One of my aunts went there yesterday. She hadn't been in a while as she and my uncle moved out a long time ago. It is a beautiful church.

St. Joe's Mass

Today is the one-year anniversary of the death of 19 Granite Mountain Hotshots, bravely trying to put out a wildfire near here. An awful tragedy--the largest wildfire fighter loss in American history. Everyone here was devastated by the tragedy. More than $16 million in aid for their families has been raised via private (non-government) donations since then.

An hour up the road in Bloomsburg a 25 year old woman was shot in the leg when a vendor from a gun show was demonstrating how to holster a gun properly, and accidentally fired the weapon.

The vendor's stand was immediately shut down and he was thrown out of the exhibition. He's claiming that the gun wasn't loaded earlier, and someone must have loaded it while he wasn't paying attention.

NYC Anti-Drug Youth Program Has Scientology Connections Exposed

Once again, the controversial religious movement has been caught lying about drugs.

By McCarton Ackerman

06/30/14

An anti-drug program which has reached over 14,000 kids in New York City has been exposed for being associated with the Church of Scientology and making medically inaccurate statements about drugs.

The educational non-profit Foundation for a Drug Free World was created eight years ago by Meghan Fialkoff, a Scientologist from Queens. They’ve since focused primarily on New York City’s outer boroughs like Queens and the Bronx, visiting disadvantage schools, homeless shelters, churches, and NYPD youth programs.

But at a recent presentation for a Catholic after-school program for troubled teenagers called Little Flower, Drug Free World’s presenter was caught making unfounded claims about drugs, stating that all drugs cause flashbacks, and that all drugs or medicines stay in one's body for years. The teachings come from Clear Body, Clear Mind, a self-help book compiled from materials written by Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard.

Fialkoff acknowledged that Scientologists run the foundation out of church headquarters in Times Square, but denied that the presentations have a religious overtone. Tidman also denied being paid for the presentations and said he has a full-time job at his father's dentist’s office. “There are a a lot of sponsors for the program,” said Meghan. “One of them happens to be the Church of Scientology."

Despite this, the program has been praised by State Senator José Peralta, as well as former Councilman Dan Halloran, who is now under indictment for corruption. Although there are no measures to gauge the effectiveness of the program, some presentations offer an anonymous pledge called “Drug Free Marshals,” which kids can sign to promise that they will avoid doing drugs and encourage their friends to do the same.

While some organizations have declined to bring Tidman back because of the unfounded medical statements he makes, other have expressed satisfaction with the program. Last March, Leydy Avila of Sunnyside Community Services in Queens wrote to the group and said that “having organizations and individuals like you […] and the flexibility to accommodate so many of my children was really appreciated."

http://www.thefix.com/content/nyc-anti-drug-youth-program-has-scientology-connections-exposed

Idiot. Even the most fervent gun advocates will tell you that RULE ONE is that you must ALWAYS assume a gun is loaded.

This incident is continued proof that on average, as a society, humans (Americans) are not capable to responsible management of a fire arm. I believe the axiom, guns don't kill humans, humans kill humans..., but guns make it easier. Gun control will never work. Only gun elimination will work.

i agree. everytime something goes wrong, no matter how rare, we need to remove the item in question. after all, that very logic is the cornerstone of the free society that we cherish. kid falls into a pool and dies, eliminate pools. guy drowns at the beach surfing, ban surfing. car accidents, plane crashes, hospital infections, falling down the stairs, ban it all. my solution, run on the "nerf the world" political platform. screw common sense, throw that right out the window if they aren't already banned. forget the fact that the overwhelming majority of people are somehow able to get by in life with death lurking around every corner, we just can't take the chance, safety first!

as the chief of the thought police, i would also require that everybody be required to obtain a permit before they are able to purchase gasoline. for those who may be unaware, it is highly combustible and may very well find its way into the hands of the wrong people. thus, creating a law placing restrictions on the common citizen will surely eliminate the threat without a doubt. any opposition to this logic will be deemed racist!

It's not my neck of the woods, but I know it is for some Board members:

"The Trump Plaza Hotel in Atlantic City could shut its doors in September and lay off 1,000 workers, a local newspaper reported, in what could make it the fourth casino to close this year in the faltering New Jersey resort city."

NEW YORK (AP) — Someone has replaced two American flags on the Brooklyn Bridge with mysterious white flags.

The white flags — international symbols of surrender — fluttered Tuesday from poles on the stone supports that hold cables above the bridge connecting Brooklyn and Manhattan.

One of the flags, viewed via video, appeared to have faint traces of stars and stripes on it.

Police say it isn't clear what time they were placed there — or by whom.

Several officers scaled the bridge and were seen lowering the flag on the Manhattan side around 11 a.m. as traffic inched along the bridge.

A letter to the editor in the local paper today decried to the shooting of a small bear in Sedona by game wardens. The writer referred to bears as "our horizontal brothers."

That's kinda sad

It is sad. Problem here in AZ, and elsewhere, is that people either put out food for bears, or are careless in putting out their garbage. Bears get bolder in seeking out food near people, and lose their fear of people, potentially making for deadly bear/human encounters. Game wardens sometimes tranquilize a bear and move it to some remote place. But, if the bear keeps coming back, it's judged a "danger" and is killed.

Here's the text of the letter:

EDITOR:

In response the murder of the innocent small bear in Sedona, animals referred to by John Muir as our horizontal brothers, have long been recognized as essential to our development and wellbeing. Throughout history, they have played a major role in human stories. There is a profound, inescapable need for animals among all peoples, for while animals have inhabited the world without people, we have never lived without the companionship, or practical help of animals.

Today, the rapid expansion of cities and the destruction of wilderness habitat, we are seeing an imminent and irreversible loss of untamed animal life. We can only guess at the future effect on our children of living in a world where the remaining forests are silent. The fact that so many of us are increasingly isolated from the presence of animals may contribute to the growing despair we feel. Without encounters with animals, we risk losing that part of ourselves which most deeply resonates with nature, the heart of compassion.

When will we stop the murder of innocent forest animals, because of our ignorance?

Fucking bears I wonder if we have bears in Brooklyn. I have never seen any. They tell me we have raccoons and even possum. But, I have never seen any of them either.

Speaking of Brooklyn I have been living here for a long time. But I really don't go out here except some of the feasts here and some restraunts, and now the place where they play basketball and concerts. Saw Paul McCarthy perform just recently there.

I did not know this when I first moved here I needed some dental work done. Went to 1 hanson place for it. The building was for profession office space doctors, dentists..

I just heard it turned co op. Must have been for a long time I just did not know it.

I lived in Brooklyn most of my life. I had never seen a raccoon either ..... UNTIL about fifteen years ago. One night I couldn't sleep so I went out for a late night walk to a 24 hour supermarket. As I was crossing Avenue Z (in Sheepshead Bay) I saw what I first thought was a cat run across the street. I thought it was running a little weirdly until I realized it was a FUCKING RACCOON!!! (When I first moved into the neighborhood in 1955 there were still a lot of farms there but I never saw much "wildlife"). Forty years after that the neighborhood had been completely built up and "citified" and I was ASTOUNDED to see a raccoon.

I've seen raccoons in the Bronx. And I remember a couple of years ago they captured a coyote at Woodlawn Cemetery. The wildlife are working their way downstate. No doubt about it.

You city boys have to visit the Bronx Zoo more often to get a look at wildlife. When I worked in downtown Manhattan (2000-2004) I used to stroll through Battery Park on occasion at lunchtime. One day I saw a wild turkey a midst the local pigeons. I asked the park attendant about the bird. She said the name was Ezmerelda and that folk lore believed that she came over on the Staten Island Ferry.

If they want to save a few bucks they can just walk the Grand Concourse.

Wow, you are right never seen or heard about this Zelda before. I'm surprise she never wound up on somebodies Thanksgiving table! Don't forget we also have a small zoo in Central Park

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2012/11/manhattan-wildlife-zelda-the-turkey-appears/

When I lived in Brownsville, Brooklyn, the only flora and fauna were the starling, the cockroach and the itchy-ball tree (took me until I was in my twenties to know that it was the sycamore tree).

There was a big fat guy in Brooklyn. For some reason cops want to arrest him. He did not want to be subdued he was not hittin the cops. So maybe 5 of them try to get him to the ground and cuff him. One cop got him in a choke hold that is a no no at this time and place. Well the guy wound up dying.

Now Al Sharpton is lead the charge to get justice. You know no justice no peace. Actually I like that line who the hell wants peace any way

Now all of a sudden another movie comes out in my old stomping ground East Harlem. Of another guy get the choke hold treatment.

I will bet you green money that footage has been laying around for over a year or more.

Now the news people whip it out to make it look like a police epidemic of them using a choke hold. They will never say when the incident happen.

I know that is true because I have seen shit like this happen before.

The news like to make news of there own every once in a while.

I am sure the fat guys family will become millionaires because of this.

I just hope they don't spend it all in one place

There has to be a middle ground. I don't think anyone would argue that the streets were a little safer when cops were given rein to smack you around when you acted like an asshole (the same goes for parenting ).

But the cops today want a police state, and the Lefties in the city government want anarchy.

No middle ground. No justice, no peace.

I may be the only Board member who trained as a police officer. After I got out of the Army and returned to Texas I eventually went to work for the City of Dallas police. I was recruited into communications, but had to be certified eventually. After about 9 months of a grueling schedule of finishing my degree, working in communications, and my police training I left the police training. Why? I did not like the environment replete with racism, racial and ethnic prejudice, and mysogynists. That was then; this is now. Are there still an array of police who shouldn't be wearing a badge? Yes, there are. However, there are more of them who should be. The training is better, but training cannot always overcome disposition. Don't forget that police don't drop from heaven; they are just flesh and bone.

Cops used to smack me around when I gave them my real last name. They thought I gave them a fake name because I was with guys with Italian last names. My "friends" would laugh when the cops did that to me.

I was arrested a short time ago on a bull shit charge. I was in a holding area they arrested me on Friday in the summer time. When that happens a judge won't hear the case until Monday. So you are in this over crowded area for apx 2 days.

You have a big water fountain that every one drinks from also where everyone pisses in. Place fucking stinks. Cops drink bottle water. Ask them for a bottle they smile at you. Makes you want to kill them on the spot if you could and get away with it.

No place to sit standing room only. I can't stand for a long time. Four black kids got up off the floor and let me sit. These were not bad kids.

Cops caught them on the beach smoking refer. They get arrested in their bathing suits. Cops won't even let them get their clothes. They left them on the beach.

maybe know you know why some people hate cops.

What bothers me about this case is that the man was going to be arrested for selling an untaxed cigarette. WTF??

And Police Commissioner Bratton just said to the media that the NYPD will continue to enforce the "quality of life" statutes (which have always been enforced on a very irregular basis anyway) with no changes.

Why was the man arrested? Wouldn't a simple ticket do? So instead, you have several police officers subduing a huge man - who ultimately dies from a heart attack - and all over a cigarette.

What foolish stupidity.


Signor V.

I've heard that they often hang out at gay bars...

Was it as bad when Obama said if you like your health care you can keep it. As soon as Obama care passed my health care company left NY. I went with something else more expensive and now I have a deductible which I never had before.

I never went on Medicare, but after that I said fuck them now I'm on it and get the supplement where I live and that is free. Let the government pay it for me. Both my doctors are on it. But they are less happy to see me now then they were before.

For our New Jersey members:

(Reuters) - A former New Jersey Republican official who once worked with Governor Chris Christie was found dead along with her husband inside their home, officials said on Friday, in what appeared to be a murder-suicide.

Police discovered the bodies of Joan Bramhall and her husband, John, inside their Denville home on Thursday, but the Morris County Prosecutor's Office declined to identify the victims until Friday.

An autopsy revealed that Joan Bramhall was shot to death and her husband died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, the prosecutor's office said in a statement.

The statement did not say that John Bramhall shot his wife, though it did say there was no evidence of any intruders in the home and added that the community was not at risk.

Anybody from the Fresno, CA area? Just wondering if y'all heard about the home invasion where 2 of the invaders were killed. CRAZY story. A 15 year old girl was taken from the house but later let go. Not from there but spent about 8 months in Fresno surveying last year.

Atlantic County (Atlantic City), NJ tops the list of most jobs lost in the USA. Where I live. 3,600 fewer jobs in July than a year ago. 372 metropolitan areas measured. And it will get significantly worse when the Showboat, Trump Plaza and Revel close this month. They combine for 5,000 jobs. Then the trickle down will follow. I wonder how Gov. Christie is going to spin this one. Not good on his Presidential Resume.