Kathy Griffin Drops F-Bomb on Live TV During CNN's New Year Special

Either CNN is struggling in the ratings among other networks or the management is just plain neurotic by having Kathy Griffin co-host with Anderson Cooper another New Year speacial, knowing she will say just about anything. True to form, she dropped the f-bomb. I thought for sure she would not have been asked back after she got into an argument with someone last year. Some people just never learn.

Griffin and Cooper were discussing Falcon Heene, better known as "balloon boy" when Griffin intentionally mispronounced his name. "Fal-- F**kin? Falcon? How do you say it?" Griffin asked Cooper facetiously. Cooper shook his head, smiled and said "You're terrible. Really terrible." CNN is nuts for having her on another year.

Ms. Griffin also managed to get a dig in about Fantasia and the fact that she could not read, as evidenced from her Lifetime movie. Kathy Griffin was also literally called a drag queen by Sushi, also a drag queen, who descended in the ruby shoe during Key West's New Year's celebration.

The Hinterland Gazette Wishes All its Readers, Fans and Supporters a Happy & Prosperous New Year

The Hinterland Gazette wishes all its readers and fans a happy and prosperous 2010. Thank you for your support, your comments and your feedback.

Let's make this a great 2010 as we start to dig our way out of the recession. Let's take the neighborhoods under siege by thugs back and let's help our children succeed beyond their wildest dreams. Let's hold our elected officials accountable for their actions and show them that they should honor the wishes of their constituents, not what Wall Street, big businesses and lobbyists want. It's time to force them that they are beholden to Main Street. Happy New Year!

Marcus Jackson, NC Police Officer, Charged with On-Duty Sexual Battery of Two Women, Being Held on $360K Bond

Marcus Jackson, Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officer, arrested and charged with three counts of sexual battery and other charges. He is currently being held in lieu of bond totaling $360,000.

Marcus Jackson, 25, an officer with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, was arrested and charged with three counts of sexual battery, second-degree sex offense, extortion, kidnapping, indecent exposure and two counts of felonious restraint. He allegedly pulled over two young women on separate occasions while on duty and sexually assaulted them in his patrol car. He has been terminated from the force, effective immediately. Jackson, who has been an officer in the CMPD's Eastway Division since 2008, is a disgrace to the force and to himself. His behavior is despicable and a violation of public trust. According to jail records, he was being held in lieu of bond totaling $360,000, ahead of a court hearing Thursday.

Both of the reported incidents happened between 11 p.m. and 2 a.m. in the Eastway Division in east Charlotte. The first incident occurred on Dec. 18. Monroe said Jackson - wearing his uniform and driving his marked patrol car - pulled over a 17-year-old girl, forced her into his car, drove to another location and committed sex acts. A relative of the girl called police Monday night and officers began an investigation.

As detectives were collecting information, Monroe said, a 21-year-old woman reported Tuesday night that she'd been assaulted by Jackson under similar circumstances on Monday. Monroe said Jackson didn't have any criminal record. Source: Charlotte Observer

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Rodney Monroe said at a press conference that "it would be naive" to believe that Marcus Jackson had not assaulted other women. He released the officer's photo at the news conference for any potential victims to see and come forward.

Wayne Kerschener, Florida Detention Officer, Fired for Admitting to Being a Member of the Ku Klux Klan, Says it's a "Faith-Based" Organization

Florida Detention Officer Wayne Kerschener, fired after admitting to being a member of the Ku Klux Klan.

Alachua County, Fla., detention officer, Wayner Kerschner, was fired after he admitted to being a member of the Ku Klux Klan. According to The Gainesville Sun, the termination came after the Sheriff's Office launched an internal investigation in which Kerschner stated that he joined the United Northern and Southern Knights of the KKK in December 2008. He said he became interested in the group through his wife, Shanda Lynn Kerschner. It's a very serious matter when someone in law enforcement, who will come in contact with blacks, Latinos and other races, is in such a position and is a part of such an insidious organization. Kerschner's termination is justified and that should send the message that such offensive behavior will not be tolerated one iota.

Kerschner is quoted in an internal affairs report as describing the KKK as "faith-based, it is more of a religion-based organization, more of a political-based organization, that their hopes are to increase membership to further the political goals of the group, to look out for the white race ...."

The Sheriff's Office contends Kerschner violated a policy that prohibits employees from knowingly being a member of any subversive or terrorist organization except when necessary for the job and then only with the approval of the sheriff.

Documentation shows that Kerschner had taken oaths to follow the policies several times since 2005. A detective who is a member of the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force notified the Office of Professional Standards about Kerschner's possible involvement in the Klan, prompting the investigation in which Kerschner was interviewed by several officers. Source: The Gainesville Sun

Kerschner reportedly traveled to Klan rallies in other states and routinely participated in message forums on KKK Web sites. According to the Gainesville Sun, the FBI was tipped to Kerschner's involvement in the Klan by the wife of a Florida Klan leader, who he identified as a Fruitland Park police officer -- another person who needs to be kicked off the force. Though there have been no reported incidents between Kerschner and black employees or inmates, you never know when the "Klan" in him will rear its ugly head.

Rick Warren, Saddleback Megachurch Pastor, Asks for Urgent Donations to Fill $900K Deficit by Jan. 1

UPDATE: Pastor Warren told church Saturday that his plea for donations to fill deficit raised $2.4 million, with more funds coming via mail.

Pastor Rick Warren, author of the bestselling book "The Purpose Driven Life," has issued a letter appealing to parishioners at his Saddleback megachurch to help fill a $900,000 deficit by January 1. Wow, even the megachurches are feeling the financial pinch. Here is a portion of the letter from his church's website:

Wednesday, December 29, 2009

Dear Saddleback Family,

THIS IS AN URGENT LETTER unlike any I've written in 30 years. Please read all of it and get back to me in the next 48 hours.

I have thrilling news to share with you below but first some seriously bad news:

With 10% of our church family out of work due to the recession, our expenses in caring for our community in 2009 rose dramatically while our income stagnated. Still, with wise management, we've stayed close to our budget all year. Then... this last weekend the bottom dropped out.

On the last weekend of 2009, our total offerings were less than half of what we normally receive - leaving us $900,000 in the red for the year, unless you help make up the difference today and tomorrow. Source: Rick Warren's News & Views

Well, I am sure there are a few folks who will balk at his request, which sounds a little like the late Oral Roberts' plea in 1987 for millions of dollars or God was going to call him home. A. Larry Ross, a spokesman for the church told the Associated Press that the seasonal Christmas offering was down significantly and the need for services the church is expected to provide has gone up. Rick Warren and his church have done a lot of good things throughout the world, such as work in Africa involving AIDS relief, and I hope his church will weather the storm in much the same way as many Americans have had to over the course of the year. Warren founded Saddleback Church in 1980 in Lake Forest, which is located about 65 miles southeast of Los Angeles.

Suicide Bomber Kills Eight U.S. Civilians at Military Base in Afghanistan, Canadian Journalist Michelle Lang, Four Others Killed by Roadside Bomb

An attack by a suicide bomber at a military base in eastern Afghanistan Wednesday reportedly killed eight Americans, believed to be CIA employees. Separately, four Canadian soldiers and Michelle Lang, a Canadian journalist were killed when a roadside bomb hit their armored vehicle in southern Afghanistan, Canada's defense ministry said.

The suicide bombing happened at Forward Operating Base Chapman in Khost province, Afghanistan. The senior U.S. official who spoke to CNN said information indicates the bomber walked into a gym facility at the base and detonated a suicide vest. It is believed six Americans were wounded in addition to the eight killed. It's not known how the bomber got past security.

A U.S. military source said that FOB Chapman was originally a base for the Khost Provincial Construction Team, but the team left some time ago. Authorities believe that perhaps the suicide bomber attacked just after a convoy was ending or beginning, which would account for high number of casualties. Source: CNN

I am trying to understand how this suicide bomber got into a military base, that is thought to be usually secure. This is such a tragedy and further proof that the military must get a good handle on this country or we will end up being overpowered by a bunch of radical fanatics.

Michelle Lang 34, is a journalist with the Calgary Herald. She was assigned to cover Canadian military efforts in Afghanistan for Canwest News Service. According to Canwest, she could have remained in the relatively safe confines of the base, but she wasn't wire that way. She wanted to get off the base and on the ground with the troops. Her death is the first of a Canadian journalist in Afghanistan. Canwest states that she had a great year, having captured the prestigious National Newspaper Award as the top beat writer in Canada. She also distinguished herself for daily health coverage in Calgary and did investigative work on Alberta's efforts to recruit doctors from South Africa. She was recently engaged to Michael Louie and the two were reportedly set to wed in the summer of 2010.

Rush Limbaugh, Conservative Windbag, Hospitalized with Chest Pains in Honolulu Hospital

Rush Limbaugh, conservative windbag and presumptive leader of the Republican Party, has been hospitalized and is reportedly in serious condition in the Queen's Medical Center in Honolulu. According to KITV, he was rushed to the hospital after complaining of chest pains.

Well, I won't wish him the worst, but I just can't bring myself to feel any sympathy for him. This could mean that he will be off the radio for some time as he recuperates, if he lives. Well, I am thanking God in advance for small mercies that we won't have to listen to him rant and rave during his radio show for a little while if he is placed on medical leave. I will take the high road and hope for his speedy recovery from this setback. Unlike his comments about wishing that President Obama fails, I hope he experience any complications and will survive this ordeal.

It does seem very ironic that he happens to be vacationing in Hawaii the same time President Barack Obama and his family are. KITV is reporting that he will not be released on Wednesday night. The loudmouth radio show host was seen golfing at Waialae Country Club earlier this week.

Martin P. Campbell, Off Duty Philadelphia Police Officer, Shot in Leg & is in Critical Condition, Friend Killed in Robbery Attempt

Martin P. Campbell, off-duty police officer, shot in the leg in Hunting Park neighborhood in Philadelphia, friend Rasheen Allen shot and killed. Suspects reportedly fled the scene.

Martin P. Campbell (inset), shot in leg during robbery attempt 

(Steven M. Falk / Staff Photographer)

Martin P. Campbell, an off-duty police officer is listed in serious condition after being shot in the Hunting Park neighborhood of Philadelphia Wednesday night and a friend, Rasheen Allen, was killed after two men tried to rob them. According to police spokesman Lt. Frank Vanore, Campbell, 23, was hit in the leg and was taken to Temple University Hospital, after the bullet "nicked" an artery. According to Philly.com, reports indicated police in Hunting Park shot two suspects who are possibly associated with the robbery. Their conditions are currently unknown.

According to police, the shooting reportedly occurred at about 7:15 p.m., as Campbell, Allen and a third friend were getting out of a car on Marshall Street when they were approached by two men in hoodies, who announced a robbery.  Campbell has been on the police force for two years and serves in the 5th District, which covers Manayunk and Roxborough. It is a shame that so many police officers are either losing their lives or being injured by armed thugs. Is it open season on police officers? It seems that it is and that is such a travesty.

Anyone with any information on this senseless shooting is asked to contact the homicide division at 215-686-3334 or 3335 to get these two armed dirtbags off the streets.

Pastor Kirk Caldwell Being Held on $2 Million Bail in the Shooting Death of Son, Jordan Caldwell

Pastor Kirk Caldwell charged with first- and -third degree murder in the shooting death of his son, Kirk Caldwell, on Christmas Day. He is being held on $2 million bail.

Pastor Kirk Caldwell, who shot and killed his son, Jordan Caldwell, on Christmas Day, is being held on $2 million bail. The Darby Borough, Pa., pastor has been charged with first- and third-degree murder, criminal homicide, simple and aggravated assault and recklessly endangering another person. According to Philly.com, the arrest documentation for the pastor, states he was in bed when some of his seven children came into his room and told him that his eldest son, Jordan, had just hit a girl and stole her car.

The article further states that his children told him the woman had a large bruise on her face and was crying on the front porch of his home. When he went downstairs, he reportedly saw his son "punching, hitting and throwing other family members around the house," court documents said. Still, this doesn't mean that you pull a gun and shoot your son, does it? Caldwell, pastor of the End Times Harvest Mission in Philadelphia, said he tried to calm his son, but couldn't. He reportedly retreated to his bedroom, changed his clothes and got his gun, after he heard a relative saying his son had a knife. Then it went downhill after that, resulting in the death of his son. Caldwell was later arrested by Officer Brian a. Pitts. Why didn't the pastor or a member of his family call the police? 

Kirk Caldwell said he heard someone claiming that his son was armed with a knife, a weapon that was "very common" for Jordan Caldwell to carry, according to court documents. In response, Caldwell grabbed his .40-caliber Smith & Wesson handgun, went downstairs and pointed it at his son, ordering him several times to stop, the affidavit said. But Jordan Caldwell kept coming forward and when the young man reached into his pocket, Caldwell "just pulled the trigger," according to court documents.

After that single shot, Caldwell dropped the gun and ran to hold his son, who had fallen to the floor, police said. When police arrived about 2 p.m., they found Jordan Caldwell on the front porch and his father in the front doorway of the home holding a gun, according to court documents. Caldwell was taken into custody without incident and waived his rights, choosing to speak freely with police, the affidavit said. He told police that he'd never fired a gun before and that he "just can't believe that this is happening," court documents said. Source: Philly.com

This is a tragedy and especially for a man who has spoken out vehemently against retaliation for violence in the community. Pastor Caldwell has been remanded to Delaware County Prison in lieu of $2 million bail. The bail for the pastor seems very steep and the Hinterland Gazette called the Delaware County District Attorney office's Erica Parham to shed some light on this, but we have not had a response yet. Typically, a first degree murder charge in the state of Pennsylvania is an unbailable offense. District Judge Edward Christie presided over the pastor's arraignment. We also reached out to the judge and was told by the clerk that he only presided over the arraignment.

Pastor Kirk Caldwell's case  information (docket# CP-23-CR-0007801-2009) can be found at:  http://ujsportal.pacourts.us/DocketSheets/CPReport.aspx?matterID=201665346
Court summary:  http://ujsportal.pacourts.us/DocketSheets/CourtSummaryReport.aspx?matterID=201665346

Samantha Broadhead, 11, & Teenage Boyfriend, Charged with Attempted Murder, Arson for Trying to Set Mother on Fire

Samantha Broadhead, 11 and teenage boyfriend, charged with attempted murder and arson, in setting her mother's bedroom on fire.

Nancy Broadhead, ABC News

Samantha Broadhead, 11, and her boyfriend, Jack Ault, 15, have been accused of plotting to kill her mother, Nancy Broadhead, by setting her bedroom on fire while she slept Tuesday, Clearwater, Fla., police said. They have both been charged with attempted murder and arson. According to media reports, Clearwater Police Department said the two kids poured gasoline on Ms. Broadhead's bedroom floor and bed, then set the room on fire. This "dynamic" duo fled in the mother's 2007 Ford Focus. This is such a shame that an 11 year old girl could entertain such thoughts of killing her mother, much less carrying it out. Besides, which parent in their right mind allows an 11 year old girl to date? Crazy.

Nancy Broadhead, who was awakened by the smoke alarm, sustained serious burns and smoke inhalation. Police spokeswoman Elizabeth Watts said that there had been ongoing tension between the child and her mother, which escalated on Monday when the mother reportedly accused the girl of stealing some of her cigarettes. There is a serious breakdown in this family unit. It is safe to say that this isn't the first time the child has had problems with her mother, as noted from statements made by neighbors to the police. According to the St. Petersburg Times, the mother has been in trouble with the law before, multiple times -- indecent exposure, child neglect, DUI, probation, probation violation, tested positive for marijuana and was accused in 2005 of beating her daughter in a drunken rage, but those charges were dropped. That child was crying out for help and I am amazed to learn that there are no open Florida Department of Children and Families cases on both families, though they have extensive records with the agency. This was a disaster waiting to happen.

The girl's boyfriend is also no stranger to law enforcement. Apparently his first arrest came with he was eight years old -- for battery. Then he was arrested twice in one week, on two counts of domestic battery and one count of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, according to the St. Petersburg Times. This whole situation seems mental to me. It's a shame that some parents don't take their responsibility in raising their children seriously. Here is a case of trouble just waiting to happen. So the year will close with Nancy Broadhead's family in disarray -- lost house, daughter facing serious charges and institutionalized, mother hospitalized with serious burns and smoke inhalation, son who allegedly dreams of stealing from Walgreens, absentee father, break-down in family structure, among other things.

Nadja Green, Rikers Island Correction Officer, Caught Sleeping on the Job

Nadja Green, a correction officer at New York City's Rikers Island prison infirmary was caught sleeping on the job and to make matters worse, an inmate, who was obviously amused, was seen hovering around her, inches from a set of keys that hangs from her belt. She has been disciplined for dozing on the job after a colleague took the picture. The picture was circulated around the department and emailed to the New York Post. Ms. Green shouldn't show her face at the Rikers Island prison again. She should have been terminated. What if the inmate had taken the keys and tried to escape?

According to the New York Post, Ms. Green has been transferred at Rikers Island and has been placed on modified duty watching female inmates. She will face charges of sleeping on the job and other security and performance-related charges.

To read the entire article, CLICK HERE.

Sheriff's Deputy Kent Mundell Jr., Shot by David E. Crable Near Eatonville Wa., Dies After Being Removed from Life Support

Pierce County sheriff's deputy Kent Mundell Jr., died Monday, shortly after being removed from life support at a Seattle hospital. He was removed from life support after his family was reportedly told that he would not recover from his injuries sustained when he was shot by David E. Crable, while responding to a domestic-violence call Dec. 21 outside Eatonville. According to Sgt. Ed Troyer,  the 10-year veteran of the force, leaves behind his wife, Lisa, and two children, 16 and 10. This is a tremendous loss and once again another police officer has lost his life at the hands of a career criminal who should not have been out on the streets.

Deputy Mundell was shot multiple times after he and his partner, Sgt. Nick Hausner, 43, responded to a call to remove an "unwanted guest" from a house near Tanwax Lake, about 7 miles north of Eatonville and about 18 miles south of Puyallup. Jason Crable had wanted his brother, David E. Crable, who was drunk, removed from the home. When the deputies arrived, Jason Crable invited them in. They talked with David Crable, who seemed cooperative, and he agreed to leave the home with the deputies, according to sheriff's officials. But before they left, David Crable suddenly pulled a gun concealed under his arm and started shooting.

Deputy Mundell returned fire and killed David Crable, but not before the deputy himself was critically injured, the sheriff's officials said. Deputy Mundell was flown to Harborview Medical Center. Law-enforcement personnel from numerous departments have been standing vigil all week at Harborview, a show of support for Deputy Mundell and his family. Source: Seattle Times

It is appalling that Deputy Mundell is the sixth law-enforcement officer to be killed in Washington state in the past eight weeks. Maurice Clemmons shot and killed four officers -- Mark Renninger, Tina Griswold, Ronald Owens and Gregory Richards — on the morning of Nov. 29 at Forze coffee shop in Parkland. Seattle police officer Timothy Brenton was fatally shot October 31, while he sat in his patrol car with his partner, who was injured.

Photo credit: Officer Kent Mundell Jr., Seattle Times

Akmal Shaikh: First European Citizen Executed by China in Half a Century

China has executed Akmal Shaikh, a British citizen, who was convicted of drug smuggling almost nine pounds, or four kilograms, of heroin into China in 2007, on a flight from Tajikistan. This was the first execution of a European citizen in a half a century in China and has drawn a strong condemnation from British Prime Minister Gordon Brown. Shaikh, according to London-based prisoner advocacy group Reprieve, told Chinese officials he didn't know about the drugs and that the suitcase wasn't his. Relatives of the man said he was mentally unstable and was unwittingly lured into the crime.

Akmal Shaikh (Reprieve)

What's equally disturbing in this case is that the appeals of PM Gordon Brown were flatly ignored by the Chinese government. It's a wake-up call to other citizens of the United States and the United Kingdom who find themselves in foreign prisons, that their governments may not be able to win their release, especially from countries that are hostile towards them. It is equally troubling, that if Shaikh had mental issues, that the Chinese government did not provide a mental health assessment for the accused to ascertain whether he had a diminished capacity or not.

China has defended the handling of Shaikh's case, saying he received a fair trial. "Drug smuggling is a grave crime. The rights of the defendant have been fully guaranteed," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu told a news conference last week.

According to media reports, Shaikh, who was executed Tuesday, first learned of his death sentence Monday from his visiting cousins, who made a last-minute plea for his life. They said he was lured to China from a life on the street in Poland by men playing on his dreams to record a pop song for world peace. He was reportedly convicted in 2008 after a half-hour trial. In one court appearance during his trial and appeal process, the judges reportedly laughed at his rambling remarks. Wow, so much for a relationship of trust and mutual respect from the Chinese government. Besides, anyone who would take a suitcase with drugs into China is either mentally unstable or daring.

It goes without saying that this news is being downplayed in the mainstream media and it goes to the fact that there are real problems in the United States with our justice system, though no accused would ever get a 30 minute trial. It also points to the fact that a new world order may be in play here.

Errol Kerr, the "Usain Bolt" of Ski Cross World, Qualifies to Represent Jamaica at the Winter Olympics in Vancouver in February '10

Skiing phenom Errol Kerr, dubbed the "Usain Bolt" of the ski cross world, qualifies to represent Jamaica at the Winter Olympics in Vancouver in 2010.

Errol Kerr, 23, has taken the ski cross world by storm and he has qualified for the Winter Olympics in 2010. He will be representing the "no problem mon!" island of Jamaica as a member of its Winter Olympics team. Some have labeled him as "Usain Bolt" on skis, a honor he takes seriously and to heart. The Hinterland Gazette interviewed this remarkable skier today and I was in total awe of his conviction, determination and his excitement at representing Jamaica in Vancouver from February 12 - 28, 2010. Ski cross is the only new sport at the Winter Olympics and it promises a great deal of excitement with its fast pace, rugged course with moguls, jumps, turns and yes, even wipeouts!

Jamaica  proved that it was a serious contender in the winter games when its bobsled team first entered the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary and inspired the Disney comedy "Cool Runnings."  The island will be a force to reckon again with ski-cross phenom Errol Kerr. Kerr, who was born to a Jamaican father and an American mother, has felt right at home on the slopes ever since he was a child. His mother, Catherine Kerr, once a ski racer herself, imparted the same love of the sport to her son when he was four years old.



Here is an excerpt from this fascinating interview I conducted with Error Kerr (listen to the video above):

HG: From what I have read, you have accomplished a great deal in your career and you have qualified for the Winter Olympics. How do you feel about being a trailblazer for people of African descent in the sport and being an ambassador for Jamaica?

EK: I love it. you don't see very many minorities in skiing sports. Skiing's a really old traditional sport. I just think it is very exciting.  It lays the ground work for more and more people to come along and do what I have done. Somebody always has to do it first and then it seems easy.

HG: How do you feel about being called the "Usain Bolt" of the ski cross world?

EK: I believe it's a really big honor. Another thing about the sport, male skiers don't peak until their late twenties and early thirties. I am about 10 years younger than a lot of people that I race with. I think it's an honor and by no means am I quitting any time soon.

What resonated with me throughout this entire interview was the excitement in Errol Kerr's voice when he talked about his love for the sport. He talked about his father, who did not live to see him accomplish so much in his career and attributed much of his success to him and what he stood for in his life. It is a given that his father would be very proud of him today. I think the message in this interview is that you can accomplish anything you dream of, despite all the odds against you. Errol summed it up best by saying, "I feel like I am taking a pair of skis and showing the world how far your dreams can take you." To Errol Kerr, you have blazed a trail for Jamaica into the world of skiing. I hope your dream will be realized of catapulting from the 10th fastest in the world to the world champion. Go deh bredda go deh (go brother go)!

Be sure to visit Errol Kerr's Web site where you will find more information about him, his upcoming schedule and videos showcasing his talent. He will be competing January 28 - 30, 2010 in Aspen, CO, at the Winter X Games, which will be televised on ESPN.

Background on Ski Cross

What is ski cross?  It is a relatively new type of skiing competition that is based on the motorbike discipline motocross and a cousin sport known as Snowboard Cross. It is a timed racing event and is often considered part of freestyle skiing because it incorporates terrain features that are traditionally found in freestyle. In a time trial or qualifying round, each competitor skis down the course, which is built to encompass both a naturally occurring terrain and artificial features such as jumps, rollers, etc. After the time trial, the fastest 32 skiers in men's events, for example, compete in a knock-out style series in rounds of four. A group of four skiers start simultaneously and attempt to reach the end of the course. The first two to cross the finish line will advance to the next round. At the end, the final and small final rounds determine 1st to 4th and 5th to 8th places, respectively (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skicross). In short, the race requires skill, strength and physical endurance because the course is very demanding.

Governed by the International Ski Federation, competitors are not allowed to pull, push, hold, or block each other during those sections of the course where passing may occur. A deliberate interference basically spells doom -- an automatic disqualification. Errol Kerr is well adapted to the demands of ski cross, as evidenced from his extensive background in Alpine skiing, plus it makes good use of his motocross and BMX skills. He has a good shot at picking up a medal at the Olympics because of his raw and natural talents on the slopes.

Tyra Banks Announces the End of the "Tyra Banks Show" at the End of Fifth Season in Spring 2010

Tyra Banks announces the end of the "Tyra Banks Show" at the close of fifth season in spring 2010.

Tyra Banks has decided to bid adieu to her show after five seasons and two Daytime Emmy awards. She told People magazine that this will be the last season for her show in the spring of 2010. She said, “I’ve been loving having fun, coming into your living rooms, bedrooms, hair salons for the past 5 years.”

Don't cry for Tyra Banks. She will reportedly turn her focus to the launch of Bankable Studios, a N.Y.-based film production company currently reviewing possible projects. Staying true to a stated mission of hers, she told People, “My next huge steps will allow me to reach more women and young girls to help us all feel as fierce as we truly are.” Banks says.

She wrote in an open letter on her Web site, “There’s a lot cooking right now and a lot of fire burning in my heart.” “And I salute you my amazing family of viewers; without you there never would have been a Tyra Show. I really love you all.”

Well, Tyra Banks certainly won't make as enormous a dent as the reigning Daytime talk show queen Oprah Winfrey. who made a similar announcement about the end of her show earlier this fall, but still she managed to reach an audience of young women who adored her. Tyra Banks isn't departing the world of television. On the contrary. She will be back on "America's Next Top Model," which is slated to return for its 15th season in February, as well as her ABC show "True Beauty."

Prison Guard Albert James Turner Wanted by Texas Police in the Deaths of His Wife, Keitha Turner & Mom-in-law Betty Jo Frank

Multistate manhunt launched for Albert James Turner, who is wanted for the stabbing deaths of his wife Keitha Turner and his mother-in-law Betty Jo Frank.

Have you seen this man? Police in Rosenberg, Texas are searching for Albert James Turner, a prison guard, who has been accused of stabbing his wife, Keitha Turner and mother-in-law, Betty Jo Frank, to death over the holiday weekend. The women were stabbed in front of children, officials said.

Detectives in Rosenberg, which is a suburb of Houston believe that the suspect could be headed for Florida because he has family there. According to media reports, Rosenberg police Lt. Colin Davidson said Turner, 44, faces murder charges after an argument at the home of his in-laws turned violent Sunday. He also said Turner was identified by eyewitnesses who called 911 for help.

According to the Houston Chronicle, Turner is described as a man of large stature -- 6-foot-1 and weighs 270 pounds. He may be traveling in his maroon Honda Accord with a Texas plate: 494-JFY and should be considered armed and dangerous.

Keitha Turner, 39, was the daughter of prominent Rosenberg pastor Gene Frank of the Church of Living Waters, while Betty Jo Frank, 66, was his wife.

Photo credit:  Rosenberg Police Department

Police Arrest Another Nigerian Man on Second Northwest Flight 253 from Amsterdam in Detroit

URGENT:  Police have surrounded Northwest Flight #253 from Amsterdam to Detroit. Passengers reportedly being deplaned. Reports of suspicious activity. A Nigerian man is in police custody after reportedly becoming verbally abusive during the flight board. Law enforcement is stating that this was a non-serious matter. No explosives were found on board or on this person, though it is being reported that he boarded the plane in Lagos, Nigeria with no luggage. They are also saying that he was ill.

According to Fox News, Metro Airport spokesman John Witner said there was a report of suspicious activity on the Delta/Northwest flight 253 from Amsterdam Sunday. That is the same flight on which Umar Farouk Abdul Mutallab, a Nigerian national, attempted to blow up the plane as it approached Detroit on Christmas Day.

WJBK Detroit is reporting that a Nigerian man has locked himself in the bathroom of the plane. The flight requested emergency assistance upon landing. The plane is being held in a secluded area of the airport. A verbally abusive passenger was on board. There were 257 passengers on crew on board the flight. The man was allegedly in the bathroom for a while and became angry when he was questioned by the flight crew.

Percy Sutton, Harlem Trailblazer, Media Mogul and Leader of the "Gang of Four" Dies at Age 89

Percy Sutton, civil rights trailblazer, media mogul, political giant, visionary and attorney for Malcolm X and Sugar Ray Robinson, dies at 89.

Percy Sutton, a trailblazer and pioneer in the civil rights movement, a media titan, who has been a political fixture in the Harlem, NY landscape for eons, died Saturday. He was 89 years old. Sutton has long been considered on of New York's most influential figures, spearheading the careers of many famous black politicians in the "city that does not sleep." Sutton, became an attorney in 1950 and opened an office in Harlem, and will best be remembered as representing activist Malcolm X and boxer Sugar Ray Robinson. He went on to argue many cases and his stature in the community grew.

Percy Sutton, was born on November 24, 1920 in San Antonio, Texas, and was the youngest of 15 children. His parents, Samuel and Lillian Sutton, were both educators. His father, who was born free, three years before the Emancipation Proclamation, was one of the first black educators in Bexar County. Percy and all of his siblings graduated from college. He attended and graduated from Prairie View A&M University, Tuskegee Institute and Hampton Institute. Sutton fought with the famous Tuskegee Airmen during World War II, where he served as an intelligence officer. He attended Brooklyn Law School after he received an honorable discharge from the Army Air Corps, where he had attained the rank of captain.

Sutton had a long association with the National Association of the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and he entered the world of politics during that time. He became a New York State assemblyman in the late 1960s. He ran for borough president of Manhattan in 1966 and won in a landslide. He held the position for 12 years. He became the "leader" of the Harlem Clubhouse, which is comprised of a group of black leaders who dominated Democratic politics in Harlem for decades. He helped to shape the political careers of the "Gang of Four," which comprised of Sutton, the former Mayor David Dinkins, Rep. Charlie Rangel, former New York Secretary of State Basil Paterson, the father of current governor David Paterson.

Sutton went on to become a radio mogul when he co-founded Inner City Broadcasting Corporation and purchased WLIB-AM and WBLS-FM in 1971, making them the first black-owned radio stations in New York City. He will be remembered as the person who saved the Apollo Theater from bankruptcy. He was instrumental in the revitalization of the theater, which he operated until 1991. He produced the very successful "It's Showtime at the Apollo" nationally syndicated weekly variety television series that showcased local talent and well as the appearances of well-known performers such as Patti Labelle, Gladys Knight, Sinbad, Steve Harvey, Stephanie Mills and many others.

Quite simply put, New York City has lost a giant and he will be sorely missed. Percy Sutton is survived by his wife, Leatrice; his son Pierre, and daughter Cheryl.

Police: Philadelphia Pastor Kirk Caldwell, Shoots & Kills Son Jordan Caldwell, 21, in Domestic Dispute

Kirk Caldwell, a Philadelphia pastor, allegedly shoots and kills his 21-year-old son, Jordon Caldwell on Christmas Day, during domestic dispute.

READ LATEST UPDATE IN THE CASE: http://blackpoliticalthought.blogspot.com/2009/12/pastor-kirk-caldwell-being-held-on-2.html



Jordan Caldwell, 21, of Darby Borough, Pa., was shot and killed by his father, Pastor Kirk Caldwell, 44, who got involved in a domestic dispute between his son and a young lady, which has been characterized by Fox News as a violent confrontation. The shooting was reportedly witnessed by 20 or more family members and friends, who had gathered together to celebrate Christmas Day. According to Darby police, Caldwell, who was found shot in the chest at about 2 p.m. Friday, was rushed to Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital, where he was pronounced dead a half-hour later. The elder Caldwell is the pastor at the End Times Harvest Mission for Christ in Philadelphia. I wonder what his Bible tells him about retaliation?

The police have stated, according to the Daily Times, that they are not sure what led up to the shooting, but Kirk Caldwell had not been charged as of early Friday evening. The Daily Times is also reporting that Pastor Caldwell has spoken out against violence in Darby, which has seen its homicides for 2009 skyrocketing to 29. He appeared at a July 9, 2009, vigil for another young shooting victim, in which he was quoted in the Daily Times as cautioning residents not to take the law into their own hands. Wow. I wonder how he could characterize his actions?

The official cause of the death of Jordan Caldwell is still pending. An autopsy is being performed by the Delaware County Medical Examiner.

Jasper Schuringa, Video Director from Amsterdam, Instrumental in Foiling Uma Farouk Abdulmutallab's Terror Attack on Northwest Flight#253

Jasper Schuringa instrumental in subduing alleged terrorist Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab on Northwest Airlines Flight#253 as it prepared to land in Detroit.

Kudos to Jasper Schuringa, a video director and producer from Amsterdam, who was instrumental in subduing Nigerian national Umar Farouk Abdul Mutallab (Mudallab is being reported in some media outlets), who reportedly ignited an explosive device on board Northwest Flight #253 from Amsterdam to Detroit, Friday. He sustained some burns in the scuffle with Mutallab, who sustained second and third degree burns on his leg.

Schuringa said he heard a sound that reminded him of a firecracker and someone yelling, “Fire! Fire!” "I pulled the object from him and tried to extinguish the fire with my hands and threw it away," Schuringa said. He said he screamed for water and pulled Abdulmutallab out of his seat and dragged him to the front of the plane. Schuringa told CNN that Abdulmutallab seemed out of it and "was staring into nothing."

To ensure Abdulmutalla did not have other explosives on his body, Schuringa stripped off his clothes. He then handcuffed the alleged attacker with the help of a crew member. Schuringa said the other passengers applauded as he returned to his seat. He says that he sustained minor injuries during the take down. "My hands are pretty burned. I am fine," he said. "I am shaken up. I am happy to be here."

Federal law enforcement and airline security sources say Abdulmutallab was immediately taken into custody following the incident and treated for second- and third-degree burns on his thighs. Source: NY Daily News

Abdulmutallab flew on KLM flight from Lagos, Nigeria, to Amsterdam and reportedly is not on a "no fly" list, as previously reported by the Detroit Free Press, but he is on a U.S. database of people with suspected terrorist connections. It is rather interesting to note that while there is no evidence that he is a trained member of al-Qaida, a federal security document obtained by CNN, reveals that the explosive device he tried to detonate was acquired in Yemen, along with the instructions on how and when it should be used. This begs the questions, how did he get pass security screeners and machines at the airport in Nigeria and Amsterdam with this "explosive device?" This is further proof that we are not as secure from these terrorists as the government claims.

Photo credit:  Jasper Schuringa, CNN

Cyan Brown, 16, Reportedly in Hiding After Fatally Stabbing Ex-Con Thomas Winston, at Queens Subway Station

Cyan Brown, 16, identified by mother, Erika Brown, as the woman who stabbed Thomas Winston, after he and a group of thugs chased her into a Queens subway station.

The woman, who fatally stabbed ex-con Thomas Winston, as he and a bunch of thugs chased her onto a Queens subway train at the 21st St. - Queensbridge station in NYC Thursday and tried to fondle her, has been revealed as 16 year-old Cyan Brown, according to the NY Daily News. The altercation between the young woman and the men started outside at a nearby chicken restaurant, according to police and the decedent's family.

Winston, who lives in a homeless shelter and has a long rap sheet which includes criminal possession of a weapon, attempted murder and selling narcotics, is the father of a 10-month old child. His family claims he was never in the subway station, but was trying to hail a cab to bring a present to his daughter. The child is in the custody of his relative. Besides the fact that one has to wonder where the child's biological mother is and why this man is living in a shelter, Cyan Brown is being reported as having a history of stabbing people. That's very troubling and if she can't prove that she stabbed this man in self-defense, then she'll be looking at some serious criminal charges. I guess I have to ask how did the relatives of Thomas Winston know so much about this young lady? Seems to me that they are grasping at straws to justify his behavior.

I am amazed at how family members will come to the rescue of a known criminal and paint such a rosy picture of his or her life. The man was a criminal and he allegedly harassed this young woman. He was among a group of men that allegedly tried to attack a 16 year old woman with the intent to harm her, sexually, how good of a role model is he? Since this man doesn't seem to be gainfully employed, why would he be dropping off a present after 9 p.m. for his infant child? There are so many unanswered questions in this incident and I hope this young lady will get good legal representation. Still, I am happy that one less thug is running loose on our streets. Good riddance.


UPDATE#1: Cyan Brown has turned herself in to police and has been charged with manslaughter. To read more about this, visit The Gothamist.

Photo credit:  Cyan Brown, Pace for NY Daily News

Actor Charlie Sheen Arrested in Aspen Colorado on Charges Related to Domestic Violence

Actor Charlie Sheen arrested in Aspen, Colorado on charges related to domestic violence, after wife, Brooke Mueller calls 911.

Actor Charlie Sheen has been arrested in Aspen, Colorado on charges related to domestic violence. According to the Aspen Times, police spokeswoman Stephanie Dasaro said Sheen was taken into custody Friday on suspicion of second-degree assault and menacing, which are both felonies, as well as being charged with criminal mischief, which is a misdemeanor. His wife, Brooke Mueller, reportedly called police after he allegedly pushed her.

Since he is charged with committing domestic violence, he will remain behind bars without bond until he is advised of the charges, according to the Aspen Times. According to media reports, Colorado law requires protection orders between people arrested on domestic violence cases and their alleged victims. The court was closed for Christmas and no date has been set for his appearance.

Sheen, who is the son of actor Martin Sheen, married Mueller in May 2008, following his acrimonious divorce from actress Denise Richards. His screen credits include "Platoon," "Wall Street" and the "Hot Shots!" movies. He is the star of CBS series "Two and a Half Men."


UPDATE#1: Sheen bonded out of jail sometime after 6 p.m. and was scheduled to catch a flight to Los Angeles, his attorney, Richie Cummins told the Aspen Times. His bond was $8,500.

Photo credit: Charlie Sheen, Aspen Police Department (Aspen Times)

Umar Farouk Abdul Mutallab, A Nigerian Citizen, Reportedly Tried to Blow Up Delta Airlines Flight 253 From Amsterdam to Detroit

Umar Farouk Abdul Mutallab, a Nigerian, attempted to blow up Northwest Flight# 253 Friday from Amsterdam to Detroit. According to media reports, U.S. officials Mutallad claimed he was acting on behalf of al-Qaida when he tried to blow up the flight. 

Rep. Peter King, (R-N.Y.) said the flight began in Nigeria and went through Amsterdam en route to Detroit. The explosive was reportedly described by a U.S. intelligence official as a mix of powder and liquid. When it failed, he reportedly tried to detonate it. There are reports that several passengers were injured.

Rep. Peter King, ranking GOP member of the House Homeland Security Committee, said the flight began in Nigeria and went through Amsterdam en route to Detroit. There were 278 passengers aboard the Airbus 330.

There was nothing out of the ordinary until the flight was on final approach to Detroit, said Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Elizabeth Isham Cory. That is when the pilot declared an emergency and landed without incident shortly thereafter, Cory said in an e-mail message. The plane landed at 11:51 a.m.

The passenger created a disturbance by lighting what was reported to be firecrackers -- or perhaps a "powdery substance" -- onboard the flight, injuring himself and several other passengers, according to Delta Airlines (which merged with Northwest Airlines). Source: Detroit Free Press

Here's what I would really like to understand. How could this man's name be on the U.S. government's no-fly list of suspected terrorists and was still able to book a flight, get on a plane to come to the United States?

 Alhaji Umaru Mutallab, father of alleged terrorist Umar Farouk Abdul Mutallab

UPDATE#1:  Alhaji Umaru Mutallab reported to the U.S. embassy in Nigeria six months ago that his son had left London to travel and he did not know where to, but he was concerned that his views had become extremist. According to the NY Post, a source close to the father reportedly said he was shocked that his son was allowed to travel to this country after he’d reported his extreme views. Mutallab is an engineering student at London's University College and is known to have preached Islamic teachings while in school, where he was called "Alfa," which is slang for Islamic scholar, according to the NY Post.  After enrolling at the University College, he relocated to Egypt and then to Dubai, where he told his family that he no longer wanted contact with them, the Post reported. Of course, the blame game has begun and it is being pinned on the Obama administration.

UPDATE#2: Here is an excerpt from an article on Newsweek's website -- "US Approved Flight 253 Passenger List, Source Says." It sheds some light the information coming out of Amsterdam about the security screening and the fact that the list of passengers on the flight were cleared by the United States.  

Judith Sluyter, spokeswoman for the NCTB, the office of Holland's national counter-terrorism coordinator, said that before Flight 253 left Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport, the passenger list was transmitted in full to U.S. authorities for review. Under procedures negotiated between the United States and various foreign countries, U.S. agencies -- particularly an interagency "Terrorist Screening Center" run by the FBI with input from others including the Homeland Security Department and the intelligence community -- are supposed to run the names through American counter-terrorism databases to see if any would-be passengers present potential threat.

Salvation Army Maj. Philip Wise Shot and Killed in No. Little Rock, Ark., After Two Black Men Approached Him & Demanded Money

Salvation Army Maj. Philip Wise, shot and killed outside North Little Rock, Ark., center after he was accosted by two black men, who demanded money.

Maj. Philip Wise (Arkansas Democrat Gazette)

Maj. Philip Wise, 40, who joined the Salvation Army, 16 years ago, was shot and killed outside the Baring Cross center in North Little Rock, Ark., after two black males accosted him and demanded money. Wise, who has reportedly spent the last few years helping people in the Baring Cross neighborhood, through the Salvation Army center, which provides youth programs, weekly church services, a food pantry, among other things, did not deserve to be mowed down and in front of his three children, ages four, six and eight.

According to the Arkansas Democrat Gazette, Wise was returning to the Salvation Army center at 1505 W. 18th Street on Thursday evening at about 4 p.m., with his children when the two dirtbags approached him and one fired the fatal shot that took his life.

This shooting is a tragedy and Mr. Wise spent his life helping the less fortunate through the Salvation Army. The police are looking for the two men who accosted Mr. Wise. It just sickens me that these young thugs can find nothing better to do with their lives than wreak havoc on the community. If you have any information, please contact Crimestoppers at (501) 758-1234. The reward being offered is $1,000, which seems paltry, but I am sure it will increase within the coming days.

Woman Being Harassed by Group of Thugs at NY Subway Train Station, Fatally Stabs One, Thomas Winston, Then Flees on F Train

Woman, being harassed by group of men at a New York City subway station, allegedly stabs Thomas Winston to death and flees on F train.

It's safe to say that Thomas Winston never thought in a million years that he would lose his life on Christmas Eve. He was, allegedly, among several thugs who tried to drag a woman off the Queens, F subway train station, but they picked the wrong woman to harass. She reportedly fought back and fatally stabbed Winston before fleeing to another train, according to the NYPD.

The large group of men - perhaps as many as eight - surrounded the woman outside a chicken restaurant above the 21st St.-Queensbridge station about 9 p.m., police and a witness said. The harassment, which may have included unwanted sexual advances toward the woman and grabbing, continued as she entered the subway station.

The woman broke free from the men and frantically ran down to the platform and hopped on an F train, with the thugs right behind. "They tried to physically drag her off the train, but she fights back," one cop said.
The struggle continued as the group pulled her off the train and dragged her up the stairs to the mezzanine level. At one point, the woman stabbed one of her attackers - identified by family as Thomas Winston, 29, - multiple times in the chest. The woman then sprinted back down to the platform - with the thugs in hot pursuit, said witness  Ricardo Josephs, 41.

Winston, who lives in a nearby shelter and has a 10-month-old daughter, was pronounced dead at a Manhattan hospital. The woman was still in the wind Thursday night, police said. One police source said investigators suspect the woman was acting in self-defense. Source: NY Daily News

This incident reminds me of Bernard Goetz, who shot four young men whom he said were hellbent on mugging him. Goetz, dubbed as the "Subway Vigilante" before his identity was uncovered, was convicted for the illegal possession of a firearm in the incident. He symbolized the frustrations New Yorkers felt with the skyrocketing crime rates in the city during the mid-1980s. I hope law enforcement will not go out of their way to find this woman. She was protecting herself and if it means the life of a scumbag, then so be it. I am always amazed that the families of these thugs can give media interviews extolling the virtues of these dirtbags. According to the NY Daily News, Winston's aunt, Diane Greenspan, who I might add, reportedly has custody of this daughter, said she was stunned by his death. Winston seemed to be a career criminal. According to media reports, he has numerous prior arrests, including the sale of narcotics, with his most recent arrest in September.

Photo credit: F Train, Coble Hill blog

Does Blockbuster Flick "Avatar" Have a Racist Subtext?

Does the blockbuster movie "Avatar" have a racist subtext? Well, I came across an article written by Will Heaven of a U.K. Telegraph columnist and blogger, who seems to think so.

The premise of the movie is pretty simple: a white man goes and lives with the natives, or Na'vi on a faraway planet called Pandora, in this case, so that he can learn their ways and eventually become their leader and conquer their lands. Here's where this movie gets a little tricky. The Na'vi in this movie aren't your average extra-terrestrials. Besides being blue-skinned aliens, it seems an oddity that they are decked in Maasai-style necklaces and beaded jewelry, which seem to be borrowed from tribal East Africa. Their clothes appear Amerindian and their long hair looks like dreadlocks. They carry bows and poisoned arrows and their faces are painted, ready for battle. The main characters are played by four black actors -- Zoe Saldana, C. C. H. Pounder, Laz Alonso and Peter Mensah, along with Wes Studi, a Cherokee. Then, just when you think things are about to become really bad for the natives, a white man who was one of the oppressors miraculously changes sides, assimilates into the culture and saves the day. Sounds familiar? I am pretty sure you could think of several instances in history where that has happened.

Here's an excerpt from Will Heaven's column:

James Cameron has been very open about the politics behind Avatar. It’s about how “greed and imperialism tend to destroy the environment,” he said in a recent interview. “It’s a way of looking back on ourselves from this other world.”

If we look at his version of our planet, however, the view is overwhelmingly repellent. Pandora is to Cameron what Africa was to Joseph Conrad – it’s another, fictional ‘Heart of Darkness’, a place where a cruel imperial power subjects what is (perhaps unwittingly) depicted as a lesser race. Chinua Achebe, Conrad’s fiercest critic, wrote that “Heart of Darkness projects the image of Africa as ‘the other world,’ the antithesis of Europe and therefore of civilization, a place where man’s vaunted intelligence and refinement are finally mocked by triumphant bestiality.” Almost the exact same could be said of Avatar.

Take, for example, the relationship between the ethnic Na’vi and the animals which inhabit Pandora. Every interaction between them involves an act of quasi-consummation. The “natives” attach a spindly appendage to whatever raging animal they are trying to tame, resulting in a short struggle followed by an almost post-coital quiet. In another scene, one of the Na’vi is warned not to play with the same appendage or, he is told, “you’ll go blind.” The hint is heavy enough – it’s the same “triumphant bestiality” which Achebe criticised in Heart of Darkness. Source: Will Heaven

I took my kids to see the movie and I thought it was a great movie. It never really occurred to me to view this movie through the context of race. That's not how I want to view the movie and we shouldn't. Can't we just appreciate a movie because it is good? Why all the talk about racism? What are your thoughts on this blockbuster film? Does it have a racist subtext?

Mary J. Blige Reportedly Punches Husband, Kendu Isaacs, in the Face After She Thought He was Flirting With Waitress

Well, there is drama with R&B singer Mary J. Blige. NY Post's Page Six is reporting that Blige punched her husband Kendu Isaacs in the face at the release party for her new album at club M2 Tuesday night. Ms. Blige reportedly drew blood with that punch, which landed on Isaacs after she thought he was flirting with a waitress. Welcome to the Age of the Tiger. Tiger Woods's alleged beatdown by his wife Elin Nordegren. Here's an excerpt from Page Six:

"She turned to him and was screaming, 'You're not going to ruin my night,' " our witness says. "They got up in each other's faces before someone tried to separate them, at which point she shoved the guy aside, pulled back and popped [Isaacs] in the face."

The source said Blige, Isaacs and their entourage were whisked through a door to the attached club Pink, which was closed. Our witness relates, "She was yelling at him, 'What are you gonna do, Chris Brown me?' Four of her bodyguards and two of the club's kept them apart."

Isaacs was kicked out. Blige went to the bathroom to fix her hair and makeup, but soon fled, creating an uncomfortable scene for partygoers Jay-Z, Beyoncé and Busta Rhymes. Her rep said only, "People lie and don't know what they're talking about." Source: NY Post Page Six

Well, if Mr. Isaacs was flirting with his wife right next to him, that is just disrespectful and rude. Mary should not have hit him, but I guess she was caught up in the heat of the moment. Dang people, can we all get along?

Commotion at St. Peter's Basilica Involving Pope Benedict XVI, Woman Jumps Barriers, Knocks Him Down

BREAKING:  Commotion involving Pope Benedict XVI in St. Peter's Basilica as he walked down the main aisle to begin the tradition Christmas Eve Mass. 

A woman, who has been characterized as mentally unstable, jumped the barriers in the Basilica and knocked down the Pope as he walked down the main aisle .

Footage aired on Italy's RAI state TV shows the woman, dressed in a red jumper, vaulting over the wooden barriers and rushing the pope before being swarmed by bodyguards.

Phillip Maze, Arab, Ala., Landlord, Accused by HUD of Racial Discrimination Because White Tenants Allowed Black Person to Stay Overnight in Trailer Home

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has issued a news release stating that Phillip Maze, a landlord in Arab, Ala., discriminated against a family he was renting a mobile home to because they allowed a black person to stay overnight in their home. He is opposed to interracial relationships. According to Birmingham News, HUD said Maze violated the rights of a white family, whose names were not disclosed, when he cut off water to the home after a black person stayed the night there. Wow, is Mr. Maze still stuck in the Jim Crow days of the South?

Maze reportedly rented a 12-by-52 trailer to a white couple, plus a child and the woman's sister for $500 a month in February. He said shortly thereafter, another sister's two children moved into the trailer. I do agree with him there were far too many people in such a small space. He reportedly told The News that while he doesn't like interracial relationships (who cares?), the real reason he asked the tenants to move was because the "mobile home was too small for the additional three people, the family left dirty diapers and bedclothes strewn outside, and they were behind on the rent."

According to a HUD complaint issued Dec. 17, Maze told a HUD investigator, "I do not have any blacks on my property and I am aware that we have a biracial president, but no federal law will make me rent to anyone I do not want to." "This was a 4th (sic) generation business; Arab, Alabama has very few blacks," the complaint states Maze told the investigator.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, in 2000, the most recent year for which information is available, Arab had a population of 7,174 and .2 percent were black.  Maze said he did make the statements, but said the investigator was trying to intimidate him. Maze said he did not violate anyone's rights.

"He gave me a stare like he came to arrest a child molester," Maze said of the investigator. The investigator went to Maze's Marshall County home after the family reported to HUD that Maze turned off their water in March after the black boyfriend of a family member spent the night. He told them he would turn the water back on after the boyfriend left. The family took the boyfriend, a college student, back to school and soon moved out, the complaint states. Maze said police had to stop them from taking his furniture as they did so. Source: Birmingham News

Well, it seems like Mr. Maze is pretty defiant in his position against this family. According to The News, he seems to have his mind pretty well made up. He said, "it wasn't just because he was black. They were filthy; they were lazy. I'll burn it down before I let the government tell me who to rent it to." As filthy as he claims these people are, he can't circumvent the law to suit his own needs. It seems rather ironic that he took this action after a black person stayed in the home.

To close, it is a little ironic that we have a town in the United States named Arab, which is located one hour north of Birmingham, 2.5 hours south of Nashville, and 3.5 hours from Atlanta. Here's a little history on the town. It got its name, in 1882, due to an unintentional misspelling by the US Postal Service. The intended name was taken from Arad Thompson, the son of the founder and first postmaster Stephen Tuttle Thompson. Thompson submitted three possible names to get the post office -- Ink, Bird and Arad. Arab was incorporated 1892. To read more about Arab, visit Marshall County Online.

Antoinette White & Kevin Straight Charged with Aggravated Battery, Cruelty to a Child, Their 2-Mo. Old Baby Found to Have 22 Broken Bones, Skull Fracture

Antoinette White, 22 and Kevin Straight, 32, ought to be tossed in prison for the rest of their lives for the horrific life they afforded their two-month old child. According to WSB-TV, the Marietta, Ga., couple was arrested after the child was admitted to Children's Healthcare of Atlanta with 22 broken bones and a skull fracture. Why is it that women who abuse their children are often the most fertile? There are so many decent, loving and law-abiding couples who want to have children and can't.  These two should never see the outside of prison walls for the rest of their lives.

These two dirtbags were taken into custody after being interviewed by law enforcement. Investigators told WSB-TV that they were tipped off by a representative of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Tuesday afternoon. They are also the parents of a one-year old child that has been placed in protective custody.

The couple has been charged with aggravated battery and cruelty to a child. The charges should be upgraded to attempted murder. How do you break 22 bones in a baby, plus fracture her head and not get slapped with attempted murder charges?

Photo credit:  WSB-TV

Christian Musician Derek Loux Reportedly Dies in Fatal Car Accident in Nebraska

Christian musician Derek Loux has reportedly died in a fatal car accident in Nebraska. According to TransWorld News, he was in Nebraska for a ministry trip when the accident occurred.

Loux Family (Now Public)

According to a statement on an online blog that, Loux, 37, got into an accident while traveling on a highway near Cozad, Neb. His vehicle reportedly hit a patch of black ice, veered off the interstate and crashed. He was pronounced dead after being rushed to a hospital following the accident.

Loux, a director and Worship Leader of Forerunner Music Academy at the International House of Prayer Kansas City. Loux and his wife, Renee, have two daughters and eight adopted children.

Kyrah Martin, 3, Found Unconscious in Snow Outside her Brooklyn, NY, Home, Later Pronounced Dead at Hospital, Investigation Underway

Kyrah Martin, 3, found unconscious and face-down in snow outside Brooklyn, NY, home. Later pronounced dead at hospital.

MyFox NY is reporting that Kyrah Martin, 3, of 1517 Park Place in Brooklyn, NY, was found in the snow outside her home Wednesday morning. The child was, according to police, found unconscious and lying face-down in the snow when she was found. Kyrah Martin was taken to Kings County Hospital where she was pronounced dead. This is such a sad turn of events in the life of this precious and beautiful child.

The child's mother, 35-year-old Nefertiti Martin, had reportedly gone to sleep with her four kids in the same bed. That's according to Kyrah's grandmother, Nadine Martin. Nefertiti was awakened by police who were searching apartments to find out where the child lived.


Kyrah Martin was reportedly found at around 1:15 a.m. According to MyFoxNY, cops said the injuries are consistent with a fall. The NYPD has launched an investigation.

UPDATE#1:  According to the NY Post, the child fell in the snow from the fourth-floor roof in what is being characterized as an accident. Police Commissioner Ray Kelly told the NY Post that there were no other footprints found in the snow on the roof where the child fell. She was seen on video cameras walking out of the apartment and through the roof doors. Her mother was found after authorities went from door to door in the apartment building. The family is reportedly clients of the Department of Homeless Services, are recent arrivals to the building.

American Airlines Flight #331 From Miami to Kingston, Jamaica, Skids Off the Runway in Torrential Rains, 40 Passengers Injured

My thoughts and prayers go out to the families of the injured passengers on American Airlines Flight#331, that skidded across the tarmac at Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston, JA, Tuesday night. The flight, carrying 154 people from Miami, experienced difficulties due to the heavy rainfalls that have caused flooding on some parts of the island. According to officials on the island, the plane stopped just short of the Caribbean Sea, along Port Royal and about 40 passengers were injured.

American Airlines Flight #331, CVM Television

American Airlines spokesman Tim Smith told the Associated Press that the impact cracked the fuselage, crushed the left landing gear and separated both engines from the Boeing 737-800.

Some 44 people were taken to hospitals with broken bones and back pains and four were seriously hurt, airport and Jamaican government officials said. American Airlines said two people were admitted to the hospital and nobody suffered life-threatening injuries.

Heavy turbulence on the way to Jamaica had forced the crew to halt the beverage service three times before giving up, Pilar Abaurrea of Keene, New Hampshire, told The Associated Press by phone. The pilot warned of more turbulence just before landing but said it likely wouldn't be much worse, she said.

U.S. investigators will analyze whether the plane should have been landing in such bad weather, Smith said, adding that other planes had landed safely in the heavy rain.

The plane originated at Reagan National Airport in Washington and took off from Miami International Airport at 8:52 p.m. and arrived in Kingston at 10:22 p.m. It was carrying 148 passengers and a crew of six, American said. The majority of those aboard were Jamaicans coming home for Christmas, Jamaican Information Minister Daryl Vaz said. Source: Fox News

My parents, who retired and moved back to Jamaica four years ago, told me about the heavy rains that caused flooding in some places on the island yesterday. There are so many low-lying areas on the islands that have been impacted by the inclement weather. I am thankful that none of the passengers were killed and the plane did not land in the water, which is quite deep. Christmas is a time when many Jamaicans return home and it is always a time of great excitement on the island. It will be a bitter-sweet moment for the families of the injured.

Read more information about the crash at the Jamaica Gleaner.

Eighth Grader David Muneton Beaten by Gang of 11 Over Misunderstanding, Seven Arrested & Charged with Aggravated Assault

Seven students arrested in savage beating of N.J. 8th Grader David Muneton which left him severely injured, and may even lose his sight.

Englewood, N.J. police said that as many as 11 students at Janis Dismus Middle School pounced upon David Muneton, an eighth grader, on December 18, 2009, beat him and left him so severely injured that he may lose his sight. Why did this pack of young thugs do this? According to WCBS-TV, investigators said the teenagers jumped Muneton as he walked home from school to get back at him for an earlier incident during which the eighth-grader accidentally hit a girl with a basketball. What's horrifying is that the students arrested came from both the high school and middle school, with the youngest child being just 12 years old. They were charged with aggravated assault. David Muneton is recovering in the Englewood Hospital.

To read the entire account of this horrific beating, CLICK HERE.

Kristy Lee Roshia in Federal Custody for Threatening to Kill First Lady Michelle Obama

Kristy Lee Roshia, has been accused of threatening to kill First Lady Michelle Obama. Roshia is in federal custody in Honolulu. The Obamas are planning to travel to Hawaii for their vacation.

The Secret Service says Kristy Lee Roshia called its Boston office last month and told a receptionist, "I will kill Michelle Obama" and "I will kill Marines."  Roshia also is suspected of mailing photographs of herself, poems and love letters to the Secret Service.

Agents arrested Roshia on Saturday after she told them she knew where President Barack Obama and his wife will be staying during a visit to the islands later this week. Source: Breitbart

Some people may say that this woman is harmless, but the authorities cannot take any chances. A nut will come along, threatening to harm the president or his family and will actually try to do so. I can't remember ever hearing of a first lady being threatened with bodily harm by anyone.

Sheriff's Deputies "Ambushed" by David E. Cradle Near Eatonville, Wa., Identified as Deputy Kent Mundell and Sgt. Nick Hausner

The two sheriff's officers shot near Eatonville, Wa., by David E. Crable, have been identified as Deputy Kent Mundell (pictured on the left) and Sgt. Nick Hausner (pictured below on the right).

Deputy Mundell, 44, was shot multiple times and is in critical condition and reportedly on life support. Mundell, a nine-year veteran on the force, is currently hospitalized at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, the Seattle Times states. He is married, with 16- and 10-year-old children.

Sgt. Nick Hausner, a 20-year veteran, was shot once and was in serious condition at Madigan Army Medical Center at Fort Lewis. He is expected to survive. Hausner is married, with 14- and 12-year-old children.

David Crable is another repeat offender that did not belong out on the streets. I pray that both officers will survive this horrific attack. The Sheriff's department said Crable, was intoxicated, but was cooperative when the officers came to the home. According to the Seattle Times, he initially agreed to leave the house before he opened fire and shot the officers. He reportedly went upstairs to get clothes, and opened fire on deputies "from 3, 4, 5 feet away" when he came back downstairs. He fired 10 rounds at the deputies, spokesman Ed Troyer told the newspaper.

Photo credit:  Deputy Kent Mundell and Sgt. Nick Hausner, Seattle Times

Jason Green, 32 & Melissa Jackson, 23, Two EMT Workers Who Turned Their Backs on Helping Eutisha Revee Rennix as She Died in Brooklyn Coffee Shop

EMTs Jason Green, 32, and Melissa Jackson, 23, have been suspended after witnesses at a Brooklyn coffee shop said they failed to help Eutisha Revee Rennix, who was six months pregnant and later died after suffering from a seizure. The pair told witnesses in the Au Bon Pain coffee shop that they should call 911 and they left with their bagels. The incident occurred on December 9, 2009. They should have been suspended without pay from day one when their callous behavior was documented and not after Mayor Michael Bloomberg expressed his anger about the untimely death of this woman.

EMT Jason Green, NY Post/Wayne Carrington

According to the NY Daily News, Green and Jackson  are reportedly dating. They work in the Emergency Medical Service dispatch center in the Metrotech complex, and their offices are directly above the Au Bon Pain where Rennix worked.  The two have been suspended without pay while the investigation continues. FDNY officials said Green had been an EMT for six years and Jackson for four.

Anyone who has a heart, whether or not they were on their break, would have helped this woman in some way. There is no reason why these two EMT workers were so callous and uncaring that they turned their backs on this woman. They should be fired immediately.