According to the lawsuit, prolonged solitary confinement "strips human beings of their basic dignity and humanity." Bob Walsh says, “Perhaps if they were in fact dignified and acted like human beings it wouldn’t be an issue, but maybe I am just being judgmental.”
Judgmental or not, Bob is exactly right. If these whiners had been dignified and acted like human beings in the first place, they wouldn’t find themselves locked up in solitary confinement.
INMATES SUE OVER PELICAN BAY ‘SENSORY DEPRIVATION’
By Bob Egelko
San Francisco Chronicle
June 1, 2012
Ten inmates held in isolation at California's Pelican Bay State Prison for more than a decade sued the state Thursday, saying their conditions - which deprived them of virtually all human contact and any meaningful chance for release - violate international standards against torture and inhumane treatment.
The prolonged solitary confinement in the North Coast prison's Security Housing Unit is the harshest anywhere in the nation and "strips human beings of their basic dignity and humanity," the inmates said in a federal court suit in Oakland.
A proposed class action on behalf of the unit's 1,000 inmates - half of whom have been there for more than a decade - seeks court orders limiting their stay in the unit to 10 years, requiring regular review and barring what the suit described as "sensory deprivation" and "environmental deprivation."
The prison in a remote area of Del Norte County houses inmates classified as security risks, mostly because of gang activity. The suit said they are held in windowless concrete cells at least 22 1/2 hours a day, are fed through a slot, have no access to prison vocational or educational programs, sleep on a concrete bed with a lumpy mattress, and can be punished for trying to speak to other inmates.
Most inmates have never been charged with gang-related conduct behind bars, their lawyers said, and are kept in the Security Housing Unit on flimsy evidence - a tattoo, some artwork in their possession, shaking hands with the wrong person, or inclusion in an undisclosed list by an unidentified informant.
They said authorities have told them that the only way out of the unit is to "debrief'" - admit their gang ties and become an informer on other members.
"We have been told repeatedly by prisoners that they are faced with a stark choice: debrief or die" in the security unit, said attorney Alexis Agathocelous of the Center for Constitutional Rights.
The suit also alleged that state officials have adopted an unofficial but binding policy of denying parole to otherwise eligible prisoners while they are in the security unit. One inmate, George Ruiz, 69, placed in a security unit 28 years ago as a gang member, has been eligible for parole since 1993, but has been told repeatedly by parole boards that he will never be released while housed in the unit, the suit said.
Asked about the suit, Jeffrey Callison, spokesman for the state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, said, "We do not have solitary confinement in California prisons." He noted that the inmates are allowed to have visitors on weekends and also have contact with prison staff.
That is "preposterous," replied Agathocelous. Although prisoners can have two two-hour visits per weekend, he said, they can speak to their visitors only through Plexiglas and are prohibited from physical contact.
The same complaints were the subject of two prison hunger strikes last summer and fall that spread to more than 6,000 inmates in 13 prisons. Afterward, state officials said they would ease some restrictions on prisoners' activities and on transfers out of security units, but inmates' representatives said Thursday the changes have been minimal.
"Prison authorities have given them a handball in the recreation area, and prisoners can buy colored pencils" for artwork, said Marilyn McMahon, executive director of the advocacy group California Prison Focus. "But the major demand was to stop debriefing. The department has made it clear that they have no intention of ending that."
Monday, June 04, 2012
THE POWER BEHIND THE THRONE
Michelle Obama’s closest confidant is the ‘gatekeeper of the White House’
There have been numerous reports that Valerie Jarrett, an accomplished lawyer, businesswoman and civic leader prior to joining the Obama team, is the most powerful person in the White House.
ED KLEIN: JARRETT IS WHITE HOUSE ‘BUZZSAW’
Newsmax
June 3, 2012
Edward Klein, the bestselling author of "Amateur: Barack Obama in the White House" told Mike Huckabee in a Fox News interview Saturday that high-level departures in the president’s Cabinet can be tied to the first lady’s close friend and confidante, Valerie Jarrett, who Klein says also advised the White House to freeze out Oprah Winfrey.
Veteran journalist Klein's book has hit the No. 1 book on the New York Times’ list of bestsellers two weeks in a row.
Klein told Huckabee that White House senior advisor Jarrett is the “gatekeeper of the White House,” and was responsible for the departures of former Chiefs of Staff Bill Daley and Rahm Emanuel.
“They ran into the buzzsaw named Valerie Jarrett,” Klein said, adding that Jarrett is close to both President Obama and the first lady Michelle Obama and wields “enormous power” in the White House.
Klein told Huckabee that Jarrett and the first lady decided to freeze out Oprah, whose endorsement of Obama was pivotal against Hillary Clinton in the primary, because Oprah wanted to become involved in White House guest lists and the handling of communications, among other things.
This seemed like an attempt to encroach upon the first lady’s agenda so Michelle Obama and Jarrett decided to freeze out the former talk show host, Klein explained.
“She’s the only person in the White House who goes upstairs and dines with the first family and goes on vacation with them,” Klein told Huckabee.
Klein’s book is buttressed by nearly 200 interviews with people close to Obama, and features explosive disclosures about one of the most secretive White Houses. Klein is the former editor-in-chief of the New York Times Magazine, former foreign editor of Newsweek, and a contributing editor to Vanity Fair.
The book has come under fire from liberals contending Klein brought a bias to the table when researching and writing the book. Huckabee asked the author if he had an agenda.
Klein said, “I’ve been a reporter for 50 years and I decided that this was a phenomenon I needed to investigate. Here’s a guy that came out of nowhere, an African-American senator who had accomplished nothing, had no experience, somehow hypnotized millions of people into voting for him and then gets into the White House and it’s the first time we’ve ever seen anything like this: an amateur in the White House.
"To me it was a great story, a story that need to be told because it had a direct impact on the future of our country.”
There have been numerous reports that Valerie Jarrett, an accomplished lawyer, businesswoman and civic leader prior to joining the Obama team, is the most powerful person in the White House.
ED KLEIN: JARRETT IS WHITE HOUSE ‘BUZZSAW’
Newsmax
June 3, 2012
Edward Klein, the bestselling author of "Amateur: Barack Obama in the White House" told Mike Huckabee in a Fox News interview Saturday that high-level departures in the president’s Cabinet can be tied to the first lady’s close friend and confidante, Valerie Jarrett, who Klein says also advised the White House to freeze out Oprah Winfrey.
Veteran journalist Klein's book has hit the No. 1 book on the New York Times’ list of bestsellers two weeks in a row.
Klein told Huckabee that White House senior advisor Jarrett is the “gatekeeper of the White House,” and was responsible for the departures of former Chiefs of Staff Bill Daley and Rahm Emanuel.
“They ran into the buzzsaw named Valerie Jarrett,” Klein said, adding that Jarrett is close to both President Obama and the first lady Michelle Obama and wields “enormous power” in the White House.
Klein told Huckabee that Jarrett and the first lady decided to freeze out Oprah, whose endorsement of Obama was pivotal against Hillary Clinton in the primary, because Oprah wanted to become involved in White House guest lists and the handling of communications, among other things.
This seemed like an attempt to encroach upon the first lady’s agenda so Michelle Obama and Jarrett decided to freeze out the former talk show host, Klein explained.
“She’s the only person in the White House who goes upstairs and dines with the first family and goes on vacation with them,” Klein told Huckabee.
Klein’s book is buttressed by nearly 200 interviews with people close to Obama, and features explosive disclosures about one of the most secretive White Houses. Klein is the former editor-in-chief of the New York Times Magazine, former foreign editor of Newsweek, and a contributing editor to Vanity Fair.
The book has come under fire from liberals contending Klein brought a bias to the table when researching and writing the book. Huckabee asked the author if he had an agenda.
Klein said, “I’ve been a reporter for 50 years and I decided that this was a phenomenon I needed to investigate. Here’s a guy that came out of nowhere, an African-American senator who had accomplished nothing, had no experience, somehow hypnotized millions of people into voting for him and then gets into the White House and it’s the first time we’ve ever seen anything like this: an amateur in the White House.
"To me it was a great story, a story that need to be told because it had a direct impact on the future of our country.”
COPS KILL NAKED CANNIBAL (3)
Did ‘bath salts’ cause growling man to chew off 70 percent of a homeless man’s face?
Here are more details related to the gruesome cannibalistic attack in Miami last month during which the cops shot and killed the naked perpetrator.
‘HE’S GOING TO KILL THAT MAN, I PROMISE YOU’: MIAMI CANNIBAL ATTACK 911 CALLS REVEAL GRUESOME DETAILS AS PASSERS-BY WATCHED IN HORROR
Cannibal tore into victim’s face with his teeth and growled; police believe he may have taken ‘bath salts’, the new LSD
By Associated Press and Helen Collis
Mail Online
June 2, 2012
Passers by who witnessed the horrific attack by the 'Miami cannibal' who ripped off the face of a homeless man with his teeth feared he was going to kill his victim.
Police have revealed the calls from terrified members of the public who saw the violence attack against 65-year-old Ronald Poppo on a Miami highway.
But none of them mentioned the extent of the injuries from the vicious assault, or the means by which the 'Miami cannibal' was attacking his victim - with his teeth.
Callers only reported seeing two men fighting in the shadow of The Miami Herald headquarters but did not mention seeing Poppo's face being torn off and eaten.
'He's going to kill that man, I promise you,' a female bus driver said, urging a 911 operator to send help. Poppo remains hospitalised.
The driver, who wasn't named by authorities, described the scene as she drove by.
'Listen, there is a naked man on the MacArthur Causeway,' she said. 'He is beating another man to a pulp - like on top of the man, beating him, the man is bleeding.'
Another caller said the two men were fighting, saying they nearly knocked over an elderly bicyclist.
'These two bums were going at it with each other, taking up the whole lane,' the caller said. 'I think they were fighting or something.'
The unidentified man gave his phone number to the 911 operator. He declined to comment when contacted Friday evening by The Associated Press.
A second male caller didn't mention the fight, instead reporting that he saw a man taking off his clothes and throwing them into traffic.
'You can't miss him. He's naked,' the man said.
Surveillance video shows Rudy Eugene, 31, attacking Poppo alongside the highway last Saturday afternoon. A police officer fatally shot Eugene during the attack. Police have not released a motive for the attack.
Friends and relatives of Eugene have spoken of their complete shock at the news, claiming he must have been drugged.
Eugene's girlfriend, who did not wish to be named, recently spoke out about her shock and disbelief about her boyfriend's attack.
The Christian man never left the house without his Bible and she described him as sweet and well-mannered.
'That wasn’t him, that was his body but it wasn’t his spirit. Somebody did this to him,' she said. 'He loved God he always read the Bible he would give you knowledge on the Bible. Everywhere he went his Bible went. When he left he had his Bible in his hand.'
Ruth Charles does not believe police accounts that her son Rudy Eugene assaulted Ronald Poppo and tore 70 percent of his face off with his teeth -- despite watching the horrifying surveillance video of the attack.
'I knew my son. Rudy will never, never do something like that,' Ms Charles told WPLG.
'He was a good kid. He gave me a nice card on Mother’s Day. Everyone says he was a zombie. He was no zombie. That was my son,' she told WFOR.
She, along with Eugene's girlfriend and his brother have painted a radically different picture of the 31-year-old than the naked man seen using his teeth to tear flesh from another man's face for 18 minutes.
Poppo had been homeless for 30 years and his estranged family thought he was dead. His sister, Antoinette Poppo, thought he had killed himself years ago and was distraught by the news of his injuries.
'I really don’t understand what happened,' Ms Poppo said. 'We really thought he was no longer on this earth.'
Mr Poppo had been living all this time on the streets of Florida and his family thought he had committed suicide years before.
The Miami Herald reported that Mr Poppo would stay just outside a public restroom on the north side of Jungle Island in Miami.
Ms Poppo only just learned that her brother was still alive this week, hanging on for dear life.
'I remember a very intelligent boy,' Ms Poppo told CBS, beginning to cry. 'I’m very upset. I’m just glad my mother isn’t here to see this.'
The victim's daughter, Janice Poppo DiBello, 44, from New Jersey, was stunned this week when the New York Daily News told her that the victim of the gruesome attack which shocked America was in fact her absentee father.
She told the paper: 'I’m really upset because I haven’t met my father. Since I was two-years-old, him and my mom got divorced and there was no — like how normal divorces are, where you see your father.
'Nobody ever heard anything from him, so I’ve never met him. I didn’t know if he was alive or dead.'
Mr Poppo was once a student at a prestigious New York school before he became a down-and-out.
A yearbook picture of Ronald Poppo was obtained by the New York Daily News, who reported the victim was in the Latin Club and worked in the guidance office at Stuyvesant High School before he became homeless.
Recently released footage of the 65-year-old's dramatic rescue shows he was still conscious and moving his arms after the attack, while Rudy Eugene's body lay next to him.
After paramedics tend to the victim's facial injuries, they carefully place him on a stretcher.
As they carry him from the walkway where the attack took place to the ambulance, he starts to wave his arms around and has to be strapped down.
As police piece together the last hours of Eugene's life, they believe he attended a Memorial Day weekend beach party before making the three-mile journey home on foot in more than 90F.
He took off and scattered his clothes as he walked across the causeway - police later found his drivers license and clothes strewn from the beach to the mainland - before pouncing on the homeless man he found sleeping on the elevated train tracks, according to the Miami Herald.
After he strips and punches his victim, he straddles him before starting to eat his face off. Cars and a number of cyclists passed the two men while the attack took place.
It was almost 20 minutes until officer Jose Rivera shot Eugene shortly after he arrived. He shouted at the 31-year-old to stop but he simply got up and growled and continued eating at the man's face.
A former classmate of Eugene Victoria Forte, who attended North Miami Beach High School, told the Sun Sentinel: 'Drugs did this to him. Drugs took over a person we knew as a beautiful person.'
According to Miami police, the first call of a disturbance came from a passing motorist who reported seeing Eugene stripping off his clothes and acting erratically.
A Road Ranger called to the scene also called 911 and used a loudspeaker to call for the naked attacker to cease.
As the attack dragged on, two other motorists called police, as did another cyclist, Larry Vega, who later told reporters that Eugene 'just stood, his head up like that, with pieces of flesh in his mouth. And he growled'. He also said it was the most gruesome and traumatic thing he had ever seen'.
According to the Herald, Eugene had been in Miami Beach for the Memorial Day Weekend shortly before the attack.
His car, a purple 1995 Chevrolet Caprice, was towed for being parked illegally at 1100 10th Street, according to police.
It is believed Eugene was under the influence of a potent form of drug called 'bath salts' at the time but toxicology results will take several weeks.
Emergency room doctors at Jackson Memorial Hospital said they have seen an increase in incidents related to the drug, which is referred to on the street as 'the new LSD'.
Here are more details related to the gruesome cannibalistic attack in Miami last month during which the cops shot and killed the naked perpetrator.
‘HE’S GOING TO KILL THAT MAN, I PROMISE YOU’: MIAMI CANNIBAL ATTACK 911 CALLS REVEAL GRUESOME DETAILS AS PASSERS-BY WATCHED IN HORROR
Cannibal tore into victim’s face with his teeth and growled; police believe he may have taken ‘bath salts’, the new LSD
By Associated Press and Helen Collis
Mail Online
June 2, 2012
Passers by who witnessed the horrific attack by the 'Miami cannibal' who ripped off the face of a homeless man with his teeth feared he was going to kill his victim.
Police have revealed the calls from terrified members of the public who saw the violence attack against 65-year-old Ronald Poppo on a Miami highway.
But none of them mentioned the extent of the injuries from the vicious assault, or the means by which the 'Miami cannibal' was attacking his victim - with his teeth.
Callers only reported seeing two men fighting in the shadow of The Miami Herald headquarters but did not mention seeing Poppo's face being torn off and eaten.
'He's going to kill that man, I promise you,' a female bus driver said, urging a 911 operator to send help. Poppo remains hospitalised.
The driver, who wasn't named by authorities, described the scene as she drove by.
'Listen, there is a naked man on the MacArthur Causeway,' she said. 'He is beating another man to a pulp - like on top of the man, beating him, the man is bleeding.'
Another caller said the two men were fighting, saying they nearly knocked over an elderly bicyclist.
'These two bums were going at it with each other, taking up the whole lane,' the caller said. 'I think they were fighting or something.'
The unidentified man gave his phone number to the 911 operator. He declined to comment when contacted Friday evening by The Associated Press.
A second male caller didn't mention the fight, instead reporting that he saw a man taking off his clothes and throwing them into traffic.
'You can't miss him. He's naked,' the man said.
Surveillance video shows Rudy Eugene, 31, attacking Poppo alongside the highway last Saturday afternoon. A police officer fatally shot Eugene during the attack. Police have not released a motive for the attack.
Friends and relatives of Eugene have spoken of their complete shock at the news, claiming he must have been drugged.
Eugene's girlfriend, who did not wish to be named, recently spoke out about her shock and disbelief about her boyfriend's attack.
The Christian man never left the house without his Bible and she described him as sweet and well-mannered.
'That wasn’t him, that was his body but it wasn’t his spirit. Somebody did this to him,' she said. 'He loved God he always read the Bible he would give you knowledge on the Bible. Everywhere he went his Bible went. When he left he had his Bible in his hand.'
Ruth Charles does not believe police accounts that her son Rudy Eugene assaulted Ronald Poppo and tore 70 percent of his face off with his teeth -- despite watching the horrifying surveillance video of the attack.
'I knew my son. Rudy will never, never do something like that,' Ms Charles told WPLG.
'He was a good kid. He gave me a nice card on Mother’s Day. Everyone says he was a zombie. He was no zombie. That was my son,' she told WFOR.
She, along with Eugene's girlfriend and his brother have painted a radically different picture of the 31-year-old than the naked man seen using his teeth to tear flesh from another man's face for 18 minutes.
Poppo had been homeless for 30 years and his estranged family thought he was dead. His sister, Antoinette Poppo, thought he had killed himself years ago and was distraught by the news of his injuries.
'I really don’t understand what happened,' Ms Poppo said. 'We really thought he was no longer on this earth.'
Mr Poppo had been living all this time on the streets of Florida and his family thought he had committed suicide years before.
The Miami Herald reported that Mr Poppo would stay just outside a public restroom on the north side of Jungle Island in Miami.
Ms Poppo only just learned that her brother was still alive this week, hanging on for dear life.
'I remember a very intelligent boy,' Ms Poppo told CBS, beginning to cry. 'I’m very upset. I’m just glad my mother isn’t here to see this.'
The victim's daughter, Janice Poppo DiBello, 44, from New Jersey, was stunned this week when the New York Daily News told her that the victim of the gruesome attack which shocked America was in fact her absentee father.
She told the paper: 'I’m really upset because I haven’t met my father. Since I was two-years-old, him and my mom got divorced and there was no — like how normal divorces are, where you see your father.
'Nobody ever heard anything from him, so I’ve never met him. I didn’t know if he was alive or dead.'
Mr Poppo was once a student at a prestigious New York school before he became a down-and-out.
A yearbook picture of Ronald Poppo was obtained by the New York Daily News, who reported the victim was in the Latin Club and worked in the guidance office at Stuyvesant High School before he became homeless.
Recently released footage of the 65-year-old's dramatic rescue shows he was still conscious and moving his arms after the attack, while Rudy Eugene's body lay next to him.
After paramedics tend to the victim's facial injuries, they carefully place him on a stretcher.
As they carry him from the walkway where the attack took place to the ambulance, he starts to wave his arms around and has to be strapped down.
As police piece together the last hours of Eugene's life, they believe he attended a Memorial Day weekend beach party before making the three-mile journey home on foot in more than 90F.
He took off and scattered his clothes as he walked across the causeway - police later found his drivers license and clothes strewn from the beach to the mainland - before pouncing on the homeless man he found sleeping on the elevated train tracks, according to the Miami Herald.
After he strips and punches his victim, he straddles him before starting to eat his face off. Cars and a number of cyclists passed the two men while the attack took place.
It was almost 20 minutes until officer Jose Rivera shot Eugene shortly after he arrived. He shouted at the 31-year-old to stop but he simply got up and growled and continued eating at the man's face.
A former classmate of Eugene Victoria Forte, who attended North Miami Beach High School, told the Sun Sentinel: 'Drugs did this to him. Drugs took over a person we knew as a beautiful person.'
According to Miami police, the first call of a disturbance came from a passing motorist who reported seeing Eugene stripping off his clothes and acting erratically.
A Road Ranger called to the scene also called 911 and used a loudspeaker to call for the naked attacker to cease.
As the attack dragged on, two other motorists called police, as did another cyclist, Larry Vega, who later told reporters that Eugene 'just stood, his head up like that, with pieces of flesh in his mouth. And he growled'. He also said it was the most gruesome and traumatic thing he had ever seen'.
According to the Herald, Eugene had been in Miami Beach for the Memorial Day Weekend shortly before the attack.
His car, a purple 1995 Chevrolet Caprice, was towed for being parked illegally at 1100 10th Street, according to police.
It is believed Eugene was under the influence of a potent form of drug called 'bath salts' at the time but toxicology results will take several weeks.
Emergency room doctors at Jackson Memorial Hospital said they have seen an increase in incidents related to the drug, which is referred to on the street as 'the new LSD'.
Sunday, June 03, 2012
FAMOUS LUXURY STORE IN MIDDLE OF A WIFE-HUSBAND-OTHER WOMAN SPAT
Husband’s lover, an employee of Neiman Marcus, was also wife’s personal shopper
Just a little spat between a filthy rich wife, her not-rich husband and the other woman who worked at Neiman Marcus, was the wife's personal shopper and the husband's lover.
NEIMAN MARCUS SUED FOR FRAUD IN LOVE TRIANGLE
Woman says store refused to take back $1.4M in purchases
By Linda Stewart Ball
Associated Press
June 1, 2012
DALLAS -- A Dallas-area woman has found Neiman Marcus' generous return policy lacking, saying the luxury retailer wouldn't let her return $1.4 million worth of tainted items — many of them gifts her husband purchased from a store employee with whom he was allegedly having an affair.
Patricia Walker is suing Neiman Marcus, claiming fraud against the retailer.
The lawsuit alleges that many of the items were presented as gifts to Walker from her husband, bought with Walker's credit from her longtime personal shopper, who received a hefty commission from the sales.
But Walker's attorney insists the lawsuit isn't about spite.
"This is not about revenge," Mark Ticer, Walker's attorney, said Thursday when contacted. "This is about accountability and getting them to step up and do the right thing."
Neiman Marcus spokeswoman Ginger Reeder said corporate policy prevents her from commenting on litigation.
The retailer's return policy, as posted on its website, says customers may return, for credit, any items with which they "are not completely satisfied."
In court documents, Neiman Marcus and employee Favi Lo denied the allegations and said Walker's deceptive trade practices claim is groundless.
Most of the items Walker's husband, Robert "Bobby" Tennison, 65, purchased were gifts for Walker, who was seriously injured in a car accident in 2007 that put her in the hospital for months and made her homebound until well into 2010, Ticer said.
"Adding insult to injury ... it's getting charged to her Neiman's account. The bill is getting paid with her money," Ticer said.
The gifts included jewelry, glass sculptures, furs, handbags and other items the lawsuit says he bought from Lo.
The lawsuit also alleges the store knew about the illicit arrangement but did nothing to stop it because Neiman Marcus "directly profited from Lo's conduct and deceit."
Tennison and Lo did not return calls to the Associated Press.
Ticer said Walker went from spending about $100,000 a year at Neiman's with help from her personal shopper in 2006 to nearly $850,000 in 2009. Walker didn't realize what was going on until Tennison filed for divorce in 2010.
"Had Walker known of this betrayal of trust and confidence," the suit contends she never would have purchased anything from Lo or Neiman Marcus and she would not have ever authorized Tennison or Lo to do so.
"Ms. Walker had no idea it was going on at all," Ticer said. "She was in the perfect spot to be vulnerable after the horrible accident."
The lawsuit claims that Lo and Tennison "conspired on these purchases to both enable Tennison to live a lavish lifestyle that he could not afford on his own" and allow Lo to receive large commissions.
Ticer said Walker is an extremely private person who had hoped to avoid a jury trial.
The lawsuit was filed in Dallas County court in September 2010.
A trial date has been set for November.
Just a little spat between a filthy rich wife, her not-rich husband and the other woman who worked at Neiman Marcus, was the wife's personal shopper and the husband's lover.
NEIMAN MARCUS SUED FOR FRAUD IN LOVE TRIANGLE
Woman says store refused to take back $1.4M in purchases
By Linda Stewart Ball
Associated Press
June 1, 2012
DALLAS -- A Dallas-area woman has found Neiman Marcus' generous return policy lacking, saying the luxury retailer wouldn't let her return $1.4 million worth of tainted items — many of them gifts her husband purchased from a store employee with whom he was allegedly having an affair.
Patricia Walker is suing Neiman Marcus, claiming fraud against the retailer.
The lawsuit alleges that many of the items were presented as gifts to Walker from her husband, bought with Walker's credit from her longtime personal shopper, who received a hefty commission from the sales.
But Walker's attorney insists the lawsuit isn't about spite.
"This is not about revenge," Mark Ticer, Walker's attorney, said Thursday when contacted. "This is about accountability and getting them to step up and do the right thing."
Neiman Marcus spokeswoman Ginger Reeder said corporate policy prevents her from commenting on litigation.
The retailer's return policy, as posted on its website, says customers may return, for credit, any items with which they "are not completely satisfied."
In court documents, Neiman Marcus and employee Favi Lo denied the allegations and said Walker's deceptive trade practices claim is groundless.
Most of the items Walker's husband, Robert "Bobby" Tennison, 65, purchased were gifts for Walker, who was seriously injured in a car accident in 2007 that put her in the hospital for months and made her homebound until well into 2010, Ticer said.
"Adding insult to injury ... it's getting charged to her Neiman's account. The bill is getting paid with her money," Ticer said.
The gifts included jewelry, glass sculptures, furs, handbags and other items the lawsuit says he bought from Lo.
The lawsuit also alleges the store knew about the illicit arrangement but did nothing to stop it because Neiman Marcus "directly profited from Lo's conduct and deceit."
Tennison and Lo did not return calls to the Associated Press.
Ticer said Walker went from spending about $100,000 a year at Neiman's with help from her personal shopper in 2006 to nearly $850,000 in 2009. Walker didn't realize what was going on until Tennison filed for divorce in 2010.
"Had Walker known of this betrayal of trust and confidence," the suit contends she never would have purchased anything from Lo or Neiman Marcus and she would not have ever authorized Tennison or Lo to do so.
"Ms. Walker had no idea it was going on at all," Ticer said. "She was in the perfect spot to be vulnerable after the horrible accident."
The lawsuit claims that Lo and Tennison "conspired on these purchases to both enable Tennison to live a lavish lifestyle that he could not afford on his own" and allow Lo to receive large commissions.
Ticer said Walker is an extremely private person who had hoped to avoid a jury trial.
The lawsuit was filed in Dallas County court in September 2010.
A trial date has been set for November.
IF THIS WAS HIS FIRST ROBBERY, IT DID NOT GO ALL THAT WELL
Bob Walsh says, “This robber should find another line of work.”
FATHER, SON SUBDUE ROBBER UNTIL ARREST
The Stockton Record
May 31, 2012
STOCKTON - A father and son disarmed and subdued a teenager who tried to rob them Wednesday afternoon.
Alvin Greer, 19, was arrested on suspicion of robbery and possessing a weapon after officers were called about 2 p.m. to the 500 block of South Grant Street, according to the Stockton Police Department.
Police allege Greer pointed a gun at the 52-year-old man as he and his son were doing construction in the area. The man disarmed Greer, and the robber was held down by the pair until help arrived, police said.
FATHER, SON SUBDUE ROBBER UNTIL ARREST
The Stockton Record
May 31, 2012
STOCKTON - A father and son disarmed and subdued a teenager who tried to rob them Wednesday afternoon.
Alvin Greer, 19, was arrested on suspicion of robbery and possessing a weapon after officers were called about 2 p.m. to the 500 block of South Grant Street, according to the Stockton Police Department.
Police allege Greer pointed a gun at the 52-year-old man as he and his son were doing construction in the area. The man disarmed Greer, and the robber was held down by the pair until help arrived, police said.
DHS CREATES FENCED-IN ENCLOSURE FOR AL-QAEDA TO SAFELY CARRY OUT ATTACKS
The Onion
June 2, 2012
WASHINGTON—In an effort to streamline and better coordinate anti-terrorism efforts, the Department of Homeland Security announced Friday that it had established a designated "safe zone" within which members of al-Qaeda can carry out attacks on American soil without hurting anyone.
"We've cordoned off 80 acres of Kansas pasture and created a simulated environment in which those harboring a deadly grudge against our nation can destroy virtual marketplaces, transportation hubs, and even a miniature cityscape complete with a replica U.S. Capitol and Golden Gate Bridge," said Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, confirming the facility was equipped with enough airplanes for the terrorists to "climb around in, hijack, and blow up as much as they like." Napolitano added, "We also made sure to include plenty of animatronic Iraqi police recruits, since we realize most victims of terrorism these days aren't actually Americans."
At press time, 56 were reported dead and 174 injured in a series of coordinated attacks in and around Baghdad.
June 2, 2012
WASHINGTON—In an effort to streamline and better coordinate anti-terrorism efforts, the Department of Homeland Security announced Friday that it had established a designated "safe zone" within which members of al-Qaeda can carry out attacks on American soil without hurting anyone.
"We've cordoned off 80 acres of Kansas pasture and created a simulated environment in which those harboring a deadly grudge against our nation can destroy virtual marketplaces, transportation hubs, and even a miniature cityscape complete with a replica U.S. Capitol and Golden Gate Bridge," said Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, confirming the facility was equipped with enough airplanes for the terrorists to "climb around in, hijack, and blow up as much as they like." Napolitano added, "We also made sure to include plenty of animatronic Iraqi police recruits, since we realize most victims of terrorism these days aren't actually Americans."
At press time, 56 were reported dead and 174 injured in a series of coordinated attacks in and around Baghdad.
Saturday, June 02, 2012
SANER VOICES PREVAIL IN THE CALIFORNIA SENATE
Mark Leno is a far-left California state senator who is the author of numerous bills that did or would have made it harder for the police to protect the public. This time fortunately, the flaky San Fransicko Democrat was shot down by some common sense Republicans with the help of some reasonable Democrats.
LAWMAKERS DECLINE TO REDUCE PENALTIES FOR METH, COCAINE, HEROIN POSSESSION
By Patrick McGreevy
Los Angeles Times
May 31, 2012
SACRAMENTO -- State lawmakers on Thursday rejected a proposal to reduce the charge for simple possession of heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine from a felony to a misdemeanor.
Sen. Mark Leno (D-San Francisco) said his bill would save money and result in more people getting successful drug treatment so they can re-enter society.
“No data begins to suggest that putting felonies on these mostly young people and incarcerating them for longer periods of time in any way benefits their recovery from drug use,’’ Leno told his colleagues before the measure went down on an 11-24 vote, with several Democrats in opposition.
Sen. Ted Gaines (R-Roseville) said SB 1506 would threaten public safety, agreeing with the California State Sheriffs’ Assn. that drug use leads to other problems including property crimes.
“I don’t understand how decriminalization will actually reduce crime in California,’’ Gaines said.
Sen. Doug La Malfa (R-Richvale) added: “With bills like this I can see Amsterdam from the Capitol front porch.’’
LAWMAKERS DECLINE TO REDUCE PENALTIES FOR METH, COCAINE, HEROIN POSSESSION
By Patrick McGreevy
Los Angeles Times
May 31, 2012
SACRAMENTO -- State lawmakers on Thursday rejected a proposal to reduce the charge for simple possession of heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine from a felony to a misdemeanor.
Sen. Mark Leno (D-San Francisco) said his bill would save money and result in more people getting successful drug treatment so they can re-enter society.
“No data begins to suggest that putting felonies on these mostly young people and incarcerating them for longer periods of time in any way benefits their recovery from drug use,’’ Leno told his colleagues before the measure went down on an 11-24 vote, with several Democrats in opposition.
Sen. Ted Gaines (R-Roseville) said SB 1506 would threaten public safety, agreeing with the California State Sheriffs’ Assn. that drug use leads to other problems including property crimes.
“I don’t understand how decriminalization will actually reduce crime in California,’’ Gaines said.
Sen. Doug La Malfa (R-Richvale) added: “With bills like this I can see Amsterdam from the Capitol front porch.’’
‘LIKE ALL NARCISSISTS, OBAMA’S LIFE IS A LIE’
President, like some of his predecessors, afflicted with Narcissistic Pathology Disorder
Mark Alexander, publisher of The Patriot Post, blisters Obama over his 'self service.'
NARCISSISM AND TYRANNY – THE CONSEQUENCES OF EXECUTIVE EGOCENTRISM
Self Service Masquerading As Public Service
By Mark Alexander
The Patriot Post
May 31, 2012
__"He that falls in love with himself will have no rivals." --Benjamin Franklin, 1758
Paraphrasing the ancient Chinese warrior Sun Tzu: To defeat your opponent you must know your opponent and know yourself.
If our generation of Patriots is to succeed in our mandate to extend the blessings of American Liberty to our posterity, then we must both know the depth of our devotion to Liberty and understand its enemies. Indeed, we must fully comprehend those adversaries beyond topical categorization by political and other affiliations.
Our nation was founded by Patriots who devoted their lives, fortunes and sacred honor to Liberty for all. They truly understood the nature of "public service" as opposed to "self service," the former defined as the giving of oneself for the greater good as opposed to the latter defined as the taking for oneself to the detriment of anyone or anything else.
In our Republican context of governance, the spirit of public service was and remains essential for the advancement of Liberty, while the consequence of self-service has always been irrevocably linked to tyranny.
Our generation of Patriots understands this distinction, and we are steadfast in our fidelity to the higher calling of Liberty. However, this fraternity of dedicated Patriots has always been, and will likely always be, in the minority -- which is to say we must each resolve to give our all. As often noted, Samuel Adams wrote, "It does not take a majority to prevail ... but rather an irate, tireless minority, keen on setting brushfires of freedom in the minds of men."
In the generations since our founding, Liberty has suffered excessive insult by the rise of men who, under the banner of "public service," are motivated principally by self service -- and the greater the drive toward self service, the greater the threat to Liberty.
Recent history records the ascension of politicians who were incontrovertibly motivated by self service masquerading as public service -- Ted Kennedy, Bill Clinton, Albert Gore, John Kerry and John Edwards, to name a few. All of these men share tragic family histories, which indelibly imprinted them from birth. Each also has a common diagnosis for his behavior: Narcissistic Pathology Disorder (NPD).
Understanding this pathology is key to defeating our opponents who manifest it.
By definition, narcissists are deeply insecure and, consequently, have an unrelenting need to be admired by others. Their low self-esteem is often imprinted from early childhood, and for many it is associated with ineffective fathering or worse, parental abandonment. Narcissists have a grandiose sense of self and of entitlement, and they have an excessive dependence upon others for self-definition and self-esteem regulation. Though they may project an image of great confidence, it is nothing more than arrogance pretending to be confidence in a cover-up of their insecurity.
I certainly would not suggest that all children with tragic family histories are destined to develop NPD. But executive offices in both the private and public sector are frequently occupied by those driven by narcissistic pathology, those whose motivation to achieve is characterized by a lust for power and avarice, rooted in broken self esteem and the resulting obsessive need to be accepted by others.
The most malignant form of narcissism is accompanied by intelligence and charisma, which enables the deception of others in order to secure positions of power and influence.
No executive in American history has provided a more textbook archetypal case study of Narcissistic Pathology Disorder than Barack Hussein Obama, who embodied the pathology of the Left and successfully deceived the masses with his intelligence and charisma. Notably, he unwittingly outlined this deception in his second autobiographical book, "The Audacity of Hope," writing, "I serve as a blank screen on which people of vastly different political stripes project their own views."
Like all narcissists, however, Obama's life is a lie.
To confirm that assertion, one needs look no further than his official White House biography, which begins, "His story is the American story -- values from the heartland, a middle-class upbringing in a strong family..." There is no doubt that Obama wanted, and indeed deserved, that upbringing, but to assert that he had it could not be further from the truth.
And to further confirm the audacity of Obama's narcissism, we need only examine his adulteration of the official White House Historical Association biographies of prior presidents, where Obama has inserted his name and some related "achievement" into the historic narratives of presidents dating back to Calvin Coolidge.
For example, the "Did You Know?" section at the end of Coolidge's bio has been altered to read, "On Feb. 22, 1924 Calvin Coolidge became the first president to make a public radio address to the American people. President Coolidge later helped create the Federal Radio Commission, which has now evolved to become the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). President Obama became the first president to hold virtual gatherings and town halls using Twitter, Facebook, Google+, LinkedIn, etc."
See if you can spot the impostor in these other presidential bios:
"On August 14, 1935, President Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act. Today the Obama Administration continues to protect seniors and ensure Social Security will be there for future generations."
"President John F. Kennedy famously suggested the American people: 'Ask what you can do for your country.' In 1961, the Peace Corps was created, facilitating service among citizens working toward peace in developing countries. In 2011, President Obama celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Peace Corps with a Presidential Proclamation."
"In 1973, Richard Nixon created The President's Export Council, which was expanded and reconstituted under President Jimmy Carter in 1979. Today the PEC continues to work towards reaching President Obama's goal of doubling the nation's exports by 2014's end."
"President Reagan designated Martin Luther King Jr. Day a national holiday; today the Obama Administration honors this tradition, with the First and Second Families participating in service projects on this day. In a June 28, 1985 speech Reagan called for a fairer tax code, one where a multi-millionaire did not have a lower tax rate than his secretary. Today, President Obama is calling for the same with the Buffett Rule."
"In 2002, President George W. Bush's State of the Union was the first to be live broadcast on the Internet. In 2011 and 2012, President Obama's State of the Union speeches were available in an enhanced live stream version that featured infographics, charts and data side-by-side in real time with the President's speech."
Of this audacious adulteration, Ronald Reagan's former Attorney General, Ed Meese, concludes, "What they have done is to spoil the integrity of the historical narrative."
In advance of the 2012 election, Obama has framed his tenure in office as "public service." But he is pathologically incapable of serving the public ahead of himself. In order to spoil the integrity of his narrative, we must fully understand his unmitigated narcissism and thoroughly expose the grave threat that his self-interest poses to Essential Liberty.
Mark Alexander, publisher of The Patriot Post, blisters Obama over his 'self service.'
NARCISSISM AND TYRANNY – THE CONSEQUENCES OF EXECUTIVE EGOCENTRISM
Self Service Masquerading As Public Service
By Mark Alexander
The Patriot Post
May 31, 2012
__"He that falls in love with himself will have no rivals." --Benjamin Franklin, 1758
Paraphrasing the ancient Chinese warrior Sun Tzu: To defeat your opponent you must know your opponent and know yourself.
If our generation of Patriots is to succeed in our mandate to extend the blessings of American Liberty to our posterity, then we must both know the depth of our devotion to Liberty and understand its enemies. Indeed, we must fully comprehend those adversaries beyond topical categorization by political and other affiliations.
Our nation was founded by Patriots who devoted their lives, fortunes and sacred honor to Liberty for all. They truly understood the nature of "public service" as opposed to "self service," the former defined as the giving of oneself for the greater good as opposed to the latter defined as the taking for oneself to the detriment of anyone or anything else.
In our Republican context of governance, the spirit of public service was and remains essential for the advancement of Liberty, while the consequence of self-service has always been irrevocably linked to tyranny.
Our generation of Patriots understands this distinction, and we are steadfast in our fidelity to the higher calling of Liberty. However, this fraternity of dedicated Patriots has always been, and will likely always be, in the minority -- which is to say we must each resolve to give our all. As often noted, Samuel Adams wrote, "It does not take a majority to prevail ... but rather an irate, tireless minority, keen on setting brushfires of freedom in the minds of men."
In the generations since our founding, Liberty has suffered excessive insult by the rise of men who, under the banner of "public service," are motivated principally by self service -- and the greater the drive toward self service, the greater the threat to Liberty.
Recent history records the ascension of politicians who were incontrovertibly motivated by self service masquerading as public service -- Ted Kennedy, Bill Clinton, Albert Gore, John Kerry and John Edwards, to name a few. All of these men share tragic family histories, which indelibly imprinted them from birth. Each also has a common diagnosis for his behavior: Narcissistic Pathology Disorder (NPD).
Understanding this pathology is key to defeating our opponents who manifest it.
By definition, narcissists are deeply insecure and, consequently, have an unrelenting need to be admired by others. Their low self-esteem is often imprinted from early childhood, and for many it is associated with ineffective fathering or worse, parental abandonment. Narcissists have a grandiose sense of self and of entitlement, and they have an excessive dependence upon others for self-definition and self-esteem regulation. Though they may project an image of great confidence, it is nothing more than arrogance pretending to be confidence in a cover-up of their insecurity.
I certainly would not suggest that all children with tragic family histories are destined to develop NPD. But executive offices in both the private and public sector are frequently occupied by those driven by narcissistic pathology, those whose motivation to achieve is characterized by a lust for power and avarice, rooted in broken self esteem and the resulting obsessive need to be accepted by others.
The most malignant form of narcissism is accompanied by intelligence and charisma, which enables the deception of others in order to secure positions of power and influence.
No executive in American history has provided a more textbook archetypal case study of Narcissistic Pathology Disorder than Barack Hussein Obama, who embodied the pathology of the Left and successfully deceived the masses with his intelligence and charisma. Notably, he unwittingly outlined this deception in his second autobiographical book, "The Audacity of Hope," writing, "I serve as a blank screen on which people of vastly different political stripes project their own views."
Like all narcissists, however, Obama's life is a lie.
To confirm that assertion, one needs look no further than his official White House biography, which begins, "His story is the American story -- values from the heartland, a middle-class upbringing in a strong family..." There is no doubt that Obama wanted, and indeed deserved, that upbringing, but to assert that he had it could not be further from the truth.
And to further confirm the audacity of Obama's narcissism, we need only examine his adulteration of the official White House Historical Association biographies of prior presidents, where Obama has inserted his name and some related "achievement" into the historic narratives of presidents dating back to Calvin Coolidge.
For example, the "Did You Know?" section at the end of Coolidge's bio has been altered to read, "On Feb. 22, 1924 Calvin Coolidge became the first president to make a public radio address to the American people. President Coolidge later helped create the Federal Radio Commission, which has now evolved to become the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). President Obama became the first president to hold virtual gatherings and town halls using Twitter, Facebook, Google+, LinkedIn, etc."
See if you can spot the impostor in these other presidential bios:
"On August 14, 1935, President Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act. Today the Obama Administration continues to protect seniors and ensure Social Security will be there for future generations."
"President John F. Kennedy famously suggested the American people: 'Ask what you can do for your country.' In 1961, the Peace Corps was created, facilitating service among citizens working toward peace in developing countries. In 2011, President Obama celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Peace Corps with a Presidential Proclamation."
"In 1973, Richard Nixon created The President's Export Council, which was expanded and reconstituted under President Jimmy Carter in 1979. Today the PEC continues to work towards reaching President Obama's goal of doubling the nation's exports by 2014's end."
"President Reagan designated Martin Luther King Jr. Day a national holiday; today the Obama Administration honors this tradition, with the First and Second Families participating in service projects on this day. In a June 28, 1985 speech Reagan called for a fairer tax code, one where a multi-millionaire did not have a lower tax rate than his secretary. Today, President Obama is calling for the same with the Buffett Rule."
"In 2002, President George W. Bush's State of the Union was the first to be live broadcast on the Internet. In 2011 and 2012, President Obama's State of the Union speeches were available in an enhanced live stream version that featured infographics, charts and data side-by-side in real time with the President's speech."
Of this audacious adulteration, Ronald Reagan's former Attorney General, Ed Meese, concludes, "What they have done is to spoil the integrity of the historical narrative."
In advance of the 2012 election, Obama has framed his tenure in office as "public service." But he is pathologically incapable of serving the public ahead of himself. In order to spoil the integrity of his narrative, we must fully understand his unmitigated narcissism and thoroughly expose the grave threat that his self-interest poses to Essential Liberty.
MEL GIBSON FILES $35 MILLION LAWSUIT AGAINST MARTIN SCORSESE
Scorsese accused of stealing Gibson’s plans to produce and star in contemporary version of Romeo and Juliet
By Pamela Putz
The Schalotte
June 1, 2012
A visibly angry Mel Gibson told a gathering of the Hollywood press corps that he was suing Martin Scorsese for $35 million for stealing his plans to produce and star in a contemporary version of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. In an obscenity-laced press conference, Gibson said that he had offered Scorsese the director’s job, but that the legendary filmmaker stabbed him in the back by stealing the plot for the film he had already begun to cast.
“I invited that fucking Wop over to my office, showed him my screenplay, and asked him if he would direct my Romeo and Juliet film for me,” said Gibson. “He told me that he would study the script and let me know later. The next thing I know, Scorsese is making an announcement that he’s going to produce the film himself. That motherfucking thief stole my movie and that's why I'm suing the God damn Dago.”
On Monday, Scorsese announced that he was planning to film a contemporary version of Romeo and Juliet set in Los Angeles and that he had already signed Robert De Niro and Sharon Tate as Juliet’s parents and Danny Glover and Queen Latifah as Romeo’s parents.
Gibson told reporters that “I’m not letting that fucking Dago get away with this!” Gibson, who has been accused of anti-Semitism, said that “I’ve been looking forward to portraying a Jewish father so we can put behind us those spurious charges that I hate the damn Jews. Now that God damn spaghetti bender comes along and ruins my chance to prove that I’m not a fucking bigot and that I don’t hate those fucking Christ killers.”
Gibson said he was going to play Abe Finkelstein, Romeo’s father, and that he had already signed Justin Bieber for the role of Romeo Finkelstein, Susan Sarandon as Romeo’s mother, Whoopi Goldberg as Juliet Washington’s mother, and Rosario Dawson as Juliet. “And I even landed Al Sharpton to play the role of Juliet’s father. Now who else would sign that fucking nigger for a leading role in a movie, huh?”
Gibson’s version of Romeo and Juliet is set in Brooklyn, New York. Romeo Finkelstein and Juliet Washington are seniors at a Brooklyn High School. Romeo’s father is the owner and operator of Finkelstein’s Fashion Mart in the predominantly black Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn. Juliet’s father hates Jews because he believes they are leeches sucking the blood out of the black community as absentee landlords charging high rents for rundown apartments and store owners selling inferior merchandize at inflated prices.
In Gibson’s version, Romeo and Juliet fall in love, but Romeo’s parents do not want him to marry a gentile, especially a black gentile. And Juliet’s parents are determined that no daughter of theirs will ever marry a bloodsucking Jew. Romeo gets Juliet pregnant. Her father orders her to get an abortion and forbids her from seeing Romeo again. Juliet then runs off, gets rip-roaring drunk, and passes out. Romeo finds Juliet and thinks she’s dead. He takes off his belt and hangs himself. Juliet awakens to find Romeo dead. She removes the belt and hangs herself too.
“You can see the close similarity between my screenplay and the plot Scorsese described Monday,” Gibson told the reporters. “That God damn fucking Wop stole my screenplay and I’m sure as shit going to make that sorry ass motherfucker pay for it.”
By Pamela Putz
The Schalotte
June 1, 2012
A visibly angry Mel Gibson told a gathering of the Hollywood press corps that he was suing Martin Scorsese for $35 million for stealing his plans to produce and star in a contemporary version of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. In an obscenity-laced press conference, Gibson said that he had offered Scorsese the director’s job, but that the legendary filmmaker stabbed him in the back by stealing the plot for the film he had already begun to cast.
“I invited that fucking Wop over to my office, showed him my screenplay, and asked him if he would direct my Romeo and Juliet film for me,” said Gibson. “He told me that he would study the script and let me know later. The next thing I know, Scorsese is making an announcement that he’s going to produce the film himself. That motherfucking thief stole my movie and that's why I'm suing the God damn Dago.”
On Monday, Scorsese announced that he was planning to film a contemporary version of Romeo and Juliet set in Los Angeles and that he had already signed Robert De Niro and Sharon Tate as Juliet’s parents and Danny Glover and Queen Latifah as Romeo’s parents.
Gibson told reporters that “I’m not letting that fucking Dago get away with this!” Gibson, who has been accused of anti-Semitism, said that “I’ve been looking forward to portraying a Jewish father so we can put behind us those spurious charges that I hate the damn Jews. Now that God damn spaghetti bender comes along and ruins my chance to prove that I’m not a fucking bigot and that I don’t hate those fucking Christ killers.”
Gibson said he was going to play Abe Finkelstein, Romeo’s father, and that he had already signed Justin Bieber for the role of Romeo Finkelstein, Susan Sarandon as Romeo’s mother, Whoopi Goldberg as Juliet Washington’s mother, and Rosario Dawson as Juliet. “And I even landed Al Sharpton to play the role of Juliet’s father. Now who else would sign that fucking nigger for a leading role in a movie, huh?”
Gibson’s version of Romeo and Juliet is set in Brooklyn, New York. Romeo Finkelstein and Juliet Washington are seniors at a Brooklyn High School. Romeo’s father is the owner and operator of Finkelstein’s Fashion Mart in the predominantly black Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn. Juliet’s father hates Jews because he believes they are leeches sucking the blood out of the black community as absentee landlords charging high rents for rundown apartments and store owners selling inferior merchandize at inflated prices.
In Gibson’s version, Romeo and Juliet fall in love, but Romeo’s parents do not want him to marry a gentile, especially a black gentile. And Juliet’s parents are determined that no daughter of theirs will ever marry a bloodsucking Jew. Romeo gets Juliet pregnant. Her father orders her to get an abortion and forbids her from seeing Romeo again. Juliet then runs off, gets rip-roaring drunk, and passes out. Romeo finds Juliet and thinks she’s dead. He takes off his belt and hangs himself. Juliet awakens to find Romeo dead. She removes the belt and hangs herself too.
“You can see the close similarity between my screenplay and the plot Scorsese described Monday,” Gibson told the reporters. “That God damn fucking Wop stole my screenplay and I’m sure as shit going to make that sorry ass motherfucker pay for it.”
Friday, June 01, 2012
PEEING IN A PUBLIC PARK IS NOT EXACTLY THE BEST ELECTION CAMPAIGN STRTEGY
Voters were not persuaded by the explanation that “I am not a girlie girl”
Galveston County Constable Pam Matranga, one of my former students, lost her reelection bid, undoubtedly because of a sexual harassment lawsuit filed against her this year that gained her some unwanted worldwide attention. Poor Pam was also accused of peeing in a park.
PAM MATRANGA LOSES: GALVESTON VOTERS TOSS ALLEGEDLY FORCED-MOTORBOATING, PUBLIC-PEEING CONSTABLE
By Richard Connelly
Houston Press Hair Balls
May 30, 2012
Pam Matranga, the Galveston County constable who, according to a sexual harassment lawsuit, forced a deputy to motorboat her, gave the world such awful vaginal euphemisms as "duck taco," and was caught on video allegedly peeing in a park, has lost her primary re-election race.
WHAT MORE COULD SHE HAVE DONE FOR YOU, GALVESTON?
Matranga managed to get only 39 percent of the vote, with Rick Sharp getting almost 52 percent, enough to win without a runoff in for the GOP nod for Precinct 7 constable.
Matranga has said the harassment lawsuit was an election ploy, although she did allow that she was "a jester, I am not a girlie girl."
"I can only be accountable for any role I may have played," Matranga said on her Facebook page after the election loss. "I am sorry for any embarassment this may have caused any of you. I am going to be fine, I am fine....I hope the bashing of me can end now."
Galveston County Constable Pam Matranga, one of my former students, lost her reelection bid, undoubtedly because of a sexual harassment lawsuit filed against her this year that gained her some unwanted worldwide attention. Poor Pam was also accused of peeing in a park.
PAM MATRANGA LOSES: GALVESTON VOTERS TOSS ALLEGEDLY FORCED-MOTORBOATING, PUBLIC-PEEING CONSTABLE
By Richard Connelly
Houston Press Hair Balls
May 30, 2012
Pam Matranga, the Galveston County constable who, according to a sexual harassment lawsuit, forced a deputy to motorboat her, gave the world such awful vaginal euphemisms as "duck taco," and was caught on video allegedly peeing in a park, has lost her primary re-election race.
WHAT MORE COULD SHE HAVE DONE FOR YOU, GALVESTON?
Matranga managed to get only 39 percent of the vote, with Rick Sharp getting almost 52 percent, enough to win without a runoff in for the GOP nod for Precinct 7 constable.
Matranga has said the harassment lawsuit was an election ploy, although she did allow that she was "a jester, I am not a girlie girl."
"I can only be accountable for any role I may have played," Matranga said on her Facebook page after the election loss. "I am sorry for any embarassment this may have caused any of you. I am going to be fine, I am fine....I hope the bashing of me can end now."
TEXAS PRISON INMATE DOING HIS TIME IN A SOUTH CAROLINA PRISON WILL DO HIS PAROLE IN CALIFONRIA
According to Grits for Breakfast, a parole board panel recently voted to grant parole to Eroy Brown, a black inmate who killed two high-ranking white Texas prison officials and whose 30 yearlong saga was the subject of a book by Michael Berryhill.
Eroy Brown, a burglar and armed robber, was serving a 90-year prison sentence as a habitual criminal when, in 1981, while serving his time at the Ellis Unit of the Texas prison system, he drowned Ellis Unit Warden Wallace Pack and fatally shot Billy Moore, the unit's farm manager. Those murders led to three high-profile trials that exposed outrageous – as Grits puts it - brutality in the state's prison system. Brown was acquitted separately in each murder on grounds of self-defense.
Brown has been serving time for his prior burglary and robbery offenses in South Carolina because of the risk of retaliation by Texas prison officials. Brown will move to a reentry facility run by the Catholic church in Los Angeles when he's released, said one of his attorneys, Bill Habern.
Congratulations California, you’re getting a real winner!
Eroy Brown, a burglar and armed robber, was serving a 90-year prison sentence as a habitual criminal when, in 1981, while serving his time at the Ellis Unit of the Texas prison system, he drowned Ellis Unit Warden Wallace Pack and fatally shot Billy Moore, the unit's farm manager. Those murders led to three high-profile trials that exposed outrageous – as Grits puts it - brutality in the state's prison system. Brown was acquitted separately in each murder on grounds of self-defense.
Brown has been serving time for his prior burglary and robbery offenses in South Carolina because of the risk of retaliation by Texas prison officials. Brown will move to a reentry facility run by the Catholic church in Los Angeles when he's released, said one of his attorneys, Bill Habern.
Congratulations California, you’re getting a real winner!
ANOTHER CANNIBALISTIC CRIME
True crime can be stranger than fiction. Last March in Russia, two men were arrested for separate acts of cannibalism. Last Saturday, Miami cops killed a naked man who was cannibalizing the face of a homeless man. And now we have an Iranian professor in Sweden eating the hot lips he sliced off of his cheating wife.
PROFESSOR ‘CUT OFF HIS WIFE’S LIPS AND ATE THEM BECAUSE HE BELIEVED SHE HAD INSULTED HIS HONOR BY HAVING AN AFFAIR’
By Richard Orange
Mail Online
May 31, 2012
UPPSALA, SWEDEN -- A former associate professor at Sweden's prestigious Karolinska medical institute is being held in police custody for cutting off his wife's lips with a knife and then eating them in Stockholm.
According to Sweden's Aftonbladet newspaper, the man flew into a jealous rage over suspicions that his much younger wife had been having an affair.
The man, who is 52, admitted to cutting off his wife's lips in a closed court hearing, the paper reported, saying it was retaliation.
'It was honour related. He doesn't seem to regret a thing. He believes she insulted him,' a source with knowledge of the matter told the paper.
The assault was so brutal that the prosecutor tried to have him charged for attempted murder. But the court sought to downgrade the charge to aggravated assault.
Ingela Hessius Ekman, who represents the victim, said her client may have suffered irreparable damage.
'She has very serious injuries, doctors can not yet determine whether she can be healed or not,' she told Aftonbladet.
'She's in a lot of pain.'
Miss Ekman added that the trial is due to start at the beginning of July.
The man, who is from Iran, was doing post-Doctoral research at the institute in 2010.
He is now employed by a university in Tehran, but still lived partly and Stockholm, where he collaborated with his old research group at the university, and used its email services and library through a 'declaration of association.'
'It is, of course, a very tragic story,' says Bengt Norrving, the institute's director.
'But since the researcher in question is not an employee of Karolinska Institutet we are unable to consider legal action.'
PROFESSOR ‘CUT OFF HIS WIFE’S LIPS AND ATE THEM BECAUSE HE BELIEVED SHE HAD INSULTED HIS HONOR BY HAVING AN AFFAIR’
By Richard Orange
Mail Online
May 31, 2012
UPPSALA, SWEDEN -- A former associate professor at Sweden's prestigious Karolinska medical institute is being held in police custody for cutting off his wife's lips with a knife and then eating them in Stockholm.
According to Sweden's Aftonbladet newspaper, the man flew into a jealous rage over suspicions that his much younger wife had been having an affair.
The man, who is 52, admitted to cutting off his wife's lips in a closed court hearing, the paper reported, saying it was retaliation.
'It was honour related. He doesn't seem to regret a thing. He believes she insulted him,' a source with knowledge of the matter told the paper.
The assault was so brutal that the prosecutor tried to have him charged for attempted murder. But the court sought to downgrade the charge to aggravated assault.
Ingela Hessius Ekman, who represents the victim, said her client may have suffered irreparable damage.
'She has very serious injuries, doctors can not yet determine whether she can be healed or not,' she told Aftonbladet.
'She's in a lot of pain.'
Miss Ekman added that the trial is due to start at the beginning of July.
The man, who is from Iran, was doing post-Doctoral research at the institute in 2010.
He is now employed by a university in Tehran, but still lived partly and Stockholm, where he collaborated with his old research group at the university, and used its email services and library through a 'declaration of association.'
'It is, of course, a very tragic story,' says Bengt Norrving, the institute's director.
'But since the researcher in question is not an employee of Karolinska Institutet we are unable to consider legal action.'
Thursday, May 31, 2012
DOUBLE PUNISHMENT
While the Constitution prohibits Double Jeopardy, it apparently does not prohibit punishment of sex offenders after they have completed their sentence
According to The New York Times, Orange County in California has some of the nation’s most severe sex offender restrictions. In Huntington Beach, convicted sex offenders are barred from surfing at the city’s famous pier. In Dana Point, they are prohibited from casting a fishing line in the harbor. And in Mission Viejo, they could be shipped back to jail for six months if they wander into a public park.
In many cities across this nation, sex offenders are prohibited from residing within 2,500 feet of any place where children might congregate. That makes it impossible for them to live anywhere within the city. That’s completely unreasonable! City ordinances with such restrictions are designed as ‘feel-good’ legislation and they do little, if anything, to protect children from sexual predators.
While the Constitution prohibits double jeopardy, it apparently does NOT prohibit DOUBLE PUNISHMENT – (1) confinement in prison and (2) the additional punishment of residence restrictions and prohibited access to public places after completion of the sentence meted out by the court.
And it should be noted that many ‘sex offenders’ were convicted of offenses that never involved any children. The drunk who peed in the street, if convicted of exposing his person in public, will be required to register as a sex offender - with the attendant residence restrictions - in many jurisdictions. The same goes for persons convicted of having CONSENSUAL sex with minors. The women school teachers convicted of laying a lucky student are required to register as sex offenders.
Before proceeding any further, I want to make it crystal clear that Bob Walsh, Jeff Doyle and I believe that sexual predators belong in prison and not on the streets. But since the law sees fit to release them from prison, they should have the right to live as normal citizens once they have completed their sentences.
Bob Walsh says,” How the hell can you legally bar a citizen from ‘all public places.’ I foresee some serious constitutional issues there.”
And here is Jeff ‘Paco’ Doyle’s take on sex offender restrictions:
PARIAH LAWS OFFEND CONSTITUTION
By Jeff Doyle
PACOVILLA Corrections blog
May 30, 2012
Notwithstanding the dearth of sympathy for the plight of the pariahs we call sex offenders, the Bill of Rights contains no exemptions. Therefore, even though the children of Dana Point are undoubtedly safer because sex offenders aren’t permitted to fish in the ocean, the prohibition offends our foundational document.
Sadly, a majority appear to find this particular unconstitutional matter a non-issue–It’s OK to deprive sex offenders of their Constitutional Rights. Paco understands and sympathizes with the sentiment. Even so, the Constitution either applies to us all or it applies to no one…eventually.
To reiterate Paco’s position on the matter of registered sex offenders:
__Many sex offenders are not sex offenders at all. Sex offender rolls include countless offenders who present no threat whatsoever to children or others. Until last week, this included Brian Banks who was falsely accused and convicted of rape a decade ago. It also includes folks convicted of public urination, public nudity etc.
__While registration has been held Constitutional, on their face such laws acknowledge and underscore the paucity of sentences for actual child predation and predatory rape. Which is to say, true predators belong in prison–Registration exists because lawmakers lack the stones to set life terms for lifelong sex offenders.
__No studies or statistics have ever established a nexus establishing sex offenders commit offenses at schools or parks near their residence of record. Yet, many jurisdiction in the nation bar sex offenders from residing near those sites, libraries, movie theaters…
__Gangs are an imminent threat both in public parks and schools–Children are frequently shot at those places, caught in a crossfire. Where are the signs prohibiting gang members from public parks?
Paco says lock up ACTUAL predatory sex offenders and keep them there. AND, like it or not, people who have served their time are NOT 2nd class citizens–They are citizens, entitled to the same rights as everyone else.
Barring that, let’s be honest and change the Constitution to sanction a 2nd class of citizen whose rights are forfeit: the Pariah.
__________
And I would add that Jeff brought up a most interesting point. If we want to protect our children, why are gang members NOT prohibited from public parks?
According to The New York Times, Orange County in California has some of the nation’s most severe sex offender restrictions. In Huntington Beach, convicted sex offenders are barred from surfing at the city’s famous pier. In Dana Point, they are prohibited from casting a fishing line in the harbor. And in Mission Viejo, they could be shipped back to jail for six months if they wander into a public park.
In many cities across this nation, sex offenders are prohibited from residing within 2,500 feet of any place where children might congregate. That makes it impossible for them to live anywhere within the city. That’s completely unreasonable! City ordinances with such restrictions are designed as ‘feel-good’ legislation and they do little, if anything, to protect children from sexual predators.
While the Constitution prohibits double jeopardy, it apparently does NOT prohibit DOUBLE PUNISHMENT – (1) confinement in prison and (2) the additional punishment of residence restrictions and prohibited access to public places after completion of the sentence meted out by the court.
And it should be noted that many ‘sex offenders’ were convicted of offenses that never involved any children. The drunk who peed in the street, if convicted of exposing his person in public, will be required to register as a sex offender - with the attendant residence restrictions - in many jurisdictions. The same goes for persons convicted of having CONSENSUAL sex with minors. The women school teachers convicted of laying a lucky student are required to register as sex offenders.
Before proceeding any further, I want to make it crystal clear that Bob Walsh, Jeff Doyle and I believe that sexual predators belong in prison and not on the streets. But since the law sees fit to release them from prison, they should have the right to live as normal citizens once they have completed their sentences.
Bob Walsh says,” How the hell can you legally bar a citizen from ‘all public places.’ I foresee some serious constitutional issues there.”
And here is Jeff ‘Paco’ Doyle’s take on sex offender restrictions:
PARIAH LAWS OFFEND CONSTITUTION
By Jeff Doyle
PACOVILLA Corrections blog
May 30, 2012
Notwithstanding the dearth of sympathy for the plight of the pariahs we call sex offenders, the Bill of Rights contains no exemptions. Therefore, even though the children of Dana Point are undoubtedly safer because sex offenders aren’t permitted to fish in the ocean, the prohibition offends our foundational document.
Sadly, a majority appear to find this particular unconstitutional matter a non-issue–It’s OK to deprive sex offenders of their Constitutional Rights. Paco understands and sympathizes with the sentiment. Even so, the Constitution either applies to us all or it applies to no one…eventually.
To reiterate Paco’s position on the matter of registered sex offenders:
__Many sex offenders are not sex offenders at all. Sex offender rolls include countless offenders who present no threat whatsoever to children or others. Until last week, this included Brian Banks who was falsely accused and convicted of rape a decade ago. It also includes folks convicted of public urination, public nudity etc.
__While registration has been held Constitutional, on their face such laws acknowledge and underscore the paucity of sentences for actual child predation and predatory rape. Which is to say, true predators belong in prison–Registration exists because lawmakers lack the stones to set life terms for lifelong sex offenders.
__No studies or statistics have ever established a nexus establishing sex offenders commit offenses at schools or parks near their residence of record. Yet, many jurisdiction in the nation bar sex offenders from residing near those sites, libraries, movie theaters…
__Gangs are an imminent threat both in public parks and schools–Children are frequently shot at those places, caught in a crossfire. Where are the signs prohibiting gang members from public parks?
Paco says lock up ACTUAL predatory sex offenders and keep them there. AND, like it or not, people who have served their time are NOT 2nd class citizens–They are citizens, entitled to the same rights as everyone else.
Barring that, let’s be honest and change the Constitution to sanction a 2nd class of citizen whose rights are forfeit: the Pariah.
__________
And I would add that Jeff brought up a most interesting point. If we want to protect our children, why are gang members NOT prohibited from public parks?
COPS KILL NAKED CANNIBAL (2)
Those who are upset about a cop killing an unarmed naked man, might sing a different tune if they considered this a case for what it was - a vicious animal attacking a poor human being.
I see where the cannibalistic perp had been arrested for multiple misdemeanors, mostly marijuana-related charges. Hmmm, I wonder if his brain was addled by the use of that harmless funny tobacco product?
EVEN POLICE SHOCKED BY GORE IN FLORIDA FACE-MAULING ATTACK
Victim has been identified as 65-year-old homeless man
By Jennifer Kay
Associated Press
May 30, 2012
MIAMI — It is being called one of this city's goriest crimes: A naked man was on top of another nude man along a busy highway, biting into the man's face, tearing it to pieces. A police officer arrived to help, but the mauler growled at him and continued to chew away, stopping only when he was shot to death.
Miami police said little Tuesday about the attack, which took place Saturday afternoon in the shadow of The Miami Herald headquarters. Surveillance video from the newspaper's security camera showed cars, motorcycles, pedestrians and bicyclists passing by.
The victim, identified as 65-year-old Ronald Poppo, a homeless man who lived under the causeway, was in critical condition.
"He had his face eaten down to his goatee. The forehead was just bone. No nose, no mouth," said Sgt. Armando Aguilar, president of the Miami Fraternal Order of Police. "In my opinion, he just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time."
Sgt. Javier Ortiz, vice president of the Miami Fraternal Order of Police, said it was one of the bloodiest "and goriest scenes I've ever been to."
"It was not only grotesque, it was just very sad, the amount of blood. It was very sad to see what happened to this gentleman that had his face eaten," Ortiz said.
It's not clear what led Rudy Eugene, 31, to attack Poppo. Eugene's ex-wife, Jenny Ductant, told WPLG-TV, said he was somewhat paranoid.
"I wouldn't say he had mental problem but he always felt like people was against him ... No one was for him, everyone was against him," she told the station. She and Eugene's mother declined comment when reached by The Associated Press.
Larry Vega was riding his bicycle off the causeway, which connects downtown Miami with Miami Beach, when he saw the attack.
"The guy was, like, tearing him to pieces with his mouth, so I told him, `Get off!'" Vega told Miami television station WSVN. "The guy just kept eating the other guy away, like, ripping his skin."
Vega flagged down the Miami police officer, who can be seen exiting his car on the Herald video. Vega said the officer repeatedly ordered the attacker to get off. Eugene just picked his head up and growled at the officer before continuing to maul his victim, Vega said.
The officer shot Eugene, but he just kept chewing, Vega said. The officer fired again, killing Eugene.
Vega refused to comment when reached by The Associated Press, saying he wanted to put what he witnessed behind him.
Detective William Moreno would not release details about the shooting, citing the ongoing investigation. The Miami-Dade County medical examiner declined to provide any information until after the autopsy, which was scheduled for Tuesday. Police have not released details from the autopsy and it could be weeks before the results of toxicology tests are available.
Ortiz said the officer, who is part of a crisis intervention team and trained to deal with the mentally ill, had no choice but to fire.
"He's clearly shaken up," Ortiz said, adding that the officer had been administratively reassigned pending an investigation, as is standard after an officer-involved shooting.
After the shooting, the Herald's video zooms in on the scene. Most of it is blocked by an overpass, but two sets of uncovered legs can be seen. One set never moves, while the other twists and turns as if the person is in pain.
"It was just a blob of blood," Vega said. "You couldn't really see, it was just blood all over the place."
Court records show that Poppo has several arrests for public intoxication.
According to Miami-Dade court records, Eugene had been arrested for multiple misdemeanors, mostly marijuana-related charges. The most recent arrest was in 2009. The Herald reported that he played football at a Miami area high school in the late 1990s.
Ives Eugene, who identified himself as Rudy Eugene's uncle, described his nephew as a "nice and hard-working" man who washed cars at a local dealership.
He said his nephew had asked his girlfriend to borrow her car, but she said no. "So he rode the bicycle, and he never came back home," he said.
I see where the cannibalistic perp had been arrested for multiple misdemeanors, mostly marijuana-related charges. Hmmm, I wonder if his brain was addled by the use of that harmless funny tobacco product?
EVEN POLICE SHOCKED BY GORE IN FLORIDA FACE-MAULING ATTACK
Victim has been identified as 65-year-old homeless man
By Jennifer Kay
Associated Press
May 30, 2012
MIAMI — It is being called one of this city's goriest crimes: A naked man was on top of another nude man along a busy highway, biting into the man's face, tearing it to pieces. A police officer arrived to help, but the mauler growled at him and continued to chew away, stopping only when he was shot to death.
Miami police said little Tuesday about the attack, which took place Saturday afternoon in the shadow of The Miami Herald headquarters. Surveillance video from the newspaper's security camera showed cars, motorcycles, pedestrians and bicyclists passing by.
The victim, identified as 65-year-old Ronald Poppo, a homeless man who lived under the causeway, was in critical condition.
"He had his face eaten down to his goatee. The forehead was just bone. No nose, no mouth," said Sgt. Armando Aguilar, president of the Miami Fraternal Order of Police. "In my opinion, he just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time."
Sgt. Javier Ortiz, vice president of the Miami Fraternal Order of Police, said it was one of the bloodiest "and goriest scenes I've ever been to."
"It was not only grotesque, it was just very sad, the amount of blood. It was very sad to see what happened to this gentleman that had his face eaten," Ortiz said.
It's not clear what led Rudy Eugene, 31, to attack Poppo. Eugene's ex-wife, Jenny Ductant, told WPLG-TV, said he was somewhat paranoid.
"I wouldn't say he had mental problem but he always felt like people was against him ... No one was for him, everyone was against him," she told the station. She and Eugene's mother declined comment when reached by The Associated Press.
Larry Vega was riding his bicycle off the causeway, which connects downtown Miami with Miami Beach, when he saw the attack.
"The guy was, like, tearing him to pieces with his mouth, so I told him, `Get off!'" Vega told Miami television station WSVN. "The guy just kept eating the other guy away, like, ripping his skin."
Vega flagged down the Miami police officer, who can be seen exiting his car on the Herald video. Vega said the officer repeatedly ordered the attacker to get off. Eugene just picked his head up and growled at the officer before continuing to maul his victim, Vega said.
The officer shot Eugene, but he just kept chewing, Vega said. The officer fired again, killing Eugene.
Vega refused to comment when reached by The Associated Press, saying he wanted to put what he witnessed behind him.
Detective William Moreno would not release details about the shooting, citing the ongoing investigation. The Miami-Dade County medical examiner declined to provide any information until after the autopsy, which was scheduled for Tuesday. Police have not released details from the autopsy and it could be weeks before the results of toxicology tests are available.
Ortiz said the officer, who is part of a crisis intervention team and trained to deal with the mentally ill, had no choice but to fire.
"He's clearly shaken up," Ortiz said, adding that the officer had been administratively reassigned pending an investigation, as is standard after an officer-involved shooting.
After the shooting, the Herald's video zooms in on the scene. Most of it is blocked by an overpass, but two sets of uncovered legs can be seen. One set never moves, while the other twists and turns as if the person is in pain.
"It was just a blob of blood," Vega said. "You couldn't really see, it was just blood all over the place."
Court records show that Poppo has several arrests for public intoxication.
According to Miami-Dade court records, Eugene had been arrested for multiple misdemeanors, mostly marijuana-related charges. The most recent arrest was in 2009. The Herald reported that he played football at a Miami area high school in the late 1990s.
Ives Eugene, who identified himself as Rudy Eugene's uncle, described his nephew as a "nice and hard-working" man who washed cars at a local dealership.
He said his nephew had asked his girlfriend to borrow her car, but she said no. "So he rode the bicycle, and he never came back home," he said.
FOUNDER’S ‘HOT PANTS’ ALMOST SUNK ADMIRABLE PRISON PROGRAM
It appears that Catherine Rohr succumbed to the teacher-student sex syndrome. Her PEP organization has probably helped some prison inmates make it on the outside once they are released.
CATHERINE ROHR FINDS LIFE AFTER PEP
Grits for Breakfast
May 29, 2012
Inc. magazine has a profile of Catherine Rohr, the founder of Texas' Prison Entrepreneurship Program (PEP) who left in disgrace when she revealed having had sexual affairs with program graduates following her divorce. As folks in Texas' prison milieu will surely recall:
__The media, which had frequently celebrated Rohr's efforts to reform prisoners, pounced on the story of her downfall. The scandal became news as far away as China. "Prisons Ban Founder for 'Improper Relationships,'" read the headline in the Austin American-Statesman. That particular story attracted more than 60 online comments, most of them negative. "Let me guess, the greater the crime committed by the ex-convict, the dirtier the sex?" wrote one commenter. Others claimed to have knowledge of more than four affairs. "I was just bawling my eyes out," says Rohr. "They wrote untrue things—all sorts of uninformed comments. I didn't want to live anymore. I thought that I would live my whole life covered in shame."
__Before the scandal, Rohr often spoke at churches and conferences about the prison program. She would always ask the crowd, "What would it be like if you were known for the worst thing that you ever did in your life?" Now, she was in that very situation.
The scandal nearly destroyed the organization. "We came very close to having the doors locked," says PEP CEO Bert Smith. "There were a number of people who were convinced that without Catherine Rohr, PEP would fail. I'm happy to say that it didn't."
Rohr is an impressive, charismatic figure who had been the subject of a number of near-hagiographic profiles for her work to turn prisoners into entrepreneurs. Grits always thought this to be a particularly smart approach. So few employers will hire an ex-con, why not start small businesses themselves if that's in any way an option? If a job doesn't exist, create one by marketing a product, service or skill. PEP gives ex-offenders tools to approach their dilemma with that kind of can-do, entrepreneurial attitude and at least a reasonable chance of success. Though I've never seen long-term success rates for PEP (and indeed, success rates aren't terrific for new startups in general), in theory, the approach makes a whole lot of sense.
As for Rohr, after a bout of moping and self pity, she regrouped, decamped, and launched another, similar program in the Empire State:
__She dyed her auburn hair back to its naturally darker shade and moved back to New York City, hoping that the city's energy would help jolt her back to life. She entertained a job offer from a VC firm before finally giving in to what her heart was telling her to create: a new nonprofit. She would create a version of PEP that operated outside the prison system....
__Defy Ventures has raised more than $1.5 million in donations and pledges from VC firms, hedge funds, businesses, and private foundations. Last fall, Rohr began accepting applications for the first class. After requesting referrals from the New York parole and probation departments and about 25 prisoner rehabilitation programs, Defy received more than 180 applications from former inmates interested in the free classes. Rohr looked for candidates who had high school diplomas or GEDs, who owned up to their crimes, and who were motivated to change their lives.
__Today, when Rohr stands before a classroom of ex-cons and future entrepreneurs, everyone understands that the group shares a common story of failure—separated by degrees, of course. A few weeks after the program began, she told them all about what happened in Texas. "I was very hesitant to step foot in the classroom again," says Rohr. "I was concerned about how would these guys look at me. But I've never felt that. They are so respectful. I think that I'm able to be a better leader now that, in a way, we have a shared experience. I know what it feels like to let people down."
Good for her! While like everyone I was disappointed when Rohr's alleged sins wounded prospects (happily, not mortally) for a promising program, Grits personally was much more aggrieved at the two-faced media who lept onto her situation with even greater fervor than they'd heralded her accomplishments, trashing her seemingly that much harder to make up for the fact that they could find no fault in their prior reports. Before the scandal, reporters were happy to hype Rohr's program six ways from Sunday because she is young, attractive, smart, religious, well-spoken, and an unlikely prison reformer who carved out her own quirky but visionary path.
Those same reporters, though, not to mention more than a few criminal-justice reformers, were as a group exceptionally eager to tear her down for the same reasons. The media frenzy she endured was vicious and I wouldn't wish it on anyone. Everyone's your friend on the way up in politics and public life; if you're looking for a friend on the way down, get a dog. It's why Grits has three.
CATHERINE ROHR FINDS LIFE AFTER PEP
Grits for Breakfast
May 29, 2012
Inc. magazine has a profile of Catherine Rohr, the founder of Texas' Prison Entrepreneurship Program (PEP) who left in disgrace when she revealed having had sexual affairs with program graduates following her divorce. As folks in Texas' prison milieu will surely recall:
__The media, which had frequently celebrated Rohr's efforts to reform prisoners, pounced on the story of her downfall. The scandal became news as far away as China. "Prisons Ban Founder for 'Improper Relationships,'" read the headline in the Austin American-Statesman. That particular story attracted more than 60 online comments, most of them negative. "Let me guess, the greater the crime committed by the ex-convict, the dirtier the sex?" wrote one commenter. Others claimed to have knowledge of more than four affairs. "I was just bawling my eyes out," says Rohr. "They wrote untrue things—all sorts of uninformed comments. I didn't want to live anymore. I thought that I would live my whole life covered in shame."
__Before the scandal, Rohr often spoke at churches and conferences about the prison program. She would always ask the crowd, "What would it be like if you were known for the worst thing that you ever did in your life?" Now, she was in that very situation.
The scandal nearly destroyed the organization. "We came very close to having the doors locked," says PEP CEO Bert Smith. "There were a number of people who were convinced that without Catherine Rohr, PEP would fail. I'm happy to say that it didn't."
Rohr is an impressive, charismatic figure who had been the subject of a number of near-hagiographic profiles for her work to turn prisoners into entrepreneurs. Grits always thought this to be a particularly smart approach. So few employers will hire an ex-con, why not start small businesses themselves if that's in any way an option? If a job doesn't exist, create one by marketing a product, service or skill. PEP gives ex-offenders tools to approach their dilemma with that kind of can-do, entrepreneurial attitude and at least a reasonable chance of success. Though I've never seen long-term success rates for PEP (and indeed, success rates aren't terrific for new startups in general), in theory, the approach makes a whole lot of sense.
As for Rohr, after a bout of moping and self pity, she regrouped, decamped, and launched another, similar program in the Empire State:
__She dyed her auburn hair back to its naturally darker shade and moved back to New York City, hoping that the city's energy would help jolt her back to life. She entertained a job offer from a VC firm before finally giving in to what her heart was telling her to create: a new nonprofit. She would create a version of PEP that operated outside the prison system....
__Defy Ventures has raised more than $1.5 million in donations and pledges from VC firms, hedge funds, businesses, and private foundations. Last fall, Rohr began accepting applications for the first class. After requesting referrals from the New York parole and probation departments and about 25 prisoner rehabilitation programs, Defy received more than 180 applications from former inmates interested in the free classes. Rohr looked for candidates who had high school diplomas or GEDs, who owned up to their crimes, and who were motivated to change their lives.
__Today, when Rohr stands before a classroom of ex-cons and future entrepreneurs, everyone understands that the group shares a common story of failure—separated by degrees, of course. A few weeks after the program began, she told them all about what happened in Texas. "I was very hesitant to step foot in the classroom again," says Rohr. "I was concerned about how would these guys look at me. But I've never felt that. They are so respectful. I think that I'm able to be a better leader now that, in a way, we have a shared experience. I know what it feels like to let people down."
Good for her! While like everyone I was disappointed when Rohr's alleged sins wounded prospects (happily, not mortally) for a promising program, Grits personally was much more aggrieved at the two-faced media who lept onto her situation with even greater fervor than they'd heralded her accomplishments, trashing her seemingly that much harder to make up for the fact that they could find no fault in their prior reports. Before the scandal, reporters were happy to hype Rohr's program six ways from Sunday because she is young, attractive, smart, religious, well-spoken, and an unlikely prison reformer who carved out her own quirky but visionary path.
Those same reporters, though, not to mention more than a few criminal-justice reformers, were as a group exceptionally eager to tear her down for the same reasons. The media frenzy she endured was vicious and I wouldn't wish it on anyone. Everyone's your friend on the way up in politics and public life; if you're looking for a friend on the way down, get a dog. It's why Grits has three.
THE SOLID GOLD URINAL
The Schalotte
May 30, 2012
Before the 2001 inauguration of George Bush, he was invited to a get acquainted tour of the White House.
After drinking several glasses of iced tea, he asked outgoing President Bill Clinton if he could use his personal bathroom.
When he entered Clinton's private toilet, he was astonished to see that President Clinton had a solid gold urinal!
That afternoon, George told his wife, Laura, about the urinal. “Just think,” he said, “when I am President, I too could have a gold urinal. But I wouldn't do something so self-indulgent!”
Later, when Laura had lunch with Hillary at her tour of the White House, she told Hillary how impressed George had been at his discovery of the fact that, in his private bathroom, the President had a solid gold urinal.
That evening, when Bill and Hillary were getting ready for bed, Hillary smiled, and said to Bill, “I found out who pissed in your saxophone.”
May 30, 2012
Before the 2001 inauguration of George Bush, he was invited to a get acquainted tour of the White House.
After drinking several glasses of iced tea, he asked outgoing President Bill Clinton if he could use his personal bathroom.
When he entered Clinton's private toilet, he was astonished to see that President Clinton had a solid gold urinal!
That afternoon, George told his wife, Laura, about the urinal. “Just think,” he said, “when I am President, I too could have a gold urinal. But I wouldn't do something so self-indulgent!”
Later, when Laura had lunch with Hillary at her tour of the White House, she told Hillary how impressed George had been at his discovery of the fact that, in his private bathroom, the President had a solid gold urinal.
That evening, when Bill and Hillary were getting ready for bed, Hillary smiled, and said to Bill, “I found out who pissed in your saxophone.”
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
MOST AMERICAN MUSLIMS ARE GOOD AND LOYAL AMERICANS
Emails and blogs to the contrary are nothing more than messages of hate
A couple of days ago, a friend forwarded me a disgusting and hateful email which asked the question, “Can a good Muslim be a good American?” The email then lists reasons under theological, religious, scriptural and seven other categories why Muslims owe their allegiance to Allah, to ‘the five Pillars of Islam’, to the Quran and to Mecca, all this according to someone “who worked in Saudi Arabia for 20 years.”
The writer concludes that “They obviously cannot be both ‘good’ Muslims and ‘good’ Americans.” And the email ends with: “THE MARINES WANT THIS TO ROLL ALL OVER THE U.S. Please don’t delete this until you send it on.”
Well, I certainly did not send it on. Instead, here is the reply I made to my friend:
J.T., this is downright disgusting! I'm sorry you forwarded this crap, and that's what it is - CRAP!
There are all kinds of Muslims, just like there are all kinds of Christians and Jews. While this crapola holds true for the fundamentalists of Islam - like the Saudis - it does not hold true for most American Muslims who are loyal and productive citizens. Both of my doctors are Muslims and so is one of wife's. These doctors are not only outstanding physicians, but they are loyal Americans as well. That crapola is an insult to those doctors, as well as to all the other loyal Americans who are Muslims.
Yes, we do have some dangerous and treacherous Islamists in this country, but only a small minority of American Muslims fit the description put forth in that hateful message.
The message you forwarded reminds me of the time Jack Kennedy was running for president and his opponents claimed he owed his allegiance to the Vatican, and not to our country, because he was a Catholic. Kennedy was first and foremost a loyal American, and a war hero at that.
And let us not forget that right after Pearl Harbor, we uprooted and shipped off the Japanese-American families who lived on the west coast and interned them in concentration camps because some stupid bigots in our government thought they owed their allegiance to Japan. By doing that, all we did was to give ‘loyal’ Americans the opportunity to steal the property and businesses of people who had been hard working loyal Americans.
At the end of this shit it says, "The Marines want this to roll all over the U.S." That's an insult to the United States Marine Corps. The bigots among the Marines who are involved with this message of hate, do not represent their fellow Marines any more than Timothy McVeigh, the Oklahoma City bomber, represented his fellow Christians.
I'm sure you sent this crap to a whole bunch of people. As your friend, I'm asking you to forward my comments forthwith to everyone you sent this shitload of hate to, but I doubt that you will do so.
EDITOR’S NOTE: J.T. did go ahead and do the decent thing. He sent out this message: “There are some very good American Muslims. Howie is right. I was wrong in putting this out.”
I just wish he had said ‘the majority’ instead of ‘some.’
A couple of days ago, a friend forwarded me a disgusting and hateful email which asked the question, “Can a good Muslim be a good American?” The email then lists reasons under theological, religious, scriptural and seven other categories why Muslims owe their allegiance to Allah, to ‘the five Pillars of Islam’, to the Quran and to Mecca, all this according to someone “who worked in Saudi Arabia for 20 years.”
The writer concludes that “They obviously cannot be both ‘good’ Muslims and ‘good’ Americans.” And the email ends with: “THE MARINES WANT THIS TO ROLL ALL OVER THE U.S. Please don’t delete this until you send it on.”
Well, I certainly did not send it on. Instead, here is the reply I made to my friend:
J.T., this is downright disgusting! I'm sorry you forwarded this crap, and that's what it is - CRAP!
There are all kinds of Muslims, just like there are all kinds of Christians and Jews. While this crapola holds true for the fundamentalists of Islam - like the Saudis - it does not hold true for most American Muslims who are loyal and productive citizens. Both of my doctors are Muslims and so is one of wife's. These doctors are not only outstanding physicians, but they are loyal Americans as well. That crapola is an insult to those doctors, as well as to all the other loyal Americans who are Muslims.
Yes, we do have some dangerous and treacherous Islamists in this country, but only a small minority of American Muslims fit the description put forth in that hateful message.
The message you forwarded reminds me of the time Jack Kennedy was running for president and his opponents claimed he owed his allegiance to the Vatican, and not to our country, because he was a Catholic. Kennedy was first and foremost a loyal American, and a war hero at that.
And let us not forget that right after Pearl Harbor, we uprooted and shipped off the Japanese-American families who lived on the west coast and interned them in concentration camps because some stupid bigots in our government thought they owed their allegiance to Japan. By doing that, all we did was to give ‘loyal’ Americans the opportunity to steal the property and businesses of people who had been hard working loyal Americans.
At the end of this shit it says, "The Marines want this to roll all over the U.S." That's an insult to the United States Marine Corps. The bigots among the Marines who are involved with this message of hate, do not represent their fellow Marines any more than Timothy McVeigh, the Oklahoma City bomber, represented his fellow Christians.
I'm sure you sent this crap to a whole bunch of people. As your friend, I'm asking you to forward my comments forthwith to everyone you sent this shitload of hate to, but I doubt that you will do so.
EDITOR’S NOTE: J.T. did go ahead and do the decent thing. He sent out this message: “There are some very good American Muslims. Howie is right. I was wrong in putting this out.”
I just wish he had said ‘the majority’ instead of ‘some.’
WHATEVER POSSESSED GERMANY TO PROTECT A DUTCH WAR CRIMINAL?
I am puzzled. The Germans have been trying their own Nazi war criminals but refused to extradite a Dutch war criminal who escaped from prison in the Netherlands after having been convicted of killing at least 11 people at a staging post for Dutch Jews being taken to concentration camps.
It is hard for me to fathom why Germany passed a law that prevented the extradition of German nationals for war crimes.
NAZI HUNTERS’ SECOND MOST WANTED WAR CRIMIAAL DIES 60 YEARS AFTER ESCAPING FROM PRISON TO LIVE AS A FUGITIVE IN GERMANY
90-year old was facing ‘imminent’ extradition case but died shortly before he was due to be detained
By Leon Watson
Mail Online
May 29, 2012
A Nazi war criminal who escaped from a Dutch jail and lived as a fugitive in Germany for 60 years has died at the age of 90.
The Simon Wiesenthal Centre revealed the death of Klaas Carel Faber, number two on its list of most wanted Nazi criminals, yesterday.
Faber was sentenced to death in 1947 in the Netherlands for killing at least 11 people at a staging post for Dutch Jews being taken to concentration camps.
His sentence was commuted to life imprisonment but he escaped in 1952 and fled to Germany, where he became a citizen and had lived since 1961 in the Bavarian town of Ingolstadt.
He had long resisted attempts by his native Netherlands to extradite him and died shortly before prosecutors in Ingolstadt were preparing to detain him, said Efraim Zuroff, head of the Israel office of the Simon Wiesenthal Nazi-hunting group.
'The decision was imminent. We know the state prosecutors in Ingolstadt supported sending Faber to jail to serve the rest of his life sentence,' Mr Zuroff said.
It was the second death this year of a top Nazi criminal. John Demjanjuk, a retired U.S. engine mechanic, died in March aged 91 in Germany.
A Munich court convicted him in 2011 for his role in the killing of 28,000 Jews as a Nazi death camp guard.
Mr Zuroff said Faber, a member of the Dutch SS, had killed at least 24 people, many of them at the Westerbork transit camp, from where Dutch Jews were taken to concentration camps in the Netherlands, Poland and Germany.
Victims included Jews and Dutch citizens who had tried to hide and protect them, he said.
Faber's older brother Piet, also a member of the SS, was shot by a firing squad after the war.
Dutch efforts to extradite Faber were frustrated by a German law from 1943 that prevented extradition of German nationals for war crimes.
A state court in Dusseldorf ruled in 1957 that it had insufficient evidence to try Faber. But following the high-profile Demjanjuk trial, German prosecutors reopened investigations of Nazi-era crimes.
Local media reported that Faber died in a hospital in Ingolstadt on Thursday.
The Simon Wiesenthal Center's most wanted Nazi war criminal is Hungarian Laszlo Csatary, 95, who is accused of helping organise the deportation of more than 15,000 Jews to the Auschwitz concentration camp from the Slovakian city of Kosice in 1944.
It is hard for me to fathom why Germany passed a law that prevented the extradition of German nationals for war crimes.
NAZI HUNTERS’ SECOND MOST WANTED WAR CRIMIAAL DIES 60 YEARS AFTER ESCAPING FROM PRISON TO LIVE AS A FUGITIVE IN GERMANY
90-year old was facing ‘imminent’ extradition case but died shortly before he was due to be detained
By Leon Watson
Mail Online
May 29, 2012
A Nazi war criminal who escaped from a Dutch jail and lived as a fugitive in Germany for 60 years has died at the age of 90.
The Simon Wiesenthal Centre revealed the death of Klaas Carel Faber, number two on its list of most wanted Nazi criminals, yesterday.
Faber was sentenced to death in 1947 in the Netherlands for killing at least 11 people at a staging post for Dutch Jews being taken to concentration camps.
His sentence was commuted to life imprisonment but he escaped in 1952 and fled to Germany, where he became a citizen and had lived since 1961 in the Bavarian town of Ingolstadt.
He had long resisted attempts by his native Netherlands to extradite him and died shortly before prosecutors in Ingolstadt were preparing to detain him, said Efraim Zuroff, head of the Israel office of the Simon Wiesenthal Nazi-hunting group.
'The decision was imminent. We know the state prosecutors in Ingolstadt supported sending Faber to jail to serve the rest of his life sentence,' Mr Zuroff said.
It was the second death this year of a top Nazi criminal. John Demjanjuk, a retired U.S. engine mechanic, died in March aged 91 in Germany.
A Munich court convicted him in 2011 for his role in the killing of 28,000 Jews as a Nazi death camp guard.
Mr Zuroff said Faber, a member of the Dutch SS, had killed at least 24 people, many of them at the Westerbork transit camp, from where Dutch Jews were taken to concentration camps in the Netherlands, Poland and Germany.
Victims included Jews and Dutch citizens who had tried to hide and protect them, he said.
Faber's older brother Piet, also a member of the SS, was shot by a firing squad after the war.
Dutch efforts to extradite Faber were frustrated by a German law from 1943 that prevented extradition of German nationals for war crimes.
A state court in Dusseldorf ruled in 1957 that it had insufficient evidence to try Faber. But following the high-profile Demjanjuk trial, German prosecutors reopened investigations of Nazi-era crimes.
Local media reported that Faber died in a hospital in Ingolstadt on Thursday.
The Simon Wiesenthal Center's most wanted Nazi war criminal is Hungarian Laszlo Csatary, 95, who is accused of helping organise the deportation of more than 15,000 Jews to the Auschwitz concentration camp from the Slovakian city of Kosice in 1944.
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY HAS GONE BERSERK (2)
Here is Hair Balls’ take about the words being monitored on the internet by Janet Napolitano’s DHS morons.
TEN OF THE STRANGER WORDS ON THE HOMELAND SECURITY WATCH LIST
By Jeff Balke
Houston Press Hair Balls
May 29, 2012
The Internet is buzzing today over the story from the UK Daily Mail revealing a long list of words that the Department of Homeland Security monitors on social media and online media for signs of terrorist activity. As you might expect, the list contains words that are not surprising -- bomb, hostage, anthrax -- and some that might be. It has led to speculation among nerds that the government is clearly watching just about everyone.
Who is surprised by this? Raise your hand. If you raised it, we would like to offer you a way to make a million dollars through a West African prince. Seriously!
When perusing the list, there were a number that caught my attention, but here are the ten I found to be the most odd.
10. Cloud
Next time you think to post about a shape you saw in the clouds or, God help you, a photo of said clouds, think twice, buster.
9. Wave
One can only assume they mean some sort of tsunami and not the horrible, now defunct Google Wave, because that would be truly scary.
8. San Diego
I get that it is right across the border from drug cartels, but it's funny to think of a city as relatively harmless-seeming as San Diego on a terrorist word watch list. It's like claiming Madison, Wisconsin, is a danger.
7. Canceled
Guess my angry rant about the cancellation of Alcatraz got me the evil eye recently.
6. Plot
The only plot I see most people posting about on Facebook is the kind that is preceded by "SPOILER ALERT!"
5. Smart
What this list appears to not be.
4. Pork
Also, "swine" made the list. The only consolation is that foodies must rank way up on the most-watched list.
3. Sleet
Snow, ice and even hail, I get. But is there any precipitation less threatening than sleet?
2. Help
If you need it, don't ask the government. Also, don't talk about the Beatles.
1. Social Media
Maybe the best word on the list if it means people stop using it.
TEN OF THE STRANGER WORDS ON THE HOMELAND SECURITY WATCH LIST
By Jeff Balke
Houston Press Hair Balls
May 29, 2012
The Internet is buzzing today over the story from the UK Daily Mail revealing a long list of words that the Department of Homeland Security monitors on social media and online media for signs of terrorist activity. As you might expect, the list contains words that are not surprising -- bomb, hostage, anthrax -- and some that might be. It has led to speculation among nerds that the government is clearly watching just about everyone.
Who is surprised by this? Raise your hand. If you raised it, we would like to offer you a way to make a million dollars through a West African prince. Seriously!
When perusing the list, there were a number that caught my attention, but here are the ten I found to be the most odd.
10. Cloud
Next time you think to post about a shape you saw in the clouds or, God help you, a photo of said clouds, think twice, buster.
9. Wave
One can only assume they mean some sort of tsunami and not the horrible, now defunct Google Wave, because that would be truly scary.
8. San Diego
I get that it is right across the border from drug cartels, but it's funny to think of a city as relatively harmless-seeming as San Diego on a terrorist word watch list. It's like claiming Madison, Wisconsin, is a danger.
7. Canceled
Guess my angry rant about the cancellation of Alcatraz got me the evil eye recently.
6. Plot
The only plot I see most people posting about on Facebook is the kind that is preceded by "SPOILER ALERT!"
5. Smart
What this list appears to not be.
4. Pork
Also, "swine" made the list. The only consolation is that foodies must rank way up on the most-watched list.
3. Sleet
Snow, ice and even hail, I get. But is there any precipitation less threatening than sleet?
2. Help
If you need it, don't ask the government. Also, don't talk about the Beatles.
1. Social Media
Maybe the best word on the list if it means people stop using it.
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
COP KILLS NAKED CANNIBAL
While the Fraternal Order of Police may see this cop as a life-saving hero, I’ll bet the civil libertarians do not see it that way – they’ll be screaming bloody murder for the killing of an unarmed naked man and it won’t be long before his family files a hefty lawsuit against the City of Miami.
FLORIDA OFFICER SHOOTS, KILLS NAKED ATTACKER CHEWING ON MAN’S FACE
Fraternal Order of Police spokesman says officer is hero, saved a life
Associated Press
May 27, 2012
MIAMI — A Miami police officer on Saturday fatally shot a naked man who was chewing on the face of another man on a downtown causeway off-ramp, police and witnesses said.
The Miami Herald reports that gunshots were heard at about 2 p.m. on the MacArthur Causeway off-ramp, which is near the newspaper's offices. Witnesses said that a woman saw two men fighting and flagged down a police officer, who came upon a naked man mauling the other man. The newspaper quoted witnesses as saying that the officer ordered the naked man to back away, and when he ignored the demand, the officer shot him. Witnesses said that the naked man continued his attack after being shot once, and the officer shot him several more times.
Police said the other man was transported to Jackson Memorial Hospital Ryder Trauma Center. The newspaper said he had suffered critical injuries.
The police department confirmed in a news release that there was an officer-related shooting, but did not include many details provided by witnesses to the newspaper.
A police spokesman couldn't be reached for comment by The Associated Press on Saturday evening.
The police news release said the identities of the two men were not known.
A photograph posted on The Herald's website shows an officer standing watch on the ramp next to two police cruisers, with a body lying on a pedestrian walkway. Police requested the newspaper's video surveillance tapes.
The shooting and investigation tied up causeway traffic as crowds were arriving at South Beach for an annual hip-hop festival.
Javier Ortiz, a spokesman for the Fraternal Order of Police in Miami, said that based on information he's received, the officer who fired the shots "is a hero and saved a life."
FLORIDA OFFICER SHOOTS, KILLS NAKED ATTACKER CHEWING ON MAN’S FACE
Fraternal Order of Police spokesman says officer is hero, saved a life
Associated Press
May 27, 2012
MIAMI — A Miami police officer on Saturday fatally shot a naked man who was chewing on the face of another man on a downtown causeway off-ramp, police and witnesses said.
The Miami Herald reports that gunshots were heard at about 2 p.m. on the MacArthur Causeway off-ramp, which is near the newspaper's offices. Witnesses said that a woman saw two men fighting and flagged down a police officer, who came upon a naked man mauling the other man. The newspaper quoted witnesses as saying that the officer ordered the naked man to back away, and when he ignored the demand, the officer shot him. Witnesses said that the naked man continued his attack after being shot once, and the officer shot him several more times.
Police said the other man was transported to Jackson Memorial Hospital Ryder Trauma Center. The newspaper said he had suffered critical injuries.
The police department confirmed in a news release that there was an officer-related shooting, but did not include many details provided by witnesses to the newspaper.
A police spokesman couldn't be reached for comment by The Associated Press on Saturday evening.
The police news release said the identities of the two men were not known.
A photograph posted on The Herald's website shows an officer standing watch on the ramp next to two police cruisers, with a body lying on a pedestrian walkway. Police requested the newspaper's video surveillance tapes.
The shooting and investigation tied up causeway traffic as crowds were arriving at South Beach for an annual hip-hop festival.
Javier Ortiz, a spokesman for the Fraternal Order of Police in Miami, said that based on information he's received, the officer who fired the shots "is a hero and saved a life."
FEMINISM MEXICAN STYLE
The drug cartels are becoming more difficult to fight because female bosses are acting smarter than their male counterparts
In the U.S., feminists are best known for their hatred of men. In Mexico they are best known as assassins for the drug cartels, and now for taking over positions left open when cartel bosses are killed.
WOMEN ON THE RISE IN MEXICAN DRUG CARTELS
AFP
May 27, 2012
The high mortality rate in Mexico’s drug war has seen women progress quickly in the shadowy underworld of the cartels and they are increasingly taking on key management roles, a new book says.
"Female Bosses of Narco-Traffic," by Arturo Santamaria, a researcher at the Autonomous University of the State of Sinaloa, traces the ascent of women in drug trafficking organizations.
"The narco-traffickers will become stronger as a result of this," wrote Santamaria. "They will be more difficult to fight because the women appear to be acting smarter."
An estimated 50,000 people have been killed since 2006 in a government crackdown on organized crime that has set off turf wars among rival groups even as they fight off the Mexican military’s counter-narcotics units.
Santamaria said the dead have been mainly males belonging to the cartels, which has led to a changing of the guard with younger men and women rising to the top of drug trafficking organizations.
"Widows, daughters, lovers and girlfriends of the men, who are part of the same criminal families," have had to lend a hand, he said.
Interviews with researchers and journalists reproduced in the book tell their story.
"After they killed my father, my brother remained," recalls one of these women. "But he was gunned down in the most recent shootout, and now I have taken the reins."
In the northwestern state of Sinaloa, Mexico’s main poppy and marijuana producing region and home to leading drug lords, many young women grew up around the business.
"They absorbed it from the time they were girls. They know what it is and how it works," said Santamaria.
Women were initially recruited into the business to extract juice from poppy, a delicate process requiring gentle handling.
"After that, they started transporting drugs, laundering money and engaging in so-called narco-diplomacy," using their charms to corrupt government or police officials, said Santamaria.
"Later, they started getting involved in operations," he said.
They learned how to manage people, run operations and move money, skills that ultimately prepared them to take over entire operations.
As of October last year, 46 female cartel leaders have been arrested by Mexican authorities, according to the country’s attorney general’s office.
In the United States, 2,143 Mexican women have been arrested over the past decade for involvement in drug trafficking.
Santamaria said women act with more caution and use deadly force more sparingly than men.
"Maybe this is because they are mothers and have children," argued the researcher, while cautioning that younger women were apt to be as bloodthirsty as men.
Zetas, the dominant cartel in western Mexico, has recruited women as hired killers more actively than other cartels. Unlike the Sinaloa cartel, which prefers to stick within known families, the Zetas hire all over the country.
Manuel Clouthier, a businessman and politician from Sinaloa, said he believed women in the drug trafficking business were more responsible, more loyal and, therefore, more effective.
And he warned that the rise of women augurs ill for the war on drugs.
"It used to be that mothers told their sons and husbands to leave the business or not get involved in it," said Clouthier. "But if the mother is the one who is already involved, she’s not likely to be the one to tell a son: Don’t get involved!"
In the U.S., feminists are best known for their hatred of men. In Mexico they are best known as assassins for the drug cartels, and now for taking over positions left open when cartel bosses are killed.
WOMEN ON THE RISE IN MEXICAN DRUG CARTELS
AFP
May 27, 2012
The high mortality rate in Mexico’s drug war has seen women progress quickly in the shadowy underworld of the cartels and they are increasingly taking on key management roles, a new book says.
"Female Bosses of Narco-Traffic," by Arturo Santamaria, a researcher at the Autonomous University of the State of Sinaloa, traces the ascent of women in drug trafficking organizations.
"The narco-traffickers will become stronger as a result of this," wrote Santamaria. "They will be more difficult to fight because the women appear to be acting smarter."
An estimated 50,000 people have been killed since 2006 in a government crackdown on organized crime that has set off turf wars among rival groups even as they fight off the Mexican military’s counter-narcotics units.
Santamaria said the dead have been mainly males belonging to the cartels, which has led to a changing of the guard with younger men and women rising to the top of drug trafficking organizations.
"Widows, daughters, lovers and girlfriends of the men, who are part of the same criminal families," have had to lend a hand, he said.
Interviews with researchers and journalists reproduced in the book tell their story.
"After they killed my father, my brother remained," recalls one of these women. "But he was gunned down in the most recent shootout, and now I have taken the reins."
In the northwestern state of Sinaloa, Mexico’s main poppy and marijuana producing region and home to leading drug lords, many young women grew up around the business.
"They absorbed it from the time they were girls. They know what it is and how it works," said Santamaria.
Women were initially recruited into the business to extract juice from poppy, a delicate process requiring gentle handling.
"After that, they started transporting drugs, laundering money and engaging in so-called narco-diplomacy," using their charms to corrupt government or police officials, said Santamaria.
"Later, they started getting involved in operations," he said.
They learned how to manage people, run operations and move money, skills that ultimately prepared them to take over entire operations.
As of October last year, 46 female cartel leaders have been arrested by Mexican authorities, according to the country’s attorney general’s office.
In the United States, 2,143 Mexican women have been arrested over the past decade for involvement in drug trafficking.
Santamaria said women act with more caution and use deadly force more sparingly than men.
"Maybe this is because they are mothers and have children," argued the researcher, while cautioning that younger women were apt to be as bloodthirsty as men.
Zetas, the dominant cartel in western Mexico, has recruited women as hired killers more actively than other cartels. Unlike the Sinaloa cartel, which prefers to stick within known families, the Zetas hire all over the country.
Manuel Clouthier, a businessman and politician from Sinaloa, said he believed women in the drug trafficking business were more responsible, more loyal and, therefore, more effective.
And he warned that the rise of women augurs ill for the war on drugs.
"It used to be that mothers told their sons and husbands to leave the business or not get involved in it," said Clouthier. "But if the mother is the one who is already involved, she’s not likely to be the one to tell a son: Don’t get involved!"
ISLAMISTS NOT GAGA OVER LADY GAGA
This just goes to show that Islamists share some traditional values with Christians. And they know trash when they see it.
‘THANKS TO GOD FOR PROTECTING US FROM A KIND OF DEVIL’: LADY GAGA FORCED TO CANCEL INDONESIA CONCERT AMID PROTESTS BY HARD-LINE MUSLIMS
Associated Press
May 27, 2012
Lady Gaga cancelled her sold-out show in Indonesia after Islamist hard-liners threatened violence, claiming her sexy clothes and provocative dance moves would corrupt the youth.
The controversy was a blow to the predominantly Muslim country's reputation for combining free speech and democracy with a mostly moderate brand of the faith.
Fans were devastated, despite the promoter's offer of full refunds.
Some accused police - who refused to issue a permit over concerns about security - of buckling to the will of a small group of thugs.
The planned 'Born This Way Ball' concert has been on-again-off-again from the start.
But on Sunday, it was final, said Minola Sebayang, a lawyer for Big Daddy, the promoter of the June 3 show.
'It's unfortunate,' he said. 'But with threats if the concert goes ahead, Lady Gaga's side is calling it off. This is not only about Lady Gaga's security, but extends to those who will be watching her.'
On Sunday, she tweeted: 'We had to cancel the concert in Indonesia. I'm so very sorry to the fans & [I am] just as devastated as you if not more. You are everything to me.'
Indonesia, a secular nation of 240 million, is often held up by the U.S. and others an example of how democracy and Islam and can coexist. In many ways they are right.
Since emerging from dictatorship just over a decade ago, sweeping reforms have resulted in direct elections, while vastly improving human rights and freeing up the media.
But a small extremist fringe has become more vocal - and violent - in recent years, attacking Christians and members of other religious minorities, transvestites, atheists and anyone else deemed 'immoral.'
The most notorious group, Islamic Defenders Front, called Lady Gaga a 'messenger of the devil' and vowed to turn out at the airport by the thousands if she tried to step off the plane.
Others said they bought tickets so they could wreak havoc from inside the 52,000-seat stadium in the capital, Jakarta.
Police responded by denying the necessary permits. Then, after public outcry, they said they'd reconsider - but only if Lady Gaga agreed to tone down her act.
Instead, she pulled the plug on what was supposed to be the biggest stop on her Asian tour.
Michael Rusli, head of Big Daddy, promised 'Little Monster' fans full refunds.
But that provided little consolation to people like 25-year-old Johnny Purba.
'This only shows to the world how weak security forces are in this country, how police are afraid of a bunch of hard-liners,' he said.
'Gaga's two-hour show will not hurt Indonesian Muslims. For God's sake, she is not a terrorist!'
Around 50 others, dressed up like the pop diva, performed a mob flash dance at a shopping mall in the capital, Jakarta, to some of her biggest hits.
Hard-liners, however, were ecstatic.
'This is a victory for Indonesian Muslims,' said Salim Alatas, one of the leaders of the Islamic Defenders Front, or FPI. 'Thanks to God for protecting us from a kind of devil.'
Earlier, Murhali Barda, a spokesman for the group, said supporters had purchased more than 150 tickets to the concert.
He'd posted a picture on his Facebook page of a man hiding his identity with a turban and sunglasses and holding a $50 ticket to the 'Ball.'
'We have gotten Lady Gaga tickets,' the caption said. 'Not to watch but for us to enter.'
'Our target is to stop the concert,' he wrote, providing little more detail. 'We would force them off the stage but not harm the audience.'
‘THANKS TO GOD FOR PROTECTING US FROM A KIND OF DEVIL’: LADY GAGA FORCED TO CANCEL INDONESIA CONCERT AMID PROTESTS BY HARD-LINE MUSLIMS
Associated Press
May 27, 2012
Lady Gaga cancelled her sold-out show in Indonesia after Islamist hard-liners threatened violence, claiming her sexy clothes and provocative dance moves would corrupt the youth.
The controversy was a blow to the predominantly Muslim country's reputation for combining free speech and democracy with a mostly moderate brand of the faith.
Fans were devastated, despite the promoter's offer of full refunds.
Some accused police - who refused to issue a permit over concerns about security - of buckling to the will of a small group of thugs.
The planned 'Born This Way Ball' concert has been on-again-off-again from the start.
But on Sunday, it was final, said Minola Sebayang, a lawyer for Big Daddy, the promoter of the June 3 show.
'It's unfortunate,' he said. 'But with threats if the concert goes ahead, Lady Gaga's side is calling it off. This is not only about Lady Gaga's security, but extends to those who will be watching her.'
On Sunday, she tweeted: 'We had to cancel the concert in Indonesia. I'm so very sorry to the fans & [I am] just as devastated as you if not more. You are everything to me.'
Indonesia, a secular nation of 240 million, is often held up by the U.S. and others an example of how democracy and Islam and can coexist. In many ways they are right.
Since emerging from dictatorship just over a decade ago, sweeping reforms have resulted in direct elections, while vastly improving human rights and freeing up the media.
But a small extremist fringe has become more vocal - and violent - in recent years, attacking Christians and members of other religious minorities, transvestites, atheists and anyone else deemed 'immoral.'
The most notorious group, Islamic Defenders Front, called Lady Gaga a 'messenger of the devil' and vowed to turn out at the airport by the thousands if she tried to step off the plane.
Others said they bought tickets so they could wreak havoc from inside the 52,000-seat stadium in the capital, Jakarta.
Police responded by denying the necessary permits. Then, after public outcry, they said they'd reconsider - but only if Lady Gaga agreed to tone down her act.
Instead, she pulled the plug on what was supposed to be the biggest stop on her Asian tour.
Michael Rusli, head of Big Daddy, promised 'Little Monster' fans full refunds.
But that provided little consolation to people like 25-year-old Johnny Purba.
'This only shows to the world how weak security forces are in this country, how police are afraid of a bunch of hard-liners,' he said.
'Gaga's two-hour show will not hurt Indonesian Muslims. For God's sake, she is not a terrorist!'
Around 50 others, dressed up like the pop diva, performed a mob flash dance at a shopping mall in the capital, Jakarta, to some of her biggest hits.
Hard-liners, however, were ecstatic.
'This is a victory for Indonesian Muslims,' said Salim Alatas, one of the leaders of the Islamic Defenders Front, or FPI. 'Thanks to God for protecting us from a kind of devil.'
Earlier, Murhali Barda, a spokesman for the group, said supporters had purchased more than 150 tickets to the concert.
He'd posted a picture on his Facebook page of a man hiding his identity with a turban and sunglasses and holding a $50 ticket to the 'Ball.'
'We have gotten Lady Gaga tickets,' the caption said. 'Not to watch but for us to enter.'
'Our target is to stop the concert,' he wrote, providing little more detail. 'We would force them off the stage but not harm the audience.'
MARTIN SCORSESE ANNOUNCES HE WILL FILM CONTEMPORARY VERSION OF ROMEO AND JULIET
By Pamela Putz
The Schalotte
May 28, 2012
Legendary filmmaker Martin Scorsese has just announced that he is making plans to film a contemporary version of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Scorsese, noted for such films as Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, Goodfellas, Casino and The Departed, has already landed his longtime friend Robert De Niro for the role of Juliet’s father, Sharon Tate as her mother, Danny Glover as Romeo’s father and Queen Latifah as his mother. Scorsese is searching for a young black actor to play the role of Romeo Washington and a young white actress for the role of Juliet O’Malley.
The story will be set in Los Angeles. Romeo Washington and Juliet O’Malley are seniors in an LA high school. Romeo is a member of the notorious Bloods while Juliet is the daughter of a prominent LA commercial realtor. The two fall in love but her parents are determined that no daughter of theirs will ever marry an African-American. Romeo gets Juliet pregnant. Her father orders her to get an abortion and forbids her from seeing Romeo again. Juliet then overdoses on heroin. Romeo finds Juliet and thinks she’s dead. He blows his brains out with the handgun he's been carrying. Juliet awakens to find Romeo’s brains splattered all over her. She pries the gun out of his hand and blows her own brains out.
“Romeo oh Romeo, where the fuck are you?” will replace the famous line, “O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?”
The Schalotte
May 28, 2012
Legendary filmmaker Martin Scorsese has just announced that he is making plans to film a contemporary version of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Scorsese, noted for such films as Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, Goodfellas, Casino and The Departed, has already landed his longtime friend Robert De Niro for the role of Juliet’s father, Sharon Tate as her mother, Danny Glover as Romeo’s father and Queen Latifah as his mother. Scorsese is searching for a young black actor to play the role of Romeo Washington and a young white actress for the role of Juliet O’Malley.
The story will be set in Los Angeles. Romeo Washington and Juliet O’Malley are seniors in an LA high school. Romeo is a member of the notorious Bloods while Juliet is the daughter of a prominent LA commercial realtor. The two fall in love but her parents are determined that no daughter of theirs will ever marry an African-American. Romeo gets Juliet pregnant. Her father orders her to get an abortion and forbids her from seeing Romeo again. Juliet then overdoses on heroin. Romeo finds Juliet and thinks she’s dead. He blows his brains out with the handgun he's been carrying. Juliet awakens to find Romeo’s brains splattered all over her. She pries the gun out of his hand and blows her own brains out.
“Romeo oh Romeo, where the fuck are you?” will replace the famous line, “O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?”
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