Uncle Sam Wants You … Or at Least Your Money … Florida Motorists Ticketed for Speeding

This is a rather unique and innovative way of ticketing speeders over the 4th of July holiday, Police officers in Orange County, FL dressing up like Uncle Sam. From the amount of tickets they handed out and the cash bonanza, its only a matter of time before the Orange County police will be masquerading as an oak tree on Arbor Day, Cupid on Valentines Day or Punxsutawney Phil on Ground Hog Day

Hundreds of Central Florida motorists were ticketed Monday by a costumed Uncle Sam officer in a weeklong operation targeting speeding holiday drivers.
During the four-hour traffic operation, 275 citations were issued, according to sheriff’s deputies.

“Unless Uncle Sam hops in your car and puts his foot on your gas pedal and makes you speed, we are not entrapping anybody,” Orange County traffic division Officer Ken Wynne said.

Speeding tickets handed out by Uncle Sam start at $80 and increase with each mile per hour over the speed limit, Orange County sheriff’s deputies said. (Local 6)

When Hate Crimes and Cruise Ships Collide … 18 year old David Ritcheson Jumps from Cruise Ship After Past Pipe Attack

This is a truly terrible story and one where a cruise line would seemly have no responsibility in the death of 18 year old David Ritcheson, only that they were the vehicle that he ended his life on. It would appear that David Ritcheson took his own life jumping from a cruise ship. David Ritcheson was a past victim of a hate crime who actually just 3 months ago testified in front of Congress (Statement to Congress) about his beating and near death at the hand of hate mongers. Sadly for David Ritcheson the pain, anguish and torment of the incident must have been too much to bare. Although many of his friends stated that they were shocked at his death and that he seemed to be doing well. Unfortunately, I guess he was just hiding it well. The incident and the trials must have taken their toll. Another case of man’s in-humanity to man. God bless you David and may you rest in peace.

A Spring teen who survived a brutal beating with a pipe last year apparently jumped to his death from a Cozumel-bound cruise ship on Sunday. An 18-year-old was observed by “a bunch of people” jumping over the railing of the upper deck of Carnival Cruise Lines’ Ecstasy around 7:35 a.m. Sunday, said Coast Guard spokesman Adam Eggers. Carlos said that the family confirmed it, that it was true,” Dovalina said. “The family heard from the captain of the ship. He went overboard.”

The ship’s crew pulled the body from the water and he was pronounced dead at 9:10 a.m. The ship had departed Galveston on Saturday and was a “couple of hundred” miles out, Eggers said. Ritcheson’s death comes less than three months after he testified before Congress about how two teens nearly killed him on April 23, 2006 by repeatedly kicking a patio umbrella stand into his rectum while shouting “white power!” (Houston Chronicle)

Passengers recount teen’s leap from ship

The David Ritcheson case shows us just exactly how traumatising brutal attacks can be. The scars, both physical and mental, sometimes never go away. If not properly treated, individuals feel a hopelessness that they think they can never recover from. We can only hope and pray that David Ritcheson is at peace.

By appearances, Ritcheson was regaining control over his life following a brutal, racist assault in April 2006 that almost claimed it. Most of the surgeries required to repair extensive internal injuries had been done. He had stepped forward at the cost of public embarrassment to testify before Congress in support of expanded hate crimes legislation. He had returned to school, reconnected with his friends and started to live as a regular high school student, albeit one with significant scars, physical and emotional.

On the outside, friends said, Ritcheson appeared to be his same smiling self.

And if he was upset, said Jenny Bonilla, a friend and fellow student at Klein Collins High School, “he never showed it in any way.”

Trent said he last saw Ritcheson in January. He spoke with his parents in recent weeks and heard nothing discouraging.

“But every day, David had pain he lived with, and there were things he could no longer do as a result of his injuries,” Trent said. “And there were scars that were very disfiguring. All I know is, when you’re 18 years old, it’s very hard to see beyond tomorrow or even beyond today.”

Ritcheson had rebuffed all suggestions that he get psychological counseling and wouldn’t even talk to friends about it. Mental health experts say his avoidance of professional help is common for victims of trauma — and dangerous. (Houston Chronicle)

Thomas Mooney, American Diplomat, Reportedly Found Dead in Cyprus

45 year old Thomas Mooney, an American diplomat acting as a Defense Attaché in Cyprus had been missing since last Thursday. According to reports, his body was found in a rural area of western Cyprus. This missing person story was kept rather quiet in the beginning due to the sensitivity.  Get the full details and further updates HERE.

New Orleans Travel Show … Natalee Holloway Aruban Protest … Justice for Natalee Holloway Part IV

The entire New Orleans contingent that participated in the “Make the Travel Agents and people Aware” weekend need to be congratulated. What a tremendous job they did in reminding people that Natalee Holloway is still missing and Aruba is still doing nothing over 2 years later. Aruba does nothing, but somehow they expect Americans to reward them by going there on vacation and spending their hard earned money.

Thank you for the reports a long the way and the pictures. Scared Monkeys gives a big Hat Tip to those that came up with the idea of putting the “Where is Natalee” sign on the back of the horse drawn carriage (see picture below). BRILLIANT!  The amount of eyes that saw that poster in the streets of New Orleans  from an individual’s independent thought is simply fantastic. No ATA marketing campaign can compete with that type of grass roots ingenuity and perseverance.

Meetings for the travel convention were between 9:30 and noon. We set the banners up in new locations this morning. Many were able to see them as they drove to and from-or near-the Hilton. The travel agents themselves were coming and going on tours of the French Quarter and had to pass by the banners…

About 12:30 we moved our efforts to the French Quarter, where there were organized tours for the attendees. The Quarter also was crowded with tourists and locals, as is usual on the weekends.

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Daily Commentary - July 2nd, 2007 - Hamas’s “Mickey Mouse” Meets a Bitter End

Dana discusses:

• The end of Hamas’s Mickey Mouse television character in true Middle East Manner

If you have not seen it, check out this bizarre and really disturbing video, Farfur is dead . This is supposed to be a childrens TV show.