Palin Abused Authority

Image by almanac via Flickr

I'm sure the Republicans will spin this as an unwarranted attack meant to discredit her in the eyes of the electorate. For me, this adds weight to Palin being just another petty politician who uses her position to bully and intimidate others into implementing her personal agenda. That makes her a hack, not a maverick. It also establishes a pattern. If you get on her wrong side, be it a librarian standing up against censorship, or her sister's former husband, she will get you. Can somebody tell me why is she on the Republican ticket?

Related articles

• Alaska legislative panel: Palin abused authority
• Panel finds Palin abused power; Judge orders email from her private accounts be preserved

Technorati tags: Troopergate, Sarah Palin, Alaska

Avoiding a funk

I have this problem. When I complete a big project, I get to a place like Sherlock Holmes did when he was between cases. I get bored. Holmes' solution was to  hit the needle - that won't do it for me. I use my camera instead.

Technorati tags: Photography

Baptist pastor a bigamist

I was waiting for the other shoe to drop on this case. Spencer Osborne is a jackass masquerading as a pastor. Now he is a convicted pedophile, a deadbeat dad, and a convicted bigamist too. 

Related articles

• Minister accused of bigamy

Technorati tags: Hypocrisy, Bigamy, Spencer Osborne

Priest to serve sentence in hospital

Rev. Michael Jude Fay, the former pastor at St. John Roman Catholic church in Darien, Connecticut, will serve his three year prison sentence in a federal medical center. Fay stole $1 million dollars from his church. He also suffers from prostrate cancer.

Related articles

• Judge orders sick priest to report to prison

• I have little compassion for thieves

• Pastor Admits Stealing Church's Money

Technorati tags: Michael Fay, Cancer, Theft, Catholics

No So Buena #7

Info

Title: Old Smoker
By: Mojoey
Where: Buena Park, Ca., at Orangethorpe and Valley View
When: October 10, 2008
Equipment: Nikon D300 - 1/400 @ F10

Notes

Sometimes urban ugly has a cigarette in its hand. This lady honked at me, then flipped me off. I don't know why. When I pulled up to her at a signal, she offered me her hand. I could not help myself. I love the watch. It's very lady like.

This photo is an entry in the Not So Buena photography project hosted here at Deep Thoughts. If you would like to participate with photo's from your own city, see the instructions on this post.

Related articles

• Friday Consumerist Flickr Pool Finds [Flickr]

Technorati tags: Photography, Photography Projects, Buena Park Urban Ugly, smoking, photodriving

Another Baptist pastor falls

I do not understand the fascination some Baptist pastors have with child pornography. If I ever get the chance, I'm going ask somebody like Merton Parks. He's thrown his life's work away because of kiddie porn. There must be a reason besides the obvious "I'm a freak" explanation.

Anyway... Parks was busty with child pornography on his work computer. His church promptly fired him. Oswegatchie First Baptist Church did the right thing, and for the right reasons.

We called a special meeting and told him we wanted his resignation and his stuff out of the church by Sunday and not to ever step back into the church," said Glenn Fuller, a First Baptist Church trustee.

Merton Parks is an odd duck. He apparently told his church trustees that he used the pictures for medial research. This just does not compute.

Investigators say the church pastor purchased and downloaded images of several children - some as young as 9 years old - in sexually suggestive poses onto his home computer.

I don't get it. Medical what now?

Technorati tags: Merton Parks, Baptists, Child Pornography, New York

The abuse will continue...

A former California youth pastor is being allowed to represent himself in a child molestation case with four underage victims.  At the trial, Andrew Belant will be allowed to cross examine the same boys he is accused of molesting. I know it's the law, but it just seems wrong.

Belant's alleged crimes involved four children.

Belant has pleaded not guilty to 20 charges stemming from accusations he molested four boys, ages 9 to 13, between January 2007 and March 2008. He met them while working at a Eureka church and afterschool programs.

Belant was first arrested in March of 2008. He subsequently decided to represent himself. He goes to trail on December 1. His incarceration should begin on December 2.

Belant worked in the after-school program at Lafayette Elementary School, and as at Eureka First Presbyterian Church as a junior youth pastor.

Technorati tags: Andrew Belant, child abuse, Child Molestation, Presbyterians, Eureka, California

Not So Buena #6

Info

Title: Streetlight in a fence  
By: Mojoey
Where: Buena Park, Ca.
When: October 3,  2008
Equipment: Nikon D300 - 1/800 @ F14

Notes

I drive under the 91 freeway at Stanton Avenue most weekends. Each time I do,  I look up at this streetlight and ask, why did they build the fence around the pole? It's so ugly and it lets all the freeway noise through. It's not so buena.

This photo is an entry in the Not So Buena photography project hosted here at Deep Thoughts. If you would like to participate with photo's of your own city, see the instructions on this post.

Technorati tags: Photography, Photography Projects, Buena Park Urban Ugly

It gets weirder for Palin

As Governor, Sarah Palin recorded a video message opening the 2008 Alaskan Independence Party's convention. I think it's odd that she would do anything to support an organization whose stated goal is to withdraw from the union. I can't see her rationale. She claims it's to promote political completion within Alaska. Still, it's odd. But it gets worse.

The Alaskan Independence Party was sponsored by Iran. Or at least Iran was to sponsor a talk by its founder at the UN. Palin and her husband were not associated with AIP at the time, they joined soon after. You can read more at Boing Boing.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Palin Once Member of Fringe Party
• Alaskan Independence Party sponsored By Iran
• Sarah Palin's dalliances with Wasilla's wackiest extremists
• Sarah Palin supported extremist group

Technorati tags: Sarah Palin, politics, 2008 elections

Dirty window at 7:00 AM

I don't think I will ever make a good news photographer. I passed up a murder crime scene today. I did not even think of shooting pictures. It seems so rude. But put an interesting shadow on a dirty window and I'm all over it.

Technorati tags: Photography

A murder in Carson

Image via Wikipedia

At 8:35 this morning a woman was shot to death all of 300 yards from where I was reading my morning email. A found out about the crime at lunch when I noticed the helicopters circling my office. I drove to my favorite restaurant for a few tacos. Their TV was tuned to the news. I happened to catch a shot of my truck parked outside as the news did a wide shot. The crime scene was close. The reporter talked about a door-to-door search for a suspect. I checked out my fellow dinners; no worries, they were all regulars.

After finishing lunch, I drove by the crime scene on my way back to work. It was close enough that I could have heard the gunshots if I had been listening.

The murder victim Veronica Reyes was murdered by her estranged husband Carlos Reyes. It appears to be another senseless murder.

By my count, four people have died by gunshot within 500 yards of my office in the last year. Carson, California is an ugly place.

Technorati tags: Carson, Murder, Gangs

Pastor Shifflett to be sentenced today

And who is Pastor Shifflett? A Baptist pastor who stole money from his church, or something akin to stealing. I'm not really sure.

The Rev. Charles V. Shifflett, 57, could face more than 300 years in prison and $52,500 in fines for obtaining money by false pretenses, tax fraud and filing false workmans compensation claims.

Source: Shifflett to be sentenced today

Shifflett hit my radar because of his previous conviction.

In December 2006, he was convicted of one felony for cruelty to children and six misdemeanors of assault and battery against children who attended Calvary Baptist in the 1980s and ’90s.

300 years was the maximum  sentence.  He was sentenced to 4 years in prison today. A witness had this to say.

I was passing by the courthouse after the sentencing and saw a group of 30-40 people outside.  I was appauled at their behavior.  From their foul language to the threats against others for what happened today, it shows their true colors.  No, these threats of “Better watch their backs” weren’t made by the people accusing him of these crimes, they were made by his followers.  The same followers who have taken a sip of his Kool-Aid and continued onto to his new church.  What does this tell you about his congregation?  For me, it shows the hate and anger he taught, and not the true meaning of the Bible.

It sounds like a typical divided Baptist church build up around a central powerful pastor. When the church splits, or when the pastor is threatened, the troops attack anyone who dares to have a different opinion. They become attack sheeple.

Technorati tags: Charles Shifflett, Baptist, ClergyAbuse, Hypocrisy

Youth Pastor Found Guilty

Pastor Christopher Cormack was found guilty of indecent liberties with a child. In Kansas, this can mean sexual intercourse, lewd fondling with the intent to arouse or satisfy the sexual desire of either party, or soliciting the child to fondle. In other words, Cormack is a bad man.

The victim, now 24, came to investigators and reported the abuse after she learned Cormack was to be ordained to serve as a chaplain at Kansas State University, according to a news release from the Douglas County District Attorney's office. The victim told investigators she was concerned Cormack would have access to minors in that role.

Source: Former Church Youth Director Found Guilty - Kansas City News Story - KCTV Kansas City

Cormack is a free man until November when he is sentenced. Then he's off to prison, hopefully for a long time.

Blogroll Update: Phoesune - My DeConversion

It is my pleasure to introduce a new atheist blogger to the Atheist Blogroll, Phoesune - My DeConversion. Please drop by and say hi.

On September 18th, I finally surrendered to logic. The final click of confirmation sounded during lunch on that Thursday when I concluded that there is no proof of god and that everything, so far, can be explained without that presupposition. This blog is to chronicle my path through my deconversion process. Accepting a fact that is opposed to everything you have believed throughout your life is not an easy thing. I hope that by posting this, my experience can be shared and supported.

I live in a very intolerant part of America where expressing my views publicly could cost me my job, my family, and my place. Yes, there are laws and there is practicality. I have always been vocal and adamant about my beliefs and I know that in due time the truth will come out. I cannot remain silent, so through the 'miracle' of science I have been given this outlet to express myself. I invite comments and criticism. In this place, I will not have the freedom to engage in debate and hear counter positions in person but these are vital to the growth of reason and critical thinking so I have to rely on the internet community until I am able or confident to do so with those in my area of the world.

Technorati tags: The Atheist Blogroll, Atheism, Blogging

Not So Buena #5

Info

Title: No pee
By: Wanderin' Weeta
Where: Vancouver, BC
When: July 17, 2008
Equipment: Not specified

Notes

In an alley in Strathcona, one of the earliest neighborhoods of Vancouver, BC., and spitting distance from the soup kitchens and flophouses of the Eastside.

This photo is an entry in the Not So Buena photography project hosted here at Deep Thoughts. If you would like to participate with photo's of your own city, see the instructions on this post.

Technorati tags: Photography, Photography Projects, Vancouver, Urban Ugly, Canada