Saturday, September 14, 2019

Drunk Driving Ain’t a Crime if There is NO Evidence!

SHIT HAPPENS!

From JT:

Sheriff’s Office lieutenant cited for hit-and-run, State Patrol investigating

He’s a good boy and wasn’t doing nothing wrong…… LOL! Kinda like Rich Chiapete Jr.

From: https://arrestrecordsofracinewipublicofficials.wordpress.com/2019/09/14/drunk-driving-aint-a-crime-if-there-is-no-evidence/

Sheriff's Office lieutenant cited for hit-and-run, State Patrol investigating

From The Journal Times.com:

Barker

BURLINGTON – A Racine County Sheriff’s Office lieutenant has been cited after he reportedly crashed his vehicle on Monday night and failed to report the crash to law enforcement.

Lt. Shawn Barker has been cited for hit-and-run property damage adjacent to highway and failure to keep a vehicle under control, according to documents The Journal Times received from the Racine County Courthouse.

Racine County Sheriff Christopher Schmaling confirmed the incident on Friday in an email that stated: “On Tuesday morning I became aware that Shawn Barker was involved in a property damage accident that occurred Monday evening, and that he did not report that accident to law enforcement.

“In order to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest, I asked that the State Patrol conduct the investigation into the accident. I am also aware that Barker received two traffic citations from the State Patrol as a result of their investigation into the accident. Once I receive all of the investigative reports and learn all the facts, I will take appropriate disciplinary action. I anticipate that will occur next week.”

Read more: https://journaltimes.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/sheriff-s-office-lieutenant-cited-for-hit-and-run-state/article_c7984f29-9881-559f-83ae-f1aa02850cb5.html

Joker Is A Dangerous Film — & It’s Bringing Out The Worst In The Internet

Joker had its North American premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on Monday. In the days since, the takes have been coming in hot. On Twitter, the reaction seems to fall into two camps: It’s either a near-perfect masterpiece, or it’s a dangerous manifesto for radical and lonely white men who may look to Arthur Fleck’s deranged descent into the Joker of comic-book lore as heroic instead of villainous.

The reality is that the film — and most of its thoughtful critiques — falls somewhere in between. Joker is an impressive cinematic achievement, featuring an extraordinary (albeit a tad exhibitionist) performance by Joaquin Phoenix as Fleck, and it’s a poisonous story for a fraught time. Did we really need a brutal movie about a white terrorist figure who uses gun violence to enact revenge on the society that rejects him? And did we need it now?

I think the answer to that question is no. Ultimately, Joker is a story that empathizes with a violent sociopath. Fleck is a clown-by-hire and aspiring comedian living with his mother. The most ironic and tragic cruelty of his life is that he’s got a condition that causes him to laugh maniacally at inappropriate times. He is bullied and beat up — by a group of kids on the street, his coworkers, some rich suits on the subway — and the film uses these encounters to explain his murderous origins. “Joker is the antihero the alienated and angry have been waiting for, and that’s precisely the problem,” wrote Sarah Hagi in a column about the film for the Globe and Mail. “I do yawn at the idea of another story in which white men are offered a sort of understanding for their violence.”

That’s exactly why I couldn’t enjoy the film, even though I concede that it’s really well done. The message that “well, of course he became a mass murderer, society gave him no choice!” is dangerous on its own. But if you consider the larger social context of turning “a supervillain into a kind of folk hero” in a world where Dylann Roof, Elliot Rodger, and Faisal Hussain exist, it’s even more distressing.

Federal judge supports student's right to hand out valentines with Bible messages at Wisconsin technical college

From JSOnline:

A federal judge in Green Bay ruled Friday that Northeast Wisconsin Technical College violated the First Amendment when officials ordered a student to stop handing out Valentine's Day cards containing messages from the Bible, including "Jesus Loves You!" and "God is Love!"

Polly Olsen, 29, a Green Bay woman studying to become a paralegal, filed a lawsuit against the college a little more than a year ago and came to the attention of President Donald Trump, who invited her to the White House in March.

On Valentine's Day 2018, Olsen was handing out cards with Bible messages to students and staff when a campus official told her she was violating school policy and took her to the security office. Olsen has said the cards were a family tradition started by her late mother.

"There can be no doubt that in handing out her homemade valentines to her fellow students, friends and staff at NWTC, Olsen was engaged in a constitutionally protected form of expression," U.S. District Court Chief Judge William C. Griesbach wrote in his decision.

What if she had been handing out messages from the Qur'an?

I spit my Whiskey out!

WTF!

https://arrestrecordsofracinewipublicofficials.wordpress.com/2019/09/14/let-us-all-praise-racine-mayor-cory-mason/

Let Us All Praise Racine Mayor Cory Mason!

It Only gets Better and Better in City of Racine!

This is not a joke – this is actually a screenshot from Mayor Cory Mason’s Contact page!

https://www.cityofracine.org/Government/Mayor/Contact-the-Mayor/

Praise your Mayor!

Me Plus some Eastern European Eye Candy

From: https://arrestrecordsofracinewipublicofficials.wordpress.com/2019/09/14/let-us-all-praise-racine-mayor-cory-mason/

Megadeth - 24. Holy Wars - Rude Awakening

Being detained by RPD

Dear City of Racine Alderpersons,

And some of you are new - who have never (thankfully) received an
E-Mail from me.

Anyways - a few weeks back, before school started, I was detained -
shortly and politely by an RPD Officer who claimed that a Teachers
bicycle had been stolen and that it might be the one I was riding. The
Officer even called for back up. This was at Mound and 6th.

Do I believe the probable cause..... well NO! But the Officer was
reasonable - and acknowledged that he knew my Uncle - now retired
Captain Daniel Elmer - who was employed at RPD.

When I was a child - probably in the 1960's - I remember my Father -
now deceased Police Officer Donald Elmer - taking me to the basement
of RPD and showing me the machine gun which was taken from a RPD
Officer and later signed by Bank Robber John Dillinger. It is now on
display in the RPD entrance way.

Since most of you have only received E-Mails from me - and wonder what
I look like - I will answer that in this post.

https://arrestrecordsofracinewipublicofficials.wordpress.com/2019/09/14/detained-shortly-by-racine-police-department/ />
I am NO threat and don't enjoy being detained by RPD for "whatever".
Neither did TY'rese West - who got shot (in the back?) for running.
Sincerely, Tim & Cindy

Detained (Shortly) by Racine Police Department

I’ve been silent a long time – since I just kinda lost interest in the trainwreck that is Racine County politics – and I have been enjoying my first real Wisconsin Summer in 3 years – but I gotta tell
ya –

I got pulled over by RPD a few weeks ago – while riding my $3,000 Trek equivalent Motobecane Carbon Fiber Immortal Spirit – and the arresting officer even called for back-up – while I was dressed exactly as shown in the picture (pic taken by GF Silly Sally about 30 minutes after being stopped) . Fortunate for me I didn’t run – and I wouldn’t abandon my expensive bike – and I was released from custody because I asked the arresting Officer if he knew my Uncle – who he acknowledged had hired him at RPD. True story. The probable cause – best as I could determine – is that some Teachers bike had been stolen – now this was before school started – and that they needed to check the bike. It was broad daylight – and at 6th. and Mound Avenue. I’d like to know the true reason why RPD stopped and shortly detained me for – and why back up had to be called! What sort of threat do I represent?

What sort of threat did TY’Rese West represent?

I’m old, white and peaceful – and I FEAR THE POLICE! The POLICE who were part of my Family.

While Republican DA Trish Hanson stalls for time and refuses to release information which should be freely available to the public.

From JT:

3 months later, Ty’ Rese West’s mother pleads for more info about fatal shooting

“How can I help you Officer?”

TRUTH is never the Governments best friend –

From: https://arrestrecordsofracinewipublicofficials.wordpress.com/2019/09/14/detained-shortly-by-racine-police-department/

Open Blog - Weekend

Have a great weekend.

Friday, September 13, 2019

A Majestic ‘Micro Harvest Moon’ Is Coming. How, When And Where You Can See It This Week

The full Harvest moon is the name given to the first full moon rising closest to the autumnal equinox, usually occurs before the equinox in September. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

Getty Images

Fall is a very special time of year for sky-watchers. Iconic constellations like Perseus rise in the early evening, as does the sparkling Pleiades cluster, just as the Summer Triangle gradually sinks in the western sky. However, one of the key sights at this wonderful time of year is the Harvest Moon, which occurs this Friday and Saturday depending on where you are on the planet.

We’ve just had a “new moon supermoon”, with one to come later this month, so it should be no surprise that this full moon in the middle is also something rare and special–a “Micro Harvest Moon”
.
What is a Micro Harvest Moon?

You know what a supermoon is. It’s when the full moon appears to be larger in the sky than usual because it’s relatively close to the Earth. The moon has an elliptical orbit, so once in its 29 day journey around our planet it’s as close as it gets (perigee–a supermoon) and once it’s the furthest it gets (apogee–a micro moon). A micro moon looks smaller than usual, so this weekend’s Harvest Moon is going to be slightly less bright than average. However, if you think that makes any difference to the experience of watching the Harvest Moon close to a horizon, you would be mistaken. It’s still going to be a majestic sight.

The moon rises behind One World Trade Center at sunset in New York City, as seen from Jersey City, New Jersey. (Photo by Gary Hershorn/Getty Images)

Getty Images

How, when and where to see the Harvest Moon?

Officially, the moon reaches 100% illumination at the same global time of 4:33am UTC, which is at 5.33 BST a.m./12:33 a.m. on Saturday and 9.33 p.m. PDT on Friday. However, that’s not when to observe the Harvest Moon, which is best done by looking to the east at moonrise on Friday or by looking to the west at moonset early on Saturday morning. Find local times for moonrise and moonset for your location.

Technically, Friday evening is the very “best” time to see a full moon this month, though Thursday and Saturday would do just as well, and even Wednesday and Sunday because the Harvest Moon rises only around 20 minutes later each night. Mostly the moon rises around 50 minutes later each night.

Read more: https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamiecartereurope/2019/09/09/a-majestic-micro-harvest-moon-is-coming-how-when-and-where-you-can-see-it-this-week/#3b27532c50d7

Woman says father was bitten 100+ times by ants before death at VA Medical Center

ATLANTA - "Overwhelmed, overwhelmed."

That's how Laquna Ross told Channel 2 Action News she felt after she found her dad with swollen, red bumps all over his body and his hands swollen when she visited him last week before his death at the Eagle's Nest Community Living Center, a nursing home for veterans on the Atlanta VA Medical Center campus.

Ross said she was "worried and confused because that wasn't how he looked when I saw him the last time."

Ross' father, Joel Marrable, served in the Air Force during the Vietnam War. The woman said her father was already in poor health.

"Yes, he had cancer. Yes, he was going to die," she said.

Ross said when she asked a center staffer about all the bumps, the staffer told her it was because of ants. Marrable was bitten more than 100 times, according to Ross.

"His room had ants, the ceiling, the walls, the beds. They were everywhere," Ross said. "The staff member says to me, ‘When we walked in here, we thought Mr. Marrable was dead. We thought he wasn't even alive, because the ants were all over him.'"

Read more: https://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/woman-says-father-was-covered-in-ant-bites-before-death-at-va-medical-center/985316944

US has seen 33% increase in suicides since 1999 | USA TODAY

‘Their only concern is for whites’: Man Trump called ‘my African American’ leaves GOP


Donald Trump, left, talks to Gregory Cheadle as he leaves a campaign rally at the Redding Municipal Airport, in Redding, Calif., on June 3, 2016. (Rich Pedroncelli/AP)

By Meagan Flynn

September 13, 2019 at 5:13 a.m. CDT

Gregory Cheadle went to a Trump rally out of curiosity and left it as an international headline.

The infamous moment, like many at Donald Trump’s rallies that summer in 2016, seemed to materialize out of nowhere. Trump was telling a story about an African American supporter when suddenly he spotted Cheadle in the front row at the Redding, Calif., event, and paused to single out the black man.

“Oh, look at my African American over here!” Trump exclaimed, pointing at Cheadle. “Look at him! Are you the greatest?”

Cheadle laughed at Trump’s outburst then.

Now, citing the president’s “white superiority complex,” Cheadle isn’t in the same party anymore.

On Wednesday, Cheadle revealed he has abandoned the GOP to launch a bid for Congress as an independent in California’s 1st Congressional District, saying he’s had enough of Republicans’ failure to condemn Trump’s comments denigrating black people. Cheadle doesn’t identify any one moment as his breaking point, but rather a deflating succession of them. Somewhere between Trump’s feud with former NFL star Colin Kaepernick and his attacks on Rep. Elijah E. Cummings (D-Md.), between his “shithole countries” comment and his “go back” tweets, “I said, ‘Enough is enough. I’m sick of it,’" Cheadle said.

Texas Lawmaker Issues Death Threat to Beto O’Rourke After Debate Pledge to Take Away Assault-Style Weapons

Beto O’Rourke was uniquely outspoken in his calls for gun control during Thursday night’s Democratic debate in Houston, Texas. The former Texas congressman, whose hometown of El Paso recently was the victim of a mass shooting at a Walmart, was asked if he’d take away assault-style weapons that are often used in mass shootings. “Hell yes,” O’Rourke responded. “We’re going to take your AR-15, your AK-47. We’re not going to allow it to be used against a fellow American anymore.”

It seemed inevitable that O’Rourke’s call to ban ownership of military-style weapons would rile up the guns=distilled liberty true believers online, but it was, perhaps predictably, an elected Republican official—from the state of Texas no less—that led the way over the cliff. Texas state Rep. Briscoe Cain tweeted a not-so-thinly veiled threat at the presidential contender, tweeting “My AR is ready for you Robert Francis,” calling O’Rourke, whose nickname is Beto, by his first and middle names.

Bystander shot at end of police pursuit says he was shackled to hospital bed for hours

From JSOnline:

Tari Davis, the man a Milwaukee police officer shot who was in "close proximity" to a suspect police were attempting to arrest Sunday, holds a news conference Thursday. Davis is seated next to his girlfriend, Lateasha Russ, in front of his home at the 3200 block of North 26th Street. Davis, 41, sustained serious gunshot wounds in the incident. (Photo: Mike De Sisti / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

A man shot by a Milwaukee police officer chasing another man who allegedly fled from a traffic stop said he was shackled to a hospital bed for hours before being released from custody.

Tari Davis, 41, said he wants the officer who shot him fired, and that he exemplifies the reason people flee from police.

"This is not new. This has been happening for quite some time in this community," Davis said at a news conference in front of his home in the 3200 block of North 26th Street where he was shot about 1:30 a.m. Sunday.

"You wonder why they run. You wonder why there's police chases," Davis said.

"They're deathly afraid of stopping. They're deathly afraid of what could happen next."

According to Milwaukee police and a criminal complaint, about 20 minutes before the shooting, officers began pursuing a vehicle after the driver fled from a traffic stop in the 2700 block of West Townsend Avenue.

During the chase, the driver, Kevin Brown, 22, weaved in and out of traffic, ran red lights at speeds between 65 and 70 mph, and nearly struck several vehicles, the complaint said.

Brown eventually backed into a pursuing officer's squad in an alley before crashing into an embankment, fleeing on foot and running into Davis' home.

An officer chasing Brown toward the house shot at Brown, believing he was reaching for a weapon, but the bullet struck Davis, "who was in close proximity," according to police.

Brown was arrested and the officer, a 27-year-old man with one and a half years of service, was placed on administrative duty, according to police, who after the shooting said they were investigating whether Davis was involved in the incident.

When asked whether Davis was cleared of any involvement, police spokeswoman Sgt. Sheronda Grant deferred comment to the Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office, which has filed no charges against Davis.

Men’s Top 14 Insecurities of All Time, According to Experts

Men have plenty of insecurities — but good luck getting them to talk about it. Men who own up to their insecurities often feel as though being vulnerable is akin to admitting inadequacy. So they suffer in silence. “Men feel insecure about being seen as less-than,” marriage and family therapist Hanalei Vierra says. “Less than strong enough, less than smart enough, less than sexy enough, less than good-looking enough, less than funny enough, less than competent enough.” Fatherly asked Vierra and other experts to weigh in on what men are most insecure about, and how they can learn to cope with these fears and address them head-on.

Read more: https://www.fatherly.com/health-science/why-men-are-secure-about-their-bodies-and-themselves/?utm_source=zergnet.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=zergnet_4465485

Flirtin' with Disaster

Journey - Feeling That Way/Anytime

Four for Fridays!

Good morning I hope you stay nice and dry from all the rain we have been having. I also hope you have not floated away with any flooding. Here are your questions.

1) Do you believe in the superstitions?

2) Do you walk under ladders?

3) Do you feel bad when a black cat walks in front of you?

4) Do you believe in Friday the 13th superstitions?

Happy Friday the 13th I hope you have a great day and a good weekend!

What'll Happen to You If You Start Eating 3 Eggs a Day?

West Milwaukee man charged after leaving his paraplegic girlfriend stranded, and in need of hospitalization

From JSOnline:

Daniel C. Stanford (Photo: Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office)

The boyfriend of a paraplegic woman in West Milwaukee has been charged with two felonies after allegedly causing her to get evicted from her home after stealing her money and neglecting her so much she was hospitalized for weeks to treat bed sores.

Daniel C. Stanford, 24, of West Milwaukee has been charged with forgery and recklessly subjecting an at-risk individual to abuse.

He faces up to 18 and a half years in prison if convicted, according to online court

documents. A warrant has been issued for his arrest.

According to the criminal complaint:

The victim, a woman who became a paraplegic after a car accident in 2010, said Stanford was her live-in boyfriend and doubled as her professional financial assistant for her healthcare.

She told investigators that over a six-month period, Stanford neglected many of his duties as the woman’s primary caretaker. He failed to regularly rotate her to avoid bed sores, change the dressing on her wounds frequently enough, conduct motion exercises for her legs and provide her with proper nutrition and cleanliness.

Open Blog - Friday

Be careful.

Thursday, September 12, 2019

'Courageous' parents are credited with leading to a drug bust police believe is the biggest to date involving counterfeit vaping cartridges

From JSOnline:

Tyler Huffhines (Photo: Kenosha County Sheriff's Office)

Police are crediting the parents of a Wisconsin high school student for coming forward with information that led to a massive drug bust involving an operation that manufactured thousands of counterfeit vaping cartridges loaded with THC oil every day.

Officials said the investigation started after parents caught their son in possession of vaping cartridges with THC. They brought him to the Waukesha Police Department in early July in an effort to hold him accountable, officials said.

The probe reportedly led back to two Kenosha County brothers — Tyler and Jacob Huffhines — and a major drug operation running out of a condominium in an upscale neighborhood that officials said was rented under a fake name.

"These parents were very courageous for what they did," Waukesha Police Capt. Dan Baumann said Wednesday. "If it wasn’t for these parents coming through and holding their son accountable, I don’t think we'd be here today giving you the information and the gravity of this vaping epidemic that's going on in the nation right now. … I’m grateful for these parents."

10 Parties That Got Ridiculously Out Of Hand

Open Blog - Thursday

Enjoy.

Wednesday, September 11, 2019

Time for the Federal Tyrany to be Abolished!

Embrace your extremists

Because you're going to be defined as one sooner or later.

Earlier this month, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors passed a resolution declaring the National Rifle Association (NRA) to be a "domestic terrorist organization." Some of us laughed at the absurd move and simply wrote it off by thinking "It's San Francisco, they're all nuts over there," but the sentiment is actually more popular in the Democratic Party than you might expect. In fact, nearly a third of Democrats believe that the National Rifle Association (NRA), the largest gun rights organization in the country, should be declared a terrorist organization, and that it should be against the law for Americans to become members.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey finds that nearly one-out-of-three Likely Democratic Voters (32%) favor declaring the gun rights group a terrorist organization in the community where they live. Fourteen percent (14%) of Republicans and 20% of voters not affiliated with either major party agree. Twenty-eight percent (28%) of Democrats say Americans should be prohibited by law from belonging to pro-gun rights organizations like the NRA, a view shared by 15% of Republicans and 10% of uanffiliateds.

Among all likely voters, 23% favor declaring the NRA a terrorist organization in their home community, while 18% think it should be against the law to belong to pro-gun rights groups like the NRA.

When nearly a third of a political party believes that an organization supporting gun rights is a "terrorist organization" and should be illegal to join, it makes you wonder what percentage also oppose free speech, freedom of religion, and other rights that are guaranteed by the Constitution.

They have to go back. And if they have nowhere to go back to, the states, once united, must divide.

From: http://voxday.blogspot.com/2019/09/embrace-your-extremists.html

Boston-Foreplay-Long Time

Man breaks up with girlfriend, robs her at Racine Public Library

From CBS 58:

RACINE, Wis. (CBS 58) -- A Racine man is charged after allegedly robbing his ex-girlfriend at the Racine Public Library.

According to the criminal complaint, a woman and her boyfriend were arguing at the Racine Public Library on September 9.

During the argument, the man allegedly broke up with the woman. He then got up, pulled her purse away from her, and fled the scene.

Security video shows the man taking a wallet out of the purse.

The man allegedly made off with $40 and the woman's food stamps card.

He was later located intoxicated at the hospital.

He now faces charges of felony theft.

From: https://www.cbs58.com/news/man-breaks-up-with-girlfriend-robs-her-at-racine-public-library

Schneider: Lake County residents, businesses are ‘underwater literally’ because of Foxconn development

From Chicago Tribune:

The owner of Libertyville-based Pizzeria Deville, John Durning, testifies Friday morning during a field hearing of the U.S. House Committee on Small Business in Wheeling about the impacts of the July 2017 floods on his business. (Emily K. Coleman / Lake County News-Sun)

our to 6 inches of black water, tainted with grease and human waste, filled the basement kitchen and party room of Libertyville-based Pizzeria Deville.

It was July 12, 2017, the day after 7 inches of rainfall had swamped the area, and while owner John Durning said the initial cause was thought to be a freak storm combined with an ill-equipped sewer system, that was only part of the problem.

The other piece relates to new development in the area, and local, state and federal officials need to find ways to mitigate the impact of that development, Durning testified Friday morning during a hearing of the U.S. House Committee on Small Business.

"There has not been a major rain storm since that I have not sat awake in bed or driven directly to the restaurant to see if it's happening again," Durning said.

The hearing, held Friday morning at the Wheeling Village Hall, drew about 80 attendees and focused on downstream impacts from the Foxconn development just over the state line in Wisconsin, particularly on small businesses and how the federal government’s small business disaster assistance program can help them.

U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider, the only congressman in attendance, said local hearings are “relatively rare” but serve as a way to make sure “important voices” are heard from people who can’t afford, either the time or financially, to travel to Washington, D.C.

This year saw a new rainfall record set for the month of May, and rivers have topped their flood stage four times so far, Warner said.

The combination of increasing rain and more development means a higher risk of flooding, more severe flooding and poorer water quality, Warner added.

He said he’d like to see Wisconsin treat the Des Plaines River as its own watershed instead of as part of a more regional watershed, so that mitigation work related to roadway projects has downstream impacts.

Private development like Foxconn has been allowed to pay a fee instead of physically mitigating the impact of filled-in wetlands, according to Warner.

Read more: https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/lake-county-news-sun/ct-lns-schneider-foxconn-hearing-st-0720-20190719-xvbfxcwhk5fhtfounknm6fzh3a-story.html

Green Day - Wake Me Up When September Ends [Official Music Video]

Rocket attack on US Embassy in Afghanistan on 9/11 anniversary

A plume of smoke rises near the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan on Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2019. A blast was heard shortly after midnight on the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. (AP Photo/Cara Anna)

A rocket exploded near the U.S. embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan early Wednesday, the 18th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.

A plume of smoke rose over central Kabul shortly after midnight and sirens could be heard. Inside the embassy, employees heard this message over the loudspeaker: "An explosion caused by a rocket has occurred on compound."

Officials gave the all-clear about an hour after the blast and reported no injuries. The NATO mission, which is nearby, also said no personnel had been injured.

The attack was the first major action in Kabul since President Trump announced Monday that peace talks with the Taliban to end America's longest war are "dead." Over the weekend, Trump abruptly canceled planned meetings with Afghan and Taliban leaders at Camp David. The Taliban had claimed responsibility for two car bombings last week, one of which killed an American soldier.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told Al Jazeera that Trump would regret turning his back on peace talks. "We had two ways to end the occupation in Afghanistan. One was jihad and fighting, the other was talks and negotiations," said Mujahid. "If Trump wants to stop talks, we will take the first way and they will soon regret it."

The 9/11 anniversary is a sensitive day in Afghanistan's capital and one on which attacks have occurred. A U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan shortly after the 2001 attack toppled the Taliban, who had harbored Usama bin Laden, the Al Qaeda leader and attacks mastermind.

In the nearly 18 years of fighting since then, the number of U.S. troops in Afghanistan soared to 100,000 and dropped dramatically after bin Laden was killed in neighboring Pakistan in 2011.

Read more: https://www.foxnews.com/world/explosion-erupts-near-us-embassy-in-afghanistan-just-minutes-into-the-anniversary-of-9-11

Blood drive Wednesday to commemorate 9/11

From The Journal Times.com:

Pictured above is an example of the remembrance cards people will receive from Versiti Blood Center of Wisconsin if they donate blood on Wednesday, Sept. 11.
Submitted image

MOUNT PLEASANT — Versiti Blood Center of Wisconsin is holding blood drives across the state on Wednesday to honor those who lost their lives in the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, including first responders.

“Those who work at Versiti Blood Center of Wisconsin remember the overwhelming, heartfelt response by thousands of blood donors following the attack on the World Trade Center,” the company wrote in a press release.

“Not only on the day of the tragedy, but on the days that followed, blood donors lined up to donate in a gesture of humanity, patriotism and community, many waiting in line for several hours.”

Versiti spokesperson Katie Koeppel stated in an email that 1,571 people donated at Versiti centers on Sept. 11, 2001 and 1,439 more donated on Sept. 12. According to Koeppel, that is three times more donors than on a typical day.

All nine Versiti centers in Wisconsin are participating in the drive. The Mount Pleasant location, 1120 Sunnyslope Drive, has scheduled a blood drive from 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday.

Those who donate blood on that day will receive a remembrance card with the image and story of one of the nearly 3,000 who died in Sept. 11 attacks, including the 343 firefighters and 71 law enforcement officers.

To donate, call 877-232-4376 or go to versiti.org.

From: https://journaltimes.com/news/local/blood-drive-wednesday-to-commemorate/article_07b2f04c-4f1c-5d20-8fbc-7adc0c616b04.html#comments

9/11: Second plane hits South Tower

Never forget.

Dear Madame Zoltar

Hello, my loved ones! How are you? Well, I guess we can't complain about not getting enough rain anymore. Too bad we didn't get it in August. My tomatoes, though, did just fine. Señor Zanza took care of them. We have a bountiful harvest. Of course, almost everyone has home grown tomatoes this time of year.

Speaking of the time of year, don't mis the Micro Harvest Moon tonight. Read more about it here: http://www.jtirregulars.com/2019/09/a-majestic-micro-harvest-moon-is-coming.html

Week one of the Irregular Fantasy Football League is over. Here are the standings. Click them to make them readable:

Unfortunately, I didn't do that well. Even Mr. OrbsCorbs is above me. Just wait till next week. I'll murder the bums. Oh, even though I'm a psychic, I don't use my powers in this game. At least, not yet. Ha-ha.

The nonsense continues at Racine's City Hall. Now they want to raise the deductibles and costs for those insured through the city. They want to do it to "save money." If they really wanted to save money, they would stop spending millions of dollars on debacles like Machinery Row and spending more money on studies and consultants. And get rid of the city administrator's job, and cut Mayor Butterball Mason's many assistants. The waste that comes from city hall is overpowering and illegal. STOP wasting our money on garbage. Fools and crooks, that's what city hall is full of.

How about that 73 year old woman who killed her 82 year old neighbor with a brick? (http://www.jtirregulars.com/2019/09/maryland-woman-73-charged-with-killing.html) Oh my. What has this world become? When people in their seventies start murdering those in their eighties, it's time for something to be done. By the way, bricks don't kill people, people kill people. Ahem.

The Journal Times has a story about a young man walking around North Beach in his pajamas with his genitals hanging out. (https://journaltimes.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/pajama-clad-teen-allegedly-exposes-self-at-north-beach/article_3e67d7f2-eed2-56e3-879a-65727de933d7.html) Stuff like this is becoming par for the course here. Racine is full of deviants and criminals. What a sad city.

I received an email from Mr. OrbsCorbs this week. He complained about the traffic, both vehicular and human, near his home. He said that during an intense thunderstorm yesterday morning, he was tailgated by a truck. That truck turned off, only to be replaced by an even bigger truck tailgating him. He also complained about the volume of cars. What am I supposed to do about it? I'm not a traffic cop. I can put the Zoltar Curse on a bad driver, but I must be present to do it. I'm not showing up there in the predawn when he does his shopping. Get a gun, Mr. OrbsCorbs, and wave it around at the other drivers. You'll either get shot or arrested, or both. Then you won't have to worry about traffic.

Today is the 18th anniversary of 9/11. Be sure to say a prayer for all of those who perished in that tragic incident.

That's it, my dears. Enjoy the warm weather while we have it. Of course, the overall trend in temperatures will be downward. Fall is beautiful, but it can be brisk.

madamezoltar@jtirregulars.com

Be kind and respectful to each other. It's the only way to change this world. I love you all.
________________________
Please donate: paypal.me/jgmazelis If you don't like PayPal, send me a note at madamezoltar@jtirregulars.com and I'll send you my street address so you can send a check or money order. Thank you.

Open Blog - Wednesday

Have a great day.

Tuesday, September 10, 2019

Alleged labor trafficking victim tells of mistreatment in Racine County

From The Journal Times.com:

This tip about farm laborers at Borzynski Farms being held “preso,” Spanish for prisoners, was received in 2016 by the state Department of Workforce Development. DWD's investigation did not uncover labor trafficking, but a federal investigation resulted in criminal charges against five people associated with the farm labor contractor who hired the workers. Yellow highlighting added by Wisconsin Watch.
Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development

ALEXANDRA HALL and SARAH WHITES-KODITSCHEK Wisconsin Public Radio

In 2016, “Roberto” legally came to the United States for the same reason many immigrants do — to earn a living and a slice of the American dream. But Roberto, a native of southern Mexico, says he suffered a nightmare of coercion, financial exploitation, threats and mistreatment while working on a Georgia farm and, later, at cabbage patches in southeastern Wisconsin owned by Borzynski Farms.

Roberto arrived in the United States legally under an H-2A visa, which allows seasonal farm laborers to work for specific employers. Roberto says he was forced to pay a fee and turn over the deed to his parents’ property to an intermediary in Mexico as security for his continued work in the United States.

When Roberto arrived in Georgia, the situation was not at all what the recruiter had described. There were hundreds of workers — all men, all from Mexico — living together in cramped barracks and isolated from nearby towns, he said.

“The same day you arrive, that same day they ask you for your passport. They take all of your personal documents,” Roberto said of the contractors, who hired out workers to farms growing squash, cucumbers and cilantro in southern Georgia.

No talking to strangers

The boss warned Roberto and the other workers that there were ground rules.

“He tells us to get it in our heads that we came to work,” Roberto recalled. “No matter what, they don’t want us talking to any strangers — people that are not from the work site. And that we couldn’t leave either — work, and then back to the house.”

Roberto — not his real name — is among 14 men from Mexico who were allegedly victimized by a labor-trafficking scheme that transported legal temporary farm workers from Georgia to work illegally at Borzynski Farms in Mount Pleasant, according to an indictment in the U.S. District Court in the Eastern District of Wisconsin announced May 22.

He spoke exclusively to Wisconsin Public Radio and Wisconsin Watch in 2017, before the indictment, and has asked through his attorneys to remain anonymous to avoid potential retribution. At their request, WPR and Wisconsin Watch delayed publication of the interview to avoid compromising the investigation.

Five family members from Garcia & Sons, a farm labor contractor from Moultrie, Georgia, have been charged with labor-trafficking related counts. They are Saul Garcia, 49; Saul Garcia, Jr., 26; Daniel Garcia, 28; Consuelo Garcia, 45; all of Moultrie, Georgia; and Maria Remedios Garcia-Olalde, 52, a Mexican national. Attorneys for the Garcias declined requests for an interview.

Two of the defendants — the elder Saul Garcia and Garcia-Olalde — also were indicted on obstruction charges for allegedly withholding or falsifying evidence, including trying to keep one of the alleged victims from testifying before a federal grand jury. A trial date has not been set.

The federal case developed after the state Department of Workforce Development investigated the farm in 2016. The UMOS Latina Resource Center in Milwaukee relayed a tip to the state agency that the workers were being held like “prisoners,” according to records obtained under the state public records law.

But spokesman Ben Jedd said the agency was unable to substantiate the allegation after interviewing each worker. DWD did issue a warning to the elder Saul Garcia for preventing workers from cooperating with efforts to investigate the working conditions.

Records indicate federal investigators had already begun their work before DWD ended its inquiry, but it remains unclear who contacted federal authorities. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Milwaukee declined to describe the origins of the case, which was investigated by the FBI, the U.S. departments of Labor and Homeland Security and the Racine Police Department.

Jedd said DWD, under Gov. Tony Evers’ administration, is “evaluating our current programs and providing educational awareness to our employees” to better detect labor trafficking.

Farm ‘disheartened’ by allegations

The owners of Borzynski Farms said they knew nothing of the conditions under which the men worked or that they were allegedly trafficked.

“Borzynski Farms is disheartened that its fields and facilities may have been used by Garcia & Sons to exploit or cause harm to any worker,” the farm’s attorney, Stephen Kravit, said in a statement.

Borzynski Farms said in a statement to multiple media outlets in May that it contracted with Garcia & Sons, whose chief financial officer is listed as Saul Garcia, for harvesting services during the time period covered in the indictment. Borzynski Farms did not respond to a request for comment from The Journal Times.

The farm, which also has operations in Texas, Illinois and Georgia, grows produce including cabbage, sweet corn, leafy greens and green beans.

Borzynski's Farm Market in Mount Pleasant sells produce grown in Wisconsin, including cabbage, sweet corn, leafy greens and green beans. A federal indictment alleges 14 men from Mexico were forced to work illegally in nearby fields owned by the Borzynskis in 2016. The owners of the farm said in a statement that they had no knowledge of the alleged trafficking.
Coburn Dukehart