Today is Memorial Day. On this day we are supposed to remember all those brave Americans who lost their lives while serving in our armed forces during a time of war. It’s a shame that many Americans only see this holiday as an opportunity to take off from work and have a backyard family picnic. They bring dishonor on themselves by not honoring those who made the supreme sacrifice fighting for our country and its freedoms.
Below you will find a list of the major wars America has fought and the number of soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen who were killed and wounded in each conflict. It is because of the lives they gave in serving our country that we are able to enjoy those backyard picnics.
Revolutionary War (1775-83): 25,324 killed, 8,445 wounded
Indian Wars (1789): 6,125 killed, 2,156 wounded
War of 1812 (1812-15): 2,260 killed, 4,505 wounded
Mexican War (1846-48): 13,283 killed, 32 wounded
Civil War (1861-65): Union forces – 363,020 killed, 281,104 wounded; Confederate forces – 199,110 killed, 137,102 wounded
Spanish-American War (1898): 2,893 killed, 1,637 wounded
Philippines War (1899-1902): 4,273 killed, 2,840 wounded
World War I (1917-18): 116,708 killed, 204,002 wounded
World War II (1941-45): 408,306 killed, 670,846 wounded
Korean War (1950-53): 54,246 killed, 103,284 wounded
Vietnam War (1957-75): 58,219 killed, 153,356 wounded
Persian Gulf War (1990-91): 363 killed, 357 wounded
(Since our troops are still fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan, those wars are not listed.)
Monday, May 31, 2010
IT CAN ALSO MAKE YOU DEAD
All I know is that it’s a good day when I wake up in the morning and DON’T SMELL ANY FRESH DIRT!
BREATHING DIRT MAY MAKE YOU SMARTER
By Bryan Nelson, Mother Nature Network
Care2
May 28, 2010
Spending time outdoors has always offered health benefits for the body and the mind: fresh air, clean water, awe-inspiring vistas, peaceful quietude. Now, it turns out, even the dirt is good for you.
Scientists at the Sage Colleges of Troy, N.Y., have discovered that exposure to certain kinds of soil bacteria can reduce anxiety and increase learning capabilities when ingested or inhaled, reports Physorg.com. (Dirt may actually make you smarter!)
The amazing bacterium in question is Mycobacterium vaccae, which occurs naturally in soil and is often breathed in innocuously when people spend time in nature. Previous studies had revealed that when the bacteria is injected into mice, it stimulates neuron growth and causes serotonin levels to increase. Since increased serotonin levels are known to decrease anxiety, researchers already suspected that the bacteria could have antidepressant benefits.
But decreased anxiety isn’t the only effect of increased serotonin, and researchers wanted to investigate further. "Since serotonin plays a role in learning, we wondered if live M. vaccae could improve learning in mice," said Dorothy Matthews, who conducted the research.
After feeding the live bacteria to a group of mice, Matthews and her colleague Susan Jenks subjected the mice to a test of wits with a control group by having them run a maze.
"We found that mice that were fed live M. vaccae navigated the maze twice as fast and with less demonstrated anxiety behaviors as control mice," said Matthews.
Two subsequent experiments revealed that the mice fed the bacteria still ran the maze slightly faster than the control group once the bacteria was withheld from their diet, but the effect did not last for long — meaning the effect was a result of the presence of M. vaccae. If the bacteria had a similar effect on humans, it could mean that spending periods of time outdoors would need to be part of a regular routine for maximum neurological benefit.
"It is interesting to speculate that creating learning environments in schools that include time in the outdoors where M. vaccae is present may decrease anxiety and improve the ability to learn new tasks," noted Matthews.
BREATHING DIRT MAY MAKE YOU SMARTER
By Bryan Nelson, Mother Nature Network
Care2
May 28, 2010
Spending time outdoors has always offered health benefits for the body and the mind: fresh air, clean water, awe-inspiring vistas, peaceful quietude. Now, it turns out, even the dirt is good for you.
Scientists at the Sage Colleges of Troy, N.Y., have discovered that exposure to certain kinds of soil bacteria can reduce anxiety and increase learning capabilities when ingested or inhaled, reports Physorg.com. (Dirt may actually make you smarter!)
The amazing bacterium in question is Mycobacterium vaccae, which occurs naturally in soil and is often breathed in innocuously when people spend time in nature. Previous studies had revealed that when the bacteria is injected into mice, it stimulates neuron growth and causes serotonin levels to increase. Since increased serotonin levels are known to decrease anxiety, researchers already suspected that the bacteria could have antidepressant benefits.
But decreased anxiety isn’t the only effect of increased serotonin, and researchers wanted to investigate further. "Since serotonin plays a role in learning, we wondered if live M. vaccae could improve learning in mice," said Dorothy Matthews, who conducted the research.
After feeding the live bacteria to a group of mice, Matthews and her colleague Susan Jenks subjected the mice to a test of wits with a control group by having them run a maze.
"We found that mice that were fed live M. vaccae navigated the maze twice as fast and with less demonstrated anxiety behaviors as control mice," said Matthews.
Two subsequent experiments revealed that the mice fed the bacteria still ran the maze slightly faster than the control group once the bacteria was withheld from their diet, but the effect did not last for long — meaning the effect was a result of the presence of M. vaccae. If the bacteria had a similar effect on humans, it could mean that spending periods of time outdoors would need to be part of a regular routine for maximum neurological benefit.
"It is interesting to speculate that creating learning environments in schools that include time in the outdoors where M. vaccae is present may decrease anxiety and improve the ability to learn new tasks," noted Matthews.
ONLY IN LALA LAND
In the Bible Belt states, the cops would never have photographed a suspect naked for his mug shot, or topless for that matter. Shit, if there had been no other clothing around, they probably would have dressed him up in a police uniform.
IF LOOKS COULD KILL… POLICE COVER MURDER SUSPECT’S ‘MOOBS’ FOR THE SAKE OF PULIC DECENCY
Mail Online
May 30, 2010
You would think that the Los Angeles Police Department had seen it all before.
But murder suspect Eduardo Ibarra Perez stands out from the rest on their 'Most Wanted List' - quite literally.
The 29-year-old's bare-chested mugshot was considered so offensive that the authorities decided to cover his saggy man boobs with a flesh-coloured bar.
The police department's website states Perez had a history of domestic violence and that, during an argument, he threatened to kill his wife.
The suspect then shot his victim in the head.
Why they photographed him naked, however, remains a mystery.
An LAPD spokesman told Mail Online they would provide an explanation at a later date.
His profile lists him as having 'no tatoos or oddities', which only adds to his mystique.
The entry ends with a warning that he should not be approached as he is 'considered armed and dangerous'.
Perhaps they should have added a line about those killer moobs.
IF LOOKS COULD KILL… POLICE COVER MURDER SUSPECT’S ‘MOOBS’ FOR THE SAKE OF PULIC DECENCY
Mail Online
May 30, 2010
You would think that the Los Angeles Police Department had seen it all before.
But murder suspect Eduardo Ibarra Perez stands out from the rest on their 'Most Wanted List' - quite literally.
The 29-year-old's bare-chested mugshot was considered so offensive that the authorities decided to cover his saggy man boobs with a flesh-coloured bar.
The police department's website states Perez had a history of domestic violence and that, during an argument, he threatened to kill his wife.
The suspect then shot his victim in the head.
Why they photographed him naked, however, remains a mystery.
An LAPD spokesman told Mail Online they would provide an explanation at a later date.
His profile lists him as having 'no tatoos or oddities', which only adds to his mystique.
The entry ends with a warning that he should not be approached as he is 'considered armed and dangerous'.
Perhaps they should have added a line about those killer moobs.
Sunday, May 30, 2010
DOES SHE HAVE A CASE OR NOT?
PASSENGER WHO WOKE TO FIND HERSELF ALONE ON PLANE SUES AIRLINE FOR FALSE IMPRISONMENT
Mail Online
May 28, 2010
An air passenger who woke to find herself locked in an empty plane is suing an airline for false imprisonment after staff failed to wake her upon arrival.
Ginger McGuire, 36, fell asleep on a United Express flight to Philadelphia on Tuesday, and claims she woke up to find she was alone on the plane.
Miss McGuire said she paced the aisles for about 15 minutes until a locked door opened and police demanded identification.
'Waking up to an empty airplane and not being able to get out - it was very horrifying,' Miss McGuire said.
She has filed a lawsuit against United and Trans States, alleging negligence, false imprisonment and distress.
'For a crew to leave her there and lock her is beyond a gross abuse,' her lawyer Geoffrey Fieger said.
McGuire said she simply fell asleep after a long trip that stretched from Detroit to suburban Washington before arriving in Philadelphia.
United Airlines said it was investigating her claims. The Transportation Security Administration is also investigating.
A Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman said there was no regulation about leaving someone asleep on a plane.
EDITOR’S NOTE: One reader commented, "She was there for 15 mins after she woke but we do not know how long after the plane landed. She could have been there for a couple of hours before she woke up." Another reader found it incredulous that she did not wake up with all "the commotion of people getting up and removing belongings from the overhead bins, then people going up and down the very narrow aisles, where one cannot help but brush against their fellow passengers."
Mail Online
May 28, 2010
An air passenger who woke to find herself locked in an empty plane is suing an airline for false imprisonment after staff failed to wake her upon arrival.
Ginger McGuire, 36, fell asleep on a United Express flight to Philadelphia on Tuesday, and claims she woke up to find she was alone on the plane.
Miss McGuire said she paced the aisles for about 15 minutes until a locked door opened and police demanded identification.
'Waking up to an empty airplane and not being able to get out - it was very horrifying,' Miss McGuire said.
She has filed a lawsuit against United and Trans States, alleging negligence, false imprisonment and distress.
'For a crew to leave her there and lock her is beyond a gross abuse,' her lawyer Geoffrey Fieger said.
McGuire said she simply fell asleep after a long trip that stretched from Detroit to suburban Washington before arriving in Philadelphia.
United Airlines said it was investigating her claims. The Transportation Security Administration is also investigating.
A Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman said there was no regulation about leaving someone asleep on a plane.
EDITOR’S NOTE: One reader commented, "She was there for 15 mins after she woke but we do not know how long after the plane landed. She could have been there for a couple of hours before she woke up." Another reader found it incredulous that she did not wake up with all "the commotion of people getting up and removing belongings from the overhead bins, then people going up and down the very narrow aisles, where one cannot help but brush against their fellow passengers."
'LA RECONQUISTA' IN MEXIFORNIA
Some inspiring quotes out of California, Mexico and academia. Is Lala Land already Mexifornia?
AUGUSTIN CEBADA, Brown Berets; "Go back to Boston! Go back to Plymouth Rock, Pilgrims! Get out! We are the future. You are old and tired. Go on. We have beaten you. Leave like beaten rats. You old white people. It is your duty to die . . Through love of having children, we are going to take over.
RICHARD ALATORRE, Los Angeles City Council. "They're afraid we're going to take over the governmental institutions and other institutions. They're right. We will take them over . . . We are here to stay."
EXCELSIOR, the national newspaper of Mexico, "The American Southwest seems to be slowly returning to the jurisdiction of Mexico without firing a single shot."
PROF. JOSE ANGEL GUTIERREZ, University of Texas; "We have an aging white America. They are not making babies. They are dying. The explosion is in our population . . . I love it. They are shitting in their pants with fear. I love it."
ART TORRES, Chairman of the California Democratic Party, "Remember 187--proposition to deny taxpayer funds for services to non-citizens--was the last gasp of white America in California."
GLORIA MOLINA, Los Angeles County Supervisor, "We are politicizing every single one of these new citizens that are becoming citizens of this country . . . I gotta tell you that a lot of people are saying, "I'm going to go out there and vote because I want to pay them back."
MARIO OBLEDO, California Coalition of Hispanic Organizations and California State Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare under Governor Jerry Brown, also awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Bill Clinton, "California is going to be a Hispanic state. Anyone who doesn't like it should leave."
JOSE PESCADOR OSUNA, Mexican Consul General, "We are practicing 'La Reconquista' in California."
PROF. FERNANDO GUERRA, Loyola Marymount University; "We need to avoid a white backlash by using codes understood by Latinos . . . "
AUGUSTIN CEBADA, Brown Berets; "Go back to Boston! Go back to Plymouth Rock, Pilgrims! Get out! We are the future. You are old and tired. Go on. We have beaten you. Leave like beaten rats. You old white people. It is your duty to die . . Through love of having children, we are going to take over.
RICHARD ALATORRE, Los Angeles City Council. "They're afraid we're going to take over the governmental institutions and other institutions. They're right. We will take them over . . . We are here to stay."
EXCELSIOR, the national newspaper of Mexico, "The American Southwest seems to be slowly returning to the jurisdiction of Mexico without firing a single shot."
PROF. JOSE ANGEL GUTIERREZ, University of Texas; "We have an aging white America. They are not making babies. They are dying. The explosion is in our population . . . I love it. They are shitting in their pants with fear. I love it."
ART TORRES, Chairman of the California Democratic Party, "Remember 187--proposition to deny taxpayer funds for services to non-citizens--was the last gasp of white America in California."
GLORIA MOLINA, Los Angeles County Supervisor, "We are politicizing every single one of these new citizens that are becoming citizens of this country . . . I gotta tell you that a lot of people are saying, "I'm going to go out there and vote because I want to pay them back."
MARIO OBLEDO, California Coalition of Hispanic Organizations and California State Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare under Governor Jerry Brown, also awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Bill Clinton, "California is going to be a Hispanic state. Anyone who doesn't like it should leave."
JOSE PESCADOR OSUNA, Mexican Consul General, "We are practicing 'La Reconquista' in California."
PROF. FERNANDO GUERRA, Loyola Marymount University; "We need to avoid a white backlash by using codes understood by Latinos . . . "
Saturday, May 29, 2010
HUMANS ARE THE MOST CRUEL OF ALL ANIMALS
Only 18 months? He should have gotten more like 18 years!
MARIO ALBERTO GASCA: BROWNSVILLE TEEN CONFESSES TO HORRIFIC PUPPY SLAUGHTER
By John Nova Lomax
Houston Press Hair Balls
May 27, 2010
Mario Alberto Gasca didn't like it when a group of people in his Brownsville neighborhood accused him of burglarizing a nearby house.
In fact, the very idea he could be accused of something like that made him furious. How could he best show how much he was misunderstood? How could the 18-year-old get back in the good graces of his neighbors?
Apparently, he decided that the best way to accomplish all that would be to horrifically slaughter a puppy dog right in front of several children, because that is exactly what he confessed to doing yesterday.
After entering his guilty plea to one count of cruelty to a non-livestock animal, he was sentenced to 18 months in state jail.
Details of the crime were as horrific as any animal cruelty case we have seen.
Witnesses -- among them a 12-year-old girl -- told police that Gasca flew into a rage because of his neighbors' accusations. Just then a little black puppy walked by, and Gasca was said to have gotten a running start and kicked it with all his might.
The Brownsville Herald picks up the awful tale:
According to police the puppy was kicked so hard it flew about 15 yards and began yelping while it crouched in pain. Seconds later, they say Gasca kicked the dog again.
"Gasca then got a pair of garden shears and stabbed the puppy in the midsection and then began stabbing the puppy's mouth," [Brownsville police spokesman Sgt. Jimmy] Manrrique said."
A 17-year-old friend was said to have laughed and encouraged Gasca to kill the dog. (He awaits his day in court.) Once the animal was out of its misery, Gasca was said to have picked up the carcass and tossed it in a ditch.
Though his sentence seems insufficient, at least Gasca will have to serve every day of his year-and-a-half in state jail.
MARIO ALBERTO GASCA: BROWNSVILLE TEEN CONFESSES TO HORRIFIC PUPPY SLAUGHTER
By John Nova Lomax
Houston Press Hair Balls
May 27, 2010
Mario Alberto Gasca didn't like it when a group of people in his Brownsville neighborhood accused him of burglarizing a nearby house.
In fact, the very idea he could be accused of something like that made him furious. How could he best show how much he was misunderstood? How could the 18-year-old get back in the good graces of his neighbors?
Apparently, he decided that the best way to accomplish all that would be to horrifically slaughter a puppy dog right in front of several children, because that is exactly what he confessed to doing yesterday.
After entering his guilty plea to one count of cruelty to a non-livestock animal, he was sentenced to 18 months in state jail.
Details of the crime were as horrific as any animal cruelty case we have seen.
Witnesses -- among them a 12-year-old girl -- told police that Gasca flew into a rage because of his neighbors' accusations. Just then a little black puppy walked by, and Gasca was said to have gotten a running start and kicked it with all his might.
The Brownsville Herald picks up the awful tale:
According to police the puppy was kicked so hard it flew about 15 yards and began yelping while it crouched in pain. Seconds later, they say Gasca kicked the dog again.
"Gasca then got a pair of garden shears and stabbed the puppy in the midsection and then began stabbing the puppy's mouth," [Brownsville police spokesman Sgt. Jimmy] Manrrique said."
A 17-year-old friend was said to have laughed and encouraged Gasca to kill the dog. (He awaits his day in court.) Once the animal was out of its misery, Gasca was said to have picked up the carcass and tossed it in a ditch.
Though his sentence seems insufficient, at least Gasca will have to serve every day of his year-and-a-half in state jail.
ON COPS SHOOTING OFF-DUTY COPS
As I wrote in CONGRATULATIONS LAW ENFORCEMENT GRADUATES (5-26-10), "More officers get into trouble playing ‘cops and robbers’ off-duty than on duty. So, unless you come across a felony in progress when you’re off-duty, forget it!"
Professor Haberfeld was right-on about cops shooting off-duty cops when she wrote, "Police are trained to identify suspects based on body movements and behavioral patterns, but also on the types of paradigms in the neighborhood."
RACE A FACTOR IN ‘BLUE-ON-BLUE’ DEATHS
Report says PDs must confront overt and unconscious racial bias, finds numerous non-fatal officer-on-officer confrontations.
By Deepti Hajela
Associated Press
May 27, 2010
NEW YORK — A panel convened after two officer-on-officer shootings said police departments must confront both overt and unconscious racial bias among officers to reduce the risk of one officer harming another during "friendly fire."
Gov. David Paterson formed the panel last year after the January 2008 death of Mount Vernon officer Christopher Ridley and the May 2009 death of New York City officer Omar Edwards. Both were black and killed by other police officers who were unaware they were cops.
The task force examined police-on-police confrontations around the country, finding 26 killings during the past three decades. The panel also found numerous other officer-on-officer confrontations that did not lead to a fatality.
The review of the confrontations found that "inherent or unconscious racial bias plays a role in shoot/don't-shoot decisions made by officers of all races and ethnicities," the report said.
Ten of the officers killed were off duty, including Edwards and Ridley. And nine of the those were minorities. The last white off-duty officer to be killed by an on-duty colleague died in 1982, the task force found. The report didn't find any obvious racial or ethnic pattern among officers who were killed while on-duty.
It issued nine recommendations for local, state and federal police agencies that include developing protocols on how to take police action when an officer is off duty and how an off-duty officer should respond if challenged by on-duty police; and developing testing that measures for unconscious bias, training to help reduce any bias, and a policy that mandates all firearm discharges be reported.
The death of an officer at the hands of another officer is "devastating" for police departments, said Christopher Stone, criminal justice professor at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard and head of the task force.
He said the recommendations can also help with confrontations between civilians and officers, where a shooting is more likely to occur than in officer-on-officer confrontations. If officers are trained to reduce bias, "that's going to help right across the board," he said
Maki Haberfeld, a professor of police studies at John Jay Criminal College of Justice who wasn't involved with the study, said it's nearly impossible to separate race from these incidents, but not because officers are inherently racist. Police are trained to identify suspects based on body movements and behavioral patterns, but also on the types of paradigms in the neighborhood, she said.
"You just can't build a neutral, objective standard. It has to be based on what happened in the past," she said. "It is much more complicated than just saying race is a factor in these cases."
But Haberfeld said she favors any training that would diffuse or minimize stereotypes police officers may have.
Professor Haberfeld was right-on about cops shooting off-duty cops when she wrote, "Police are trained to identify suspects based on body movements and behavioral patterns, but also on the types of paradigms in the neighborhood."
RACE A FACTOR IN ‘BLUE-ON-BLUE’ DEATHS
Report says PDs must confront overt and unconscious racial bias, finds numerous non-fatal officer-on-officer confrontations.
By Deepti Hajela
Associated Press
May 27, 2010
NEW YORK — A panel convened after two officer-on-officer shootings said police departments must confront both overt and unconscious racial bias among officers to reduce the risk of one officer harming another during "friendly fire."
Gov. David Paterson formed the panel last year after the January 2008 death of Mount Vernon officer Christopher Ridley and the May 2009 death of New York City officer Omar Edwards. Both were black and killed by other police officers who were unaware they were cops.
The task force examined police-on-police confrontations around the country, finding 26 killings during the past three decades. The panel also found numerous other officer-on-officer confrontations that did not lead to a fatality.
The review of the confrontations found that "inherent or unconscious racial bias plays a role in shoot/don't-shoot decisions made by officers of all races and ethnicities," the report said.
Ten of the officers killed were off duty, including Edwards and Ridley. And nine of the those were minorities. The last white off-duty officer to be killed by an on-duty colleague died in 1982, the task force found. The report didn't find any obvious racial or ethnic pattern among officers who were killed while on-duty.
It issued nine recommendations for local, state and federal police agencies that include developing protocols on how to take police action when an officer is off duty and how an off-duty officer should respond if challenged by on-duty police; and developing testing that measures for unconscious bias, training to help reduce any bias, and a policy that mandates all firearm discharges be reported.
The death of an officer at the hands of another officer is "devastating" for police departments, said Christopher Stone, criminal justice professor at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard and head of the task force.
He said the recommendations can also help with confrontations between civilians and officers, where a shooting is more likely to occur than in officer-on-officer confrontations. If officers are trained to reduce bias, "that's going to help right across the board," he said
Maki Haberfeld, a professor of police studies at John Jay Criminal College of Justice who wasn't involved with the study, said it's nearly impossible to separate race from these incidents, but not because officers are inherently racist. Police are trained to identify suspects based on body movements and behavioral patterns, but also on the types of paradigms in the neighborhood, she said.
"You just can't build a neutral, objective standard. It has to be based on what happened in the past," she said. "It is much more complicated than just saying race is a factor in these cases."
But Haberfeld said she favors any training that would diffuse or minimize stereotypes police officers may have.
SHERIFF PEPE LEPEW (3)
Trey asks: How much do you have to donate to be trained on a yacht?
The defecating stench of catering to the rich and famous arising from Sheriff Lee Baca’s department continues unabated. When are the voters of Los Angeles County gonna come to their senses and give this sorry excuse for a lawman the old heave-ho?
SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT INADEQUATELY TRAINED RESERVE DEPUTIES, AGENCY CONCLUDES
By Robert Faturechi and Richard Winton
Los Angeles Times
May 27, 2010
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department provided inadequate training to 99 reserve deputies, according to a state agency.
The agency, which oversees law enforcement training in California, found that some of the deputies received no testing. Others were trained at a Westside hotel and possibly on a yacht rather than at a traditional law enforcement academy.
The reserves were mostly businesspeople and at least one celebrity who were issued badges and are assigned various tasks in the department such as transporting evidence and parking enforcement, officials said. It’s the latest problem for Sheriff Lee Baca's reserve and training program, which has hit trouble in the past for handing out badges to supporters.
The department declined to release the names of the 99 deputies. Sheriff’s spokesman Steve Whitmore said it’s unknown how many, if any, are fundraisers.
The Commission on Peace Officers Standards and Training said the 99 reserves will have to be retrained.
Two internal affairs investigations directly related to the 99 deputies are currently being conducted on two department officials involved with operating the reserves program, Whitmore said.
"We made some mistakes, we fixed them and we’re moving forward," he said. "If any disciplinary action is determined to be necessary, it certainly will be made."
The 99 reserve deputies in question were certified and given badges around June 2008. They were removed from duties in February 2009 but were allowed to keep their badges until the audit was completed. The decertification process began this week, Whitmore said.
The defecating stench of catering to the rich and famous arising from Sheriff Lee Baca’s department continues unabated. When are the voters of Los Angeles County gonna come to their senses and give this sorry excuse for a lawman the old heave-ho?
SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT INADEQUATELY TRAINED RESERVE DEPUTIES, AGENCY CONCLUDES
By Robert Faturechi and Richard Winton
Los Angeles Times
May 27, 2010
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department provided inadequate training to 99 reserve deputies, according to a state agency.
The agency, which oversees law enforcement training in California, found that some of the deputies received no testing. Others were trained at a Westside hotel and possibly on a yacht rather than at a traditional law enforcement academy.
The reserves were mostly businesspeople and at least one celebrity who were issued badges and are assigned various tasks in the department such as transporting evidence and parking enforcement, officials said. It’s the latest problem for Sheriff Lee Baca's reserve and training program, which has hit trouble in the past for handing out badges to supporters.
The department declined to release the names of the 99 deputies. Sheriff’s spokesman Steve Whitmore said it’s unknown how many, if any, are fundraisers.
The Commission on Peace Officers Standards and Training said the 99 reserves will have to be retrained.
Two internal affairs investigations directly related to the 99 deputies are currently being conducted on two department officials involved with operating the reserves program, Whitmore said.
"We made some mistakes, we fixed them and we’re moving forward," he said. "If any disciplinary action is determined to be necessary, it certainly will be made."
The 99 reserve deputies in question were certified and given badges around June 2008. They were removed from duties in February 2009 but were allowed to keep their badges until the audit was completed. The decertification process began this week, Whitmore said.
A SEARING INDICTMENT OF AMERICA'S LEFTIST PSEUDO-JEWS
As a refugee from Nazi Germany who lost both sets of grandparents in the Holocaust, I have been acutely aware of the fact that Jews are still persecuted throughout the world. I also know that Israel is the only - yes, the only - place of refuge for the Jews who are not wanted in their native lands. And that place of refuge is confronted by millions of sworn enemies, including the so-called ‘moderates’ among the Palestinians, who have vowed to eradicate the Jewish state from the map. That is why I am opposed to any peace agreement that will weaken Israel and lead to its eventual destruction.
Before the election of President Obama, the United States was Israel’s closest ally and strongest supporter. With Obama reaching out to the Muslim world that relationship is now in jeopardy. That is why it is so important for America’s Jews to remain united in their steadfast support of Israel. Alas, there is no longer any such unity. America’s left-wing Jews have not only turned their backs on Israel, they have turned against the Jewish state.
A hard-hitting Townhall.com column by Suzanne Fields is a searing indictment of America’s leftist secular Jews – I prefer the term ‘pseudo-Jews’ – in which she shows how they have turned against Israel. It has come down to a sad state of affairs when the student Senate at Brandeis University refused even to observe the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Jewish state. I am not going to lie by saying that I wish those left-wing Jews no ill will. On the contrary, I hope that someday soon those pseudo-Jews will personally experience some of the virulent anti-Semitism that less fortunate Jews have endured.
Here is Suzanne Fields’ hard-hitting Townhall.com column:
TURNING AGAINST ISRAEL
by Suzanne Fields
Townhall.com
May 28, 2010
Iran is just short of becoming a nuclear power, and nearly every nation on earth is worried. Israel worries most of all. Nuclear weapons will afford Iran the means to deliver on its threat to "wipe Israel off the map," as Mahmoud Ahmadinejad so cheerfully puts it.
Children throughout the Middle East already study maps with a hole in them where Israel used to be. Some are tempted to dismiss Ahmadinejad as a blowhard and a clown, but he's a credible and loud voice to the millions of angry Muslims surrounding the only democracy in the Middle East.
Israel is the "Little Satan," secure from the rage of its enemies so long as the "Big Satan" guarantees it, and the guarantee is safe so long as Jews remain strong in Israel's behalf. But there's an angry buzz in the media and in certain academic covens that Jewish support for Israel is declining -- and may be on the way to collapse.
The strength and depth of the buzz is traced in an essay by Peter Beinart in the New York Review of Books, headlined, "The Failure of the American Jewish Establishment." Beinart attends an Orthodox synagogue, though he is not an Orthodox Jew himself, and he draws his conclusions from surveys of opinions of young American Jews, many of them on the campuses of our most prestigious colleges.
The surveys demonstrate that young secular leftist Jews, who can't remember a Middle East without a strong Israeli state, have separated themselves from the sympathetic attitudes of their parents and grandparents. They're two generations removed from the Holocaust and from knowing American Jews who fled to America to escape the Nazis or who left close relatives behind. They feel no exhilaration in the accounts of how President Truman ordered the recognition of Israel 11 minutes after it declared itself a nation in 1948. They never felt the fear for the future of the Jewish nation when Arab armies went to war against the new nation the very next day.
These young secular Jews grew up reading the "Diary of Anne Frank" -- but as literature, not history. But it occurs to few of them to say "there but for the grace of God go I." Ann Frank, tragic though her story is, was long ago and far away.
Two years ago, the student Senate at Brandeis University, the only nonsectarian Jewish-sponsored university in America, refused even to observe the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Jewish state. My mother-in-law, for whom Israel and Brandeis were among her favorite charities, is spinning beneath the sod: How could this happen?
Beinart focuses on the views of privileged Jews in America who are far from their origins. Few have heard relatives speak English with Yiddish accents. These young Jews, who grew up in comfortable suburbs, surrounded by luxury and ease, hold scant empathy for the Israeli settlers saving to add a room or two to their houses to accommodate expanding families.
The new generation is eager to blame Israel first, much as young liberals are eager to blame the United States for the tension and violence in the Middle East. They can't criticize the Palestinians for refusing the generous terms to settle their argument with Israel, offered a decade ago by President Clinton at Camp David, nor do they credit the Israelis for withdrawing from Gaza settlements at considerable sacrifice. When Hamas sent its thanks via deadly rockets, there was no outrage.
Jeffrey Goldberg describes in Atlantic magazine the absence of proportionality in popular blogger attacks on Israel: "The (leftist) rejectionist front facing down Israel has seen every Israeli pullback as a victory not for the principle of compromise, but a victory in their campaign to eradicate Israel."
Reality in the Middle East never remains static, and every generation must forge its response from both experience and history. Aaron David Miller, who was actively engaged in the "peace process" in both Bush administrations and the Clinton administration, now thinks the process should be on hold because big decisions require strong leaders, and there is no Anwar Sadat or Menachim Begin to seize opportunity today. U.S. power is real, but defying and mocking the United States takes no particular courage today. Barack Obama, ever ready with an apology to troublemakers, has already won his Peace Prize.
But hope is not dead. This week, lots of Americans -- young and old, Orthodox, Christian and secular, black, white and other -- celebrated with the Israelis the 62nd birthday of an independent Israel with parades and marching bands. As far as we know, Satan made no appearance, but a helluva good time was had by all.
Before the election of President Obama, the United States was Israel’s closest ally and strongest supporter. With Obama reaching out to the Muslim world that relationship is now in jeopardy. That is why it is so important for America’s Jews to remain united in their steadfast support of Israel. Alas, there is no longer any such unity. America’s left-wing Jews have not only turned their backs on Israel, they have turned against the Jewish state.
A hard-hitting Townhall.com column by Suzanne Fields is a searing indictment of America’s leftist secular Jews – I prefer the term ‘pseudo-Jews’ – in which she shows how they have turned against Israel. It has come down to a sad state of affairs when the student Senate at Brandeis University refused even to observe the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Jewish state. I am not going to lie by saying that I wish those left-wing Jews no ill will. On the contrary, I hope that someday soon those pseudo-Jews will personally experience some of the virulent anti-Semitism that less fortunate Jews have endured.
Here is Suzanne Fields’ hard-hitting Townhall.com column:
TURNING AGAINST ISRAEL
by Suzanne Fields
Townhall.com
May 28, 2010
Iran is just short of becoming a nuclear power, and nearly every nation on earth is worried. Israel worries most of all. Nuclear weapons will afford Iran the means to deliver on its threat to "wipe Israel off the map," as Mahmoud Ahmadinejad so cheerfully puts it.
Children throughout the Middle East already study maps with a hole in them where Israel used to be. Some are tempted to dismiss Ahmadinejad as a blowhard and a clown, but he's a credible and loud voice to the millions of angry Muslims surrounding the only democracy in the Middle East.
Israel is the "Little Satan," secure from the rage of its enemies so long as the "Big Satan" guarantees it, and the guarantee is safe so long as Jews remain strong in Israel's behalf. But there's an angry buzz in the media and in certain academic covens that Jewish support for Israel is declining -- and may be on the way to collapse.
The strength and depth of the buzz is traced in an essay by Peter Beinart in the New York Review of Books, headlined, "The Failure of the American Jewish Establishment." Beinart attends an Orthodox synagogue, though he is not an Orthodox Jew himself, and he draws his conclusions from surveys of opinions of young American Jews, many of them on the campuses of our most prestigious colleges.
The surveys demonstrate that young secular leftist Jews, who can't remember a Middle East without a strong Israeli state, have separated themselves from the sympathetic attitudes of their parents and grandparents. They're two generations removed from the Holocaust and from knowing American Jews who fled to America to escape the Nazis or who left close relatives behind. They feel no exhilaration in the accounts of how President Truman ordered the recognition of Israel 11 minutes after it declared itself a nation in 1948. They never felt the fear for the future of the Jewish nation when Arab armies went to war against the new nation the very next day.
These young secular Jews grew up reading the "Diary of Anne Frank" -- but as literature, not history. But it occurs to few of them to say "there but for the grace of God go I." Ann Frank, tragic though her story is, was long ago and far away.
Two years ago, the student Senate at Brandeis University, the only nonsectarian Jewish-sponsored university in America, refused even to observe the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Jewish state. My mother-in-law, for whom Israel and Brandeis were among her favorite charities, is spinning beneath the sod: How could this happen?
Beinart focuses on the views of privileged Jews in America who are far from their origins. Few have heard relatives speak English with Yiddish accents. These young Jews, who grew up in comfortable suburbs, surrounded by luxury and ease, hold scant empathy for the Israeli settlers saving to add a room or two to their houses to accommodate expanding families.
The new generation is eager to blame Israel first, much as young liberals are eager to blame the United States for the tension and violence in the Middle East. They can't criticize the Palestinians for refusing the generous terms to settle their argument with Israel, offered a decade ago by President Clinton at Camp David, nor do they credit the Israelis for withdrawing from Gaza settlements at considerable sacrifice. When Hamas sent its thanks via deadly rockets, there was no outrage.
Jeffrey Goldberg describes in Atlantic magazine the absence of proportionality in popular blogger attacks on Israel: "The (leftist) rejectionist front facing down Israel has seen every Israeli pullback as a victory not for the principle of compromise, but a victory in their campaign to eradicate Israel."
Reality in the Middle East never remains static, and every generation must forge its response from both experience and history. Aaron David Miller, who was actively engaged in the "peace process" in both Bush administrations and the Clinton administration, now thinks the process should be on hold because big decisions require strong leaders, and there is no Anwar Sadat or Menachim Begin to seize opportunity today. U.S. power is real, but defying and mocking the United States takes no particular courage today. Barack Obama, ever ready with an apology to troublemakers, has already won his Peace Prize.
But hope is not dead. This week, lots of Americans -- young and old, Orthodox, Christian and secular, black, white and other -- celebrated with the Israelis the 62nd birthday of an independent Israel with parades and marching bands. As far as we know, Satan made no appearance, but a helluva good time was had by all.
Friday, May 28, 2010
SAYING ONE THING IN ENGLISH, BUT SAYING SOMETHING ENTIRELY DIFFERENT IN ARABIC
I have often written about the forked-tongue PLO leader, Mahmoud Abbas saying in English that he wants two states, Palestine and Israel, coexisting peacefully side by side, while repeatedly saying in Arabic that there can be only one state, a Palestinian state ‘from the river to the sea.’
Now we have the Imam pushing for the Ground Zero mosque saying one thing in English and something entirely different in Arabic. But it’s all academic now that a politically correct NYC board has approved building the mosque adjacent to Ground Zero.
GROUND ZERO IMAM: ‘I DON’T BELIEVE IN RELIGIOUS DIALOGUE’
Exclusive new translations from Arabic websites reveal Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf seriously misleads New Yorkers about his intention to infiltrate Sharia law through his Ground Zero mosque.
by Walid Shoebat
Pajamas Media
May 27, 2010
Is Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf — founder of the hugely controversial Ground Zero mosque — lying to the American public and his fellow New Yorkers?
Pajamas Media has uncovered extraordinary contradictions between what he says in English and what he says in Arabic that raise serious questions about his true intentions in the construction of the mosque.
On May 25, 2010, Abdul Rauf wrote an article for the New York Daily News insisting:
"My colleagues and I are the anti-terrorists. We are the people who want to embolden the vast majority of Muslims who hate terrorism to stand up to the radical rhetoric. Our purpose is to interweave America’s Muslim population into the mainstream society."
Oh, really?
Only two months before, on March 24, 2010, Abdul Rauf is quoted in an article in Arabic for the website Rights4All entitled "The Most Prominent Imam in New York: ‘I Do Not Believe in Religious Dialogue.’"
Yes, you read that correctly and, yes, that is an accurate translation of Abdul Rauf. And Right4All is not an obscure blog, but the website of the media department of Cairo University, the leading educational institution of the Arabic-speaking world.
In the article, the imam said the following of the "religious dialogue" and "interweaving into the mainstream society" that he so solemnly seems to advocate in the Daily News and elsewhere:
"This phrase is inaccurate. Religious dialogue as customarily understood is a set of events with discussions in large hotels that result in nothing. Religions do not dialogue and dialogue is not present in the attitudes of the followers, regardless of being Muslim or Christian. The image of Muslims in the West is complex which needs to be remedied."
But that was two months ago. More recently — in fact on May 26, one day after his Daily News column – Abdul Rauf appeared on the popular Islamic website Hadiyul-Islam with even more disturbing opinions. That’s the same website where, ironically enough, a fatwa was simultaneously being issued forbidding a Muslim to sell land to a Christian, because the Christian wanted to build a church on it.
In his interview on Hadiyul-Islam by Sa’da Abdul Maksoud, Abdul Rauf was asked his views on Sharia (Islamic religious law) and the Islamic state. He responded:
"Throughout my discussions with contemporary Muslim theologians, it is clear an Islamic state can be established in more than just a single form or mold. It can be established through a kingdom or a democracy. The important issue is to establish the general fundamentals of Sharia that are required to govern. It is known that there are sets of standards that are accepted by [Muslim] scholars to organize the relationships between government and the governed."
When questioned about this, Abdul Rauf continued: "Current governments are unjust and do not follow Islamic laws." He added:
"New laws were permitted after the death of Muhammad, so long of course that these laws do not contradict the Quran or the Deeds of Muhammad … so they create institutions that assure no conflicts with Sharia."
In yet plainer English, forget the separation of church and state. Abdul Rauf’s goal is the imposition of Shariah law — in every country, even democratic ones like the U.S.
But these attitudes are nothing new for the (alas, few) people who have been paying attention. Way back on September 30, 2001, Feisal Abdul Rauf was interviewed on 60 Minutes by host Ed Bradley. Their verbatim dialogue from this CBS News transcript concluded:
BRADLEY: Are — are — are you in any way suggesting that we in the United States deserved what happened?
Imam ABDUL RAUF: I wouldn’t say that the United States deserved what happened, but the United States policies were an accessory to the crime that happened.
BRADLEY: OK. You say that we’re an accessory?
Imam ABDUL RAUF: Yes.
BRADLEY: How?
Imam ABDUL RAUF: Because we have been an accessory to a lot of — of innocent lives dying in the world. In fact, it — in the most direct sense, Osama bin Laden is made in the USA.
This is the "anti-terrorist" of the Daily News article?
The Feisal Abdul Rauf who spoke to 60 Minutes in 2001 is the same Abdul Rauf who, in the last couple of months, espoused the spread of Sharia law on Arabic websites and said the opposite in the pages of the Daily News. He is the man New York City authorities are about to allow to build a mosque on Ground Zero.
Caveat emptor. Meanwhile, perhaps some enterprising reporter should ask Abdul Rauf his opinion of that fatwa forbidding Muslims from selling land to Christians who intend to build a church on it.
Now we have the Imam pushing for the Ground Zero mosque saying one thing in English and something entirely different in Arabic. But it’s all academic now that a politically correct NYC board has approved building the mosque adjacent to Ground Zero.
GROUND ZERO IMAM: ‘I DON’T BELIEVE IN RELIGIOUS DIALOGUE’
Exclusive new translations from Arabic websites reveal Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf seriously misleads New Yorkers about his intention to infiltrate Sharia law through his Ground Zero mosque.
by Walid Shoebat
Pajamas Media
May 27, 2010
Is Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf — founder of the hugely controversial Ground Zero mosque — lying to the American public and his fellow New Yorkers?
Pajamas Media has uncovered extraordinary contradictions between what he says in English and what he says in Arabic that raise serious questions about his true intentions in the construction of the mosque.
On May 25, 2010, Abdul Rauf wrote an article for the New York Daily News insisting:
"My colleagues and I are the anti-terrorists. We are the people who want to embolden the vast majority of Muslims who hate terrorism to stand up to the radical rhetoric. Our purpose is to interweave America’s Muslim population into the mainstream society."
Oh, really?
Only two months before, on March 24, 2010, Abdul Rauf is quoted in an article in Arabic for the website Rights4All entitled "The Most Prominent Imam in New York: ‘I Do Not Believe in Religious Dialogue.’"
Yes, you read that correctly and, yes, that is an accurate translation of Abdul Rauf. And Right4All is not an obscure blog, but the website of the media department of Cairo University, the leading educational institution of the Arabic-speaking world.
In the article, the imam said the following of the "religious dialogue" and "interweaving into the mainstream society" that he so solemnly seems to advocate in the Daily News and elsewhere:
"This phrase is inaccurate. Religious dialogue as customarily understood is a set of events with discussions in large hotels that result in nothing. Religions do not dialogue and dialogue is not present in the attitudes of the followers, regardless of being Muslim or Christian. The image of Muslims in the West is complex which needs to be remedied."
But that was two months ago. More recently — in fact on May 26, one day after his Daily News column – Abdul Rauf appeared on the popular Islamic website Hadiyul-Islam with even more disturbing opinions. That’s the same website where, ironically enough, a fatwa was simultaneously being issued forbidding a Muslim to sell land to a Christian, because the Christian wanted to build a church on it.
In his interview on Hadiyul-Islam by Sa’da Abdul Maksoud, Abdul Rauf was asked his views on Sharia (Islamic religious law) and the Islamic state. He responded:
"Throughout my discussions with contemporary Muslim theologians, it is clear an Islamic state can be established in more than just a single form or mold. It can be established through a kingdom or a democracy. The important issue is to establish the general fundamentals of Sharia that are required to govern. It is known that there are sets of standards that are accepted by [Muslim] scholars to organize the relationships between government and the governed."
When questioned about this, Abdul Rauf continued: "Current governments are unjust and do not follow Islamic laws." He added:
"New laws were permitted after the death of Muhammad, so long of course that these laws do not contradict the Quran or the Deeds of Muhammad … so they create institutions that assure no conflicts with Sharia."
In yet plainer English, forget the separation of church and state. Abdul Rauf’s goal is the imposition of Shariah law — in every country, even democratic ones like the U.S.
But these attitudes are nothing new for the (alas, few) people who have been paying attention. Way back on September 30, 2001, Feisal Abdul Rauf was interviewed on 60 Minutes by host Ed Bradley. Their verbatim dialogue from this CBS News transcript concluded:
BRADLEY: Are — are — are you in any way suggesting that we in the United States deserved what happened?
Imam ABDUL RAUF: I wouldn’t say that the United States deserved what happened, but the United States policies were an accessory to the crime that happened.
BRADLEY: OK. You say that we’re an accessory?
Imam ABDUL RAUF: Yes.
BRADLEY: How?
Imam ABDUL RAUF: Because we have been an accessory to a lot of — of innocent lives dying in the world. In fact, it — in the most direct sense, Osama bin Laden is made in the USA.
This is the "anti-terrorist" of the Daily News article?
The Feisal Abdul Rauf who spoke to 60 Minutes in 2001 is the same Abdul Rauf who, in the last couple of months, espoused the spread of Sharia law on Arabic websites and said the opposite in the pages of the Daily News. He is the man New York City authorities are about to allow to build a mosque on Ground Zero.
Caveat emptor. Meanwhile, perhaps some enterprising reporter should ask Abdul Rauf his opinion of that fatwa forbidding Muslims from selling land to Christians who intend to build a church on it.
PHONY PROVOCATIVE MISSION (2)
Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas says, "If the ships reach Gaza, it's a victory for Gaza. If they are intercepted and terrorized by the Zionists, it will be a victory for Gaza, too."
The shit is about to hit the fan. The media will really clobber Israel over this. So, what else is new?
From Haaretz.com:
Organizers of an eight-ship flotilla said Friday they continued to head for Gaza despite Israel's warnings to intercept them as soon as they enter Israeli-controlled waters off the coast.
The organizers have ignored Israeli offers for the flotilla to dock in its southern port of Ashdod, just north of Gaza, and to transport the 10,000 tons of aid to the coastal enclave from there.
The ships that had sailed from various ports over the past week were in the process of hooking up in international waters and scheduled to arrive off the coasts of Gaza on Saturday afternoon.
Israel has said it will overtake the ships as soon as they enter a 20-mile Israeli-controlled zone off Gaza. They will then be towed to the Israeli port of Ashdod, where the foreign nationals will be handed over to Immigration Police for deportation abroad, said Foreign Ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor.
Israel considers the effort by international left-wing elements and Islamic organizations as intentional provocation under the guise of humanitarian aid.
Israel considers the effort by international left-wing elements and Islamic organizations as intentional provocation under the guise of humanitarian aid.
The Israeli message has been that the activists are welcome to bring the humanitarian aid to the port of Ashdod, where it will be examined and if found suitable will be permitted to enter the Gaza Strip through the land crossings. If the activists try to break the siege, they will be arrested.
The flotilla with some 700 passengers is the largest yet attempt to break the Israeli-imposed embargo on the Gaza Strip.
The shit is about to hit the fan. The media will really clobber Israel over this. So, what else is new?
From Haaretz.com:
Organizers of an eight-ship flotilla said Friday they continued to head for Gaza despite Israel's warnings to intercept them as soon as they enter Israeli-controlled waters off the coast.
The organizers have ignored Israeli offers for the flotilla to dock in its southern port of Ashdod, just north of Gaza, and to transport the 10,000 tons of aid to the coastal enclave from there.
The ships that had sailed from various ports over the past week were in the process of hooking up in international waters and scheduled to arrive off the coasts of Gaza on Saturday afternoon.
Israel has said it will overtake the ships as soon as they enter a 20-mile Israeli-controlled zone off Gaza. They will then be towed to the Israeli port of Ashdod, where the foreign nationals will be handed over to Immigration Police for deportation abroad, said Foreign Ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor.
Israel considers the effort by international left-wing elements and Islamic organizations as intentional provocation under the guise of humanitarian aid.
Israel considers the effort by international left-wing elements and Islamic organizations as intentional provocation under the guise of humanitarian aid.
The Israeli message has been that the activists are welcome to bring the humanitarian aid to the port of Ashdod, where it will be examined and if found suitable will be permitted to enter the Gaza Strip through the land crossings. If the activists try to break the siege, they will be arrested.
The flotilla with some 700 passengers is the largest yet attempt to break the Israeli-imposed embargo on the Gaza Strip.
BETTER SHOOT TO KILL, NOT TO WOUND!
OK, so police work is 95 percent utter boredom and five percent sheer terror. The problem is that a cop never knows when that terror will strike. For a lucky few, it rarely happens. For some it can happen more than once a day.
What really gets me is the total ignorance shown by people, including some legislators, about deadly confrontations between cops and civilians. When an officer believes he is threatened by the immediate use of deadly force, he’d better shoot to kill - never mind that shoot to stop crap - and he shouldn’t stop shooting until person presenting that threat is down and out. There have been far to many instances in which an officer was killed by someone he has just wounded.
Of course, there have been tragic cases in which an unarmed person was shot by a cop who believed the victim was armed. Children have even been killed when pointing a toy gun at an officer. What can I say other than, shit happens! But if the officer thought that he was looking down the barrel of a real gun, can you really blame him for shooting first?
Cops really don’t ever want to kill anyone unless that person is a cop-killer or has committed an unspeakable heinous homicide. No cop gets ready to go on duty and says to himself, ‘Man, I hope I’ll get to be in a shootout today.’ And how do you think those cops felt after shooting a kid with a toy gun? They find it hard to live with themselves.
So here we go again. For the second time some jerks in New York have introduced legislation requiring cops to ‘shoot to wound.’ These ‘No Kill’ bills, if they ever became law, would be sentencing police officers to death. And that kind of shit should never happen!
SO-CALLED ‘NO-KILL’ BILL SURFACES IN NY
Ill-advised piece of legislation was drafted in the aftermath of the death of Sean Bell outside a Queens, New York strip club in November 2006
By Senior Editor Doug Wyllie
PoliceOne.com
May 26, 2010
Lawmakers in New York are again contemplating the notion of "shoot-to-wound" legislation and cops in that state are understandably furious. The so-called ‘minimum force’ bill was drafted in the aftermath the death of Sean Bell outside a Queens, New York strip club on November 25, 2006. Similar legislation has been previously presented, and defeated, but the fact that it’s come around again indicates a particularly slow learning curve among law makers about what law enforcers actually do.
According to a newspaper report by Murray Weiss of the New York Post, the bill would "amend the state penal codes’ ‘justification’ clause that allows an officer the right to kill a thug if he feels his life or someone else's is in imminent danger."
Weiss writes that the bill proposed bill "would force officers to use their weapons ‘with the intent to stop, rather than kill’ a suspect" and would mandate that cops ‘shoot a suspect in the arm or the leg’ as opposed to the present practice of aiming center-mass until the threat is stopped.
Here’s just one problem with this ill-advised piece of legislation: cops already shoot to stop — not kill — the threat.
Sure, there’s the one-in-a-million instance — usually when a hostile suspect is holding a hostage at gunpoint with imminent danger of death to said hostage — in which an immediate de-animation shot is required. But there are many, many more instances in which an officer — or multiple officers — have put rounds on a dangerous suspect, stopped them from being a threat, and then instantaneously rendered life-saving aid.
"When I encounter civilian response to officer-involved shootings, it’s very often ‘Why didn’t they just shoot him in the leg?’" Dr. Bill Lewinski, executive director of the Force Science Institute, told Force Science News in a 2006 interview centered on Paterson’s proposed legislation. "When civilians judge police shooting deaths–on juries, on review boards, in the media, in the community–this same argument is often brought forward. Shooting to wound is naively regarded as a reasonable means of stopping dangerous behavior.
"In reality, this thinking is a result of ‘training by Hollywood,’ in which movie and TV cops are able to do anything to control the outcomes of events that serve the director’s dramatic interests. It reflects a misconception of real-life dynamics and ends up imposing unrealistic expectations of skill on real-life officers."
Vice President Joe Biden apparently agrees, according to the FSRC report. "When Michael Paladino, president of New York’s Detectives Endowment Association, showed him the bill he reportedly scoffed and suggested that it be called the ‘John Wayne Bill’ because of the unrealistic, movie-like sharpshooting skills it demands of officers," reads the Force Science paper.
PoliceOne Firearms Columnist Ron Avery is quoted in the Force Science Research document as saying that shooting to wound "reflects a misapplication of police equipment. Less-lethal options should be attempted only with tools designed for that purpose."
Avery says further that if you "deliberately use deadly force to bring people into custody without incapacitating them, you’re using the wrong tool for that job. Also, if you shoot them in the arm or leg and you destroy muscle tissue, shatter bone or destroy nerve function you have maimed that person for life. Now attorneys can play the argument of ‘cruel and unusual punishment’ and pursue punitive damages for destroying the capacity of your ‘victim’ to earn wages and so on. You don’t try to just wound people with a gun. Period."
This legislation — and other such nonsense like it — was almost certainly drafted by a group of people who have never in their lives operated a firearm, much less done so in the life-or-death context that police officers face every day they pin on the badge. Avery has an idea on how we can help those folks get an idea. "Put them in a cage with a lion," Avery suggests. "Then let’s see if they shoot to wound."
What really gets me is the total ignorance shown by people, including some legislators, about deadly confrontations between cops and civilians. When an officer believes he is threatened by the immediate use of deadly force, he’d better shoot to kill - never mind that shoot to stop crap - and he shouldn’t stop shooting until person presenting that threat is down and out. There have been far to many instances in which an officer was killed by someone he has just wounded.
Of course, there have been tragic cases in which an unarmed person was shot by a cop who believed the victim was armed. Children have even been killed when pointing a toy gun at an officer. What can I say other than, shit happens! But if the officer thought that he was looking down the barrel of a real gun, can you really blame him for shooting first?
Cops really don’t ever want to kill anyone unless that person is a cop-killer or has committed an unspeakable heinous homicide. No cop gets ready to go on duty and says to himself, ‘Man, I hope I’ll get to be in a shootout today.’ And how do you think those cops felt after shooting a kid with a toy gun? They find it hard to live with themselves.
So here we go again. For the second time some jerks in New York have introduced legislation requiring cops to ‘shoot to wound.’ These ‘No Kill’ bills, if they ever became law, would be sentencing police officers to death. And that kind of shit should never happen!
SO-CALLED ‘NO-KILL’ BILL SURFACES IN NY
Ill-advised piece of legislation was drafted in the aftermath of the death of Sean Bell outside a Queens, New York strip club in November 2006
By Senior Editor Doug Wyllie
PoliceOne.com
May 26, 2010
Lawmakers in New York are again contemplating the notion of "shoot-to-wound" legislation and cops in that state are understandably furious. The so-called ‘minimum force’ bill was drafted in the aftermath the death of Sean Bell outside a Queens, New York strip club on November 25, 2006. Similar legislation has been previously presented, and defeated, but the fact that it’s come around again indicates a particularly slow learning curve among law makers about what law enforcers actually do.
According to a newspaper report by Murray Weiss of the New York Post, the bill would "amend the state penal codes’ ‘justification’ clause that allows an officer the right to kill a thug if he feels his life or someone else's is in imminent danger."
Weiss writes that the bill proposed bill "would force officers to use their weapons ‘with the intent to stop, rather than kill’ a suspect" and would mandate that cops ‘shoot a suspect in the arm or the leg’ as opposed to the present practice of aiming center-mass until the threat is stopped.
Here’s just one problem with this ill-advised piece of legislation: cops already shoot to stop — not kill — the threat.
Sure, there’s the one-in-a-million instance — usually when a hostile suspect is holding a hostage at gunpoint with imminent danger of death to said hostage — in which an immediate de-animation shot is required. But there are many, many more instances in which an officer — or multiple officers — have put rounds on a dangerous suspect, stopped them from being a threat, and then instantaneously rendered life-saving aid.
"When I encounter civilian response to officer-involved shootings, it’s very often ‘Why didn’t they just shoot him in the leg?’" Dr. Bill Lewinski, executive director of the Force Science Institute, told Force Science News in a 2006 interview centered on Paterson’s proposed legislation. "When civilians judge police shooting deaths–on juries, on review boards, in the media, in the community–this same argument is often brought forward. Shooting to wound is naively regarded as a reasonable means of stopping dangerous behavior.
"In reality, this thinking is a result of ‘training by Hollywood,’ in which movie and TV cops are able to do anything to control the outcomes of events that serve the director’s dramatic interests. It reflects a misconception of real-life dynamics and ends up imposing unrealistic expectations of skill on real-life officers."
Vice President Joe Biden apparently agrees, according to the FSRC report. "When Michael Paladino, president of New York’s Detectives Endowment Association, showed him the bill he reportedly scoffed and suggested that it be called the ‘John Wayne Bill’ because of the unrealistic, movie-like sharpshooting skills it demands of officers," reads the Force Science paper.
PoliceOne Firearms Columnist Ron Avery is quoted in the Force Science Research document as saying that shooting to wound "reflects a misapplication of police equipment. Less-lethal options should be attempted only with tools designed for that purpose."
Avery says further that if you "deliberately use deadly force to bring people into custody without incapacitating them, you’re using the wrong tool for that job. Also, if you shoot them in the arm or leg and you destroy muscle tissue, shatter bone or destroy nerve function you have maimed that person for life. Now attorneys can play the argument of ‘cruel and unusual punishment’ and pursue punitive damages for destroying the capacity of your ‘victim’ to earn wages and so on. You don’t try to just wound people with a gun. Period."
This legislation — and other such nonsense like it — was almost certainly drafted by a group of people who have never in their lives operated a firearm, much less done so in the life-or-death context that police officers face every day they pin on the badge. Avery has an idea on how we can help those folks get an idea. "Put them in a cage with a lion," Avery suggests. "Then let’s see if they shoot to wound."
HOW IMMIGRANTS ARE TREATED IN MEXICO
And these are legal immigrants, not illegals.
Tom O'Malley, who was a Director with S.W. BELL in Mexico City, describes how he and his wife were treated as immigrants in Mexico:
"I spent five years working in Mexico .. I worked under a tourist Visa for three months and could legally renew it for three more months. After that you were working Illegally. I was technically illegal for three weeks waiting on the FM3 approval.
"During that six months our Mexican and U.S. attorneys were working to secure a permanent work visa called a 'FM3'. It was in addition to my U.S. passport that I had to show each time I entered and left the country. Barbara's was the same, except hers did not permit her to work.
"To apply for the FM3, I needed to submit the following notarized originals (not copies):
1. Birth certificate for Barbara and me.
2. Marriage certificate.
3. High school transcripts and proof of graduation.
4. College transcripts for every college I attended and proof of graduation.
5. Two letters of recommendation from supervisors for whom I had worked for at least one year.
6. A letter from the St. Louis Chief of Police indicating that I had no arrest record in the U.S. and no outstanding warrants and, was "a citizen in good standing.
7. "Finally, I had to write a letter about myself that clearly stated why there was no Mexican citizen with my skills and why my skills were important to Mexico . We called it our 'I am the greatest person on Earth' letter. It was fun to write.
"All of the above were in English that had to be translated into Spanish and be certified as legal translations, and our signatures notarized. It produced a folder about 1.5 inches thick with English on the left side and Spanish on the right.
"Once they were completed Barbara and I spent about five hours, accompanied by a Mexican attorney, touring Mexican government office locations and being photograph ed and fingerprinted at least three times at each location, and we remember at least four locations where we were instructed on Mexican tax, labor, housing, and criminal law and that we were required to obey their laws or face the consequences. We could not protest any of the government's actions or we would be committing a felony. We paid out four thousand dollars in fees and bribes to complete the process. When this was done we could legally bring in our household goods that were held by U.S. Customs in Laredo , Texas . This meant we had rented furniture in Mexico while awaiting our goods. There were extensive fees involved here that the company paid.
"We could not buy a home and were required to rent at very high rates and under contract and compliance with Mexican law.
"We were required to get a Mexican driver's license. This was an amazing process. The company arranged for the licensing agency to come to our headquarters location with their photography and fingerprint equipment and the laminating machine. We showed our U.S. license, were photographed and fingerprinted again and issued the license instantly after paying out a six dollar fee. We did not take a written or driving test and never received instructions on the rules of the road. Our only instruction was to never give a policeman your license if stopped and asked. We were instructed to hold it against the inside window away from his grasp. If he got his hands on it you would have to pay ransom to get it back.
"We then had to pay and file Mexican income tax annually using the number of our FM3 as our ID number. The company's Mexican accountants did this for us and we just signed what they prepared. I t was about twenty legal size pages annually.
"The FM3 was good for three years and renewable for two more after paying more fees.
"Leaving the country meant turning in the FM3 and certifying we were leaving no debts behind and no outstanding legal affairs (warrants, tickets or liens) before our household goods were released to customs."
"It was a real adventure and if any of our Senators or Congressmen went through it once they would have a different attitude toward Mexico [and Arizona’s new immigration law].
Tom O'Malley, who was a Director with S.W. BELL in Mexico City, describes how he and his wife were treated as immigrants in Mexico:
"I spent five years working in Mexico .. I worked under a tourist Visa for three months and could legally renew it for three more months. After that you were working Illegally. I was technically illegal for three weeks waiting on the FM3 approval.
"During that six months our Mexican and U.S. attorneys were working to secure a permanent work visa called a 'FM3'. It was in addition to my U.S. passport that I had to show each time I entered and left the country. Barbara's was the same, except hers did not permit her to work.
"To apply for the FM3, I needed to submit the following notarized originals (not copies):
1. Birth certificate for Barbara and me.
2. Marriage certificate.
3. High school transcripts and proof of graduation.
4. College transcripts for every college I attended and proof of graduation.
5. Two letters of recommendation from supervisors for whom I had worked for at least one year.
6. A letter from the St. Louis Chief of Police indicating that I had no arrest record in the U.S. and no outstanding warrants and, was "a citizen in good standing.
7. "Finally, I had to write a letter about myself that clearly stated why there was no Mexican citizen with my skills and why my skills were important to Mexico . We called it our 'I am the greatest person on Earth' letter. It was fun to write.
"All of the above were in English that had to be translated into Spanish and be certified as legal translations, and our signatures notarized. It produced a folder about 1.5 inches thick with English on the left side and Spanish on the right.
"Once they were completed Barbara and I spent about five hours, accompanied by a Mexican attorney, touring Mexican government office locations and being photograph ed and fingerprinted at least three times at each location, and we remember at least four locations where we were instructed on Mexican tax, labor, housing, and criminal law and that we were required to obey their laws or face the consequences. We could not protest any of the government's actions or we would be committing a felony. We paid out four thousand dollars in fees and bribes to complete the process. When this was done we could legally bring in our household goods that were held by U.S. Customs in Laredo , Texas . This meant we had rented furniture in Mexico while awaiting our goods. There were extensive fees involved here that the company paid.
"We could not buy a home and were required to rent at very high rates and under contract and compliance with Mexican law.
"We were required to get a Mexican driver's license. This was an amazing process. The company arranged for the licensing agency to come to our headquarters location with their photography and fingerprint equipment and the laminating machine. We showed our U.S. license, were photographed and fingerprinted again and issued the license instantly after paying out a six dollar fee. We did not take a written or driving test and never received instructions on the rules of the road. Our only instruction was to never give a policeman your license if stopped and asked. We were instructed to hold it against the inside window away from his grasp. If he got his hands on it you would have to pay ransom to get it back.
"We then had to pay and file Mexican income tax annually using the number of our FM3 as our ID number. The company's Mexican accountants did this for us and we just signed what they prepared. I t was about twenty legal size pages annually.
"The FM3 was good for three years and renewable for two more after paying more fees.
"Leaving the country meant turning in the FM3 and certifying we were leaving no debts behind and no outstanding legal affairs (warrants, tickets or liens) before our household goods were released to customs."
"It was a real adventure and if any of our Senators or Congressmen went through it once they would have a different attitude toward Mexico [and Arizona’s new immigration law].
THE NERVE OF MEXICO'S PRESIDENT (2)
President Calderon, the Obama administration and the advocates of gun control are all FLAT-OUT LYING when they charge that Mexico’s gun cartels get most of their firearms from the United States. In a previous post, DRUG CARTELS DO NOT GET MILITARY-STYLE WEAPONS FROM TEXAS GUN DEALERS (2) [10-16-09], I reproduced a letter to the Houston Chronicle from Joan Neuhaus Schaan, a fellow for Homeland Security and Terrorism programs in the prestigious James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy at Rice University.
Schaan’s letter in the October 15, 2009 issue of the Chronicle unequivocally demonstrated that the Obama administration has been throwing out bogus statistics on the acquisition of weapons by Mexico’s drug cartels. In response to Calderon’s address before Congress, Schaan wrote another letter spelling out where the cartels actually get their guns from. She was awfully kind to Calderon, referring to his deliberate falsehoods as a mistake. Here is that letter as it appeared in the May 26 issue of the Chronicle:
GUN MYTH
I feel compelled to point out a mistake in "Calderón asks U.S. to renew ban on sale of assault guns."
At issue is the statement "Mexico has seized 75,000 firearms over the past three years, he said, and 80 percent of them were traced to the United States."
This statement continues to perpetuate a myth. The actual figure is approximately 20 percent of the guns seized in Mexico have been proven to be from the United States. In January, I was with a colleague from a northern Mexico university, and he also was perpetuating this myth. When I asked if my statistics were incorrect, or my understanding of the vast number of weapons seized that originated in other parts of the world was incorrect, he said they were not. In early 2008, the U.S. federal government instituted a program to inspect vehicles headed south for weapons. To the dismay of many, in the San Antonio sector, very few weapons were found, but approximately $65 million in cash had been seized by November.
Mexico has become a top international arms bazaar, with weapons arriving from China, Brazil, the former Soviet bloc and elsewhere. In one case, weapons were stolen in Iraq and brought to Mexico for sale. Key to this debate, and Mexico's weapons problems, are all these other sources of weapons.
Also key to this debate is under what authority the U.S. government is providing another country with a serious and acknowledged problem with corruption the access to U.S. citizens' personal information in gun ownership records.
— JOAN NEUHAUS SCHAAN,coordinator, Texas Security Forum and Fellow for Homeland Security and Terrorism Programs, James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy
Schaan’s letter in the October 15, 2009 issue of the Chronicle unequivocally demonstrated that the Obama administration has been throwing out bogus statistics on the acquisition of weapons by Mexico’s drug cartels. In response to Calderon’s address before Congress, Schaan wrote another letter spelling out where the cartels actually get their guns from. She was awfully kind to Calderon, referring to his deliberate falsehoods as a mistake. Here is that letter as it appeared in the May 26 issue of the Chronicle:
GUN MYTH
I feel compelled to point out a mistake in "Calderón asks U.S. to renew ban on sale of assault guns."
At issue is the statement "Mexico has seized 75,000 firearms over the past three years, he said, and 80 percent of them were traced to the United States."
This statement continues to perpetuate a myth. The actual figure is approximately 20 percent of the guns seized in Mexico have been proven to be from the United States. In January, I was with a colleague from a northern Mexico university, and he also was perpetuating this myth. When I asked if my statistics were incorrect, or my understanding of the vast number of weapons seized that originated in other parts of the world was incorrect, he said they were not. In early 2008, the U.S. federal government instituted a program to inspect vehicles headed south for weapons. To the dismay of many, in the San Antonio sector, very few weapons were found, but approximately $65 million in cash had been seized by November.
Mexico has become a top international arms bazaar, with weapons arriving from China, Brazil, the former Soviet bloc and elsewhere. In one case, weapons were stolen in Iraq and brought to Mexico for sale. Key to this debate, and Mexico's weapons problems, are all these other sources of weapons.
Also key to this debate is under what authority the U.S. government is providing another country with a serious and acknowledged problem with corruption the access to U.S. citizens' personal information in gun ownership records.
— JOAN NEUHAUS SCHAAN,coordinator, Texas Security Forum and Fellow for Homeland Security and Terrorism Programs, James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy
Thursday, May 27, 2010
AMERICA'S FRIENDS, THE SAUDIS (2)
In response to the BP oil spill disaster, President Obama has ordered a six-month moratorium on the drilling for oil in the Gulf of Mexico (where there are 33 deep-water rigs), off-shore in Virginia and on Alaska’s North Slope.
Our president is throwing the baby out with the bath water. That six-month moratorium will come at the cost of thousands of jobs. In addition to the drilling crews, workers in industries that manufacture drilling equipment, as well as those employed by companies that provide and ship materials and supplies to the rigs, will also lose their livelihood.
But fear not. We can rely on our friends the Saudis to make up for the oil shortages that are sure to result from the moratorium. Taking a page out of the milk commercials: GOT OIL? Is that what Obma is ‘reaching out to the Muslim world’ for?
We will be enriching the Saudis even more, thereby enabling them to increase their funding of anti-American and anti-Western terrorist groups and the funding of more Wahhabi mosques and madrassahs in the U.S. and Europe. And, of course, we will be paying a lot more every time we fill up our gas tanks.
Our dependence on Saudi Arabian oil must be why Obama bowed down so shamefully to the Saudi king. The Saudis and their terrorist beneficiaries must be jumping up and down with joy.
Our president is throwing the baby out with the bath water. That six-month moratorium will come at the cost of thousands of jobs. In addition to the drilling crews, workers in industries that manufacture drilling equipment, as well as those employed by companies that provide and ship materials and supplies to the rigs, will also lose their livelihood.
But fear not. We can rely on our friends the Saudis to make up for the oil shortages that are sure to result from the moratorium. Taking a page out of the milk commercials: GOT OIL? Is that what Obma is ‘reaching out to the Muslim world’ for?
We will be enriching the Saudis even more, thereby enabling them to increase their funding of anti-American and anti-Western terrorist groups and the funding of more Wahhabi mosques and madrassahs in the U.S. and Europe. And, of course, we will be paying a lot more every time we fill up our gas tanks.
Our dependence on Saudi Arabian oil must be why Obama bowed down so shamefully to the Saudi king. The Saudis and their terrorist beneficiaries must be jumping up and down with joy.
PHONY PROVOCATIVE MISSION
Eight (or nine, according to some reports) ‘aid ships’ carrying hundreds of pro-Palestinian activists are making their way to Gaza to break the Israeli blockade, but the Israeli army says the mission is unnecessary in light of a 'stable humanitarian situation' in the Strip.
The purported humanitarian aid could easily be delivered to Gaza from land crossings in both Egypt and Israel. But the flotilla’s real mission is to score a huge anti-Israeli propaganda victory for ‘our Palestinian brothers’ by provoking an Israeli military response
According to the Israeli army, 100 trucks enter Gaza from Israel every day. Over the past few months, these trucks have delivered, among other things, over 1,200 tons of medicines and medical equipment, 155 tons of food, 2,900 tons of clothes and footwear and close to 17 million liters (about 3.85 million gallons) of diesel oil. And over the past year Israel has allowed 6,000 Palestinians to leave Gaza to receive medical treatment in Israel and Jordan. In addition, Israel does not limit the amount of medicines and food that enter the Strip.
Caroline Glick notes that "On Thursday, Hamas's maritime enablers from Europe, Turkey and beyond will arrive at our doorstep. The navy will block their entry to Gaza. Israel will be demonized by terror-abettors disguised as human rights activists and journalists worldwide. And the story will pave the way for the next assault on Israel's right to exist."
Here is some of the phony baloney put out by a Greek ('he even has Jewish friends') and a Swedish activist:
GAZA MISSION ACTIVIST: IT’S JUST LIKE FACING NAZIS
Greek professor on ship heading to Gaza likens mission to Greek aid in face of Nazis during World War II; Swedish participant concerned about IDF response, hopes Israel allows activists to 'meet our Palestinian brothers'
By Aviel Magnezi
Ynetnews.com
May 26, 2010
Skewed sense of history? Eight ships are already making their way through the Mediterranean towards the Gaza Strip in, the framework of a European aid mission - with activists aboard the vessels likening their work to the anti-Nazi effort during World War II.
"We're helping the Palestinians, just like the Greeks helped during World War II against the Nazis," a Greek activist aboard one of the ships told Ynet Tuesday.
The mission was organized by Turkish group IHH as well as other leftist European organizations. The activists taking part in the sailing operation also expressed their fear that the IDF will prevent them from arriving at their destination.
The Greek activist, university professor Vangelis Pissias, told Ynet that he is concerned about harm to human rights anywhere in the world.
"Just like we don't accept the Israeli behavior in Gaza, we will not accept it anywhere," he said. He added that the mission is an anti-violent act, and that participants only wish to offer aid to Gazans and bring the message that "we won't let any military force to keep them in prison."
The professor stressed that he has nothing against Jews and that he even has Jewish friends. However, he refused to condemn Palestinian terrorism. "These people are doing what reality causes them to do," he said.
Turning his attention to World War II, he added: "Back then we helped the refugees, and we're doing it now too. The Palestinians have the same feelings, they are under attack…and they're fighting for it for lack of other choice."
"The whole world watched Israel's serious crimes in Gaza about a year and a half ago," he said. "Humanity cannot accept it."
Meanwhile, Swedish history professor Mattias Gardel, who will also be heading to Gaza aboard one of the ships, told Ynet mission participants are concerned about human rights in Gaza and do not aim to assault anyone.
Gardel expressed his concern over the prospect of an Israeli military response to the aid mission, stressing that the activists aboard the ships are unarmed.
"We're unarmed, yet they are armed and will be coming with their Navy and commandoes – it will be a comedy," he said. "All of these forces against us. We urge the government to stop the fighters, open the door, and allow us to meet our Palestinian brothers."
The purported humanitarian aid could easily be delivered to Gaza from land crossings in both Egypt and Israel. But the flotilla’s real mission is to score a huge anti-Israeli propaganda victory for ‘our Palestinian brothers’ by provoking an Israeli military response
According to the Israeli army, 100 trucks enter Gaza from Israel every day. Over the past few months, these trucks have delivered, among other things, over 1,200 tons of medicines and medical equipment, 155 tons of food, 2,900 tons of clothes and footwear and close to 17 million liters (about 3.85 million gallons) of diesel oil. And over the past year Israel has allowed 6,000 Palestinians to leave Gaza to receive medical treatment in Israel and Jordan. In addition, Israel does not limit the amount of medicines and food that enter the Strip.
Caroline Glick notes that "On Thursday, Hamas's maritime enablers from Europe, Turkey and beyond will arrive at our doorstep. The navy will block their entry to Gaza. Israel will be demonized by terror-abettors disguised as human rights activists and journalists worldwide. And the story will pave the way for the next assault on Israel's right to exist."
Here is some of the phony baloney put out by a Greek ('he even has Jewish friends') and a Swedish activist:
GAZA MISSION ACTIVIST: IT’S JUST LIKE FACING NAZIS
Greek professor on ship heading to Gaza likens mission to Greek aid in face of Nazis during World War II; Swedish participant concerned about IDF response, hopes Israel allows activists to 'meet our Palestinian brothers'
By Aviel Magnezi
Ynetnews.com
May 26, 2010
Skewed sense of history? Eight ships are already making their way through the Mediterranean towards the Gaza Strip in, the framework of a European aid mission - with activists aboard the vessels likening their work to the anti-Nazi effort during World War II.
"We're helping the Palestinians, just like the Greeks helped during World War II against the Nazis," a Greek activist aboard one of the ships told Ynet Tuesday.
The mission was organized by Turkish group IHH as well as other leftist European organizations. The activists taking part in the sailing operation also expressed their fear that the IDF will prevent them from arriving at their destination.
The Greek activist, university professor Vangelis Pissias, told Ynet that he is concerned about harm to human rights anywhere in the world.
"Just like we don't accept the Israeli behavior in Gaza, we will not accept it anywhere," he said. He added that the mission is an anti-violent act, and that participants only wish to offer aid to Gazans and bring the message that "we won't let any military force to keep them in prison."
The professor stressed that he has nothing against Jews and that he even has Jewish friends. However, he refused to condemn Palestinian terrorism. "These people are doing what reality causes them to do," he said.
Turning his attention to World War II, he added: "Back then we helped the refugees, and we're doing it now too. The Palestinians have the same feelings, they are under attack…and they're fighting for it for lack of other choice."
"The whole world watched Israel's serious crimes in Gaza about a year and a half ago," he said. "Humanity cannot accept it."
Meanwhile, Swedish history professor Mattias Gardel, who will also be heading to Gaza aboard one of the ships, told Ynet mission participants are concerned about human rights in Gaza and do not aim to assault anyone.
Gardel expressed his concern over the prospect of an Israeli military response to the aid mission, stressing that the activists aboard the ships are unarmed.
"We're unarmed, yet they are armed and will be coming with their Navy and commandoes – it will be a comedy," he said. "All of these forces against us. We urge the government to stop the fighters, open the door, and allow us to meet our Palestinian brothers."
AMERICA'S FRIENDS, THE SAUDIS
The Saudi King, the very same one President Obama shamefully bowed down to, is pissed off that someone in his government leaked out the information that he is financing anti-American terrorist groups. Some heads will literally roll over the leak while the financial aid to terrorists will continue.
While Obama reaches out to the Muslim world, even Muslim countries long deemed to be America’s friends continue to act like our enemies. Why do the Saudis pretend to be our friends? The answer is simple. The Saudis are just as dependent for their wealth on our thirst for oil as we are dependant on their oil for our energy needs.
Obama can’t blame this one on Bush, Cheney or Halliburton!
SECRET SAUDI DOCUMENT SHOWS KINGDOM LINKED WITH AL-QAEDA TERROR
by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu
IsraelNationalNews.com
May 25, 2010
An Iraqi news agency has revealed more evidence linking Saudi Arabia with terror. The Buratha news service published what it said it is a secret document disclosing how much money the Saudi kingdom has transferred to Al-Qaeda in Iraq. The kingdom reportedly sends explosives and weapons to terrorist groups in Iraq.
Saudi Arabia did not comment on the report and instead criticized intelligence officials for disclosing the document. Buratha said that King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz ordered a special committee to investigate the intelligence leak and inform him about those liable in the case. Saudi authorities reportedly have arrested 37 of the country’s intelligence officials for being behind the leak.
It was published shortly after former Saudi army officer Abdullah al-Qahtani was arrested in Iraq over charges of planning a terrorist attack during the upcoming FIFA World Cup in South Africa.
The Saudi kingdom publicly condemns terror but frequently has been accused of financing terrorists and terrorism. It also has been charged with direct involvement in the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center Twin Towers in New York and the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. A third airliner aimed at the White House crashed instead in a field in Pennsylvania after passengers, knowing they were doomed, rushed their terrorist captors and sent the plane into a nosedive a scant few miles short of its target. Fifteen of the 19 hijackers in the multiple aerial attacks were Saudis.
A report two years ago by the Times of London dubbed Saudi Arabia as a "hub of world terror" and reported that the kingdom "supplies the cash and the killers." Two sons of the Saudi ruling family have been killed fighting for Al-Qaeda.
Despite Saudi Arabia's friendly connections with the United States and other Western countries, Stuart Levey, the U.S. Treasury official in charge of tracking terror financing, was quoted by the Times as saying, "If I could somehow snap my fingers and cut off the funding from one country, it would be Saudi Arabia."
NBC previously has reported that approximately 55 percent of foreign terrorist fighters in Iraq are from Saudi Arabia.
Former Israeli Ambassador Dore Gold wrote several years ago, "Saudi Arabia's past involvement in international terrorism is indisputable. Saudi denials about terrorist funding don't hold water."
He cited Palestinian Authority documents captured by IDF forces that detailed allocations of funds for terror by the International Islamic Relief Organization, whose board of directors is headed by Saudi cabinet members.
While Obama reaches out to the Muslim world, even Muslim countries long deemed to be America’s friends continue to act like our enemies. Why do the Saudis pretend to be our friends? The answer is simple. The Saudis are just as dependent for their wealth on our thirst for oil as we are dependant on their oil for our energy needs.
Obama can’t blame this one on Bush, Cheney or Halliburton!
SECRET SAUDI DOCUMENT SHOWS KINGDOM LINKED WITH AL-QAEDA TERROR
by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu
IsraelNationalNews.com
May 25, 2010
An Iraqi news agency has revealed more evidence linking Saudi Arabia with terror. The Buratha news service published what it said it is a secret document disclosing how much money the Saudi kingdom has transferred to Al-Qaeda in Iraq. The kingdom reportedly sends explosives and weapons to terrorist groups in Iraq.
Saudi Arabia did not comment on the report and instead criticized intelligence officials for disclosing the document. Buratha said that King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz ordered a special committee to investigate the intelligence leak and inform him about those liable in the case. Saudi authorities reportedly have arrested 37 of the country’s intelligence officials for being behind the leak.
It was published shortly after former Saudi army officer Abdullah al-Qahtani was arrested in Iraq over charges of planning a terrorist attack during the upcoming FIFA World Cup in South Africa.
The Saudi kingdom publicly condemns terror but frequently has been accused of financing terrorists and terrorism. It also has been charged with direct involvement in the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center Twin Towers in New York and the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. A third airliner aimed at the White House crashed instead in a field in Pennsylvania after passengers, knowing they were doomed, rushed their terrorist captors and sent the plane into a nosedive a scant few miles short of its target. Fifteen of the 19 hijackers in the multiple aerial attacks were Saudis.
A report two years ago by the Times of London dubbed Saudi Arabia as a "hub of world terror" and reported that the kingdom "supplies the cash and the killers." Two sons of the Saudi ruling family have been killed fighting for Al-Qaeda.
Despite Saudi Arabia's friendly connections with the United States and other Western countries, Stuart Levey, the U.S. Treasury official in charge of tracking terror financing, was quoted by the Times as saying, "If I could somehow snap my fingers and cut off the funding from one country, it would be Saudi Arabia."
NBC previously has reported that approximately 55 percent of foreign terrorist fighters in Iraq are from Saudi Arabia.
Former Israeli Ambassador Dore Gold wrote several years ago, "Saudi Arabia's past involvement in international terrorism is indisputable. Saudi denials about terrorist funding don't hold water."
He cited Palestinian Authority documents captured by IDF forces that detailed allocations of funds for terror by the International Islamic Relief Organization, whose board of directors is headed by Saudi cabinet members.
CIA MUST STAND FOR 'CRAZY INTELLIGENCE AGENCY'
If not that, how about ‘CRAZY IDIOTS AGENCY’?
CIA’S BIZARRE PLOT TO AIR FAKE GAY SADDAM HUSSEIN SEX TAPE IN LEAD UP TO 2003 INVASION OF IRAQby David Gardner
Mail Online
May 26, 2010
A campaign to shame Saddam Hussein was devised by American spies during the planning for the 2003 invasion of Iraq, it was revealed last night.
The CIA secretly plotted to flood Iraq with a fake video making it look like Saddam was having sex with a teenage boy.
According to the Washington Post, the U.S. intelligence agency also targetted Osama bin Laden for the bogus propaganda, making a film purporting to show the al Qaeda leader sitting around a campfire with his cronies, swigging alcohol and discussing their conquests of young boys.
Squabbling over the projects, as well as budget cuts, meant the videos never saw the light of day.
But the revelations will come as a major embarrassment to the CIA at a time when President Obama has demanded a clean-up after banning harsh interrogation methods used during the war on terror under George Bush.
Former intelligence officials claimed the video showing Hussein having sex with a boy would have been staged using actors.
‘It would look like it was taken by a hidden camera,’ said one ex-CIA agent. ‘Very grainy, like it was a secret videotaping of a sex session.'
Other dirty tricks ideas discussed included a plan to interrupt Iraqi television with a made-up news bulletin showing a Saddam look-alike announcing his resignation.
The fake dictator would say he was handing the reigns of the country over to his hated son Uday.
‘I’m sure you will throw your support behind His Excellency Uday,’ the imposter was supposed to tell the Iraqi people.
The CIA also wanted to hack into Iraq’s TV networks and insert misleading messages into the broadcasts.
Eventually ‘things ground to a halt’, the former agent told the Post’s Spy Talk blog.
James Pavitt, then head of the agency’s Operations Division, and his deputy, Hugh Turner, were said to be opposed to the covert plans.
Saddam was eventually captured in late 2003 and hanged in December 2006. His sons, Uday and Qusay, were killed in a shoot-out with allied troops in July 2003.
Former intelligence officials dismissed the dirty tricks ideas as ‘ridiculous’.
‘They came from people whose careers were spent in Latin America or East Asia and didn’t understand the cultural nuances of the region,’ said an ex-agent.
Another CIA official, who has extensive experience in the region, said: 'Saddam playing with boys would have no resonance in the Middle East - nobody cares.
‘Trying to mount such a campaign would show a total misunderstanding of the target. We always mistake our own taboos as universal when, in fact, they are just our taboos.’
A U.S. official said last night: ‘We can’t confirm those accounts, but if these ideas were put forward at any time they clearly didn’t go very far.’
The most effective ‘information warfare’ project during the invasion was said to be emails and faxes sent to Iraqi unit commanders as the fighting began urging them to give up and go home because they were were doomed to defeat.
CIA’S BIZARRE PLOT TO AIR FAKE GAY SADDAM HUSSEIN SEX TAPE IN LEAD UP TO 2003 INVASION OF IRAQby David Gardner
Mail Online
May 26, 2010
A campaign to shame Saddam Hussein was devised by American spies during the planning for the 2003 invasion of Iraq, it was revealed last night.
The CIA secretly plotted to flood Iraq with a fake video making it look like Saddam was having sex with a teenage boy.
According to the Washington Post, the U.S. intelligence agency also targetted Osama bin Laden for the bogus propaganda, making a film purporting to show the al Qaeda leader sitting around a campfire with his cronies, swigging alcohol and discussing their conquests of young boys.
Squabbling over the projects, as well as budget cuts, meant the videos never saw the light of day.
But the revelations will come as a major embarrassment to the CIA at a time when President Obama has demanded a clean-up after banning harsh interrogation methods used during the war on terror under George Bush.
Former intelligence officials claimed the video showing Hussein having sex with a boy would have been staged using actors.
‘It would look like it was taken by a hidden camera,’ said one ex-CIA agent. ‘Very grainy, like it was a secret videotaping of a sex session.'
Other dirty tricks ideas discussed included a plan to interrupt Iraqi television with a made-up news bulletin showing a Saddam look-alike announcing his resignation.
The fake dictator would say he was handing the reigns of the country over to his hated son Uday.
‘I’m sure you will throw your support behind His Excellency Uday,’ the imposter was supposed to tell the Iraqi people.
The CIA also wanted to hack into Iraq’s TV networks and insert misleading messages into the broadcasts.
Eventually ‘things ground to a halt’, the former agent told the Post’s Spy Talk blog.
James Pavitt, then head of the agency’s Operations Division, and his deputy, Hugh Turner, were said to be opposed to the covert plans.
Saddam was eventually captured in late 2003 and hanged in December 2006. His sons, Uday and Qusay, were killed in a shoot-out with allied troops in July 2003.
Former intelligence officials dismissed the dirty tricks ideas as ‘ridiculous’.
‘They came from people whose careers were spent in Latin America or East Asia and didn’t understand the cultural nuances of the region,’ said an ex-agent.
Another CIA official, who has extensive experience in the region, said: 'Saddam playing with boys would have no resonance in the Middle East - nobody cares.
‘Trying to mount such a campaign would show a total misunderstanding of the target. We always mistake our own taboos as universal when, in fact, they are just our taboos.’
A U.S. official said last night: ‘We can’t confirm those accounts, but if these ideas were put forward at any time they clearly didn’t go very far.’
The most effective ‘information warfare’ project during the invasion was said to be emails and faxes sent to Iraqi unit commanders as the fighting began urging them to give up and go home because they were were doomed to defeat.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
CONGRATULATIONS LAW ENFORCEMENT GRADUATES
Last night I went to a police academy graduation ceremony because Brad, the son of my close buddy Trey, was one of the graduates. Had I addressed the graduates, here is what I would have said:
Congratulations, you have just graduated from the law enforcement academy. You are about to begin one of the most important and difficult careers imaginable. Important because you will be responsible for preserving the thin fabric of an orderly society and difficult because police work is all about dealing with people.
You will be dealing with the best of people and with the scum of the earth. Given the fact that there are fights between husbands and wives, between brothers and sisters, between parents and their sons and daughters, and between close friends, it stands to reason that when you confront a stranger in an adversary situation you’re not going to be met with hugs and kisses. That means your ability to deal calmly with a hostile person will be tested to its very limits.
What I am going to say now may be disjointed but I want to give you a few tips on how to survive and succeed as a law enforcement officer.
To begin with, I suggest that you treat all people, including scumbags, the same way you would want to be treated if the roles were reversed. Get used to the fact that even good people are going to get upset with you. You’re in the business of regulating human behavior and no one likes to have their behavior regulated.
Next I am going to urge you to do something that is extremely difficult, and that is: ALWAYS DO YOUR BEST TO CONTROL YOUR TEMPER, no matter the circumstances. When you lose your temper, you are going to be controlled by your emotions and that is likely to get you into a heap of trouble.
If you’ve just had a beef with your spouse or experienced something else that continues to anger you as you get ready to leave for work, don’t go to work – CALL IN SICK! Why? Because if you go to work, you will take your anger out on the first person who pisses you off, and that can get both you and your department in trouble.
And this is just as important as controlling your temper – YOU’VE GOT TO SUPRESS ANY RACIAL, RELIGIOUS, ETHNIC, SEXUAL ORIENTATION OR LIFE-STYLE PREJUDICES YOU MAY HAVE, because if you don’t, you will be controlled by those prejudices and that can also get you into trouble.
More cops get into trouble over wine, women and guns, not necessarily in that order. If you drink to excess, sooner or later you are likely to get into trouble. Young women are going to be impressed with your uniform, so don’t let your pecker lead you astray. Always think with your brain, never with your pecker.
And be very judicious in how you use any weapon. You have every right to protect yourself when you confront a dangerous criminal or you find your life or someone else’s in imminent danger. There may come a time when you will have to shoot someone. You can bet on one thing - if you do shoot someone or if you have to resort to physical force, there are always going to be those who will second-guess you and you could find yourself facing false accusations and possibly unwarranted criminal charges.
Now listen carefully! DON’T DRIVE LIKE A BAT OUT OF HELL! The public often judges the police by how officers drive. Unless you are responding to a real emergency, DON’T PUT THE PEDAL TO THE METAL! Even on an emergency run, keep this in mind - your red lights and siren only seek the right of way, they do not give you the right of way! And be aware that of the officers killed in the line of duty, most of them are killed NOT by gunfire, THEY DIE IN CAR CRASHES!
Oh yes, forget all that stuff about being on duty 24 hours a day. You’re not. You’re subject to call 24 hours a day. More officers get into trouble playing ‘cops and robbers’ off-duty than on duty. So, unless you come across a felony in progress when you’re off-duty, forget it!
Finally, to be a good cop you have to be a go-getter. But don’t be too gung-ho! You don’t have to arrest everything that isn’t nailed down. You will be rewarded far more for the quality of your arrests than for the number of arrests you make.
Police work has been described as 95 percent utter boredom and five percent sheer terror. So always be on your guard because one never knows when that terror will strike.
Thank you for letting me spend these few minutes with you. Again, congratulations and may you enjoy a very happy and successful law enforcement career.
Congratulations, you have just graduated from the law enforcement academy. You are about to begin one of the most important and difficult careers imaginable. Important because you will be responsible for preserving the thin fabric of an orderly society and difficult because police work is all about dealing with people.
You will be dealing with the best of people and with the scum of the earth. Given the fact that there are fights between husbands and wives, between brothers and sisters, between parents and their sons and daughters, and between close friends, it stands to reason that when you confront a stranger in an adversary situation you’re not going to be met with hugs and kisses. That means your ability to deal calmly with a hostile person will be tested to its very limits.
What I am going to say now may be disjointed but I want to give you a few tips on how to survive and succeed as a law enforcement officer.
To begin with, I suggest that you treat all people, including scumbags, the same way you would want to be treated if the roles were reversed. Get used to the fact that even good people are going to get upset with you. You’re in the business of regulating human behavior and no one likes to have their behavior regulated.
Next I am going to urge you to do something that is extremely difficult, and that is: ALWAYS DO YOUR BEST TO CONTROL YOUR TEMPER, no matter the circumstances. When you lose your temper, you are going to be controlled by your emotions and that is likely to get you into a heap of trouble.
If you’ve just had a beef with your spouse or experienced something else that continues to anger you as you get ready to leave for work, don’t go to work – CALL IN SICK! Why? Because if you go to work, you will take your anger out on the first person who pisses you off, and that can get both you and your department in trouble.
And this is just as important as controlling your temper – YOU’VE GOT TO SUPRESS ANY RACIAL, RELIGIOUS, ETHNIC, SEXUAL ORIENTATION OR LIFE-STYLE PREJUDICES YOU MAY HAVE, because if you don’t, you will be controlled by those prejudices and that can also get you into trouble.
More cops get into trouble over wine, women and guns, not necessarily in that order. If you drink to excess, sooner or later you are likely to get into trouble. Young women are going to be impressed with your uniform, so don’t let your pecker lead you astray. Always think with your brain, never with your pecker.
And be very judicious in how you use any weapon. You have every right to protect yourself when you confront a dangerous criminal or you find your life or someone else’s in imminent danger. There may come a time when you will have to shoot someone. You can bet on one thing - if you do shoot someone or if you have to resort to physical force, there are always going to be those who will second-guess you and you could find yourself facing false accusations and possibly unwarranted criminal charges.
Now listen carefully! DON’T DRIVE LIKE A BAT OUT OF HELL! The public often judges the police by how officers drive. Unless you are responding to a real emergency, DON’T PUT THE PEDAL TO THE METAL! Even on an emergency run, keep this in mind - your red lights and siren only seek the right of way, they do not give you the right of way! And be aware that of the officers killed in the line of duty, most of them are killed NOT by gunfire, THEY DIE IN CAR CRASHES!
Oh yes, forget all that stuff about being on duty 24 hours a day. You’re not. You’re subject to call 24 hours a day. More officers get into trouble playing ‘cops and robbers’ off-duty than on duty. So, unless you come across a felony in progress when you’re off-duty, forget it!
Finally, to be a good cop you have to be a go-getter. But don’t be too gung-ho! You don’t have to arrest everything that isn’t nailed down. You will be rewarded far more for the quality of your arrests than for the number of arrests you make.
Police work has been described as 95 percent utter boredom and five percent sheer terror. So always be on your guard because one never knows when that terror will strike.
Thank you for letting me spend these few minutes with you. Again, congratulations and may you enjoy a very happy and successful law enforcement career.
CONGRATULATIONS LAW ENFORCEMENT GRADUATES (2)
Law enforcement graduates take note: This is NOT the way for police officers to act or for their department to respond.
TONY & ELISA CANTU SUE THE KATY POLICE, AND ARE GLAD THEY HAD A DIGITAL RECORDER HANDY
By Chris Vogel
Houston Press Hair Balls
May 18, 2010
Thank goodness for small, digital voice-recorders and the Texas open records law. For without them, Tony and Elsa Cantu would probably have criminal records and might even be locked up behind bars, victim to the lies and deceptions of the Katy police department, one of its officers, and his wife.
It all started last May at the AMC movie theater inside Katy Mills Mall, according to a lawsuit the Cantus recently filed in Harris County District Court against the city of Katy, its police department, and several of its cops. Tony and Elsa were standing in the popcorn line with their 5-year-old child when a lady cut in front of them. The Cantus protested, and the woman began making a scene, gesticulating wildly and screaming, calling Tony a "wetback."
The Cantus tried to ignore the woman, waited for their food, and then took their seats inside the theater. But the peace and quiet didn't last long.
A few minutes later, an AMC worker asked the Cantus to step outside. Katy policeman Sean Kiley soon arrived. Elsa Cantu claims she asked Kiley several times to check on her kid, who was alone in the theater, but each time Kiley responded, "Shut up and stand right there!"
Finally, Elsa says, Kiley relented and gave her permission to talk to her child, but when she turned to walk into the theater, Kiley grabbed her and arrested her without warning. Elsa claims that Kiley dragged her across the room toward the soda fountain and began hitting and pinching her arms, causing bruises, as he put his handcuffs on her.
Meanwhile, Tony Cantu claims he saw Kiley abusing his wife and ran up to Kiley saying, "Why are you doing this? Do not do that!" Tony says that Kiley later told him it was "time people like you go to jail." Tony felt this was a racist remark. When he tried to use a cell phone to record what was happening, Kiley and other officers, who had shown up, prevented him. Finally, Kiley told Cantu he could go get his child from the theater, but just as he had done with Elsa, as soon as Tony turned toward the theater, Kiley arrested him.
The charges of disorderly conduct against both Tony and Elsa Cantu were later dismissed or not prosecuted.
In many ways, though, the Cantus' story was just beginning.
While Elsa's case was still pending, Tony Cantu decided to do his own investigating and went over to Kiley's house. The officer was not home, but his wife was. They spoke, and then Tony left. Little did Kiley's wife know, but Tony was recording the entire exchange with a Sony digital recorder.
On the drive back home from Kiley's house, Tony claims that officer Kiley was following him. When Tony pulled over at a gas station to fill up, Kiley and several other officers showed themselves and began asking Tony questions before allowing him to drive off.
The very next day, the Cantus claim, Kiley and his wife conspired to get Tony in trouble. Kiley's wife filed an affidavit claiming that Tony had scared her when he had talked to her at her home and had bumped her physically. She stated that Tony was trying to retaliate against Kiley for the arrest at the AMC. Tony was subsequently charged with felony retaliation.
It was right about now that Tony was thanking himself for recording the conversation with Kiley's wife.
Tony gave his audio recording to the Harris County prosecutor, who then authenticated the voices with the Kileys. The next day, the DA dropped the retaliation charge. The dismissal order states, "Defendant made audio recording of conversation ... there is no threat. Cannot prove elements."
Says the Cantus' attorney, Jimmie Brown, "I've listened to the tape, and nothing happened. Officer Kiley [and his wife] conspired to falsely accuse [Tony] of wrongdoing."
While the funny-business surrounding the retaliation charged was still going on, the Cantus filed a complaint with the Katy police department against Kiley, complaining about his assault on Elsa Cantu at the movie theater. Tony included a copy of the audio recording with Kiley's wife as part of the complaint.
In the end, the police department exonerated Kiley on all of Cantu's allegations. However, during the investigation, Kiley apparently said he had not been at the gas station with Tony after Tony had left Kiley's home. Knowing this was not the case, Tony filed an open records request to view the video tape of the incident which was recorded by the patrol car camera of one of the other officers who was also at the gas station that night.
At first, the Katy PD would not give it up. But Tony pressed the issue, eventually getting a favorable ruling from the Attorney General's Office and a copy of the video. Sure enough, it showed Kiley was there that night, despite what he previously told investigators, the Cantus claim.
What's more, the Cantus say that the police department had possession of both the audio and video recordings and did nothing with them, despite the fact that they showed both Kiley and his wife had lied.
"It's clear that if they listened to the audio tape of officer Kiley's wife, they clearly disregarded it," says Brown. "And they could not have looked at the video, because if they did, they clearly disregarded it, too. And if that's your police policy, fine. But you're going to be held liable for your policy and practice of disregarding evidence."
As of yesterday, says Brown, officer Kiley has not been disciplined.
The Cantus are suing for $500,000 for assault, malicious prosecution, civil rights violations, denial of due process, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
The Katy city attorney has not yet responded to our calls about this case.
TONY & ELISA CANTU SUE THE KATY POLICE, AND ARE GLAD THEY HAD A DIGITAL RECORDER HANDY
By Chris Vogel
Houston Press Hair Balls
May 18, 2010
Thank goodness for small, digital voice-recorders and the Texas open records law. For without them, Tony and Elsa Cantu would probably have criminal records and might even be locked up behind bars, victim to the lies and deceptions of the Katy police department, one of its officers, and his wife.
It all started last May at the AMC movie theater inside Katy Mills Mall, according to a lawsuit the Cantus recently filed in Harris County District Court against the city of Katy, its police department, and several of its cops. Tony and Elsa were standing in the popcorn line with their 5-year-old child when a lady cut in front of them. The Cantus protested, and the woman began making a scene, gesticulating wildly and screaming, calling Tony a "wetback."
The Cantus tried to ignore the woman, waited for their food, and then took their seats inside the theater. But the peace and quiet didn't last long.
A few minutes later, an AMC worker asked the Cantus to step outside. Katy policeman Sean Kiley soon arrived. Elsa Cantu claims she asked Kiley several times to check on her kid, who was alone in the theater, but each time Kiley responded, "Shut up and stand right there!"
Finally, Elsa says, Kiley relented and gave her permission to talk to her child, but when she turned to walk into the theater, Kiley grabbed her and arrested her without warning. Elsa claims that Kiley dragged her across the room toward the soda fountain and began hitting and pinching her arms, causing bruises, as he put his handcuffs on her.
Meanwhile, Tony Cantu claims he saw Kiley abusing his wife and ran up to Kiley saying, "Why are you doing this? Do not do that!" Tony says that Kiley later told him it was "time people like you go to jail." Tony felt this was a racist remark. When he tried to use a cell phone to record what was happening, Kiley and other officers, who had shown up, prevented him. Finally, Kiley told Cantu he could go get his child from the theater, but just as he had done with Elsa, as soon as Tony turned toward the theater, Kiley arrested him.
The charges of disorderly conduct against both Tony and Elsa Cantu were later dismissed or not prosecuted.
In many ways, though, the Cantus' story was just beginning.
While Elsa's case was still pending, Tony Cantu decided to do his own investigating and went over to Kiley's house. The officer was not home, but his wife was. They spoke, and then Tony left. Little did Kiley's wife know, but Tony was recording the entire exchange with a Sony digital recorder.
On the drive back home from Kiley's house, Tony claims that officer Kiley was following him. When Tony pulled over at a gas station to fill up, Kiley and several other officers showed themselves and began asking Tony questions before allowing him to drive off.
The very next day, the Cantus claim, Kiley and his wife conspired to get Tony in trouble. Kiley's wife filed an affidavit claiming that Tony had scared her when he had talked to her at her home and had bumped her physically. She stated that Tony was trying to retaliate against Kiley for the arrest at the AMC. Tony was subsequently charged with felony retaliation.
It was right about now that Tony was thanking himself for recording the conversation with Kiley's wife.
Tony gave his audio recording to the Harris County prosecutor, who then authenticated the voices with the Kileys. The next day, the DA dropped the retaliation charge. The dismissal order states, "Defendant made audio recording of conversation ... there is no threat. Cannot prove elements."
Says the Cantus' attorney, Jimmie Brown, "I've listened to the tape, and nothing happened. Officer Kiley [and his wife] conspired to falsely accuse [Tony] of wrongdoing."
While the funny-business surrounding the retaliation charged was still going on, the Cantus filed a complaint with the Katy police department against Kiley, complaining about his assault on Elsa Cantu at the movie theater. Tony included a copy of the audio recording with Kiley's wife as part of the complaint.
In the end, the police department exonerated Kiley on all of Cantu's allegations. However, during the investigation, Kiley apparently said he had not been at the gas station with Tony after Tony had left Kiley's home. Knowing this was not the case, Tony filed an open records request to view the video tape of the incident which was recorded by the patrol car camera of one of the other officers who was also at the gas station that night.
At first, the Katy PD would not give it up. But Tony pressed the issue, eventually getting a favorable ruling from the Attorney General's Office and a copy of the video. Sure enough, it showed Kiley was there that night, despite what he previously told investigators, the Cantus claim.
What's more, the Cantus say that the police department had possession of both the audio and video recordings and did nothing with them, despite the fact that they showed both Kiley and his wife had lied.
"It's clear that if they listened to the audio tape of officer Kiley's wife, they clearly disregarded it," says Brown. "And they could not have looked at the video, because if they did, they clearly disregarded it, too. And if that's your police policy, fine. But you're going to be held liable for your policy and practice of disregarding evidence."
As of yesterday, says Brown, officer Kiley has not been disciplined.
The Cantus are suing for $500,000 for assault, malicious prosecution, civil rights violations, denial of due process, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
The Katy city attorney has not yet responded to our calls about this case.
WHO PUT THE CURSE ON 888 888 888?
MOBILE PHONE NUMBER 0888 888 888 SUSPENDED AFTER EVERY USER ASSIGNED TO IT DIES
Mail Online
May 25, 2010
Spooked phone bosses have suspended the mobile phone number 0888 888 888 - after every single person assigned to it died in the last 10 years.
The first owner, Vladimir Grashnov - the former CEO of Bulgarian mobile phone company Mobitel, which issued the number - died of cancer in 2001 aged just 48.
Despite a spotless business record there were persistent rumours that his cancer had been caused by a business rival using radioactive poisoning.
The jinxed number then passed to Bulgarian mafia boss Konstantin Dimitrov.
He was gunned down in 2003 by a lone assassin in the Netherlands during a trip to inspect his £500million drug-smuggling empire.
Dimitrov, who died aged 31, had the mobile with him when he was shot while eating out with a beautiful model.
Russian mafia bosses - jealous of his drug-smuggling operation - were said to have been behind the killing.
The phone number then passed to crooked businessman Konstantin Dishliev.
He was gunned down outside an Indian restaurant in Bulgaria's capital Sofia in 2005, after taking over the jinxed line.
Estate agent Dishliev had secretly been running a massive cocaine trafficking operation before his assassination.
He died after £130million of the drug was intercepted by police on its way into the country from Colombia.
Since then, the number is understood to have been dormant while police maintained an open file on Dishliev's killing and his smuggling ring.
Now spooked phone bosses are said to have suspended the number, which from an international line is +359 888 888 888, for good.
Callers now get a recorded message saying the phone is 'outside network coverage'.
A Mobitel spokesman would only say: 'We have no comment to make. We won't discuss individual numbers.'
Mail Online
May 25, 2010
Spooked phone bosses have suspended the mobile phone number 0888 888 888 - after every single person assigned to it died in the last 10 years.
The first owner, Vladimir Grashnov - the former CEO of Bulgarian mobile phone company Mobitel, which issued the number - died of cancer in 2001 aged just 48.
Despite a spotless business record there were persistent rumours that his cancer had been caused by a business rival using radioactive poisoning.
The jinxed number then passed to Bulgarian mafia boss Konstantin Dimitrov.
He was gunned down in 2003 by a lone assassin in the Netherlands during a trip to inspect his £500million drug-smuggling empire.
Dimitrov, who died aged 31, had the mobile with him when he was shot while eating out with a beautiful model.
Russian mafia bosses - jealous of his drug-smuggling operation - were said to have been behind the killing.
The phone number then passed to crooked businessman Konstantin Dishliev.
He was gunned down outside an Indian restaurant in Bulgaria's capital Sofia in 2005, after taking over the jinxed line.
Estate agent Dishliev had secretly been running a massive cocaine trafficking operation before his assassination.
He died after £130million of the drug was intercepted by police on its way into the country from Colombia.
Since then, the number is understood to have been dormant while police maintained an open file on Dishliev's killing and his smuggling ring.
Now spooked phone bosses are said to have suspended the number, which from an international line is +359 888 888 888, for good.
Callers now get a recorded message saying the phone is 'outside network coverage'.
A Mobitel spokesman would only say: 'We have no comment to make. We won't discuss individual numbers.'
GRAND VIEW AT THIS COFFEE SHOP
The state fire marshal’s office has just announced the arrest of a man for burning down a coffee shop in Vassalboro, Maine last June. The arsonist was angry because his girlfriend, a waitress at the shop, was in a sexual relationship with the owner. What made this coffee shop unique is that it’s waitresses served customers while topless.
Because that coffee shop was very popular before it burned down, I suspect the owner has reopened it. I’m going to try to con my wife into us taking a trip to Maine to look at the fall foliage. I stopped drinking coffee years ago, but if I get to Vassalboro before I croak, I’ll give that brew another shot and enjoy the grand view.
Here is the U.S.News & World Report story on the original opening of the Grand View Topless Coffee Shop:
TOPLESS COFFEE SHOP DREW 150 APPLICANTS FOR 10 POSITIONS
By Liz Wolgemuth
U.S.News & World Report
February 25, 2009
Vassalboro, Maine's newest coffee shop is garnering national attention for something other than its $3 a cup coffee. At the Grand View Topless Coffee Shop, the waitresses are, well, topless.
You can read the local paper's report here. The most interesting piece of news is not near the top of the story--it's not the news that many local residents are unhappy, or that other locals are already stopping by (as many as 60 customers on Monday).
You'll have to scroll to the bottom for the most stunning detail. The Kennebec Journal reports that the shop's owner Donald Crabtree said that he interviewed 150 people for the positions, "and narrowed the field to 10."
Further evidence that this is a rough job market.
The shop is located in what is described by a local government council as a "rural residential suburb"--population 4,500 or so. It opens at 6 a.m. to serve hot coffee and doughnuts.
Topless waitress Susie Wiley, 23, of Farmingdale explained her interest to the Journal. She went for the job because it’s "something different" and she’s worked in coffee shops since she was a teenager.
Asked whether the shop is degrading to women, Wiley said, "No, I love it. I find it very empowering, not degrading."
Because that coffee shop was very popular before it burned down, I suspect the owner has reopened it. I’m going to try to con my wife into us taking a trip to Maine to look at the fall foliage. I stopped drinking coffee years ago, but if I get to Vassalboro before I croak, I’ll give that brew another shot and enjoy the grand view.
Here is the U.S.News & World Report story on the original opening of the Grand View Topless Coffee Shop:
TOPLESS COFFEE SHOP DREW 150 APPLICANTS FOR 10 POSITIONS
By Liz Wolgemuth
U.S.News & World Report
February 25, 2009
Vassalboro, Maine's newest coffee shop is garnering national attention for something other than its $3 a cup coffee. At the Grand View Topless Coffee Shop, the waitresses are, well, topless.
You can read the local paper's report here. The most interesting piece of news is not near the top of the story--it's not the news that many local residents are unhappy, or that other locals are already stopping by (as many as 60 customers on Monday).
You'll have to scroll to the bottom for the most stunning detail. The Kennebec Journal reports that the shop's owner Donald Crabtree said that he interviewed 150 people for the positions, "and narrowed the field to 10."
Further evidence that this is a rough job market.
The shop is located in what is described by a local government council as a "rural residential suburb"--population 4,500 or so. It opens at 6 a.m. to serve hot coffee and doughnuts.
Topless waitress Susie Wiley, 23, of Farmingdale explained her interest to the Journal. She went for the job because it’s "something different" and she’s worked in coffee shops since she was a teenager.
Asked whether the shop is degrading to women, Wiley said, "No, I love it. I find it very empowering, not degrading."
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
PLUMBER NOT THE ONE TO FIX TROUBLESOME JACUZZI LEAK
MYSTERY OF THE CONSTANTLY-DRAINING JACUZZI SOLVED AS ELEPHANT IS CAUGHT DRINKING OUT OF IT
Mail Online
May 24, 2010
For weeks, the mystery of the leaking jacuzzi has baffled workers at the Etali Safari Lodge in South Africa.
But the answer has been found - and her name is Troublesome.
A guest staying at the lodge snapped this picture of a thirsty female elephant gulping down mouthfuls of jacuzzi water.
The elephant - nicknamed 'Troublesome' - is well known to rangers at the reserve for her inquisitive nature.
But no-one realised she was behind the 'leak' at the jacuzzi outside one of the £400-a-night lodges.
Susan Potgieter, owner of Etali Safari Lodge, said elephants could drink more than 200 litres of water a day so drinking a whole jacuzzi was no problem.
She said: 'When I first saw the photograph of her drinking I couldn't believe it. And then it dawned on me of course an elephant was drinking it.
'It was something of a relief because we had been trying to work out why the pool had been draining so quickly for weeks but couldn't find a leak anywhere.
'When it was empty in the morning we first called a plumber, but they could not work out why it was draining either.
'Troublesome was caught in the act by a guest at the lodge who just came outside to have some tea on the decking.
'They were quite surprised to see an elephant taking a drink of her own too, and quickly grabbed a camera.
'We've seen this elephant a lot before and by the lodge, the rangers call her 'Troublesome' not because she causes trouble but because she comes so close to their vehicles.'
Ms Potgieter said Troublesome probably preferred the water of the jacuzzi because it was clean.
She said: 'Now that we know what was going on we have tried to provide her an alternative source of water. But sometimes it's hard to get an elephant to change her ways.
'She is a very welcome visitor for us and our guests, except it's probably best to check if she is around before taking a dip in the jacuzzi.'
Mail Online
May 24, 2010
For weeks, the mystery of the leaking jacuzzi has baffled workers at the Etali Safari Lodge in South Africa.
But the answer has been found - and her name is Troublesome.
A guest staying at the lodge snapped this picture of a thirsty female elephant gulping down mouthfuls of jacuzzi water.
The elephant - nicknamed 'Troublesome' - is well known to rangers at the reserve for her inquisitive nature.
But no-one realised she was behind the 'leak' at the jacuzzi outside one of the £400-a-night lodges.
Susan Potgieter, owner of Etali Safari Lodge, said elephants could drink more than 200 litres of water a day so drinking a whole jacuzzi was no problem.
She said: 'When I first saw the photograph of her drinking I couldn't believe it. And then it dawned on me of course an elephant was drinking it.
'It was something of a relief because we had been trying to work out why the pool had been draining so quickly for weeks but couldn't find a leak anywhere.
'When it was empty in the morning we first called a plumber, but they could not work out why it was draining either.
'Troublesome was caught in the act by a guest at the lodge who just came outside to have some tea on the decking.
'They were quite surprised to see an elephant taking a drink of her own too, and quickly grabbed a camera.
'We've seen this elephant a lot before and by the lodge, the rangers call her 'Troublesome' not because she causes trouble but because she comes so close to their vehicles.'
Ms Potgieter said Troublesome probably preferred the water of the jacuzzi because it was clean.
She said: 'Now that we know what was going on we have tried to provide her an alternative source of water. But sometimes it's hard to get an elephant to change her ways.
'She is a very welcome visitor for us and our guests, except it's probably best to check if she is around before taking a dip in the jacuzzi.'
CONSEQUENCES OF A STATE-SANCTIONED JAIL BREAK (6)
1 IN 3 FRESNO CO. INMATES RELEASED EARLY REOFFEND
Fresno police say the revolving door is contributing to a recent spike in burglaries and auto thefts.
By Brad Branan
The Fresno Bee
May 23, 2010
At least one in three inmates released early from Fresno County Jail since 2008 has landed back in jail for new crimes -- sometimes within hours, an analysis by The Fresno Bee has found.
Many inmates were arrested and released repeatedly -- up to five times -- over a 28-month period.
It's unclear how many of the crimes might have occurred without early release. But Fresno police say the jail's revolving door is contributing to a recent spike in burglaries and auto thefts -- in part because repeat offenders know they have a good chance of getting released early.
Police and Fresno County judges warn that unless the Fresno County Sheriff's Office revamps how it handles early releases, problems with repeat offenders are likely to grow.
More than 90% of the early releases have happened since August, when Sheriff Margaret Mims made cuts at the jail. Citing a lack of funding -- a point hotly disputed by county supervisors -- the sheriff has cut jail capacity in half in less than two years.
Law enforcement officials, including Fresno Police Chief Jerry Dyer, are upset about the early releases. Criminals are allowed to repeatedly break the law, creating extra work for police, judges and others in a criminal justice system already struggling because of their own budget cuts, they say.
Police are especially upset about inmates who repeatedly get released early. More than 300 inmates have been released early at least twice over the 28 months studied by The Bee -- and a handful have been released early five times, the analysis shows. Altogether, inmates released early have been charged with at least 2,500 new crimes.
"We know that a small percentage of criminals commit the vast majority of crimes," Dyer said. "When they're allowed to remain on the street, they commit a multitude of crimes."
Fresno police say the revolving door is contributing to a recent spike in burglaries and auto thefts.
By Brad Branan
The Fresno Bee
May 23, 2010
At least one in three inmates released early from Fresno County Jail since 2008 has landed back in jail for new crimes -- sometimes within hours, an analysis by The Fresno Bee has found.
Many inmates were arrested and released repeatedly -- up to five times -- over a 28-month period.
It's unclear how many of the crimes might have occurred without early release. But Fresno police say the jail's revolving door is contributing to a recent spike in burglaries and auto thefts -- in part because repeat offenders know they have a good chance of getting released early.
Police and Fresno County judges warn that unless the Fresno County Sheriff's Office revamps how it handles early releases, problems with repeat offenders are likely to grow.
More than 90% of the early releases have happened since August, when Sheriff Margaret Mims made cuts at the jail. Citing a lack of funding -- a point hotly disputed by county supervisors -- the sheriff has cut jail capacity in half in less than two years.
Law enforcement officials, including Fresno Police Chief Jerry Dyer, are upset about the early releases. Criminals are allowed to repeatedly break the law, creating extra work for police, judges and others in a criminal justice system already struggling because of their own budget cuts, they say.
Police are especially upset about inmates who repeatedly get released early. More than 300 inmates have been released early at least twice over the 28 months studied by The Bee -- and a handful have been released early five times, the analysis shows. Altogether, inmates released early have been charged with at least 2,500 new crimes.
"We know that a small percentage of criminals commit the vast majority of crimes," Dyer said. "When they're allowed to remain on the street, they commit a multitude of crimes."
EX-CON GATE CRASHER GETS OPPORTUNITY TO 'SELF-REFLECT' FOR A PERIOD OF YEARS
MAN WHO DROVE INTO CALIF. JAIL GETS 9 YEARS
Associated Press
May 22, 2010
IRVINE, Calif. — A man who crashed his Mercedes through the gates of a California jail while driving drunk will spend some serious time behind bars.
Matthew Van McDaniel, 25, of Los Alamitos was sentenced in a Newport Beach courtroom Friday to nine years in state prison for driving recklessly while under the influence of alcohol and assaulting an officer, the Orange County District Attorney's office said.
Early on Jan. 10, McDaniel was driving in his Mercedes S550 with a blood alcohol level of 0.14 percent, nearly twice the legal limit. He lost control and crashed through the gates of the James Musick Correctional Facility in Irvine. McDaniel then punched and broke the nose of a sheriff's deputy from the jail who was trying to restrain him.
Sheriff's spokesman Jim Amormino said at the time it was "the first time somebody tried to break into the jail."
McDaniel pleaded guilty to one felony count of aggravated assault on an officer, one felony count of being an ex-convict entering the grounds of a correctional facility, one misdemeanor count of reckless driving, one misdemeanor count of driving under the influence of alcohol and one misdemeanor count of driving with a blood-alcohol level of 0.08 percent or more.
He had also been convicted of assault with a deadly weapon in 2003, and could have faced much more prison time had he gone to trial.
McDaniel's attorney Anthony Zinnanti, who worked out the plea deal, said it was the only viable option.
"In this case, it was clearly the most practical thing to do," Zinnanti said. My client realizes he has had some issues he needs to address. He looks forward to a period of self-reflection."
Associated Press
May 22, 2010
IRVINE, Calif. — A man who crashed his Mercedes through the gates of a California jail while driving drunk will spend some serious time behind bars.
Matthew Van McDaniel, 25, of Los Alamitos was sentenced in a Newport Beach courtroom Friday to nine years in state prison for driving recklessly while under the influence of alcohol and assaulting an officer, the Orange County District Attorney's office said.
Early on Jan. 10, McDaniel was driving in his Mercedes S550 with a blood alcohol level of 0.14 percent, nearly twice the legal limit. He lost control and crashed through the gates of the James Musick Correctional Facility in Irvine. McDaniel then punched and broke the nose of a sheriff's deputy from the jail who was trying to restrain him.
Sheriff's spokesman Jim Amormino said at the time it was "the first time somebody tried to break into the jail."
McDaniel pleaded guilty to one felony count of aggravated assault on an officer, one felony count of being an ex-convict entering the grounds of a correctional facility, one misdemeanor count of reckless driving, one misdemeanor count of driving under the influence of alcohol and one misdemeanor count of driving with a blood-alcohol level of 0.08 percent or more.
He had also been convicted of assault with a deadly weapon in 2003, and could have faced much more prison time had he gone to trial.
McDaniel's attorney Anthony Zinnanti, who worked out the plea deal, said it was the only viable option.
"In this case, it was clearly the most practical thing to do," Zinnanti said. My client realizes he has had some issues he needs to address. He looks forward to a period of self-reflection."
DRINKING WITH AN ARIZONA GAL
A Mexican, an Arab, and an Arizona gal are in the same bar.
When the Mexican finishes his beer, he throws his glass in the air, pulls out his pistol, and shoots the glass to pieces. He says, 'In Mexico, our glasses are so cheap we don't need to drink with the same one twice.'
The Arab, obviously impressed by this, drinks non-alcohol beer (cuz he's a Muslim!), throws it into the air, pulls out his AK-47, and shoots the glass to pieces. He says, 'In the Arab World, we have so much sand to make glasses that we don't need to drink with the same one twice either.'
The Arizona gal, cool as a cucumber, picks up her beer, downs it in one gulp, throws the glass into the air, whips out her 45, and shoots the Mexican and the Arab.
Catching her glass, setting it on the bar, and calling for a refill, she says, 'In Arizona, we have so many illegal aliens that we don't have to drink with the same ones twice.'
God Bless Arizona!
When the Mexican finishes his beer, he throws his glass in the air, pulls out his pistol, and shoots the glass to pieces. He says, 'In Mexico, our glasses are so cheap we don't need to drink with the same one twice.'
The Arab, obviously impressed by this, drinks non-alcohol beer (cuz he's a Muslim!), throws it into the air, pulls out his AK-47, and shoots the glass to pieces. He says, 'In the Arab World, we have so much sand to make glasses that we don't need to drink with the same one twice either.'
The Arizona gal, cool as a cucumber, picks up her beer, downs it in one gulp, throws the glass into the air, whips out her 45, and shoots the Mexican and the Arab.
Catching her glass, setting it on the bar, and calling for a refill, she says, 'In Arizona, we have so many illegal aliens that we don't have to drink with the same ones twice.'
God Bless Arizona!
Monday, May 24, 2010
MUSLIMS IMMUNE TO ACADEMIC SANCTIONS
UC ISLAM, I SEE ANTI-SEMITISM
by Mike Adams
Townhall.com
May 24, 2010
It now seems that the good Muslim citizens of The University of California Irvine (UCI) Muslim Student Union (MSU) lied when they repeatedly denied orchestrating systematic interruptions of an invited guest. That guest was Israeli Ambassador Michael Oren who readers may remember from my February 16th column "Welcome to UC Islam."
Someone recently leaked MSU minutes and many detailed internal planning emails. The documents were leaked to the UCI administration, local law enforcement, and the Investigative Project on Terrorism (IPT). They reveal a mountain of evidence showing Muslim intolerance and antipathy towards free expression.
The IPT online article with links to MSU emails is an example of investigative journalism at its finest. This link from their website is well worth reading.
Either because he is a) one very busy man, or b) suffering from Islamophobia, UCI Chancellor Michael Drake has yet to condemn the MSU for its years of virulent anti-Semitism. Nor has Drake or any other UCI official condemned the group for its efforts to destroy free speech at UCI.
The UCI chapter of MSU recently completed its annual two week - formerly one week – anti-Semitic and anti-Israel hate fest. Throughout the entire fortnight, Chancellor Drake remained silent, despite his school’s feigned interest in ethnic and religious tolerance. The list of MSU speakers is worth examining. You can read about these speakers here. You may not want to do that if you suffer from high blood pressure.
It should go without saying that there was no effort by Jewish students to shut down the MSU anti-Semitic hate fest. But the MSU plans to disrupt Ambassador Oren demonstrate a considerable attention to detail, which reflects extensive experience in such matters. MSU leaders sent internal emails showing detailed planning, which included to-the-minute timing and contingency actions depending on what Campus Security and Ambassador Oren might do in response to the disruptions.
In order to "hijack" (this is official MSU terminology) the event, MSU leaders coordinated actions of the UCI MSU and UC-Riverside MSU members and MSU nonmembers. These students even knew to schedule the date, time and location of a debriefing meeting - and to lie after the fact about the MSU involvement in the disruptions.
Since my UC Islam column of February 16, California Assemblyman Chuck DeVore has written Chancellor Drake. He urged that the MSU be banned from UCI – a measure which I do not support.
California Congressman John Campbell has both written and telephoned Chancellor Drake. He has called for strict discipline of the violators and requested an investigation into the MSU activities and statements and its leaders – a measure which I do support.
John Campbell is at least the second U.S. Congressman who has contacted Chancellor Drake about MSU. Congressman Brad Sherman wrote concerning MSU's apparent fundraising for Hamas, a violation of federal law. Hamas' charter calls for Israel's destruction and opposes any negotiated solution.
Thus far, Drake has taken no action against the illegal fundraising – even though UCI has been "investigating" for a year.
But the Associated Students of UCI have bravely stepped forward (sarcasm = on). By a vote of 13-1-1, they opposed academic sanctions against the 11 so called students arrested for disrupting Oren's talk. In what must be pure coincidence (sarcasm still = on), the resolution was authored by someone named Hamza Siddiqui.
It's probably just a coincidence that UCI's anti-Israel, two-week hate week falls around May 14. This is the date Israel declared independence in 1948 - immediately after which five surrounding Arab countries attacked it. The attackers wanted one Arab state, not the United Nations Partition Plan for Palestine, which designated an Arab state and an adjoining Israeli state.
Unfortunately for the Muslims, they lost that war -- and a good amount of the land the UN had set aside for Palestine. No wonder Arabs call the first war "The Catastrophe." They have lost every other war they started against Israel. Jehovah continues to kick Allah’s backside. And He always will.
After this most recent premeditated display of barbarism, racial (oops, I meant to say "radical") Islam has lost another war – this time in the American court of public opinion. It could not have happened to a nicer bunch of students. And my sarcasm button is stuck in "on" position.
by Mike Adams
Townhall.com
May 24, 2010
It now seems that the good Muslim citizens of The University of California Irvine (UCI) Muslim Student Union (MSU) lied when they repeatedly denied orchestrating systematic interruptions of an invited guest. That guest was Israeli Ambassador Michael Oren who readers may remember from my February 16th column "Welcome to UC Islam."
Someone recently leaked MSU minutes and many detailed internal planning emails. The documents were leaked to the UCI administration, local law enforcement, and the Investigative Project on Terrorism (IPT). They reveal a mountain of evidence showing Muslim intolerance and antipathy towards free expression.
The IPT online article with links to MSU emails is an example of investigative journalism at its finest. This link from their website is well worth reading.
Either because he is a) one very busy man, or b) suffering from Islamophobia, UCI Chancellor Michael Drake has yet to condemn the MSU for its years of virulent anti-Semitism. Nor has Drake or any other UCI official condemned the group for its efforts to destroy free speech at UCI.
The UCI chapter of MSU recently completed its annual two week - formerly one week – anti-Semitic and anti-Israel hate fest. Throughout the entire fortnight, Chancellor Drake remained silent, despite his school’s feigned interest in ethnic and religious tolerance. The list of MSU speakers is worth examining. You can read about these speakers here. You may not want to do that if you suffer from high blood pressure.
It should go without saying that there was no effort by Jewish students to shut down the MSU anti-Semitic hate fest. But the MSU plans to disrupt Ambassador Oren demonstrate a considerable attention to detail, which reflects extensive experience in such matters. MSU leaders sent internal emails showing detailed planning, which included to-the-minute timing and contingency actions depending on what Campus Security and Ambassador Oren might do in response to the disruptions.
In order to "hijack" (this is official MSU terminology) the event, MSU leaders coordinated actions of the UCI MSU and UC-Riverside MSU members and MSU nonmembers. These students even knew to schedule the date, time and location of a debriefing meeting - and to lie after the fact about the MSU involvement in the disruptions.
Since my UC Islam column of February 16, California Assemblyman Chuck DeVore has written Chancellor Drake. He urged that the MSU be banned from UCI – a measure which I do not support.
California Congressman John Campbell has both written and telephoned Chancellor Drake. He has called for strict discipline of the violators and requested an investigation into the MSU activities and statements and its leaders – a measure which I do support.
John Campbell is at least the second U.S. Congressman who has contacted Chancellor Drake about MSU. Congressman Brad Sherman wrote concerning MSU's apparent fundraising for Hamas, a violation of federal law. Hamas' charter calls for Israel's destruction and opposes any negotiated solution.
Thus far, Drake has taken no action against the illegal fundraising – even though UCI has been "investigating" for a year.
But the Associated Students of UCI have bravely stepped forward (sarcasm = on). By a vote of 13-1-1, they opposed academic sanctions against the 11 so called students arrested for disrupting Oren's talk. In what must be pure coincidence (sarcasm still = on), the resolution was authored by someone named Hamza Siddiqui.
It's probably just a coincidence that UCI's anti-Israel, two-week hate week falls around May 14. This is the date Israel declared independence in 1948 - immediately after which five surrounding Arab countries attacked it. The attackers wanted one Arab state, not the United Nations Partition Plan for Palestine, which designated an Arab state and an adjoining Israeli state.
Unfortunately for the Muslims, they lost that war -- and a good amount of the land the UN had set aside for Palestine. No wonder Arabs call the first war "The Catastrophe." They have lost every other war they started against Israel. Jehovah continues to kick Allah’s backside. And He always will.
After this most recent premeditated display of barbarism, racial (oops, I meant to say "radical") Islam has lost another war – this time in the American court of public opinion. It could not have happened to a nicer bunch of students. And my sarcasm button is stuck in "on" position.
SAD INDICTMENT OF OUR NATION'S PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM
The front page headline on Sunday’s Houston Chronicle read:
MANY IN COLLEGE LACK BASIC SKILLS
For Texas, it’s a $200 million –a-year problem
"It has been the dirty little secret of higher education for decades: Tens of thousands of [public] college students can’t do the work. Developmental education – reteaching basic skills in reading, writing and math, is a $200 million-a-year problem in Texas, funded by taxpayers, colleges and the students themselves. …..But relatively few students who need the classes go on to earn a degree, raising questions about whether money spent on developmental education is a wise investment."
It was a dirty little secret that I quickly discovered in 1970 when I started teaching at the community college where I remained until I retired in 1993. Many if not most of the high school graduates I registered could not read and write. Nor could they add, subtract, multiply and divide. These nearly-illiterate students were required to enroll in, and pass remedial (educational development) courses before being allowed to take the college’s regular courses.
This is not a problem unique to Texas. Registrars of public colleges throughout the U.S. report that two-thirds of incoming students lack the basic skills that are needed to pass a college course. And I am sure that some private colleges and universities also have a number of entering students who are deficient in reading, writing and math, but to a much lesser extent than public institutions. That is a sad indictment of our nation’s public school system.
Since 1970, I have often written to express my disgust with our public high schools for graduating students who are close to being functionally illiterate. When I graduated in 1943 from a small East Texas high school and when I taught high school in Dallas from 1954-56, public schools were held to a higher standard and students did not graduate who could not read, write and do the math. Why then have those standards been lowered? My answer will get me accused of being a racist.
The standards were lowered as a result of Brown vs. Board of Education, the U.S. Supreme Court decision which held that separate but equal was not equal. I am a product of racially segregated schools and I taught in the racially segregated school system of Dallas. Once the schools became integrated they had to cope with disadvantaged minority students who suffered from attending substandard all-black schools and who were members of a racial group that did not value an education because it had long been suppressed.
In order to accommodate the influx of students from substandard schools, educational standards were lowered not only for blacks, but for all students as well. And that is why two-thirds of the students entering our public colleges lack the basic skills to do college work.
Our public school system needs a complete overhaul and our compulsory attendance laws need to be revisited. It makes no sense to require high school-aged children to attend school against their will. All their presence does is to disrupt the learning process for other students. There should be no place in the school building for habitually disruptive students. As for those high school students who do not intend to go to college, or who are obviously not college material, vocational programs should be provided that will give them skills needed to enter the workforce.
My question is, why should we spend billions of dollars on remedial education, especially since most of those enrolled drop out of college anyway? WE SHOULDN’T! Instead, we should insist that our public schools raise their standards so that NO ONE will be awarded a high school diploma who cannot read, write or do math well enough to pass college courses in English, math, science, etc..
MANY IN COLLEGE LACK BASIC SKILLS
For Texas, it’s a $200 million –a-year problem
"It has been the dirty little secret of higher education for decades: Tens of thousands of [public] college students can’t do the work. Developmental education – reteaching basic skills in reading, writing and math, is a $200 million-a-year problem in Texas, funded by taxpayers, colleges and the students themselves. …..But relatively few students who need the classes go on to earn a degree, raising questions about whether money spent on developmental education is a wise investment."
It was a dirty little secret that I quickly discovered in 1970 when I started teaching at the community college where I remained until I retired in 1993. Many if not most of the high school graduates I registered could not read and write. Nor could they add, subtract, multiply and divide. These nearly-illiterate students were required to enroll in, and pass remedial (educational development) courses before being allowed to take the college’s regular courses.
This is not a problem unique to Texas. Registrars of public colleges throughout the U.S. report that two-thirds of incoming students lack the basic skills that are needed to pass a college course. And I am sure that some private colleges and universities also have a number of entering students who are deficient in reading, writing and math, but to a much lesser extent than public institutions. That is a sad indictment of our nation’s public school system.
Since 1970, I have often written to express my disgust with our public high schools for graduating students who are close to being functionally illiterate. When I graduated in 1943 from a small East Texas high school and when I taught high school in Dallas from 1954-56, public schools were held to a higher standard and students did not graduate who could not read, write and do the math. Why then have those standards been lowered? My answer will get me accused of being a racist.
The standards were lowered as a result of Brown vs. Board of Education, the U.S. Supreme Court decision which held that separate but equal was not equal. I am a product of racially segregated schools and I taught in the racially segregated school system of Dallas. Once the schools became integrated they had to cope with disadvantaged minority students who suffered from attending substandard all-black schools and who were members of a racial group that did not value an education because it had long been suppressed.
In order to accommodate the influx of students from substandard schools, educational standards were lowered not only for blacks, but for all students as well. And that is why two-thirds of the students entering our public colleges lack the basic skills to do college work.
Our public school system needs a complete overhaul and our compulsory attendance laws need to be revisited. It makes no sense to require high school-aged children to attend school against their will. All their presence does is to disrupt the learning process for other students. There should be no place in the school building for habitually disruptive students. As for those high school students who do not intend to go to college, or who are obviously not college material, vocational programs should be provided that will give them skills needed to enter the workforce.
My question is, why should we spend billions of dollars on remedial education, especially since most of those enrolled drop out of college anyway? WE SHOULDN’T! Instead, we should insist that our public schools raise their standards so that NO ONE will be awarded a high school diploma who cannot read, write or do math well enough to pass college courses in English, math, science, etc..
THAT'S A BUNCH OF HORSEMINT
Oops or Oh Shit, whichever you prefer. How embarrassing! Why? Because, except that both are green, horsemint doesn't look anything at all like Marijuana.
COPS’ 400 POT PLANTS TURN OUT TO BE HORSEMINT
By Max Read
gawker.com
May 23, 2010
Cops in Corpus Christi, who are clearly very well-intentioned but maybe not the sharpest tools in the police shed, seized some 400 marijuana plants from a city park. Only, they were not marijuana, so much as, "horsemint."
A "teen riding his bike through Waldron Park" gave the Corpus Christi police a call on Friday night to alert them to all the marijuana plants that were growing there. And the police, ever the responsive, civic-minded public servants, showed up very quickly and "hauled away 300-400 medium-sized plants," stopping because it became too dark.
However, after spending more than an hour removing and tagging the hundreds of plants, then hauling it all down the police department downtown, testing revealed that none of it was marijuana at all.
According to local news station KRIST, the plants were, in fact, a common weed called "horsemint."
You snigger now, but could you tell the difference between horsemint and marijuana? Here is a handy guide:
Horsemint - Appearance: According to Wikipedia, "The leaves are oblong-elliptical to lanceolate, 5–10 cm long and 1.5–3 cm broad, thinly to densely tomentose, green to greyish-green above and white below. The flowers are 3–5 mm long, lilac, purplish, or white, produced in dense clusters (verticillasters) on tall, branched, tapering spikes" Scent: "A peppermint-scented aroma"
Marijuana - Appearance: Looks like a marijuana plant, for Christ's sake. Scent: It smells like goddamn weed.
COPS’ 400 POT PLANTS TURN OUT TO BE HORSEMINT
By Max Read
gawker.com
May 23, 2010
Cops in Corpus Christi, who are clearly very well-intentioned but maybe not the sharpest tools in the police shed, seized some 400 marijuana plants from a city park. Only, they were not marijuana, so much as, "horsemint."
A "teen riding his bike through Waldron Park" gave the Corpus Christi police a call on Friday night to alert them to all the marijuana plants that were growing there. And the police, ever the responsive, civic-minded public servants, showed up very quickly and "hauled away 300-400 medium-sized plants," stopping because it became too dark.
However, after spending more than an hour removing and tagging the hundreds of plants, then hauling it all down the police department downtown, testing revealed that none of it was marijuana at all.
According to local news station KRIST, the plants were, in fact, a common weed called "horsemint."
You snigger now, but could you tell the difference between horsemint and marijuana? Here is a handy guide:
Horsemint - Appearance: According to Wikipedia, "The leaves are oblong-elliptical to lanceolate, 5–10 cm long and 1.5–3 cm broad, thinly to densely tomentose, green to greyish-green above and white below. The flowers are 3–5 mm long, lilac, purplish, or white, produced in dense clusters (verticillasters) on tall, branched, tapering spikes" Scent: "A peppermint-scented aroma"
Marijuana - Appearance: Looks like a marijuana plant, for Christ's sake. Scent: It smells like goddamn weed.
INFIDEL MUSLIMS
Rima Fakih just won the 2010 Miss USA contest. The newly crowned Miss USA came to the U.S. as a baby when her Lebanese parents migrated to America. Rima, who is drop-dead gorgeous, claims to be a Muslim. But you can bet that when she was crowned Miss USA, there were no shouts of Allah Akbar among faithful Muslims.
In the Miss USA contest, Rima paraded across the stage in a tiny bikini, the top of which revealed a good part of her ample boobs. After the contest ended, some photos showed up which showed Rima performing a seductive pole dance, a fistful of money stuffed in her bosom. Had she done these things in Saudi Arabia, she would have been busted in a New York minute by the Religious Police. After a quick trial by the religious courts, Rima would have been lucky to escape with only 30 lashes during a public whipping. Death by stoning could have been a possibility.
Why am I bringing all this up? It goes to the heart of who is a Muslim. Rima explained away her exhibitionism by telling interviewers that her parents are "liberal" and that her family is like many other American Muslims – "not strict."
We are fortunate that most American Muslims are "not strict", because if they were we would find ourselves with a lot more homegrown terrorists setting of bombs in the cause of Islam’s jihad against the West. Muslims who are not strict are considered infidels by the true believers in Islam, the same way Reform Jews are considered 'Christians without Christ' by Orthodox Jews.
The danger to our country is that more and more of those liberals are being converted into strict Muslims. The Saudis are bankrolling a significant number of mosques and madrassahs in the United States. In the Saudi funded madrassahs, Wahhabi Imams teach young students hatred of the West and western culture. In Saudi funded mosques, preachers call on the faithful to join up in a jihad against the West and the Great Satan (America). Martyrdom, a euphemism for suicide bombings, in the cause of Islam is a regular staple of Imam sermons.
Slowly but surely, these conversions are building up a ‘Fifth Column’ of Jihadists in America. It may not be all that long before we find ourselves having the same problems that the English, French, Dutch and other Europeans are experiencing with their Muslim communities.
In the Miss USA contest, Rima paraded across the stage in a tiny bikini, the top of which revealed a good part of her ample boobs. After the contest ended, some photos showed up which showed Rima performing a seductive pole dance, a fistful of money stuffed in her bosom. Had she done these things in Saudi Arabia, she would have been busted in a New York minute by the Religious Police. After a quick trial by the religious courts, Rima would have been lucky to escape with only 30 lashes during a public whipping. Death by stoning could have been a possibility.
Why am I bringing all this up? It goes to the heart of who is a Muslim. Rima explained away her exhibitionism by telling interviewers that her parents are "liberal" and that her family is like many other American Muslims – "not strict."
We are fortunate that most American Muslims are "not strict", because if they were we would find ourselves with a lot more homegrown terrorists setting of bombs in the cause of Islam’s jihad against the West. Muslims who are not strict are considered infidels by the true believers in Islam, the same way Reform Jews are considered 'Christians without Christ' by Orthodox Jews.
The danger to our country is that more and more of those liberals are being converted into strict Muslims. The Saudis are bankrolling a significant number of mosques and madrassahs in the United States. In the Saudi funded madrassahs, Wahhabi Imams teach young students hatred of the West and western culture. In Saudi funded mosques, preachers call on the faithful to join up in a jihad against the West and the Great Satan (America). Martyrdom, a euphemism for suicide bombings, in the cause of Islam is a regular staple of Imam sermons.
Slowly but surely, these conversions are building up a ‘Fifth Column’ of Jihadists in America. It may not be all that long before we find ourselves having the same problems that the English, French, Dutch and other Europeans are experiencing with their Muslim communities.
ONE SMART AND LUCKY EIGHTH GRADER
GIRL: ‘I DIDN’T WANT TO BE ONE OF THOSE CASES’
Inspired by woman who fought off John Gardner, she grabbed the knife
By Debbi Baker
The San Diego Union-Tribune
May 20, 2010
Guadalupe Perez, an eighth grader at National City Middle School, was walking home from school and was in front of the walkway to her home when the man came up behind her and grabbed her.
"This guy came out of nowhere and jumped on me," Guadalupe said.
He held a knife to her throat and grabbed her left wrist and pulled it behind her back.
"He kept repeating in a low voice, ‘Get in the car or I will cut you,’" the girl said. She thought he was going to hurt her or worse.
She screamed, reached for the knife, slicing her finger in the process and then hit him with her elbow and ran as blood gushed from her finger.
"I didn’t want to be one of those cases where you find my remains three years from now," Guadalupe said.
She said the man then calmly walked to his car as if nothing happened.
She worried he was going to try to run over her. But when she turned to look back, he was gone.
Leonard Scroggins, 33, is being held without bail in San Diego County jail and is scheduled to be arraigned Monday on charges of attempted kidnapping, robbery, assault with a deadly weapon and felony evasion for the attempted abduction Wednesday.
The teen said she knew about the case of John Gardner, the convicted sex offender who murdered North County teenagers Amber Dubois and Chelsea King. One thing that stuck in Guadalupe’s mind was the testimony of Candice Moncayo, a jogger who elbowed Gardner in the nose and got away when he attacked her as she was jogging.
The girl said that inspired her to do what she did.
"If I didn’t do that, I wouldn’t be here today," she said.
Guadalupe said she tries not to think about what might have happened if she had been kidnapped but it has crossed her mind. She said she would have felt bad that her parents and sister and cousins would have been left worrying and wondering where she was.
Inspired by woman who fought off John Gardner, she grabbed the knife
By Debbi Baker
The San Diego Union-Tribune
May 20, 2010
Guadalupe Perez, an eighth grader at National City Middle School, was walking home from school and was in front of the walkway to her home when the man came up behind her and grabbed her.
"This guy came out of nowhere and jumped on me," Guadalupe said.
He held a knife to her throat and grabbed her left wrist and pulled it behind her back.
"He kept repeating in a low voice, ‘Get in the car or I will cut you,’" the girl said. She thought he was going to hurt her or worse.
She screamed, reached for the knife, slicing her finger in the process and then hit him with her elbow and ran as blood gushed from her finger.
"I didn’t want to be one of those cases where you find my remains three years from now," Guadalupe said.
She said the man then calmly walked to his car as if nothing happened.
She worried he was going to try to run over her. But when she turned to look back, he was gone.
Leonard Scroggins, 33, is being held without bail in San Diego County jail and is scheduled to be arraigned Monday on charges of attempted kidnapping, robbery, assault with a deadly weapon and felony evasion for the attempted abduction Wednesday.
The teen said she knew about the case of John Gardner, the convicted sex offender who murdered North County teenagers Amber Dubois and Chelsea King. One thing that stuck in Guadalupe’s mind was the testimony of Candice Moncayo, a jogger who elbowed Gardner in the nose and got away when he attacked her as she was jogging.
The girl said that inspired her to do what she did.
"If I didn’t do that, I wouldn’t be here today," she said.
Guadalupe said she tries not to think about what might have happened if she had been kidnapped but it has crossed her mind. She said she would have felt bad that her parents and sister and cousins would have been left worrying and wondering where she was.
FORD AIR CONDITIONERS
The four Goldberg brothers, Lowell, Norman, Hiram, and Max, invented and developed the first automobile air conditioner. On July 17, 1946, the temperature in Detroit was 97 degrees.
The four brothers walked into old man Henry Ford's office and sweet-talked his secretary into telling him that four gentlemen were there with the most exciting innovation in the auto industry since the electric starter.
Henry was curious and invited them into his office. They refused and instead asked that he come out to the parking lot to their car.
They persuaded him to get into the car, which was about 130 degrees, turned on the air conditioner, and cooled the car off immediately.
The old man got very excited and invited them back to the office, where he offered them $3 million for the patent.
The brothers refused, saying they would settle for $2 million, but they wanted the recognition by having a label, 'The Goldberg Air-Conditioner, ' on the dashboard of each car in which it was installed.
Now old man Ford was more than just a little anti-Semitic, and there was no way he was going to put the Goldberg's name on two million Fords.
They haggled back and forth for about two hours and finally agreed on $4 million and that just their first names would be shown.
And so to this day, all Ford air conditioners show -- Lo, Norm, Hi, and Max -- on the controls.
The four brothers walked into old man Henry Ford's office and sweet-talked his secretary into telling him that four gentlemen were there with the most exciting innovation in the auto industry since the electric starter.
Henry was curious and invited them into his office. They refused and instead asked that he come out to the parking lot to their car.
They persuaded him to get into the car, which was about 130 degrees, turned on the air conditioner, and cooled the car off immediately.
The old man got very excited and invited them back to the office, where he offered them $3 million for the patent.
The brothers refused, saying they would settle for $2 million, but they wanted the recognition by having a label, 'The Goldberg Air-Conditioner, ' on the dashboard of each car in which it was installed.
Now old man Ford was more than just a little anti-Semitic, and there was no way he was going to put the Goldberg's name on two million Fords.
They haggled back and forth for about two hours and finally agreed on $4 million and that just their first names would be shown.
And so to this day, all Ford air conditioners show -- Lo, Norm, Hi, and Max -- on the controls.
CAN YOU DRIVE A TRUCK?
I was so depressed last night thinking about the economy, wars, jobs, my savings, Social Security, retirement funds, etc., that I called the Suicide Lifeline.
I got a call center in Pakistan. When I told them I was suicidal, they got all excited and I heard shouts of ‘Allah Akbar.’ Then I was asked if I could drive a truck.
I got a call center in Pakistan. When I told them I was suicidal, they got all excited and I heard shouts of ‘Allah Akbar.’ Then I was asked if I could drive a truck.
Sunday, May 23, 2010
ON SAFARI: SUDDEN BOWEL MOVEMENT IN THE MAKING
If she's having trouble pooping, all she has to do is take a quick look back over her shoulder and phhhhht plop, problem solved.
GOOD LUCK YOUNG MAN ON YOUR QUEST TO CONQUER EVEREST (2)
Jordan Romero, 13, has succeeded in his quest to become the youngest person ever to conquer Mount Everest. Jordan, his father and three Sherpa guides reached the summit on Saturday. Until then, the record for the youngest climber to scale Everest had been held by Temba Tsheri of Nepal who reached the peak when he was 16.
Jordan had already climbed the highest peaks on six other continents. He climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa when he was just nine years old. Only the Vinson Massif in Antarctica remains in Jordan’s quest to climb the highest peaks on each continent. He plans to leave for Antarctica in December.
Jordan had already climbed the highest peaks on six other continents. He climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa when he was just nine years old. Only the Vinson Massif in Antarctica remains in Jordan’s quest to climb the highest peaks on each continent. He plans to leave for Antarctica in December.
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