Special to Baron Munchausen's Beat
by Dagrolord Del Oro

Nashville Predators' star forward Radek Bonk thought he was fulfilling the wish of a dying child when he had teammate Vernon Fiddler drive Fiddler's Hummer to Elm Street in Antioch- a tree-lined suburb of the Music City. Bonk is a native of the Czech Republic and freely admits 'my English good is not'. It was in part the desire to improve his English that led Bonk- whom Predator teammates teasingly call 'Yoda'- to his own Nightmare on Elm Street.

An interpreter for the NHL powerhouse Predators describes what happened thusly. "Radek volunteers regularly for Predators Community Outreach Programs such as Big Brothers and 'Chat With A Predator'. Chat With A Predator if a very popular format that allows fans the opportunity for online conversation directly with members of the Predators Organization. Because of his limited English, Radek usually had help from one of his teammates, in case Radek had a question of language or grammar. Fellow Predator forward and good friend Vernon Fiddler was assisting Radek when Fiddler received a cell phone call. Owing to poor reception inside the building,. Fiddler explained to Radek that he was going outside to take the call."

According to sources at NBC's To Catch A Predator, 18 year-old intern and Alabama native Amanda Bellings was only a week on the job when she accepted the assignment to pose online as under-aged sweetmeat. Sources say that Chris Hansen himself had been very impressed with Bellings and considered her to be 'one sharp cookie.' A producer chose Bellings to be part of the Nashville, Tennessee To Catch A Predator assignment because Bellings was a Southerner herself and would seem to Tennesseans less like 'a Goddamn Yankee.' Bellings said she awas given the chat handle Sick_4BigStik and was told to log into Yahoo Chat. Bellings said it was her job to pose as a decoy to 'lure in' child predators.

"I like tried really, really hard for like days," Bellings said. "But like guys just weren't interested. Even when I said that I was only 15 and that I like really, really wanted to suck their penises and stuff, they kept telling me, 'No way Jose, you're probably a decoy for To Catch A Predator. LOL.' I felt really, really awful. I told them I had like big boobies and would take it all the way up the butt, but still nothing. The guys would just type back stuff like 'No way. Say hello to Chris Hansen for me. LOL.'"

"I was afraid Mr. Hansen would like fire me," Bellings said. "So I like well you know got on Google. Sure enough, I found like a whole organization of predators. Boy, was I like surprised to find predators so blatantly organized! You know, with like their own chat server and stuff?"

"Radek was waiting for Vernon Fiddler to return from his cell call, when the instant message came in," said the Predators interpreter. "You have to understand that Radek had previously been with Vernon on several hospital and home visitations to present very ill and dying children with gift baskets from the Predators Organization. When the message from 'Sick_4BigStik' popped up, Radek responded as best he could. Radek actually thought by the manner in which the child was begging that the child was close to death. Radek wrote down the address the child gave him. Radek then located Vernon Fiddler in the parking lot and insisted that Vernon drive him right away to the child's house. Vernon told Radek that they should wait until daylight, but Radek insisted that they must go right away."

"The predator guy was so hot for my little cooze, he like drove over to see me right away," Bellings said with seeming pride. "He was like tall and good-looking and I felt like you know kinda bad in a way. But in another way, the guy had seemed pretty damn proud to be a predator, and he's like telling me his name is 'Bonk', if you can believe that. So I thought you know, like fuck Bonk and the Hummer he rode in on."

"Radek and Vernon both went to the door together," said a Predators spokesman. "They heard Amanda Bellings giggle. Belllings then told them she wasn't expecting two Predators and to come inside and wait in the living room while she finished her shower. Radek and Vernon came in and took a seat. Vernon found Bellings flirtacious but disembodied voice odd and was calling the Predators Community Relations Director when Chris Hansen walked into the living room and melodramatically introduced himself."

"It was a very unfortunate misunderstanding," said NBC spokesman Blake Neiverquist. "NBC deeply regrets any alarum to Mr. Bonk, Mr. Fiddler, their families, the NHL, the Nashville Predators, the State of Tennessee, and to the City of Nashville. Chris Hansen will cover his own medical expenses and no charges will be pursued. Mr. Hansen and the producers of To Catch A Predator apologize to one and all. To Catch A Predator further promises to set in motion infrastructure that will keep such misunderstandings from ever happening again. Thank you."

The other day, Crista and I brought the Dervish to the beach to take some pictures.  It was a beautiful day, and the Dervish was in typical Louis and Clark form.

I figured as long as I could keep her away from the edge of the jetty and no further than knee deep in the water, she was safe. 

I had forgotten about my ability to draw the Human SNAFU.

Some people draw luck, money, dinner invitations from the interesting. Not me.  I'm the Pied Piper for those with no social skills, no shame, no legitimate reason for approaching. Those who don't get that you really don't want company and you don't appreciate the invasion on your personal space. The mild rudeness that would send your average person wandering away, embarrassed, doesn't make a dent in the exoskeleton of the socially askew.

I am the one, who, minding my own beeswax in an almost empty waiting area, manages to find herself suddenly seated next to the man, old enough to be my father, who smells like desperation and his mother's basement. The one on the plane with empty seats who draws the drunk who will tell me, in detail, the ways in which he is willing to offer me pleasure. The one who accidentally 'befriends' the apartment complex wierdo who should not be living alone and proves it by having a four-alarm tantrum in the parking lot, and I have to change my phone number.

I worry the Dervish has inherited the same unfortunate magnetism.

Sure enough, at our lovely outing, Margaritaville appears on the scene wearing a Hawaiian shirt and eau de something's not right. He has overhead my conversation and uses a snippet of it as an opener. He seems like the average middle-aged guy trying to pick up a woman. Or two.

I see Crista's concern, and her eyebrows raise slightly over her sunglasses. The Dervish continues to dig in the sand.

And then I notice that Margaritaville is eating cereal. On the beach. Out of a Dollar Store Santa Clause bowl. In August. And although he's talking to me about nothing of consequence, he's watching my daughter. My daughter who has gone through several costume changes as she gets each dress wet and rips it off. And I remember that she spent a few moments in bloomers only. And I get a little seasick.

Because the beach is sufficiently populated, I know that even if he is beyond a SNAFU, there is little he can do. If he has taken a mental snapshot of her, it's already taken. And he has mentioned he is going to church (across the street, momentarily). So I ask him about the festivals in the area, to refocus his attention. And he tells me there is a wonderful Strawberry Festival.

In a moment, the church bells ring, and he is gone. And I see, right in the line of vision where was standing, a sign: "Peach Festival - August 16-17." And I pray he was just lonely, a garden-variety wierdo. Even drunk wouldn't be so bad. But I'm glad he doesn't know which is my car with corresponding license plate.

So tell me, did I overreact? Because in my mind, everyone who raises the hair on the back of my neck could potentially steal The Dervish, or hurt her. I hope the worst case scenario is that they will mildly annoy her.

I am so grateful for her kick'em where it counts personality. I am reconsidering teaching her to be polite.

~~~

...Child molesters and abductors have many methods to lure a child. The most common 16 child lures are:

Affection Lure
Most child abuse happens at the hand of someone the child knows and trusts. Pedophiles exploit that trust to take advantage of tensions in the child or teen’s family, like divorce, alcoholism or neglect.

Pet Lure
Children love animals. Many child predators will ask children to help look for their lost puppy or kitty. Parents must warn their children of this lure and let the kids no there is no lost animal.

Assistance Lure
Using an assistance lure predators will ask children for help with directions or help carrying something. Teach your children that adults usually ask adults for help, not children. The best defense against the assistance lure is for kids to pretend they do not hear the person and quickly leave the area.

Authority Lure
Pedophiles in a power position, coach, clergy, scout leader, relative, etc. take advantage of their positions. Make sure your children know it is illegal for adults to touch them in their bathing suit zone.

Bribery Lure
Pedophiles will use gifts, like candy, toys, electronics, drugs, money, to get a child to willingly go with them, or they will use the gifts as a reward to keep the abuse secret or to keep the child tolerating the abuse.

Emergency Lure
Predators will fake a crisis to trick kids and teens into willingly going with them. For example, they will tell the child, ‘Your father has been hurt and is in the hospital. I’ve been sent to take you to him.’

Fun and Games Lure
Pedophiles will, at times, create games using restraints, such as handcuffs, ropes, duct tape, which can keep a child from protecting themselves or escaping their captor.

Hero Lure
Molesters will exploit a child by making them believe something bad will happen to someone they see as a hero, a parent, a teacher, coach, relative or celebrity. Children may endure repeated abuse to keep a hero out of trouble, or maintain a friendship.

Name Recognition Lure
Marking a child’s clothing, backpacks and other belongings can be dangerous. Pedophiles can read the nametag and call out the child’s name, creating a false sense of familiarly.

Companion/Playmate Lure
Child molesters often use their home as a lure, decorating it with party supplies, toys, sporting goods, etc. Many times, they will create an environment of anything goes, which can be appealing to children.

Fame and Ego Lure
Sex offenders will offer a child or teen an audition or private tryout to get them to keep the abuse secret.

Online and Computer Lure
Online predators lure children through chat rooms, emails and social websites. Through these avenues, a pedophile can learn a child’s personal information and arrange a private meeting. Make sure you kids know to never post their personal information online. Like where they live, go to school or work.

Threats and Weapons Lure
Pedophiles may use violence and intimidation to force children and teens to cooperate with the abuse, or stay silent about the abuse. They’ll use an ‘it’s my word against yours’ approach.

Job Lure
The job lure is a danger to older teens, even college students. The young adults are lured by an offer of a high-paying, interesting job. The sex offender will typically set up fake interview in secluded places to abuse or abduct their subject. These fake jobs are typically advertised with only a P.O. Box.

Pornography Lure
Child predators often use pornography to set the stage for abuse. Adolescents are often curious about sex and it is not difficult to hold their attention with pornographic material.

Drug Lure
Sex offenders will at times use drugs and alcohol to lure and incapacitate a child into abuse.

It is important that you teach your children about each of these lures, not just one or two. Pedophiles, child abductors and molesters can use more than one of the lures at a time to get a child to comply with abuse and keep the abuse secret.

The show did not really center on state murder per se, but rather what to do with this class of criminals. Alex took the line that punishment alone is not enough, the state does not do ewnough to rehabiilitate child molesters. The show more or less focused on the question of if child molesters can be rehabilitated, and if not, then what.

In all honesty I have mixed feeling on the topic. On the one hand I am not convinced child molesters can be cured, and it is always scary putting your zip code into the sexual predator registry. On the other hand, the whole notion of "preemptive punishment" troubles me. The idea of punishing someone for a crime they may commit in the future seems too Terminator like for me.

[audio http://proletariat.files.wordpress.com/2008/07/sirius-left-jul-07.mp3]

A federal law, the "Protect" Act enacted in 2003 made it a crime not only to produce and possess child porn, but also to "pander" material, conveying the belief that material contains minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. The pandering provision covers anyone who "advertises, promotes, presents, distributes, or solicits" this material.

According to CNN in a recent report: As part of a 2004 sting operation, an undercover Secret Service agent (using the screen name "Lisa--n--Miami") communicated with Williams in an Internet chat room. Williams allegedly wrote, "Dad of toddler has 'good' pics of her an (sic) me for swap of your toddler pics, or live cam." He posted nonpornographic photos of a young girl and claimed he had "hc," or hard-core, kiddie pictures, prosecutors contend.

The man then allegedly posted photos of youngsters involved in "sexually explicit conduct," according to court records. Twenty-two other child porn images were found on his home computer.

A federal appeals court upheld a possession conviction against Williams, but threw out the separate soliciting charge, which carried a five-year mandatory minimum sentence. A three-judge panel concluded the provision was "substantially overbroad and vague," and that "non-commercial, non-inciteful promotion of illegal child pornography, even if repugnant, is protected free speech." In other words, the judges said merely talking about child porn is not necessarily criminal.

Today's ruling by the high Court upheld the law by ruling that a provision dealing with "pandering" illicit material does not violate constitutional protections on free speech. The ruling was 7 to 2.

Scalia stated, "Child pornography harms and debases the most defenseless of our citizens. This court held unconstitutional Congress' previous attempt to meet this new threat, and Congress responded with a carefully crafted attempt to eliminate the First Amendment problems we [earlier] identified."

There has been some concern that some people might be targeted unfairly when engaged in lawful, artistic or editorial free speech. Example were used among them were mainstream movies such as "Lolita," "Traffic," and "Titanic," all of which depicted scenarios in which underage girls were engaging in simulated sex.

According to the AP - Justice David Souter, joined by Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, dissented. Souter said promotion of images that are not real children engaging in pornography still could be the basis for prosecution under the law. Possession of those images, on the other hand, may not be prosecuted, Souter said.

"I believe that maintaining the First Amendment protection of expression we have previously held to cover fake child pornography requires a limit to the law's criminalization of pandering proposals," Souter said.

The reality is child porn is too easy to get and in so many ways our children aren't protected. Odd, but the profile of a person convicted of child porn is - ANYONE. Most recently a Plano, Texas minister who was arrested in an internet sex sting operation has resigned his position as a pastor at a Dallas-area megachurch. Joe Barron was charged with solicitation of a minor. The solicitation was via the internet.

As a white collar crime speaker, unlike traditional forms of white collar crime, convictions related to Child Porn seem to carry far greater sentences and long term consequences. One of the most significant things that parents can do is become educated. Child porn is more accessible via the internet and that - THE INTERNET - is where parents need education. Social networking sites such as MySpace, Facebook and others are not dangerous on the whole, but Child Predators can use those mediums as a way to deceive and commit their crimes. I teach seminars and workshops on cyber-crime and what every parent should know to protect their children.

If you or your organization is interested in my newest program - PROTECTING OUR KIDS: What Every Parent Should Know About Computer Crimes - contact me at chuck@chuckgallagher.com.

Elizabeth Smart, Adam Walsh, and countless other children have vanished from stores or even their own home – from a bedroom or a backyard.  Kidnapping has become so prevalent and predators have become so brazen they are out in broad daylight and even snatch children from bus stops. They seem to act as though they feel invincible.  There is a tool, however, that can protect your child wherever he or she is.  The Electronic Child Leash will help you stay aware of your child’s whereabouts at all times.

How many times have you been out shopping with your child at your side one minute and nowhere to be found the next?  If this has happened to you only once, it is too much!  No one truly has eyes in the back of their head and in a split second, a child can wander off with out us even realizing it. With child predators running rampant even one second may be too long.

You can now protect your child whether you are at the park, at the store or at home.  The Electronic Child Leash is an effective, affordable product on the market that lets you keep track of your child if he or she wanders only a few feet away. 

The monitor has a cartoon shaped remote monitor that the child wears, as a necklace or buckled on, while you carry or wear the receiver.  If the child moves out of the range you have set (from a few feet to 25 feet), the adult’s receiver sounds the alarm by beginning to beep, so that you can recover your child before he or she is out of the pre-set coverage area.

The Electronic Child Leash is easy to use, adjusts frequency automatically so that no other devices in the area will interrupt its functioning, and the monitor is hidden inside the cute plastic animal figurine.

Purchase your Electronic Leash today.  You never know where a predator lurks or who will be his or her next victim.  Keep your child safe and close to you; get your monitor so you will know where your child is at all times.  Don’t be sorry, be safe. For more information log on to www.safelyprotect.com.

Likewise, we never know who the predators are and where they might come from. Often we think of them as the lowest element of society. Yet, sometimes we find that they are rocket scientists!

Ernst John Rohde, 63, a former contract employee at NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, California, pleaded guilty on Friday to receiving images of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

Rohde admitted to having used computers to access images of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct from both the NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, while employed there, and from his home in Stockton. During the plea hearing, the government prosecutor informed the Court that Rohde had downloaded thousands of images and videos of child pornography.

Every choice has a consequence. Often, however, we think of the consequences as only directly affecting the party in question - in this case - Rohde. That is an inaccurate assumption. The children - whose images were transmitted - were victims. In many cases, such crimes go undetected at home or under the nose of the parents, since they don't know what to look for or how to spot inappropriate activities.

As a teen ethics speaker, I find that often I am called upon to speak to groups about protecting children from the predators found in cyberspace. While I wish this were not such a hot and important topic, I find that parents find great benefit when they understand what to look for and how to be more vigilant against child pornography and predators.

Comments are welcome!

First, Metropolitan Police Department Officer, Kenneth Longerbeam, age 39, has pled guilty to traveling to the District of Columbia in order to have sex with a minor in December 2007.

This case tragically illustrates that child predators come from all walks of life, even those sworn to uphold the law” stated U.S. Attorney Taylor. “We must be vigilant in our efforts to protect our children from those who wish to do harm to the most precious, yet vulnerable members of our community.”

“Every member of the Metropolitan Police Department is held to the highest standard of public service. Inherent in every officer’s oath is the promise to protect others. Longerbeam’s actions are contrary to everything the Department stands for, and as a result of his guilty plea I am seeking to suspend him without pay,” said Chief Lanier.

The next portion of this will likely be repulsive to my readers. However, it is necessary in order for parents, and those concerned with the welfare of children, to become aware of the attitudes of child predators. According to the news release:

Longerbeam, the defendant acknowledged that on December 18, 2007, he received a text message from a friend who informed the defendant that he had a boy coming over and that he was going to engage in sex with the child. During the ensuing exchange of text messages, the defendant asked how old the child was and was told that the child was 14 years old. After the defendant’s friend stated that he was going to have sex with the child, the defendant asked whether the boy was “into 3 ways.” When the friend told the defendant that the child was into “3-ways”, the defendant responded: “Kool, when can I join?”

The defendant subsequently traveled from the State of Maryland into the District of Columbia to serve his tour of duty at the Metropolitan Police Department’s Fourth District. When the defendant completed the his tour, he traveled to his friend’s house to have sex with the child. The defendant was arrested by task force members at that time.

The second to be reported here is a guilty plea for possession of child pornography from a former aide to a U.S. Senator. James Michael McHaney, 28, of Washington, D.C., pled guilty today before the Honorable Chief Judge Thomas F. Hogan in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to one count of Possession of Child Pornography.

According to the government’s evidence, on November 30, 2007, a cooperating witness (“CW”) working in an undercover capacity under the supervision of law enforcement agents, went on-line and observed that "Mike," previously identified as James “Michael” McHaney, was on-line with the screen name of “lilmikierocks.” The CW and “Mike” had previously met and had exchanged images of child pornography. At approximately 12:15 p.m., the CW initiated contact by saying "Hey, what's up?" The on-line conversation took place using AOL.

After approximately ten minutes, the CW asked "Mike" whether he was going to be at work all day, to which “Mike” responded that he could take a long lunch. CW asked whether "Mike" was interested in engaging in sex with a 13-year-old boy, and “Mike” replied, "I'll be there." "Mike" asked whether the child was at the CW's residence and agreed to meet the CW and the child there. "Mike" then asked whether the CW had a photograph of the child with whom he and the CW were going to have sex and whether the child had "pubes” (referring to pubic hair). When the CW answered “barely any pubes” and “none under his arms” to the latter question, "Mike" replied that was “hot.” “Mike” also agreed to bring “visual aids” on a flash drive that contained both videos and over 1000 images of child pornography. “Mike” said that his hard drive was at another individual’s house being loaded with more images of child pornography.

At approximately 1:15 p.m., law enforcement officers observed James Michael McHaney at the lobby of the CW's residence, located in Northwest Washington, D.C., and he was placed under arrest. A search incident to the arrest of the defendant revealed a flash drive which contained in excess of 600 images of child pornography. The majority of the pornographic images were of prepubescent males, which the defendant possessed for his personal use, and to distribute to others. The ages of the children appeared to range from approximately three to five years old to young teens. Among the images were movie files depicting prepubescent male children engaging in sexual acts.

Every choice has a consequence! As a speaker on teen ethics and social networking child protection, it is sick to see what and who child predators are. One would never think that a child predator would be an aid to a U. S. Senator or a police officer, but as evidenced above - child predators can be anyone!

While the two guilty pleas show evidence that law enforcement is vigilant, you know that more crime takes place against children than any would like to admit. However, parents need to take an interest in knowing how the new playground for sexual predators works and how to protect children from those predators.

Comments are welcome!

I couldn't believe what I was hearing.  Had the religious really stooped to such new lows?  Luring unaccompanied children - without parental consent - into their churches with presents?  I glanced at the man.  Incredibly, HE shot ME a dirty look.  I guess I offended him by catching him doing what he must have known was wrong.  If he didn't know it was wrong, he would have carried on nonchalantly and wouldn't have noticed me passing.  Couldn't he hear his own conscience?

Imagine there wasn't a church behind the man.  You see a man offering young girls presents to come inside.  What would you think?  Utterly abhorrent, predatory behaviour.  For some reason, religions get away with things we would otherwise find offensive, or even criminal.

Although this was the first time I'd ever seen such blatant and crass religious marketing, I later found out it was by no means an isolated incident.  A Korean student told me last summer that it's common in Korea.  Christian churches routinely offer children presents to come in and join a mass.  Korea and Asia are 'growth markets' for Christianity.  Make no mistake, they're in the god 'business'.

Looking back, the guy standing just inside the property reminds me of the legal fine line the girls standing in the doorways of the 'hostess' bars in London's Soho district tread.  Now there's a comparison to be proud of!

I feel a little ashamed that I didn't do anything about this guy.  I wish I'd called a cop.  But, being the nice, tolerant Canadian that I am, I didn't.  We have to respect religion, after all.

Why?

Unfortunately,  99% of people who argue this are old fucks who don't know shit about the internet. Let me break this down for you:

 1. Myspace is BIG. With 300 something million people on Myspace, of course there is going to be some child predators out there. It's not Tom's fault, it's simply the fact that they're messed up in the head and can't hook up with anyone their own age.

2. Privacy settings are a nifty little feature that will absolutely stop anyone from getting information about your kids. Basically you can go to settings in Myspace and within a few clicks, you're Myspace will be blocked by anyone who tries to view it. To gain access to your profile, pictures, and more, they have to request you to be their "friend". Myspace will alert you that you have a friend request pending and if you don't know the person adding you, you simply click deny. Poof. No more child molesters.

3. Teenagers aren't stupid. Regardless of what you think, we actually do have fully functional brains that we use on a daily basis. If your kid is ready to go meet someone they met over Myspace, and they've never heard of them before, maybe you should talk to them. I mean yeah, I've met plenty of people over Myspace, but all of which my friends knew.

4. Last but not least, shit happens. You can't stop all the incidents that end up happening. Like I said, 300 million people is a lot of opportunities.  But if you're that scared, talk to your kid. Seriously. Don't be suing Tom. I like Myspace and want it to be around. Thanks =].

Please help get Manessa back and protect other girls.

From the above site - How to Help:

We’re reaching out to everyone we can. There are several things we hope will help.

1. We don’t know if she has access to a computer. If she’s not being held against her will and does have access, we’re expecting she will try to reach her friends by logging into her mySpace page: http://www.myspace.com/prettygirl224. If you are a mySpace user, please leave her a message that let’s her know that she is loved and appreciated, that her life still has great value and potential and that she should return home.

• Update - As of December 2nd, Manessa still hasn’t accessed her mySpace account since November 17th, and all comments are moderated by her. This means that nothing is getting through. A colleague and friend, Chris Penn, created a new myspace page where a number of her friends have come to join and show their support at http://myspace.com/savemanessa

2. Leave her a comment on this website in the ‘friends’ or ‘others’ section. Let her know she’s loved and appreciated. Let her know what it was like when YOU were 16, and what you think of what she’s doing, and encourage her to figure life out while with people who really love her.

3. Please Digg this story. We’re trying to get it in front of as many people as we can as quickly as we can. We need people to see this so they can start keeping an eye open for the two of them.

4. If you are a friend and know something, PLEASE SPEAK UP. She apparently isn’t living whatever dream she was running to. Her best friends haven’t seen her for weeks. There are a number of ways to get information to those who need it.

• Email us at savemanessa@gmail.com
• or call the hotline in the US - 860-906-7398.
• In Florida, contact the Hernando County Sherrif’s department @ 352.754.6830. The Detective handling this case is Det. Randy Williamson.
• In Bristol, contact the Bristol Police Department @ 860.584.3011. The Officer handling this case is Officer Scott Thomas.

5. The Donovans (Mom & all 3 sisters) run a family operated business which, as of Saturday, Dec. 3 are closed for business. Since the whole clan is in CT, no one to mind the shop. They are accepting donations on their business website.

Here are some screen shots that were posted on DC indymedia which show the financial and moral support that Ron Paul is receiving from the Daisy David Dukes and stormfront boneheads of the world:

By now, most of you have heard the "breaking news" about the incident at The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls, that was opened up outside Johannesburg on Jan. 2, 2007 with celebrities such as Tina Turner and Spike Lee in attendance, as well as former President Nelson Mandela. 

"Tiny Virginia Makopo, 27, faces 13 charges of indecent assault, assault and criminal injury committed against at least six students aged 13-15 and a 23-year-old at the school. Makopo, who said she was innocent, was freed on bail Monday."

Oprah has already received so much criticism since they day she spoke about her dream of opening up such a lavish academy.  People have complained that she opened up the academy to African children, as oppose to American children.  Parents have complained that the rules were so strict and somewhat similar to prison, etc.  This incident will only give those same pessimistic people more ammunition to talk negatively about her and the academy, which is not at all what she needs right now.  She needs support from those of us who believe in her and know that her intentions for opening up this academy in the first place, was to assist as many disadvantaged girls as she possibly could, who come from deprived backgrounds, to give them a quality education in a country where schools are struggling to overcome the legacy of apartheid.

The incident at Oprah's academy is far from being an isolated one.  Sexual assaults by women are getting progrssively worse and these child predators tend to get away with it because people have difficulty believing that women assaulting women or young girls can be as traumatic as men assaulting women or young girls.  Law enforcement officials and even Judges, are guilty of this as well and until we start to take these matters seriously and know that we have a responsibility to these innocent children and that we're wasting precious time making a mockery out of real life situations, they will continue to get away with it and our children, who desperately need our help, will stay silent about it.

"She Stole My Voice ~ A Documetary about Lesbian Rape" is a really good eye opener for those who aren't familiar with these type of assaults, and/or to hear testimonies from many women who experienced it.  It is definitely a must read for everyone!  Raising awareness and educating ourselves on these sort of topics will help us break the silence.

KOTV- It’s a frightening statistic, there is a one in 42 chance your child will become lost, missing or will be abducted.

The days of teaching ‘Stranger Danger’ are in the past. That is because ‘Stranger Danger’ is not an effective way of keeping kids safe. Children do not understand strangers the way grownups do, they envision a scary person, but child predators are nice looking, kind and very friendly. Since predators use lures, it's best to teach your children about lures, and practice ‘what if’ scenarios and situations

Whether it is underreported, or actually rare, there is very little of the kind of resistance that led to the US withdrawal from Indochina. Sorry old hippies, and new SDSers, I'm talking about mutiny and desertion, not sit-ins and good vibes.

The 21st century US military recruiter is a despicable creature; half pimp, using deception, coercion, and sometimes outright sexual assault, to put healthy young bodies to work for their own financial gain, as well as half snitch, because like a informant, they must get other people to forfeit their freedom, to escape the consequences of their actions, although instead of jail, the recruiter are trying to avoid combat in Iraq. If they don't offer up enough fresh meat for the grinder, they are headed back to the front lines, and like other snitches, the State is willing to overlook almost any misdeed, if it produces the desired outcome.

Although compulsory education seems to be about 95% compulsory and 5% education, it's good to hear that the Pittsburgh City School Board passed a resolution that restricts the kind of dirty tricks that the captive audience known as "our children" can be subjected to. Some of the provisions of the resolution include:

• Require recruiters to register with the principal or an administrator upon arrival.
• Require a district employee to escort recruiters around a school unless they can show proof of having state and federal clearances or a statement from their employer that they have such clearances.
• Prohibit them from sponsoring contests, drawings, lotteries or from exchanging gifts unless they are of scholarships or are of minimal value.
• Ban them from using exhibits that violate the district's weapons policy or using video games that depict weapons or violence.
• Limit them to meeting students in areas designated by the principal

Curiously enough, Mark Brentley Sr., who was hailed as a supporter of the resolution, by any account, voted against it. None of the media reports name a reason.

Kudos to the School Board. I never thought I'd live long enough to say that. Nice work Conscience and Quakers, and while you're at it, check with the folks from the Pittsburgh Organizing Group, to see if there's anything you can do to support their upcoming action.

In theory, this will also curtail the activities of other confidence tricksters, such as those who push five-figure a semester, 2 year culinary and art schools, and credit cards for teens and other exploitative practices.

Perhaps another worthwhile strategy that could be explored by counter-recruiters is to make the recruiters themselves homeless? Maybe the pickets and other activities could be directed at the individuals and corporate persons who are willing to rent to child predators? Landlords are quick to declare an individual a "bad tenant" and if terrorist recruiters who prey on children aren't bad enough, I don't know who is.

We have some tools at our disposal in Allegheny County, where Pittsburgh is located. The obvious one is the Property Tax Assessment search page. Check to see if your community has one. Here, you can type in the address of a property and find out who owns it.

For this example, we will be using the Marine Corps Officer Programs Recruitment Station, located at 5837 Ellsworth Avenue. This was the site of the unprovoked attack against a POG picket by Pittsburgh Police Sgt. William Vollberg.

The property tax assessment lists the owner as one "Shadyside Plaza Associates" and that their tax bill is mailed to 241 Spahr Street, which is owned by Richard Brourman and Maria Barnette.

The local paper reveals that Mr. Brourman and his mother, Bernice were scamming people left and right, through bad home improvement schemes. When you enter Mr. Brourman's name into a search engine the first search result is for "Mortgage Fraud News" which describes the settlement that the Brourman crime family and some other flim-flammers arrived at with the state attorney general.

Bernice and her baby, Richard, were ripping people off under the name Iron City Builders, which has received the "corporate death penalty", prohibiting them from doing business, which did little more than to force them to commit their crimes under a new name. It's no surprise that they'd be involved in other despicable activities such as renting to military recruiters.

Had Mama and Baby Brourman not been able to settle out of court for a six-figure sum, it would be a criminal offense, and recorded on PA's online docket sheets , which allow you to view criminal complaints from the Commonwealth, but that's not a concern for rich folks.

Perhaps Mr. Brourman's other tenants should find out who they are renting from?

The Forbes Avenue recruiting station, that will be the site of POG's next publicly announced action is owned by Oakland Real Estate located at 216 Oakland Avenue, right around the corner from the station. Might not be a bad place for a picket?

PS-They don't care what color the cop's skin is when they're scared, as seen in this photo from Valley Forge, which could be entitled "Teach Your Children Well".

One of these predators will plead guilty to sexually assaulting recruits in Indiana.

Former US army specialist, Aimee Allison examines the expanding problem of sexual abuse by military recruiters on AlterNet. MedIndia,a health infromation web portal also examines the phenomena.

A former Tuscon army recruiter, caught up in an FBI sting, was sentenced for his role in a drug trafficking operation.

Recruiter's vehicles in Texas and Florida have recently been "customized."

Despite a lowering in standards, and an increase in waivers and a fiscal year 2006 recruitment and advertising budget of $1,407,100,000 ($1.4 billion), recruiting numbers were down for the second month in a row.

An ASVAB proctor was caught rigging test scores (at cut rates).

It's not just the World's Policeman. On a related note, a Pittsburgh Police Sergeant was given a 3 day suspension for helping terrorist trainees cheat on their tests.

The recent arrest of a 31 year old recruiter on child pornography charges raises questions as tot whether the US marines may be doing more than just recruiting with their Hitler Youth-esque Young Marines program:

The Young Marines is a youth education and service program for boys and girls, ages 8 through completion of high school. The Young Marines promotes the mental, moral, and physical development of its members. The program focuses on character building, leadership, and promotes a healthy, drug-free lifestyle.

Which photo is the Young Marines & which is the Hitler Youth? Nationalism is nationalism.

These stories are only from the last week or two.