Women With Troubles - January 2008

Reported in the news during January 2008, here is the compilation of women with troubles. Each name is linked to a blog entry displaying details. For a more comprehensive listing, check the Women With Troubles category link.

(AL) Ashley Stokes, 24,
neighbor - Gets three years in prison for sodomy of boy, 14,

(AZ) Melissa Arrington, 27,
exotic dancer - Gets 10.5 years prison for aggravated DUI and negligent homicide,

(AZ) Kumari Fulbright, 25,
beauty queen law student - Indicted on robbery, kidnapping charges,

(AZ) Lori Ann Somerville, 28,
youth corrections officer - Arrested for sex with male teen inmate,

(CA) Tamara Allen, 42, and Christopher Liller, 34,
teacher and boyfriend - Face federal charges for growing and selling marijuana,

(CA) Beccy Hasselbarth, 36,
corrections officer - Gets year in jail for sex with juvenile inmate,

(CA) Valentina Elaine Medrano, 20,
neighbor - Arrested for having sex with three boys, ages 8, 13 and 14,

(CA) Vanessa Woods, 22, and Reginald Hardin Jr., 24,
neighbors - Arrested for torturing 21-month-old daughter,

(CT and MA) Sarah Colby, 25,
neighbor - Gets hand slap for traveling across state lines to have sex with a boy, 15,

(CT) Gina Sendra, 43,
neighbor - Arrested for years-long sexual relationship with boy, beginning at age 11,

(CT) Yalines Torres, 25,
babysitter - Charged with murder of 19-month-old she was watching,

(DC) Banita Jacks, 33,
neighbor - Charged with murdering her four children, ages 5, 6, 11 and 17,

(FL) Angelica Rene Ayala, 26,
neighbor - Arrested for punching police horse,

(FL) Marie Lupe Cooley, 41,
neighbor - Arrested for damage to employer's computer files. She thought she was going to be fired,

(FL) Jennifer Lyn Crossin, 47,
neighbor - Arrested for alleged sex with boy, 16,

(FL) Sarah Elizabeth Joel, 31,
teacher - Arrested for alleged sex with boy, 15,

(FL) Ka Alease McCrary, 34,
teacher - Arrested for attempted smuggling of drugs into jail,

(FL) Meg,
pregnant goat - Raped and killed

(FL) Marissa Rodriguez, 42,
mental health worker - Arrested for exposing her breasts to young girls,

(FL) Annette Smith, 42,
neighbor - Arrested for stabbing sister with samurai sword,

(GA) Clarissa Robbie Linnabary, 27,
neighbor - Arrested for theft by deception for faking a pregnancy,

(IL) Ashley Ruestman, 22,
neighbor - Gets probation for sex with boy, 14. Must register as sex offender,

(IN) Melinda Ellis and Anita Miller,
teachers - Arrested on drug and alcohol violations,

(KY) Kathryn E. "Katie" McCoy, 19,
college student - Arrested for allegedly killing her newborn,

(ME) Jessica Bowring, 27,
neighbor - Indicted on new charges pertaining to sex with a boy, starting at age 13,

(MO) Mackenzie L. Gruenewald, 27,
neighbor - Charged in causing death of her unborn child by using meth,

(MO) Amy L. Mercille Wade, 25,
neighbor - Gets probation for raping two boys, 14 and 16,

(MS) Rebecca Bogard, 27,
teacher, beauty queen - Arrested for sex with boy, 15,

(MS) Loni Folks, 24,
teacher - Arrested for alleged sex with male student, 16,

(ND) Renae Hofstad, 34,
neighbor - Pleads guilty to sex with boy, 14. Sentencing in March,

(NJ) Keri Ann Marie Brekne, 28,
teacher - Arrested for engaging in extended-term sex with girl, 14,

(NJ) Josette M. Taylor, 55,
neighbor - Arrested for extended-term sex with boy, 15,

(NJ) Erica Umosella, 28,
teacher, coach - Admitted to having sex with female student "while on the job." Agreed to probation for official misconduct. Must leave New Jersey if she wants to teach again,

(NM) Michelle A. Tufts, 30,
neighbor - Pleaded no contest to molesting boy, 8,

(NY) Stephanie N. Bouvia, 26,
neighbor - Arrested for sex with boy, 13,

(NY) Helen M. Chiaravalle, 18,
neighbor - Arrested for engaging in sex with boy, 14,

(NY) Marcy L. Cole, 35,
teacher - Arrested for felony drunk driving,

(NY) Virginia Inness, 37,
neighbor - Arrested for sex with girl under age 17,

(NY) Beth Modica, 44,
attorney - Arrested for wild parties and intimate relations with high school boys,

(NY) Sophie Soto, 22, and Julio Rojas, 31,
strippers - Arrested for rape of two girls, both 15,

(OH) Sandra Bratt, 31,
teacher - Gets seven years prison for sex with boy, 11,

(OH) Laura M. Thornton, 23,
neighbor - Arrested for drug abuse involving an unborn child,

(OK) Konawha Don Ade, 31,
teacher - Arrested for attempting to buy cocaine in sting operation,

(OR) Jasmine Nguyen (aka Hanh Nguyen), 30,
therapist - Arrested for rape of boy,

(OR) Janis Ribeiro, 49,
neighbor - Gets 60 days in jail for felony sex with two boys, both 15,

(PA) Patience Agyemen, 25,
neighbor - On trial for molesting boy, 8,

(PA) Marcie Lynn Burroughs, 38,
neighbor - Gets 2 to 4 years prison for sex with girl. Classified as sexually violent predator,

(PA) Beth Ann Chester, 26,
gym teacher - Arrested for sending her nude photos to male student, 14,

(SC) Danielle Bowen, 18,
neighbor - Arrested for allegedly killing her 6-month-old baby,

(SC) Stephanie Kae Cassel, 35, and James Wesley Lewis, 28,
neighbors - Arrested for liquoring up four 11-year-old girls during sleep-over,

(SC) Patricia Collins Eudy, 35,
neighbor - Arrested for neglect and assault of her five children,

(SC) Connie Gainey (aka Michelle), 31,
neighbor - Arrested for alleged sex with boy, 15,

(SD) Tonia Points At Him, 36,
neighbor - Gets 18 months federal prison for sex abuse of another woman,

(SD) Andrea Herald, 39,
neighbor - Guilty of raping boy, 14. Sentencing in March,

(TN) Heather Michelle Chesser, 26,
teacher - Indicted for sex with student,

(TN) Holly Hatcher, 25,
teacher - Indicted on three counts of statutory rape (by authority figure) of male student, 17,

(TX) Summer Allen, 26,
school coach - Arrested for sex with female player,

(TX) Robin Ater, 52,
teacher - Charged with liquoring up students,

(TX) Jennifer Elizabeth Bagley, 36,
teacher - Gets probation for sexual relationship with female student, 15,

(TX) Sandra Borrego, 41,
dance teacher - Indicted for aggravated sex assault of boy, 13, in school cafeteria resulting in pregnancy,

(TX) Beatrice Charles, 60,
Sunday School teacher - Arrested for dealing crack cocaine,

(TX) Shannon Kay Hrozek, 42,
teacher - Arrested after being caught in classroom giving oral sex to boy, 16,

(VT) Sandra Eastman, 24,
neighbor - Arrested for alleged sex with boy, 15. Pregnancy involved.

As always, thanks to the tipsters.

Red Light Cameras

(Peoria, Arizona) In case you are interested, the traffic fine locally for tickets issued for violations caught by red light cameras is $214. With an average of 77 violations each day, the cameras are accounting for $16,478 in revenue every day and about $500,000 each month.

Of that amount, $33 from each violation goes to the photo enforcement camera provider which equals more than $75,000 each month.

Heh, better fleecing through technology.

Scientists Reverse Memory Loss

(Toronto, Ontario) Researchers at the Toronto Western Hospital accidentally discovered a way to reverse memory loss during experimental surgery on a 50-year-old obese man.

The accidental breakthrough came during an experiment originally intended to suppress the obese man's appetite, using the increasingly successful technique of deep-brain stimulation. Electrodes were pushed into the man's brain and stimulated with an electric current.

Instead of losing appetite, the patient instead had an intense experience of deja vu. He recalled, in intricate detail, a scene from 30 years earlier. More tests showed his ability to learn was dramatically improved when the current was switched on and his brain stimulated.

Scientists are now applying the technique in the first trial of the treatment in patients with Alzheimer's disease. If successful, it could offer hope to sufferers from the degenerative condition, which affects 450,000 people in Britain alone, by providing a "pacemaker" for the brain.

Three patients have been treated and initial results are promising, according to Andres Lozano, a professor of neurosurgery at the Toronto Western Hospital, Ontario, who is leading the research.

The discovery is great news! More information at the link.

Alleged Sex Between Woman and Girl

(Poughkeepsie, New York) A 37-year-old local woman, Virginia Inness, has been arrested for allegedly engaging in sexual activity with a girl under the age of 17.

Paul R. Washburn Jr. of Poughkeepsie and Karen Lewis of Ulster Park were also arrested in connection with the case and charged with endangering the welfare of a child.

All three were issued tickets to appear in the Town of Esopus Court.

Introducing Brookes News

Some recent articles:

US booms and busts and a little monetary history: The extent to which media commentators are ignorant of economic history, let alone basic economics, is genuinely staggering. What's even worse, their so-called economic reporting is frequently littered with partisan comments aimed at Republicans
Why is Bernanke attempting to counter-act the stock market bear?: If the present aggressive interest rate stance by the Fed fails to prevent the economy falling into a recession, what will Bernanke do? Some of his writings suggest that under such circumstances he would ramp up the money supply. Such a policy could prove disastrous for the US economy
Will this year be crunch time for the Australian economy?: It's quite clear that the Rudd Government is completely clueless on what is happening to the economy. Changes in the Reserve Bank's balance sheet indicate that as severe monetary crunch could be in the making. In the mean time, the government can keep on attacking 'profiteers' while thinking up new ways to raid Australians' pension funds
Setting the record straight about Labor's record on unemployment: By putting a floor under real wage movements, Labor's Accord with the unions ensured that widespread unemployment would be a permanent feature of the Australian economy for some time to come. The economic rationale for this agreement cam straight from Keynes
The stories behind the pictures that defined the Vietnam War: History for the left is just a means to libel their enemies, and that's why the left do not hesitate to mix fact with fiction and fiction with fantasy. They lied about Vietnam and they are lying about Iraq
Bill Gates's 'Kind' capitalism is a misnomer: Bill Gates is another wealth capitalism who knows nothing about capitalism and who is equally ignorant of economic history. Those parts of the world, particularly sub-Saharan Africa, over which Gates anguishes are the ones where capitalism has not been allowed to emerge

Posted by John Ray

Woman Gets Hand Slap for Sex with Boys, 14 and 16

(Potosi, Missouri) In October 2007, a 25-year-old local woman, Amy L. Mercille Wade, was sentenced to probation after pleading guilty to two counts of second-degree statutory rape. The rapes involved two boys, ages 14 and 16, who Mercille Wade had liquored up before having sex with them in June 2006.

Interestingly, Mercille Wade was getting the boys hammered when her boyfriend came home. The boyfriend, Donald Wade, now her husband, chased the boys off with a sword. Someone called the police and Donald Wade was arrested for unlawful use of a weapon and taken into custody. With the coast clear, the boys returned and had uninterrupted sex with Mercille Wade.

At some point between the incident in June 2006 and October 2007, Donald Wade married Amy Mercille. I guess he forgave her.

Donald Wade was scheduled to be sentenced last month for unlawful use of weapon and endangering the welfare of a child. No information has been found regarding the final disposition of Donald Wade's case.

In closing, Circuit Court Judge Sandy Martinez has been the subject of heated criticism (see comment thread) for giving Mercille Wade probation for a conviction of rape. It's seen as another example of blatant bias by the courts with regard to sentencing of female sex offenders. I'll add my voice to those of the critics.

Tip: SuidaeEmpathy

Woman Charged with Killing Newborn

(Louisville, Kentucky) A 19-year-old student at Bellarmine University, Kathryn E. "Katie" McCoy, has been charged with murder and tampering with evidence in the death of her newborn daughter.

McCoy said she hid the pregnancy from everyone and "freaked" when the infant was delivered.

Prosecutors said McCoy gave birth to a baby girl in the bathroom of her dorm room on Oct. 26, 2007, then let the infant fall into the toilet.

Police arrested McCoy after the baby was found in a gym bag.

McCoy was in court Wednesday morning with her parents, but did not speak during a brief hearing to set the trial date.

Brian Butler, one of McCoy's attorneys, said after the hearing that an initial review of the evidence doesn't back a murder charge. McCoy told police she put the baby in a trash bag because she thought the girl was dead, according to court documents.

"There's nothing to indicate anyone ever heard the child cry," Butler said. "No one saw this child alive." [ ... ]

Authorities said someone saw McCoy go near the trash room, became suspicious, checked the room and called police. The baby was pronounced dead about 35 minutes after the infant was found, police said.

Officers said that when McCoy heard officers were coming to the dormitory, she retrieved the baby from the trash room, placed her into a gym bag and then put the bag in her dorm room.

McCoy's trial is scheduled for September 23.

Tip: SuidaeEmpathy

Russian Students Throng to Elite British Schools

It's unclear whether this report says more about the British or the Russian education systems.

Once only a distant dream, for some Russian families sending their children to schools like Eton, an epicenter of Englishness and exclusivity that has been molding young gentlemen for the best part of six centuries, is increasingly within reach.

Regardless of the increasingly strained diplomatic relations between the two countries, from Harrow to Cambridge, the number of Russian students in Britain has soared.

And with Russian children starting to attend British schools at a younger age, parents becoming more knowledgeable and more students coming from middle-class families, the trend only looks set to grow.

The number of students has been described as a torrent ever since 1991. Part of the reason is that top British schools are actively recruiting students in Russia with education fairs, seminars and the Internet.

After graduation, most return to Russia where they are uniformly welcomed in business and government circles. Of course, what all this means is that the next generation of Russian leaders could likely be British-educated elites.

Official Gay Curriculum in Brit Schools Announced

As a timely warmup to next month's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender History Month celebration, the British Department of Children, Schools and Families has issued a new policy to combat homophobia in the education system. Apparently, homosexuality is now considered to be a race and homophobia is racism.

Announced today by Schools Secretary Ed Balls, the new policy includes the following:

1) Teachers don't assume that students have a "mum and dad,"

2) Teachers indoctrinate students on the idea of same-sex couple,

3) "Parents" should replace "mum and dad" in correspondence to students' homes,

4) Classes on marriage should include civil unions and gay adoption rights,

5) Children who call classmates "gay" are to be tagged as racists under the zero tolerance crackdown.

"It is important for all staff to challenge pupils, explaining the consequences of using 'gay' in a derogatory way.

"It might be time-consuming at first, but a consistent 'zero-tolerance' approach to such language is central to achieving progress and an environment in which being gay is not thought of as being inferior."

It adds: "Schools need to make it clear to pupils that homophobic comments are as serious as racist comments, and homophobic incidents are as serious as other forms of bullying."

Teachers should use every curriculum subject to nip discriminatory attitudes in the bud.

English lessons for teenagers, for example, could focus on the emotions of the gay Italian soldier Carlo in Captain Corelli's Mandolin.

Emphasis will also be focused on "apparently" homosexual figures from history "including Leonardo da Vinci, Oscar Wilde and James Dean."

Continuing:

6) Boys should not be told to "be a man,"

7) Boys should not be accused of behaving like a "bunch of women,"

8) Schools should encourage homosexual role models among teachers, parents and governors,

9) After consulting the head teacher, homosexual teachers should discuss their private lives in class,

10) Children aged four to seven should be taught about "different family structures,"

11) Teachers should talk inclusively about homosexual parents to kids aged 11 to 14.

The new agenda for schools was prepared by the gay rights group, Stonewall, in conjunction with the lobbying group Education Action Challenging Homophobia.

Tip: Travis Evans

Companion post at The Jawa Report. Also Education Watch International.

Woman on Trial for Molesting Boy, 8

(Doylestown, Pennsylvania) A 25-year-old Bensalem woman, Patience Agyemen, is on trial for molesting an 8-year-old Philadelphia boy.

Agyemen faces charges of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a child, aggravated indecent assault, indecent assault, endangering the welfare of a child and corruption of minors.

Through attorney Laura Riba, Agyemen has denied the charges.

In court Tuesday, the victim's 16-year-old cousin described how the boy came forward.

"He asked me if I could keep a secret. He said, 'You have to promise' and made me pinky swear," the cousin said. "He said [Agyemen] told him that if he told on her, he'd be sent to live with other people."

Other witnesses testified that Agyemen slept nude or partially clothed in the same bed with the boy, and showered with him.

Bensalem Police Detective David Nieves testified that he interviewed Agyemen, who wept when he told her he believed she was lying about assaulting the boy. He told the jury that she eventually admitted molesting him five to six times.

If convicted, Agyemen could be sentenced to more than 10 years in prison and then be deported back to her native Ghana.

The trial continues today.

Stimulus Tax Rebates for Illegals

(Washington) The economic stimulus legislation under consideration in Congress will provide rebates to a reported 111 million taxpayers, some who are illegal aliens.

Under the plan passed by the House, illegal immigrants who qualify as "resident aliens" and earned a minimum of $3,000 would be eligible for rebates of between $300-$600, FOX News has learned.

Only those illegals who have been assigned an Individual Tax Identification Number that allows them to file income taxes would be eligible. Resident aliens are defined as people who spend a "substantial" amount of time in the U.S. and have not been deported.

The provision has irked illegal immigration opponents, who say the assigning of TINs and collection of taxes from illegals sanctions their presence in the country.

Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Colo., told FOX News that the bill will certainly stimulate "more illegal immigration."

I agree with Congressman Tancredo. It's ludicrous to expect efforts to reduce border-jumping to be effective when benefits continually increase for those who border-jump.

Companion post at Diggers Realm.

Bigotry Against Gun-owners is OK, of Course

Or so the Left seem to think. Here's the latest episode -- from Virginia:

"A Bristol Virginia man sparked a statewide political reaction after he said he heard the state Senate's majority leader insult rural gun owners while standing in a public elevator.

"He turns to his companion and says, `You can tell we're debating a gun bill today. Half the cast of "Deliverance" is in town,' " said John Pierce, a local gun-rights activist who was in Richmond to lobby the General Assembly against a bill to close the so-called gun-show loophole. "I was absolutely floored. ... I think what you're seeing is bigotry aimed at rural voters and the issues that they tend to support," Pierce said.

"Deliverance" is a 1972 film based on the novel by James Dickey in which Atlanta businessmen encountered a backwoods Appalachian culture on a canoe trip in the north Georgia mountains, where rape and murder ensue."

Source

Sen. Richard Saslaw, D-Fairfax, is not apologizing.

Posted by John Ray

Woman Pinched for Punching A Pony

(Tampa, Florida) Who doesn't feel like punching a horse after a night out on the town? Twenty-six-year-old Angelica Rene Ayala apparently did and was arrested by the police.

Police said Ms. Ayala, who's only 5'4" tall, punched a horse belonging to the Pinellas Park Police Department, which was among the law enforcement agencies assisting Tampa Police during and after the Gasparilla parade.

The horse was struck in the neck, police said. Neither the horse nor his rider, a Pinellas Park police officer, was injured.

It seems a fight broke out and the horse got slugged. Unfortunately for Ayala, punching a police horse is illegal. She was released on $500 bond after her arrest.

Tip: SuidaeEmpathy

Snake Wrangler Dies From Snake Bite

(Deming, New Mexico) A 37-year-old snake specialist, James Bear, died yesterday morning from a bite on the thumb from a canebrake rattlesnake.

The canebrake, also canebreak, rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus atricaudatus) is listed as a threatened species in the state of Texas and endangered in Virginia.

Bear reportedly possessed more than 300 snakes in his home.

Woman, 30, Guilty of Molesting Boy, 8

(Las Cruces, New Mexico) In October 2007, a 30-year-old local woman, Michelle A. Tufts, was arrested for allegedly engaging in sex with an 8-year-old boy.

The boy's grandmother alerted authorities about suspicions she had regarding Tuft's relationship with the boy and police later determined that the grandmother's suspicions were substantiated. Tufts is a close relative of the boy but the relationship wasn't disclosed to protect the boy's identity.

Tufts was charged with two felony counts of criminal sexual penetration of a child under age of 13 and one count of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

Yesterday, Tufts pleaded no contest to attempted criminal sexual penetration and contributing to the delinquency of a minor in accordance with a plea deal. According to court records, Tufts chased after the boy to perform disgusting acts.

Records show that Tufts allegedly told investigators that she had been going through a period of loneliness, wanting somebody to touch, and that at least one of the incidents the boy recounted was true.

Tufts told investigators that as a child she was made to watch as one of her family members was molested by another family member.

Notably, Tufts also has an intentional child abuse conviction involving a different boy on her record.

No sentencing date has been set. Tufts faces a possible 10 and a half years in prison.

Olympics 2008 Visitors Face Health Challenges

(Beijing, China) Hey, Olympic sports fans, don't forget your shots. Although China is now recognized as a modern economic giant, one societal element is lagging behind.

Specifically, there are health concerns since sanitation in China is generally poor. So poor that, according to Shukan Jitsuwa magazine, some sports contingents preparing for the 2008 Olympics have announced that they will train at camps in Japan.

"Big cities like Beijing and Shanghai, where many foreigners visit, are fairly clean, but in places the foreigners don't see, it's terrible," says a Japanese man who spent time as an exchange student in China. "You can find heaps of uncovered rubbish piled two or three meters high, and when it rains, the stuff dissolves and runs off in all directions.

"Except perhaps for the highest-class restaurants, the kitchens tend to be filthy," the man adds. "They're enough to make even Chinese want to throw up."

Apparently, the filth even defeats the strong Chinese stomach, a strength of which I was unaware but could have guessed.

After devoting a paragraph to Beijing's notorious smog and its lack of safe drinking water -- a potential source of type-B hepatitis -- Shukan Jitsuwa warns visitors against rabies. Yes, it's still a concern: rabies is 100 percent fatal unless promptly treated and about 2,500 people in China die from it every year, so dogs are to be avoided at all costs.

"Rabies has been present in China since ancient times," notes [author Masahiro] Miyazaki. "But when people raised dogs for meat it wasn't much of a problem. More recently, however, they've been keeping them as house pets, which has made it more dangerous. The problem is that unethical dog breeders raise the animals in abysmal conditions. So rabies has become endemic."

Visitors to the upcoming Olympiad, which will run for 17 days beginning from August 8, will also need to be on their guard against AIDS. A 2007 report issued by the Chinese government estimated the number of HIV carriers at 700,000. The most likely method of contagion would be between Japanese male tourists and local prostitutes, who are said to number 20 million nationwide.

Therefore, rabies became a bigger problem when people transitioned from eating dogs to keeping them as pets and, just think, the number of hookers in China equals the entire population on the continent of Australia. Crikey!

Connecticut Woman and Years of Sex with Boy

(Naugatuck, Connecticut) A 43-year-old local woman, Gina Sendra, was arrested earlier this month for engaging in a years-long sexually abusive relationship with a friend's son starting at the age of 11.

Sendra was a friend of the family who was frequently asked to watch the boy. The boy is now 17 and just recently reported the abuse to authorities.

"We're talking about sexual intercourse and other sexual acts," Naugatuck police Lt. Robert Harrison said.

"I don't want to use the word consent because I don't think an 11-year-old can consent. I think we are dealing with a case of mental manipulation where an adult just fully took advantage of a child."

Sendra faces charges of first-degree sexual assault, second-degree sexual assault and risk of injury to a minor.

Sendra was booked into custody and later released on bond. As a condition of release, Sendra is required to wear an ankle monitor and have no contact with the victim.

Tip: SuidaeEmpathy

Elite Students Trying to Prevent Conservative Speaker being Heard

We read:

"Some students at Choate Rosemary Hall, the prestigious private school attended by John F. Kennedy, are protesting the choice of former presidential adviser Karl Rove as this year's commencement speaker. Some plan to walk out, while others are trying to bring satirist Stephen Colbert to campus for an alternate speech. The campus newspaper has urged the school to reject Rove....

Mary Verselli, Choate's director of strategic marketing and communications, said Rove was invited to talk about broader issues, not deliver a political speech. Headmaster Edward J. Shanahan said he looks for interesting and provocative commencement speakers and Rove has prompted more discussion than any speaker in the past 20 years...

Senior Peter Borgstrom is among the students looking forward to Rove's speech. "Maybe I don't agree with his political views and what he's done, but I'd still love to get the opportunity to see him," he said.

Source

This is just the childish gambit of blocking your ears. Unfortunately in this case, it could block other people's ears too.

Posted by John Ray

Postcard of Anne Frank in Palestinian Scarf

(The Netherlands) A free postcard which depicts Anne Frank wearing a Palestinian scarf is being distributed throughout the Netherlands as, according to the publisher, "a small work of art which encourages people to reflect on a peaceful solution for Israel and the Palestinians."

Rightfully, opponents are pissed, calling the card "a tasteless rewriting of history" and demanding a halt to its distribution.

The image of Anne Frank with the keffiyeh (the kind of scarf once worn by Yasser Arafat) already existed before the card was made. The artist, who calls himself 'T', 'distributed' the image in the form of graffiti on a number of walls in Amsterdam.

So, admittedly it's graffiti and, according to Israel's Ambassador to the Netherlands, Harry Kney Tal, outrageously offensive.

"Anne Frank is an icon of Dutch history. She was killed because she was Jewish. The artist has used this icon and transferred it to the political struggle between Israeli and Palestinians. It's an outrage, I have no other words to describe it."

A solution to this controversy has, however, already been suggested. Postcards displaying the Prophet Mohammad wearing a Jewish yarmulka should now be distributed.

Jail Counselor Gets Time in Boy Sex Case

(Laguna Niguel, California) In September 2006, a correctional officer at a juvenile camp, Beccy Hasselbarth, was accused of having sex with a 17-year-old male inmate.

She was charged with felony unlawful sexual intercourse and oral copulation and misdemeanor child annoyance. Additionally, she was charged with being an accessory after the fact in the boy's escape from the Los Pinos Youth Facility.

The alleged offenses occurred between February and October of 2005. Hasselbarth was booked and released on $400,000 bail.

Last Friday, 36-year-old Hasselbarth admitted to committing the offenses.

Hasselbarth entered a guilty plea on Friday at the Laguna Niguel courthouse to three felony counts each of oral copulation of a minor and unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor and one count of being an accessory after the fact -- all felonies, and three misdemeanor counts of child annoyance, said Farrah Emami of the Orange County District Attorney's Office.

As a result, Hasselbarth was sentenced to one year in the county jail and three years probation. She will also have to register as a sex offender.

"Don't Drop The Soap" Board Game

(Topeka, Kansas) Currently being sold on the Internet is a prison-themed board game called "Don't Drop the Soap." The game is understandably not suitable for children.


The game includes:

- 19" x 19" Don't Drop The Soap™ Gameboard
- 5 Collectible Criminal Tokens
- 7 Decks of Prison Location Cards
- 7 Snap-On Location Icons
- Soap Dish Parole Card Holder
- Deck of Parole Cards
- Stack of Play Cigarettes
- Pair of Dice
- Book of Instructions

Created by John Sebelius, the 23-year-old son of Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius, the game sells for $34.99 plus packaging, shipping and handling through this website (contact information listed as the Kansas Governor's mansion).

Reportedly, the game idea is supported by both John's mother, the Governor of Kansas, and father, U.S. Magistrate Judge Gary Sebelius.

Teacher Accused of Smuggling Drugs

(Miami, Florida) A 34-year-old adult education teacher at Metro-West Correctional Facility in Doral, Ka Alease McCrary, was arrested last week for allegedly attempting to smuggle contraband and drugs into the Miami-Dade Jail.

According to Miami-Dade Police Detective Mario Rachid, a tipster led to an investigation of McCrary and an undercover sting.

An undercover officer worked deals with McCrary on two occasions to smuggle items into the jail. In the first instance, McCrary was to sneak two contraband iPods inside. On the second, 56 grams of marijuana and 56 grams of cocaine were involved.

Ka Alease McCrary is charged with trafficking in cocaine, possession of marijuana, unlawful compensation and introduction of contraband into a correctional facility.

McCrary was booked into custody at the Turner-Guilford-Knight Correctional Facility.

Tip: SuidaeEmpathy

Woman Indicted for Fake Pregnancy

(Kingsland, Georgia) A 27-year-old wife of a U.S. Marine, Clarissa Robbie Linnabary, has been indicted for allegedly scamming people out of property (discounts and gifts) by claiming she was pregnant with quadruplets.

Linnabary was arrested in July after an investigation by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service and the Camden County Sheriff's Office that began when two witnesses reported that she was lying about being pregnant.

Investigators said Linnabary accepted gifts and received discounts from the community, including a consignment shop, the Marine Corps League and even her husband's commanding officer.

According to court papers, Linnabary also took advantage of a car dealership that did about $1,300 of work on her car without charge.

Reportedly, the husband was also scammed since he too thought his wife was pregnant.

Linnabary faces charges of felony theft by deception and misdemeanor theft by deception.

Tip: SuidaeEmpathy

Chavez Wants Anti-US Military Alliance

(Caracas, Venezuela) Presumably after chewing several cuds of coca leaves and settling in for a day of paranoid delusion, President Hugo Chavez called for a military alliance to be formed to oppose U.S. imperialism.

Mr Chavez has some key allies in his fight against capitalism, globalisation and the US.

Bolivia, Cuba, Nicaragua and now the Caribbean island of Dominica are all members of a trade alliance known as the Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas, a group that takes its name from South America's independence leader, Simon Bolivar.

Mr Chavez has urged them to draw up a joint defence policy and create a united military force against US imperialism.

"If the US threatens one of us, it threatens all of us," he said, "we will respond as one."

It sure seems like Chavez is planning for war.

Massachusetts Health Costs Balloon

(Boston, Massachusetts) As always, socialized medicine means massive unanticipated costs. In Massachusetts, the mandated health plan is like a huge vacuum cleaner sucking dollars out taxpayers' wallets.

According to recent reports, the cost of Massachusetts' health insurance mandate will rise 85 percent, or $400 million, in 2009. Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (R), meanwhile, has been on the presidential campaign trail praising the program he put into place.

According to The Boston Globe, the cost increase is largely due to an increase in the number of people signing up for state-subsidized health insurance. State and federal taxpayers are likely to shoulder the cost increase.

Mark my words, Massachusetts' premier symbol of corruption and ineptitude, The Big Dig, will be considered a bargain basement deal when compared to the dollars ultimately confiscated from the public for the state's socialized health care system.

Remember, voters, Mass. HealthCare is Mitt Romney's baby.

Companion post at Socialized Medicine.

Lunch Honoring MLK Runs into Flak

We read:

"An attempt by the Naval Academy to honor the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. this week by serving fried chicken, greens and cornbread in the midshipmen's dining hall sparked a debate on the Annapolis campus about racial sensitivity.

On Tuesday, the academy served those items along with mashed potatoes, pie and lemonade as clips of King speeches were broadcast in King Hall, named after an academy graduate. The meal was served Tuesday because classes were not held during the holiday honoring the civil rights leader.

"The idea behind it is that it's a traditional Southern meal," said the spokesman, Cmdr. Ed Austin, adding, "It's a fairly common thing throughout the fleet to do special meals on special occasions."

But postings on GoMids.com, which includes a message board used by midshipmen and others affiliated with the academy, indicate some were offended by the attempt to honor King. "I thought we were well past these stereotypes!!" one contributor wrote.

Source

I guess that we are supposed to pretend that MLK ate chateaubriand followed by profiteroles on a regular basis.

It seems however that it wasn't a big deal a few months back when "midshipmen were served beef fajitas, flour tortillas and Spanish rice for Hispanic Heritage Month". Are we seeing an implicit judgement about the inferiority of fried chicken here?

Posted by John Ray

Marijuana Vending Machines

(Los Angeles, California) Marijuana vending machines are now open in Los Angeles.

People prescribed "medical" marijuana for health reasons will be issued pre-paid credit cards to use in the machines.

They can then use the card to access the Anytime Vending Machines whenever they need extra supplies.

Vince Mehdizadeh, owner of the Herbal Nutrition Centre in Los Angeles, where one of the first machines is based, said patients could get access to prescribed drugs after hours.

Reportedly, a security guard will be stationed at the machine to verify that the right people are using the cards.

It's been suggested that the marijuana machines will become as common as soda machines.

Companion post at The Jawa Report.

Woman Samurai Slices Sister

(Brandon, Florida) A 42-year-old local woman, Annette Smith, got into a catfight with her sister and waved a Samurai sword around before introducing a four-inch cut in her sister's gut.

Smith was arrested and charged with assault and battery with a deadly weapon.

The arrest affidavit states the sister tried to grab the sword, and was cut on her left fingers and hand. She has a severed tendon in her middle finger that will require surgery.

Smith was booked into custody at the Orient Road Jail without bail.

Looking at this incident from a rational perspective, one might say that it was an accident that occurred merely because two people were acting dumb.

However, a more liberally-minded individual might conclude that the incident demonstrates a need for a sword registration law and a government-funded catfight counseling and prevention program.

Tip: SuidaeEmpathy

Arizona Illegals Denied In-State Tuition

(Phoenix, Arizona) I almost became weepy after reading this soap-opera reporting by the New York Times. It's the boo-hoo story about Mexicans and other foreigners not getting cut-rate tuition and financial aid because of Arizona Proposition 300.

One of several recent immigration statutes passed by Arizona voters and legislators frustrated by federal inaction, the law also prohibits in-state tuition for illegal immigrants. Administrators at several campuses fear that the provision has priced some out of their classes, particularly at the state's popular community colleges.

The worry is that illegal aliens won't be able to afford a college education without financial aid and in-state tuition. Apparently some students are even thinking of returning to Mexico for college but, "It's expensive going to school in Mexico," said one student.

And now the option of sneaking into the U.S. to get a cut-rate education is being denied by Prop. 300. "I see it as a very cruel law," said Teresa Guerra, a student at Phoenix College.

It's difficult to comprehend the attitude of the illegals and their supporters. Apparently, the U.S. is viewed as the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow and people from any country who successfully jump the border are automatically entitled to all the benefits of being American citizens. Jumping the border is a criminal act. Giving benefits for a criminal act doesn't make sense.

Companion post at Education Watch International.

Pope tells the Jesuits to shape up

The Jesuits were founded on a complete loyalty to the Pope so if they ignore this they are betrayers of their own oaths

"In a letter to the Jesuits, gathered at their 35th General Congregation dated January 10, 2008, Pope Benedict XVI has called on the ancient order which has been rocked by scandal to reaffirm their "total adhesion to Catholic doctrine" mentioning specifically the Church's teachings on "sexual morality".

The letter comes in the wake of the homily given by the Pope's representative at the opening of the Assembly on January 7, which bemoaned the infidelity of some in the order to the teachings of the Church.

The once illustrious Jesuits, the great defenders of faith, have over the last 40 years been steeped in dissident controversy. Jesuit priests have featured prominently in the homosexual priest scandal and Jesuit universities have been hotbeds of dissent on Church teachings especially those on life and family. The Pope stressed this reaffirmation several times, pointing to specific areas where the Jesuits are known to have caused scandal."

More here

Posted by John Ray

"Jihad" Is Personal Spiritual Struggle, Not Holy War

(Orange Park, Florida) A dispute between a teacher and a student at Orange Park High School regarding Muslim terrorism resulted in the Council of American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) becoming involved.

In class, a teacher mentioned that the meaning of "jihad" was "holy war." A sensitive Muslim student was offended and indicated the "more common meaning was a personal or spiritual struggle."

The student's father, Mohammed Shadid, asked CAIR to take action.

He said he does not want the teacher fired, but believes he should be required to take a religious sensitivity class.

"I like the teacher and respect him, but he needs to be educated," Shadid said.

Saman Quraeshi, community director for CAIR in Jacksonville, said the group is meeting with school officials next week. She said school officials had told her that the teacher had apologized and regrets his actions.

Some individuals may want to update their reference materials pertaining to entries defining "jihad." Line through "holy war" and insert "personal or spiritual struggle."

On the other hand, those individuals acclimated to the political correctness infecting society may want to simply reset their smoke alarms and purge their exhaust pipes.

McCain Teams for Open Borders

My stomach is churning, my head aches and I feel like letting out a blood-curdling primal scream.

I just learned that the leading Republican candidate for President, John McCain, has hired open-borders fanatic Juan Hernandez as his Hispanic Outreach Director.

Anyone who watches the evening talk shows has surely seen the bristle-chinned amigo with his saccharine smile spewing immigrants-rights malarkey. Hernandez never gives a straight answer to a question, rather he responds with chuckling anecdotes of human rights ideals while frequently pulling numbers out of thin air to support his tear-down-the-borders mantra. Interviewers are frustrated by Hernandez's unwillingness to actually debate issues.

Personally, the guy makes me sick and when I see him, the channel gets changed. But many people buy into his spiel, failing to see through the veneer of good intentions. Frankly, if a task force were formed to erase the southern border and dissolve the sovereignty of the United States, Hernandez would likely be elected the leader.

Nonetheless, as I mentioned, some people like him. And prospective presidential nominee John McCain hired him. What's with that? Doesn't he read the polls? Eighty percent of Americans want a secure southern border and McCain hires a guy who wants it erased.

I wanna puke.

Much more here.

Arizona Bill Allows Guns in School

(Phoenix, Arizona) Out of concern that existing policies do not provide adequate protection, Arizona Senate Majority Leader Thayer Verschoor, R-Gilbert, and Sen. Karen Johnson, R-Mesa, have proposed allowing concealed-weapons permit holders to take guns on school grounds.

The proposal, Senate Bill 1214, would exempt concealed-carry permit holders from a state law that bars individuals from knowingly carrying deadly weapons onto school property.

If it becomes law, the measure would allow teachers and anyone else with a valid permit to carry their weapon onto the grounds of any public or private K-12 school, college or university in the state.

Supporters say the measure would provide an additional ring of security on campuses hit with a string of shootings in recent years. The most recent of which was last year's at Virginia Tech, which left 33 dead. The shootings have come in spite of heightened campus security and policies that are increasingly aimed at scrubbing any and all weapons from school grounds.

Obviously, gun control measures to keep weapons out of schools simply haven't worked. Even so, gun-control advocates are uncomfortable with the proposed measure. Expect heated debate.

Anti-Christian Hate-Speech OK -- Again

Sports network supports drunken abuse:

"According to some news and sports websites, ESPN anchorwoman Dana Jacobson graphically attacked Jesus Christ at a recent roast of her colleagues; she was reportedly intoxicated. At the January 11 event, Jacobson roared from the podium, "*** Notre Dame," "F*** Touchdown Jesus," and finally "F*** Jesus."

When pressed on this issue, ESPN's response is to e-mail a statement by Jacobson, which includes the following: "My remarks about Notre Dame were foolish and insensitive. I respect all religions and did not mean anything derogatory by my poorly chosen words."

This response fails on several counts. First, there is no evidence that ESPN is taking this matter seriously. Are we to believe that her hate speech is of no consequence? Her comments were not made at a private function, rather they were made at a public event where she represented ESPN...

Then there is the matter of Jacobson's so-called apology. By far the most offensive thing she said, "F*** Jesus," isn't even addressed!

Source

Posted by John Ray

Florida Woman Arrested for Spiteful Act

(Jacksonville, Florida) A 41-year-old local woman, Marie Lupe Cooley, was arrested this week for allegedly sabotaging her employer's computer files.

It appears that the files, representing an estimated $2.5 million in architectural data, were deleted due to spite.

"What we consider to be a disgruntled employee saw an ad in the paper, thought the ad was targeting her job, terminating her job. She decided to mess up everything for everybody," said Jacksonville Sheriff's Office spokesman Ken Jefferson.

"She went into the server. She deleted all the files -- about seven years worth of files. She just sabotaged the entire business, thinking she was going to get axed."

However, the police report states Cooley was not going to be fired and that the ad she read was for another position.

So, Cooley saw what she thought was her job described in the want ads and furiously decided to strike back at her boss. It's troubling that Cooley was able to become irrational so quickly.

Cooley was charged with causing greater than $1,000 damage to computer files.

Tip: SuidaeEmpathy

Brit Police Demand Ethnicity Before Investigating Crime

(Berkshire, England) A clergyman called the police department's non-emergency number to report a burglary at St. Michael's Church and the operator demanded to know his ethnic background before she would send an officer to investigate.

The Rev Simon Lane, 60, said that the woman also asked for his date of birth, claiming that the details were necessary if she was to give him a crime reference number.

Thames Valley Police said the information was needed to comply with the Race Relations Act, and to monitor which types of people were most often the victim of particular crimes.

The Home Office said there was no such requirement, however, a Thames Valley spokesman said the ethnic questions were part of a "best practice" but not mandatory.

This whole episode is ludicrous, however, it's to be expected when bookkeepers tell crime fighters how to do their jobs.

Blog Comments Put Grand Juror in Hot Seat

(Dallas, Texas) A Dallas County grand juror decided to participate in a comment thread on a blog, discussing the grand jury, and now a court needs to determine whether a defendant's rights have been violated.

Apparently, the grand juror doesn't know what the word "secret" means.

A grand juror who last month helped indict a teacher accused of having sex with a student is now under investigation for posting comments about the case on a blog, according to court records.

It is illegal for grand jurors to make details of their proceedings public.

John Grau, the chief prosecutor in the intake/grand jury division, declined to say whether the grand juror would be charged with contempt of court. He said the Dallas County district attorney's office was looking into the postings and that he couldn't comment.

But the teacher's defense attorneys, David Finn and Toby Shook, are asking for a court hearing regarding the juror's conduct and whether the rights of their client, David B. Novinski, were violated. They want to know if the grand juror investigated the case before Mr. Novinski was indicted, if he shared that information with other jurors and if there are additional postings. No date has been set for a hearing.

Readers can view the grand juror's comments here. Look for the nickname "Knows status."

The possible outcome of this situation may include prosecution of the noncompliant grand juror and/or nullification of selected grand jury proceedings. In any event, the subject grand juror has perched himself/herself in a prime position to be made an example of. Obviously, this story will continue.

Bono Bows to Father Al Gore

(Davos, Switzerland) During the gathering of notables at the World Economic Forum, U2 screamer Bono met up with former Vice President Al Gore and discussed their relationship.

Acknowledging that a career in rock music was not always conducive to a green lifestyle, Bono compared a conversation with Gore to an act of religious contrition.

"It's like being with an Irish priest. You start to confess your sins," he said. "Father Al, I am not just a noise polluter, I am a noise-polluting, diesel-soaking, gulfstream-flying rock star.

"I'm going to kick the habit. I'm trying father Al, but oil has been very good for me -- those convoys of articulated lorries, petrochemical products, hair gel."

Hey, Bono, you bombastic genuflector, wanna bet that Father Al won't be kicking the habit?

Tip: Charley Nestor

Timber Rattler Proposed as WV State Snake

(Charleston, West Virginia) A Senate resolution was introduced this week by Sen. Clark Barnes, R-Randolph, Sen. Shirley Love, D-Fayette, and Sen. John Pat Fanning, D-McDowell, to make the timber rattlesnake the official state snake of West Virginia.

Funny, I thought U.S. Senator Robert Byrd already held that title.

WOW!



We read:

"A new, cutting-edge, political TV show will challenge Islam with biting humor tomorrow night, placing the face of the prophet Muhammad onto a cookie and then having it eaten on camera.

"We're going to take a stand and say Muhammad's face is delicious," said Molotov Mitchell, the 28-year-old incendiary creator and host of "Flamethrower," a program described as a low-budget, gritty cross between the "The Daily Show," "The Colbert Report," and "The View" if Ann Coulter were the producer. "This is religious and culinary history in the making."

The theme of this week's episode is "All Things Islam," as panelists take on the faith of Muslims in a no-holds-barred fashion. "Islam is not even a religion," Mitchell told WND from a location somewhere in Eastern North Carolina. "It's an ideology of 'might makes right' disguised as a religion. We're going to show that Allah was with us when we baked this cookie and ate it. Deal with it!"

Mitchell and his fellow panelists - all of whom are Christians in their 20s and whom he calls the next generation of conservatism - are trying to make the point that America is still a free country, and there's no need to cower in fear from Islamo-fascism.... "What were doing is exercising our freedom of speech and freedom of the press to the fullest in order to challenge a tyrannical, oppressive system that has doomed the cultures and countries of the Middle East for centuries," Mitchell told WND. "Now it's trying to invade our borders, and somebody has to speak up about it."

Source

Posted by John Ray

NYTimes Endorses Clinton, McCain

Anyone with the ability to read should have seen these endorsements coming. The Times editorial staff has not kept its preferences a secret.

For Hillary Clinton:

Mrs. Clinton sometimes overstates the importance of resume. Hearing her talk about the presidency, her policies and answers for America's big problems, we are hugely impressed by the depth of her knowledge, by the force of her intellect and by the breadth of, yes, her experience.

Frankly, I couldn't disagree more. Mrs. Clinton is nothing more than a seat-filler marionette whose ration coupons are still valid. Unlike Maureen Dowd, I don't believe a Hillary presidency will be a two-for-one deal. There will always only be one.

For John McCain:

Mr. McCain stood up for the humane treatment of prisoners and for a ban on torture. We said then that he was being conned by Mr. Bush, who had no intention of following the rules. But Mr. McCain took a stand, just as he did in recognizing the threat of global warming early. He has been a staunch advocate of campaign finance reform, working with Senator Russ Feingold, among the most liberal of Democrats, on groundbreaking legislation, just as he worked with Senator Edward Kennedy on immigration reform.

Being conservative, I, of course, disagree but, Wow! What's not to like? Liberal on global warming, torture outrage, campaign finance and immigration amnesty, McCain has a better record as a Democrat than Hillary Clinton. Also, let's not forget his opposition to tax cuts and, my personal sticking point, the Gang of 14.

In summary, move along. There's nothing to see here.

Africentric Public Schools

(Toronto, Ontario) Since black students have a poor achievement record and a high dropout rate, blamed on poverty and racial stereotypes in society, Toronto is planning to open its first Africentric school. The designated black-focused school won't be segregated, it's said. Anyone can attend.

Toronto should open its first black-focused public school in the fall of 2009, says a staff report aimed at improving academic achievement among students of colour.

But the board should also launch Africentric programs in three schools by this fall, as well as invest in a new centre for research and staff development at York University, urges the report made public yesterday.

"Opening one school does not address the problem across the system ... (where) a significant number of students of African descent are not doing well in our schools," said board superintendent Christopher Usih, one of the report's authors.

"We have a responsibility to address the needs across the system. We see the Africentric school request as part of a bigger (plan) ... to effectively close the gap."

The black-focused school will teach more Africentric social studies and trumpet the contributions of "Africans and African-Canadians" while teaching math using the "numerical patterns of royal 'kente' cloth from Ghana."

It's unclear how the Africentric subject matter is going to lessen the achievement gap unless the standards for learning reading, writing and arithmetic are revised. However, the goal is to make school "more welcoming" while recognizing that the "root causes of disenchantment" such as poverty and racial stereotyping need to be addressed.

Frankly, I'm unconvinced that making schools friendlier will have a dramatic effect on achievement if the same standards are maintained throughout the education system. And teaching kids material that is arguably of marginal use in society likely isn't the best way to prepare them for the future. Also, I strongly suspect that kids learning math by using an African royal kente cloth will exacerbate the problem of racial stereotyping in society, not lessen it.

In any event, making schools more welcoming and inflating egos doesn't necessarily translate into higher academic achievement.

Companion post at Education Watch International.

Court OKs Firing Dopers

(San Francisco, California) Oddly, the ruling came from a California state court.

The California Supreme Court ruled Thursday that employers in the state can fire workers found to have used medical marijuana legally recommended by doctors.

A Sacramento-area company, Ragingwire Inc., successfully argued it rightfully fired Gary Ross after he flunked a company-ordered drug test because all marijuana use is illegal under federal law, which does not recognize the medical marijuana laws in California and 11 other states.

The company claimed it feared a federal raid if it allowed workers to smoke dope. It was also argued that companies could lose possible federal contracts and are liable to be sued if a worker high on marijuana causes damage or injury.

In his defense, Ross claimed that marijuana smokers should receive the same workplace protection from discrimination that employees with painkiller prescriptions enjoy.

Woman Laughs About Killing Gay Guy

(Tucson, Arizona) In December 2006, a local woman, Melissa Arrington, hit and killed bicyclist Paul L'Ecuyer, 45, as she drunkenly drove down the road.

At the time, Arrington's blood alcohol level was 0.156, almost twice the legal limit, and she was driving on a suspended license from a previous drunk driving conviction.

Two months ago, 27-year-old Arrington was convicted of negligent homicide and two counts of aggravated DUI. This week, Arrington was sentenced by Pima County Superior Court Judge Michael Cruikshank.

Arrington was presumably hoping for a lenient four-year prison term, the minimum, however, Judge Cruikshank said he had new information to consider, Arrington's own words during a jailhouse conversation.

Cruikshank said he found a telephone conversation between Arrington and an unknown male friend a week after L'Ecuyer was killed "breathtaking in its inhumanity."

During the conversation, the man told Arrington that an acquaintance of theirs believed she should get a medal and a parade because she had "taken out" what he said was a "tree hugger, a bicyclist, a Frenchman and a gay guy all in one shot."

Arrington laughed, and when the man said he knew it was a terrible thing to say, she responded, "No, it's not."

Viewing Arrington's sentiments as "shocking and disgusting," Judge Cruikshank imposed a sentence of 10 and one-half years in prison. Instead of laughing, Cruikshank said Arrington should have "been rendered silent."

The message in this case is ages-old. When you're in a pile of crap, keep your mouth shut.


[Update]

According to this source, Arrington worked as an exotic dancer while Mr. L'Ecuyer was an avid athlete who worked to "raise money for charities and inspiring others to be giving."

Here's a link to the audio of the telephone call capturing Arrington's laugh which, according to Judge Cruikshankl, is a big part of why he sentenced her to more than ten years in prison. (Tip: SuidaeEmpathy)

Teacher Tamara Allen Faces Federal Drug Charges

(South Lake Tahoe, California) In December 2007, a fourth-grade teacher at Bijou Community School, Tamara Allen, 42, and her home partner, Christopher Liller, 34, were arrested for allegedly cultivating and distributing marijuana. Police found 100 marijuana plants, over two pounds of processed marijuana, and $1,400 cash in the home the couple shares.

Allen and Liller were charged with cultivation of marijuana, possession of marijuana for sale and, additionally, destruction of evidence because the two were trying to destroy their garden when officers approached. Furthermore, Liller is allegedly linked to a drug ring along with his two brothers.

Both Allen and Liller were booked and each released on $35,000 bail.

In the latest development in the case, the charges against Allen and Liller in El Dorado County have been dismissed. In lieu of state criminal proceedings, Allen and Liller will face federal charges.

In Sacramento, federal felony charges of marijuana possession and conspiracy to manufacture marijuana with the intent to distribute have been filed against Allen and Liller. They pleaded not guilty and were released on $50,000 bail each.

If convicted, each charge carries a possible 40 years in prison and a $2 million fine.

Islam and Judaism

I have just put up a post on my Scripture blog under the heading: "Islam is a Jewish plot". The title is of course mocking of Leftist conspiracy theories but I point out quite seriously that there are ways in which Islam could be seen as a form of Jewish fundamentalism. If that seems crazy, you need to read the post.

Posted by John Ray

Soros Wants Power Shift From U.S. to China

During an interview with the BBC at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, billionaire leftist George Soros weighed in on the power and influence of the U.S.

"I'm not looking for a worldwide recession. I'm looking for a significant shift of power and influence away from the US in particular and a shift in favour of the developing world, particularly China."

So, there you have it -- straight from Soros' anti-American lips.

Therefore, whenever you see the multitude of Soros-funded leftist groups creating havoc in the U.S. economy, culture and political system, there should be no doubt as to the intent. Soros wants to beat down the United States while championing the ChiComs.

Soros obviously doesn't support free markets, free speech nor individual liberty. Presumably, leftist American groups backed by Soros money and pushing his agenda don't either.

Companion post at The Jawa Report.

Lake George Woman Arrested for Rape of Boy

(Lake George, New York) An 18-year-old local woman, Helen M. Chiaravalle, was arrested by Warren County Sheriff's investigators for allegedly engaging in sex with a 14-year-old boy. The sexual episode allegedly occurred in November 2007.

Chiaravelle faces a charge of second-degree rape. She was booked and released on her own recognizance to await proceedings in Lake George Town Court.

Female Arab Minister Survives No-Confidence Vote

(Kuwait) Minister of Education Nouriya Al-Subaih, the only woman in Kuwaiti politics, survived a parliamentary no-confidence vote yesterday by a count of 27 to 19. Al-Subaih had been accused of mismanagement and endangering conservative religious values.

On Jan 8 the minister had to defend herself before Parliament against the allegations that she had attempted to deceive the nation when she denied a press report that three schoolboys had been sexually assaulted by an Asian worker at a state school. She explained she had been misinformed and subsequently issued an apology.

Al-Subaih was also accused of disrespecting Islam because she didn't punish a girl who scribbled a cross on a textbook and then said she hated Islam. The charge was found to be baseless.

The no-confidence measure is indicative of the divide in the Kuwait Parliament between strict Islamist lawmakers and liberal supporters of Al-Subaih.

Al-Subaih is the first minister in the Cabinet of HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammed Al-Sabah to triumph over a no-confidence motion. Prior to the voting, MP Jaber Al-Muhailbi, who supported the grilling, said those who oppose the no-confidence motion are defying the Islamic Sharia.

"According to Islam, a woman should not hold any leadership post," Al-Muhailbi pointed out.

The Islamists apparently don't really care what Al-Subaih did and coupled with the fact that she refuses to wear a headscarf, they are simply enraged that she is in Parliament and any reason to get her out would likely be fine.

Continued contentiousness in Kuwait's Parliament regarding Al-Subaih's presence should be expected.

Mom, Boyfriend Accused of Torturing Toddler

(Victorville, California) A 22-year-old mother and her 24-year-old boyfriend, Vanessa Woods and Reginald Hardin Jr., were arrested yesterday for allegedly torturing Woods' 21-month-old daughter, who weighed a mere 10 pounds.

According to San Bernardino County Sheriff's Detective Randy German, the child has burns on her feet, arm, chest and genitals, as well as a lacerated liver and a distended stomach from blunt force trauma.

Authorities said that there were cigarette burns on her arms and chest, her feet were completely burnt possibly by putting the child's feet in scalding water, and the burns on her genitals were "consistent with being burned with a curling iron."

 
Vanessa Woods -- Reginald Hardin Jr.

Woods reportedly took the child to Desert Valley Monday hospital (sic) after she began vomiting blood, officials said. She told doctors that the girl had a blistery rash on her forehead, so they gave the infant nearly a full adult dose of penicillin on Sunday, authorities relayed.

"Instead of taking her to the hospital at first they tried to give her apple juice and Tylenol infant drops. Then on Monday morning they said they took her socks off and her skin peeled off with the socks," German said.

When doctors discovered the girl's injuries, especially the scar tissue covering her anus, the adults said "they had no idea how she could've gotten burnt -- they said they thought it was diaper rash," German explained.

When Hardin arrived at the hospital, he apparently did so in a stolen car, and he and Woods were arrested on suspicion of possession of stolen property as well as torture and child abuse, officials said.

"It appeared the child had been continually abused for several months," German said.

The infant is in critical condition at the Loma Linda University Medical Center.

Study: Global Warming Causes Fewer Hurricanes

(University of Miami) A new study by University of Miami researchers Wang and Sang-Ki Lee says that global warming causes the oceans to produce fewer and weaker hurricanes. The study is published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters.

Some previous studies found that global warming was increasing the number and intensity of hurricanes, a conclusion that supported the conventional wisdom that warmer seas automatically turbocharge hurricane development.

Therefore, scientific data have been gathered to support the contention that global warming causes more frequent and stronger hurricanes while also supporting the contention that there will be fewer and weaker hurricanes.

I hope this clears up any confusion people may have regarding global warming. Obviously, it's the eco-political trump card, playable at any time for any purpose.

Companion post at The Jawa Report.

Survey: Swedes Having Even More Sex

From The Local:

Swedes might have long rejected foreigners' assumptions that they have a free-and-easy attitude to sex, but a new survey shows that the country has loosened up considerably in matters of the flesh.

From interviews with 4,000 to 6,000 randomly selected Swedes aged 16 to 44, more people are having more sex with more partners.

On the downside, HIV infections from sexual activity and intravenous drug use are on the increase in Sweden.

Faculty Dumped at Low-Performing School

(Cincinnati, Ohio) I would question why it took so long.

Cincinnati Public Schools will replace the entire staff at the chronically low-performing Taft Elementary School in Mount Auburn.

The action is the result of the school's inability to meet improvement goals mandated by the federal government and, before that, the district for nine consecutive years.

Students there score about 20 points below the district average on standardized tests, according to state data.

The school's principal, 11 teachers and an unknown number of staff are affected.

It's the first time CPS has taken such a radical step as a result of the 2001 No Child Left Behind Act, which requires drastic overhaul measures for any school that consistently fails to meet goals.

Just think, for at least nine years, the school has been pushing inadequately educated students out the door. Furthermore, it appears that Taft Elementary would have continued to plug along indefinitely if it were not for the No Child Left Behind law.

Companion post at EWI.

Canadian Nurse Finally Allowed to Campaign against Abortion

But it took a court of appeals to get free speech rights even considered:

"A Saskatchewan Court of Appeals has ruled that the suspension of a pro-life protester's nursing license by the Saskatchewan Association of Licensed Practical Nurses (SALPN) was unconstitutional.

In 2002, Bill Whatcott, a licensed practical nurse, participated in a protest outside the Regina Planned Parenthood offices. The Association judged Whatcott's protest to have constituted "professional misconduct" and suspended his nursing license and fined him $15,000.

Whatcott admitted in a court hearing to having carried signs with pictures of foetuses and captions saying "Planned Parenthood Aborts Babies" and "Planned Parenthood refers for abortions," "God's gift of life" and "choice is abortion". Whatcott lost his initial case at the Saskatchewan Court of Queen's Bench and his appeal was later dismissed.

Court documents in the appeal note that the SALPN disciplinary committee did not address constitutional issues of Whatcott's freedom of expression. Whatcott's appeal was upheld by the court that said the case raised "constitutional law issues pertaining to freedom of expression".

The ruling said, "The Discipline Committee did not engage in any of the balancing necessary to weigh Mr. Whatcott's right to work, the high standards to which nurses must aspire and free speech...

The justices wrote that SALPN had failed to demonstrate that the restriction on Whatcott's freedom of expression was reasonable "and the decision is thus unconstitutional."

Source

Whether you agree with abortion or not, trying to throttle one side of the debate is pretty Stalinist.

Posted by John Ray

Hillary Unwelcomed in Harlem

When visiting the Abyssinian Baptist Church, Mrs. Clinton was reportedly told to "Stay out of Harlem" and to stop trying to steal the black vote.

Agreed, it's anecdotal but an important consideration for Hillary's campaign strategists.

Clotheslines in Ontario

It appears that Canadians will soon be saving the planet by hanging their wet laundry on clotheslines instead of using dryers. Unfortunately, current rules ban clotheslines in many large, urban subdivisions because home sellers are impeded when prospective buyers see underwear flapping in the breeze.

Overriding clothesline bans was suggested last November by Ontario's chief conservation officer Peter Love.

But home builders are wondering why there's a rush, saying prospective buyers are not pushing for clotheslines. Acknowledging that "clotheslines are good for the environment," an official from the Ontario Home Builders' Association said "most families don't have the time" to hang their laundry out.

I'd suggest that most people, given a choice, would continue to use dryers. Of course, given a choice, the eco-leftists would probably ban clothes dryers in their apparent campaign to devolve the standard of living to pre-Industrial Revolution circumstances.

Illegals Named for Robbing, Beating Woman, 78

(Daly City, California) A 36-year-old illegal from El Salvador, Juan Carlos Cuellar, was arrested for the break-in of the home of a 78-year-old woman who is in critical condition after being brutally beaten.

Police are searching for his alleged accomplice, 28-year-old Jose Perez-Gonzalez, an illegal from Mexico.

Investigating officers discovered that Perez-Gonzalez apparently called the victim's home before the robbery pretending to be delivering a package to determine what time the victim would be out of the home.

Both men will face a variety of felony offenses, [Daly City Police Lt.] Morena said, which include attempted murder, armed robbery, aggravated assault of an elderly person resulting in great bodily injury and two counts of residential burglary.

However, Cuellar will not speak with detectives and Perez-Gonzalez remains at large.

Information leading to the arrest and conviction of Perez-Gonzalez reaps a reward of $10,000 from the city of Daly City. He's 5',6", weighs 145 lbs., has black hair and brown eyes. A "Mexico" tattoo appears on his right forearm. A "Harley Davidson" emblem and red dragon tattoos appear on his right arm. Those with information should contact Daly City police at (650) 991-8119.

No information was disclosed regarding whether Cuellar and Perez-Gonzalez have prior convictions or deportations. Frankly, I'd presume so.

"Gay Rights" Quietly Put on Ballot

(Miami, Florida) Gay rights advocates are trying to keep this issue quiet. An informed electorate is apparently the adversary of gay-rights supporters.

Miami voters are being asked Jan. 29 to approve a "Citizens' Bill of Rights'' that would, among other things, promote religious freedom, clean air and scenic beauty.

It would also ban discrimination on the basis of domestic relationship status, sexual orientation and gender identity and expression -- though relatively few people are aware of it.

The proposed city charter change hasn't drawn much attention. The actual ballot wording never mentions gay or transgender rights. On Monday, even some leading gay and Christian activists didn't know anything about it.

Heddy Pena, leader of SAVE, Miami's largest gay-rights group, said that gays are trying to avoid making the issue political because then "you have a fight on your hands." It's thought that a ballot entry described as "Citizens' Bill of Rights" without reference to homosexuality will adequately camouflage the gay-rights provisions of the measure.

According to Miami Commissioner Marc Sarnoff, sponsor of the legislation,

"It would bring a modern approach to people's rights in the city of Miami, including sexual preference and gender identification as classifications that are rights that will be upheld in the city of Miami."

Members of SAVE helped craft the wording in the proposed ordinance. Once passed, it's expected that transgender protections will be added to the ordinance.

Notably, this isn't the first time that a special interest group in Florida has used sneaky means to get controversial measures passed by the voters. Some may recall that after a mendacious petition drive, the Florida Constitution was amended to protect pregnant pigs.

Deportation of Vietnamese Illegals

(Hanoi, Vietnam) Per agreement completed today, about 6,200 Vietnamese living illegally in the U.S. will face deportation. Another 1,500 are in some stage of the deportation process. Previously, Vietnam didn't want them back.

This is all well and good but a drop in the bucket. It seems barely noteworthy when the 7,700 represent less than the number of illegals estimated to regularly barrel through the porous southern U.S. border in just a few days.

Gas Sold for One-Tenth Cent

(Charleston, West Virginia) A 25-year-old local woman, Madeline Jordan, was arrested for defrauding her boss when she worked as a gas station clerk. She scammed nearly $50,000 by resetting the gas price to one-tenth of a cent and sold many gallons to her family and friends.

The gas station owner noticed that his receipts were on the light side so police were notified. A sting operation was then launched and Jordan was caught.

Apparently, the scam was a Sunday morning ritual for Jordan's mother, Mary Jordan, 58, of Charleston; her brother, John Jordan, 27, of Charleston; cousin Vonnie Oldham, 38, of Leon; Clifford Parker, 47, of Leon; and Glennis Fields, 39, of Dunbar. All were arrested and booked into custody at the South Central Regional Jail.

Tip: SuidaeEmpathy