God Sued for Disasters & Terroristic Threats

(Omaha, Nebraska) Democratic State Senator Ernie Chambers has filed a lawsuit in Douglas County Court against God. The suit alleges that God is responsible for worldly disasters and "defendant directly and proximately has caused, inter alia, fearsome floods, egregious earthquakes, horrendous hurricanes, terrifying tornados, pestilential plagues..."

Chambers seeks a permanent injunction ordering God to stop causing disasters and cease making terroristic threats.

The action by Chambers is a publicity stunt to focus attention on the necessity of keeping the court open to frivolous lawsuits and not pass laws which restrict them.

"The Constitution requires that the courthouse doors be open, so you cannot prohibit the filing of suits," Chambers says. "Anyone can sue anyone they choose, even God."

Frankly, I see this lawsuit going nowhere other than as material for late-night television talk shows. Wouldn't it be interesting, though, if Chambers decided to withdraw his complaint after a couple near-death experiences.

"Yes, your Honor, the plaintiff chose to withdraw his lawsuit after the second lightning strike."

Heh.

Indiana Teacher Arrested for Molesting Three Brothers

(Fort Wayne, Indiana) A 35-year-old former teacher at St. Jude Catholic School, Michelle VanMeter, was arrested last Thursday for engaging in sex with three brothers, one of which is a mentally handicapped and deaf adult and the other two are ages 13 and 15.

Additionally, VanMeter gave birth in June to a child fathered by the 15-year-old, according to DNA testing. VanMeter had access to and sometimes cared for the boys through a close friendship with their mother.

VanMeter sent the mother a letter about the birth of her child, a girl, and said it was the result of a one-night stand with a man she met at a bar. According to court records, the mother said this sounded fishy because VanMeter was not known to go to bars. Her suspicions were further raised when she saw the baby and thought it resembled her 15-year-old son. Days later she went to police.

When the mother questioned her three sons, according to court records, they each told of sexual acts they did with VanMeter while at her home. According to court records, VanMeter met with police July 24 and admitted to the sex acts in an interview with detectives. She said she knew what she did was wrong, the records said.

VanMeter faces charges of three counts of child molesting, three counts of sexual misconduct with a minor and one count of sexual battery.

Vince LaBarbera, spokesman for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, confirmed that Vanmeter is a former teacher at St. Jude but delineated nothing further.


[Update 11/30/07]

VanMeter arrested again for molestation of 12-year-old boy.

Lettuce Recall

E. coli found in bagged lettuce. AP report:

The voluntary recall affects all packages of Dole's Hearts Delight salad mix sold in the United States and Canada with a "best if used by" date of September 19, 2007, and a production code of "A24924A" or "A24924B," Dole said.

The product was sold in Ontario, Quebec and the Maritime Provinces in Canada and in Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania,and Tennessee starting around Sept. 8, said Marty Ordman, a Dole spokesman. The product may have been available in other U.S. states wholesalers distributed to, Ordman said.

The romaine, green leaf and butter lettuce hearts that went into the blend were grown in California, Colorado and Ohio, then processed at Dole's plant in Springfield, Ohio on Sept. 6, according to Ordman.

Munch safely.

Florida Woman and Boy, 7

(New Port Richey, Florida) A local woman, Ronda Lynn Lipko, was arrested by Pasco County Sheriff's deputies for allegedly engaging in sex with a 7-year-old autistic boy.

Lipko faces charges of lewd and lascivious acts with a child and promoting a sexual performance by a child.

According to deputies, Lipko's boyfriend witnessed Lipko engaging in the sex act with the boy. The boy's relationship with Lipko and the boyfriend has not been disclosed.

Lipko was booked into custody with bond set at $170,000.


[Update]

Another source states that 38-year-old Lipco is being held at the Land O'Lakes Jail with bail set at $40,000. Also, the boy has been placed in state care.

Islamic Charity Funding Terror via Palestinian Universities

Patrick Poole of Central Ohioans Against Terrorism has exposed an Ohio-based Islamic group that is funneling money to HAMAS through Palestinian universities with apparent impunity.

Specifically, the not-for-profit group, Arab Student Aid International (ASAI), has pumped millions of dollars to the Islamic University of Gaza (IUG) which has been recognized by Congress as a fungible cash resource for HAMAS terror activities. U.S. public funds are barred from distribution to IUG. Nevertheless, private American sources continue to provide money to the IUG and other HAMAS-connected schools.

Now, since the government has shuttered the Holy Land Foundation and other Islamic "charities" for funding terrorist organizations, why has ASAI been allowed to continue to send money and assistance to HAMAS through the Palestinian universities?

In this regard, Congress only stopped public money, via the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), from going to IUG and other terrorist-connected schools, however, nothing specifically prohibits private American dollars from being sent and used to purchase suicide belts, AK-47s or Katyusha rockets..

Frankly, the issue of private funds being slithered through universities to terrorist organizations is news to me and I'm made to wonder how widespread the practice might be. For instance, is the U.S. providing funds for the Taliban through Pakistani and Afghan schools? Or, is Hezbollah getting U.S. dollars through Syrian or Lebanese universities? And what about Jemaah Islamiyah? Is it getting American cash through Indonesian or Malaysian universities?

Companion post at The Jawa Report.

Teacher Gets DUI On Way to Class

(Orlando, Florida) A teacher of the emotionally-challenged at West Oaks Elementary School, Vicki Tucker, was arrested for driving under the influence on her way to morning classes.

According to witnesses, she was seen swerving about the road and bouncing off curbs.

Investigators say Tucker had bloodshot eyes and was slurring her speech when she was approached. A search of her vehicle resulted in finding a cold, but empty, beer can and several bottles of medication -- including oxycodone and xanex.

In her defense, Tucker told officers that she had just learned that she had a terminal illness.

Brit Hospital Bans Knitting

(Cheshire, England) From a therapeutic standpoint, knitting is considered to be a beneficial activity for sufferers of arthritis and a relaxing pastime for hospitalized patients. Even so, the politically correct safety police forced officials at Congleton War Memorial Hospital in Cheshire to ban knitting because the needles are too sharp.

The action has created controversy.

Tory MP Philip Davies said: "Whoever made this decision is completely barmy. It is a typical act by a bureaucratic jobsworth with too much time on their hands and nothing to do.

"People young and old have been knitting for centuries at home. When was the last time you heard of a spate of knitting needle accidents?

"If there had been a serious injury, I can understand health and safety stepping in, but if no one has ever been hurt, why ban it now?"

However, the Director of Nursing at East Cheshire NHS Trust, Bernie Salisbury, stated that, "We believe this sensible and proactive measure will avoid preventable accidents." So, it's sensible to take action to prevent something that's never occurred. Sure it is -- if you're an idiot.

Holy moly! The Brits have gone crazy with the nanny state. They have gun control, knife control and now knitting needle control. What's next? Anything with a sharp point? Pens? Toothpicks? Thumbtacks?

Report: Marijuana Prevents Mad Cow Disease

There may be a bit of skepticism about this report.

The National Organisation for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (Norml) says a French study shows cannabidiol may be effective in preventing bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), known as mad cow disease.

Scientists at the National Centre for Scientific Research in France found cannabidiol - a non-psychoactive ingredient - may prevent the development of prion diseases, the most well known of which is BSE.

I guess this means that consumers should imbibe in marijuana before eating beef -- just to be safe.

Counselor Gets No Jail for Sex with Inmate

(Greensburg, Pennsylvania) A 42-year-old drug counselor at the Greensburg State Prison, Tina Martinez, has been convicted of engaging in sex with an inmate. The Westmoreland County jury of six men and six women found Martinez guilty of felony institutional sexual assault.

Martinez claimed she felt compelled to yield to the inmate's sexual advances for fear she would lose her job. Therefore, she performed oral sex on the convicted murderer in the therapy room of the prison.

Judge Debra A. Pezze sentenced Martinez to six months probation.

Tip: Don Morgenstern


[Update 12/27/07]

Martinez ordered to register as a sex offender.

Al Qaeda Group Announces Ramadan Offensive

Reported as a new development yesterday from al Qaeda in Iraq:

... an insurgent group linked to Al Qaeda declared an offensive to coincide with the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. The offensive was named in honor of Abu Musab Zarqawi, an insurgent leader who was killed by U.S. forces last year, according to the announcement that was posted on an Islamist website. It will last until about Oct. 22.

The declaration was made in the name of Abu Omar Baghdadi, who U.S. military officials say is a fictional character invented to give an Iraqi face to the Islamic State of Iraq, an umbrella organization for a number of like-minded Sunni extremist groups. A man, purportedly Baghdadi, read the announcement in a recording posted on the Internet.

In total, the announcement says a holy month homicidal offensive by radical bombers and killers of the religion of peace has been launched in honor of a dead fanatical leader and named for a fictional person. Got that?

Well, I don't. In fact, it seems that the entire value system of the extremists is based on a stew of irreconcilable polar-opposite beliefs and practices.

HIV in NYC

(New York City) The mainstream media likely won't be prominently reporting this story.

Infection rates for the virus that causes AIDS rose over the past six years among gay men under 30, reported city health officials.

New diagnoses of the human immunodeficiency virus among gay men in that demographic increased by 33 percent during the past six years, from 374 in 2001 to 499 in 2006, said a report released Tuesday by the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

Gay males aged 13 to 19 also saw an increase in HIV rates: from 41 new cases six years ago to 87 in 2006.

The overwhelming majority of the HIV cases are black and Latino men.

The report from the health department did not offer explanations for why rates among young gay men under 30 or teens between the ages of 13 and 19 have increased.

Jeez, I think it would be nice to have an explanation regarding why the number of 13-year-old males becoming homosexual funboys and acquiring HIV has increased. If the number of 13-year-old girls becoming pregnant had doubled, I guarantee someone would want an explanation.

Researchers Learn How to Kill Malaria Parasite

Scientists at Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute have identified a specific sugar that the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum uses exclusively for food. Without the sugar, found in the midgut of mosquitos, the parasite dies.

"This is the mosquito gut, filled with blood," demonstrates Professor Marcelo Jacobs-Lorena, the senior author of the research. He says that by stopping the production of that sugar, the parasite dies.

It's an important discovery but still to be identified is a way to deny the parasite any access to the sugar. One suggestion is to develop a human vaccine with antibodies to block sugar production in the mosquito. The antibody would be ingested by the mosquito when it feeds on human blood.

Jacobs-Lorena says it will take at least a decade to find practical applications of the discovery.

A while back, I recall reading somewhere that 90 percent of all the people who have lived in human history have died of malaria. The contention is arguable and I don't remember the source, but it's not arguable that malaria has been a menace to mankind. Kudos to the scientists at Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute for their efforts.

Canada Attacked on Human Rights

(Geneva, Switzerland) Canada and Iran had heated words yesterday at a meeting of the UN Human Rights Council. Iran's envoy, A. Eshragh Jahromi, asserted:

"Human rights violations include social exclusion policies, blatant racism and racial discrimination, police brutality, unlawful detention, torture and deaths in custody, violence against women and children and indigenous people, who are being treated as second class ... by the Canadian government," Jahromi said.

Despite anything the Canadians are doing, I think Iran is the last country that should be complaining.

What can we expect next? Michael Vick complaining that dogs are being eaten in Zimbabwe?

Nebraska Teacher Collects Fourth DWI

(Omaha, Nebraska) A 29-year-old physical education teacher and softball coach at Central High School, Jodi Reeder, was arrested this past Monday for driving the wrong way down a one-way street while under the influence of alcohol. Reeder's blood-alcohol level was 0.189, over twice the legal limit.

Reeder was released from jail on Tuesday after posting bail. On Wednesday, Reeder was charged with felony drunken driving.

Records indicate that Reeder has three previous drunken driving convictions, one in 1998 and two in 2003. All were classified as misdemeanors.

The Omaha Public School District is investigating. Reeder's first court appearance has yet to be scheduled.

Group Home Worker Accused of Sex with Boy

(Phoenix, Arizona) A 28-year-old group home worker, Alejandra Rivas, was arrested this week for allegedly engaging in sex with a 15-year-old boy, a resident at the home.

Rivas faces two counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor.

The director of the group home alerted the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office of the alleged behavior. It's reported that the boy admitted to investigators that he had sex with Rivas on several occasions.

Rivas was booked into jail.

Tip: Don Morgenstern


[Update 09/26/07]

Alejandra "Alex" Rivas was indicted by a grand jury on two felony counts of sexual conduct with a minor and two felony counts of forgery. Rivas has also been identified as an illegal alien so she is being held without bond in the Maricopa County Jail because of her immigration status.

Maricopa County sheriff's detective Aaron Douglas said Rivas admitted to having sex with the 15-year-old boy on at least one occasion.

Nine boys stayed at the Youth Enlightenment home at the time of the encounter, and court records show other boys witnessed the sex act and also saw the woman masturbating.

Youth Enlightenment operates one home for boys in the East Valley and another home for girls.

Court records show that Rivas lives in Chandler with her children, and neighbors said she has five children.

Illegal alien with five children and she's in jail, charged with child sex crimes. Freaking wonderful!

Arrested for Drinking Blood

(Hong Kong) Here is a strange story.

A man has been arrested in Hong Kong for stealing and drinking blood samples from a hospital, police said.

The 29-year-old was reportedly caught on surveillance cameras in the early hours of Thursday morning as he stole three test tubes of blood from the Yan Chai Hospital laboratory.

He drank the vials and dumped the empty tubes in a rubbish bin in the hospital lift lobby before fleeing.

He was later arrested at his home after staff at the hospital noticed the theft and reported it to police.

Don't ask me why someone would steal and drink blood. I have no clue.

Man Awakes From Pain During His Autopsy

(Venezuela) A 33-year-old man, Carlos Camejo, was declared dead after a highway accident and taken to the morgue. When the medical examiner started cutting during the autopsy, Camejo woke up and cried out in pain.

"I woke up because the pain was unbearable," Camejo said, according to a report on Friday in leading local newspaper El Universal.

His grieving wife turned up at the morgue to identify her husband's body only to find him moved into a corridor - and alive.

I'd guess that someone waking up during an autopsy would tend to scare the bejeezus out of the medical examiner. It probably occurs infrequently.

Montana Teacher Nabbed on Drug Charge

(Billings, Montana) A 41-year-old special-education teacher at West High School, Koby Gayle Murray, was arrested this week for attempting to fraudulently obtain prescription narcotics.

According to police and court records, Murray is accused of calling a Billings pharmacy Monday to fill a prescription for the pain medication hydrocodone. Pharmacy staff believed the prescription was fake and called police, who arrested Murray when she arrived at the pharmacy.

The school district placed Murray on paid leave. Judge Larry Herman ordered Murray released from the county jail without bond.

If convicted of the felony charge of fraudulently obtaining dangerous drugs, Murray faces a possible five years in prison and a $50,000 fine.

Mom Accused of Murder Try on Son, 6

(Lincoln, Nebraska) A 46-year-old local woman, Christine Croissant-Smith, was arrested for allegedly trying to kill herself and her 6-year-old son.

According to police, Croissant-Smith drove her car into the garage on September 5th, shut the garage door and kept the car running. Her son was asleep in the car.

Fortunately, the boy awoke and tried to revive his unconscious mother. He then went in the house and called 911. Both the boy and his mother were taken to the hospital and treated for carbon monoxide poisoning. A suicide note was found.

Croissant-Smith faces a charge of attempted first-degree murder of her son. The boy has been placed in protective custody while Croissant-Smith has a court appearance scheduled for next month.

Someone please tell me this little boy won't have "mother issues" for the rest of his life. He saved her life while she was trying to snuff his. Sad story.

Companion post at Conservative Thinking.

Washington Woman Nabbed for Kidnapping Boy

(Olympia, Washington) A 26-year-old woman, Lindsay Hardy, was arrested for allegedly kidnapping and assaulting a 12-year-old boy. Police say Hardy is being investigated for possible sex crimes.

The boy said he and the woman stayed overnight with a man at a home near Lacey. The boy told police Hardy gave him Vodka, held him down and made sexual advances.

"She said that she wanted to be my sexual friend," said the victim.

Police said the next day Hardy allegedly became abusive and started assaulting the boy.

Authorities said a neighbor called police who arrived and took Hardy into custody.

Hardy is in custody on assault and unlawful imprisonment charges. Police continue to investigate.


[Update 09/19/07]

All right, now I'm really confused. A different source indicates that Lindsay Hardy is actually Lindsay Hall. How the media were able to confuse her last name (?) is unknown.

Nonetheless, Lindsay Hall pleaded not guilty to two counts of assault of a child with sexual motivation, and one count each of kidnapping and furnishing alcohol to a minor. An evaluation determined that Hall was a danger to herself or others so bail was set at $250,000.

Tip: Don Morgenstern