Zeitgeist January 2013

January 21, 2013

Carmen Ortiz and Stephen Heymann: Accountability For Prosecutorial Abuse
Imposing real consequences on these federal prosecutors in  the Aaron Swartz case is vital for both justice and reform.

This is commentary from Glenn Greenwald, one of the best champions of civil liberties today. He has taken a concrete example of prosecutorial abuse and placed it front-and-center in his ongoing campaign to challenge the brutal overprosecution of Americans by unscrupulous and vicious government agents.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/jan/16/ortiz-heymann-swartz-accountability-abuse?INTCMP=SRCH

The Prison That is America

Some inconvenient facts about the imprisonment of Americans and where it ranks amongst all other nations, both civilized and not. This is really valuable information:

Aaron Swartz’s Death Should Change America’s Absurd Legal System
But will it? "those outraged by Swartz’s suicide and looking to convert their anger into action would be best served by focusing their attention on the brutishness and stupidity of America’s criminal justice system".
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/01/15/aaron-swartz-s-death-should-change-america-s-absurd-legal-system.html

Child-Phobic Teacher Sues School District
Just to put this in perspective: many of our brethern, who love children, are kept away from them with a manic zeal while those who can't stand being around children may be paid to teach them (or suing to be kept on the payroll despite refusing to teach them).
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/16/education/ohio-child-phobic-teacher-sues-school-district.html?src=recg

Internet ban on convicted sex offender 'unreasonable', rule judges
Court of appeal's decision to uphold complaint over internet restriction could set precedent in hacking and fraud cases.
An encouraging development. We'll see how it plays out eventually with The Supremes.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2012/nov/13/internet-ban-convict-unreasonable-judges

Australia told to be tougher on pedophiles
As if their laws are less harsh than the other batshit-insane English-speaking countries.
http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-world/australia-told-to-be-tougher-on-pedophiles-20121114-29cmg.html

Proposed Law Would Block Sex Offenders’ Access To Kids
They're talking about their own kids! Parental rights under fire!
http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2012/11/14/proposed-law-would-block-sex-offenders-access-to-kids

Child porn victims must show cause for damages: US court
Yes, let's look at "damages" in some detail, shall we?
http://www.timeslive.co.za/world/2012/11/15/child-porn-victims-must-show-cause-for-damages-us-court

Plea deals could lead to Walsh Act challenge
Some who had not had to register in Pennsylvania may now have to, thanks to its adoption of AWA.
http://www.altoonamirror.com/page/content.detail/id/566088/Plea-deals-could-lead-to-Walsh-Act-challenge.html?nav=742

Mitchell Harrison, Career Pedophile, Disemboweled and Murdered By Fellow Inmates
Cold-blooded murder in Her Majesty's prisons.
http://www.truecrimereport.com/2011/10/mitchell_harrison_career_pedop.php?utm_source=scribol.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=scribol.com

The case that unlocked the Catholic scandal
Alex Gibney's "Mea Maxima Culpa" follows the scandal from one Wisconsin school to the pope's desk.
In case you haven't had your fill of sanctimonious outrage.
http://www.salon.com/2012/11/16/pick_of_the_week_the_case_that_unlocked_the_catholic_scandal

Paedophile director in shock resignation
That's right. You can never be too careful with Shakespeare festival directors; they're a dangerous lot!
http://www.thisissomerset.co.uk/Paedophile-director-shock-resignation/story-17328992-detail/story.html

Facebook warning over paedophiles preying on holiday snaps of children
Facebook has quickly become the most shrilly anti-pedo of the dot-com behemoths. Just goes to show how decades of paranoid mind control have resulted in thoroughly indoctrinated twenty-somethings.
http://www.metro.co.uk/news/918071-facebook-warning-over-paedophiles-preying-on-holiday-snaps-of-children

Dave Lee Travis arrested on suspicion of sexual offences
Another British DJ caught up in the wake of the Jimmy Savile fright show.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-20336798

India textbook says meat-eaters lie and commit sex crimes
Meat-eaters "easily cheat, lie, forget promises and commit sex crimes", according to a controversial school textbook available in India.
A new treatment modality idea for Coalinga State Hospital, perhaps? "Out with the mystery meat! More canned vegetables cooked to a tasteless paste!"
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-20354669

Woman works to help sex offenders
One woman working alone to advance justice in Texas.
http://www.myfoxaustin.com/story/20112540/woman#ixzz2COQlArvT

Sex Offender Task Force Faces Looming Deadline
"If the state fails to made adequate progress toward reforming its civil commitment system and the MSOP, the federal court could essentially take over the program."
http://www.startribune.com/blogs/179594761.html

Pedro Hernandez Murder Charges: New York Prosecutors Press Ahead On Etan Patz Case
Hernandez has pleaded not-guilty, despite his earlier confession.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/15/pedro-hernandez-murder-charges-etan-patz_n_2136057.html?utm_hp_ref=crime&ir=Crime

Lennon Cihak, Minnesota Teen, Denied Confirmation For Supporting Gay Marriage On Facebook
Apparently, his priest makes a point of visiting his young parisioner's FaceBook pages.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/15/lennon-cihak-minnesota-teen-denied-confirmation-gay-marriage_n_2140109.html

Sign the Petition:

STOP THE RESIDENCY RESTRICTION LAWS ON SEX OFFENDERS. IT DOES MORE HARM THEN IT WAS INTENDED!
Remember, supporting any effort to combat hysteria in our country is important - regardless of immediate success - to begin to form an effective bulwark against unreason.
http://www.change.org/petitions/stop-the-residency-restriction-laws-on-sex-offenders-it-does-more-harm-then-it-was-intended?utm_campaign=autopublish&utm_medium=facebook&utm_source=share_petition&utm_term=8337845

Sex-Offender Laws Doomed by Flawed Reasoning
"Paul Appelbaum, M.D., says that thinking behind registration, notification, and residency laws intended to control sex offenders are indiscriminate, based on weak premises, and are likely to be counterproductive. "
On the other hand, he seems to be a fan of depoprovera (chemical castration), sex offender "treatment" and indeterminate sentencing (oh my)!
http://psychnews.psychiatryonline.org/newsArticle.aspx?articleid=1391680

Child sex abuse outrage: Nearly 1,000 paedophiles on sex offenders' register have reoffended
Apparently, those "outraged" by that figure can't work out that that comes to an ~3% recidivism rate.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/nspcc-paedophile-probe-reveals-1000-1442631

Conservative newspaper says men who molest young teens aren’t paedophiles
11 is post-pubescent?
http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/conservative-newspaper-says-men-who-molest-young-teens-aren%E2%80%99t-paedophiles181112

City grants flexibility in restrictions on sex offenders
So, in other words, it depends on whether the cops "like" you enough to give you a pass on residential restrictions.
http://www.ocala.com/article/20121117/ARTICLES/121119732/1402/NEWS?Title=City-grants-flexibility-in-restrictions-on-sex-offenders

Children as young as 10 arrested for rape
"Primary school children as young as 10 are being arrested over suspected rapes and other sexual offences, new figures have revealed. "
At what point do citizens begin to ask "does RAPE really mean RAPE?".
This story also turns out to be an anti-porn screed purporting to demonstrate kid's access to porn and its ostensible link to "sexual assaults": "There is already a widespread feeling that the internet is playing an unhealthy part in the early sexualisation of children and these revelations about the arrests of ten year olds for rape will add fuel to the flames.”. The same bullshit keeps getting recycled decade-after-decade.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/9687121/Children-as-young-as-10-arrested-for-rape.html

'Virtual' child pornography call stirs Dutch debate
What the hell happened to The Netherlands, anyway?
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5iHIixtDrUHzNaBK_EnbasYPlc9UA

Bikini-clad child models at car show (in China) outrage netizens
W.W.M.D.? (what would Mao do?).
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1086056/bikini-clad-child-models-car-show-outrage-netizens

Gay actor Kevin Clash, puppeteer of Sesame Street’s Elmo, resigns from show
His exit comes amid new allegations of sexual relationship with a minor
One day they're saying "Tickle me Elmo", the next day they're 'blackmailing' Elmo.
http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/gay-actor-kevin-clash-puppeteer-sesame-street%E2%80%99s-elmo-resigns-show201112

Prominent paedophiles to sue over tweets linking them to Conservative Party
(a humour site, in case you didn't realize it).
http://newsthump.com/2012/11/19/prominent-paedophiles-to-sue-over-tweets-linking-them-to-conservative-party

Duma may consider amendments on pedophile trials before New Year
"Under the bill, child and teenage victims will be protected from the psychological trauma that results from a case being considered publicly and media reports about their suffering".
Got that? jury trials would be dispensed with for "pedophiles" in Russia!
http://rapsinews.com/legislation_news/20121120/265438465.html

How Facebook and social networking sites are used by child abuse gangs to groom victims for 'sex parties'
What's amazing is that in Britain, where freedom of the press is significantly more constrained than in the U.S., the media can allege the most ridiculous and salacious packs of lies imaginable. But, of course, they do so because they have been spoon-fed the lies by the British government!
And, of course, as it turns out, the examples given of "child abuse gang" members are kids themselves.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2236208/How-Facebook-social-networking-sites-used-child-abuse-gangs-groom-victims-sex-parties.html

Is it really true that children are being sexually exploited in every ‘town, village and hamlet’ in England?
The answer, of course, is "no". Brendan O'Neill questions the afore-mentioned U.K. Deputy Children's Commissioner, Sue Berelowitz' outrageous claims.
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/brendanoneill2/100190902/is-it-really-true-that-children-are-being-sexually-exploited-in-every-town-village-and-hamlet-in-england

Mad at Your Boyfriend's Eighth Grade Son? Why Not Plant a Gun in His Backpack and Send Him to School?
Diabolical. Of course, she's actually being undercharged. Might have something to do with her hot looks.
http://blogs.houstonpress.com/hairballs/2012/11/mad_at_your_boyfriends_eighth.php

What To Do When The Police Come Calling
Time to review your rights. Again. You should do this periodically. There are lots and lots of great resources on the web. This one has a few things I had not seen before (but it is hardly complete; see my favorite youtube video on the subject, below the first link):
http://sexoffenderissues.blogspot.com/2010/04/what-to-do-when-police-come-calling.html#.UP4eQye7OYk

Don't Talk to Cops !Know Your Rights!
A law professor provides some lively and entertaining advice you would do well to pay attention to.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8z7NC5sgik

Why Is Our First Instinct To Defend Kevin Clash?
Because we're sick to death of aggressive, male sexuality-bashing gender feminists such as yourself!
http://www.slate.com/blogs/xx_factor/2012/11/21/kevin_clash_resigns_as_elmo_why_is_our_first_instinct_to_defend_the_sesame.html

Inside Moose Lake, Sex Offender Vows to 'Sue His Way Out the Door'
The deadline looms for the state of Minnesota to comply with a court ordered deadline to seek "less restrictive alternatives" to the civil commitment program which has yet to release a single "client".
http://www.kaaltv.com/article/stories/S2842998.shtml?cat=10151

Caller tells police boys made another one do 'lewd acts'
Apparently, on the street!
http://www.ocregister.com/news/oct-375416-woman-block.html

Nottingham father upset at school's hi-vis punishment
Boy Made to wear a "high-visibility jacket" for bad behavior. Pulls him out of school. More parents should do so.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-20401674

Do not give in to fear, says police chief (New Zealand)
Wow, a sane cop! Refuses to fan the flames of hysteria.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/timaru-herald/news/7981739/Do-not-give-in-to-fear-says-police-chief

Uganda drops death penalty from 'Kill The Gays' bill
My, aren't they being progressive?
http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/uganda-drops-death-penalty-kill-gays-bill231112

Why we must talk about Britten's boys!
Benjamin Britten was a great composer but, post-Savile, we cannot ignore his obsession with children!
Maybe the issue isn't Britten's obsession with boys, but Britain's obsession with paedophiles!
What are we going to do? Dig up his body, hang him posthumously, and then burn him at the stake?
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/nov/21/britten-boys-obsession-cannot-ignore

http://wsws.org/articles/2012/nov2012/chin-n24.shtml

http://blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2012/11/20/child-dumpster-deaths-unleash-anger-over-wealth-gap

but don't worry - authorities are dealing with it:
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/24/world/asia/china-journalist-who-reported-childrens-deaths-held.html

Feds overstep in key effort
Nebraskans criticize Adam Walsh Act overreach
http://www.omaha.com/article/20121124/NEWS0802/711249952/1677#feds-overstep-in-key-effort

Violent sexual predators: The numbers are rising
Limited money, resources plus concerns for public put strain on facility
They cite the case of an eleven year old locked-up for six years then committed as a "Sexually Violent Predator". Yes, the numbers "are rising" indeed! Assholes!
http://www.thestate.com/2012/11/25/2531847/violent-sexual-predators-the-numbers.html#.ULJXKNfe58F

Exonerating the Friedmans
Filmmaker Andrew Jarecki is trying to overturn Jesse Friedman’s 1989 Great Neck molestation conviction
Returning to Great Neck, Long Island was, for Jesse Friedman "like “having a picnic in Auschwitz”. I only hope that the horrid Judge Abbey Boklan lives long enough to get her just deserts. In case you missed it, the disturbing documentary about this whole travesty was entitled "Capturing the Friedmans" and is available on DVD.
http://www.tabletmag.com/jewish-arts-and-culture/117317/exonerating-the-friedmans

The invention of yet another form of abuse
A new report claiming that thousands of British children are being sexually exploited is built on alarmist moralising rather than hard facts.
"The cultural theorist Stuart Hall put forward the idea of signification spiral: a process through which the latest threat is depicted as being even more threatening than the one that before it." This is another great piece by British author Frank Furedi.
http://www.spiked-online.com/site/article/13118

Revisiting the  Satanic panic
"30 years after families were ripped apart by hysterical officials, the lessons of that scandal haven’t been learnt."
That would be the McMartin Preschool witchhunt.
http://www.spiked-online.com/site/article/13119

Don’t let them rewrite the Cleveland debacle
Some are using the Savile panic to rehabilitate the state’s unhinged child-protection policies. We must stop them.
This provides a bit of background on the history of "ChildLine" in the U.K.
"The Cleveland child abuse scandal was a watershed moment in modern British society. Firstly, it revealed a disturbing, unhealthy obsession among state officials with seeing child abuse everywhere."
http://www.spiked-online.com/site/article/13120