, Yi Qing Chen, they became the first people charged under a 2004 U.S. law forbidding the import of aircraft-destroying missile systems into the United States, officials said.

Wu, who also admitted to trafficking methamphetamine, counterfeit bills, cigarettes and Ecstasy tablets into the United States, made a plea bargain with U.S. prosecutors in hopes of reducing a possible 25-year prison term.

Another report indicates that the prosecution will recommend for Wu to receive "well below 25 years" in accordance with the plea bargain. Chen previously pleaded not guilty.

Interestingly, as this post is being written, Chinese President Hu Jintao and President Bush are sitting down for lunch in the White House. Here's my thought. Maybe the subject of smuggling Chinese weapons could be discussed?

Companion post at Diggers Realm.
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       Following Entry Posted 4/20/2006 08:46:00 AM

Free Breast Exams

(Lauderdale Lakes, Florida) A 76-year-old door-to-door illegal breast examiner, Philip Winikoff, was arrested for playing doctor and sexually assaulting women.

From Local10.com:

The man found at least two Lauderdale Lakes women who took him up on his offer.

One 36-year-old woman said she let Winikoff into her apartment. She (sic) after he touched her breasts, he moved his hand to her genitals. She said one (sic) she realized that Winikoff was not a real doctor and she called the Broward Sheriff's Office.

Investigators said by that time, Winikoff had already found another victim; a 33-year-old woman who lives in the same complex. That woman told deputies that Winikoff also sexually assaulted her.

Obviously, Winikoff didn't read the rule book which specifies that a person must quit playing doctor after promotion from grade school. Winikoff instead might want to consider playing a congressman. By his picture, there's a remarkable resemblance to Rep. Jack Murtha of Pennsylvania who has recently shown that he would help the country more by being a breast examiner. Okay, that was a cheap shot. I apologize.

Winikoff has been booked into the Broward County Jail on sexual assault charges.
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       Following Entry Posted 4/20/2006 08:04:00 AM

Woman Accused of Sex Act on Babysitter

(Orange County, Florida) A 27-year-old Orange County woman, Lisa Chapman, was arrested for inappropriately fondling her 12-year-old female babysitter. Chapman allegedly "performed a sex act" on the girl.

Chapman was booked on charges of lewd or lascivious battery and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
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       Following Entry Posted 4/19/2006 10:42:00 PM

School Official Calls Gays "Protected Species"

And, boy, is he in trouble.

From Local6.com:

(West Palm Beach, Florida) Palm Beach County's school board chairman has apologized for referring to gays and lesbians as a "protected species."

During an April 5 meeting, Lynch used the phrase while discussing the school board's anti-harassment policies. The Palm Beach County Human Rights Council demanded an apology and later called for Lynch's resignation.

In all likelihood, Tom Lynch merely misspoke and, as a result, he apologized. However, homosexual activists have apparently taken the issue up as a cause celebre and have called for Lynch to step down.
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       Following Entry Posted 4/19/2006 07:29:00 AM

Greenie Project Violates Air-Quality Laws

(Creston, Washington) A biodiesel production facility, trumpeted by environmentalists and paid for by large injections of taxpayer funds, has committed an "egregious violation of state air-quality laws by emitting toxic methanol vapors without a permit." Also, the Washington State Department of Ecology has "serious concerns" about contamination found on the site from vegetable oil or biodiesel.

In summary, the putative clean and profitable biodiesel production facility is 1) emitting toxic vapors without a permit and 2) contaminating the site with industrial waste.

Interestingly, the Northwest Lincoln County Regional Public Development Authority, the agency that paid for the building that houses the biodiesel facility, said it never officially approved the project to be there. The site was originally constructed for an animal feed factory.

At least in this case, the greenies have been quite cavalier about environmental rules and regulations as they attempted to make their utopian alternative energy plans into a reality. So, environmentalists violate environmental laws. I'll admit a bit of schadenfreude.


[Update 04/21/06]

For clarification, I should mention that I am a big supporter of alternative energy methodologies but only under circumstances where they are proven to be economically competitive without massive public funding. To my knowledge, as of this date none of the alternative sources has been able to consistently provide massive amounts of energy at a cost comparable to fossil, hydro and nuclear.

My schadenfreude cited to in the earlier paragraph refers to the apparent conflict between two groups that ostensibly have the same goal, which is more alternative energy being produced. And since environmentalists populate both groups, I don't expect the ACLU to become involved. If, however, an environmental group were mixing it up with a private business concern, then I'd expect the ACLU to join in with the environmentalists.

This is a production of Stop The ACLU Blogburst. If you would like to join us, please email Jay@stoptheaclu.com or GribbitR@gmail.com. You will be added to our mailing list and blogroll. Over 180 blogs already on-board.
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       Following Entry Posted 4/19/2006 03:19:00 AM

Wal-Mart Media Conference

(Bentonville, Arkansas) The 2nd Annual Wal-Mart Media Conference began yesterday with about seventy credentialed media representatives in attendance for a tour and various presentations by the company. They came from all across both the print and broadcast spectrum and included, among many, the New York Times, Washington Post, US News & World Report, The Guardian, Women's Wear Daily, ABC News, CNN and CBS News. Notably, two bloggers were also invited and were able to break away from their normal lives and travel to Arkansas. At their own expense, I might add.

Tom Forbes of Palousitics traveled from western Washington State to Bentonville and spent the first day of the conference attending presentations by Wal-Mart executives and taking notes. At intervals, Tom was able to post some of the more salient aspects of the information presented by the speakers.

One of the presentations pertained to Wal-Mart employee health care programs and how they are evolving. Tom provides a good overview and remarks that Wal-Mart's health care programs continue to improve and are quite competitive when compared to others in private industry.

In another session, Tom listened to Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee eloquently support Wal-Mart as an example of free market competition which benefits low-income customers through low prices and benefits communities by providing jobs and taxes.

The other blogger in attendance, Rob Port of Say Anything, spent his day among a group of elite media representatives and found himself more engaged with their attitudes and antics than the presentations of the convention. Rob indicates that most of the 'jounalists' exhibited strongly negative attitudes toward Wal-Mart and he wondered whether they were capable of reporting objectively.

Anecdotally, Rob's reporting is a good snapshot of the people producing news about Wal-Mart. However, his most interesting remarks describe how the union ambushed and hijacked the media afterward.

After the tour we arrived back at our hotel. Upon walking through the front door I encountered a woman talking on a cell phone pointing those of us getting off the bus to a dining area off the lobby. Since a bunch of the reporters were headed in that direction, I followed.

What I was greeted with upon entering the dining area clearly wasn't on Wal-Mart's agenda. What we were being directed to was a press conference put together by the United Food & Commercial Workers International Union (a part of the AFL-CIO) through their front group "WakeUpWal-Mart.com."

The press conference speaker was Rev. Markel Hutchins, a civil rights advocate, who voiced inaccurate and nonsensical attacks against Wal-Mart. In one, Hutchins said poor people don't go to Wal-Mart for low prices, they go because they're poor and oppressed. In another, which I consider to be race-baiting and obscene, Hutchins said that Wal-Mart's health care programs are "like lynching somebody from a seven foot tree instead of an eight foot tree."

Rob doesn't believe the mainstream media will report on the comments at the UFCW press conference. I think he's right. I also think that Wal-Mart's public strategies to burnish its image always seem to backfire because the leftist media use the opportunity to give the microphone and the headlines to Wal-Mart's opponents. As an example, take a look at this morning's Los Angeles Times and you'll find that virtually all of a two-page report of the conference is devoted to demonization of Wal-Mart by its enemies.

Trusting the mainstream media to be objective about Wal-Mart is a mistake.
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       Following Entry Posted 4/18/2006 09:09:00 PM

Texas Teacher Accused of Sex with Student

(Liberty County, Texas) A 32-year-old substitute teacher at Hull-Daisetta High School, Micki Jo Taylor, was arrested yesterday and charged with "sexual contact with at least one high school male student of the Hull Daisetta school system."

An investigation by the Liberty County Sheriff's Office is underway to determine whether there are additional victims. In the meantime, Taylor is free after posting $25,000 bond.
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       Following Entry Posted 4/18/2006 03:41:00 PM

Terrorists Recruiting Non-Arab Fanatics

The desire of terrorists to recruit non-Arabs to conduct attacks has been known for some time, however, now an official report of the practice has been prepared.

From SunTimes.com:

Terrorists have been working to recruit non-Arab sympathizers -- so-called "white Muslims" with Western features who theoretically could more easily blend into European cities and execute attacks -- according to classified intelligence documents obtained by The Associated Press.

A 252-page confidential report jointly compiled by Croatian and U.S. intelligence on potentially dangerous Islamic groups in Bosnia suggests the recruitment drive may have begun as long as four years ago, when Arab militants ran up against tough post-9/11 security obstacles.

This is nice to know but hardly surprising. However, it would be nicer to know how the Ass. Press, with apparent ease, obtains classified intelligence documents.

Nevertheless, since there will always be a segment of the population that succumbs to the lure of fanaticism, it's logical that terrorists would attempt to recruit those they can. And despite the augmented security obstacles, suicide bombers are single-use only and must be replaced.
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       Following Entry Posted 4/18/2006 10:38:00 AM

Taliban Commander Killed

(Qalat, Afghanistan) Breaking news.

From UPI.com:

A Taliban senior commander has been killed and two other militants have been captured during a raid by police in the southeastern Afghan province of Zabul.

The police, having received a tip that the militants were planning an attack on Qalat, the provincial capital, surrounded the band Monday night, shooting Mohamad Haleem and arresting two of his accomplices.

Haleem and his group are responsible for numerous attacks on schools and government offices in the Zabul Province bordering Pakistan.
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       Following Entry Posted 4/18/2006 01:04:00 AM

Arizona Governor Refuses to Criminalize Illegals

Sometimes, law enforcers fail to respond because their jurisdiction has been constrained by politicians. Here's an example.

From AZCentral.com:

Gov. Janet Napolitano vetoed a bill Monday that would have criminalized the presence of illegal immigrants in Arizona, citing opposition from police agencies that want immigration arrests to remain the responsibility of the federal government.

The proposal would have expanded the state's trespassing law to let local authorities arrest illegal immigrants anywhere in Arizona, the nation's busiest illegal entry point. Congress also had considered criminalizing the presence of illegal immigrants in the country.

Supporters said the bill would have given Arizona a chance to get a handle on its vast border problems by providing a second layer of enforcement to catch the tens of thousands of immigrants who slip past federal agents each year.

I see this as a simple abdication of responsibility by the state government. As a result, there should be no complaining by the citizens of Arizona about the cost of educating and providing welfare for foreign trespassers in the state. Of course, Arizonans could decide to elect politicians with a bit more backbone and become proactive in solving the problem. Pick your future, Arizona.
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       Following Entry Posted 4/17/2006 08:31:00 PM

Today's Al-Qaeda Joke

Scottish Police Chief Constable John Vine stunned the guests at a bar association dinner with a joke.

During the toast, towards the end of the evening, Mr Vine told a joke about al-Qaeda fathers comparing notes about the careers of their suicide-bomber sons.

Many in the audience at the event on March 24 were stunned when he delivered the punchline: "Kids blow up so quickly these days."

Apparently, the crowd reaction prompted Mr. Vine to apologize. Sure, it wasn't a great joke but I thought it was okay.

Of course, it wasn't the quality of the joke that was objectionable. It is simply not politically prudent in the United Kingdom to speak ill of terrorists. What a bunch of wankers.
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       Following Entry Posted 4/17/2006 03:27:00 PM

Moussaoui Had Tough Childhood

(Alexandria, Virginia) In the death-penalty phase of the Zacarias Moussaoui trial, the defense presented a witness who testified about the circumstances that made Zack go from being a humor-filled child to murdering scum.

From FoxNews.com:

Jan Vogelsang, a clinical social worker, said at Moussaoui's death-penalty trial that the 37-year-old Frenchman was in and out of orphanages the first six years of his life. As a teenager, she said, he was rejected as a "dirty Arab" by the family of his longtime girlfriend, with whom he lived together briefly and won dance contests.

Moussaoui was dismissive of the social worker's analysis. He shouted "It's a lot of American B.S.," as he left the courtroom for the lunch recess.

I never thought I would agree with Moussaoui about anything, but his assessment of boo-hoos in his trial is dead-nuggets on. Everybody on trial seems to have some sort of sob story to blame for their troubles.
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       Following Entry Posted 4/17/2006 01:37:00 PM

Hanoi Jane Passes the Torch

Update your programs. There's an official change in the leadership of the anti-war movement.

From ContraCostaTimes.com:

Jane Fonda says she would like to tour the country and speak out against U.S. involvement in Iraq, but her controversial history of Vietnam War protests leaves her with "too much baggage."

"I wanted to do a tour like I did during the Vietnam War, a tour of the country," the Oscar-winning actress said Monday on ABC's "Good Morning America." "But then Cindy Sheehan filled in the gap, and she is better at this than I am. I carry too much baggage."

Maybe it's just me, but I can't think of a more damning indictment than to be happy about having Cindy Sheehan as your replacement.
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       Following Entry Posted 4/16/2006 08:17:00 PM

Homeless Sleeping on Sidewalk Protected by Constitution

(San Francisco) Get a load of this. Obviously, a person has to be really, really smart to be a U.S. Appeals Court judge because, no matter how many times average people read the Constitution, they're not going to see what the judges find. This is from the 9th Circuit.

From SacBee.com:

The Eighth Amendment, which prohibits "cruel and unusual punishments," bars punishment of "involuntary sitting, lying or sleeping on public sidewalks that is an unavoidable consequence of being human and homeless without shelter in the City of Los Angeles," said a divided panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

I confess. They lost me at "involuntary sitting." And, truthfully, I have never thought about the "unavoidable consequence of being human."

The court specifically ruled that the city of Los Angeles could not roust derelicts off the streets unless the taxpayers had previously provided a cozy shelter for every conceivable vagrant that drifts in. In other words, the taxpayers must provide shelter or the homeless have the right, per the Constitution, to involuntarily sit, lie and sleep anywhere they damn well please on city sidewalks.

In conclusion, law school apparently not only teaches the law but also gives students X-ray vision. I still haven't found any reference to "homeless" in the Constitution, much less "involuntary sitting." I don't want to go to law school but I'd sure like to git some of that there X-ray vision.
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       Following Entry Posted 4/16/2006 12:48:00 PM

'Condoleezza Holds a Watermelon'

Some people believe that political statements probably don't belong in a mathematics course. I agree.

From SeattleTimes.com:

(Bellevue, Washington) Bellevue Community College Board of Trustees issued a statement Saturday condemning the behavior of an instructor who wrote a racially insulting math question recently brought to the college's attention by students.

The math question is considered contrary to the college's core values of respect for diversity and elimination of stereotypes.

The question began, "Condoleezza holds a watermelon just over the edge of the roof of the 300-foot Federal Building, and tosses it up with a velocity of 20 feet per second." It went on to ask when the watermelon would hit the ground, based on a formula provided.

BCC President Jean Floten wouldn't name the instructor who wrote the question, however, she said there was no intention to connote the negative caricatures of blacks eating watermelon. Instead, according to Floten, the instructor was fascinated with the name "Condoleezza." Yeah, right. Notably, before being rewritten the question logically referenced the entertainer Gallagher who at least uses watermelons in his comedy act.

As corrective action, the math department issued an apology and the college announced the creation of a new vice-president for diversity and blah, blah, blah. No mention was made regarding the oozing liberalism of an infected institution of high learning.
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       Following Entry Posted 4/15/2006 09:25:00 PM

Dope Dealer, 12, Arrested at School

(Dayton, Ohio) A 12-year-old boy was arrested at Dayton View Academy trying to sell marijuana so he could help out his mother financially. He was found to possess 7.2 grams of the drug. His mother said she didn't know where the boy got the dope.

Really?
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       Following Entry Posted 4/15/2006 07:43:00 PM

Teacher Guilty of Sodomizing Student

(McMinnville, Oregon) Last October, 38-year-old art and science teacher at Sheridan High School, Adrienne Lee Raymond, was arrested and charged with six counts of third-degree sex abuse for having multiple sexual relations with a 15-year-old male student.

On Thursday, Raymond pleaded guilty to two counts of third-degree sex abuse and one count of third-degree sodomy before Circuit Judge John Collins. Sentencing is scheduled for May 26.

Although the judge has the ability to sentence Raymond to a much as five years in prison, the prosecution and defense have recommended no incarceration. Consequently, it's expected that Judge Collins will not give the divorced mother of two any jail time.


[Update 05/28/06]

Raymond sentenced to four months in jail and five years probation. Apparently, punishment was lenient since she was sexually abused as a child and suffered from alcoholism. I'd guess that a 39-year-old male teacher found guilty of grooming a 15-year-old girl for sex would have received harsher punishment. With or without a sob story.
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       Following Entry Posted 4/15/2006 04:03:00 PM

Iran Calls America A Pussy

(Tehran) One senior Iranian cleric, Ayatollah Ahmad, labeled the U.S. as too weak to stop Iran's ambitions. Ahmad said America is a "decaying power" with no stamina. Meanwhile, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said the U.S. efforts to prompt the UN to impose sanctions is of "no importance."

From WashingtonTimes.com:

Iran boasted yesterday it could defeat any American military action over its nuclear drive, in one of the Islamic regime's boldest challenges yet to the United States.

"You can start a war but it won't be you who finishes it," said Gen. Yahya Rahim Safavi, the head of the Revolutionary Guards and among the regime's most powerful figures.

"The Americans know better than anyone that their troops in the region and in Iraq are vulnerable. I would advise them not to commit such a strategic error," he told reporters on the sidelines of a conference in Tehran.

"I would advise them to first get out of their quagmire in Iraq before getting into an even bigger one," Gen. Safavi said with a grin.

"We have American forces in the region under total surveillance. For the past two years, we have been ready for any scenario, whether sanctions or an attack."

Ahmadinejad scoffs at the United States while incessantly blasting words of intimidation. He has pledged to wipe Israel off the map and said the Holocaust did not occur. Apparently, Iranian belligerence has no limit because now we hear them say that America doesn't have the cajones to confront Iran. From my experience, those are fighting words.

Companion post at In The Bullpen.
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       Following Entry Posted 4/15/2006 02:56:00 PM

Mexicans Declare 'Nothing Gringo Day'

May 1st has been dubbed "A Day Without Immigrants" for the U.S. and, presumably, many illegal aliens will stay home from work to show the American public that trespassers from Mexico are indispensable. To coincide with the illegals playing hooky in the U.S., Mexican unions, political groups, media and government offices have called for a boycott of all American companies in Mexico.

Dubbed "Nothing Gringo Day," the intent is to discourage all Mexicans from conducting business with any American company on May 1st, ostensibly to harm sales and demonstrate the influence of a cross-border Mexican power-lobby. Paradoxically, the campaign to hurt American businesses south of the border targets the illegal aliens' strongest supporters for guest-worker and legalization initiatives. Of course, this is consistent with the ridiculousness of demonstrating for U.S. citizenship while carrying Mexican flags. Leave it to the Mexicans to be their own enemy.

For news junkies, May 1st will likely be very entertaining. From a personal perspective, if employees of my business took a unauthorized day off from work to demonstrate their political activism, they would likely be fired.
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       Following Entry Posted 4/15/2006 05:09:00 AM

School Nurse Gets 11 Years for Molesting Boy

(Phoenix, Arizona) In February, 35-year-old school nurse at Horizon High School, Courtney Bisbee, was found guilty of molesting a seventh-grade, 13-year-old boy.

On Friday, Bisbee was sentenced by Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Warren Granville to 11 years each on two counts of child molestation, to be served concurrently.

Bisbee probably harmed her case because, prior to sentencing, she blamed everybody else for her problems including her lawyer, the prosecutor, the investigators, and the victim. She also failed to express any remorse. In the end, Judge Granville not only sentenced her to prison but also ordered her to surrender her nursing license and to register as a sex offender. (H/T Don Morgenstern)
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       Following Entry Posted 4/15/2006 04:21:00 AM

Woman Booked for Sex with Boy

(Gray, Louisiana) A 25-year-old Gray woman, Nickie Baudin, was arrested by Lafourche Parish Sheriff's Deputies after being accused of sexually inappropriate activity with a 16-year-old boy. Baudin faces one count of indecent behavior with a juvenile.

During questioning, Baudin admitted that she engaged in the alleged behavior with the boy at her home and at his home. If convicted of the charge against her, Baudin faces a possible seven years in prison. She is in custody at the Lafourche Parish Detention Center in lieu of $50,000 bail.

Interestingly, a spokesperson for the Sheriff's Office stated that Baudin had previously been convicted of crimes against nature. It would be nice to know what constitutes crimes against nature in rural Louisiana. I'd guess it's something other than littering the wetlands.
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       Following Entry Posted 4/15/2006 02:55:00 AM

China Bans Foreign Broadcast News

(Beijing) It should surprise no one that the ChiComs have established guidelines for television and radio which mandate that foreign news service broadcasts are prohibited. The country may be dabbling in a bit of capitalism but, first and foremost, China is a communist police state. I'd suggest that departure from the guidelines will be considered crimes carrying severe penalties.

From UPI.com:

From now on, local broadcasters must restrict their coverage of overseas events to reports generated by state-run China Central Television and China Radio International.

The State Administration of Radio, Film and Television, in a notice on its Web site, warned news broadcasters to "strengthen their political sensitivity" and avoid using footage taken from international satellite services, the South China Morning Post reported Thursday.

"Recently, some overseas news services and media have used various methods to sell international news material to domestic stations, and the reports have a clear political intention," the administration said.

The media watchdog said the rule was designed to "ensure a healthy and orderly development of international TV news reporting and maintain a correct propaganda direction."

It's assumed that not all international news providers are unacceptable since some have established track records showing compatibility with "a correct propaganda direction." Consequently, broadcasters in China will likely not be prohibited from showing the customary news reporting of Al-Jazeera, CNN and the BBC.

Notably, the action against foreign broadcast news sources follows closely on last week's announcement that China is placing prohibitions on foreign magazines.
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       Following Entry Posted 4/14/2006 09:50:00 PM

Teacher Accused of Felony Sex with Student

(Weaverville, North Carolina) A 22-year-old teacher's assistant at North Buncombe High School, Heather Shelton, surrendered to Buncombe County Sheriff's deputies upon being charged with felony sex with an 18-year-old student. According to Detective Anne Benjamin, the parents of the 18-year-old became suspicious of the relationship their son had with Shelton and notified the police.

Under North Carolina law, it is illegal for a teacher to have sexual relations with a student, regardless of age. Consequently, had Shelton and the 18-year-old waited a few months to have sex, there would have been no prosecutable offense.

Shelton was fired from her teaching position a mere two months after launching her career. If convicted, Shelton faces a possible 10 months or more in prison. She was released with a promise to appear in court on Monday or pay $25,000 bond.


[Update 10/27/06]

Shelton arrested for theft.
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       Following Entry Posted 4/14/2006 08:44:00 PM

Teacher/Students Have Sex, Plot Murder

(Coffeeville, Alabama) A 30-year-old mother of two and English teacher at Coffeeville High School, Sharon Linton Rutherford, was arrested on Tuesday and charged with sex crimes against students and plotting to murder her husband. Rutherford specifically faces counts of solicitation of murder, rape, sexual abuse and enticing a child for immoral purposes.

A student came forward and told Coffeeville High School Principal Janice Richardson that he had sex with Rutherford. Further investigation exposed the alleged murder plot. Her husband is also a teacher at the school.

According to the Clarke County Sheriff's office, two victims are under 16 years of age and the investigation seeks to determine if there were others. Some of the sexual activity is alleged to have occurred on school grounds. The Clarke County Sheriff's office also issued a brief statement.

"During the course of the investigation, some facts and other evidence that was uncovered shows that the teacher . . . was involved sexually with at least two or more students at the school," the statement read. "There were also facts uncovered that led us to believe that Mrs. Rutherford tried to convince one student to commit the crime of murder, which she tried to convince the student to kill her husband."

Rutherford is in custody at the Clarke County Jail with bail set at $55,000.


[Update 05/12/06]

From al.com:

A Clarke County teacher accused of having sexual relations with multiple students and trying to convince one to kill her husband no longer faces a rape charge, though three other charges were turned over Thursday to a grand jury.

Circuit Court Judge Bill Kimbrough dropped the first-degree rape charge against Sharon Linton Rutherford, 30, an English teacher at Coffeeville High School, at a Thursday morning hearing. She still faces a charge of solicitation of murder and two charges of "enticing a child to enter a vehicle, house, etc., for immoral purposes."

Indictments are expected.


[Update 08/13/06]

Sharon Rutherford indicted.


[Update 12/11/07]

Rutherford gets prison for sex crimes. Murder-for-hire trial is scheduled for March 2008.
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       Following Entry Posted 4/14/2006 05:22:00 PM

ACLU Sues on Behalf of Foreigner

This case has me flummoxed. I am apparently missing some intrinsic knowledge as to why the American Civil Liberties Union is suing the U.S. government on behalf of a foreign citizen who is not in the U.S. At what point in time was it decided to grant American civil liberties to foreign citizens in foreign countries?

From Newsday.com:

A judge said Thursday he was troubled because U.S. authorities have not decided whether a leading Muslim scholar can enter the United States to make appearances before organizations that have invited him.

U.S. District Judge Paul A. Crotty said he would consider ordering the appropriate government authorities to decide on the status of Tariq Ramadan so he can resolve a lawsuit brought by the American Civil Liberties Union.

The ACLU accused the government of manipulating the Patriot Act to try to silence the outspoken Swiss intellectual and Muslim scholar, who has been invited to speak in the United States later this month and twice later this year.

Since Ramadan doesn't have standing as an American and is not in the U.S., it would seem that the judge could have simply thrown the case out of court. Granted, I'm no legal guru. I'm just applying some common sense which probably is my mistake. Frequently, common sense and the law are not compatible.

Nevertheless, there's another aspect of the Ramadan issue that is worth mentioning. It seems that evidence indicates Ramadan has had very cozy past, and possibly current, relations with Muslims of the terrorist persuasion. Now, it seems to me that if the government is balking on granting Ramadan a visa because of terrorist ties, it's justified. If the government is balking to allow for a more extensive investigation of Ramadan's alleged terrorist ties, that's also justified. So, what's the problem?

The ACLU's involvement in the case doesn't make a lot of sense from a jurisdictional standpoint but, when one considers that its lawyers are customarily paid for by the U.S. taxpayer, it becomes logical. Hell, if I had a guaranteed paycheck from every lawsuit I filed, I'd spend most of my time filing lawsuits.

Unfortunately, applying common sense to a political issue is a mistake and that's what I've done. So, the ACLU is suing the U.S. government to protect the American civil liberties of a Swiss Muslim in Switzerland. What's next? Maybe the ACLU will sue to force the U.S. government to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act and provide Guatemalan paraplegics with wheelchair access to facilitate illegal entry into the U.S.

This is a production of Stop The ACLU Blogburst. If you would like to join us, please email Jay@stoptheaclu.com or GribbitR@gmail.com. You will be added to our mailing list and blogroll. Over 180 blogs already on-board.
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       Following Entry Posted 4/14/2006 04:12:00 AM

'Illegal Alien' Is New Ethnic Slur

Political correctness is changing the rules of 'free' speech daily. No longer are cartoonists able to freely draw the world as they see it and now 'illegal alien' is deemed offensive.

From AnnCoulter.com:

On CNN's "Lou Dobbs Tonight" on Monday, Dobbs was interviewing Nativo Lopez, president of the Mexican-American Political Association about his demand for "full immediate, unconditional legalization for all persons currently in the United States."

Dobbs posed this innocuous question about Lopez's planned boycott, "You're talking about a boycott of all illegal aliens in this country?"

Lopez exploded: "Well, first off, I refute your terminology. You don't say 'kike,' 'patty,' 'WOP,' OK. You don't say "nigger"! ... You're using language that's offensive to me and offensive to my people! ... You pollute the air every day, Dobbs. ... That language is offensive, it's derogatory, it's denigrating, and don't use that terminology to me again, referring to my people!"

Jeez, I could understand a bit of snippiness if Dobbs had mentioned 'beaners' or 'wetbacks' but he didn't. Dobbs said 'illegal aliens' which, in my mind, is a fair and descriptive dictionary definition of people sneaking into the U.S. My preference would be 'trespassers' since it carries a more precise and accurate meaning.

Political correctness creates an immense amount of anxiety because there is no way to be certain regarding who is going to be offended or not offended by what a person says or does. Tiger Woods got harshly criticized for saying 'spaz' at the Masters Tournament. Someone was apparently offended. Meanwhile, Italian Prime Minister Berlusconi recently said all leftists are dickheads and apparently nobody was offended.

Add to all this the fact that Scottish police have been prohibited from calling homosexuals 'homosexuals' and it's not clear what they should be called. Presumably, 'queer' and 'fairy' are also out of the question. I'm guessing that 'gay' is acceptable. 'Queen' and 'poofter' are questionable.

So what's a person do? I recommend that research scientists develop an offendometer to measure the level of offensiveness of words and things in society. And then, on a regular basis, take comprehensive surveys with the offendometer and publish the results so everybody knows what is inappropriate. Otherwise, arbitrary political correctness just keeps people fearful. Even so, there's a lesson here. Don't dare call someone a homosexual spaz because some dickhead will likely sue you.

As a final tip to all those people who are offended by their own shadow, grow thicker skin.

(H/T The Country Store)

Companion post at The Jawa Report.
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       Following Entry Posted 4/13/2006 11:51:00 PM

Canada - U.S. Smuggling Network Smashed

(Blaine, Washington) U.S. and Canadian authorities announced the dismantling of a human smuggling network responsible for illegally funneling dozens of Indian and Pakistani nationals into Washington State from British Columbia. A federal grand jury in Seattle has handed down indictments for 14 men for their involvement in the smuggling operation. Twelve are in custody and two are being sought.

From The Seattle Times:

Kavel Multani, a Vancouver, B.C., resident, was identified as the alleged ringleader for the operation. Multani, 46, a dual Canadian and Indian citizen, has been charged with nine counts of smuggling and transporting illegal immigrants in the indictment, which was unsealed Wednesday.

In addition to Multani, other Canadians arrested include: Sandip Parhar, 26; Anthony Maclean, 21; Jatinder Brar, 19; Sukveer Sandhu, 18; and Matthew Dehagi, 35. Four Indian nationals were also arrested: Armardeep Singh Powar, 23; Raman Pathania, 19; Harjeevan Parhar, 23; and Harminder Singh, 37. Lastly, one Pakistani national is in custody, Nizar Sabaz-Ali, 38, as is an American from Whidbey Island, Lawrence Carter, 23.

According to Leigh Winchell, special agent in charge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Seattle, the Indians and Pakistanis paid $35,000 each to be smuggled into the U.S. Winchell also said that no evidence was found to indicate a terrorism connection. As an aside, I'd personally be more comfortable if evidence was found to prove they were not connected to terrorists.

In Multani's operation, the Indian and Pakistani nationals were given false documents while they were in their home countries, which helped them get commercial flights to Toronto, said Bud Mercer, chief superintendent of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

Once in Canada, they were taken to Vancouver, where they were housed until Multani could sneak them across the border into rural Whatcom and Okanogan counties, Winchell said. Once in the U.S., the illegal immigrants were put in hotels until they could get commercial flights to their final destinations within the country.

As can be seen, the network was quite sophisticated. Authorities started investigating the smuggling operation in early 2005 and, after a year of gathering evidence, were finally able to take it down. Canadian and U.S. border officials trumpeted the takedown as a demonstration of their commitment to border security.

Notably, during the year it required for the northern border authorities to build a case against 14 smugglers, an estimated 700,000 Mexicans and other foreigners were smuggled across the southern border.

Companion post at Diggers Realm.
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       Following Entry Posted 4/13/2006 04:49:00 PM

No Jail for Baby Killer

(Edinburgh, Scotland) After giving birth to a son in her parent's home, 21-year-old Beverley West wrapped the newborn in pink pajamas and killed him. She placed her hand over her son's mouth and nose until he quit breathing. The body was then thrown into a wardrobe.

Ultimately, police investigated when West failed to keep prenatal appointments and she confessed to the murder.

At West's sentencing yesterday in Edinburgh High Court, Lord Hodge stated, "You have committed a very serious crime. The sanctity of human life is an essential part of the shared culture of our community and you have violated that sanctity by killing your defenceless baby." West was then given probation, counseling and community service. Lord Hodge did not believe West was responsible for her actions.

In summary, convicted murderer Beverley West walks and Lord Hodge goes home, has a nice cup of tea, and likely laments the fact that the perpetrators of honor killings are never punished.
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       Following Entry Posted 4/13/2006 10:39:00 AM

Woman Accused of Raping 13-Year-Old Nephew

(San Mateo, California) Yesterday, daycare operator Dedra Ann Archini, 35, pleaded not guilty to charges she engaged in sexual relations with her 13-year-old nephew. Archini faces six counts of statutory rape and a misdemeanor charge of child annoyance which carry a maximum of 18 years in prison and registration as a sex offender.

The relationship was exposed after intimate conversations between Archini and the boy were overheard by the boy's parents who alerted the police.

Archini is due back in court on July 3. In the meantime, she is free on $150,000.


[Update 09/21/06]

Archini back in jail for violating conditions of release on bail. Sentencing delayed.
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       Following Entry Posted 4/13/2006 07:30:00 AM

Terrorists Issue Warning on Web Security

Recent Internet postings by terrorist groups indicate a heightened concern about security and privacy. Apparently, not all terrorists are communicating in a manner to avoid detection and surveillance. Consequently, jihadists have posted specific warnings about dos and don'ts.

From WashingtonPost.com:

One forum recently posted a guide for Internet safety and anonymity on the Internet, advising readers of ways to circumvent hackers or government officials.

"The Shortened Way of How to be Cautious; To the User of the Jihadi Forums, In the Name of Allah, the most Gracious and Merciful" was posted last month by an al-Qaeda-affiliated group calling itself the Global Islamic Media Front and was translated by the SITE Institute, a group that tracks international terrorist groups.

One message warned Internet users to "Beware of Google!!!" and its expanding set of software capabilities for fear of having communications tracked and recorded.

To experienced Internet users, the concerns are old news. However, techniques for spying and accumulating data are constantly evolving. The fact that terrorists see a need to warn their bomb buddies at this time surely indicates that communications have been intercepted and planned attacks have been foiled. I believe the jihadis are just now figuring out why. I also think that intervention in terrorist plots likely occurs more frequently than is reported.
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       Following Entry Posted 4/12/2006 11:49:00 PM

Mexicans Racing to Cross Border

(Nogales, Mexico) It's being reported that increased numbers of Mexicans are racing to the border to enter the United States illegally before Congress passes an immigration bill. A flood of people is on the move and being compared to the 1986 migration when the U.S. permitted 2.6 million trespassers to become American citizens.

From AZCentral.com:

This time, the draw is a bill before the U.S. Senate that could legalize some of the 11 million people now illegally in the United States while tightening border security. Migrants are hurrying to cross over in time to qualify for a possible guest-worker program - and before the journey becomes even harder.

Logically, the journey can't be too difficult if over 10 million people have succeeded. Additionally, the number doesn't include the hundreds of thousands that are apprehended and deported yearly.

Meanwhile, Congress and the Bush administration sit on their hands providing nothing more than promises and debates. And foreign citizens the world over see U.S. border security as an inconvenience, not a barrier.
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       Following Entry Posted 4/12/2006 02:38:00 PM

Gorgeous Pamela Rogers Violates Probation

(McMinnville, Tennessee) In February, Pamela Rogers (Turner) was released on probation from jail after serving nine months of an eight-year sentence for a conviction of sex with a 13-year-old student. Yesterday, Pamela Rogers was arrested for violating the terms of her probation.

From WBIR.com:

Authorities say Pamela Rogers Turner may have committed as many as seven violations of terms of her probation. She had served six months in jail and was released February 26th. But terms of her conviction included an eight-year sentence and the prosecutor says his office might ask that Turner be sent to prison for the balance of it.

Terms include registering as a sex offender, performing community service, having no contact with the boy's family and not using the Internet.

Contrary to the court's orders, 28-year-old Rogers has been using the Internet to communicate with her victim's sister. Rogers is currently residing in the Warren County Jail. (H/T Don Morgenstern)

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


[Update 04/13/06]

Kevin Aylward at Wizbang discloses that Pamela Rogers got herself into trouble by posting an apparent love note to her victim on her alleged MySpace web page. Go visit for the details.


[Update 04/26/06]

Gorgeous Pamela Rogers busted again.


[Update 07/14/06]

Rogers goes before judge to face new charges.
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       Following Entry Posted 4/12/2006 08:43:00 AM

Scientists Smell Cow Manure

(Hays, Kansas) Researchers at Fort Hays State University are studying cow manure to determine what makes it stink. To determine the cause of the odor, Professor Ed Olmstead, cattle scientist John Jaeger and two students plan to sample manure deposits at a variety of feedlots and analyze the constituents.

It's believed that specific unpleasant elements can be identified and possibly eliminated to make cow flop smell as enjoyable as Irish Spring. Notably, Jaeger said it might be something in what the cows eat. I'm not a scientist, but I think Jaeger may be on to something.

Presumably, the researchers will incorporate results from studies of animals known not to produce foul smells. For example, the in-depth statistical data derived by mainstream media analyses of people who produce no foul-smelling effluent could be most beneficial. Consequently, a close examination of the manure from Cindy Sheehan and Hillary Clinton could likely yield important results. The consensus of the media is that their stuff doesn't stink.
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       Following Entry Posted 4/12/2006 07:44:00 AM

Alaska Considers Re-Criminalizing Marijuana

(Juneau, Alaska) Republican Gov. Frank Murkowski believes that marijuana has become a much more potent and dangerous drug and, as a result, wants the legislature to restore criminal penalties. Currently, Alaska's laws are considered the most liberal in the country.

Murkowski is pressuring the legislature to couple increased marijuana penalties with a bill that addresses the manufacture of methamphetamine. The measure is expected to pass.

Opponents argue that marijuana is an issue of personal privacy with the State Supreme Court deciding that small amounts of the drug (up to 4 ounces) are legal. Murkowski's administration contends that the potency of marijuana has evolved to the point that it's ten times stronger than it was three decades ago. As such, it's a clear and present danger for drug abusers and children.

Consequently, Murkowski would make possession of more than 4 ounces of marijuana a felony. One to four ounces would be a misdemeanor punishable by a year in jail. Less than an ounce would mandate a maximum 90-day stretch.

The ACLU is preparing to challenge the legislation if it is enacted.
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       Following Entry Posted 4/11/2006 06:45:00 PM

Slow-Walking Woman Ticketed

(Los Angeles) An 82-year-old self-described Cherokee medicine woman was ticketed for taking too long crossing the street. Mayvis Coyle is being fined $114 for obstructing traffic.

I suspect she thought she was really motoring. Nevertheless, this seems to be a blatant case of discrimination against a female senior citizen and native American. Crowds of illegal aliens can go into the streets and obstruct traffic all day long and not one of them is ever ticketed.
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       Following Entry Posted 4/11/2006 03:01:00 PM

Iran Announces Success in Uranium Enrichment

(Tehran, Iran) President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad announced today that Iran has successfully produced enriched uranium for the first time.

From BREITBART.com:

In a nationally televised speech, Ahmadinejad called on the West "not to cause an everlasting hatred in the hearts of Iranians" by trying to force Iran to abandon uranium enrichment.

"At this historic moment, with the blessings of God almighty and the efforts made by our scientists, I declare here that the laboratory-scale nuclear fuel cycle has been completed and young scientists produced enriched uranium needed to the degree for nuclear power plants Sunday," Ahmadinejad said.

"I formally declare that Iran has joined the club of nuclear countries," he told an audience that included top military commanders and clerics in the northwestern holy city of Mashhad. The crowd broke into cheers of "Allahu akbar!" or "God is great!" Some stood and thrust their fists in the air.

I'm convinced that no rational human being believes that Iran is interested in nuclear power plants. The "nuclear club" referred to by Ahmadinejad generally means nuclear weapons, not power plants. Otherwise, Brazil, Sweden, Canada and others would be in the nuclear club.
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       Following Entry Posted 4/11/2006 02:00:00 PM

Google's Man - Boy Love Websites

WorldNet Daily, Rusty at The Jawa Report, and Jay at Stop The ACLU have exposed Google's tacit approval of pederasty. Blogger, a subsidiary of Google, is hosting websites that cater to pedophiles and pederasts.

Yes, the same Google/Blogger thinkpouch that issues warnings about websites that offend terrorists has no problem with offering free, unencumbered blog hosting to perverted child molesters.

Presumably, the only way that a Google/Blogger warning would be warranted is if a perverted child molester insults a terrorist. As long as terrorists' feathers are not ruffled, it's acceptable to blog about the deviant joy of molesting children.

Follow the links. I'm going to shower.
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       Following Entry Posted 4/11/2006 07:16:00 AM

Sealed Trucks Found with Illegals

(Falfurrias, Texas) In two separate incidents last Thursday and Friday, sealed tractor-trailer rigs were found at the Falfurrias checkpoint with illegal aliens inside. Nineteen were in one 18-wheeler and six were in the other. The drivers were held on smuggling charges. It wasn't disclosed what happened to the illegals. Notably, the Falfurrias checkpoint is dozens of miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border.

I think it's safe to assume that these two incidents are barely newsworthy since the authorities intercept human smuggling operations all the time. What is worth mentioning is that nothing currently being considered by Congress will change the flood of people illegally entering the United States.
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       Following Entry Posted 4/10/2006 09:59:00 AM

Correction Needed

Today has been billed as the National Day of Action on Immigrants' Rights with protests scheduled to have hundreds of thousands of participants. As a person who believes that words have specific meanings, this is disingenuous. Immigrants have the rights of any other American citizen. I doubt they would complain.

The protests have nothing to do with immigrants, defined as those people granted citizenship after completing the requirements of the immigration process. Hundreds of thousands of protesters are demanding rights for trespassers, not immigrants.

By any conventional logic, today should be billed as the National Day of Action on Trespassers' Rights. Maybe it's just me, but granting rights to people who break into your house is like having dead people vote in elections. It makes no sense. It makes even less sense that the trespassers are making demands. Note that if somebody breaks into my house, he's not getting dinner.

Of course, we can all thank the mainstream media for intrinsically fostering the situation by redefining the English language to further their leftist political preferences. Therefore, unhappy homosexuals become "gay," terrorists become "militants or freedom fighters," abortion becomes "planned parenting," and trespassers become "immigrants."

I believe my thesaurus should be corrected to list "immigrant" and "trespasser" as synonyms. And the next time I go hunting, I'm going to ignore the "No Trespassing" signs because I'll be immigrating and demanding that the farmer stop scaring the deer.
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       Following Entry Posted 4/10/2006 08:39:00 AM

Dustbury - Tenth Anniversary

Yesterday, Charles Hill celebrated his tenth anniversary as Dustbury.com. Go visit and wish him the best for the next ten years.
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       Following Entry Posted 4/10/2006 07:21:00 AM

NE Ohioans Arrested in Bomb Plot

(Painesville, Ohio) Two Lake County residents were arrested yesterday by agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives on federal explosives charges for plotting to bomb the homes of a suburban mayor, police chief and a judge.

Joseph Sands, 40, and Dawn Holin, 34, will face a federal magistrate today in Cleveland. Federal agents were alerted by Madison Township Police after a tip was received. The pair allegedly wanted to blow up the house of Painesville Municipal Judge Michael Cicconetti who was scheduled to sentence him on April 20 for a conviction of local tax evasion. In addition, pipe bombs were to be used at the homes of North Perry Mayor Thomas Williams and North Perry Police Chief Denise Mercsack.

From Yahoo:

A team of Madison Township detectives and members of the Northeast Ohio Violent Crimes Task Force received the initial information on the alleged plot and requested assistance from ATF agents assigned to the task force. They immediately began a joint undercover operation targeting Sands and Holin to gather further information about the alleged plot. The intended victims were warned by authorities and the Joint Terrorism Task Force in Cleveland was notified. The FBI offered their assistance and established an around the clock surveillance of the suspect while ATF agents continued their investigation and obtained the necessary probable cause for today's arrests.

The search by ATF and FBI agents at Sands' Meadows Road home and his business, J&B Performance in North Perry, Ohio recovered numerous firearms, smokeless powder, pipe and end caps. At the time of his arrest, Sands had just purchased a quantity of fuse, which was the last component needed to make the IED.

From News-Herald.com:

The arrests put an end to a several-day ordeal for Cicconetti and his family, who were warned of the plot as soon as law enforcement deemed the threat credible, [Madison Township Police Detective] Doyle said.

"Everybody's been absolutely scared to death," said Cicconetti, well-known for his unique sentences from behind the bench. "I have two young sons and my wife. We have been nomads here the last several days, living in secret places. It's been tough for us.

"Obviously, I'm relieved. I can't thank enough all the law enforcement that was involved in this."

Cicconetti said he's been cursed at by frustrated defendants in his courtroom and receives the occasional hang-up phone call, but in his 12 years on the bench he had never been threatened.

"You get a feeling of what it's like to be a victim," he said. "I've always felt for victims, but you really get a true understanding of being the hunted."

Williams, who knows the suspects as North Perry business owners, said the coordinated efforts of the law enforcement agencies helped give him some comfort.

"I had a cautious week," Williams said. "I listened to what they had to tell me, and I believed what they had to tell me. I had total faith in the ATF and FBI in doing their job, as well as our local police - Madison Township, North Perry. They were communicating together, and I was comfortable knowing that."

Attempts on Sunday to reach Mercsak, who is also a police lieutenant in Painesville, were unsuccessful.

Sands owns an auto repair shop in North Perry, about 35 miles northeast of Cleveland. Sands and Holin live together in nearby Madison.
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       Following Entry Posted 4/09/2006 11:44:00 PM

Playboy Launches in Muslim Indonesia on Hef's 80th B-Day

On Hugh Hefner's 80th birthday, Playboy magazine went on sale in Muslim Indonesia.

From the BBC:

An Indonesian version of Playboy has gone on sale in the world's most populous Muslim nation.

A spokesman for the magazine, which has promised to tone down its erotic photographs, said copies would be available in major cities on Friday.

The launch has drawn criticism from Muslim clerics, who condemn the magazine as a corrupting influence.

Earlier this year there were street protests in many towns when the magazine announced its plans to launch.

As previously reported, everyone is not thrilled. There continue to be protests by Muslim groups demanding that the sellers of Playboy be arrested and prosecuted under pornography laws. However, the magazine displays no nudity and is believed to be tamer than other magazines being sold in Indonesia.

Nevertheless, here's wishing Hugh Hefner a "Happy Birthday!" and congratulations on Playboy magazine's successful launch in the Muslim nation of Indonesia.

As an interesting side note, the last I heard, Playboy is still prohibited from being sold on military bases in the U.S. I guess this means that Muslim suppression of free speech doesn't hold a candle to good American political correctness. (H/T Pirate's Cove)

Companion post at The Jawa Report.
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       Following Entry Posted 4/09/2006 11:18:00 PM

Eight Dead Men Found in Rural Ontario

(Shedden, Ontario) Eight dead men were found Saturday morning inside four vehicles on rural farmland about 20 miles southwest of London. Authorities have not released the names nor the specific cause of the deaths.

One source believes that the dead men were likely members of the Bandidos biker gang. Police disclosed that the victims all came from the Greater Toronto Area and they all knew each other.

Provincial Police are sending the bodies to Toronto for autopsies while an intense area-wide investigation continues.
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       Following Entry Posted 4/09/2006 02:09:00 PM

Islamists Kill 13 Algerian Customs Officials

(Algiers, Algeria) Sources indicate that a convoy of Algerian customs officials was attacked by Islamist militants in the southern part of the country.

From Middle-East-Online.com:

Thirteen Algerian customs officials were killed and eight others injured Friday when their convoy was ambushed south of Algiers, security sources and the Algerian news agency APS reported.

A security source said the convoy of about 12 four-wheel-drive vehicles came under rocket attack by Islamist militants around 8:00 am (0700 GMT) at Ouardhia on a Saharan road to In Salah.

From ArabNews.com:

Algerian militants killed 13 customs agents in the North African oil producer's southern desert on Friday, a customs official said. The official, who declined to be identified, confirmed media reports yesterday that said the 13 were killed, and 10 wounded, in an ambush on a party of customs officials traveling in a convoy of all terrain vehicles 200 km from the country's biggest oil producing town of Hassi Messaoud.

One agent was also reported missing after the ambush in the southern province of Ghardaia, some 700 km southeast of the capital Algiers, state radio said.

Criminal and terrorist groups populate the southern desert of Algeria while maintaining cross-border smuggling networks throughout Africa's Sahel region. Exact responsibility for the ambush has not been established, however, it has been reported that the attackers were chanting "God is Greatest" during the ambush. I'm assuming that they weren't shouting in English. As such, it appears likely that Islamists are to blame.

Notably, the attack and murders come at a time concurrent with Algerian government officials patting themselves on the back for implementing a massive amnesty program. Called the Charter for Peace and National Reconciliation, it forgives seemingly every thug criminal and terrorist group of all offenses and includes the release of convicted prisoners. Consequently, it's conceivable that the Islamists who allegedly committed the ambush and murders on Friday were, at the same time, being forgiven for their acts.

Amnesty mandates an approved breakdown of law and order and it should be rarely granted. Unfortunately, it's become a popular tactic of government leaders to cover for administrative incompetence and lack of courage. Amnesty does not mean compassion and forgiveness as it is trumpeted. Amnesty means that leaders cannot follow constitutionally prescribed rules because it's just too hard.

Companion post at The Jawa Report.
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       Following Entry Posted 4/09/2006 12:17:00 AM

Brothers Kill Sister for "Honor"

(Lod, Israel) Nineteen-year-old Rim Abu Ganem, an Israeli Arab, was allegedly choked to death by her brothers in an "honor killing." Rim had fallen in love with a Palestinian man who wasn't the family's choice for her mate. Shortly before she was murdered, police had warned that her life was in danger and referred her to a shelter. Tragically, Rim didn't heed the warning.

Rim's brother Suliman, a pediatrician at Assaf Harofeh Hospital, allegedly gave the other brothers an anesthetic to put her to sleep. While Rim dozed, they choked her. Rim's body was later found in a well.

The five brothers were arrested and they may actually face legal consequences since the crime was committed in Israel. I hope so.

AbbaGav has more.
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       Following Entry Posted 4/08/2006 10:03:00 PM

Saudi Journalist Jailed for Internet Writings

(Jeddah, Saudi Arabia) Saudi authorities are questioning a journalist about writings he posted on an Internet forum four years ago. His faith in Islam is being doubted.

From ArabNews.com:

Saudi journalist Rabah Al-Quwayi, 24, has been detained by Hail authorities in connection with his writings posted on Internet forums, which they allege place his Islamic faith in doubt.

Al-Quwayi, a reporter for the Riyadh-based daily Shams, has been in Hail police custody since Monday.

"They asked me about topics I wrote on the Internet four years ago," Al-Quwayi told Arab News from his detention center.

Hail police chief Gen. Nasser Al-Nowaisser said Al-Quwayi is detained under a warrant requested by the Commission for Prosecution and Investigation.

Apparently, Al-Quwayi can be detained for six months before charges must be filed. Right now it's not exactly clear what he is guilty of nor is it clear who the plaintiffs are.

And, here's a interesting twist. Al-Quwayi's car was vandalized last November and he filed a harassment complaint which led to his current detention.

Police told him they had discarded his complaints of harassment and opened a new investigation into his Islamic faith.

"They told me that if I didn't complain to the police in the first place they wouldn't have suspected my beliefs," said Al-Quwayi.

So now he gets to call a jail cell his home while being tested on his religious knowledge.

Naturally, it would be nice to know what he wrote on the web four years ago. However, I doubt it's as inflammatory as some of the extremist sludge put out on the Internet on a daily basis. I also wonder if Reporters Without Borders and the mainstream media will come to his defense.
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       Following Entry Posted 4/08/2006 05:11:00 PM

"Divorce Court" Judge Plays Race Card

Mablean Ephriam, television's "Divorce Court" judge, claims her firing by FOX was because of racial and ethnic issues. FOX stated that Ephriam wanted too much money and reportedly turned down a contract for $2 million a year.

Since FOX replaced Ephriam with ex-Ohio judge Lynn Toler, also an African-American, her racism charge seems baseless. Maybe she should try the sexism charge?
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       Following Entry Posted 4/08/2006 03:36:00 PM

Get A Mother-In-Law

For sale on eBay, one "used" mother-in-law. Her name is Caroline Allen and she resides in England. Cheap.

I'll pass.
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       Following Entry Posted 4/08/2006 11:52:00 AM

Hartford Launches Used Clothing Charity

(Hartford, Connecticut) The Hartford Department of Health and Human Services' Youth Services Bureau has teamed with a nonprofit group called Project SHE to launch a campaign to collect and distribute used prom dresses. Twenty-five needy girls will be selected to receive a used prom dress on "Dress Giveaway Day" scheduled for April 15 at the Westfarms shopping center.

Each girl will be assigned a volunteer "personal shopper" on that day who will help her select the perfect dress and accessorize it head to toe.

It's clear that formal attire accessories are also included in the program.

Plans are to expand the program to more than 50 girls next year. Notably, there's no current information regarding the used tuxedo program and it's believed that a "Jewelry Giveaway Day" is not under consideration.

In all candor, the city of Hartford should probably not get too involved with Project SHE for fear of criticism and possible litigation for not having a Project HE or a Project TRAN or a Project GAY. Also, the taxpayers in Hartford should scrutinize how many of their dollars are being used for this 'charity' lest it become just another form of welfare.
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       Following Entry Posted 4/08/2006 11:11:00 AM

Female Molester Gets One Year

(Enfield, Connecticut) Although Superior Court Judge Howard Scheinblum deemed the plea agreement to be "inadequate," he sentenced 21-year-old Meagan Olschafskie to one year in prison for engaging in sex with a 14-year-old boy. Olschafskie pleaded guilty in February to second-degree sexual assault and risk of injury to a minor. She was also sentenced to 10 years' probation and she will have to register as a sex offender and undergo treatment and counseling.

In July 2005, the boy's mother contacted police after discovering her son was in a relationship with Olschafskie. At some point, Olschafskie became pregnant and it's believed the boy is the father. She gave birth in March and paternity tests are pending.

In a predictable boo-hoo tactic, defense lawyer Tina Georgiades, said Olschafskie had been a victim of sexual assault and abuse when she was a child. Also, according to Judge Scheinblum, there's reason to believe that Olschafskie had sex with the boy because "she wanted to have a baby."

Responsibility for the baby hasn't been determined. Responsibility for Olschafskie rests with a prison warden for now.
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       Following Entry Posted 4/07/2006 01:56:00 PM

Couric and Vieira

Since I don't watch broadcast news programming, I don't give a whit about Katie Couric moving to an evening news anchor slot. I am also unphased by the selection of Meredith Vieira as Couric's replacement on the Today show. I don't watch it either.

That said, I think NBC has given up on any illusion or pretense that it is an objective member of the mainstream media. Vieira is a proud anti-war leftist who believes that President Bush is a liar. I suspect she won't be able to fake objectivity when she reports and comments on daily events.

Interestingly, Newsbusters mentions that Vieira's husband, Richard, was "the senior political producer at CBS News for most of the 1980s." Unless I'm missing something, this would mean that he worked closely with, or possibly directly for, Dan Rather.

My, my, what a sticky stew the mainstream media is?
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       Following Entry Posted 4/07/2006 10:47:00 AM

NBC, Candid Camera, and Mother Goose

For decades, television viewers have enjoyed the Candid Camera show in which silly situations were created for innocent "subjects" to be fooled. Oh, what fun? One of my favorite episodes was when the producers painted a "No Walking Zone" on a New York City sidewalk and the cameras rolled as pedestrians avoided the painted area and typically stopped, turned, and looked around with a variety of odd expressions on their faces. It was all captured on film and, though the reactions of the subjects wasn't always predictable nor funny, enough footage was gathered for consistently entertaining television segments. It was harmless evening amusement for millions of Americans.

However, times change and it's revealed that Candid Camera is not entertainment but the template for headline journalism and NBC has adopted the format to produce its stories. Instead of simply reporting what happens, NBC creates circumstances which result in newsworthy events that are desired, presumably in accordance with NBC's geopolitical preconceptions.

Of course, I'm referring to the recent disclosure that NBC will be sending camera teams and actors dressed as Muslims to NASCAR events with the hope of capturing blatant discrimination on videotape. One must presume that NBC wants video footage of the racing fans shouting, screaming and physically assaulting the Muslim-garbed actors. Logically following would be an "exclusive NBC report" of the NASCAR riot. Naturally, NBC would scoop all the other news outlets.

Personally, I don't see it happening without provocation. If someone sits down and watches the race without bothering people, it's likely that no one will even pay attention to them. If, however, the Muslim-garbed actors started shooting their mouths off, expect a broken jaw or two. But, and it's a big but, a person shooting his mouth off would not have to be dressed as a Muslim to be rewarded with a broken jaw. Any loudmouth testing the threshold of tolerance among NASCAR fans would get the same treatment. All in all, looking like a Muslim isn't sufficient provocation in my estimation to cause an altercation. There must be a spark.

For example, it's possible for a script to direct an assistant producer to sit near the actors and steer the general conversation away from racing toward more inflammatory subjects. The provocateur could groom the scene by mentioning hot button issues and then, on cue, start throwing accusations at the Muslim-dressed actors. I'm not alleging that NBC planned any provocation. I don't know what is written on the script but I do know that anything conceivable can be written into a script.

It's been claimed that NBC is going after NASCAR fans because of an elitist belief that they all must be ignorant red-state rednecks ready to do something stupid. "No, no, no," say NBC's defenders, explaining that NBC plans on doing the same stunt at many and various events throughout the country.

Frankly though, I'm much more than skeptical. Unlike some others, I'm not giving NBC any benefit of doubt. First of all, I believe that NBC wants a specific result from its stunt and I don't believe that NBC created and budgeted a grand campaign of scripted news events around the country beforehand. I believe NBC seeks a specific outcome followed by a breaking news story and that's it. However, the execs at NBC may now decide a grand campaign is in their best interests since their scheme has been exposed.

Additionally, NBC was previously caught staging news. In 1993, it was reported that NBC Dateline hired a trial lawyers' group to crash G.M. trucks to demonstrate their exploding gas tanks.

Testers overfilled one truck's gas tank, used a nonstandard gas cap that popped off on impact, and strapped remote-controlled model-rocket engines to the truck's frame to guarantee a fire.

NBC's history is enough basis for me not to trust any of its assertions.

Others have remarked that NBC is creating a sting, setting up the situation for culprits to reveal themselves. I disagree. Stings customarily catch criminals committing criminal acts and stings target likely suspects. NASCAR fans are not criminals and they are not suspects. Stings also do not provoke law-abiding citizens to commit criminal acts. That would be entrapment and it's illegal in the law enforcement realm. Therefore, NBC is not creating a sting.

NBC is attempting to produce provocative circumstances to law-abiding NASCAR fans for one purpose, capturing an anticipated outrageous response on videotape. In other words, NBC wants to catch people off guard and piss them off. I don't care who you are nor where you are, if somebody pisses you off at the right time, you'd be tempted to react with a fist to his chops. It has nothing to do with being a NASCAR fan, a Muslim, or anything else. It's human nature.

My definition of journalism starts with a blank piece of paper to be used for documenting world events. NBC's definition starts with assigning writers to create a script for producing designated news. Consequently, NBC, Candid Camera and, for that matter, Mother Goose all have something in common when it comes to reporting the news.

"Once upon a time . . . ."
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       Following Entry Posted 4/06/2006 11:44:00 PM

Italian Elections

(Rome) This weekend, the Italians will be voting on a new Prime Minister. Consequently, the current officeholder, Silvio Berlusconi, has been colorfully campaigning for re-election.

From TimesOnline.co.uk:

[Berlusconi] has vowed to give up sex for the election, compared himself to Jesus and Napoleon, and admitted phoning late-night erotic chat lines. Nothing, it seems, is out of bounds for Silvio Berlusconi.

But yesterday the Italian Prime Minister, trailing in opinion polls before Sunday's vote, perhaps went a step too far when he suggested that left-wing voters were "dickheads."

Note that left-wing dickheads are not unique to Italian politics. They are known to reside throughout Europe and all other continents with a particularly prominent distribution on the seaboards of the Americas.

Hat Tip: John Ray
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       Following Entry Posted 4/06/2006 02:22:00 PM

Teacher Robin Winkis Pleads Guilty to Sex Charges

(York, Pennsylvania) Robin Winkis, 29-year-old female English teacher at Central York High School, was arrested and charged last December with engaging in sex with a student.

Yesterday, in accordance with an agreement with the prosecution, Winkis pleaded guilty in York County Court to two counts each of corruption of minors and unlawful contact with minors, and one count of furnishing liquor to a minor.

Winkis is scheduled to be sentenced on June 22.


[Update 07/19/06]

Winkis sentenced to prison.
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       Following Entry Posted 4/06/2006 11:10:00 AM

Loaves in the Loo

(Kuwait) A team of Hawally city inspectors was out recently verifying compliance with local codes and regulations. Here's a report of the inspection results.

From KuwaitTimes.net:

Team members entered the restaurants from all directions so that no one working illegally in the restaurant could run away. What I saw in those restaurants was so bad that I have stopped eating for two days.

Our first visit was to well-known bakery - though I discovered along with the municipality that they leave the dough in the toilet. The baker was surprised to see the municipality. When he was asked about why he stored the dough in such an inappropriate location, he admitted that the humidity helps speed up the process and so he can meet demand. In addition, he kept the dough in the bathtub and used expired butter.

The bakery was closed immediately and a KD 1000 fine imposed and charges are to be prepared for working with an expired health license permit.

It's rumored the bread was a bit yeasty.
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       Following Entry Posted 4/06/2006 10:29:00 AM

Gene Pitney 1941 - 2006

(Cardiff, Wales) Songwriter, musician, and singer Gene Pitney was found dead in his hotel room yesterday following a concert. It's believed he died of natural causes. He was 65.

During a long career as a songwriter and performer, Pitney collaborated with many of the greats from the 50s, 60s, and 70s. In later years, he performed on successful concert tours. Pitney is likely best known for his hot singles "Town Without Pity" and "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance." Getting well-deserved recognition, Pitney was voted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002.

Condolences to his family.
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       Following Entry Posted 4/06/2006 06:13:00 AM

NASCAR Revved by NBC Planned Stunt

NBC Dateline is scheming to paint red-state NASCAR fans as bigots by sending Muslim-looking males into the crowds at this weekend's race in Texas. An NBC camera crew is being sent to capture the presumed American redneck intolerance for Muslims. Michelle Malkin exposed the NBC plan to script the news and nobody is amused. The director of corporate communications for NASCAR, Ramsey Poston, has called it "outrageous."

I'd rank staged "gotcha journalism" as worse than "ambush reporting" and almost as bad as "fake but accurate" analyses. What's happened to journalism? If NBC wants to pump up its ratings, it should try objectivity and truth. The lead-in to Dateline should be changed from "Here are tonight's stories" to "Look who we Punk'd."

As an interesting and amusing side note on this story, Chad Evans points out that the NBC staff recruiters who looked for Muslim candidates to pull off the scheme seem to have been unaware that Sikhs, an offshoot of Hinduism, are not Muslims nor are they Arabs. NBC previously attempted to demonstrate discrimination against Muslims by filming fans' reactions to turbaned Sikhs. This would be like sending in a drag queen to show bias against women. Obviously, if NBC concentrated on reporting what actually occurs throughout the world, as opposed to making stuff up, its staffers would probably know more about it.
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       Following Entry Posted 4/05/2006 07:29:00 PM

New Sex Charges Filed Against Teacher

(Racine, Wisconsin) Already facing child sexual assault charges filed last November with a trial scheduled for June, 33-year-old special education teacher's aide, Lisa Myhre (aka Lisa Street), was caught Monday night with a 16-year-old boy.

Consequently, Myhre faces a new charge of child sexual assault with the 16-year-old who is the father of her two-month-old infant.

From JournalTimes.com:

The charge is one of seven filed against her Wednesday, after she was reportedly caught Monday night with the 16-year-old boy, whose initials are S.S. He is not being named because he is a minor.

In addition to the sexual assault charge, Myhre was charged with two counts of obstructing an officer and four counts of felony bail jumping. If convicted on all seven counts she could face 65 1/2 years in prison and up to $160,000 in fines. Her preliminary hearing will be at 10 a.m. April 13.

Myhre is supposedly prohibited from contact with any children other than her own. Apparently, she's not bright enough to realize that her future is in considerable jeopardy. (H/T Don Morgenstern)


[Update 09/17/06]

Myhre sentenced to seven years.
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       Following Entry Posted 4/05/2006 04:25:00 PM

Hunting Big Game

(Ventura California) Put this into the I-Didn't-Know-It-Was-Loaded file.

From AJC.com:

A teacher who kept a 40 mm shell on his desk as a paperweight blew off part of his hand when he apparently used the object to try to squash a bug, authorities say.

The 5-inch-long shell exploded Monday while Robert Colla was teaching 20 to 25 students at an adult education class.

Part of Colla's right hand was severed and he suffered severe burns and minor shrapnel wounds to his forearms and torso, fire Capt. Tom Weinell said.

What a dunce.

Colla reportedly found the shell years ago while hunting and it makes no sense for him to have assumed the shell was not live. However, it's somewhat more disturbing to discover that somebody is apparently in the woods hunting with a 40 mm cannon. It gives new meaning to "big game hunting."
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       Following Entry Posted 4/05/2006 02:30:00 PM

Illegal Gets Wrist Slap in Fatal Crash

(West Palm Beach, Florida) Some people are more equal than others.

From Miami.com:

A circuit judge accepted 21-year-old Daniel Rodriguez Mendoza's plea deal Monday morning against the wishes of the dead woman's family, who wanted him to serve as much as life in prison.

Mendoza, an illegal immigrant from Mexico, pleaded guilty to two felonies -- driving without a license and leaving the scene of an accident that resulted in a death -- and will essentially end his six-month stint at the Palm Beach County jail and stockade for the Sept. 25 accident that killed Kimberly Jo Dahmer, 42.

On four previous occasions, international trespasser Mendoza was cited for driving without a license. This time, someone died. As a result, he gets six months and deportation. The jail term is a gift and the deportation is a nothing. Even at his young age, Mendoza probably has more visits to the border than your typical Taco Bell customer.

I see it happening more and more often. Illegal aliens are either not prosecuted for crimes or they are treated leniently. Maybe it's because the number of illegal aliens in the U.S. just grows and grows. Nonetheless, it makes no sense for the justice system to view illegals differently from actual American citizens. Pretty soon, actual Americans would be well advised to just say "No speakie English" on all traffic stops. It's a free pass.
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       Following Entry Posted 4/05/2006 01:47:00 AM

Arab Journalism

In a column for the Arab News, Abdul Rahman Al-Habib discusses the current methodology employed by Arab and Muslim editorial writers. It's titled Out of Ideas? Then Curse the West.

To Middle East Muslims, who seem to be genetically programmed with easily-offended DNA, Al-Habib's editorial is likely considered harsh criticism of Arab writers because he implies that they are lazy. By Western standards of journalistic opinion, Al-Habib is throwing marshmallows.

If a columnist runs out of ideas, there's always one ace in the deck, one thing that is bound to get a cheer from the choir. It's almost too easy. Out of ideas for the day? Simply write an article cursing the United States of America! That's an easy way to earn a day's pay.

Never mind entering the difficult path of hard research and analysis of problems in our society, or in their society, or problems shared by both societies. Forget about it. It's too easy to toss out some hackneyed diatribe against America.

As a regular reader of the Arab media, I've seen little else. Arab media sources constantly curse the United States. Oftentimes, the criticism has no basis or is based on imagined transgressions.

Naturally, you can always count on the Arab media to give plenty of coverage to every instance of outrageous political rhetoric voiced by the likes of Dick Durbin, John Kerry, Howard Dean, Wesley Clark, and others. As such, Arab editorials are generally devoid of journalistic merit while chock-full of propaganda. They don't promote debate nor do they deal with facts, but they can incite a riotous protest. Facts cited are usually simple fiction created to curse America, the usual object of protest.

Al-Habib continues and surprisingly nudges at the truth.

But then when something tragic happens, such as an act of terrorism against the West that is committed by one of our children, our "critics" end up falling back into the trap of painting complex conspiracy theories that depict us as the victims.

When we, Arabs and Muslims, ask ourselves why we are behind in development, the answer is always satisfactory: because of the West and its agents, of course! And when we ask ourselves why the West is developed and advanced, the answer is always satisfactory: because the West stole the sciences of our ancestors and they are still plundering us to advance themselves!

Like I mentioned, when Arabs see a problem, it's America and its allies that are blamed. No discussion, no debate, and no attempt to seek a resolution because it's the West's fault. Al-Habib points to laziness. I think cursing the West is the unwritten agenda.

To be fair, most journalists are lazy, Arab and Western. It's so much easier to compose a report sitting in a hotel room or an office than going to the scene of the action. It's also easier to write an editorial that curses the West than one that is clearly reasoned, well-researched and analytical. (Source)
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       Following Entry Posted 4/04/2006 08:22:00 PM

Teacher Accused of Raping Boy 28 Times in a Week

(Claymont, Delaware) A 34-year-old science teacher at Claymont Elementary School, Rachel Holt, has been charged with 21 counts of rape for allegedly engaging in sex with a 13-year-old boy on 28 occasions in a seven-day period.

It's also alleged that Holt gave alcohol to the 13-year-old, let him drive her car, and even allowed a 12-year-old friend to watch the sexual activity.

Holt's arrest came after the boy's father alerted police of the suspected sexual abuse. Holt is in custody in lieu of $500,000 bail.

Companion post at Conservative Thinking.


[Update 08/10/06]

Holt indicted.


[Update 01/23/07]

Holt pleads guilty to reduced charge.


[Update 03/16/07]

Holt sentenced.
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       Following Entry Posted 4/04/2006 03:14:00 PM

Anti-Gun Activist Shocked by Arsenal in Her Home

(Toronto) After her son was shot dead, Julia Farquharson founded United Mothers Against Violence Everywhere (UMOVE) dedicated to keeping guns off the streets. Apparently, Farquharson's intense anti-gun activism distracted her to the extent that she neglected to pay attention to what her other son, 23-year-old Kadfi Farquharson, was doing.

From TheStar.com:

On Saturday, police received a call from a person who'd been in an altercation with Kadfi. The caller alleged that Kadfi had fired a weapon at him. Police were waiting for him at the family's North York townhouse when he returned. He slipped past them, into his room in the basement, then bounded out of the house. The police gave chase and when they caught up to him, found two sawed-off rifles in his pants. Later that evening, police began their search of the house.

During the search of Kadfi's room, police found a handgun, rifle magazine, and a large bag of what appeared to be cocaine.

Julia Farquharson explained that she didn't know how the contraband got into her house and implied that it happened while she was away. Nonetheless, she reserves blame for the situation to public officials who failed to get guns off the street. "If there weren't guns on the street, there wouldn't be guns in my home," she said.

Excuse me for being somewhat insensitive, Ms. Farquharson, but if you can't keep guns out of your house, it's your fault, nobody else's. Don't blame society because you don't control your household.

To correct the problem, Farquharson is going to ask her son some tough questions when he gets out of jail. Tough questions, eh? That'll do it. Hell, let me suggest one. Why is a 23-year-old man living with his mommy?
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       Following Entry Posted 4/04/2006 01:49:00 PM

Gov. Taft Makes Diversity Pick for Ohio PUCO

(Columbus, Ohio) Rejecting an entire group of presumably qualified nominees, Governor Taft chose former city manager and diversity candidate, Valerie Lemmie, to sit on the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio. As a result, if Ohioans are affirmative-actioned into higher utility rates, at least a portion of the blame can be directed at Gov. Taft (RINO - OH).

Lemmie previously quit as city manager in Cincinnati because she couldn't get along with the city council. It's likely that Lemmie won't have a problem getting along with the pols in Columbus since most are descended from a common ancestor named Gimmie. I suspect Lemmie and Gimmie come from the same gene pool.
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       Following Entry Posted 4/04/2006 12:35:00 PM

Seattle Ballot Measure Bans Military Recruiters

(Seattle, Washington) The Garfield High School PTSA (Parent Teacher Student Association) has collected enough signatures to put an anti-war measure on the city-wide November ballot. Called the College Not Combat Initiative, I-86, the initiative will decide whether military recruiters should be allowed on Seattle city property and in schools.

In the past, the Garfield PTSA has spearheaded anti-military measures with most people believing them to be symbolic. However, supporters disagree.

From Seattle Times:

Amy Hagopian, president of Garfield's PTSA, is a lead organizer of the initiative effort. She bristles at the word "symbolic" and compares the initiative to effective historical protests such as civil-rights sit-ins.

In my opinion, the comparison to civil rights protests is inappropriate. Nonetheless, although it's ostensibly symbolic, the proposal, if passed, would establish a committee to report on "whether the public schools and the city were inadvertently encouraging recruiting."

It's not clear exactly what comprises 'inadvertent encouragement.' It is clear, however, that the parent-teacher association dedicates considerable attention to promoting a liberal political agenda which must distract from educating students in reading, writing, and arithmetic.
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       Following Entry Posted 4/04/2006 12:53:00 AM

Brit Hume Shows Bias to the Right

At the opening day baseball game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Chicago Cubs, President Bush threw the ceremonial first pitch. Reporting the event on Special Report w/ Brit Hume for Fox News, Hume stated that the President's pitch was "high and inside."

The pitch was high and off the plate, however, no batter was anywhere near home plate so the pitch was neither inside nor outside. The catcher caught the ball on the third base side of home plate which would be an inside pitch only to a right-handed batter. To a left-handed batter, the pitch would be outside. Like I mentioned, Hume called it an inside pitch without a batter in the box.

Therefore, a prudent observer must conclude that Brit Hume has a bias toward the right since the pitch would be inside only to a right-hander. Of course, the bias only pertains to baseball.

To bring up a totally unrelated point, I used to watch Fox News frequently and regularly throughout the week but my viewing habit has changed. Specifically, the Fox & Friends Weekend program is intolerable. Co-anchor Julian Phillips is too painful to watch as he repeatedly weighs in on subject matter that is foreign to him. Typically, the news personalities on Fox know their stuff. Phillips doesn't and it's irritating to watch him try.
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       Following Entry Posted 4/03/2006 10:14:00 PM

Aqsa Martyrs Commander Killed

(Gaza City) Sources report that the top al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades Commander, Raed Abayat, has been killed by Israeli Defense Forces. It's good news, in my estimation, because any time the heart of a terrorist stops beating, the world is a better place.

From ArabNews.com:

Witnesses said that the Israeli troops backed by tanks stormed into Beit Sahour town early yesterday morning and surrounded a building in the town where the top commander and his assistant were hiding. They added that a short exchange of fire between the commander and the Israeli soldiers resulted in the killing of Aqsa commander and the arrest of his assistant who was injured in the exchange of fire.

Medical sources confirmed the death of the commander and identified him as Raed Abayat, 31.

Israeli security sources said that the troops noticed two Palestinians hiding in a house in the town and called on them to surrender but when they spotted Abayat toting a rifle, they opened fire at him. The sources added that Abayat was wanted by Israel for five years for his involvement in the murder of Israelis.

A BBC report indicates that the Israeli troops tried to arrest Abayat but he refused and provoked a gunfight. And lost.
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       Following Entry Posted 4/03/2006 01:08:00 PM

Brownie Leader Indicted for Abusing Five Girls

(Massena, New York) Feeling disgusted today? If not, read this. You will.

A former Brownie leader who was arrested in October after she allegedly abused five members of her troop was indicted Friday by a St. Lawrence County grand jury.

Marlene M. Herne, 39, of 113 Main St., Massena, was charged in a 28-count indictment with 11 felony counts of first-degree sexual abuse, five counts of forcible touching, nine counts of endangering the welfare of a child and three counts of third-degree aggravated sexual abuse. The charges stemmed from an investigation by Massena village police.

The indictment charges Mrs. Herne of repeated acts of abuse against five different girls, ages 7 through 9, from 2003 to 2005.

Actions alleged in the indictment range from placing bars of soap and shampoo in the girls' mouths and forcing them to drink hot sauce, to spankings, using hands and a wooden paddle, on the bare buttocks. Some of the spankings were inflicted by Mrs. Herne, who also forced the girls to spank her, according to the indictment.

The indictment also alleges Mrs. Herne committed other sex acts while using a medicine dropper and a baster.

There have been instances where overzealous social workers have made cases against adults by badgering youngsters into describing circumstances that never actually happened. I'd like to think that's the case here. However, based on the number of charges filed, it appears that substantive evidence was put before the grand jury.

Companion post at Conservative Thinking.


[Update 09/27/06]

Herne sentenced.
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       Following Entry Posted 4/03/2006 03:39:00 AM

Argentina Claims Falkland Islands Again 

(Buenos Aires, Argentina) It was only a little over two decades ago that the Argentine government, ostensibly in a wag-the-dog move by the military leadership, invaded the British Falkland Islands. They were unsuccessful. Nonetheless, memories are short in the political realm and Argentina is again making noise about its sovereignty over the South Atlantic islands of Falkland (called Malvinas in Argentina), South Georgia, and South Sandwich.

Argentine President Nestor Kirchner said the Argentine government chose to solve the dispute through dialogue and diplomacy and by peaceful means. He also said that the British government must "show willingness to negotiate the sovereignty of the islands" because the "claim for the islands is a permanent objective and undeniable right of the Argentine people."

Just what the world needs -- another hot spot preparing to flare.
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       Following Entry Posted 4/03/2006 02:36:00 AM

Iranian Fast Underwater Missile 

(Tehran, Iran) Iran has announced the successful test of the "world's fastest underwater missile" designed to destroy surface vessels and submarines.

From IranFocus.com:

"The fastest underwater missile in today's world was successfully tested in the military exercises codenamed Great Prophet," deputy commander of the IRGC Navy Rear Admiral Ali Fadavi told state television, referring to week-long naval war games in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman which began on Friday by Iran's armed forces.

"The speed of this missile called 'Hout' is 100 metres per second and no ship can escape it," Fadavi said, adding that the maximum speed of conventional underwater missiles was 25 metres per second. State television aired clips of the missile as it was being fired and moving in the water.

"Currently, only two countries in the world are equipped with such a missile," he said.

"Ships that can fire the Hout missile are radar-proof and cannot be identified," he added.

The missiles are also designed to evade sonar detection, Fadavi claimed.

To attain a reported speed of over 200 MPH, the weapon must exhaust its fuel rapidly which would tend to indicate it has limited range. Hout apparently translates to whale. Note that the Hout should not be confused with the hooey that is normally discussed in announcements by the Iranians.
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       Following Entry Posted 4/02/2006 10:26:00 PM

Zarqawi Reportedly Replaced 

(Amman, Jordan) The son of the deceased mentor of Osama bin Laden announced that Jordanian-born Abu Musab al-Zarqawi has been replaced.

From DailyTimes.com.pk:

"The Iraqi resistance's high command asked Zarqawi to give up his political role and replaced him with an Iraqi, because of several mistakes he made," said Hudayf Azzam, who claims close contacts with the rebels.

"Zarqawi's role has been limited to military action," said Azzam, whose late father Abdullah Azzam was the mentor of bin Laden, the Al-Qaeda boss.

"Zarqawi bowed to the orders two weeks ago and was replaced by Iraqi national Abdullah bin Rashed al-Baghdadi," Azzam said.

Azzam, 35, whose father was known as the "prince of mujahedeens," said he regularly received "credible information on the resistance in Iraq." He said Zarqawi "made many political mistakes," including "the creation of an independent organisation, Al-Qaeda in Iraq. Zarqawi also took the liberty of speaking in the name of the Iraqi people and resistance, a role which belongs only to the Iraqis," Azzam said.

[ ... ]

Nevertheless, the Amman-based Azzam insisted that Zarqawi remains strong on the ground. "He is stronger than before on the battlefield and the resistance has profited from his military experience," he said.

"Five organisations - the Mujahedeen Army, Ansar al-Islam (also known as Ansar al-Sunna), the Islamic Army for the Liberation of Iraq, Al-Tawid Wal Hujra and Revolution 20 Brigades - have rallied around Zarqawi," he said.

Azzam also expected "several mistakes made in the past, such as some hostage-taking, not to occur again." Asked about the wave of abductions in Iraq targeting journalists, Azzam said, "Not all journalists are innocent."

In a nutshell, Azzam says Zarqawi is a great military man but he stuck his nose in other areas, so he's been booted. I guess the biggest complaints are that Zarqawi is not an Iraqi and, as a terrorist, he's not at all particular about who he kills. Of course, given the terrorists adroit manipulation of the media, it's conceivable that this latest announcement is a ploy.


[Update 04/03/06]

Chad Evans has more discussion at In The Bullpen. Interestingly, he also is skeptical about the importance of the announcement. Go visit.
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       Following Entry Posted 4/02/2006 08:29:00 PM

Scientist Wants to Kill 90% of People on Earth 

(Beaumont, Texas) At the 109th meeting of the Texas Academy of Science at Lamar University, Dr. Eric R. Pianka, a University of Texas ecology and lizard expert, was named the 2006 Distinguished Texas Scientist. Pianka then gave a speech saying people are ruining the planet and advocating the elimination of 90 percent of Earth's population by airborne Ebola. A fellow scientist attended and reported. Here's an excerpt.

AIDS is not an efficient killer, he explained, because it is too slow. His favorite candidate for eliminating 90 percent of the world's population is airborne Ebola ( Ebola Reston ), because it is both highly lethal and it kills in days, instead of years. However, Professor Pianka did not mention that Ebola victims die a slow and torturous death as the virus initiates a cascade of biological calamities inside the victim that eventually liquefy the internal organs.

After praising the Ebola virus for its efficiency at killing, Pianka paused, leaned over the lectern, looked at us and carefully said, "We've got airborne 90 percent mortality in humans. Killing humans. Think about that."

I'm thinking that a person named Eric Pianka should not be teaching young impressionable minds about science or anything else. Follow the link. More here.

Companion posts at In The Bullpen, The Jawa Report.
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       Following Entry Posted 4/02/2006 11:49:00 AM

A Sea Story 

For many, many years, the great Ship securely glided the oceans of frequent danger. A variety of captains, senior officers, and crews were dedicated to assuring the safety of the passengers' lives and their property. The Ship had a sound bottom but through time had developed leaks, small and largely unnoticed.

Everybody was content until one day when someone discovered that the leaks had grown slowly into a flood. Immediately, the captain summoned his senior staff to discuss the flooding problem and determine a solution. After many meetings, a plan was drafted and the crew was dispatched to make it work. The passengers were then gathered to announce the plan.

Captain:

"May I have your attention, please?

"A plan has been developed to solve the problem of water collecting in the bilges and holds. First, the crew has been instructed to survey the amount of water leaking into the Ship and submit appropriate reports. This has proved to be difficult so far. We need to document where the water is and determine if a short-term, long-term, or negligible risk is involved."

"Secondly, a program has been developed to deal with the problem of waterlogged provisions. Passengers will be required to submit an assessment of how much of their intact provisions they can distribute to those who have lost theirs. This should produce minimal hardship since, in our opinion, some people have more than they actually need."

"Thirdly, paperwork is being prepared to obtain the necessary additional pumping resources to adequately attack the water. Maintenance will be performed to install the pumps, fully realizing the unique attributes required for each location. Also, to power the pumps, a disbursement has been requested to purchase more electrical generating capacity."

"However, the use of the pumps shall be only with the approval of the senior staff. Due to concerns regarding ballast, it's important that the operation of the pumps be controlled. It's believed that the stability of the Ship may be upset if all the pumps operate to remove the water."

"Everyone needs to realize . . . "[interrupted]

Voice from crowd:

"Excuse me, excuse me."

Captain:

"Yes, what?"

Voice:

"I was just wondering if you are going to stop the leak. The water keeps coming in. Why not stop it?"

Captain:

Well, we are working on that. You obviously don't understand the complexities of the problem. Many aspects have to be addressed.

Uh, just for the sake of everybody, who are you?"

Voice:

"I'm nobody special. Just an interested passenger who wants the problem fixed. I don't like waterlogged provisions and I don't think the other passengers do either."

Captain:

"Like I said, the problem is complex . . ."[interrupted again]

Interested passenger:

"But it's not logical! You've got a Ship. The Ship has a hole in it. And you're talking about surveys and documents and ballast and generators and redistribution of provisions! You're not fixing the hole in the hull."

"If the hole in the Ship is not repaired, no amount of surveys and documents and ballast and generators and redistribution of provisions is going to make a difference. You've got to fix the hole first, then all the other problems will ultimately be resolved. Without fixing the hole, the problem will continue and likely get much bigger."

Captain:

[tersely] "In closing, the senior staff expects your full support for the plan. Thank you for your time."

Some people may think the Ship in this sea story is the United States of America. Some people are right.
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       Following Entry Posted 4/01/2006 06:22:00 PM

Teacher Arrested for Sodomy of Two Boys 

(Spotsylvania, Virginia) A 35-year-old special education teacher at Courtland High School, Bonnie Sue Davis, was arrested Thursday and charged with nine offenses involving sexual relations with two students, ages 14 and 15.

Specific charges include two counts of sodomy, six counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and having sex with a child.

The alleged sexual misconduct is believed to have occurred at Davis's home. Davis has been suspended from her tenured teaching position.

Arraignment is scheduled for Monday, April 3.


[Update 07/21/06]

Davis case moves forward.
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       Following Entry Posted 4/01/2006 05:25:00 PM

Young Mother Accused of Criminal Sex with Boy 

(Telford, Pennsylvania) A Telford woman, Krystal Joy Gehret, surrendered to police on Thursday to face charges resulting from an alleged sexual relationship with a 14-year-old boy. Gehret, a 20-year-old mother of a one-year-old boy, was specifically charged with felony counts of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, unlawful contact with a minor, statutory sexual assault, and aggravated indecent assault.

The alleged relationship with the boy was reported to police by a concerned citizen. Detective Randy Floyd investigated. Gehret allegedly admitted to the relationship, which began in the summer of 2005, and to becoming pregnant by the boy. Gehret also stated that the boy's parents were aware of the relationship and allowed it to continue.

When interviewed, the boy's mother allegedly stated that she knew of the relationship. The mother also stated that after Gehret became pregnant by the boy, she took her to a Planned Parenthood clinic for an abortion.

Gehret was arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Charles Baum on Thursday. Bail was set at $50,000. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for April 7.


[Update 04/27/06]

Gehret mixes with another boy.


[Update 08/11/06]

Gehret pleads guilty to sex crimes in Bucks County.


[Update 01/15/07]

Gehret pleads guilty/sentenced in Montgomery County.
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       Following Entry Posted 4/01/2006 02:32:00 PM

Do Be Skeptical 


Today is April 1st.
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       Following Entry Posted 4/01/2006 06:01:00 AM

Mob Boss 'Big Ange' Lonardo Dies 

(Cleveland, Ohio) Long time crime kingpin, Angelo 'Big Ange' Lonardo died yesterday at the age of 95. Big Ange (pictured circa 1977) ran the Cleveland omerta thugocracy until 1983 when he was convicted and sentenced to life in prison.

Always the dealmaker, Big Ange turned government witness to get out of the joint. Ultimately, his inside knowledge of organized crime and subsequent testimony led to dozens of convictions of Mafia members from Cleveland, Kansas City, Milwaukee and Chicago. He even ratted out his cousins and snitched on the Teamsters Union.

Big Ange was a smoker who spent much of his time in taverns. Statistics indicate that his habits should have affected his longevity. What a guy! He even cheated statistical projections of life span.

Condolences to the family.
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