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Respect
the person who has seen the Dark side of motorcycling and lived.
LA gangbanger photos
Areola
How to be a good
Democrat
Michael Moron
Buffalo Field Campaign
Ben Stein
"The
difference between the almost right word and the right word is really a large
matter—’tis the difference between the lightning-bug and the lightning." - Mark
Twain
The opposite of a correct statement is a
false statement.
The opposite of a profound truth may well be another
profound truth.
Niels Bohr (1885-1962), physicist
"Beware the man of one book."
Saint
Thomas Aquinas (1225 - 1274), Theologian, philosopher
Life is not a journey to the grave with the
intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to
skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly
proclaiming:
WOW - What a Ride!"
"Consciously
or unconsciously we all strive to make the kind of a world we like."
Oliver
Wendell Holmes
"We Lakota have a close relationship to the buffalo. He
is our brother. You can't understand about nature, about the feeling we have
toward it, unless you understand how close we were to the buffalo. That animal
was almost like a part of ourselves, part of our souls." Lame Deer,
Lakota
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Cross wind Landing
Plea Deal in Hells Angels Trial
By KEN RITTER The Associated Press Wednesday, October 11, 2006; 11:18 PM LAS VEGAS -- The federal racketeering trial of 11 Hells Angels motorcycle club members came to a sudden end Wednesday after six defendants accepted plea deals to reduce charges stemming from a deadly casino brawl.
The men also entered plea agreements in a parallel state criminal case, sparing them the possibility of life in prison if they had been convicted. Under the deals with federal and state prosecutors, they likely will face no more than 2 1/2 years in prison.
All federal charges were to be dropped against the remaining five federal defendants. The judge said he also would dismiss the federal cases against the 31 other Hells Angles members charged in the brawl.
The collapse of the federal case came after two weeks of trial during which defense lawyers accused government agents and prosecutors of flagrant misconduct and withholding crucial evidence.
U.S. Attorney Daniel Bogden said he agreed to the plea deals because it involved "the six most active and culpable participants" in the fighting.
The Hells Angels members brawled with rival Mongols biker gang members at a 2002 motorcycle rally in Laughlin, a Colorado River resort town some 100 miles south of Las Vegas.
Two Hells Angels and one Mongols member died and at least a dozen people were injured. Videotape images showed the rival motorcycle gang members battling with guns, knives, wrenches and chairs on the casino floor at Harrah's Laughlin hotel-casino.
Calvin Schaefer, Raymond Foakes, Rodney Cox and James Hannigan pleaded guilty to federal charges of committing a violent crime, battery, in aid of racketeering. Maurice "Pete" Eunice and Dale Leedom pleaded no contest, conceding the government could prove they committed a violent felony.
Troy Regas, 43, a Hells Angels member whose brother, Sohn Regas, will go free, called it "better for six to do a small amount of time than for one guy possibly to face a life sentence."
Defense lawyers noted the settlement of the federal and state cases would clear the Hells Angels of federal claims that it constitutes a criminal enterprise like the Mafia.
"There is no implication whatsoever from this plea that the Hells Angels is a criminal enterprise," said Schaefer's lawyer, David Chesnoff.
No Mongols members were charged in the federal case, though six face state charges. |
HOUSTON, -- U.S. researchers say the effects of HIV on children differ greatly from those experienced by adults.
Scientists say the type, severity and progression of HIV are all factors that differ, depending on the age at which one contracts the disease. "Children do not demon- strate HIV-specific symptoms as adults do," said Dr.
Kishore Shetty of the University of Texas Dental Branch and lead author of the study. "Their bodies will most likely display an infection or weakness instead of common HIV signs." The place where such symptoms most commonly occur is in the mouth, Shetty said, adding there are many variations of the way lesions appear, but a few common types are: candidiasis, or "thrush," a fungal yeast infection; salivary gland enlargement; herpes simplex virus; inflammation of the gingiva; and canker sores.
"Orofacial manifestations of HIV are common in pediatric HIV infection," Shetty adds. "It is important to be aware of these signs, as they may serve as both a marker of infection and predictor of HIV progressing to AIDS." The research recently appeared in the journal General Dentistry.
If using a large vacuum cleaner on stairs, it's safer to start at the bottom and work up the stairs. This way the vacuum is not being pulled down the stairs.
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Aruba Consular Information Sheet
COUNTRY DESCRIPTION: Aruba is an autonomous part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Tourist facilities are widely available. Read the Department of State Background Notes on Aruba for additional information.
ENTRY/EXIT REQUIREMENTS: Either a valid U.S. passport or U.S. birth certificate (original or certified copy)
accompanied by a valid photo identification must be presented. While a U.S. passport is not mandatory, it is recommended since it is a more readily recognized form of positive proof of citizenship. The U.S. Consulate General recommends traveling with a valid U.S. passport to avoid delays or misunderstandings. A lost or stolen passport is also easier to replace when outside of the United States than other evidence of citizenship. Tourists may be asked to show onward/return tickets or proof of sufficient funds for their stay. Length of stay is granted for two weeks and may be extended for 90 days by the head office of immigration. For further information, travelers may contact the Royal Netherlands Embassy, 4200 Linnean Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20008, telephone (202) 244-5300, or the Dutch Consulate in Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, Houston or Miami. Visit the web site for the Embassy of the Netherlands at http://www.netherlands-embassy.org for the most current visa information.
TOULOUSE, France, -- A study at the Toulouse University School of Medicine in France says excess weight could impair memory. The study compared mental abilities with body mass index, which measures weight in relation to height, with a BMI count of 25 or more indicating over- weight, and 30 or more obesity, reports WedMD. The study said middle-aged adults with a high BMI scored lower on memory and other mental ability tests than did middle- aged adults with a healthier BMI, Dr. Maxime Cournot, one of the researchers. The findings appear in the Oct.
10 issue of the journal Neurology. "Our results can have an additional motivational effect to modify health habits in people who are overweight," Cournot told WebMD. Cournot said obesity can lead to heart and blood vessel disease, affecting the brain's blood vessels. She said excess weight can also lead to poorer management of the body's insulin, which in turn could affect brain cells.
Wash and recycle grocery-store foam trays (frequently used for meat) to use as "capturing trays" during household projects. The lip holds small items in pretty well. You could even poke things like screws through the foam to make sure they don 't fall off.
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Posted on Thu, Oct. 12, 2006 HERALD STAFF REPORT
BRADENTON
Schorpen gets public defender, will be arraigned on drug charges Nov. 3 - Susan Schorpen, whose 11-year-old daughter, Carlie Brucia, was kidnapped, raped and murdered in February 2004 in Sarasota, received a court-appointed public defender Wednesday in Circuit Court Judge Ed Nicholas's courtroom.
The 37-year-old woman will be arraigned Nov. 3 for possession of a controlled substance, a third-degree felony, and possession of drug paraphernalia, a first-degree misdemeanor.
According to court records, Schorpen was arrested Sept. 28 by a Manatee County sheriff's deputy in the parking lot of the Howard Johnson, 6511 14th St. W., Bradenton.
The deputy was responding to a call, "in reference to two prostitutes working the parking lot."
Schorpen gave the deputy permission to search her purse, where, according to his report, he found, "a glass pipe (crack stem), a silver push rod and a little plastic bottle with a hole in the middle of it. I also discovered a little metal container. When I opened it, I saw another glass stem and two peach color pills. When asked, the defendant stated they were Xanax."
Schorpen told the deputy she was "prescribed the pills after her daughter was murdered."
The two pharmacies she referred the deputy to said, "the defendant has never gotten a prescription filled there."
Schorpen also told the deputy she didn't "know how long the crack pipe was in her purse. . . . She did state she was smoking crack cocaine earlier today."
It was not Schorpen's first brush with the law.
When Joseph Smith, her daughter's killer, was being sentenced to death last March 15, Schorpen was being held in the Pinellas County jail on drug and prostitution charges. |
| Moisten thin terrycloth towels with a mixture of water and a little mild cleanser. Keep the towels in a plastic zipper bag, and they're ready to use anytime the banister needs a quick cleaning. Use the towels for other cleaning needs, and they eliminate the need to drag a messy bucket of soapy water around the house. |
Twice a year, check every screw on every hinge of every door in your house. This will prevent premature wear and tear.
Clean or replace the filter in your forced-air heating system monthly. Make sure that all air registers are not blocked by drapes, furniture, or rugs.
Weather-strip and caulk around doors and windows to limit air leaks. They could account for 10% of your home's heat loss. Many caulks will not cure if installed in cold weather, so caulk before the cold weather sets in.
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From September 28, 2006 - Local and state law enforcers kept a close eye on a group of suspected Pagan motorcycle gang members in the resort last spring, but tactics used in a traffic stop, which netted a plethora of dangerous weapons, and a blatant attempt to shield critical information from the police report led a local judge last week to dismiss all 40 serious counts against the men.
The evidence in a case that started as a routine traffic stop for a broken headlight last April and ended with the arrest of four alleged members of an outlaw motorcycle gang piled high in Ocean City District Court last Friday.
However, the .25 caliber handgun, firearm ammunition, knife, brass knuckles, police baton, broken or stolen motorcycle parts and handful of wooden ax handles, including one painted black with a skull at the tip and the word "Pagan" scripted down the side were void in a case several lawyers called "unconstitutional" and a violation of their due process rights.
Ronald Jay Krenzer, 20, and James Randolph Krenzer, 42, both of Brooklyn, Md., Charles Lewis Wood Jr., 47, of Edgemere, and Thomas William Spear Jr., 37, of Baltimore, were all arrested on 10 counts each for possession of a deadly weapon, illegal firearm possession and handgun violations last April when a search of the van they were driving in revealed potentially dangerous items concealed inside clothing and various compartments.
The reason for the initial stop was not questioned in court last week, but ordering suspects out of the vehicle and searching them for a broken taillight was a violation of their constitutional rights, according to Cathi Coates, a local attorney representing James Krenzer.
"For the record, I would object to them being taken out of the vehicle. I would also object to the frisk of all these individuals," she said. "All of these four defendants had their Fourth Amendment rights violated once they were pulled from the vehicle."
Ocean City Police Department Officer Jeffrey Johns testified that on April 23, around 2:30 a.m., he was on uniformed patrol near 2nd Street when he observed a 1997 Dodge van operating on the street with a broken headlight and initiated a traffic stop.
According to police reports, Johns noticed one of the occupants moving around in the backseat and immediately radioed for assistance because he feared for his safety.
"I was concerned he was either hiding or attempting to remove a weapon from the floorboard," said Johns.
Four Maryland State Troopers and OCPD K-9 Officer Richard Cook responded to the area to assist Johns.
"We ordered them out of the vehicle with their hands up so we could see them," Johns testified.
Coates, Attorney Steven D. Wyman of Towson and Stephen R. Tully of Baltimore spoke in defense of their clients.
They agreed that weapons found during a search of the Krenzer's, Wood and Spear were irrelevant since the action violated their rights.
"I like officer Johns and I truly respect him [but] I think these defendants' constitutional rights were violated. I think it's violating our rights of due process here," said Coates.
During his testimony, Johns said he was previously informed of the defendants' potential Pagan affiliation and approached the stop with caution due to their violent nature. However, his police report made no mention of his previous training, knowledge or suspicion the occupants were Pagan members. In was not until Johns took the stand that he shared the critical information, saying his supervisor consciously told him to leave it out of the report.
"I've made hundreds and hundreds of traffic stops and I'm going to tell you how I felt at the time. I had intelligence that these were Pagan gang members. I just wanted to spell out that I did fear for my safety," he said. "I did not document that in the police report or the statement of charges. I was asked to leave it out by police officers that were making surveillance that day."
His statements caused uproar amongst defense council, prompting one attorney to ask if it was a common practice of the department to inhabit a fair trial and shield information from reports.
"Did the police department tell you to keep anything else from the police report?" asked one attorney.
"I just feel that this is truly unfair," added Coates.
With little argument throughout the case, Assistant State's Attorney Michael Farlow stood by the officer's testimony and said Johns was protecting himself, other officers and passerby heading into a potentially dangerous situation.
"Traffic stops are one of the most dangerous things officers do," said Farlow.
After lengthy testimony, Judge Daniel R. Mumford ordered a five-minute recess to review testimony and come up with his decision.
When he returned, he cited other cases dealing with similar situations and found the officers did not have probable cause for a search of the defendants' person, simply because he was moving around in the backseat.
Other charges stemming from OCPD K-9 Delon's exterior scan and positive alert on firearms and weapons inside the vehicle, which is sufficient for probable cause, were also dismissed when Cook, who recently left the department, was not in court to testify.
"I don't know if I necessarily agree with the Court of Special Appeals, but they're higher than me," said Mumford before finding all four defendants not guilty.
Outlaw Biker World. |
October 16, 2006
COUNTRY DESCRIPTION: Samoa consists of the two large islands of Upolu and Savai'i and seven small islets.
The country has a stable parliamentary democracy with a developing economy. Tourist facilities are accessible by bus, taxi, and car and are within walking distance of access roads. Infrastructure is adequate in Apia, the capital, but it is limited in other areas. The Samoan Tourism Authority has a wide range of information of interest to travelers, and can be contacted at http://www.visitsamoa.ws. Read the Department of State Background
Notes on Samoa for additional information. |
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