Germans Warned of Imminent Terror Attacks

According to German Interior Minister Thomas de Maizière:

“There is information from our foreign partners that planned attacks are allegedly to be carried out at the end of November,” he said in Berlin, describing a “new situation” regarding the Islamist threat towards the nation.

“There’s reason to be worried, but no reason for hysteria,” he said, mentioning “concrete leads” being followed by the authorities.

De Maizière said he had put federal police on alert and ordered heightened security at German airports and train stations.

"From today, there will be a more visible police presence. I thought it should be explained to citizens," he said.

Presumably, "more visible police presence" means no junk will be untouched. Heh.

Woman Accused of Attempted Tattoo Slicing

(Lincoln, Nebraska) A 19-year-old local woman, Tressa Amerson, was arrested last Friday after allegedly trying to cut a tattoo of her name off of her boyfriend's neck. She has been charged with domestic assault.

Reportedly, Amerson was arguing with 30-year-old Ronald Miner about "breaking her car" when she grabbed a knife with intentions of carving up his neck. According to Police Capt. Anthony Butler, Miner was able to avoid serious injury.

When police questioned Amerson, she denied assaulting Miner claiming she "had been sleeping all day" and "had no idea" what police were talking about, as stated in the affidavit.

According to the affidavit, officers found a small paring knife on the floor that they believe to be the knife used in the incident.

Amerson was booked into custody at the Lancaster County Jail.

Lowered Voting Age

(Helsinki, Finland) The Finnish Justice Minister, Tuija Brax, has proposed lowering the voting age in the nation from 18 to 16 for the 2016 elections.

Brax is a member of the Green League political party, comprised chiefly of environmentalists and feminists.

TN Teacher Gets Prison in Sex Case - Updated



(Clinton, Tennessee) Earlier today (11/15), former Clinton High School teacher Megan Baumann pleaded guilty to engaging in sexual contact with three students, all older than 13 but under 18.

Baumann was convicted on charges of statutory rape by an authority figure, sexual battery by an authority figure, and two counts of displaying sexually explicit material to minors.

She agreed with District Attorney General Dave Clark's description of the facts of the case.

He said she fondled one outside his clothes, she sent cell phone pics of her nude chest and pubic region to another, and she had sex with a third and sent him nude cell phone pictures.

All the incidents happened in December 2009 and January 2010.

She was sentenced to three years in prison, followed by three years of probation. She must report as a sex offender for the rest of her life and surrender her teaching certificate.

Baumann starts her sentence on January 10, 2011.

* * * * *
TN Teacher Accused of Improper Conduct with Student - Updated
[Previous 2/16/10 post]
(Clinton, Tennessee) Dated today, a letter of dismissal was sent to 27-year-old teacher Megan Baumann.

Anderson County Schools Director Larry M. Foster accused Baumann of "(engaging) in intimate sexual acts, inappropriate texting, inappropriate picture transmissions and other inappropriate conduct of a physical nature."

Foster chastised Bauman, saying, "Your conduct is flagrant, egregious and reprehensible and calls for dismissal."

Under state law, has a right to request a hearing before a "an impartial hearing officer selected by the (Anderson County School) Board," the letter states. Baumann has 30 days to notify Foster in writing that she wants a dismissal hearing.

The dismissal letter can be viewed at the link. (pdf)

* * * * *
Tennessee Teacher Accused of Improper Conduct with Student
[Previous 2/9/10 post]
(Clinton, Tennessee) A 27-year-old social studies teacher at Clinton High School, Megan Baumann, has been accused of improper conduct with a student.

As a result, Baumann has been suspended from her teaching position without pay while the allegations are being investigated.

According to Clinton High School Principal Linda Davis, school staff and parents were notified of the allegations on Sunday. The Anderson County District Attorney's Office and the Clinton Police Department were also notified.

Baumann is a former Sunday School teacher who has been teaching at Clinton High School since August 2008.

Idaho Couple Battles HOA for Right to Fly American Flag‏

We read:

"Steve and Robin’s last name may be Perfect, but their situation is anything but.

After seeing their son Sgt. Edward Nadler off to war this fall, the Hailey, Idaho couple bought an American flag to fly in support of “Eddie.” But when they got home to Copper Ranch Condominiums and placed the flag on a post they thought was their property, neighbors and condominium management told the Perfects they had remove their flag. The demands have sparked a debate over rules that directly or indirectly prevent tenants from flying flags, and now the Perfects are having to defend their right to fly an American flag on American soil.

But despite requests from the HOA, corporate management, and neighbors, the Perfects refused to move the flag. That prompted another call from the condominium’s national office on November 1.

“They said, ‘you have to take down the flag,’” Robin recalled, a command she said came with an ultimatum: either the flag moves or the Perfects will be forced out.

Robin responded to the request by quoting an e-mail she received from Idaho U.S. Senator Mike Crapo, which outlined the Freedom to Display the American Flag Act of 2005. That law says “a condominium association … may not adopt or enforce any policy … that would restrict or prevent a member of the association from displaying the flag of the United States on residential property within the association with respect to which such member has a separate ownership interest or a right to exclusive possession or use.”

“She told me she didn’t care about the letter, we had to take our flag down,” Robin said of her conversation with the representative.

That doesn’t matter to the Perfects: they say they don’t plan on taking it down any time soon. “I believe in what I’m doing,” Robin said, “and I don‘t think it’s right that anybody make anybody take down an American flag.”

Source

There's a lot of anti-Americanism in America -- and we know what side of politics it comes from. When Democrats huff and puff and say: "Are you questioning my patriotism?", the answer should be: "Sure am".

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

Canadian Couple Sentenced on Sex Charges

(North Bay, Ontario) After pleading guilty to sex charges earlier this month, a Swastika, Ont., couple has now been sentenced.

Lindsay Pearce, 26, and her husband, Jonathan Pearce, 30, were each sentenced yesterday to three years of probation.

Lindsay Pearce pleaded guilty to sexual assault last week. Jonathan Pearce pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting.

Court heard in June the couple became acquainted in 2008 with a 16-year-old girl and her 13-year-old boyfriend, who helped the Pearces move to Callander from North Bay.

That's where they had consensual sex with the teens.

The Pearces were also ordered to register as sex offenders for 20 years.

Deadly Shanghai High-Rise Fire



Shanghai Fire, November 15, 2010
(Shanghai, China) Thus far, at least 53 people have died from yesterday's high-rise apartment building fire in Shanghai. At least another 70 have been injured with 17 in critical condition.

The 28-story building was undergoing renovation when the fire broke out. Unlicensed welders have been detained for questioning.

The official government news source, Xinhua, stated that a fire report was received about 2:15 p.m. and "authorities dispatched 122 fire engines and more than 1,300 fire-fighters to the site within a minute." One minute! Good Lord, that is a speedy response!

Entertainment - South vs. North









Readers can decide.

Omaha Royals Name Change

(Omaha, Nebraska) The Omaha Royals baseball team, a AAA farm club for the Kansas City Royals, has announced that its name will change next year to the Omaha Storm Chasers.

In all candor, I think the name is terrible. In a competitive sport, where the goal is to be out front -- ahead of the rest of the league -- it's arguably bad mojo to name the team after a bunch of semi-professional followers of storms. I'd suggest a name that means leader, rather one that says we follow the leader.

Maryland Woman Guilty of Sex with Boy

(Eldersburg, Maryland) A 36-year-old local woman, Thi Nguyen, pleaded guilty in Carroll County Circuit Court yesterday to engaging in sexual contact with a teenage boy, a fourth-degree sex offense.

According to charging documents filed in the case, the boy told investigators that he and Nguyen had sex 10 to 15 times over several months in the summer of 2009.

Nguyen's husband later found photographs of the two together and online chat sessions in which they discussed their relationship, according to the documents.

Nguyen told a Maryland State Police investigator that she knew the boy from working with his mother.

Circuit Court Judge Thomas F. Stansfield has scheduled sentencing for February 16, 2011.

Toy Pig Controversy

(UK) For religious reasons, the little piggy has been removed from the HappyLand Goosefeather Farm toy set.

 
Before and after
An Early Learning Center (ELC) email sent to a customer indicated the pig was removed "in case it upset Muslim or Jewish parents."

ELC said: "The decision to remove the pig was taken in reaction to customer feedback in some parts of the world."

Nevertheless, media attention has prompted ELC to rethink its decision and it now promises to "reinstate the pig."

Retired meteorologist Martin Hertzberg [ruthhertzberg@msn.com] has been writing to the NYT again

Since they won't publish it, I will. I think you will see WHY they won't publish it!

The article by Justin Gillis on "rising seas" again demonstrated that the Times continues to display scientific malfeasance as an enabler of the "global warming hoax".

A single measurement of a water temperature of 40 F in one fjord in Greenland is utterly meaningless. Citing and emphasizing that one data point is typical of your regurgitation of anecdotal fear-mongering clap trap.

Not a single person quoted in the article is qualified to talk authoritatively about changes in sea level. The attached article is an authoritative review of the question that relies on knowledgeable scientist, none of whom Gillis bothered to check with.

The Gillis article is typical of your slip-shod and disgraceful approach to the issue. You keep failing miserably to exercise due diligence as you ignore the totality of the data available.

Received by email. The NYT rubbish referred to is here. The scholarly article Hertzberg refers to is here

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

Dead Babies in Freezer

(Münster, Germany) A 46-year-old local woman, Monica Halbe, has been convicted of manslaughter for hiding the dead bodies of two newborn babies underneath pizzas in her freezer.

Halbe was sentenced to five years in prison.

She was not tried in connection with a third baby, also found in the basement freezer and who died over 20 years ago, because the statute of limitations on the case had expired.[…]

In a case that made national headlines, it was the defendant's 18-year-old son who discovered the girls' tiny corpses in plastic bags when looking for a pizza in the freezer.

Halbe admitted to hiding the bodies of the three girls but claims that she didn't kill them. Heh, I'd guess otherwise.

Boobie Bracelets at School



I Heart Boobies bracelets
(Easton, Pennsylvania) A least three local middle school girls have been punished for wearing "I Heart Boobies. Save a Breast" bracelets to school in support of breast cancer awareness.

Kayla Martinez, 12, Erika Weist, 12, and Brianna Hawk, 13, received suspension/detention.

School district officials claimed the bracelets are distractive to the educational process. Nevertheless, the ACLU was contacted by one parent and a lawsuit is contemplated.

SoCal Woman Accused of Aiding Terrorists

(San Diego, California) Last Friday, a 24-year-old local woman, Nima Ali Yusuf, was arrested by FBI agents for allegedly providing support to al-Shabab, the al-Qaeda-linked Somalia terrorist group.

A federal indictment was unsealed today charging Yusuf with conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists, conspiracy to provide material support to al Shabaab, and making false statements to a government agency in a matter involving international terrorism.

Yusuf is being held without bail. A hearing is scheduled for November 18.

Coach-Teacher Accused of Sexual Misconduct with Girl

(Greencastle, Indiana) A 20-year-old softball coach and substitute high school teacher, Elizabeth Anne Rossok, was arrested last Friday for alleged sexual misconduct with a 14-year-old girl, a softball team member.

Rossok faces charges of sexual misconduct with a minor, and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

The sexual contact allegedly occurred at Rossok’s home over a nearly one year period, beginning in August of 2009 and lasting until the initiation of this investigation. The victim is now 15 years of age.

During the investigation, additional allegations surfaced accusing Ms. Rossok of providing pornographic material and alcoholic beverages to the 14 year old victim during the same period as the sexual contact.

Ms. Rossok was the softball coach on a local league the minor female was a member of and Rossok also served as a substitute teacher for the South Putnam High School, where the victim attended.

Rossok was booked into custody and subsequently released on 10 percent of $20,000 bond.

Charges Upgraded in Penis Tattoo Case - Updated

(Bundamba, Queensland) Twenty-one-year-old Matthew Francis Brady has been identified as the tattoo artist who was charged with assault occasioning bodily harm.

Brady allegedly tattooed an offensive and unwanted penis on the back of 25-year-old Chester Ives.

Brady appeared in the Ipswich Magistrates Court on Monday, where his charge was upgraded to grievous bodily harm.

A court appearance is scheduled for January 12.

According to a video at the link, the tattoo will require 15 hours to repair at a cost of about $3,000.

* * * * *
40cm Penis Tattoo
[Previous 10/27/10 post]
(Bundamba, Queensland) Good rule of thumb is to never anger the tattoo artist before the tattoo.

A 21-year-old man has been charged by police in Ipswich for allegedly tattooing a penis on a man's back - instead of the image he had requested.

The 25-year-old victim had been visiting the man, an amateur tattooist, at his home in Bundamba last Wednesday when he was talked into getting a tattoo.

He wanted a yin and yang symbol with some dragons, but was instead shocked to discover the 40cm tattoo was of a penis with an obscene slogan.

The key word in the slogan was also misspelled.

The tattoo artist faces two counts of assault.

Tip: Charley Nestor

Feds upholding free speech!

Because it is anti-business, I guess

"A Connecticut woman who was fired after posting disparaging remarks about her boss on Facebook has prompted a first-of-its-kind case by federal authorities who say her comments are protected speech under labor laws.

The National Labor Relations Board alleges that American Medical Response of Connecticut illegally fired Dawnmarie Souza from her job as an emergency medical tech late last year after she criticized her supervisor on her personal Facebook page and then traded Facebook messages about the negative comments with other employees.

The complaint, filed Oct. 27 by the board's Hartford, Conn., regional office, could set a precedent for employers to heed as more workers use social-networking sites to share details about their jobs.

"It's the same as talking at the water cooler," said Lafe Solomon, the board's acting general counsel. "The point is that employees have protection under the law to talk to each other about conditions at work."

John Barr, an attorney representing the company, said the company stands by its policy against employees discussing the company on the Internet.

Source

I think freedom to gripe is a pretty basic freedom

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

Gingerbread Person

(Lancashire, England) Political correctness advocates successfully forced the Lancashire School Meals Service to change 'gingerbread man' to 'gingerbread person' on the menus of 400 primary schools.

Parents complained. Expressing outrage, an Avenging Gingerbread Man was created.

The Lancashire County Council is reportedly backing down. A spokesperson said the change was made to amuse rather than offend. Sure it was.

Frankly, if nobody had complained, I suspect that 'gingerbread tranny' would have ultimately shown up on the menu.

Breast Defense Against Extremists

(Copenhagen, Denmark) Danish People's Party spokesman, Peter Skaarup, has proposed that extremists would be less likely to attempt entering Denmark if they had to look at naked women's breasts.

According to Skaarup, a documentary film about Denmark that will be shown as part of an upcoming immigration test for foreigners needs to have a pair of breasts in it, to intimidate any extremists from attempting to enter the tiny Scandinavian country.[…]

This, he said, is mainly relevant for immigrants coming from fundamentalist societies where women are oppressed and are not allowed to display their sexuality or even their hair.

In the war against religious extremists, I suggest that all strategies are worth evaluating. Even so, I'd guess that showing breasts wouldn't be effective.

[Add.] Another source quotes Skaarup saying,

“A similar documentary in Holland shows bare breasts, and I think we should follow their example, Skaarup told Berlingske Tidende newspaper.

“It is of course a bit tongue-in-cheek, but there is an element of seriousness to it too: by including topless bathing in a documentary about Denmark, we can highlight our open-mindedness and our rights to dress – or undress – as we please.”

My brow remains furrowed.

More here and here.