(CBS/AP) NEW YORK A personal employee of Mayor Michael Bloomberg was beaten by thieves who then carjacked the billionaire's car Wednesday morning in New Jersey, authorities said. The employee was driving the gray 2001 Lexus in Hackensack on an errand for the mayor shortly before 9 a.m. when a woman came to the window to ask for money, police said. As he declined and began to roll up the window, a man got into the passenger seat and punched him in the face. Carjacked by fist? I guess that's what happens when you virtually outlaw concealed carry.
"They force him out and take off," said Capt. Frank Lomia, of the Hackensack Police Department.
The carjackers sped away, driving over a lawn as they made their escape, he said. Grass and dirt still clung to the car when it was recovered about two hours later, abandoned on the side of a road in nearby Fair Lawn. Why did they steal the car - because the driver wouldn't give them enough cash for the by-the-hour motel?
Police were looking for the two suspects. Two people matching their description ... and that description was .... "a man and a woman"
... were spotted at a convenience store in the area just before the car was stolen.
The mayor's spokesman, Stu Loeser, said Bloomberg "hopes that those who committed this crime are swiftly brought to justice." Bloomberg's employee, Gradimir Bosnjak, was in Hackensack to pick up a colleague. He was not seriously injured, although the mayor called to check on him after the crime. "Everything is fine, thank you," Bosnjak said late Wednesday.
HT - Tim Blair
Paul Gibbons, 47, tracked down John Jones using details obtained online after the pair exchanged insults in an internet chatroom called Yahoo, Islam 10. Both having an earnest interest in the Religion of PeaceTM.
He travelled 70 miles to Mr Jones' home in Clacton, Essex, and beat him up with a pickaxe handle in December 2005. Gibbons, of Southwark, south London, admitted unlawful wounding and will be sentenced on 7 November.
Their chatroom exchanges soured after Gibbons accused Mr Jones of spreading rumours about him. "There was an exchange of views between the victim and the defendant which were threatening on both sides," said prosecutor Ibitayo Adebayo.
Gibbons, a man with a violent past, traced Mr Jones to his home using personal details about himself that he had put online. Gibbons arrived at Mr Jones' home armed and accompanied by another man carrying a machete, the court heard. Mr Jones, whose partner and three children were in the house, opened the door holding a knife for protection, said Mr Adebayo.
There's a man with a ax handle and a second man with a machete outside the door and he opens it. Brilliant, just brilliant.
A fight broke out during which Mr Jones was disarmed and beaten with the pickaxe handle and cut with the knife. Gibbons fled after the victim's partner screeched called for help. Mr Jones suffered cuts to his head, neck and hands.
Det Cons Christopher Creagh, of the Metropolitan Police, said: "This is the first instance of a web-rage attack."
Det Sgt Jean-Marc Bazzoni, of Essex Police, added the case demonstrates the importance of protecting one's identity on the internet. "Mr Jones had posted pictures of his family on the web and had chatted to Gibbons on an audio link," he said. "It demonstrates how easily other users can put two and two together and also shows how children could also find themselves in danger."
Posted by: DanNY ||
10/19/2006 00:00 ||
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#3
What the heck kinda charge is "unlawful wounding", as if there's "lawful wounding"????
Yeah, not exactly bright to open your door to 2 guys carrying a pickaxe handle and a machete. Darwin (even though I don't personally believe in it) in action!
Posted by: BA ||
10/19/2006 9:02 Comments ||
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#4
If anyone wants to come after me, my dogs name is Doby. Bring a steak.
#5
He had to open the door; it's probably the law. Lord knows you dare defend yourself. Well, what if you leave the door closed and the poor tresspasser, while trying to break it down, injures himself? That's your fault.
#9
Anyone coming to my door with an ax handle and a knife/machete is going to meet a) at least 1 round each from my 7.62 Mosby-Nagant WW2 carbine complete with bayonet, and, following the blowing away of both individuals and the use of the bayonet "just to make sure", my 85-lb half-husky/half-shepherd mix who has been justly described as a "chainsaw with paws".
After that the cops can come and pick up what's left.
#10
Oh yeah, well anyone who comes to my door will have to deal w/my 300 lb mooch of a neighbor who drinks my beer and eats my potato chips and leaves a huge indent of his fat ass on my couch while he watches my t.v. Never piss off a fat guy I say - right out of my play book.
We don't have a separate category for wacky animal stories?
We do, it's this one. AoS.
LIGHTHOUSE POINT, Fla. An 81-year-old boater was in critical condition Thursday after a stingray flopped onto his boat and stabbed him, leaving a foot-long barb in his chest, authorities said.
"It was a freak accident," said Lighthouse Point acting fire Chief David Donzella. "It's very odd that the thing jumped out of the water and stung him. We still can't believe it."
I don't believe it either. I bet it jumped out of his hands after he pulled it into his boat, and as he rassled with it it stung him.
Ellen Pikitch, a professor of marine biology and fisheries at the University of Miami, who has been studying stingrays for decades, said they are generally docile. "Something like this is really, really extraordinarily rare," she said. "Even when they are under duress, they don't usually attack."
More at the link, and even more here. Old man's alive, for now.
First Steve Irwin, now some random old guy. What next? Stingrays with little suicide belts? Is the TSA even screening for stingrays? If they did, would that be racial profiling?
#4
This guy might really be in trouble for having a protected species on board.(sarcasm) FL Fishing regs state
"Protected Species
It is unlawful to harvest, possess, land, purchase, sell, or exchange the following species:
Nassau Grouper, Jewfish, Sawfish, Sawshark, Basking shark, Whale Shark, Spotted Eagle Ray, Sturgeon."
If you see the video it's definately a spotted eagle ray, protected species why do they hate us.
Posted by: bruce ||
10/19/2006 13:33 Comments ||
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#5
Them stingrays has always been uppity!
Posted by: Charlie the Tuna ||
10/19/2006 14:05 Comments ||
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#6
FYI, Jewfish are now fair game for liberal and Islamic fisherman. It is now been decided that whether or not they were ever overfished is debatable.
#11
I stepped on a very small (12") stingray fishing in Trinity Bay, Texas, with a couple of my relatives back when I was a kid. The barb didn't make it through my waders. Stingrays usually require a LOT of aggravation to get a reaction. They usually get out of the way as fast as they can. The only reason one would jump into a boat is if it were being chased by a larger fish such as a shark.
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
10/19/2006 23:37 Comments ||
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PATNA, India: Authorities in eastern India are painting a crime-infested town pink in the hope that an image makeover will lift the sagging morale of residents who are fed up with the decline in law and order.
The ancient town of Aurangabad in Bihar - one of India's poorest and most backward states - is a hotbed of crime ranging from killing, extortion, kidnapping and inter-caste wars.
Officials say the idea of painting the city pink originated from the dominant Rajput community, who migrated from the western state of Rajasthan where the capital, Jaipur is known as the pink city of India.
"Only a few buildings (in Jaipur) bear the pink color. Aurangabad will actually be the country's real pink city," said Arvind Kumar Singh, a senior government official overseeing the work who is also a Rajput.
With the city's two million residents complaining about poor quality of life and depression due to crime, officials said they had decided to paint the city pink ahead of the Hindu festival of light, Diwali, on October 21. Yeah, by Gum, that'll do the trick! Now, THAT is governance!
Local residents said they welcomed the new lick of paint to the town. "The town does not seem to carry any of its past look and we feel happy about it," said Santosh Kumar, a local businessman.
Two young Egyptians caught in the act of kissing in public in Cairo during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan have been fined 100 pounds (17.50 dollars) each, newspapers reported. A court in Kasr al-Nil district found the pair guilty of offending public morals when they kissed in broad daylight on the banks of the Nile. The man, aged 25, argued in his defence that his 21-year-old friend was a colleague whom he regarded as a "sister" and with whom he would exchange a kiss every time their paths crossed.
Posted by: Fred ||
10/19/2006 00:00 ||
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#1
Doesn't this merit the death sentence ? The problem here is that this feamle was not "bagged". If she was "bagged" like the other one, none of this foolery would have been possible.
#3
This is one of my absolute favorite graphics on so many levels. God bless whoever found it and recognized it's worth and significance.
Does not that photo represent what is worth fighting for in Western Civ and what is worth fighting against?
Indeed, does it not show what is worth dying to defend.
The woman, the man, the history, the architecture, the knowledge contained within in the walls of the library or museum that frames two lovers.
The woman's face free to feel the sun. The man confident to submit to his lover's kiss.
Juxtapose the muslim couple....
A treatise on Western Civ vs. Islam could be written on this one photo.
So much to say... but too much cognac....
Posted by: Mark Z ||
10/19/2006 18:18 Comments ||
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#4
What I get out of the picture is that the Euro guy does not look like he could take the Muzzie one on one. Sandals, head in lap, shirt tail out. Wotta wuss. The muzzie reminds me of Cassius' lean and hungry look.
#5
Perhaps, NS, but Mark Z, you make a good point. I hadn't thought of those other aspects-the architecture, knowledge, etc.-before, but you're right. It's a great photo.
For purely selfish reasons having to do with Anatomy 101, I'll take Western Men Make Better Lovers, Alec, for $1000.
#1
Young asylum seekers and refugees are to be given free clowning lessons at taxpayers' expense to help them adapt to life in Britain, it emerged.
The youngsters aged 12 to 25 will learn slapstick routines, how to tumble, silly walks and how to fall over during a course of nine theatre workshops estimated to cost up to a total of £2,000.
The administration of the National Institute of Child Health confirmed on Wednesday that two of its patients with suspected viral haemorrhagic fever died on Sunday and Monday. A boy died on Sunday and a girl died on Monday and their reports later showed that they were confirmed dengue patients, said Dr Capt Abdul Majid, focal person of the Sindh Health Departments surveillance committee for dengue fever.
Ali Raza, 11, a resident of Baldia Town, was admitted to NICH on October 12. His blood samples were sent to the National Institute of Health Islamabad, whose reports reached three days after his death (on October 15) confirming that he was a dengue patient.
Eight-year-old Lal Bibi was brought by her family from Memon Goth while she was suffering high-grade fever on October 3. She died on Monday (October 16) and the reports on her blood test confirmed dengue two days later.
At least 40 new patients of suspected VHF were admitted to different hospitals and 37 patients were discharged Thursday. On Wednesday, Aga Khan University Hospital had 40 patients. Liaquat National Hospital had 55 patients. The Civil Hospital had eight patients on Wednesday. Ziauddin Hospital had 27 patients, eight of who were new entrants and 14 were discharged. At JPMC, a total of 27 patients were being treated. At Bismillah Taqi Hospital, five were being treated. The NICH was treating 13. Abbasi Shaheed Hospital and Baqai Hospital had 5 patients each of suspected VHF.
Posted by: Fred ||
10/19/2006 00:00 ||
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#1
So, how severe does it have to get before we ban flights?
#4
Wasn't there a report somewheres recently about terrorist groups looking into spreading diseases like this through "victims"? I realize it's not human-to-human, but if an affected one gets into an area where there's mosquitoes/other vectors, wouldn't that raise someone's dander?
Posted by: BA ||
10/19/2006 8:58 Comments ||
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#5
Ooops, I actually may be thinking of an episode of The Unit a few weeks ago.
Posted by: BA ||
10/19/2006 8:58 Comments ||
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#6
Dengue is endemic in the tropics worldwide, tens of millions of cases a year.
#7
Lots of US troops in the Solomons/New Guinea campaign, and later in the Philippines, were struck with Dengue Fever. I also remember reading somewhere that it affected other locations as well, including Burma, Malaysia, and the Dutch Indies.
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
10/19/2006 23:47 Comments ||
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Yigal Amir petitioned the Tel Aviv District Court on Wedensday to allow conjugal visits with his wife, Larissa Trimbobler, after claiming that the fertility treatments approved for the couple earlier this year were endangering her health.
Besides which, actual doinking is ever so much more enjoyable to all concerned.
Amir, who is serving a life sentence for the assassination of former prime minister Yitzhak Rabin, claimed that the state and Prison Services were ignoring humanitarian concerns by refusing to allow the visits, forcing Trimbobler to use painful and dangerous medical procedures instead.
How do voluntary actions undertaken by Yigal Amir and the little woman fall under the "humanitarian" heading? Was this one of those redacted scenes from Blazing Saddles?
"One false move and the little woman gets preggers!"
"Look out! He's got a turkey baster and he's willing to use it!"
"If we were talking about me and my health, I could understand [their] inflexibility, but here, we are talking about a law-abiding, completely normative citizen. Why is it necessary to endanger her health?" Amir wrote.
Because the state has no interest in knocking her up?
Posted by: Fred ||
10/19/2006 00:00 ||
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#1
Failing that, a Trimbobler thru the bars would be acceptable.
#2
Whew! I saw it first when I opened the new IE7 and thought it might be a moonbat hack. I've always thought the "oderint dum metuant" quote was more RB style;-)
Posted by: Rob Crawford ||
10/19/2006 11:37 Comments ||
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#5
Pardon my ignorance of Latin--actually, blame my high school--but what's the translation of oderint dum metuant?
Posted by: Mike ||
10/19/2006 11:38 Comments ||
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#6
"54-40 or fight" is a reference to a dispute with the British over the northern boundary of Maine, back in the 1820s or so.
Posted by: Mike ||
10/19/2006 11:39 Comments ||
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#7
Well, since you answered me, let me reciprocate with the best of my limited abilities... AFAIK, oderint dum metuant means something like "let them despise me/us, as long as they fear me/us".
#9
Actually, it's in reference to the Oregon territory. 54°40' is the southern boundary of Alaska, so if the US got Oregon all the way there, it would be contiguous. The other way, which the Brits claimed, was the California border. Eventually, they just extended the 49° line from Montana west.
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.