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November 2014
KANSAS CITY, Mo. —A toddler who was severely injured in what prosecutors called a serious child abuse case has become Kansas City's first homicide victim of 2015.
The 2-year-old boy had been placed on life support after the incident early Friday in the 1700 block of Washington Avenue. Kansas City Police Chief Darryl Forte said the boy died Saturday night.
Mirsad Hamidovic, 23, had previously been charged with two counts of child abuse and two counts of domestic assault.
According to court records, police said Hamidovic had been watching the toddler while the boy's mother was at work. Police said Hamidovic told them he jumped on and off of a bed and landed on top of the boy. Police said Hamidovic also told them that he had shaken the boy, who started vomiting blood and became unresponsive.
Medical personnel said the toddler had brain injuries and a lacerated liver that was consistent with being jumped on.
Gina Gutierrez said she lives near the area. She said a man banged on her door to ask for help with the boy, who wasn't breathing. She said the boy was soaking wet and she initially thought he had drowned, but the man said he put him in a shower to try to wake him up. She said she tried as best she could to revive the boy.
She said she's been unable to get news of the incident out of her head.
"I definitely feel for that baby's mom. Because she made a choice. She left her baby with him and I know she wishes she could take that back. You do not leave your kid with somebody," she said.
Prosecutors had previously requested Hamidovic's bond be set at $500,000. Additional charges against Hamidovic may be filed in the wake of the boy's death.
DENVER – A former human services caseworker was charged Thursday in connection to a fatal child abuse case.
Rotchana Madera, 27, was charged with forgery, tampering with evidence and official misconduct.
Madera was a caseworker for Denver Human Services. She's accused of entering false information into the official case tracking system about her work on the Kelsy Newell-Skinner case. Details about what led up to the charges were not released.
The 21-year-old mother of five was charged with first-degree murder in the beating death of her 2-month-old baby, Natalee, back in July. Police said Newell-Skinner told her mother she "didn't like" Natalee and had a hard time bonding with the infant.
Denver Human Services said Madera was assigned the Newell-Skinner case in May of 2014, after someone reached out to DHS with concerns about the newborn. She closed the case on July 8, 2014. Natalee died on July 31.
Madera has been released from custody on a $5,000 personal recognizance bond. She is scheduled to appear in court Feb. 5.
Denver Human Services released the following statement regarding charges being filed against Madera:
Denver Human Services takes its responsibility for protecting the most vulnerable among us very seriously. The overwhelming majority of our case workers do all they can each day to strengthen families and keep kids safe. We stand behind those workers and are confident in the work they do. In the unfortunate case when a worker fails to follow the law and fails to do all he or she can to keep kids safe, we are obligated to take the appropriate action and hold that case worker accountable, which is what transpired in this case.
DHS initiates a review of all case work following the death of any child for which the agency had previously investigated a referral. During the review process, DHS identified discrepancies between the case file submitted by Madera and data received via external records.
DHS said they have reviewed other cases Madera was involved in. The agency did not say if they found discrepancies with those other cases.
Source: (KUSA-TV © 2015 Multimedia Holdings Corporation)
How and When to Report Child Abuse/Neglect
Related Links
Standardized Training Materials – Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect: What School Personnel Need to Do
In New Jersey, any person having reasonable cause to believe that a child has been subjected to abuse or acts of abuse should immediately report this information to the State Central Registry (SCR). If the child is in immediate danger, call 911 as well as 1-877 NJ ABUSE (1-877-652-2873). A concerned caller does not need proof to report an allegation of child abuse and can make the report anonymously.
What information will I be asked to provide to the hotline screener?
SCR screeners are trained caseworkers who know how to respond to reports of child abuse/neglect. Whenever possible, a caller should provide all of the following information:
Who: The child and parent/caregiver's name, age and address and the name of the alleged perpetrator and that person's relationship to the child.
What: Type and frequency of alleged abuse/neglect, current or previous injuries to the child and what caused you to become concerned.
When: When the alleged abuse/neglect occurred and when you learned of it.
Where: Where the incident occurred, where the child is now and whether the alleged perpetrator has access to the child.
How: How urgent the need is for intervention and whether there is a likelihood of imminent danger for the child.
Do callers have immunity from civil or criminal liability?
Any person who, in good faith, makes a report of child abuse or neglect or testifies in a child abuse hearing resulting from such a report is immune from any criminal or civil liability as a result of such action. Calls can be placed to the hotline anonymously.
Is it against the laws of New Jersey to fail to report suspected abuse/neglect?
Any person who knowingly fails to report suspected abuse or neglect according to the law or to comply with the provisions of the law is a disorderly person.
What happens after I make the call?
When a report indicates that a child may be at risk, an investigator from the Division of Child Protection and Permanency (formerly Youth and Family Services) will promptly investigate the allegations of child abuse and neglect within 24 hours of receipt of the report.
BUTTE, Montana (AP) — At least 786 children died of abuse or neglect in the U.S. in a six-year span in plain view of child protection authorities — many of them beaten, starved or left alone to drown while agencies had good reason to know they were in danger, The Associated Press has found.
To determine that number, the AP canvassed the 50 states, the District of Columbia and all branches of the military — circumventing a system that does a terrible job of accounting for child deaths. Many states struggled to provide numbers. Secrecy often prevailed.
Most of the 786 children whose cases were compiled by the AP were under the age of 4. They lost their lives even as authorities were investigating their families or providing some form of protective services because of previous instances of neglect, violence or other troubles in the home.
Take Mattisyn Blaz, a 2-month-old from Montana who died when her father spiked her "like a football," in the words of a prosecutor.
Matthew Blaz was well-known to child services personnel and police. Just two weeks after Mattisyn was born on June 25, 2013, he came home drunk, grabbed his wife by her hair and threw her to the kitchen floor while she clung to the newborn. He snatched the baby from her arms, giving her back only when Jennifer Blaz called police.
Jennifer Blaz said a child protective services worker visited the day after her husband's attack, spoke with her briefly and left. Her husband pleaded guilty to assault and was ordered by a judge to take anger management classes and stay away from his wife.
She said the next official contact between the family and Montana child services came more than six weeks later — the day of Mattisyn's funeral.
The system also failed Ethan Henderson, who was only 10 weeks old but already had been treated for a broken arm when his father hurled him into a recliner so hard that it caused a fatal brain injury.
Maine hotline workers had received at least 13 calls warning that Ethan or his siblings were suffering abuse — including assertions that an older sister had been found covered in bruises, was possibly being sexually abused and had been burned by a stove because she was left unsupervised.
Ethan himself had arrived at daycare with deep red bruises dappling his arm.
Still, the caseworker who inspected the family's cramped trailer six days before Ethan died on May 8, 2012, wrote that the baby appeared "well cared for and safe in the care of his parents."
Because no single, complete set of data exists for the deaths of children who already were being overseen by child protective services workers, the information compiled over the course of AP's eight-month investigation represents the most comprehensive statistics publicly available.
The AP reviewed thousands of pages of official reports, child fatality records and police documents for the period in question, which ran from fiscal year 2008 through 2013.
And, even then, the number of abuse and neglect fatalities where a prior open case existed at the time of death is undoubtedly much higher than the tally of 760.
Seven states reported a total of 230 open-case child deaths over the six-year period, but those were not included in the AP count because the states could not make a distinction between investigations started due to the incident that ultimately led to a child's death and cases that already were open when the child received the fatal injury.
Some states did not provide data for all six years, not all branches of the military provided complete information, and no count of open-case deaths of any type was obtained from the Bureau of Indian Affairs or FBI, which investigate allegations of abuse on reservations.
The lack of comprehensive data makes it difficult to measure how well those responsible for keeping children safe are protecting their most vulnerable charges.
The data collection system on child deaths is so flawed that no one can even say with accuracy how many children overall die from abuse or neglect every year. The federal government estimates an average of about 1,650 deaths annually in recent years; many believe the actual number is twice as high.
Even more lacking is comprehensive, publicly available data about the number of children dying while the subject of an open case or while receiving assistance from the agencies that exist to keep them safe — the focus of AP's reporting.
When asked to explain why so many children with open cases have died at the hands of their caretakers, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees the nation's major child abuse prevention programs, said the agency had no immediate response.
But spokeswoman Laura Goulding said colleagues wanted to know more about how the AP derived its figures. "Are you willing to share your source for that?" she wrote in an email.
States submit information on child abuse deaths to the federal government on a voluntary basis — some of it comprehensive, some of it inaccurate.
For instance, a significant number of deaths were not reported to the South Carolina team reviewing child deaths in the state, said Perry Simpson, director of the South Carolina Legislative Audit Council. That meant the data the review team provided the federal government was wrong.
And a judge in Kentucky issued a scathing order last year against the state's Cabinet for Health and Family Services for willfully circumventing open records laws and failing to release full records on child abuse deaths, fining the agency $765,000.
"There can be no effective prevention when there is no public examination of the underlying facts," Franklin Circuit Judge Phillip Shepherd said.
In some cases, states withhold information about child deaths in violation of the terms of federal grants they receive.
HHS says all states receiving grants under a prevention and treatment program must "allow the public to access information when child abuse or neglect results in a child fatality," unless those details would put children, their families or those who report child abuse at risk, or jeopardize an investigation.
In addition, grants issued under a section of the Social Security Act are tied to a requirement that states describe how they calculate data on child maltreatment deaths submitted to the federal government.
Still, no state has ever been found to be in violation of disclosure requirements and federal grants have never been withheld, according to Catherine Nolan, who directs the Office on Child Abuse and Neglect, a sub-agency of HHS.
"Obviously, the overarching goal is always keeping the children safe from harm. It's a matter of how the states have decided they want to do it," Nolan said.
The information that states provide to the federal government through the voluntary system also is severely lacking. A 2013 report showed that 17 states did not provide the federal government with a key measure of performance: how many children had died of child abuse after being removed from their homes and then reunited with their families within a five- year period.
Withholding information about such fatalities allows child protective agencies to shroud their activities — and their failures. It also leaves a major void for researchers and policy makers looking for ways to identify and protect the children in risky situations.
"We all agree that we cannot solve a problem this complex until we agree it exists," said David Sanders, chairman of the federal Commission to Eliminate Child Abuse and Neglect Fatalities, whose members have been traveling the country studying child deaths under a congressional mandate.
"If, for example, you want to fix something like fatalities due to children being left alone, it seems that it would be important to know how often that is happening and what it looks like to come up with a solution," he said.
The child welfare system is fragmented, with hundreds of different agencies — from state governments to county offices, tribes and the military — operating by their own set of standards.
Some states, like New York and Ohio, have county-administered systems, with data collection and retention scattered. In others, a state agency provides child welfare services. And still others, such as Florida, have privatized some child welfare operations.
And because there is no single definition of what constitutes abuse or neglect, what is counted as maltreatment in one locality may not be in another.
Nowhere was the AP's challenge steeper than Montana, where the state's confidentiality law allows the child protective services agency to operate with impunity. The AP discovered the Department of Public Health and Human Services' involvement in Mattisyn Blaz's short life, and her death, only by examining hundreds of pages of court files from the criminal trial of her father.
The state makes public only the number of children who died from maltreatment in a given year. Officials said state law prohibits them from releasing details on the number of children who died after having a prior history with child protective services.
Department spokesman Jon Ebelt acknowledged Montana law conflicts with federal disclosure requirements and said officials would seek a change in state law to allow for the disclosure of more information.
As part of the blanket secrecy, it is not clear what, if anything, child welfare authorities did to help Mattisyn Blaz.
Based on information obtained from the court file, it is clear that Matthew Blaz's violent streak was known to authorities. His former girlfriend had accused him of assaulting her while she cradled their 9-week-old son in 2011. He attacked his wife, Jennifer, at least twice in 2012, on one occasion dragging her around the house by her hair. She told authorities he regularly threatened to kill her.
Mattisyn's older half-sister— 10 at the time — cowered under a bed after Blaz threatened to come after her and was so afraid she began sleeping with a knife nearby, the children's grandmother said.
The protective order issued in July 2013 should have prevented Matthew Blaz from remaining in the home, but soon he was back with the family. "I honestly thought after I bailed him out and we talked, and with the no alcohol, you know, and him going to AA, I really thought things were going to change," his wife said.
When Jennifer Blaz went to work on Aug. 16, 2013, she left her husband to care for the girls. For reasons still unknown, he became enraged and threw the baby, fracturing her skull and causing other devastating injuries, according to prosecutor Samm Cox.
Later that day, he loaded the children into his car and drove across town to pick up a chain saw that had been repaired and then stopped for some sandwiches. He dropped one off to his wife at work, but never mentioned anything was wrong with the baby.
When Matthew picked his wife up that afternoon, he calmly told her that a 12-year-old neighborhood boy had dropped Mattisyn earlier in the day. Jennifer noticed the baby didn't look right and called for an ambulance.
By then, it was too late for little Mattisyn.
Last month, Matthew Blaz was sentenced to life in prison, with no possibility of parole.
When President Richard Nixon signed the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act into law in 1974, it was seen as a sign of federal commitment to preventing child abuse through state-level monitoring.
But in 1995, a board reviewing the progress that had been made issued a scathing report headlined "A Nation's Shame: Fatal Child Abuse and Neglect in the United States."
The report called for better information and transparency, and flagged "serious gaps in data collection." "Until we develop more comprehensive and sophisticated data, our efforts to understand and prevent child maltreatment-related deaths will be severely handicapped," it said.
Nearly 20 years later, the AP found that many such problems persist.
Michael Petit, who was appointed by President Barack Obama to serve on the federal Commission to Eliminate Child Abuse and Neglect Fatalities, said meetings have been fruitful but will bring no substantive change unless Congress requires states to do more.
"The child safety net in this country is not equal to the size of the problem that's coming at it," said Petit, the former head of Maine's child protective services agency and founder of the advocacy group Every Child Matters. "The system overall is in crisis."
That system is plagued with worker shortages and a serious overload of cases. For instance, a caseworker in Texas who investigated abuse reports about a 2-year-old who eventually died in the care of his mother was juggling 37 cases a few weeks before he died.
In addition:
— Budgets are tight, and some experts say funding shortages lead to more deaths. Conditions improved when Alabama spent more money on child welfare as part of a 15-year federal consent decree. But since 2007, when the decree ended, funding has shrunk nearly every year — and the number of open-case deaths has started to climb, from one in 2009 to five in 2013.
— Insufficient training for those who answer child abuse hotlines leads to reports being misclassified, sometimes with deadly consequences. In Arizona, a June 2013 call about an 8-month-old with a suspicious broken arm was logged incorrectly and not investigated. The girl died of a brain injury about a month later, after being burned on the face with a cigarette lighter and shaken violently.
— The lack of a comprehensive national child welfare database that would allow caseworkers to keep track of individual cases, child by child, means some abusive caregivers known to authorities can slip through the cracks by crossing state lines.
— A policy that promotes keeping families intact plays a major role in the number of deaths, because children remain in abusive situations. According to Vermont police, 2-year-old Dezirae Sheldon was left in her home even after suffering two broken legs under suspicious circumstances. Caseworkers said they'd felt "an overwhelming push" to keep the family together, based on their general training. Dezirae died in February from blunt force trauma to the head; her stepfather is charged with second-degree murder. A police detective wrote: "This focus on reunification very often puts the needs of the parents often above the needs and interest of the child or victim."
— Worst of all, nearly 40 percent of the 3 million child abuse and neglect complaints made annually to child protective services hotlines in the U.S. are "screened out" and never investigated.
The case of 10-week-old Ethan Henderson — whose family in Arundel, Maine, had been the subject of at least 13 calls to child protective services — presents a particularly telling example of a repeated systemic failure.
Only two of those calls were investigated — one involving Ethan and his twin brother, and the other, their sister. In addition, more than a half-dozen physicians, nurses and other caregivers failed to report signs that the blue-eyed boy with wispy blond hair was being terribly hurt. Some have escaped scrutiny and punishment to this day.
Maine child welfare officials said the state's confidentiality law prohibited them from discussing details about their involvement in Ethan's case. Records obtained by AP, however, suggest the state missed numerous opportunities to properly assess the safety of Ethan and his siblings, neglecting to follow up promptly even after identifying warning signs.
According to evidence produced as part of the criminal case against Ethan's father, Gordon Collins-Faunce, the police made two of those calls but hotline workers decided that neither merited a response.
Ethan's grandmother, Jan Collins, said she called the hotline just before the twins were born because she feared her son and another man who frequented the family's mobile home could hurt the children.
"I said I thought Gordon was delusional. They just dismissed that," she said. "I kept thinking that tomorrow I will find out that the state has gotten involved."
The twins were born a few weeks premature on Feb. 21, 2012 — and just four weeks later, Ethan's mother took him to a nearby hospital with a broken left arm. She told his pediatrician that Ethan's father had accidentally twisted it lifting the baby from his crib. The doctor never reported the injury, even though Maine law requires physicians to immediately report possible child abuse.
About a month later, Ethan arrived at daycare unable to move his neck and with dark bruises on his right arm. Workers took photos of the bruises, but never reported them, said Maine Police Det. Lauren Edstrom, who investigated Ethan's death. The next week, Ethan arrived at daycare with such a high fever that workers called his mother to take him to the hospital, evidence shows.
When Ethan was nearly 10 weeks old, a family friend finally called the hotline to report bruises on the twins and a white, blistering burn on their sister's hand. Edstrom said the friend decided to tell hotline workers she was a daycare volunteer so that they would take the report seriously. That represented the second report worthy of investigation.
Melissa Guillerault, the child welfare agency worker dispatched to the gray double-wide trailer on May 2, called ahead to let the family know she was coming. Still, she found Collins-Faunce and his wife had five bags of trash on the porch.
Though the state later acknowledged Guillerault learned of Ethan's earlier broken arm during that visit, records show she found the couple to be "cooperative and engaging." She said the children "appeared clean, healthy and comfortable," although she didn't inspect them for bruises. In a section of her report designated for the listing of "signs of danger," the worker wrote: "None at this time."
Three days later, according to Collins-Faunce's confession to police, he grew so frustrated by Ethan's cries that he picked up his son by the head and threw him into a chair, causing severe brain damage. Before calling 911, evidence shows he went outside to smoke and play the video game "Police Pursuit."
Ethan died three days later, on May 8, 2012. His father was convicted of manslaughter last year; his siblings were placed in foster care and adopted.
Virginia McNamara, a pediatric nurse who visited Ethan at his home and never reported the signs of possible abuse, lost her license to practice in Maine. Ethan's pediatrician, Dr. Lisa Gouldsbrough, was never disciplined, although she received a letter of guidance from the Maine board that licenses osteopathic doctors aimed at helping her "in avoiding complaints of this nature in the future." Guillerault was promoted to a supervisory role within the department, a position she still holds.
None of them responded to AP's requests for comment, and neither did the Maine Department of Health and Human Services.
The records that spell out the state's involvement with the family remain secret.
The AP National Investigative Team can be reached at email@example.com
Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
LAMAR, COLO. (AP) — Colorado has launched a statewide hotline to increase reporting of suspected cases of child abuse and neglect.
The hotline is based in Lamar with 12 staff and began operating on Thursday. State officials say the Lamar center will be a hub for Colorado's first child-abuse hotline of its kind. It's part of Gov. John Hickenlooper's Child Welfare Plan.
The Lamar center will direct callers to the appropriate county to handle their report. The hotline will also assist the deaf and callers who don't speak English or Spanish.
Callers to the hotline will be assisted 24 hours a day year-round.
The hotline phone number is 1-844-264-5437
(Copyright ©2015 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Video of a baby playing with a handgun, at times putting the muzzle into her mouth, was found on her father's cell phone, Indiana police said.
Michael Barnes, 19, was arrested Saturday along with the 1-year-old's mother, Toni Wilson, 22, and charged with neglect, criminal recklessness with a deadly weapon and allowing a child to possess a firearm. Evansville cops found the disturbing footage after arresting Barnes for allegedly trying to sell a handgun to an undercover officer.
Both parents can be heard encouraging the child to say "Pow" and "Bang" as she points the gun and then puts it in her mouth. The mother claimed the weapon was a pellet gun. Police said it was a .40-caliber handgun.
Officers said the magazine had apparently been removed, but a round could have been in the chamber.
A strong woman, child advocate, educator, and author, Rose Morrisroe, was today named New Yorker Of The Week. She deserves this honor because, in the words of NY1 News, "she encourages children to become their own advocates."
Recently featured on NY1 News, film crews captured Morrisroe, educating students against child sexual abuse at P.S. 18 Edward Bush. http://www.ny1.com/content/shows/nyer_of_the_week/219348/nyer-of-the-week–rose-morrisroe-educates-children-to-protect-themselves-from-abuse/
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A brutal Brooklyn baby-sitter savagely beat a helpless 3-year-old girl to death Saturday after she accidentally went to the bathroom in her pants, police sources said.
Cops found the dying girl after a 911 caller reported bloodcurdling screams echoing from the apartment in a city homeless shelter at 38 Cooper St. shortly before 4 p.m., cops said.
Defenseless little Jeida Torres, 3, died at Wyckoff Hospital after her mother's enraged boyfriend "punched and choked" the tiny child — who suffered injuries to her head and body, sources said.
"She either pooped her pants or peed on herself, and he got agitated," a source said.
Suspect Kelsey Smith, who fled the scene and left the mortally injured child behind with her battered big brother, has a rap sheet with with 14 prior arrests dating to 2008, cop sources said.
Jeida's 5-year-old brother, Andrew, was also beaten black and blue by Smith, 20, although a police source said the boy's injuries were possibly inflicted before Saturday.
Kelsey Smith, 20, who was in custody Saturday night. Kelsey Smith, 20, who was in custody Saturday night.
Neighbor Marilyn Cruz said the afternoon killing capped two solid weeks of fighting and violence inside the apartment.
The dead girl's mother, Kimberly Torres, and grandfather wept inconsolably outside the building after hearing the heartbreaking news about the beloved child.
Smith was busted just across the Queens border after the NYPD received a tip on the fugitive's whereabouts. Cop sources said he tried to slash himself in a failed suicide try.
Smith, who also went by the first name "Shawn," had multiple collars for robbery and grand larceny, along with a gang assault charge and a bust this year for criminal mischief.
No charges had been filed early Sunday in the fatal beating.
The pedophile former Catholic bishop Jozef Wesolowski has been placed under house arrest at the Vatican.
He is only the second person to be arrested in this way in recent history. The first was Pope Benedict's former butler, Paulo Gabriele, subsequently sentenced to 18 months in prison for leaking private documents. It is the first Vatican arrest of a high-ranking prelate involved in child sex abuse.
Polish-born Wesolowski, former Nuncio in the Dominican Republic, was recalled to the Vatican a year ago and investigated for sex abuse allegations.
In June, the first stage of his canonical trial ended with him being found guilty of child sex abuse and laicisation, or defrocking, by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. He appealed against the decision. This week the Vatican began criminal proceedings against him, placing him under house arrest during the trial rather than in custody because of concerns about his health.
Wesolowski, aged 66, was arrested at the Vatican with the permission of Pope Francis, who had received a personal appeal from the United Nations Committee Against Torture in Geneva to intervene.
Vatican spokesman Fr Frederico Lombardi said: "This arrest is due to the express will of the Pope." He said the case was "serious and delicate" and must be addressed without delay and "with the right and necessary rigor, with full assumption of responsibility on the part of the institutions that are part of the Holy See."SOURCE-CHRISTIAN TODAY
A Georgia judge had tough words for a woman who pleaded guilty to helping her boyfriend rape and molest her two young daughters.
"I don't know that I have ever said a curse word from this bench, but you may be the vilest bitch that I have ever met," Bibb County Superior Court Judge Howard Simms told Amanda Arellano on Thursday, The Macon Telegraph reported.
Simms then sentenced Arellano to 30 years in prison and lifetime probation.
The 29-year-old Fort Valley woman was arrested along with her boyfriend, 29-year-old Daniel Kelly Copeland, in January 2012, after Copeland's father reported them to police.
Copeland's father told authorities his son had admitted to sexually abusing Arellano's two daughters, then ages 6 and 8, according to The Albany Herald.
The sex acts, authorities said, took place between Sept. 1, 2011, and Jan. 18, 2012.
According to Bibb County Prosecutor Nancy Scott Malcor, Copeland told police he and his girlfriend started doing drugs in September 2011, which made them "especially sexual."
Arellano, the prosecutor said, would help the 8-year-old girl perform sex acts with Copeland, including sodomy and oral sex. She would also hold the girl down while Copeland had sex with her.
The 6-year-old was subjected to similar abuses, including oral sex and attempted rape, authorities said.
In April, Copeland pleaded guilty to rape and four counts of aggravated child molestation.
As a condition of a plea agreement, Copeland was sentenced to 25 years in prison followed by lifetime probation. Copeland also agreed to testify in Arellano's case.
Arellano, who was scheduled to go to trial later this month, opted to plead guilty on Thursday, to a number of offenses, including rape and aggravated child molestation.
During Thursday's hearing, prosecutors said Arellano confessed to participating in sex acts with Copeland and her daughters, and also admitted taking photographs of the sex acts.
"I'm so sorry and I will punish myself more than you can probably ever punish me, sir," Arellano said in court Thursday, according to The Digital Journal.
Simms was unmoved by Arellano's words and told her there is a "special place in hell" for people who do what she and Copeland did.
Per the conditions of their plea bargains, neither Arellano or Copeland will be eligible for parole. Once they serve their entire sentences and are released on probation, they will be classified as sex offenders.
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A vicious Queens couple savagely beat, kicked, tortured and starved their 12-year-old daughter — until the gutsy little girl finally dimed out the depraved duo, officials said.
Helpless Maya Ranot — her weight down to a skeletal 58 pounds as the relentless violence escalated — survived to spill the gory details of the house of horrors where she was tormented for nearly three years.
Dad Rajesh Ranot, 46, and stepmom Sheetal Ranot, 31, of Ozone Park, were behind bars Tuesday after their arraignments last week on multiple charges of assault and child endangerment.
"Thank God," said one of Rajesh Ranot's former in-laws. "It's about time they locked him up. Everyone is afraid of him . . . . How could he do this to his own daughter?"
Heroic Maya was beaten with everything from a rolling pin to a baseball bat to a broken metal broom handle — but never said a word because she feared her four step-siblings would be sent to foster care, officials said.
"Fortunately, she found the courage to speak up," said Queens District Attorney Richard Brown. "It is not too hard to imagine that this case would have ended in the child's death."
Neighbors described Rajesh Ranot, who lived in the area for the last 10 years, as a volatile cab driver with a foul temper and a mean streak.
"He was the kind of guy who would be your friend and smack you at the same time," said a 51-year-old neighbor who gave his name as Trinny. "You could not trust him."
Local residents recounted seeing skinny little seventh-grader Maya playing near the family's residence, with no signs of her family or any friends.
"I feel terrible for her," said neighbor Annette Persaud, the mother of two boys.
The investigation began after EMTs called to the family home above a garage in Ozone Park found Maya lying in a pool of blood from a gash deep enough to reveal the bone on her left wrist.
Authorities say stepmom Sheetal opened the deep laceration by slashing the girl with the jagged end of a broken metal broom handle on May 6. The bleeding child, dressed in filthy clothes, was rushed to Elmhurst Hospital for wrist surgery and stitches to her knee after the attack.
Read more at http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/nyc-crime/queens-parents-jailed-unspeakable-child-abuse-da-article-1.1892446?cid=radiumOne#xLK0zyBLjJd6b12w.99
Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/nyc-crime/queens-parents-jailed-unspeakable-child-abuse-da-article-1.1892446#ixzz39jDhSqvp
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Can you keep a secret?
Many children can, and that can be problematic. "No Secrets Between Us" teaches Kindergarteners through 3rd graders to empower themselves by sharing their secrets. 'No Secrets Between Us" is a picture book that uses fiction to address a real-life situation. It takes a gentle, practical approach to teaching child abuse awareness backed by theoretical support. Our protagonist Sammie learns that telling a trusted adult is the right thing to do when she needs help. At the beginning of the book, she is on a fun play date, which eventually leads to trouble. At the end of the book, she comes to understand that there should never be secrets between a child and her parents. Sammie knows she made the right choice in telling her parents the secret and is praised for her courage.
Rose Morrisroe: one of the top educational instructors for the state of New Jersey and founder for one of the leading non profits on child abuse prevention – Soldiers Against Child Abuse. She encompasses vision, awareness, passion and accomplishment to the world she touches…. She saves the world around her and embraces the hurt with healing, guidance and compassion. ~Michael Reagan
"The Governor is grateful for your interest in offering your book, No Secrets Between Us, and curriculum for use in schools throughout the State and has shared the information you sent with the appropriate staff in the Department of Education. The Governor is grateful for your support and joins me in offering you best wishes." ~Governor Christie's Office via Staffer
"Rose Morrisroe is a revered educator and survivor of child sexual abuse. She advocates for empowering children and families. Her wonderful book, No Secrets Between Us, is an important tool to the prevention of child abuse. No Secrets Between Us teaches children to empower themselves when they feel unsafe. CSA is an uncomfortable topic which needs to be discussed and this book is an effective means to do that." ~Kathleen Shelley, LSW – School Social Worker
"As a Licensed Certified Social Worker I plan on using the book, No Secrets Between Us, at home as well as with my clients at work. You have provided me with an educational tool that will be heard by many children and recommended to every parent I know." ~Jacqueline Russak, LCSW- School Social Worker
"This is a must book for all parents, guardians and educators. Rose Morrisroe not only demonstrates the need for children to be proactive but she prepares parents in how to empower the family. I wish this book was available when my kids were younger. This book is empowering for all children." ~Michael John Sullivan — Award winning author and creator of The SockKids Children's series
"No Secrets Between Us is a great introduction for parents and children to begin a dialogue about safe and unsafe touches. It is child friendly and well written which encourages honest and open dialogue. I recommend Mrs. Morrisroe's book for all children."~Wanda Merchant, LPC – Licensed Professional Counselor School Counselor, Anti-Bullying Specialist
"No Secrets Between Us by Rose Morrisroe is a great tool for parents and educators in assisting with this challenging topic. Mrs. Morrisroe is clearly dedicated to her cause and through her book has created a child friendly way to deliver a powerful message. This book is designed to empower children and families." ~Nicole C. Syperski, M.A. School Counselor, Intervention & Referral Services
ATLANTA, Ga. – A father has been charged with murder in the death of his 2-year-old child after he allegedly left the toddler in a hot car for eight hours.
Police said Justin Ross Harris, 34, was supposed to drop the child off at daycare, but forgot.
He then drove to work around 9 a.m. Wednesday and left the toddler in the car. It wasn't until Harris left work and started driving home that he looked in the backseat and saw the child still strapped in the car seat and unresponsive.
A witness saw Harris pull into the Akers Mill Square shopping center, stop his car straddling two lanes of traffic, jump out and begin CPR on the toddler.
"He was constantly saying, 'What have I done, what have I done.'"
Harris is charged with murder and cruelty to children, both felonies and is currently being held without bond at the Cobb County Adult Detention Center.
Anyone with information about this case which may assist detectives is asked to call 770-499-3945.
Temperatures in Atlanta topped 90 degrees Wednesday afternoon. Temperatures inside a hot car could go as high as 130 to 140 degrees in a few hours.
Sarasota, Florida — A 2-year-old girl died after she was left inside a hot car, and now her father is facing manslaughter charges.
Sarasota Police detectives say 23-year-old Uriel Hernandez forgot about Alejandra Hernandez in a car for several hours Sunday morning when the temperature outside was between 85 to 95 degrees.
On Instagram, her mother, Valeria Hernandez, says she's "mi mundo" my world. On Facebook, Uriel Hernandez is seen adoring Alejandra. The two shared custody of the little girl.
"She was always so pretty and very bright," says neighbor Juanita Sifuentes. "He seemed like an excellent father."
But Sifuentes says Hernandez's apparent negligence is inexcusable. "That was very irresponsible of him."
Alejandra would visit her father on Sundays at the mobile home park off North Orange Avenue, but this Sunday would be her last.
Investigators say Uriel Hernandez came home around 6 a.m. Sunday, went inside for a moment to get a phone charger, but fell asleep leaving his daughter in a hot car for five hours.
Police say when Uriel Hernandez woke up he found his daughter lifeless. Police say it's not clear if he called 911 before he called the child's mother, but by the time both of them were called — it was too late.
SOURCE: 10News, Tampa Bay Sarasota
In a sting that was New York's biggest to-date, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) arrested 71 individuals involved in child sexual exploitation, all of whom stand accused of possessing, distributing and/or producing child abuse imagery. In addition to the 71 arrests, investigators lawfully seized nearly 600 computing devices during the execution of 87 search warrants, including desktop and laptop computers, tablets, smartphones and thumb drives containing more than 175 terabytes of data that includes tens of thousands of sexually explicit images and videos of children.
"People children are supposed to trust"
The sting, codenamed "Operation Caireen," shed light on the type of individuals sexually exploiting children. Many of those arrested held positions of public trust, including a police officer, a paramedic, a registered nurse and an individual who served as both a den master with the Boy Scouts of America and as a little league baseball coach. Speaking on behalf of the joint operation, special agent in charge of HSI's New York office, James T. Hayes Jr., said, "The sheer volume of confirmed and suspected instances of individuals engaging in the sexual exploitation of children identified through Operation Caireen is shocking and the professional backgrounds of many of the defendants is troubling. We can no longer assume that the only people who would stoop to prey on children are unemployed drifters."
Using Technology to Fight Child Sexual Exploitation
The sting, which involved U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement as well as New York law enforcement, began as part of an undercover operation into peer-to-peer (P2P) networks. As the agencies surreptitiously infiltrated P2P networks, they were able to identify users in the New York City metropolitan area who sought to acquire or distribute known or suspected images and videos of children engaging in sexually explicit activities. Throughout the course of the operation, investigators identified nearly 150 unique IP addresses registered to users in the NYC metropolitan area, actively sharing explicit images of children. Techniques used by law enforcement agencies in this operation are on the cutting edge of technology in the fight against the sexual exploitation of children in the Deep Web. At Thorn, we have been working with tech companies to implement the use of a shared hash system, which allows companies to share digital fingerprints of abuse images via a cloud-based tool in order to more quickly clear their system of content and report it. We also collaborate with more than twenty technology companies through our Technology Task Force, bringing them together to help put an end to child sexual exploitation.
If You See Something, Say Something
In the wake of "Operation Caireen," Otis E. Harris Jr., special agent in charge of the Coast Guard Investigative Service, New York Field Office, offered a call to action for all individuals. "The Department of Homeland Security is asking for the public to be watchful, to help identify those individuals responsible for child pornography, and we're counting on those with information to come forward. No bit of information, no matter how seemingly insignificant, is too small. Each piece moves us forward toward justice and disrupting the crime of child pornography. It is extremely important to contact authorities with any information regarding child pornography." We applaud HSI for their efforts in disrupting this network of child exploitation. We also urge you to learn more about our work, to educate yourself on the issue and read the facts about child abuse imagery. A better-educated community is the first step in raising awareness about this issue.
- See more at: http://www.wearethorn.org/hsi-arrests-71-in-new-york-for-child-sexual-exploitation/#sthash.nMKLcJPM.dpuf
SOURCE: Thorn-Digital Defenders of Children
A slice of the New York City area mainstream – a police officer, a fire department paramedic, a rabbi, a nurse, a Boy Scout leader – used the Internet to anonymously collect and trade child pornography, federal officials said Wednesday.
The six were among at least 70 men and one woman charged in a five-week operation by the Homeland Security Investigations arm of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Federal officials, who planned to announce the arrests a news conference later Wednesday, call it one of the largest local roundups ever of people who collect images of children having sex – and a stark reminder that they come from all segments of society.
Consuming child porn "is not something that is just done by unemployed drifters who live in their parent's basement," said James Hayes of ICE's New York office. "If this operation does anything, it puts the lie to the belief that the people who do this are not productive members of society."
Authorities say an alarming number of the defendants had access to young children, though there were no reports of abuse. The Boy Scout leader also coached a youth baseball team. The rabbi home-schooled his children and others. Another person had hidden cameras used to secretly film his children's friends.
VATICAN CITY — The Vatican commission advising Pope Francis on sexual abuse policy will develop "clear and effective protocols" to protect children from pedophile priests, including procedures to hold church authorities accountable if they neglect to act on cases of abuse, Vatican officials said Saturday.
The commission will advise the pope on adopting policies developed from the existing "best practices" for the protection of minors, which can be used worldwide. Recommendations to the pope will also include ways of better educating the clergy about the issue of child abuse and its devastating consequences.
"The protocols will address everyone," regardless of their status in the church, "and will provide clear ways of dealing with those who perpetrate the abuse, and those who were negligent in protecting children," Cardinal Sean O'Malley, the archbishop of Boston and one of the eight members of the commission, told reporters at a news briefing on Saturday.
Existing canon laws had not adequately or sufficiently addressed this issue, he acknowledged. "Our concern is to make sure that there are clear and effective protocols to deal with situations where people of the church did not fulfill their obligation to protect children," he said.
Advocacy groups have long harshly castigated the Vatican for refusing to systematically discipline clerics who covered up pedophilia crimes. Over the years, the church has adopted a series of measures to address the abuse of children by priests, but critics say that the Vatican has protected its reputation over the interests of the victims by refusing to sanction church officials.
Pope Francis announced the creation of the commission last December. Its members include lay people, among them psychiatrists, a canon lawyer for the Vatican congregation that handles sex abuse cases, a moral theologian and a woman who was a victim of sex abuse by a priest as a child, who has become an advocate for accountability in the church. Four of the eight members are women.
The pope "was anxious that the group be independent," Cardinal O'Malley said.
He said that the commission would not deal with specific cases of child abuse, nor would the protocols necessarily relate to existing child abuse laws in specific countries. "Accountability should not be dependent on the legal obligations of a country, but upon moral considerations," he said.
The commission will make proposals to the pope, but Cardinal O'Malley said that a specific time frame had not been decided upon. "The one thing that this meeting showed is how many issues there are to deal with and how complex they are," he said. Though the commission was established to advise the pope, it could also be "of service" to national bishops conferences. "Everyone is anxious to have positive results," he said.
The commission met for the first time last week at the Vatican to discuss its purpose, functions and goals, and to propose additional members, to be chosen on the basis of their expertise as well as their geographical provenance.
"The commission wants to make sure that in the future, the issue of child abuse will be addressed worldwide, not patchily, and adhering to the highest standards," said Marie Collins, the commission member from Ireland who was abused by a priest when she was 13.
Cardinal O'Malley said vigilance would be required. "The church needs to always be reviewing what we have done, trying to improve what we have done, monitoring what we have done because it's possible to have beautiful policies but if they are not implemented it's only window dressing," he said.
"I know many survivors are hoping, that they have high expectations for what the commission will do," Ms. Collins said. "I can't make any concrete promises, but I am hopeful."
NEW YORK (WABC) — Prosecutors have confirmed they now plan to seek a murder indictment against a woman already charged with abusing a 4-year-old New York City boy.
Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Nicole Blumberg told a judge Wednesday she plans to seek the new charge against Kryzie King.
Defense lawyer Bryan Konoski declined to comment.
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Story: Myls Dobson's dad back in New Jersey jail after furlough
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The boy, Myls Dobson, died Jan. 8. He was in King's care while his father was jailed.
Medical examiners ruled his death a homicide this month. They determined he died of child abuse, including dehydration.
Before the finding, King was charged with assault and pleaded not guilty.
According to prosecutors' court documents, King told police she beat the boy with a belt and wires, bound him with shoelaces and locked him on a freezing terrace because he misbehaved.
(Copyright ©2014 WABC-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)
A woman has been arrested on six counts of murder after authorities found the bodies of seven infants packed into separate cardboard boxes at a home in Utah, police said.
Police arrested Megan Huntsman, 39, of Pleasant Grove, on Saturday following a gruesome discovery at a residence formerly occupied by the woman who they say moved out in 2011.
WATCH: 7 Babies Found Dead in Utah Home; Woman Arrested
Officers responding to a phone call from a family member who is currently living at the Pleasant Grove residence arrived at the home to find the first baby which "appeared to be a full term," according to a police statement.
"A family member was cleaning out the garage and came across a box that looked suspicious. Upon opening the box they found the infant inside," Capt. Michael Roberts of the Pleasant Grove Police Department told ABC News.
Authorities obtained a search warrant to inspect the home, where they found six more infant bodies inside, packaged in separate containers, the police statement said.
Roberts said that through their investigations, they had reason to believe that Huntsman had given birth to the six other babies in the period between 1996 and 2006 and murdered them.
Authorities arrested Huntsman and booked her at the Utah County Jail on six murder counts, but did not comment on why she was not charged with seven counts.
The adult residents of the home claimed to have no knowledge of the dead babies, police said. Roberts could not confirm whether Huntsman had any other children or if she was married.
"It's still an ongoing case so we're still working on some information we've received," Roberts said.
SOURCE- ABC News


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Troubleshooting The Problems Of Your Gas Powered Lawn Edger
There are a large number of gas powered lawn edger in the market, these lawn edger are very comfortable to use. Once started you can operate them for hours and are much more powerful than other kinds of edger. They can cut through tough weed and large grasses.
However, there is a common problem in all kinds of gas powered lawn edger. This edger suffers huge starting problems after a certain period of time or certain hours of usage. Here, are a few simple steps to make sure there are no starting problems.
Step 1: Check the Fuel
The fuel or the gasoline in the fuel tank often gets rotten and does not perform well as a fuel. Either, it does not start the engine at all, or there are jerks in the engine. One can easily check the quality of fuel in the tank by the smell of it. When the fuel gets rotten, the fuel does not work well. In case the fuel is more than two months old, do not even bother to smell, change the fuel.
In order to change the fuel, drain out all the earlier fuel from the fuel tank. Then try to start the edger, to ensure that even the last drop of the remaining fuel gets burnt. Then you can refill the tank with a new fuel.
Step 2: Check the Oil
Make sure there is engine oil in the motor. The oil should never be lower than the minimum oil level and should not have turned black or have too much of dirt in it. The oil should be in perfect shape while operating the motor. So, whenever you use the machine after so long, the motor oil should be replaced. It should be noted that the oil must be changed every six months in any case.
Please ensure that you refill the oil with the oil of same specifications as given by the manufacturer. A change in the grade may damage the motor.
Step 3: Spark Plug Testing
After testing the spark plug, make sure that the plugs are working properly and there are no carbon deposits in the plug. Make sure that the gap in the plug is proper. A proper gap in the plugs will make sure there is ample spark in the engine.
In case you need to clean the spark plug, use fresh gasoline or kerosene to clean them. Use a brush to clean every part of the plug.
In case the plug does not work even after cleaning, make sure that the plug is replaced with a plug of the same make and model. The plug should be same as the old plug, replacing with another make may have a huge impact on the performance.
Step 4: Air Supply
There is an air vent and an air filter in every engine, please ensure that the air intake space is not blocked.
If these four problems are taken care of the motor will definitely start. It is recommended not to open the motor in case it does not start. You should take it to the authorized service center or call for support in case of a breakdown.
Your essential guide to buying the best gas riding lawn mower
It would be no exaggeration to say that nothing comes close to an immaculately manicured, verdant, and lush lawn in enhancing the visual appeal of your property. A well tended and healthy lawn depends on several factors including watering, compost and fertilizer, weed management, and proper hardware among others. In this article, we will look at one of the major tool, the lawn mower, that is critical for a lustrous looking lawn.
How to find the lawn mower you need
Buying a lawn mower can be oddly bewildering – nobody can be faulted if they get lost in deciding between a push mower, self-propelled mower, electric mower, reeled mower to name just a few. However, the confusion wouldn't last if you carry out a comprehensive review of your needs and requirements, and match them with the features offered by mower type.
In particular, here are a few considerations that should help you zero-in on your perfect mower:
1) Lawn size: If your lawn is small then a push or self propelled mower would suffice. For yards over half an acre and above, it's perhaps best to invest in a self-propelled or, even better, a riding mower.
2) Terrain: If your lawn is flat then a push mower would do the job. However, if there are inclines, or obstacles, then a riding mower would be your best bet.
3) If you want more from your mower: If you want to lug and stuff, then a riding mower doubles up as quad tractor.
How to choose the best gas riding lawn mower
Gas riding lawn mowers have perhaps emerged as the most popular category owing to their unrivalled efficiency, ease of use, and versatility. To make sure you pick a gas riding lawn mower best suited for your needs, we recommend carefully evaluating your options based on the following features:
1) Performance: The size of your yard should determine your choice for engine size. You should opt for a powerful engine even if your yard is relatively smaller but you require the mower to double up as a hauler. In addition, look out for details such as adjustable handles if your kids are also going to be using the mower.
2) Features offered: A powerful engine isn't the be-all when it comes to choosing the right mower. Things like the size of the bag, cutting height options, and mulch and discharge options are some other aspects that you should look before you make your purchase. Mulch and discharge option is excellent if you want to use the cut grass as natural compost.
3) Cutting deck: Choose a mower that offers maximum cutting swath. A larger cutting swath drastically reduces the time taken to mow a lawn. Ideally, your cutting deck size should be no smaller than 20 inches.
4) Safety and support: Lawn mowers can present serious risks of injury if not handled properly or if they lack essential safety features. Presence of flaps to guard your legs from objects flying off the cutting blade, and automatic engine switch off feature are an absolute must. Similarly, you want the vendor to provide prompt, and effective service when there's a problem with your mower. Make sure about the level of support you'll receive before you sign the check.
Top 3 gas riding lawn mowers models
1) Husqvarna V-Twin Hydrostatic 46-in: Featuring a reliable Briggs and Stratton engine, the Husqvarna has made name for its handling and maneuverability, multiple features and ease of use. This machine also scores in terms of durability, quality of construction and attractive design.
2) Troy-Bilt Pony Manual 42-in: Featuring a 7 speed transmission that frees you from clutching or stopping, this affordable machine is easy to use and scores for its durability. Be mindful, that this mower does not come with mulch kit as standard.
3) John Deree D105 Automatic 42-in: A high quality machine with a reliable Briggs and Stratton engine featuring full pressure lubrication. This eye catcher of a mower is both easy to use and easy to maintain .

subset: commoncrawl


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Pyare Afzal New Drama Serial
Pyaare Afzal is a new drama serial being broadcasted on ARY Digital channel. the drama has been produced by Six Sigma Plus. The drama's title song is well composed and sung and is appreciated by audience. It is basically a remix version of "Jany Wo Kysy Log thy Jin k Pyar ko pyar mila".
Coming towards the story line, the drama revolves around Afzal, who is the main character of the film. The role of Afzal is being played by Hamza Ali. Afzal is an irresponsible and careless young boy who is completely opposite to his family. His family is very religious and his father who is a clerk in a office hates anything which is against the Islamic preachings and teachings. Afzal earns money through gambling. he has got a girlfriend. He doesn't love her as he is just playing with her feelings and he makes fun of her girl friend's letters in front of all his friends in a very ridiculous manner.
Another main character is of Ayeza Khan. She is about to marry a guy whom she doesn't like. She is a confident girl who has courage to achieve something big in her life. It seems as if the drama has potential to become successful and achieve high appreciation from the audience. Lets see and hope for the best.
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Dwayne Johnson , left, Vin Diesel, center, and Paul Walker share a scene in 'Fast & Furious 6,' now playing in local theaters. / AP
What could say summer better than fast cars, beautiful people, exotic locales and a complete lack of logical sense? Fast & Furious 6 vroomed into theaters over the holiday weekend, raking in more than $120 million at the box office. Clearly, this series has some, er, mileage left in it.
First launched in 2001, the Fast movies have, to a surprising extent, transcended their roots as action flicks about car chases and comely criminals. Theyve become, believe it or not, family pictures that is to say, pictures about family.
The gang has developed into a tight-knit crew whose members recall those all for one, one for all Musketeers. Theres Dom (Vin Diesel), the tough-but-tender leader; Brian (Paul Walker), the former undercover cop; Mia (Jordana Brewster), Dominics gutsy sister and now Brians wife; Han (Sung Kang), the fearless racer; Tej (Chris Ludacris Bridges), the tech genius; and a few others. Like warriors in the trenches, theyre not so much fighting for a cause (or even a score) as protecting the guy or gal next to them.
Earlier in the series, we witnessed the death of Letty (Michelle Rodriguez), Dominics steely sweetheart; at least we thought we did. Fast 6 reveals that in fine soap opera fashion she isnt dead, shes just suffering from a very bad case of amnesia. A moral blank slate, shes working for an international terrorist named Shaw (Luke Evans) and its the chance to save her that lures the gang out of the comfortable, beyond-extradition retirement theyd settled into after the $100 million windfall of the fifth film. If they take down Shaw, Interpol agent Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson) promises them not only a reunion with Letty, but full pardons.
Let the rubber meet the road.
While Fast 6 isnt as satisfying as the previous entry which was a surprisingly well-made heist picture its still plenty enjoyable for what it is. Yes, much of it is completely ridiculous, particularly the final two action set pieces one involving a tank, the other a cargo plane. Throughout the film, the characters survive, with nary a scratch, injuries that would put mere mortals in the hospital for a month. The film, like so many these days, suffers from the migraine-inducing tendency to hyper edit; some shots literally last less than a second. Its meant to give a sense of souped-up pacing (and to gratify todays microscopic attention spans) but all it really does is disorient the viewer and obscure the action.
But still. Like its predecessors, Fast 6 features some spectacular stunt-driving sequences, executed at dizzying speeds and with ample collateral damage. (By the way: the filmmakers are either terrified of liability, consider their audience to be a bunch of adolescent nitwits, or both; theres actually a disclaimer at the end essentially saying, Kids, dont try this at home.) The characters, by now grown familiar to series fans, are amiable and brave. Theres a fair amount of humor, from quips about Johnsons pumped-up physique when he phones, the caller ID says Samoan Thor to a running gag about how crew member Roman (Tyrese Gibson) is always hungry. (The latter culminates in the summary execution of an unarmed vending machine.)
On this outing, one welcome addition to the gang is Hobbs new partner, a tough-as-nails gal played by Gina Carano. Carano is the MMA fighter whom Steven Soderbergh tapped for the lead in Haywire, in which she played a troubled government assassin. In Fast 6, she and Rodriguez have a couple of lengthy, well-choreographed bouts memorable fights that prove to be thematic mirror images of each other. Its nice that the Fast films, which are so much about boys and their toys, have always featured gutsy sisters doing it for themselves.
And make sure to stay for the ending credits, when another martial arts phenom offers a tantalizing taste of Fast 7.
Saulnier is the Ithaca Journals film critic. She appears weekly at 8:45 a.m. Friday and 9:50 a.m. Saturday on WHCUs Morning Newswatch show.


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Paneer Bhurji Grilled Sandwich Recipe
Paneer Bhurji Grilled Sandwich-Delicious grilled sandwich stuffed with paneer bhurji mixture.
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Grilled Chicken with Pineapple Salsa Recipe
Grilled Chicken with Pineapple Salsa Recipe-Spiced chicken pieces grilled on a pan and served with a pineapple and raddish salsa.
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Barbecue Chicken Recipe - Easy Barbecue Chicken
Barbecue Chicken Recipe - Easy Barbecue Chicken consists of chicken parts or entire chickens that are barbecued, grilled or smoked. There are many global and regional preparation techniques and cooking styles. Barbecue chicken is often seasoned or coated in a spice rub, barbecue sauce, or both. Marinades are also used to tenderize the meat and add flavor. Barbecued chicken is one of the world's most popular barbecue dishes.
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Barbecued Chicken Recipe - with Lettuce and Cabbage Salad
Barbecued Chicken is simple Recipe. Watch as Siddhanth cooks up a fancy barbecued chicken with a mix of continental and oriental spices and sauces.
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Grilled Vegetable Sandwich recipe - Mumbai Street food special snack
Mumbai is known for a lot of the things and the top two would be Street Foods and Bollywood! Here is a look at the famous Sandwich at Anand Stall, outside Mithibai Collage. This Grilled Vegetarian Sandwich was loaded with vegetables and is so yummy. So simple, delicious and so easy to make at home. Check out the ShowMeTheCurry Channel: https://www.youtube.com/showmethecurry
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Wade's American Hairless Terrier
Since 1997
An Original Founding Breed Developer
Developing this breed from the very beginning…has been a great pleasure!!
Outstanding Temperament
Healthy Sound Dogs
Every Size…Including Smaller
Every Color…
While Widening the Gene-Pool…….by using nine different Rat Terrier dogs…incorporating nine new entirely different Rat Terrier dog bloodlines into the American Hairless Terrier…then breeding back to hairless. Developing this new breed…with a wide variation of new genes…continuing to strengthen…this unique hairless dog.
Developing bloodlines born with much less woolly fuzzy coat, and going hairless at a much younger age. American Hairless Terriers are normally born with a woolly fuzzy coat.
Our new bloodlines are born almost entirely fuzz-free…making these new bloodlines the absolute best for people with dog allergies.
- Home of the first-born hairless brindle, the first-born hairless true-blue brindles and the second-born hairless true-blue.
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- First developed the truest (no shading) pearl (mauve lilac) color…with light amber (lighter brown yellow) or green eyes.
- New American Hairless Terrier Puppy Colors for 2008: chocolate brindle and true-pearl brindle
- New Eye Colors for 2008: yellow brown and blue green (turquoise)
- New Eye Colors for 2012: lighter blue and lighter green
- Continuing to develop and improve the brindle stripes.
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We fly American Hairless Terrier Puppies at the lowest possible costs… shipping with experienced caring airlines.


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Un Dimanche à Paris :: Le Craquant Citron Vert-Gingembre
By Paris Pâtisseries in Pastry Reviews, Un Dimanche à Paris
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Now that I'm back in Paris, I'm finally getting to visit all the shops I missed on my last trip, as well as the newest pâtisseries. Some of the boutiques look even more fantastic than I expected – with pastries to match. Others are shockingly small or with much-hyped work that I'm starting to think has gained acclaim through the usual online and in-print mindless brown-nosing of renowned pâtissiers – with no actual basis in the quality of the products. It's been an emotional roller coaster of crème pâtissiere and genoise!
Un Dimanche à Paris, along with Café Pouchkine, were at the top of my list of shops by which I expected to be dazzled. They're the two highest-profile pâtisseries to have opened since I left last July, and both have big names in the pastry and chocolate worlds behind them. I was able to visit each on my first weekend back (along with 10 other boutiques), and out of sheer proximity to my apartment, have been back to indulge in Un Dimanche à Paris several more times. Needless to say, it's been a pleasure. You're going to see a lot more of them here on the site in the months ahead. And today, let's enjoy Le Craquant Citron Vert-Gingembre . . .
Since white chocolate is involved here, I had to sample that before I took a bigger bite; you can tell a lot about a pastry by the quality of the chocolat blanc employed. It was extremely smooth, with only a hint of flavor and curiously sweet. As long as the rest of the pastry was full-bodied and tangy, that white would serve as the perfect backdrop. Guess what . . . it did.
Our powdery orb here was actually the fusion of two hemispheres: a lime mousse and a ginger crémeux. Nibbled-on separately, they were absolutely distinct; the ginger portion even had a delightfully cream cheese'esque zip, though the gingembre tones themselves were fairly subdued. Not subtle was the cheek-tingling wave issued forth by the citrus confit that held the sphere and white chocolate in place. That acidity left my mouth feeling nothing less than pleasantly assaulted. Yum. And last but not least, there was that wonderfully crumbly/crunchy base of sablé pebbles held deliciously together with cocoa butter. The Gestalt experience of Le Craquant was a delight of textures and a thoroughly entertaining performance for my taste buds.
In the minutes that followed my last bite, even as the lime tones began to subside, there was this persistent and electric sweetness that lingered from the white chocolate. I can't remember the last time I'd experienced that. It wasn't a flavor – something that's an olfactory sensation – it was this delicate, but very present, sensation of sweetness. Highly enjoyable.
I'm excited to tell you all about the pistachio & red fruit choux from Un Dimanche . . . and about their Black Forest gâteau, with its fantastic Ecuadorian chocolate. But we'll get to those other pastries in time. Since I have yet to eat everything in their pastry case (and, yes, I am quickly working on it), who knows what your next treat from Un Dimanche à Paris will be here on the site.
There's so much more to share with you from other shops, too . . . and even more to share with you about the City of Light. Next week there will be 5 new entries! We'll be biting into Pierre Hermé's Métissé macarons, Jacques Genin's mango-passion fruit caramels, one of Café Pouchkine's lovelies and more. So check back in Moday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday for your daily dose of Paris Pâtisseries.
And, yes, if you happen to be in Paris or are on your way here soon, make sure to check out Un Dimanche à Paris and snag Le Craquant Citron Vert-Gingembre. And maybe have a seat in their lounge, as well, to enjoy some of the finest hot chocolate you're likely to ever experience. It is a revelation.
Want me to deliver fresh pastries straight to you? Then get regular email updates or follow Paris Patisseries on Facebook. You deserve the best of Paris.


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Also in this section…?
Title: Virgin and Child in Glory
Date: about 1673
Artist(s): Bartolomé Esteban Murillo (Spanish, born:31 Decemeber 1617, died:28 March 1682)
Materials: Oil; Canvas
Information: Murillo was the most important religious artist in Spain at the time this work was painted. The altarpiece was commissioned by Ambrosio Ignacio Spnola y Guzmn, Archbishop of Seville (1670 - 84) for his private chapel in his Seville palace. During the Spanish Peninsular War (1808 - 14) the palace was the headquarters of the French marshal Soult, who took the altarpiece with him as war booty. However, he did not have the central area of the canvas showing the faces of the Virgin and Child. The two separated parts were not reunited until they were acquired by the British collector Lord Overstone.
Accession no: WAG 1351
Credit line: Presented to the Walker Art Gallery by the Art Fund in 1953
Location: Walker Art Gallery, on display
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© Copyright 2015


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Sometimes it seems like YouTube was made for Ozzie Guillen -- the always entertaining former manager of the White Sox has had plenty to say in news conferences, commercials and even if there's just a camera around.
You can say a lot about Guillen, but he's never boring.
Of course, sometimes the mix of his accent and his favorite English words make it tough to understand exactly what his point may be, like in this clip:
But more often than not, he gets his message across loud and clear, such as his feelings about controversial umpire Joe West:
Or what happens when you have a bad bullpen?
And there's no question Guillen won't answer, or anyone too big to take on. Here he calls actor Sean Penn a "loser" for his comments about Guillen's native Venezuela and president Hugo Chavez:
Some cynics will tell you managers don't sell tickets -- well, take notice Florida Miami, Ozzie even sells tickets:
Of course, Guillen doesn't just deliver the hits, occassionally he'll take them:
For more baseball news, rumors and analysis, follow @eyeonbaseball on Twitter or subscribe to the RSS feed.


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We've produced more than 80 stories, introducing you to employees, dealers, customers and friends of GM, Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac. Sometimes we talked about great cars or trucks, and other times we showed you great people contributing to great communities.
Looking back over the year, we selected a few of our favorite stories that we thought you might like to look at again, or check out for the first time. Each of them highlights an aspect of how GM touches so many lives across the country and around the world. Feel free to post your own comments on the blog.
- After a killer tornado tore through Joplin, Missouri, we brought you the story of how the Crossroads Chevrolet-Cadillac dealership helped the community and its employees deal with the devastation.
- We also introduced you to Seattle, Wash. dealer Brad Brotherton who uses social media to touch his local community and has found his business growing as a result of what he's doing online.
- Homeless advocate Mark Horvath was given a GMC Terrain for a year to help him deliver his message about homelessness in the U.S. and Canada. People in two countries became aware of an often-hidden issue as a result of his work.
- Chevrolet previewed the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu (which should be at your dealerships in early 2012) and we met aerodynamics engineer Suzy Cody, a mother of two who drives a Camaro and skates on a roller derby team. We enjoyed bringing you the story about her passion for her job and her family.
- And in recognition of the 10th anniversary of one of the greatest tragedies of the last generation, airbrush artist Mickey Harris created a special tribute to the heroes of 9/11, by telling the stories of that event through images painted on a Chevrolet Silverado. The response from the people on the streets of New York City near Ground Zero showed us how that vehicle touched the hearts of so many.
Thanks again for stopping by our blog and making 2011 a record-setting year in terms of stories and page views. We look forward to 2012, and bringing you more about the people and products that make GM an integral part of so many homes, families and communities. Happy New Year! See you in January.


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Austin High School Principal John Tanner, Burges High School Principal Randall Woods and El Paso High School Principal Kristine Ferret are no longer working at their campuses, multiple sources told the El Paso Times.
Luis Loya, principal of the Center for Career and Technology Education, and other campus administrators also have been removed, said sources who asked not to be identified.
Several principals and assistant principals were called on Tuesday and Wednesday to the EPISD headquarters, where they were informed that the administration would recommend to the school board that their contracts not be renewed, multiple sources told the El Paso Times.
The four principals and three assistant principals have been or will be given the opportunity to resign before Tuesday, when the board will meet to consider not renewing their contracts.
All the affected administrators have been placed on administrative leave with pay.
Tanner, Woods and Loya could not be reached by phone Wednesday.
Ferret said she had not been asked to resign and declined to comment further.
Interim Superintendent Vernon Butler, district spokeswoman Renee de Santos and school board members did not return phone calls seeking comment. A secretary for Trustee Russell Wiggs said the school board member would not comment on the personnel actions.
Butler in a statement Wednesday said, "Individuals affected will go through the proper personnel procedure and face the appropriate action. However, out of respect for those individuals and the process, the district will not provide further comment at this time."
EPISD officials have previously confirmed when administrators have resigned or retired in lieu of disciplinary action.
The actions this week came after the district in late February received a draft audit conducted by Weaver and Tidwell LLP, a public accounting firm, that looked into cheating allegations and perhaps other irregularities in the district.
The district paid Weaver nearly $800,000 to conduct the audit. District officials have not released the audit findings and have not given a date when the audit report will be available to the public.
Butler in his statement said the district "is making the necessary changes to move forward" and acknowledged that Texas Education Commissioner Michael Williams and many elected officials have criticized the district for not acting sooner.
Williams in December appointed a conservator to oversee the district and is seeking to replace the elected school board for up to two years with an appointed board of managers.
The Texas Education Agency upheld Williams' decisions after the school board appealed them through the agency.
Before May, the U.S. Department of Justice is expected to decide whether to allow the removal of the school board.
"This has been an exceedingly difficult time for everyone in the El Paso Independent School District," Butler's statement said. "The prolonged negative attention on our district has been unfortunately overshadowing much of the outstanding work by our students, teachers, staff and administrators. However, our work has not yet been concluded. We have a responsibility to our district, students, parents, community, Congressman, State Senator, County Judge, City Council representatives, TEA, EPISD Task Force, the Greater El Paso Chamber of Commerce and the Commissioner of Education to follow through with consequences stemming from the illegal actions of the former superintendent."
Former Superintendent Lorenzo García is serving 3 1/2 years in federal prison for orchestrating a cheating scheme that pushed limited English-speaking students out of the classroom to inflate scores on standardized tests and cheat accountability measures.
He carried out the scheme with at least six unindicted coconspirators, according to federal authorities.
In 2010, Tanner denied allegations by then-state Sen. Eliot Shapleigh that Austin High School was part of the scheme to "disappear" limited-Englishproficient students so they would not take state-mandated tests used to determine federal and state accountability results.
Mark Mendoza, then pupil services director, in 2009 and 2010 had documented students having problems enrolling at Austin High and other schools.
Mendoza told the Times last year that his office documented instances in which students were dropped and other students were not allowed to enroll at high schools including Austin, Bowie and Irvin.
Loya had been principal of Irvin until late last year when he was reassigned to the Center for Career and Technology Education. District officials would not say why Loya was removed from Irvin.
Some administrators have resigned or retired before they faced disciplinary action in response to the cheating scandal.
Those employees include former chief of staff and interim Superintendent Terri Jordan; Maria Flores, former associate superintendent of elementary schools; former Bowie High Principal Jesus Chavez; former Bowie Assistant Principal Johnnie Vega; and Myrna Gamboa, a former director in the Priority Schools Division.
The school board in January fired Anna Luisa Kell, a former assistant principal at Bowie.
The board has begun the process of firing James Anderson, assistant superintendent of high schools; Vanessa Foreman, a former priority schools director; and Luis Liano, the district's athletics facilitator and the former principal of El Paso High.
Attorneys for Anderson, Foreman and Liano have said they will appeal the proposed firings through the Texas education commissioner.
Hayley Kappes may be reached at email@example.com; 546-6168. Follow her on Twitter @hayleykappes


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Everclear, Broussard coming to the CorkThe Bottle & Cork has just announced that they are rounding out their summer schedule with two new shows: Everclear on Friday Aug. 22 and Marc Broussard on Sunday Aug. 24.
Tickets for Everclear cost $25 and go on sale tomorrow. The alternative rockers have had a few big hits over the past 15 years or so, including "Santa Monica," "Father of Mine," "Everything to Everyone" and "I Will Buy You a New Life."
Tickets for Broussard are $17.50 and are on sale now. The Louisiana soulster will release his third album, "Keep Coming Back," on Sept. 16 through Atlantic Records.
Tickets can be bought through Ticketmaster or by calling 227-3888. (Hint: if you want to avoid the Ticketmaster charges, pay by phone.)
UPDATE: One other new show has been booked: Keller Williams, known as the "one-man jam band," will perform solo on Sept. 5. Tickets are $23 and they are also on sale now. From what I hear, his live shows are not to be missed.
Labels: Bottle and Cork, Dewey Beach, Music


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Christopher Johnson
Revolving Door (2)
Sightings (2)
KPCC Visits the Site of Aretha's Finest Gospel Hour - Posted December 21, 2012
We can't think of a better way to ease into Christmas weekend than to listen to KPCC 89.3 reporter Christopher Johnson's 40th-anniversary look at the LA recording of Aretha Franklin... [FishbowlLA]
Top-Flight Journos Land USC Annenberg Religion Reporting Grants - Posted August 12, 2011
The list of reporters awarded USC Annenberg 2011 Knight Grants for Reporting on Religion and American Public Life is extremely impressive. And the topics aren't too shabby either. ... [FishbowlLA]


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- Filed Under
Recently a sexual abuse cold case surfaced and the alleged perpetrator was apprehended. But it took the mother of the victims some time to see there were long-lasting effects.
So the Child Advocacy Center of Rutherford and Cannon Counties began offering classes to help.
"Darkness to Light is a nationwide training program designed to teach adults how to protect children by teaching them seven steps to protect children from sexual abuse," said Sharon DeBoer, executive director of the CAC, which provides services to children of sexual or meth abuse and non-offending guardians or parents. ...


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December 1, 2015
Stay Connected Anywhere
TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW-TV) -- In less than two weeks, Kansas voters will cast their ballots to elect the next President of the United States and other local and state officials.
Secretary of State Kris Kobach said this week he encourages anyone who is unaware of their voting registration status, to check online using Kansas Voter-View.
Visit www.myvoteinfo.voteks.org
There you'll find your status, precinct, current voting districts and even your sample ballot.
Click Here to access the online Public Inspection File
Viewers with disabilities can get assistance accessing this station's FCC Public Inspection File by contacting the station with the information listed below. Questions or concerns relating to the accessibility of the FCC's online public file system should be directed to the FCC at 888-225-5322, 888-835-5322 (TTY), or email@example.com.


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Gov. Tim Pawlenty on Wednesday said the Indian company that plans to build a steel plant in northeastern Minnesota has agreed to fully comply with all U.S. and international laws, including those prohibiting certain investments in Iran.
As a result, Pawlenty said, he will support continued state assistance for Essar Global Ltd.'s proposed taconite-to-steel project near Nashwauk. He had threatened to withdraw that support because of possible business dealings between Essar and Iran, which has long been under U.S. sanctions.
After discussions among Essar officials, the governor's staff and the U.S. State Department, Pawlenty received a letter on Wednesday from Essar America's Chief Executive Madhu Vuppuluri saying the company "considers its investments in the state of Minnesota of strategic importance both to Essar and to the state and people of Minnesota."
The letter said "no investment or firm commitment will be made in Iran, unless and until permitted to do so under the applicable U.S. or international laws."
"It is a very positive development for Minnesota," Pawlenty said at a Capitol news conference. The governor said Essar officials were very helpful in allaying his concerns.
Reuters reported last week that Essar was negotiating to build an $8 billion to $10 billion oil refinery in Iran. That report came two days after Pawlenty visited Essar on a trade trip to India.
U.S. law gives the government authority to punish foreign companies if they make more than $20 million in one year from Iran's energy sector.
After learning of the possible Iran connection, Pawlenty had said he would not permit the state to subsidize the steel project unless Essar complied with U.S. law. He had visited an Essar steel mill and talked with company officials during the Indian trade mission last week.
On Monday, Pawlenty asked Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in a letter whether Essar is violating U.S. sanctions by planning to build the oil refinery in Iran. Pawlenty now said he is assured Essar would not commit any violations through Iranian deals.
Pawlenty also said he's "absolutely" gained a new appreciation of the due diligence the state should undertake before inking any deals to help international companies do business in Minnesota.
Essar is planning a $1.6 billion plant in Itasca County that would produce 2.5 million tons of steel a year and provide 700 jobs on the Iron Range, which needs economic development after losing more than 10,000 mining jobs since 1979. The plant would be one of the state's largest industrial developments.
Minnesota Steel Industries completed the sale of the plant to Essar last week. Itasca County officials have asked the Legislature for $67 million in state subsidies for roads, railroads and gas, water, sewer and electrical lines to the plant. That will be considered during the 2008 session.
Pawlenty's renewed support for the project came just in time. Today, the governor is going to Hibbing, about 15 miles from the potential site of the future steel project, for the Governor's Deer Hunting Opener.
"I figured I better get this cleared up before the Governor's Deer Hunting Opener in Hibbing this week," he said. "Otherwise the hunter may become the hunted."
Staff writer Rachel E. Stassen-Berger contributed to this report.


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Top Rated Non OEM Boiler inspection company is excited to officially release its newest division, United Aerobotics!
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Hosted in beautiful Sunny Key West, Florida United Dynamics Corporation is bringing together an All-Star lineup of industry authorities for the conference. The conference title, Boiler Inspection-"The Tricks of the Trade."
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I am attempting to engage in thoughtful dialogue. That isn't a story that I'm telling, I mean this blog post. Often times I think I can't and shouldn't bother. I'm not particularly enlightened, and I think the Internet is too corrupt, and our expectations of human interaction are too perverse and warped by the Information Age. But I'm here anyway.
I love words too much to stay away forever. I need a lot of words just to get through my day. I depend on them to pacify myself in times of fear, to justify myself in times of insecurity, to make connections with others, and always to bring cosmos out of chaos.
I also hate words. I hate the way we don't believe each other's words, and don't have reason to, since falsehood is the first language of our political sphere, and everybody knows it. I hate the way that certain words divide us: the way we align ourselves under our preferred labels like tables in the high school cafeteria. And I hate the way that a word can be a battle ground, as different camps fight to claim and wield the power of identifiers like feminist, Christian, sinner, citizen, queer.
I found a dictionary so I could look up "solidarity." I don't have a paper dictionary of my own, since I am travelling light these days, and also trying not to merit the derogatory term "Luddite." But I found one in the house from 1992. It's a nice big fat red one, from college days, or maybe high school graduation. Lifting it gives credence to the notion that words have weight. Here's what I found:
Solidarity: Unanimity of attitude or purpose, as between members of a group or class.
Then I had to go and look up "unanimity":
Unanimity: The state or quality of being unanimous; a consensus or undivided opinion.
That's the paradox. Who in the hell is accustomed to consensus? Can we even imagine consensus? We can't agree on anything. Not presidents. Not paint colors. Certainly not policy or practicality. Where do we get off, Jaysen and Ben and I, three white folks in the belly of the empire, claiming for our blog link-up this lofty word, solidarity?
Now you can watch me slip into the language of a faith tradition, in this blog post, just as I do in real life. It may have been this very question that sent me into a faith tradition in the first place. I had survived perfectly well without religion for many other things. But one day I wanted better language for this thing that I know, but didn't have a way to talk about: that there was some essential truth that binds all human beings together, some space in which we could be unified, where we could meet each other fully, not as listings in the little black book of who has what, but as something more and something less than all our differences.
I knew that place was real, because I had already found it in the theater. The director Joseph Chaikin said that at the extreme of every emotion there is a common ground, and I found his testimony to be accurate. But I have found theater folk and poets to be lousy company on Sunday mornings. These days I usually go to church.
In church I hear the teaching that humans are made in the image of God. And I hear the teaching of Grace. This is the Christian word for our gift of living vulnerability: the precious ability that we have to be affected, to forgive and be forgiven, to share the growth and change that makes us human.
If we are like God, then in our essence we are mystery. We are potential energy. We are free spirit. What if we could all agree on that?
This is the solidarity that I'm gunning for. It isn't unanimity of political party. It isn't about teams or titles or paint colors. It is the consensus agreement that human beings in our essence are free and capable of change.
This is a reasonable definition of love, I think: to believe that no matter what you see on the outside of a person, no matter how calcified and secure their identity may seem, in truth they are completely free to do something quite different. And this is maybe the work of love, as well: to always be making room for someone to get better.
It is hard to keep those gaps open. I want solidarity with the poor, so I write a check. I want solidarity among races, so I call someone a racist. I want solidarity among citizens of the United States, so I vote the way I vote and hope on Tuesday that more than half of the country is as smart as I am.
We chose this topic partly because of the elections, because we're all so fed up with the hate speech and the wrong speech and the false speech. But what can we do about it? How do we live into the spaces between the bubbles and the check marks? Does anyone see a path between this vision of spiritual solidarity and the reality of the world we live in?


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- Filed Under
The Oshkosh Public Library launched a redesigned web site this week that features a new look and is easier to use on smart phones, tablets and other mobile devices.
The new library web site will scale to fit different sized displays in a way that allows for full use of most features, including information about library services, event calendars and online educational and consumer resources. Visit the site at www.oshkoshpubliclibrary.org.
The library originally set up a mobile website and considered creating an app for library users, but the web developer for the Winnefox Library System ...


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While spending 23 years in the U.S. Army Reserve, much of my training was in response to the Cold War. The former Soviet Union was the clear enemy, and my training helped harden my opinion of the "Evil Empire."
To this day, I view Russia as a potential threat. As late as last week, I heard President Obama try to deny that he created a "red line" in Syria. I am certain that President Vladimir Putin is also untruthful, but I have not heard him lie with my own ears. When it comes to Syria, I find myself trusting the character of the president of Russia over the character of the president of the United States.
Given my background, I am very disappointed in myself for allowing such thoughts to enter my head.
Randy Reid
Brentwood 37027


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Velta Bajat, far left, is all smiles after winning one of the many door prizes at Wednesday's Elderly Awareness Seminar organized by the Opelousas Police Department and the city of Opelousas. See a photo gallery at dailyworld.com. Freddie Herpin, Daily World
- Filed Under
The Opelousas Elderly Awareness Seminar was a hit Wednesday with more than 600 people in attendance.
The official focus of the event at the Opelousas Civic Center was the federal Affordable Care Act, popularly known as Obamacare. Opelousas Police Chief Perry Gallow said Geno Delafosse and French Rockin' Boogie, who entertained the seniors, may have really been the reason for the record crowd.
"Geno really gets their blood flowing. He may not realize it, but he's a therapist in his own right," Gallow said. ...


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1. A glowing gene tag
A new, genetically-encoded fluorescent protein created in the lab of Roger Tsien, who shared a Nobel Prize for developing green fluorescent protein (GFP), is poised to revolutionize electron microscopy. Engineered from an Arabidopsis protein, "miniSOG" (for mini Singlet Oxygen Generator) is less than half the size of GFP, binds to a suite of well-characterized proteins, and can faithfully tag a variety of mammalian cells as well as cell in intact rodents and nematodes.
X. Shu, et al., "A genetically encoded tag for correlated light and electron microscopy of intact cells, tissues, and organisms," PLoS Biology, 9:e1001041, 2011. Free F1000 Evaluation