Men with Burqa-Clad Wives Unwelcome in France


(Paris, France) Since polling indicates that almost half of the French population considers Islam to be a threat to society, efforts are in progress to ban the burqa.

Muslim men who force their wives to wear a burkha are not welcome in France, the justice minister said yesterday.

Michele Alliot-Marie said husbands who make their wives wear a full body covering do not 'share the nation's values' and would have citizenship requests rejected.

She spoke out as the debate in France over the garments intensified. A government committee is considering whether to make it illegal to wear burkas and niqabs - where the face is covered - on the streets. [...]

Miss Alliot-Marie said that she would await the findings of the commission on the burkha, due later this month. But she added: 'There are still a certain number of basics on which we must stand firm.

'The wearing of the niqab or burkha is a problem that affects our ability to live together, the values of the republic and in particular human dignity.

'For instance, someone who would be seeking French citizenship and whose wife wears the full veil is someone who would not appear to be sharing the values of our country.

'Therefore in a case like that one, we would reject his request.'

President Sarkozy has said, "The burqa has no place in France." In response, al Qaeda in North Africa has threatened revenge.

In a somewhat related report, a survey released Friday in Germany found that nearly three-fourths of Berliners polled feared the spread of Islam.

Texas Woman Accused of Sex with Boy

(Orange, Texas) A 28-year-old local woman, Tynnesa Reschel Gonzales Dugan, was arrested Thursday for allegedly engaging in sex with a teen boy. She faces two felony counts of carnal knowledge of a juvenile.

The arrest came after the Sheriff's Office received information from the Office of Community Services that Dugan was having sex with a juvenile male.

The incidents happened between July and mid-November at a Pineville-area home where Dugan was staying temporarily.

Dugan was booked into custody at the Rapides Parish Jail with bond set at $50,000.

Greenie thug "offended" by an accurate comparison

Behave like a 1930s German street thug and it is entirely just that you be compared to one

"A former Conservative peer has become embroiled in a row after he branded a Jewish climate change protester a member of the “Hitler Youth”. Lord Monckton, a global warming sceptic and former economic adviser to Margaret Thatcher, made the controversial comments during the Copenhagen climate change talks this week.

The Viscount was speaking at a fringe meeting held by lobby group Americans For Prosperity on Wednesday night when a group of youth delegates interrupted and started chanting.

The 57-year-old peer was said to be so outraged by the interruption from American sustainable development group SustainUS that he started calling the protesters the “Hitler Youth”. Lord Monckton continued to use the phrase during a lengthy exchange with the youngsters the following morning, when he confronted them at a separate event.

When Mr Wessel informed Lord Monckton he found the comment offensive and that his grandparents had “escaped the Nazis growing up in Germany”, Lord Monckton replied: “Because of the biofuel scam, world food prices have doubled. That it because of the global warming scare, which you won't look at the science of.

“As a result of that, millions are dying in third world countries because food prices have doubled because of the biofuel scam, because of the global warming scare.

Source

Breaking up the meetings of other political groups was a prime activity of the Nazi street thugs of the 1920s and 1930s

Update

Monckton's own powerful reply to the ecofascists is HERE. He clearly knows his stuff, including Nazi history, though he mentions that only in passing.

Posted by John Ray (M.A.; Ph.D.).

Woman, 98, Indicted for Killing Roommate, 100

(New Bedford, Massachusetts) A 98-year-old nursing home resident, Laura Lundquist, was indicted earlier today for allegedly strangling her roommate, 100-year-old Elizabeth Barrow.

Laura Lundquist was sent to a state mental hospital for a competency evaluation before she is arraigned on the murder charge. Her defense attorney, Carl Levin, said she has a “long-standing diagnosis of dementia, as well as issues of cognitive impairment.”

The body of Elizabeth Barrow, with a plastic bag tied around her head, was found in her bed at the Brandon Woods nursing home in Dartmouth on Sept. 24. Police initially speculated it was a suicide, but a medical examiner ruled it a homicide after an autopsy indicated strangulation.

The two women lived together for about a year.

Marijuana Death

(Panama City Beach, Florida) During apprehension by Bay County Sheriff's deputies, a 23-year-old local man, Andrew Grande, choked to death from eating a bag of marijuana.

Apparently, Grande had also been tasered and a part of the whole episode was caught on video by a crew from TruTV. The Sheriff's Office is investigating.

Canada Public Health Agency Accused of Flu-Mongering

(Toronto, Ontario) According to Ontario's former Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Richard Schabas, public health officials are continuing to characterize H1N1 as a threat, even though the outbreak is essentially over.

The public is allegedly being fooled in order to unload millions of doses of vaccine already bought.

Schabas, who is medical officer of health for Hastings and Prince Edward Counties, estimates that 35 million of the 50.4 million doses of vaccine that Canada has ordered, at a cost of more than $400 million, will not be used.

"They bought 50 million doses of vaccine and it's an embarrassment to them that it's not being used," he said, adding that it became available too late.

"I think if you are going to make that push, you at least need to tell people that the outbreak is essentially over and you have to say to people any future risk of H1N1, at least this year, is extremely small. ... You shouldn't mislead people." Schabas said.

The Ontario pandemic plan predicted 13,000 deaths and 54,000 hospitalizations. So far, the figures are 104 H1N1-related deaths and 1,656 hospitalizations. Nevertheless, a new campaign has been launched to encourage more vaccinations.

Obviously, Ontario needs to temper its alarmism and enhance its public health planning efforts.

Companion post at SocGlory.

U.S.-Taliban Backdoor Talks

I noticed when a trial balloon was floated but this is the first report confirming that discussions are proceeding. It's dated 11/24/09.

On Monday Richard Holbrooke, who is President Barack Obama's special envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan, said that the U.S. is now involved in indirect discussions with the Afghan Taliban, the Daily Times of Pakistan reported.[1]

-- The Pakistani newspaper Dawn said Tuesday that "Saudi and Pakistani intelligence agencies" are acting as intermediaries.[2]

-- An unnamed source involved in the secret negotiations said that "one of the main objectives of the recent visit to Pakistan by CIA chief Leon Panetta was to assess progress in the back-channel negotiations," Azaz Syed reported.

-- The source named four figures involved in the negotiations.

-- The paper also reported that "Reliable sources also told Dawn that Mullah Umar, the chief of Afghan Taliban, has nominated his shadow foreign minister, Agha Motasam, to negotiate with the Americans.

It's being referred to as "a plan to woo the Taliban."

Based upon what the U.S. holds dear and what the Taliban holds dear, I frankly can't think of anything available to agree about. In any event, the U.S. Embassy and others strongly deny that any meetings are taking place. In fact, the denials have been so strong I tend to think there's something to the report.

[Add.] According to another source, US-Taliban talks have been in progress for six months.

The indirect talks involve officials from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Britain, and top Afghan Taliban leadership, including the Harkat-ul-Mujahideen Chief and the son-in-law of Osama Bin Laden’s former mentor.

The Afghan Taliban have adopted stance that they would only be able to guarantee peace in Afghanistan if the US undertakes complete pullout of its forces from the war-torn country.

According to Taliban sources, there is expectation of a positive outcome from the ongoing talks. Abdullah Anas of Al-Jazair is playing the role of an arbitrator in the ongoing tripartite talks.

According to sources, the Taliban have asked for a definite time-frame for US pull out from Afghanistan. In return, they have guaranteed that they would ensure peace and tranquillity in the country and would not allow their soil to be used for terrorism. The source say that the first round of talks between the two sides is over and the next round of talks is expected to be held after Eidul Azha. [my bold]

Therefore, despite the denials, there's more evidence that talks are ongoing.

Interestingly, it's reported that the Taliban asked for a specific "time-frame for US pull out from Afghanistan" and President Obama seemingly granted that request by declaring a mid-2011 departure date when recently announcing he was sending reinforcements. Meanwhile Secretary Gates and others in the administration are denying that the mid-2011 date is firm.

Nonetheless, the Taliban have their requested time-frame and will presumably guarantee peace and tranquility until then.

Rifqa Bary's Christmas Cards

(Columbus, Ohio) A Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) lawyer has allegedly filed a motion in county court to prevent Muslim-to-Christian convert Rifqa Bary from receiving any Christmas cards and to confiscate Christmas cards she has already received.

Reportedly, the Christmas cards represent a danger to Rifqa Bary's health and safety.

The ban and seizure motion is scheduled to be heard by the court on December 22.

Forget about free speech. There's not even freedom of thought for prospective teachers at the University of Minnesota

We read:

"A branch of the University of Minnesota may require all education students at the school to understand and accept that they are either privileged or oppressed and that they be well-versed in issues like "white privilege," "institutional racism” and the "myth of meritocracy in the United States."

Critics are condemning the Race, Culture, Class and Gender Task Group at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, which proposes making race, class and gender issues the "overarching framework" of all teaching courses.

The task group, formed as part of the Teacher Education Redesign Initiative at the state university, aims to change how future teachers are trained, based on the assertion that the teachers' lack of "cultural competence" contributes to minority students' poor grades.

But the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) says the Race, Culture, Class and Gender group is going beyond addressing how teachers are educated and is trying instead to mandate their beliefs and values. "Unlike what many schools of education have in terms of cultural competence, this task group really wants to invade the minds of future teachers and demand that they hold the 'right' values attitudes and beliefs about society, about themselves, and about race, class, culture, and gender, to a degree to which it really violates the freedom of conscience of future teachers," Adam Kissel, Director of FIRE's Individual Rights Defense Program, told FoxNews.com.

Kissel wrote a letter last week urging the university to reject the group's proposal on the premise that "as a public university bound by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, the university is both legally and morally obligated to uphold this fundamental right."

Source

Posted by John Ray (M.A.; Ph.D.).

Teacher-Student Love Letters Released - Updated

(Jacksonville, Florida) Ultimately, Jennifer Collier was convicted and sentenced to three years in prison for sex with a boy. Today, documents associated with the case were released to the public.

There are dozens of letters and messages released Thursday that were sent by the 14-year-old to his teacher, 34-year-old Jennifer Collier.

One letter from the student to the teacher starts: "To my future Wifey Jennifer." It ends with her name in a heart.

Another letter from the student reads, "I wish we could spend a weekend together, just me and you in a hotel with the candles lit and listening to a lil bit of Marvin Gaye."

But it wasn't just him writing the love letters. Prosecutors said Collier wrote some on Facebook.

"I can't stop thinking about you," one message reads. "I love you a lot more than a teacher should love a student. OMG!!! I don't know what to do with my feelings for you. Thinking about u really makes my heart smile. U know, I say good night to u every night when I get into bed."

The teen told police he had sex with Collier in the parking lot of a Westside Walmart.

He also told them the two had several sexual encounters at their school, James Weldon Johnson Middle School, where Collier was the teen's eighth-grade science teacher.

As seen in the messages she wrote, Collier was clearly worried about being caught. She wrote on Facebook: "I don't know what else I can say. I am being real with you!!! But I am stuck between a rock and a hard place. You're 14 ... and the love I feel for you is very real, but it's illegal for us to be together out in the open. You're my student, and I will lose my license and everything if anybody found out about us!"

She also wrote, "Don't try to kiss me at school. ... I need my job."

Touching, eh? Reportedly, the relationship lasted for a year.

* * * * *
Florida Teacher Arrested for Sex with Boy
[Previous 4/21/09 post]
(Jacksonville, Florida) A 34-year-old science teacher at James Weldon Johnson Middle School, Jennifer Collier, was arrested yesterday for allegedly engaging in sex with a 14-year-old boy.

Police say Collier had sex with the boy on Friday after agreeing to take him home following a school field trip.

The report says the boy showed police several e-mails from Collier to the victim that demonstrated their inappropriate relationship.

When arrested, investigators said Collier claimed to have a "mother-type relationship" with the boy who had come to her to talk about problems he was having in his home life. She then requested an attorney.

Collier faces charges of sexual battery on a victim under 18, lewd battery and lewd and lascivious conduct.

British Model of the Year



Georgia May Jagger, 17
Last night, Georgia May Jagger, the 17-year-old daughter of Mick Jagger, was named Model of the Year at the British Fashion Awards in London.

Did Ya' Hear?

- About Elsie Egan who allegedly weaponized a beefsteak. Heh. Her disabled, terminally-ill husband wanted a roll and she beat him with meat to force him to eat sliced bread? (h/t CNestor)

- About Tiger Woods wanting to change his name (again) because "tiger" has become a negative. It's rumored he's thinking of lion or cheetah?

- About the statue erected in Indonesia to honor Barack "the boy" Obama?

- About Fish & Wildlife officials struggling with moral and ethical implications of intentionally killing barred owls to protect spotted owls?

- About the Ukranian guy who blew his head apart with explosive chewing gum?

- About the man caught at the airport by customs agents with more than one lizard in his underwear?

- About the five, apparently home-grown, American jihadists arrested in Pakistan? (h/t slwlion)

- About the Iranian nuclear scientist who went missing on a visit to Saudi Arabia? Abduction or defection? Nobody is telling.

Obama does not even have good manners

Barack Obama's trip to Oslo to pick up his Nobel peace award is in danger of being overshadowed by a row over the cancellation of a series of events normally attended by the prizewinner. Norwegians are incensed over what they view as his shabby response to the prize by cutting short his visit.

The White House has cancelled many of the events peace prize laureates traditionally submit to, including a dinner with the Norwegian Nobel committee, a press conference, a television interview, appearances at a children's event promoting peace and a music concert, as well as a visit to an exhibition in his honour at the Nobel peace centre. He has also turned down a lunch invitation from the King of Norway.

According to a poll published by the daily tabloid VG, 44% of Norwegians believe it was rude of Obama to cancel his scheduled lunch with King Harald, with only 34% saying they believe it was acceptable. "Of all the things he is cancelling, I think the worst is cancelling the lunch with the king," said Siv Jensen, the leader of the largest party in opposition, the populist Progress party. "This is a central part of our government system. He should respect the monarchy," she told VG.

SOURCE

Posted by John Ray (M.A.; Ph.D.).

Sickening Child Molestation

(Umatilla, Florida) In May 2009, a 39-year-old mother, Rhonda Bays (pic), and her boyfriend, 29-year-old Tanner Stickney, were arrested for child molestation and production of child pornography.

Bays let her boyfriend molest her 4-year-old relative, videotaped the incident at an Orlando hotel and later offered up a 2-year-old for potential abuse. Bays, who once ran for mayor of Umatilla, has pleaded guilty in federal court and faces up to 30 years in prison.

Her boyfriend, Tanner Stickney, has a plea deal in place with federal prosecutors in Washington, D.C., that calls for him to serve 15 years in federal prison. [...]

In their legal filings, prosecutors have revealed more startling details about the case, including that Bays and Stickney talked about adopting children to be sex slaves.

There's more that these two molesters are responsible for and it's disturbing to read the reports. Fortunately, Bays faces a long federal prison term when sentenced and Stickney will be away for 15 years which is a long time for child molesters to survive in prison.

Tip: slwlion


[Update 12/10/09]

Rhonda Bays was sentenced to 24 years in federal prison today.

Stealth Aircraft in Afghanistan



RQ-170 - Beast of Kandahar
The U.S. Air Force acknowledges the existence of a stealth drone aircraft, officially called RQ-170, being deployed in reconnaissance and surveillance missions in Afghanistan.

Dubbed the "Beast of Kandahar," it previously was shrouded in secrecy. (More ....)

Study: Casual Sex Not Hurtful

(Minneapolis, Minnesota) Surprising, it's called. According to researchers at the University of Minnesota, promiscuous sexual behavior euphemistically called "casual sex" and "friends with benefits" produces no adverse psychological or emotional consequences. In other words, sleeping around is OK.

Marla E. Eisenberg (PhD) and her colleagues discuss the study in this month's issue of Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health. Over 1,300 young Minnesotans were surveyed and no evidence of psychological problems were found.

Speculation in public discourse suggests that sexual encounters outside a committed romantic relationship may be emotionally damaging for young people, and federal abstinence education policy has required teaching that sexual activity outside of a marital relationship is likely to have harmful psychological consequences.

Maybe it's just me but it appears that the research results were designed to specifically target abstinence education policies for bashing. If not, why bring the subject up?

In any event, it's difficult to believe that the complex psychological and emotional well-being of a population can be easily discerned by a survey. After all, psychiatrists may analyze for years trying to unravel the psychological and emotional turmoil in one person's brain. It seems unbelievably ambitious to make similar assertions regarding entire populations without similar analysis, particularly when they involve episodes of potentially-traumatic sexual intimacy.

In summary, I'm skeptical of the entire study. However, despite my misgivings, I confess that I've toyed with the idea of contacting the researchers to request the names and phone numbers of all the young women surveyed who believe that engaging in casual sex is less important than using their own toothbrushes. Granted, it would be a snarky, non-peer review of their study -- nothing I'd expect a response from.

Companion post at The Jawa Report.

Delaware Woman and Boy, 10

(Millsboro, Delaware) An 18-year-old local female, Tabitha J. Hritz, was arrested by Delaware State Police on Monday for allegedly engaging in a three-month sexual relationship with a 10-year-old boy.

Hritz has been charged with 18 counts of rape and one count of continuous sexual abuse of a child.

State police were alerted after the victim had a discussion with a school counselor about his poor performance at school. Reportedly, the boy was assaulted by Hritz at his home during a period when she was having a relationship with the boy's dad.

Hritz was booked into custody at Baylor Women's Correctional Institution with bond set at $95,000.

Australia: Some stupid comments on the monarchy

By Barry Everingham -- "a Melbourne writer and commenter on royalty". All he has is hostility. He doesn't even know the difference between Sandringham and Balmoral. Sandringham is in Norfolk, not Scotland. Note for American readers: The Queen is Queen of Australia as well as Queen of England. Australia is a monarchy and there is strong popular support for it remaining so -- much as Australian Leftists hate that

Dear oh dear – the Queen of Australia and her other realms and territories beyond the seas – is very angry. She’s sick and tired of the paparazzi lurking behind the clipped hedges at Sandringham – her multi million pounds holiday house in Scotland – taking pictures of the rollicking royals on their Christmas break. Privacy? What privacy?Privacy? What privacy?

So angry is the Australian head of state, she’s threatening to invoke laws if any of the snappers are caught in the royal grounds – there’s nothing she can do if they stay outside the castle’s fences so the guess is ladders will be the orders of the day.

What the Queen fails to understand is that she, along with the other members of her family are nothing more or nothing less than paid public servants. They get their fortnightly cheques from Whitehall – which are taxed these days – and they go about doing what they are paid to do: open; open fetes, cut ribbons, launch ships and other important day to day duties....

More HERE, if you want to read drivel.

Posted by John Ray (M.A.; Ph.D.).

Climate Scientist: Quit Washing to Save Planet

(Edinburgh, Scotland) Dr. David Reay of Edinburgh University is a Senior Lecturer in carbon management and Director of the Carbon Management curriculum. He is also a Fellow of the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) in the School of Geosciences.

Consequently, Dr. Reay is considered a "world-renowned" expert on global warming and carbon emissions who regularly offers his insights on saving the planet.

In a recent piece in the New Scientist, Dr. Reay details his assessment of eco-crimes committed by the public. First, Reay contends that people should wash less frequently since personal hygiene and laundry are massive domestic energy users. Secondly, consumption of coffee should be eliminated or curtailed with the minimum being a switch from brewed to instant. Wasting food and replacing clothes before they're worn out are also considered eco-crimes by Dr. Reay.

Dr. Reay cites some numbers associated with energy and water savings, however, he strongly emphasizes that washing is the biggest energy hog. Reay's point is that people should learn to accept foul odors resulting from washing less frequently and wearing soiled clothing.

Companion post at The Jawa Report.

BSA Troop Leader Accused of Sex with Scout

(O'Fallon, Illinois) A 39-year-old Boy Scout troop leader, Wendy Rogers, was caught Sunday allegedly engaging in sex with a Boy Scout. Rogers faces a charge of criminal sexual assault.

According to the St. Clair County Sheriff, the parents, who'd been shopping, returned to their home between O'Fallon and Lebanon, Illinois around 3 p.m. only to discover their son, a minor, in flagrante delicto with Wendy Rogers, leader of Troop 35.

Recognizing the O'Fallon woman immediately, the parents blocked the door so Rogers couldn't escape, then called 911 dispatchers, to whom they reported a "rape in progress."

The act was not technically "consensual," says Captain Steve Johnson of the sheriff's office, because the boy was a minor. He adds, however, that "it wasn't a situation where physical force was being used against the young man."

Rogers was booked into custody at the St. Clair County Jail with bond set at $100,000.

Russia Bans Jehovah's Witnesses

(Moscow, Russia) In an appeal of a lower court decision, the Russian Supreme Court has ruled that Jehovah's Witnesses are extremists. Part of the reason is that Jehovah's Witnesses allegedly violate the rights of atheists by their methods of intrusive preaching.

Russian Supreme Court's judicial chamber for civil cases upheld a decision to ban a southern Russian branch of the Jehovah's Witnesses.

The Supreme Court rejected an appeal against a previous court ruling of the Rostov regional court issued on September 11, 2009, which declares the Jehovah's Witnesses' branch in the southern Russian city of Taganrog an extremist organization and bans its activities.

Some 34 books, issued and handed out by the organization, were put on the national list of extremist literature.

The ruling "could set a precedent not only for Jehovah's Witnesses, but for believers of all confessions," the group said in a statement, issued on its website ahead of the hearing. "It would be the first time internationally recognized Christian literature was censored in Russia."

A plot of land, an office building and other property belonging to the group were also seized.

About 300,000 Jehovah's Witnesses live in Russia. It's not clear what happens to Jehovah's Witnesses caught practicing their faith.

Threatened Road Kill

(Orange City, Florida) This report doesn't make a lot of sense to me.

Two Orange City men who picked up a dead Florida black bear from Interstate 4, skinned it and cut it up into steak-sized chunks, quickly regretted their decision to butcher the threatened species, a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission official said this morning.

According to Fish and Wildlife spokeswoman Joy Hill, it's illegal to pick up dead threatened animals. The men turned themselves in and received a warning.

I'm wondering how a dead animal could be threatened.

Must not oppose taxes

Cornell professor writing in NYT says that opposition to taxes is like car stealing and vandalism:

"Anti-tax zealots denounce all taxation as theft, as depriving citizens of their right to spend their hard-earned incomes as they see fit. Yet nowhere does the Constitution grant us the right not to be taxed. Nor does it grant us the right to harm others with impunity. No one is permitted to steal our cars or vandalize our homes. Why should opponents of taxation be allowed to harm us in less direct ways?"

Source

And the guy is supposed to be an expert in ethics! Sounds like he could use some ethics himself. Or is free speech not ethical?

Posted by John Ray (M.A.; Ph.D.).

Bayou Woman Accused of Carnal Knowledge of Juvenile

(Luling, Louisiana) A 27-year-old woman, Jolene V. Parks, was arrested last Friday for allegedly engaging in sex with a 16-year-old boy. Parks faces a charge of carnal knowledge of a juvenile.

The incident was discovered when the woman told the boy that she was pregnant. The boy told his father, who filed the complaint against the woman.

Parks was booked into custody at the Nelson Coleman Correctional Center with bail set at $100,000.

Man Allegedly Robbed While Dying at ER

(Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) A 63-year-old school counselor and community activist, Joaquin Rivera, died last month while waiting for treatment at the emergency room of Aria Hospital's Frankford Campus.

The case has prompted local and national outrage regarding health care for working-class communities. Rivera walked to the ER about 10:45 p.m. Nov. 28, complaining to staff of pain in his left arm. He was told to wait, and sat down in the waiting room. He never got up again. Rivera was pronounced dead shortly after midnight.

Councilwoman Maria Quinones-Sanchez, who has vowed to hold hearings about the case, has a meeting scheduled this afternoon with Aria Health officials to discuss the case.

The state Department of Health, Philadelphia police and Aria Health are investigating the case.

But there's more. As Mr. Rivera was dying while waiting, he was robbed. Caught on videotape were a woman and two men allegedly stealing Mr. Rivera's wristwatch "off his person." Jannia Walker, 21, Richard Alten, 44, and Martin Smith, 41, have been arrested and charged with criminal conspiracy, robbery and related offenses. Alten and Smith reportedly are homeless and both have police records.

"Curious" Florida Woman Arrested for Sex with Boy

(Tampa, Florida) A 28-year-old local woman, Dana Sue Stikeleather, was arrested Saturday for allegedly engaging in sex with a 15-year-old boy.

She has been charged with lewd or lascivious battery.

According to the Pasco County Sheriff's Office, Stikeleather said she had sex with the boy because she was "curious." Reportedly, there were three episodes of sex between the two in July.

Stikeleather was booked into custody at the Land O'Lakes Jail with bail set at $10,000.

Remember Pearl Harbor - December 7, 1941



USS Arizona Memorial, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii

Avoid the "zero catch" webhost

Unlike its name, http://0catch.com has lots of catches. It is an old fashioned webhost with lots of intrusive popups and a small webspace allowance. I had my content up there for some years but they have recently deployed some very aggressive bots which have now shut down my site twice for no apparent reason. Content that was OK for years is now not OK, apparently. I of course used their help system to protest but just got brushed off. So goodbye to them! The free webhosts I like best at the moment are http://www.110mb.com/ and http://www.000webhost.com/

Posted by John Ray (M.A.; Ph.D.).

Christmas Trees would pollute U.N. Conference‏

We read:

"Participants at Copenhagen's global climate summit will be meeting during the holiday season, but they will not be surrounded by festive Christmas decor, according to Denmark's Foreign Ministry. Since Christmas is a religious holiday, it has no place at a United Nations event, said officials planning the event.

A sponsor providing fir trees for the conference's Christmas trees learned this the hard way when it was turned away by planners of the international event, the Copenhagen Post reported. The trees, commonly used as Christmas trees in Denmark, were originally to be placed outside the Bella Center, where the 11-day conference will be held from Dec. 7 — Dec. 18.

"We have to remember that this is a U.N. conference and, as the center then becomes U.N. territory, there can be no Christmas trees in the decor, because the U.N. wishes to maintain neutrality," said Denmark Foreign Ministry official Svend Olling.

Fir trees otherwise reach the climate-friendly standards of the conference planners. Firs bind carbon dioxide and prevent its release into the atmosphere.

Source

When in Denmark, do as the Danes do? Apparently not.

Posted by John Ray (M.A.; Ph.D.).

Babysitter Gets Prison in Baby Girl Sex Case - Updated

(Chillicothe, Ohio) In October 2009, 37-year-old Heather Musgrove pleaded guilty to gross sexual imposition of an 11-month-old baby girl in accordance with an agreement with the prosecution.

Last week, Musgrove was sentenced by Judge Scott Nusbaum to four years in prison with the "possibility of release after one year providing she was placed into in-patient sex offender counseling." Musgrove was also sentenced to five years of post-release control.

Musgrove will be classified as a Tier II sex offender requiring her to check in with the local sheriff every six months for 25 years.

* * * * *
Ohio Babysitter Accused of Raping Baby Girl
[Previous 8/14/09 post]
(Chillicothe, Ohio) A 37-year-old local babysitter, Heather Musgrove, has been accused of raping an 11-month-old girl she was caring for. Musgrove has been charged with one count of rape.

According to public information officer Chester “Bud” Lytle, Musgrove had been watching the child at her home Tuesday and after picking the child up, her parents discovered signs their daughter may have been molested.

“Her parents went to change her diaper and found some evidence she may have been molested,” Lytle said.

The child was evaluated at Adena Regional Medical Center where it was determined the child had been digitally penetrated.

Musgrove was booked into custody at the Ross County Jail with bond set at $50,000. A court appearance is scheduled for August 20.

COP15 - Copenhagen Climate Conference

(Copenhagen, Denmark) COP15, the Copenhagen Climate Conference, begins Monday, December 7, 2009 and ends Friday, December 18, 2009. It is the 15th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).


To describe the conference in simplistic terms, it is the exponential expansion of the theme expressed by a guy standing on the street corner with a big placard, stating "The end is near" while holding out a tin cup for donations. The essential argument is "We're all going to die so give me your money."

With COP15, it's a bunch of guys stating "The planet is dying, it's your fault so give us your money." Expect global warmists to serve up the finest whines and ruses for the next two weeks as the world's smoothest confidence men and women try to divvy up the proceeds from the global warming heist. The warmists are convinced that the score has been made, political hacks and media flacks are cheerleading, the science is settled and the con is complete. Now, it's payday.

Unfortunately, something is rotten in the state of Denmark. Enthusiasm for a consensus among participants and a huge payday has waned since at least two major players, China and India, have bowed out. Also, the emergence of Climategate documents cast doubt on the validity of global warming data. Therefore, the outcome of COP15 may be a lot less than the warmists planned.

My unsurprising take on man-made global warming is that it is derived from anecdotal data, cherry-picked by a segment of the scientific community corrupted by politics. It is fraudulent. It's a scam.

On the odd side of things, it's reported that the conference attendees will be provided with free prostitutes, if desired. (h/t Charley Nestor)

Companion post at The Jawa Report.

Must not see bad motives in Obama

We read:

"Arlington Mayor Russell Wiseman discovered the power of the Internet on Friday when comments he made on Facebook about President Obama generated both heated criticism and hearty support from coast to coast.

By afternoon, Wiseman had deleted his own Facebook account, but two new pages had been put up -- "Support Russell Wiseman" and "Tell Russell Wiseman To Respect Charlie Brown And Our President."

The firestorm started after the national media and bloggers picked up an article in The Commercial Appeal about Wiseman complaining that Obama purposefully scheduled his speech about the war in Afghanistan at the same time as the annual "Peanuts" Christmas television special.

In Wiseman's first Facebook post, he wrote "Ok, so, this is total crap, we sit the kids down to watch 'The Charlie Brown Christmas Special' and our muslim president is there, what a load.....try to convince me that wasn't done on purpose. Ask the man if he believes that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and he will give you a 10 minute disertation (sic) about it....when the answer should simply be 'yes'...."

In another post to his more than 1,600 Facebook friends, he also attacked the President, his supporters and Muslims, by saying "...you Obama people need to move to a muslim country...oh wait, that's America....pitiful."

Source

The one politician who may not be criticized. You can say that a Christian gentleman like George Bush is a Nazi and people will smile indulgently but say that Obama (who was brought up as a Muslim in his early years) is a Muslim and Leftists start to foam and rage and shriek.

Posted by John Ray (M.A.; Ph.D.).

Climategate Chartmanship



Frankly, "chartmanship" is a new word for me.

A great chartmanship trick is to use tiny units of measurement to magnify artificially the apparent size of tiny changes -- so note that the figures in both charts are calibrated in tenths of a degree. For comparison, most of us would experience temperature variations of somewhere around 100 times more than one tenth of a degree in the course of a normal day. So, no matter how you look at it, world temperature changes have been minuscule. We actually live in an era of exceptional climate stability. What tiny trend there is is a rising one but the rise clearly predates postwar industrialization so cannot be blamed on postwar industrialization.

Just for laughs, my reader has added onto the bottom of his graphic the temperature record for Copenhagen, where the big Warmist conference will shortly take place. There is clearly NO systematic trend in any direction. So it is a considerable irony that the Warmists are going to be pontificating about warming in a place that has seen NO warming for over a century. Copenhagen temperatures have varied but only in a random way. They depart from the average both downwards and upwards in roughly equal measure. Overall, Copenhagen temperatures are as flat as a pancake.

Source

Buy a Condo, Get a Bus Pass

(Toronto, Ontario) Without debate, the City Council passed a measure which mandates that all new condo buyers be given a year's free Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) metropass. The regulation also states that the cost of the metropass cannot be passed on to the buyer. It's not known how that provision will be enforced.

Arguably, the new regulation merely imposes a tax to pay for public transportation with a hope that people will abandon their cars. The tax is officially called a "transportation demand management measure."

Councillor Howard Moscoe said the measure is "not really to generate revenue," rather it's intended "to get people thinking about public transit."

My ass. Two rules of common sense. 1) If it is said that it's not about the money, you can be sure it's about the money and, 2) When someone rifles your wallet, you do get to thinking about something. I suggest that you think someone shouldn't be rifling your wallet.

By the way, the photo is not directly related to the story. Rather, it shows part of the $100 million TTC St.Clair Street streetcar right-of-way construction project. The project was started in 2005 before the invention of a straight-edge. Tax dollars at work.

Tennessee Woman Gets 3 Days Jail in Statutory Rape Case

(Memphis, Tennessee) In February 2009, a 31-year-old Cordova woman, Emily Louise Zinkus, was accused of engaging in sex with a 17-year-old neighbor boy.

Becky Stone said her son, now 17, confessed he'd been sleeping with the 31-year-old Zinkus for two years.

"Your best friend doesn't do this with your son, at 15," Stone said.

On Wednesday, after serving three days in jail, Zinkus was granted one year probation. She must pay the courts $30 a month plus a $100 fine, and she's ordered to stay away from Stone's son.

If Zinkus doesn't violate her probation, she qualifies to have her record erased.

New York Woman Gets 10 Years for Raping Boy - Updated

(Poughkeepsie, New York) In October, 43-year-old Kathleen Callanan pleaded guilty to first-degree rape and yesterday in Dutchess County Court she was sentenced.

With hands shackled and head bowed, Callanan was forced to listen as a prosecutor read a poem composed by the boy she victimized.

”Rage and fury, pain to bury, lustful sinner that you are, insides filled with terror,“ Senior Assistant District Attorney Andrea Long said, reading the poem.

County Court Judge Thomas J. Dolan then sentenced Callanan, a Hyde Park resident, to 10 years in state prison.

Minutes later, Dolan imposed a 20-year prison term on another defendant in the case, 32-year-old David Hotaling of the City of Poughkeepsie, for repeatedly sexually abusing the same boy.

”These acts are despicable and deserve the most stringent, harsh punishment,“ Dolan said.

”It doesn't get much worse than this,“ he said. ”If the court is not here to protect a 9-year-old child, we have no business being here at all.“

Fifty-five-year-old Robert Rogler was previously sentenced to 20 years to life in prison and John Blenis, 35, remains to be sentenced.

* * * * *
New York Woman Guilty of Raping Boy
[Previous 10/26/09 post]
(Poughkeepsie, New York) In June 2009, a Hyde Park woman, Kathleen Callanan, was arrested on six counts of felony rape stemming from the alleged sexual abuse of a boy under 13 years of age.

Today in Dutchess County Court, Callanan pleaded guilty before Judge Thomas J. Dolan to first-degree rape in accordance with a plea agreement.

Callanan told the judge she had sex with the boy, who was under the age of 13, on a day between Jan. 17 and March 27, 2008. She said another defendant charged in the indictment, Robert Rogler, had transported her and the child to Rogler’s home on the day of the crime.

Rogler, 55, of Hyde park, and 35-year-old John Blenis, a former Poughkeepsie resident who was living in Canton, Ohio when he was arrested, still face multiple felony charges in connection with the alleged rapes. A fourth defendant, David Hotaling, 32, of the City of Poughkeepsie, admitted his role in the crimes Oct. 6 and faces a 20-year prison sentence.

The three men still face prosecution in the case. Callanan's sentencing arrangements have not been disclosed.

Russian Cafe Bombed

From RIA Novosti:

About 76 people are believed to have been killed and about 60 were hospitalized in a blast that hit a cafe in the Urals city of Perm late on Friday, an emergencies ministry source said on Saturday.

The blast occurred at 23:15 Moscow time [20:15 GMT], and was followed by fire. Firefighters have already brought the blaze under control.

Police say most casualties occurred because of smoke inhalation and trampling from stampeding.

UK Guardian reports more than 100 dead. No claims of responsibility yet.

Illegal Wants Alias Used in Rape Trial

(Bucks County, Pennsylvania) In May 2009, a 37-year-old Jordanian national, illegally in the U.S., Khalid Altawarh (aka David Shookby), was arrested for allegedly kidnapping, robbing, beating, raping, and torturing a woman for three hours.

Altawarh took the name Shookby when he arrived in the U.S. in 1996 and he has now asked a Bucks County judge to allow his alias to be used during his trial.

[Altawarh] worries that jurors might be biased against a person of Middle Eastern descent and associate him with terrorism.

The judge ruled Thursday that using an alias in court could result in legal problems.

Altawarh awaits his trial in jail, unable to scrape together $2 million in bail.

He told the judge that he wants to remain in his prison uniform during the trial so that the jurors "can see the way he is." By law, incarcerated defendants are to be provided street clothes to wear so that jurors are not prejudiced by knowing that they are in prison.

Altawarh waived that right.

During the trial, which is expected to last into next week, Altawarh will be shackled at the ankles with an electronic device that allows deputies to administer an electric shock if they need to control him.

That security measure was ordered because Altawarh fought with police when he was arrested and has been "combative," court officials said.

Jury selection in the case began Thursday afternoon.

Altawarh faces the possibility of 10 or more years in prison.

Companion post at The Jawa Report.

Must not fly Old Glory??

We read:

"A veteran of three wars who was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor is now facing an unlikely enemy — his neighbors. Col. Van T. Barfoot, 90, has raised the Stars and Stripes every day at sunrise and lowered them every day at sunset since he served in the U.S. Army. But on Tuesday he received a letter from the law firm that represents his homeowners' association, ordering him to remove the flagpole from his Richmond, Va. yard by 5 p.m. on Friday or face "legal action."

The homeowners' association at Sussex Square community told Barfoot that the freestanding, 21-foot flagpole that he put up in September violates the neighborhood's aesthetic guidelines. Barfoot had sought permission to install the pole shortly after he moved into the community — a complex of townhouses where the grounds are community property — last June. The board denied his request in July.

But Barfoot and his family say there is no provision in Sussex Square's rules that forbids erecting flagpoles. And for Barfoot, that's a cause worth fighting for. "There's never been a day in my life or a place I've lived in my life that you couldn't fly the American flag," Barfoot said in an interview with the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

In a statement released last night, the association sought to defend its position against a growing chorus of outrage. "This is not about the American flag. This is about a flagpole," reads the statement from the association..

Source

Posted by John Ray (M.A.; Ph.D.).

Oregon Teacher Accused of Sex Abuse

(Albany, Oregon) A 34-year-old preschool teacher at Central Valley Adventist Academy, Jennifer Stitzel, was arrested Wednesday for alleged sexual abuse of a 14-year-old boy.

Stitzel faces two counts of misdemeanor third-degree sexual abuse.

Detectives were investigating a complaint regarding cell phone text messages containing sexual content being sent from Stitzel to the boy. The boy's parents discovered the text messages and filed a report on November 29. [...]

The investigation has revealed that in addition to the text messages, the woman and boy had kissed and had other inappropriate contact both on and off school grounds.

Stitzel was booked into custody at the Linn County Jail and released. A court appearance is scheduled for December 23.

Babysitter Accused of Sex with Boy, 7

(Gastonia, North Carolina) Last month, a 21-year-old Florida woman, Pilar Rocha, was arrested in Florida by federal agents for allegedly forcing a seven-year-old boy to have sex with her. The alleged crime occurred in Gastonia while Rocha was babysitting the boy.

Rocha faces charges of of first-degree rape of a child and disseminating obscene material to a minor less than 13.

According to arrest records, Pilar Rocha of Homestead Fla., showed several pornographic videos to the 7-year-old boy. When the boy went into the bathroom, Rocha allegedly followed him and they engaged in sexual intercourse, according to a warrant affidavit.

The alleged incident occurred in November and December of 2007. Rocha is now 21, but at the time of the alleged incident, she was 19.

Subsequent to her arrest and return to North Carolina, Rocha was booked into custody at the Gaston County Jail with bond set at $200,000.

Dance Teacher Accused of Offering Sex to Boys

(Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) A 42-year-old dance teacher at Propel School in Homestead, Cassandra Sproch, has been accused of offering wine and sex to teen boys.

Sproch faces charges of serving alcohol to minors, corruption of minors and endangering the welfare of children.

According to the criminal complaint, Sproch had the teens over for dinner and "poured each one of the children a glass of wine."

Sproch allegedly got drunk and later "kissed the victim and put her hand on him."

This is not the only alleged incident involving the dance instructor, police said.

The criminal complaint details another encounter with one of the teens. According to the criminal complaint, Sproch took one teen to a restaurant and "began kissing him on the neck and offered him sex."

Reportedly, Sproch is on probation from a 2008 federal fraud conviction involving credit cards.

Ohio Woman Gets Probation for Sex with Boy, 12 - Updated

(Dayton, Ohio) Yesterday (12/2), a sickly Gloria J. Murphy appeared in Montgomery County Common Pleas Court for sentencing.

Although Murphy faced a possible five years in prison, she was sentenced to probation.

Judge Mary Katherine Huffman said she would have sentenced Gloria J. Murphy to prison, but Murphy’s poor physical condition would send her straight to a medical ward, which would not be punitive enough.

"There would be no meaningful punishment,” Huffman said, before promising that probation would be “a lot tougher than being in prison.”

Other than appointments to the probation department or for medical treatment, “you’re not going to be out of the house,” said Huffman, who also designated Murphy as a Tier 2 sex offender.

It's interesting that Murphy was sentenced to home probation and that's where she molested the boy in the first place. In any event, it's hard to agree with the contention that probation is a lot tougher than prison.

* * * * *
Ohio Woman Guilty of Sex with Boy, 12
[Previous 10/23/09 post]
(Dayton, Ohio) A 55-year-old local woman, Gloria J. Murphy, admitted to engaging in sex with a 12-year-old boy.

In accordance with an agreement with the prosecution, Murphy pleaded guilty to gross sexual imposition of a child under the age of 13. In exchange, a rape charge was dropped.

Police say that the boy was not forced to have sex, but since he is younger than 13 it is still considered rape.

The boy's family has agreed to the plea agreement, but Murphy could still face up to five years in prison and will be classified a Tier 2 sex offender.

Murphy appeared weak in the courtroom today, carrying an oxygen bottle and getting confused at some of Montgomery County Common Pleas Judge Mary Katherine Huffman's questions.

Sentencing has been scheduled for December 2.

Teacher Caught with Boy

(Jackson, Mississippi) Last week, a 30-year-old teacher at Chastain Middle School, Icree McGee, was arrested by Jackson Police officers after being found with a 13-year-old boy in a parked car at 1:15 AM. According to police spokesman Joseph Daughtry,

Originally, McGee tried to lie to the police officer while being questioned at the scene, Daughtry said.

McGee is charged with false pretense and contributing to the delinquency of a minor, both misdemeanors. According to the Jackson arrest docket, McGee is ordered to pay an undisclosed fine within 30 days of the arrest.

Daughtry said he does not know where or when the child got into the vehicle. "It is my understanding that the parents didn't know about it. That's where the contributing to the delinquency of a minor comes from," Daughtry said.

He said there was no indication McGee had inappropriate contact with the student.

Jackson Public School officials declined to comment on how the episode will affect McGee's employment.

Cruse v. Teacher Smackdown Lawsuit Dismissed - Updated

From Citizen Media Law Project:

Loretta DiAnne Cruse, a former special-ed teacher at Norfolk Elementary School in Arkansas, sued the Teacher Smackdown website, 451 Press, LLC, which operates the website, and various individuals associated with it, including professional blogger Anne-Marie Nichols, for defamation and other claims in Arkansas state court. Teacher Smackdown is a watchdog site, which describes its function as "identif[ying] the molesters, thieves, and lecherous adults masquerading as teachers in our society" and "giv[ing] parents resources and information on protecting our kids and identifying these monsters." According to the complaint, an April 18, 2007 article written by Nichols falsely claimed that Cruse "plead guilty to endangering the welfare of a minor and physically abus[ing] the handicapped minor, when, in fact, she was acquitted of the crime at trial." [...]

03/19/09 - The Arkansas court dismissed the case for lack of personal jurisdiction over the defendants. Nichols lives in Colorado and 451 Press is based in Alabama.

04/29/09 - Cruse has said that she might appeal the case to the Arkansas Supreme Court.

Heh.

* * * * *
Arkansas Teacher Sues Website for Defamation
[Previous 6/3/08 post]
(Mountain Home, Arkansas) A 60-year-old former teacher at Norfolk Elementary School, Loretta DiAnne Cruse, has filed a civil lawsuit against a blog in Baxter County Circuit Court, alleging defamation.

Cruse seeks $1 million in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages.

The lawsuit alleges that the web site known as Teacher Smackdown published malicious false statements that damaged her reputation while profiting financially.

Cruse was a special education teacher at Norfork Elementary School when she allegedly abused a nonverbal 8-year-old student by putting a dirty trash can over his head and hitting the can several times. She also threw water and put a ski mask on the child and slapped his hands, according to court documents.

Cruse was suspended in December 2006, and arrested March 23 after a three-month investigation. District Judge Van Gearhart later found her not guilty of a criminal charge stemming from the incident in a court trial.

From my perspective, a long-distance observation by a non-expert, the case seems weak. The only false information I've found on Teacher Smackdown (4/9/07 entry) appears to be the statement that Cruse pleaded guilty when, in fact, she was acquitted.

Regarding malicious intent, I found none, however, the subject web pages referenced in the lawsuit are inaccesssible for some reason. In any event, extreme mental anguish resulting in physical stress and harm is claimed by Cruse.

And, then there's this:

The comments on the Web site were posted on the site's Arkansas page until late April or early May of 2008, according to Cruse's lawsuit. The comments also were posted in four other places, including a child-abuse section that also displayed photos and information about teachers and daycare workers accused of raping, murdering and sexually abusing children, according to the lawsuit.

Cruse claims the defendants' actions were "willful and malicious" and that they profit financially from the Web site. The lawsuit also states the Web site allowed posters to comment anonymously to generate controversy and increase Web site traffic, and the Web site should be held liable for the published defamation, according to the lawsuit.

The lawsuit also alleges the defendants violated the Arkansas Deceptive Trade Practices Act by using deception, fraud and false pretense in connection with its advertisement of goods and services. As a result, the defendants should be liable for Cruse's lost wages and attorney fees, as well as any other available damages, with enhanced penalties since Cruse is older than 60, according to the lawsuit.

So, the lawsuit contends that allowing commenters to remain anonymous is malicious and intended to generate controversy. Therefore, Teacher Smackdown should be held liable for readers' comments.

Like I said, the case looks weak to me but who knows what's going to happen in Baxter County, Arkansas. Cruse wants a trial by jury and we all know how unpredictable that can be.

Missouri Woman Allegedly Does Boy, 12

(Wentzville, Missouri) A 23-year-old local woman, Priscilla M. Pongspikul, was arrested yesterday for allegedly engaging in sex with a 12-year-old boy. Pongspikul faces charges of statutory rape and statutory sodomy.

Police said she had sex with the boy at her home in Wentzville the evening of Nov. 26.

On Tuesday, a doctor diagnosed Pongspikul with a sexually transmitted disease, police said. She told one of her friends to warn the boy’s mother he could have an STD.

The boy’s mother then called a hospital and police.

Police did not know what disease Pongspikul had. The boy tested negative for any disease.

Pongspikul told police that she had a lapse of judgment since she was drunk on vodka and orange juice when the sex occurred. She also said that she is learning disabled and has bipolar disorder and ADHD (attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder).

She was booked into custody with bond set at $20,000.

Hotel Blast in Somalia Kills Eight Fifteen

(Mogadishu, Somalia) Three Somalian government ministers were killed this morning when a bomb exploded in the Shamo Hotel in Mogadishu. Early reporting is sketchy.

Reports say Somalia’s Health Minister Qamar Aden Ali has been killed in a huge explosion that rocked a hotel in the restive capital Mogadishu.

The blast was targeted at workshop held in Mogadishu’s Sham Hotel where the minister, other participants and journalists were in attendance.

According to the BBC, it was a suicide bomber and dead bodies included government ministers, journalists, doctors and graduate students. They were attending a graduation ceremony.

Another source says that the ministers for health, Qamar Aden Ali, education, Ahmen Abdulahi Waayeel, and higher education, Ibrahim Hassan Addow, are all dead.

Latest report says at least 15 are dead including three journalists.

Companion post at The Jawa Report.

The Great Global Warming Swindle



The Great Global Warming Swindle
The above is only one part of a nine-part series and it runs about ten minutes. The entire nine parts can be easily followed through on YouTube.

I contend that anyone who watches the production will be incapable of buying into global warming rhetoric ever again. It's a scam and I would argue that the video provides facts which support the contention.

'Allahu Akbar' can be hate speech

We read:

"In his Nov. 25 letter ["Warning constitutes 'hate speech'"], Tom Panarese chastised the editors for publishing a Nov. 20 letter titled "Everyone, take cover at these words." This earlier letter's author stated, "I have instructed my family and friends to take cover when they hear the phrase, 'Allahu Akbar.'"

Mr. Panarese, a journalism educator, accused The Free Lance-Star of irresponsibly printing "hate speech" by publishing the earlier letter.

Sir, wake up. For tens of thousands of innocent people, "Allahu Akbar" have been the last words in the air prior to their violent, sudden, and senseless deaths. That isn't hateful; it is a fact. Recently, 13 of our brave and dedicated soldier-citizens died and dozens more were injured in a hail of gunfire as these words were shouted out by Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan.

While the phrase can be used in peaceful settings, Islamist terrorists have appropriated the words to deliberately strike fear in the hearts of the "infidel non-believers," this according to written directions provided to the 9/11 hijackers.

Through his critique of the FLS and the earlier letter, Mr. Panarese identifies himself as a poster child for passively complicit, misdirected PC behavior. Hopefully none of his journalism students is part of the Fort Hood massacre investigation team.

Source

Posted by John Ray (M.A.; Ph.D.).

Terrorist Dry Run

An apparent dry run by jihad terrorists was conducted on a flight last week from Atlanta to Houston. Here's an excerpt of a first-person account.

I was in 1st class coming home. 11 Muslim men got on the plane in full attire. 2 sat in 1st class and the rest peppered themselves throughout the plane all the way to the back.

As the plane taxied to the runway the stewardesses gave the safety spiel we are all so familiar with. At that time, one of the men got on his cell and called one of his companions in the back and proceeded to talk on the phone in Arabic very loudly and very aggressively. This took the 1st stewardess out of the picture for she repeatedly told the man that cell phones were not permitted at the time. He ignored her as if she was not there.

The 2nd man who answered the phone did the same and this took out the 2nd stewardess. In the back of the plane at this time, 2 younger Muslims, one in the back, isle, and one in front of him, window, began to show footage of a porno they had taped the night before, and were very loud about it. (More ....)

To my knowledge, the report has not been disputed.

Companion post at The Jawa Report.

[Update] A media report provides some details.

125 Years Prison in Child Molestation Case - Updated

(Covington, Indiana) Last month, 26-year-old Samantha Light pleaded guilty to three felony counts of child molestation stemming from the performance of sex acts on children as young as two months old.

Today, Light was sentenced to 125 years in prison. Light apologized during the sentencing proceeding and said she was also a victim, having been coerced by her boyfriend.

"On the tape, I may appear happy. I may look like I'm enjoying myself," Light said. "I felt like I was dying inside because I knew how wrong it was."

Light's boyfriend, Stephen Quick, has pleaded not guilty to comparable charges and has a court appearance scheduled for December 15.

* * * * *
Indiana Couple Accused of Child Molestation
[Previous 3/15/09 post]
(Veedersburg, Indiana) This is sick. A Fountain County couple who run a baby-sitting service, Stephen E. Quick, 31, and Samantha Light, 25, have been arrested for allegedly molesting and exploiting several young children. Additionally, a videotape was found by investigators which showed images of the couple performing sex acts with children as young as 2 months old.

Both Quick and Light face multiple counts of child molestation and child exploitation.

 
Samantha A. Light, Stephen E. Quick
Quick and Light were arrested March 5 after a young girl they were babysitting complained to her mother that the couple had inappropriately touched her and took pictures.

Deputies seized several computers, cameras, a video camera, pornographic materials, drugs and drug paraphernalia during an initial search of the couple's home, said Fountain County Sheriff's Department Deputy Bob Kemp.

They also found a videotape that showed several sexual acts involving both Quick and Light and at least four different children between the ages of 2 months and 6 years old, Kemp said.

Quick and Light were booked into custody at the Fountain County Jail. Bond has been set at $100,000 each.

Tip: slwlion

Craigslist "Skank Agent" Busted

(Fond du Lac, Wisconsin) Two teen girls (pics) placed ads on Craigslist to lure men for sex at a local Fond du Lac motel where the girls' friends mugged the men.

A 17-year-old girl admitted orchestrating the scheme, calling herself a skank agent, with the help of 18-year-old Stevi Smet, who served as a female decoy outside the motel.

Both young ladies were arrested and face charges of prostitution and armed robbery.

Tip: slwlion

Florida Woman Accused of Sex with Boy

(Brookville, Florida) A 25-year-old local woman, Hopemarie Johnson Clark, faces charges of lewd and lascivious battery against a child for allegedly engaging in sex "approximately 25 times" with her roommate's 15-year-old son.

The victim gave a sworn statement to the Hernando County Sheriff's Office and said he and Clark had sexual intercourse "on numerous occasions" beginning in September.

The victim's younger sister was in bed one day in October and witnessed her brother and Clark having sex on an air mattress on the floor, according to the report.

Clark told the girl not to tell anyone, deputies said.

Sgt. Donna Black, a sheriff's spokeswoman, would not give the age of the sister, but confirmed she was younger than the 15-year-old victim.

On Monday, Clark gave a video-recorded statement admitting to an ongoing sexual relationship with the boy, according to the sheriff's office.

She told authorities she was involved in a "love relationship" with the victim, the report showed.

According to Gail Tierney, a spokeswoman with the Citrus County Sheriff's Office, additional charges are possible.

Texas Woman Gets Prison for Sex with Girl - Updated

(Nacogdoches, Texas) Yesterday, Tammy Jean Butler was convicted and sentenced to two years in prison.

After 3 hours of deliberation, a jury decided Tammy Jean Butler will serve two years in prison for the first count of sexual assault of a minor. For the second count, Butler will serve 10 years in prison, probated. The sentence stipulates that the 2-year prison term must be completed before starting the probated sentence. Butler's 8 months already served will be applied to her prison sentence.

Butler was instructed by Judge Ed Klein to have absolutely no contact with the minor during the prison sentence.

Nacogdoches County District Attorney Nicole LoStracco was satisfied with the decision. "I'm pleased that the jury obviously felt a 15 or 16 year old in Nacogdoches County is not mature enough to consent to sexual contact with an adult, and I think that's what the two year sentence implied," she said. "I'm disappointed that they gave her probation for count two."

Tammy's husband Marlin awaits trial on similar sexual assault charges.

* * * * *
Texas Woman Accused of Sex with Girl
[Previous 12/1/09 post]
(Nacogdoches, Texas) Last February, a 37-year-old area woman, Tammy Jean Butler, was indicted on charges of sex assault of a 15-year-old girl.

She was booked into custody and released on $25,000 bond. Authorities were first alerted by the girl's parents that Butler and their daughter were engaging in sexual relations.

In March, Tammy Butler was seen with her victim so she was re-arrested and returned to the Nacogdoches County Jail with bond increased to $250,000.

This week, Tammy Butler is on trial before Judge Ed Klein in the 420th District Court. She faces three counts of sexual assault of a child.

Additionally, Tammy's husband, Marlin Jackson Butler, 34, has also been charged with sex assault of the girl. Allegedly, Marlin Butler joined in on the sexual relations on at least one occasion.

Massachusetts School Bus Driver Arrested for DUI

(Worcester, Massachusetts) A 43-year-old school bus driver, Lisa Delorto, has been accused of driving a school bus under the influence of drugs.

Reportedly, after dropping students off at Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical High School, Delorto was seen driving erratically.

Several drivers contacted Auburn police, with one witness even following the bus and giving police the bus number, until officers caught up to it.

Delorto allegedly failed a field sobriety test and was charged with driving under the influence of drugs, driving negligently, and possessing hydromorphine and lorazepam.

Police say she didn't have a prescription for the Class A narcotics that are used as painkillers and anti-anxiety drugs.

Delorto was booked and released on her own recognizance. A court appearance is scheduled for December 30.

Tip: SuidaeEmpathy

Miss Argentina Dies During Tush Tuck

(Buenos Aires, Argentina) Here's some sad news from the Southern Hemisphere.

Beauty queen and Miss Argentina 1994, Solange Magnano, died on Sunday as a result of complications from elective gluteoplasty, commonly known as a "butt lift."

Although authorities are still investigating the cause of death, Solange's friend Roberto Piazza said that liquid injected for Thursday's surgery "went to her lungs and brain," causing respiratory failure.

She was transferred from the clinic to the hospital, where she remained in critical care until suffering a fatal pulmonary embolism.

Dr. Gonzalo Cortes y Tristan said Magnano arrived at the hospital having difficulty breathing and her condition deteriorated for three days before she died. She was 38 and leaves behind twin daughters. Her burial was televised Monday throughout Argentina.

Typically, gluteoplasties are considered low risk but, as with any invasive surgery on the human body, things can go wrong.

Rest in peace.

Tip: slwlion

Regarding Obama's Speech and Wrestling

My thoughts on Obama's stated end date for U.S. involvement in Afghanistan.

If I were one of a tag team in which my partner, the biggest and strongest wrestler, said he was leaving a match against a formidable opponent at 5PM to be home for dinner or to check in with his parole officer, I'd make damn sure that my plans were to leave at 5PM or before.

Despite the reason my teammate was leaving, I'd be gone with him or before him. There's no way that I would stick around to get my ass kicked.

My reasoning, however, must be flawed since the President of the United States doesn't recognize it and I've heard that he is one of the smartest people in the world.

Nevertheless, I can't imagine that America's allies in NATO will make plans to stick around after the music stops and Elvis has left the building.

An amusing post from a man whose surname means "anger" (Zorn)

(In German/Yiddish)



We read:

"Hate speech straight from Bible to bumpers: There’s a new slogan making its way onto car bumpers and across the Internet. It reads simply: “Pray for Obama: Psalm 109:8”....

Here's the verse you find when you consult scripture: "Let his days be few; and let another take his office".

And here's the verse that immediately follows: "Let his children be fatherless, and his wife a widow" ...

As though Biblical context is irrelevant. As though "let his days be short" is anything other than a prayer for death.

Source

So he accuses Christians of hate speech on the basis of a verse that they did NOT quote. The quote from verse 8 is in no way improper. It is simply asking for Obama's time in office as President to be short. It is verse 9 that talks of death and which our zornig (angry) man is fuming about. But I guess that a zornig man can be expected to fume. He probably says things akin to Psalms 109:9 at times too. He certainly sounds pretty zornig about the bumper sticker concerned.

Whether it is right to pray for someone's death is a theological question that I will not venture to address in any comprehensive way but it surely depends on whose death is concerned. Praying for the death of a tyrant or oppressor (for instance) sounds pretty reasonable to me -- and that seems to be what the scripture is about. Amusing that our angry Leftist seems to think he is an authority on theology, though. I wonder what he thinks of Leviticus 20:13 or Romans 6:23? He should probably leave Biblical exegesis to those who know something about it.

From memory there is something in the Orthodox Haggadah in which Jews call down death on Christians too -- so wishing death on your enemies is probably pretty human. Don't I remember a Leftist movie in which the killing of George Bush was portrayed?

Posted by John Ray (M.A.; Ph.D.).

Teacher Gets Prison for Attempting to Hire Hit Man

(Minneapolis, Minnesota) In early November, a 40-year-old teacher formerly at Benilde-St. Margaret's High School, Emily Roitenberg, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit first-degree murder stemming from trying to hire a hit man to kill her stepmother, Gale Fiskewold.

Roitenberg wanted money from the $8 million estate her father left to Fiskewold. Unfortunately, the hit man was an undercover agent who taped the conversation with Roitenberg.

"You've done it before, right?" she asked the purported hit man called J.J., who was actually an undercover agent for the state Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. Roitenberg then is heard giggling: "I can't ask you that. Dumb question."

J.J. asked her how she would like Gale Fiskewold killed. Roitenberg responded, "Whatever's not going to get you in trouble." [...]

In her statement to the court, Fiskewold said she had known Roitenberg since she was 11 and was anguished along with her father as Roitenberg repeatedly acted irresponsibly, taking $10,000 from her grandfather when she was in college. She said Roitenberg inherited $1.5 million from her father but spent it on cars, trips, gifts and drugs. "My husband thought the $1.5 million would be enough," Fiskewold said.

When she entered her plea, Roitenberg claimed no memory of hiring a hit man, but admitted it was her voice on the recordings.

As a result, Hennepin County District Judge Peter Albrecht sentenced Roitenberg to 10 years in prison.

Teacher Arrested for Felony Shoplifting

(Flowood, Mississippi) A 50-year-old physical education teacher at Richland Upper Elementary School, Bernadine Norsworthy, was arrested Sunday for felony shoplifting.

According to Flowood Police, Norsworthy went to Belk on Lakeland Drive Sunday afternoon. She grabbed and concealed $800 worth of items, including towels, jewelry and accessories.

Police investigators were called by Belk security around 4:30 pm Sunday.

Norsworthy was booked into custody at the Rankin County Jail with bond set at $5,000.

Incidentally, voters chose Norsworthy to be Election Commissioner for District One of Rankin County.

Climategate Claims Scalp

James Delingpole in the UK Telegraph:

Climategate claims its first big political scalp

Australian conservatives have shown the way by dumping the party leader who was in favour of massive carbon taxes and replacing him with one who stated last month that AGW is “crap.”

This makes Malcolm Turnbull, the suddenly-ex-leader of Australia’s Liberal party, the first major political victim of the Climategate furore. And his replacement Tony Abbott, the first politician to reap the benefits of the world’s growing scepticism towards ManBearPig. Of the three candidates, he was the only one committed to delaying the Australian government’s proposed Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS).

The trouble began last week when Australia’s opposition Liberal party began haemorrhaging frontbenchers, all of them preferring to lose their jobs than be railroaded by their leader into voting with the Government on Kevin Rudd’s new carbon tax.

More at the link.

Facebook Records Teacher Misconduct

(Des Moines, Iowa) A 43-year-old art teacher formerly with the Alburnett School District outside Cedar Rapids, Marni Gable, resigned her position in August ostensibly for personal reasons. Now news has surfaced that Gable resigned after school administrators confronted her with 18 pages of sexually-charged communications she entered on Facebook.

Effectively, Gable faced a choice of resigning or being fired.

In her Facebook conversations, some of which involved Alburnett students, Gable allegedly made two separate comments pertaining to male genitalia. In one, she referred to a photo of a giraffe with its tongue hanging out. In an attached comment, she allegedly made a reference to oral sex and wrote, "Nummy, nummy."

In other Facebook conversations, she allegedly exchanged comments with a student about dropping the soap in a prison shower; said that in one particular photo of her she was "wasted"; called a group of cheerleaders "retards"; and referred to some people as "wacky bastards."

State regulations require that the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners be notified within 60 days of resignations prompted by teacher misconduct. Alburnett school officials failed to do so in Gable's case. In fact, Gable's alleged misconduct only became known when she applied for unemployment benefits.

The Gable case illustrates a problem which is believed to be somewhat common. Local school districts are not always reporting teachers who have behaved inappropriately, rather they opt to quietly shoo the teacher away without fanfare or scandal. The districts are essentially pawning their problems off to other jurisdictions.

The Iowa Board of Educational Examiners is considering what to do about the problem. I'd suggest making failure to report teacher misconduct a criminal offense. I believe that people in positions of authority over children shouldn't be allowed to keep secrets regarding misconduct from the public.

ClimateGate Who's Who



Posted by John Ray (M.A.; Ph.D.).

Armed Defense Criticized

(Fresno, California) In response to a shooting on Sunday night, a businessman and leader of the Indian-American community, Harry Gill, says that convenience and liquor store owners should not arm themselves.

One bandit was shot and killed after he tried to rob the U-Save Liquor store in the 4600 block of Tulare Avenue, police said. A man who police say was a lookout for the gunman fled the store after the 8:24 p.m. robbery attempt.

Fernando Valencia, 29, of Fresno was identified Monday as the slain bandit.

Police said Valencia went into the store, pointed a gun at the clerk and demanded cash. Valencia blocked the clerk's path when he tried to escape, so the clerk, fearing for his life, pulled out a handgun and shot Valencia, police said. Valencia died in the store.

The employee was not identified.

Nonetheless, Harry Gill says guns are not the answer, although a gun seemed to do the trick on Sunday. Gill contends that it's better to limit the amount of cash in the register instead of having a gun for defense.

With all due respect, Mr. Gill, I'd suggest that surrender is a lousy method of defense.

Companion post at GunWatch.

Teacher Arrested for Sardine Juice Vandalism

(Portland, Tennessee) A 50-year-old teacher at Watt Hardison Elementary School, Brenda Rawls, was arrested yesterday for allegedly vandalizing a teacher's desk and other areas at Portland East Middle School last August.

Rawls has been charged with vandalism, criminal trespassing and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. She has been suspended without pay pending completion of an investigation.

She is alleged to have entered the teacher's classroom and vandalized both a mini refrigerator and a drawer in the teacher's desk using condoms, sardine juice and a lubricant.

Investigators also learned two school lockers and three textbooks were additionally vandalized and condoms and sardine juice were used.

The sheriff said Rawls had assistance from a student, who admitted to accompanying the teacher to the school and being present while the vandalism occurred.

Rawls was booked into custody at the Sumner County Jail with bond set at $1,000. A court appearance is scheduled for December 16.