Everyday at the resort, Leaney and I would have a pre-dinner, grabbing a freshly made pizza and some random snacks from the lobby. Pictured here is our daily snack, which we typically ate after spending 3 hours out at the pool, or screwing around with the random free equipment that we could check out and take into the ocean. I really enjoyed the water bike (a giant 2-person bike that you ride on the water) and the kayak, but I found out that I'm terrified of snorkeling in open, choppy water. At least I could comfort myself with smoked salmon, shrimp, and a ton of pizza after a long hard day out at sea (or ocean).
31 Aralık 2012 Pazartesi
Pizza & Snacks
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Everyday at the resort, Leaney and I would have a pre-dinner, grabbing a freshly made pizza and some random snacks from the lobby. Pictured here is our daily snack, which we typically ate after spending 3 hours out at the pool, or screwing around with the random free equipment that we could check out and take into the ocean. I really enjoyed the water bike (a giant 2-person bike that you ride on the water) and the kayak, but I found out that I'm terrified of snorkeling in open, choppy water. At least I could comfort myself with smoked salmon, shrimp, and a ton of pizza after a long hard day out at sea (or ocean).
Everyday at the resort, Leaney and I would have a pre-dinner, grabbing a freshly made pizza and some random snacks from the lobby. Pictured here is our daily snack, which we typically ate after spending 3 hours out at the pool, or screwing around with the random free equipment that we could check out and take into the ocean. I really enjoyed the water bike (a giant 2-person bike that you ride on the water) and the kayak, but I found out that I'm terrified of snorkeling in open, choppy water. At least I could comfort myself with smoked salmon, shrimp, and a ton of pizza after a long hard day out at sea (or ocean).
Lobster Dinner @ Baccarat (Sandals Royal Bahamian)
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Day 2 started with Leaney and I waking up and heading out to the beach for some R&R. After we grabbed some drinks (my standard during the day was a double pina colada) and hung out more at the pool, we got dressed up and went to our second dinner @ the resort. We started dinner with a bowl of seafood bisque and a couple of crab cakes, before we each moved on to the lobster dinner. I was told by a random woman at the pool that I should order the lobster dinner (w/ an extra tail), which I certainly did not have any objections against. The lobster tails were very decently sized, and topped off with a delicious lemon butter cream. Maybe I should have gone 1 tail and filet instead...but I definitely didn't regret going a bit lighter, considering all of the excess meals we were having during the day and late at night. Excellent dinner...probably the second best on the trip (barely behind the steak I would have on day 3, and slightly ahead of the beef tenderloin I would have on day 4).
After dinner, Leaney and I went to the "chill bar" (just a few people, drinking and chatting) and had 3-4 glasses of wine before jumping in a cab to ATLANTIS. I won about $150 gambling on night 1 @ Atlantis, but was severely raked by a $50 roundtrip cab ride (only 5 miles away) and forgetting to cash in a $25 chip...which meant we had to either let it go, or pay $50 to go back on another day (effectively a half-priced discount on cabs). Needless to say, we returned to Atlantis on night number 4...which is definitely as good (if not better) of a casino than you would see in Las Vegas. In a weird way, Atlantis reminded me of Disney World because of its PERFECTLY manicured exterior, and of the Bellagio inside because of its top-notch gaming area and stiff drinks (plenty of $10 and $15 games on the floor, too). On the downside, we did hear that most of the activities (like the water park) and the food is VERY expensive on-site.
Day 2 started with Leaney and I waking up and heading out to the beach for some R&R. After we grabbed some drinks (my standard during the day was a double pina colada) and hung out more at the pool, we got dressed up and went to our second dinner @ the resort. We started dinner with a bowl of seafood bisque and a couple of crab cakes, before we each moved on to the lobster dinner. I was told by a random woman at the pool that I should order the lobster dinner (w/ an extra tail), which I certainly did not have any objections against. The lobster tails were very decently sized, and topped off with a delicious lemon butter cream. Maybe I should have gone 1 tail and filet instead...but I definitely didn't regret going a bit lighter, considering all of the excess meals we were having during the day and late at night. Excellent dinner...probably the second best on the trip (barely behind the steak I would have on day 3, and slightly ahead of the beef tenderloin I would have on day 4).After dinner, Leaney and I went to the "chill bar" (just a few people, drinking and chatting) and had 3-4 glasses of wine before jumping in a cab to ATLANTIS. I won about $150 gambling on night 1 @ Atlantis, but was severely raked by a $50 roundtrip cab ride (only 5 miles away) and forgetting to cash in a $25 chip...which meant we had to either let it go, or pay $50 to go back on another day (effectively a half-priced discount on cabs). Needless to say, we returned to Atlantis on night number 4...which is definitely as good (if not better) of a casino than you would see in Las Vegas. In a weird way, Atlantis reminded me of Disney World because of its PERFECTLY manicured exterior, and of the Bellagio inside because of its top-notch gaming area and stiff drinks (plenty of $10 and $15 games on the floor, too). On the downside, we did hear that most of the activities (like the water park) and the food is VERY expensive on-site.
The Last Bahamian Meal - Chicken Sandwich
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My last meal in the Bahamas was the worst of the entire trip. I ended up ordering a pan fried chicken sandwich, and ended up getting a "chicken" patty on a bun, with some not so good coleslaw on the other bun. The patty had a strange consistency, and didn't really taste like chicken (it was like an attempt at a chicken nugget gone bad). I actually think I MIGHT have been served one of the vegetarian patties, but I'm not 100% sure.
After this meal, Leaney and I made our way back on a 10 hour journey back to Houston, including a 5 hour layover in the ATL. What did we do in ATL you ask? ... well, it involved a ton of sushi....some good and some bad. I am the WORST ever at booking reasonable flights.
My last meal in the Bahamas was the worst of the entire trip. I ended up ordering a pan fried chicken sandwich, and ended up getting a "chicken" patty on a bun, with some not so good coleslaw on the other bun. The patty had a strange consistency, and didn't really taste like chicken (it was like an attempt at a chicken nugget gone bad). I actually think I MIGHT have been served one of the vegetarian patties, but I'm not 100% sure. After this meal, Leaney and I made our way back on a 10 hour journey back to Houston, including a 5 hour layover in the ATL. What did we do in ATL you ask? ... well, it involved a ton of sushi....some good and some bad. I am the WORST ever at booking reasonable flights.
One Flew South - Search for Sushi
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With a 5 hour layover in the ATL, Leaney and I decided to go on a hunt for sushi. We found a place in Terminal E called One Flew South, and stopped off for a couple of rolls. All of the rolls were insanely priced (~$14-$20), but they were definitely pretty delicious. We ended up with a spicy salmon, California and crab crunch roll and the bill was almost $50 bucks! We would return here if we were desperate for sushi rolls (which we definitely were at the time), but otherwise, the place seemed a bit cramped and the service was just OK.
After grabbing these rolls, we headed to Terminal A looking for a place called "Sushi & Salad" which we found on google. We ended up grabbing a spicy California roll from a stand in the middle of the terminal, which was the worst sushi I have ever tasted in my life (EVER!). The rice was overwhelming, hard, and the thing was not fresh at all...even though the tag claimed that it was good through Christmas! WTF man! I choked down the rice with an egg roll we bought from the Chinese place in Terminal A. At least we made good use of our time in the airport, by visiting and eating in every single terminal. Great end to an amazing vacation.
With a 5 hour layover in the ATL, Leaney and I decided to go on a hunt for sushi. We found a place in Terminal E called One Flew South, and stopped off for a couple of rolls. All of the rolls were insanely priced (~$14-$20), but they were definitely pretty delicious. We ended up with a spicy salmon, California and crab crunch roll and the bill was almost $50 bucks! We would return here if we were desperate for sushi rolls (which we definitely were at the time), but otherwise, the place seemed a bit cramped and the service was just OK.After grabbing these rolls, we headed to Terminal A looking for a place called "Sushi & Salad" which we found on google. We ended up grabbing a spicy California roll from a stand in the middle of the terminal, which was the worst sushi I have ever tasted in my life (EVER!). The rice was overwhelming, hard, and the thing was not fresh at all...even though the tag claimed that it was good through Christmas! WTF man! I choked down the rice with an egg roll we bought from the Chinese place in Terminal A. At least we made good use of our time in the airport, by visiting and eating in every single terminal. Great end to an amazing vacation.
Trader Joe's Pizza (Trader Giotto)
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This frozen Trader Joe's pizza was just OK. Even after I added a bunch of fresh cheese and tomatoes on my side of the pizza, it was just OK. I THINK these bad boys are "organic", but I KNOW they are overpriced at nearly $4 a pop. Give me a party pizza any day!!! ... or 4...since party pizzas are only 99 cents. I do find it funny that they package the Italian food with the name "Trader Giotto's"....and the Chinese food with the name "Trader Ming's".
This frozen Trader Joe's pizza was just OK. Even after I added a bunch of fresh cheese and tomatoes on my side of the pizza, it was just OK. I THINK these bad boys are "organic", but I KNOW they are overpriced at nearly $4 a pop. Give me a party pizza any day!!! ... or 4...since party pizzas are only 99 cents. I do find it funny that they package the Italian food with the name "Trader Giotto's"....and the Chinese food with the name "Trader Ming's".
27 Aralık 2012 Perşembe
Breakfast @ Baccarat
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After waking up with a wicked hangover from the BRUTAL drinks at Atlantis (way stronger than the ones served up at Sandals), Leaney and I headed to one of the sit down joints to grab a quick breakfast. I went with the eggs benedict, while Leaney went with a couple of sunny side up eggs & bacon. My eggs benedict were DECENT, with the only drawback being the hollandaise sauce, which was a bit too tart. Overall, it was a good start to a long and slow day...one that we desperately needed after hitting the ground running in terms of binge eating, drinking and gambling. I love vacation!!
After waking up with a wicked hangover from the BRUTAL drinks at Atlantis (way stronger than the ones served up at Sandals), Leaney and I headed to one of the sit down joints to grab a quick breakfast. I went with the eggs benedict, while Leaney went with a couple of sunny side up eggs & bacon. My eggs benedict were DECENT, with the only drawback being the hollandaise sauce, which was a bit too tart. Overall, it was a good start to a long and slow day...one that we desperately needed after hitting the ground running in terms of binge eating, drinking and gambling. I love vacation!!
Spices Buffet - Grilled Steak
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What's an all inclusive resort without an ALL YOU CAN EAT BUFFET. For lunch on day 3, I headed to the Spices buffet for a delicious plate of grilled steak, grilled fish, brown rice and crab salad. I wasn't very hungry when I ate this meal, so I was able to limit myself to only 1 plate.
After lunch, while Leaney took a nap, I walked about 15 minutes to the Royal Palace casino which was connected to the Wyndham to try and trade in my $25 chip that we forgot to cash in at the Atlantis. After getting shot down in that attempt, I sat down and played blackjack against a video machine since all of the tables were shut-down. I asked one of the managers when the table games would be open again, and she promptly replied "sometime after Christmas".
This casino will be in really bad shape once the Bahamar (a new MEGA casino in Nassau) opens up in 2014. For now, they took me for about $15 and cost me 2 hours in valuable pina colada drinking time.
What's an all inclusive resort without an ALL YOU CAN EAT BUFFET. For lunch on day 3, I headed to the Spices buffet for a delicious plate of grilled steak, grilled fish, brown rice and crab salad. I wasn't very hungry when I ate this meal, so I was able to limit myself to only 1 plate. After lunch, while Leaney took a nap, I walked about 15 minutes to the Royal Palace casino which was connected to the Wyndham to try and trade in my $25 chip that we forgot to cash in at the Atlantis. After getting shot down in that attempt, I sat down and played blackjack against a video machine since all of the tables were shut-down. I asked one of the managers when the table games would be open again, and she promptly replied "sometime after Christmas". This casino will be in really bad shape once the Bahamar (a new MEGA casino in Nassau) opens up in 2014. For now, they took me for about $15 and cost me 2 hours in valuable pina colada drinking time.
Dinner @ Cassanova Italian Restaurant
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After a really chill day of napping and gambling against machine dealers, Leaney and I headed to dinner @ the Italian joint at the resort. We started with a couple of antipasti plates (fresh mozzarella, salami, some salad and bread), before we chowed down on some minestrone and fettuccine alfredo before the main courses were served. Pictured here is the strip steak that I had for dinner (served with potatoes and broccoli). The steak was cooked to perfection, as I went with medium since I didn't trust the kitchen. Turns out that I should have, since my meal was absolutely magnificent. Just blogging about this post is making me hungry. We ended the night with some time at the piano bar and heading to bed for some much needed rest (still destroyed from the night before @ the Atlantis).
After a really chill day of napping and gambling against machine dealers, Leaney and I headed to dinner @ the Italian joint at the resort. We started with a couple of antipasti plates (fresh mozzarella, salami, some salad and bread), before we chowed down on some minestrone and fettuccine alfredo before the main courses were served. Pictured here is the strip steak that I had for dinner (served with potatoes and broccoli). The steak was cooked to perfection, as I went with medium since I didn't trust the kitchen. Turns out that I should have, since my meal was absolutely magnificent. Just blogging about this post is making me hungry. We ended the night with some time at the piano bar and heading to bed for some much needed rest (still destroyed from the night before @ the Atlantis).
Sandals Spices Buffet - Breakfast Plate
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Since we went to bed early the night before, we were up in time to hit up the breakfast buffet, where I ordered a delicious meat lover's egg white omelet. This was a perfect order for what I was craving (egg whites, bacon, sausage, ham, cheese, green peppers, onions and jalapenos). I tacked on a piece of sausage and some smoked salmon on the side to power myself up for some time @ the pool. After hitting up the pool, Leaney and I grabbed a "light" lunch at the buffet again to make sure that we were fueled up for the island tour. For $90, we were able to see most of New Providence...including downtown, Fort Charlotte, the caves, Junkanoo beach, and a few other pretty cool landmarks (the prime minister's house, etc).
Since we went to bed early the night before, we were up in time to hit up the breakfast buffet, where I ordered a delicious meat lover's egg white omelet. This was a perfect order for what I was craving (egg whites, bacon, sausage, ham, cheese, green peppers, onions and jalapenos). I tacked on a piece of sausage and some smoked salmon on the side to power myself up for some time @ the pool. After hitting up the pool, Leaney and I grabbed a "light" lunch at the buffet again to make sure that we were fueled up for the island tour. For $90, we were able to see most of New Providence...including downtown, Fort Charlotte, the caves, Junkanoo beach, and a few other pretty cool landmarks (the prime minister's house, etc).
Dinner @ Cafe Goombay
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The last dinner of the trip was at Cafe Goombay, a restaurant located on a small island about a mile from New Providence. It was pretty cool to take a speedboat to the island while watching the sunset, and then chowing down on beef tenderloin w/ shrimp (yes, we asked for extra shrimp!). This was a VERY good meal...possibly one of the best on the trip.
After dinner, Leaney and I headed back to Atlantis to cash in a leftover chip. I ended up having a pretty good night, making enough money to cover the tour that we took earlier in the day. The GCM on a blackjack upswing? Impossible....
The last dinner of the trip was at Cafe Goombay, a restaurant located on a small island about a mile from New Providence. It was pretty cool to take a speedboat to the island while watching the sunset, and then chowing down on beef tenderloin w/ shrimp (yes, we asked for extra shrimp!). This was a VERY good meal...possibly one of the best on the trip.After dinner, Leaney and I headed back to Atlantis to cash in a leftover chip. I ended up having a pretty good night, making enough money to cover the tour that we took earlier in the day. The GCM on a blackjack upswing? Impossible....
20 Aralık 2012 Perşembe
Suzy Favor Hamilton, U.S. Olympian reportedly worked as high-priced call girl
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Screw the Olympic legacy and Nike commercial — I was a $600-an-hour call girl!
Suzy Favor Hamilton, a three-time US Olympian in middle-distance running, spent the last year working as a call girl for Haley Heston’s Private Collection, a premier escort service based in Las Vegas. The 44-year-old wife and mother used the alias “Kelly Lundy” to snuggle with men in swanky hotels from Los Angeles to Chicago, The Smoking Gun reported today.
But her double life imploded after revealing her identity to several clients, who excitedly gushed to their friends about bedding a former Olympian and model. A reporter caught up with Hamilton in a Las Vegas hotel lobby earlier this month, and she reluctantly spilled about her astounding secret she now calls a huge mistake. “I cannot emphasize enough how sorry I am to anyone I have hurt as a result of my actions and greatly appreciate the support from family and those closest to me. I fully intend to make amends and get back to being a good mother, wife, daughter, and friend,” Hamilton tweeted today.
Hamilton lives in Madison, Wis. with her seven-year-old daughter, and her college-sweetheart Mark Hamilton, the site says. She said her husband knew of her salacious shenanigans, but he just couldn’t stop her.
The former swimsuit model gushes her secret sex life was “exciting,” a welcome diversion from heading her successful real estate brokerage company, delivering 60 motivational speeches a year and heading up promotional work for Disney.
“I was drawn to escorting in large part because it provided many coping mechanisms for me when I was going through a very challenging time with my marriage and my life. It provided an escape from a life that I was struggling in. It was a double life. I do not expect people to understand, but the reasons for doing this made sense to me at the time and were very much related to depression,” Hamilton continued in her rambling online apology.
Before racing at the 1992, 1996 and 2000 Olympics, Hamilton scored big-time glory as the most decorated female athlete in NCAA track and field history. Nike, Reebok, Clairol, Oakley and even Pert Plus shampoo clamored after the blonde hottie who had won national championships, NCAA titles and All-American awards galore.
But she claimed her life turned sour after suffering from postpartum depression following her daughter’s birth in 2005. Hamilton said she also struggled with her brother’s suicide in 1999, a year before she sprinted in the 1500-meter final in Sydney. She said she threw the race once she knew she couldn’t score a medal — horrified she could not honor her brother’s memory.
“I have been seeking the help of a psychologist for the past few weeks and will continue to do so after I have put things together,” Hamilton tweeted.
She said she decided to quit the escort business, though several of her clients tell the site “she is worth every penny.”
Screw the Olympic legacy and Nike commercial — I was a $600-an-hour call girl!
Suzy Favor Hamilton, a three-time US Olympian in middle-distance running, spent the last year working as a call girl for Haley Heston’s Private Collection, a premier escort service based in Las Vegas. The 44-year-old wife and mother used the alias “Kelly Lundy” to snuggle with men in swanky hotels from Los Angeles to Chicago, The Smoking Gun reported today.
But her double life imploded after revealing her identity to several clients, who excitedly gushed to their friends about bedding a former Olympian and model. A reporter caught up with Hamilton in a Las Vegas hotel lobby earlier this month, and she reluctantly spilled about her astounding secret she now calls a huge mistake. “I cannot emphasize enough how sorry I am to anyone I have hurt as a result of my actions and greatly appreciate the support from family and those closest to me. I fully intend to make amends and get back to being a good mother, wife, daughter, and friend,” Hamilton tweeted today.
Hamilton lives in Madison, Wis. with her seven-year-old daughter, and her college-sweetheart Mark Hamilton, the site says. She said her husband knew of her salacious shenanigans, but he just couldn’t stop her.
The former swimsuit model gushes her secret sex life was “exciting,” a welcome diversion from heading her successful real estate brokerage company, delivering 60 motivational speeches a year and heading up promotional work for Disney.
“I was drawn to escorting in large part because it provided many coping mechanisms for me when I was going through a very challenging time with my marriage and my life. It provided an escape from a life that I was struggling in. It was a double life. I do not expect people to understand, but the reasons for doing this made sense to me at the time and were very much related to depression,” Hamilton continued in her rambling online apology.
Before racing at the 1992, 1996 and 2000 Olympics, Hamilton scored big-time glory as the most decorated female athlete in NCAA track and field history. Nike, Reebok, Clairol, Oakley and even Pert Plus shampoo clamored after the blonde hottie who had won national championships, NCAA titles and All-American awards galore.
But she claimed her life turned sour after suffering from postpartum depression following her daughter’s birth in 2005. Hamilton said she also struggled with her brother’s suicide in 1999, a year before she sprinted in the 1500-meter final in Sydney. She said she threw the race once she knew she couldn’t score a medal — horrified she could not honor her brother’s memory.
“I have been seeking the help of a psychologist for the past few weeks and will continue to do so after I have put things together,” Hamilton tweeted.
She said she decided to quit the escort business, though several of her clients tell the site “she is worth every penny.”
Frank's Chop House - Chicken Fried Steak
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So after many years of driving by a small green building on Westheimer and Weslayan, Leaney and I finally decided to try Frank's Chop House, after repeatedly hearing how good their chicken fried steak was. I'm typically not the biggest fan of "gourmet" CFS, but I thought I might as well give this place a try (celebrating finally taking a job offer), especially since it was HALF PRICE WINE NIGHT (all wine bottles are half price on Sundays). We started out with a BBQ shrimp appetizer, which was good but WAY overpriced at $15 for 5 whole shrimp, served with the heads. For our main course, Leaney enjoyed the shrimp and grits while I went with the CFS. To my surprise, this thing was pretty legit. It was "full-sized" (many nicer places give you a smaller cut), and there wasn't an excessive amount of batter. The batter was seasoned well with a very distinct taste, and I thought it was a damn good CFS (still not as good as Mason Jar or Luby's). My only complaint is that they served it atop a bed of veggies. Who eats veggies w/ their CFS? More mashed potatoes please....
So after many years of driving by a small green building on Westheimer and Weslayan, Leaney and I finally decided to try Frank's Chop House, after repeatedly hearing how good their chicken fried steak was. I'm typically not the biggest fan of "gourmet" CFS, but I thought I might as well give this place a try (celebrating finally taking a job offer), especially since it was HALF PRICE WINE NIGHT (all wine bottles are half price on Sundays). We started out with a BBQ shrimp appetizer, which was good but WAY overpriced at $15 for 5 whole shrimp, served with the heads. For our main course, Leaney enjoyed the shrimp and grits while I went with the CFS. To my surprise, this thing was pretty legit. It was "full-sized" (many nicer places give you a smaller cut), and there wasn't an excessive amount of batter. The batter was seasoned well with a very distinct taste, and I thought it was a damn good CFS (still not as good as Mason Jar or Luby's). My only complaint is that they served it atop a bed of veggies. Who eats veggies w/ their CFS? More mashed potatoes please....
Chef Chang's Salmon from Sam's Club
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Leaney and I grabbed a Sam's club membership a few weeks ago off Livingsocial for $20. Along with the membership, we got a rotisserie chicken, Sam's club pizza and a bunch of other random shit (so it basically paid for itself!). I finally had a chance to cook one of the frozen salmon filets that I bought over there...and the results were JUST OK. I rubbed the salmon down in a garlic herb seasoning, and then marinated it in a BBQ glaze. After baking the sucker for 14 minutes at 400 deg, I served it up with some poblano corn rice that I picked up at HEB. The rice was garbage, but the Trader Joe's chicken tikka samosa was absolutely fantastic! Long story short, the meal you see here is what you get if you shop at HEB, Sam's and Trader Joe's. On a scale of 1-10, I would give it a 7. The salmon wasn't as fresh as I would have liked.
Leaney and I grabbed a Sam's club membership a few weeks ago off Livingsocial for $20. Along with the membership, we got a rotisserie chicken, Sam's club pizza and a bunch of other random shit (so it basically paid for itself!). I finally had a chance to cook one of the frozen salmon filets that I bought over there...and the results were JUST OK. I rubbed the salmon down in a garlic herb seasoning, and then marinated it in a BBQ glaze. After baking the sucker for 14 minutes at 400 deg, I served it up with some poblano corn rice that I picked up at HEB. The rice was garbage, but the Trader Joe's chicken tikka samosa was absolutely fantastic! Long story short, the meal you see here is what you get if you shop at HEB, Sam's and Trader Joe's. On a scale of 1-10, I would give it a 7. The salmon wasn't as fresh as I would have liked.
Bahamas Hibachi
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Last week, Leaney and I made our way to the Bahamas for a few days and nights of R&R. We decided to try the all-inclusive thing and stay at a Sandals resort (the Royal Bahamian) which ended up being a pretty good deal compared to the Atlantis (which we also considered). After arriving around 2:30 pm on our free shuttle (otherwise $30), we enjoyed a few glasses of free champagne before checking into our room (pretty solid view of the Atlantic!). We then walked around the resort to get ourselves situated before getting ready for our first night's dinner at the resort's Hibachi restaurant, Kimonos.
Once we were seated, we were given a pretty large menu of choices before we were told that we would get to try everything on the menu. We started off with the appetizer plate, which consisted of vegetable tempura and a couple of pieces of sushi (philly roll & shrimp tempura roll). The tempura was excellent, and the sushi was good, so my recommendation for this joint is to ask for more sushi before they start up the grill. We didn't know this until day 2, but you can basically ask for more of whatever these restaurants are serving, even if its off a menu, as opposed to buffet style.
Next up was a ton of meat. After the hibachi chef told us he was "Blackanese", he served us a bunch of chicken, steak, shrimp and mahi mahi to go with some fried rice. The quality of the food was on par with any hibachi you would visit in the states, with our only regret being not taking ALL of the extra shrimp on the table. After washing down dinner with some dessert and about 5 glasses of wine, Leaney and I sat on the beach and just chilled our for the next couple of hours before eventually heading to bed. Turns out there's not much night-life when you're at an all-inclusive couples resort, other than some random stuff going on here and there (like "the dating show game" in the main stage area, which I found incredibly corny). Definitely a good start to vacation.
Last week, Leaney and I made our way to the Bahamas for a few days and nights of R&R. We decided to try the all-inclusive thing and stay at a Sandals resort (the Royal Bahamian) which ended up being a pretty good deal compared to the Atlantis (which we also considered). After arriving around 2:30 pm on our free shuttle (otherwise $30), we enjoyed a few glasses of free champagne before checking into our room (pretty solid view of the Atlantic!). We then walked around the resort to get ourselves situated before getting ready for our first night's dinner at the resort's Hibachi restaurant, Kimonos. Once we were seated, we were given a pretty large menu of choices before we were told that we would get to try everything on the menu. We started off with the appetizer plate, which consisted of vegetable tempura and a couple of pieces of sushi (philly roll & shrimp tempura roll). The tempura was excellent, and the sushi was good, so my recommendation for this joint is to ask for more sushi before they start up the grill. We didn't know this until day 2, but you can basically ask for more of whatever these restaurants are serving, even if its off a menu, as opposed to buffet style.Next up was a ton of meat. After the hibachi chef told us he was "Blackanese", he served us a bunch of chicken, steak, shrimp and mahi mahi to go with some fried rice. The quality of the food was on par with any hibachi you would visit in the states, with our only regret being not taking ALL of the extra shrimp on the table. After washing down dinner with some dessert and about 5 glasses of wine, Leaney and I sat on the beach and just chilled our for the next couple of hours before eventually heading to bed. Turns out there's not much night-life when you're at an all-inclusive couples resort, other than some random stuff going on here and there (like "the dating show game" in the main stage area, which I found incredibly corny). Definitely a good start to vacation.
Cricketers Pub - Late Night Food
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Before heading to bed, Leaney and I swung by the British Pub at the resort and grabbed some late night food. We went with an order of the fish and chips along with an order of the fisherman's pie, which is basically a shepherd's pie, substituting the beef for shrimp and scallops. We were pretty please with this late night meal, but I'm not sure what kind of fish was used for the fish and chips. It was certainly thick and flaky, but something was just a bit off. I still can't pin-point what that is since I only ate fish and chips when really drunk, but maybe one day the mystery will be solved. The best part is that the meal was FREEEEEEEEEEE. Washed down with a FREE Guinness to boot.
Before heading to bed, Leaney and I swung by the British Pub at the resort and grabbed some late night food. We went with an order of the fish and chips along with an order of the fisherman's pie, which is basically a shepherd's pie, substituting the beef for shrimp and scallops. We were pretty please with this late night meal, but I'm not sure what kind of fish was used for the fish and chips. It was certainly thick and flaky, but something was just a bit off. I still can't pin-point what that is since I only ate fish and chips when really drunk, but maybe one day the mystery will be solved. The best part is that the meal was FREEEEEEEEEEE. Washed down with a FREE Guinness to boot.
16 Aralık 2012 Pazar
Satmar Rebbi Offers Money for Not Voting in General Election
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Israel - Satmar, a fiercely anti-Zionist Hassidic dynasty, has promised to pay $100 in cash to anyone who agrees not to vote in the upcoming Israeli elections.
Satmar rebbe Rabbi Zalman Leib Teitelbaum, who lives in New York, is expected to arrive in Israel shortly before the election on January 22 to organize the distribution of the cash reward.
Anyone seeking to claim their reward for not voting will have to deposit their identity card and driving license with a Satmar representative on election day.
In response to the report, religious-freedom lobbying group Hiddush appealed to Attorney General Yehudah Weinstein to investigate the legality of such payments.
Satmar shelling out so voters stay home
Israel - Satmar, a fiercely anti-Zionist Hassidic dynasty, has promised to pay $100 in cash to anyone who agrees not to vote in the upcoming Israeli elections.
Satmar rebbe Rabbi Zalman Leib Teitelbaum, who lives in New York, is expected to arrive in Israel shortly before the election on January 22 to organize the distribution of the cash reward.
Anyone seeking to claim their reward for not voting will have to deposit their identity card and driving license with a Satmar representative on election day.
In response to the report, religious-freedom lobbying group Hiddush appealed to Attorney General Yehudah Weinstein to investigate the legality of such payments.
Satmar shelling out so voters stay home
Frank's Chop House - Chicken Fried Steak
To contact us Click HERE
So after many years of driving by a small green building on Westheimer and Weslayan, Leaney and I finally decided to try Frank's Chop House, after repeatedly hearing how good their chicken fried steak was. I'm typically not the biggest fan of "gourmet" CFS, but I thought I might as well give this place a try (celebrating finally taking a job offer), especially since it was HALF PRICE WINE NIGHT (all wine bottles are half price on Sundays). We started out with a BBQ shrimp appetizer, which was good but WAY overpriced at $15 for 5 whole shrimp, served with the heads. For our main course, Leaney enjoyed the shrimp and grits while I went with the CFS. To my surprise, this thing was pretty legit. It was "full-sized" (many nicer places give you a smaller cut), and there wasn't an excessive amount of batter. The batter was seasoned well with a very distinct taste, and I thought it was a damn good CFS (still not as good as Mason Jar or Luby's). My only complaint is that they served it atop a bed of veggies. Who eats veggies w/ their CFS? More mashed potatoes please....
So after many years of driving by a small green building on Westheimer and Weslayan, Leaney and I finally decided to try Frank's Chop House, after repeatedly hearing how good their chicken fried steak was. I'm typically not the biggest fan of "gourmet" CFS, but I thought I might as well give this place a try (celebrating finally taking a job offer), especially since it was HALF PRICE WINE NIGHT (all wine bottles are half price on Sundays). We started out with a BBQ shrimp appetizer, which was good but WAY overpriced at $15 for 5 whole shrimp, served with the heads. For our main course, Leaney enjoyed the shrimp and grits while I went with the CFS. To my surprise, this thing was pretty legit. It was "full-sized" (many nicer places give you a smaller cut), and there wasn't an excessive amount of batter. The batter was seasoned well with a very distinct taste, and I thought it was a damn good CFS (still not as good as Mason Jar or Luby's). My only complaint is that they served it atop a bed of veggies. Who eats veggies w/ their CFS? More mashed potatoes please....
Chef Chang's Salmon from Sam's Club
To contact us Click HERE
Leaney and I grabbed a Sam's club membership a few weeks ago off Livingsocial for $20. Along with the membership, we got a rotisserie chicken, Sam's club pizza and a bunch of other random shit (so it basically paid for itself!). I finally had a chance to cook one of the frozen salmon filets that I bought over there...and the results were JUST OK. I rubbed the salmon down in a garlic herb seasoning, and then marinated it in a BBQ glaze. After baking the sucker for 14 minutes at 400 deg, I served it up with some poblano corn rice that I picked up at HEB. The rice was garbage, but the Trader Joe's chicken tikka samosa was absolutely fantastic! Long story short, the meal you see here is what you get if you shop at HEB, Sam's and Trader Joe's. On a scale of 1-10, I would give it a 7. The salmon wasn't as fresh as I would have liked.
Leaney and I grabbed a Sam's club membership a few weeks ago off Livingsocial for $20. Along with the membership, we got a rotisserie chicken, Sam's club pizza and a bunch of other random shit (so it basically paid for itself!). I finally had a chance to cook one of the frozen salmon filets that I bought over there...and the results were JUST OK. I rubbed the salmon down in a garlic herb seasoning, and then marinated it in a BBQ glaze. After baking the sucker for 14 minutes at 400 deg, I served it up with some poblano corn rice that I picked up at HEB. The rice was garbage, but the Trader Joe's chicken tikka samosa was absolutely fantastic! Long story short, the meal you see here is what you get if you shop at HEB, Sam's and Trader Joe's. On a scale of 1-10, I would give it a 7. The salmon wasn't as fresh as I would have liked.
Gringos - Beef Fajitas
To contact us Click HERE
My last summer before the end of my 3rd (out of 4) semesters of B-School. Leaney's uncle was in town, so we hit up the Gringos near Sugarland for a family dinner. I went with the beef fajitas, which are actually some of the best in the business. At normal prices (only $12), I think that these fajitas are just as good as the $20 versions you would get at a Pappasitos, or El Tiempo, etc.
I also want to commend Gringos for offering both red AND green salsas with their free chips. The chips are a bit meh (they aren't freshly made), but the salsas more than make up for it. Really good dinner, at a really reasonable price.
My last summer before the end of my 3rd (out of 4) semesters of B-School. Leaney's uncle was in town, so we hit up the Gringos near Sugarland for a family dinner. I went with the beef fajitas, which are actually some of the best in the business. At normal prices (only $12), I think that these fajitas are just as good as the $20 versions you would get at a Pappasitos, or El Tiempo, etc. I also want to commend Gringos for offering both red AND green salsas with their free chips. The chips are a bit meh (they aren't freshly made), but the salsas more than make up for it. Really good dinner, at a really reasonable price.
Top Sushi - Random Rolls
To contact us Click HERE
Leaney and I were craving some sushi, but too busy to go out...so I googled a random place near our house and headed out for some sushi takeout. I found a place called Top Sushi just a few miles away with a pretty solid Sunday happy hour menu, so we ordered a bunch of rolls and went to town.
Overall, I thought the fish in the rolls was not very fresh, and they topped the rolls off with way too much spicy mayo / eel sauce. Supposedly we got 30% off, but 4 rolls still cost us over $35. Top Sushi should change its name to "middle to low sushi".
Leaney and I were craving some sushi, but too busy to go out...so I googled a random place near our house and headed out for some sushi takeout. I found a place called Top Sushi just a few miles away with a pretty solid Sunday happy hour menu, so we ordered a bunch of rolls and went to town. Overall, I thought the fish in the rolls was not very fresh, and they topped the rolls off with way too much spicy mayo / eel sauce. Supposedly we got 30% off, but 4 rolls still cost us over $35. Top Sushi should change its name to "middle to low sushi".
12 Aralık 2012 Çarşamba
Weberman's sexual assault victim's mother speaks out
To contact us Click HERE
A Hasidic counselor was convicted this week of sexually abusing a girl since age 12. On Tuesday, the mother told the Daily News’ Simone Weichselbaum how she learn ed of the abuse and what she thinks of her daughter’s stand. The News is withholding her name to protect the identity of the victim. Here’s the mom’s story:
--
She never told me face to face until this got out. She never told me, she never told us.
We got a call from the police station. They said come over right away. I was so shocked. I called my husband right away.
The therapist [at the new school] had called the police. That school made every girl get therapy once a week. My children told me, 'You have to believe her.' She is my youngest.
Her childhood was robbed. She was such a bubbly child.
I lost a couple of years with her. After what she went through hopefully she will pick up.
She wasn't a rebel at all. She was a shy, very smart child. She likes to know. Very bright child. She is a very good child.
The principal (at the Satmar school) could have answered my daughter's questions (about God). Not screamed apikoros (heretic). What, because she asked a question?
My husband called the teacher. He said 'You don't know the answer?’
‘Listen to (my daughter) and say, 'I don't know the answer. I will get it tomorrow and find out and then tell you’.'
They (the teachers) started picking on her. Picking on her!
She would say, ‘The principal hates me. I don't know why.'
A teacher came (to the house) and investigated if I had a computer with Internet. I feel tznius (modest), but not to their extent.
My daughter couldn't take the tights. She hated wearing them.
It had to be Satmar tights. It couldn’t be Spandex. They would feel and touch her tights.
They started picking at her for every little thing. They drove her crazy.
She was afraid. She's not a rebel.
My faith, thank God, it is what helped me through it. I was able to survive.
I wasn't allowed in the court room nor were my kids. The prosecutor is very smart. He saw I couldn't survive hearing all of this.
It was so public. Very embarrassing.
I didn't know if I could resist jumping on (Weberman).
For most of the time I was standing outside the courtroom bursting into tears.
I couldn't stop crying. I had vases of tears filled.
She's our star. I'm at peace now.
In the past three weeks I couldn’t do anything, no laundry, no cooking.
I feel thankful to Hashem (another word for God) that truth and justice came out.
Now at the same time, I have sorrow and pain for his wife and children, they are innocent.
This isn't the whole community. There are good people.
Many people are supporting my husband.
This story is breaking a world record. And my daughter is the one to break it.
She brought justice. Now other people can come forward.
She is studying criminal justice now.
I'm not looking to go now out on the street. My husband went to Daven, to pray. He saw a light flickering in the shul.
He thought it was a bulb ... then all these calls started. People thought they had been blinking the lights in the shul.
I am not scared. They can't throw me out. They can't do anything.”
NY DAILY NEWS
A Hasidic counselor was convicted this week of sexually abusing a girl since age 12. On Tuesday, the mother told the Daily News’ Simone Weichselbaum how she learn ed of the abuse and what she thinks of her daughter’s stand. The News is withholding her name to protect the identity of the victim. Here’s the mom’s story:
--
She never told me face to face until this got out. She never told me, she never told us.
We got a call from the police station. They said come over right away. I was so shocked. I called my husband right away.
The therapist [at the new school] had called the police. That school made every girl get therapy once a week. My children told me, 'You have to believe her.' She is my youngest.
Her childhood was robbed. She was such a bubbly child.
I lost a couple of years with her. After what she went through hopefully she will pick up.
She wasn't a rebel at all. She was a shy, very smart child. She likes to know. Very bright child. She is a very good child.
The principal (at the Satmar school) could have answered my daughter's questions (about God). Not screamed apikoros (heretic). What, because she asked a question?
My husband called the teacher. He said 'You don't know the answer?’
‘Listen to (my daughter) and say, 'I don't know the answer. I will get it tomorrow and find out and then tell you’.'
They (the teachers) started picking on her. Picking on her!
She would say, ‘The principal hates me. I don't know why.'
A teacher came (to the house) and investigated if I had a computer with Internet. I feel tznius (modest), but not to their extent.
My daughter couldn't take the tights. She hated wearing them.
It had to be Satmar tights. It couldn’t be Spandex. They would feel and touch her tights.
They started picking at her for every little thing. They drove her crazy.
She was afraid. She's not a rebel.
My faith, thank God, it is what helped me through it. I was able to survive.
I wasn't allowed in the court room nor were my kids. The prosecutor is very smart. He saw I couldn't survive hearing all of this.
It was so public. Very embarrassing.
I didn't know if I could resist jumping on (Weberman).
For most of the time I was standing outside the courtroom bursting into tears.
I couldn't stop crying. I had vases of tears filled.
She's our star. I'm at peace now.
In the past three weeks I couldn’t do anything, no laundry, no cooking.
I feel thankful to Hashem (another word for God) that truth and justice came out.
Now at the same time, I have sorrow and pain for his wife and children, they are innocent.
This isn't the whole community. There are good people.
Many people are supporting my husband.
This story is breaking a world record. And my daughter is the one to break it.
She brought justice. Now other people can come forward.
She is studying criminal justice now.
I'm not looking to go now out on the street. My husband went to Daven, to pray. He saw a light flickering in the shul.
He thought it was a bulb ... then all these calls started. People thought they had been blinking the lights in the shul.
I am not scared. They can't throw me out. They can't do anything.”
NY DAILY NEWS
‘Satmar shelling out so voters stay home’
To contact us Click HERE
The ultra-Orthodox Satmar sect of Hasidim said it will give a cash bonus to any yeshiva that doesn’t take part in the January 22 Israeli general election and refuses to take government grants, the Hebrew daily Maariv reported on Wednesday.
Yeshiva students for the most part vote under the direction of their rabbis, and will generally stay home if instructed to do so by the head of the institution at which they study.
According to the report, Satmar has contacted yeshivas in Israel and propositioned them with the offer.
The leader of Satmar, Rabbi Zalman Leib Teitelbaum, will reportedly hand out the money during a planned visit to Israel in two months’ time, shortly after the elections.
The report said the purpose of the campaign was to encourage the yeshivas to embrace Satmar’s staunch anti-Zionist ideology, which rejects any cooperation with the Jewish state’s official institutions.
The move comes amid a gradual slide toward Haredi involvement with state in the form of increasing government funding for ultra-Orthodox institutions and larger voter turnouts among the community, the report said.
The ultra-Orthodox Satmar sect of Hasidim said it will give a cash bonus to any yeshiva that doesn’t take part in the January 22 Israeli general election and refuses to take government grants, the Hebrew daily Maariv reported on Wednesday.
Yeshiva students for the most part vote under the direction of their rabbis, and will generally stay home if instructed to do so by the head of the institution at which they study.
According to the report, Satmar has contacted yeshivas in Israel and propositioned them with the offer.
The leader of Satmar, Rabbi Zalman Leib Teitelbaum, will reportedly hand out the money during a planned visit to Israel in two months’ time, shortly after the elections.
The report said the purpose of the campaign was to encourage the yeshivas to embrace Satmar’s staunch anti-Zionist ideology, which rejects any cooperation with the Jewish state’s official institutions.
The move comes amid a gradual slide toward Haredi involvement with state in the form of increasing government funding for ultra-Orthodox institutions and larger voter turnouts among the community, the report said.
Joe Hynes and Hasidic War
To contact us Click HERE
Brooklyn DA Charles “Joe” Hynes got a huge win this week on the sexual-abuse front, but let’s hope he realizes that he’s not done yet.
Hynes won a conviction on all 59 counts brought against unlicensed “therapist” Nechemya Weberman, with jurors agreeing that Weberman abused a 12-year-old girl during weekly counseling sessions over a three-year period.
Weberman, a Satmar Hasidic leader, faces 25 years behind bars — and he long ago forfeited any claim on mercy.
This victory represents something of a sea change in Hynes’ relations with the politically influential ultra-Orthodox Jewish community. In the past, he chose not to reveal the names of accused pedophiles and sexual abusers — even after guilty verdicts were returned.
Hynes, in fact, seemed intimidated by community leaders — who, for their part, claimed such silence was necessary out of concern for victims and their families.
In truth, as court officials have noted, some Satmar members could give the Bloods and Crips lessons in intimidation.
As demonstrated in the Weberman trial.
Which is why two related cases need to be vigorously pursued to their conclusion.
In June, Abraham Rubin and three brothers — Jacob, Joseph and Hertzka Berger — were indicted for allegedly offering a $500,000 bribe to get the now-18-year-old victim to drop the case.
Their next court date is in January.
Then, late last month, three other Orthodox men — Joseph Fried, Yona Weissman and Lemon Juice — were caught taking pictures of the victim as she testified in court, in blatant violation of state law.
The judge promptly had them arrested on judicial contempt and intimidation charges.
They’ll be back in court in February.
So, while it’s good that Nechemya Weberman will be going away for a long time, Joe Hynes has some loose ends to tie up.
Given the culture that he’s chosen to confront, that won’t be easy.
Clearly, however, he’s up to the task.
He proved that this week.
NY POST
Brooklyn DA Charles “Joe” Hynes got a huge win this week on the sexual-abuse front, but let’s hope he realizes that he’s not done yet.
Hynes won a conviction on all 59 counts brought against unlicensed “therapist” Nechemya Weberman, with jurors agreeing that Weberman abused a 12-year-old girl during weekly counseling sessions over a three-year period.
Weberman, a Satmar Hasidic leader, faces 25 years behind bars — and he long ago forfeited any claim on mercy.
This victory represents something of a sea change in Hynes’ relations with the politically influential ultra-Orthodox Jewish community. In the past, he chose not to reveal the names of accused pedophiles and sexual abusers — even after guilty verdicts were returned.
Hynes, in fact, seemed intimidated by community leaders — who, for their part, claimed such silence was necessary out of concern for victims and their families.
In truth, as court officials have noted, some Satmar members could give the Bloods and Crips lessons in intimidation.
As demonstrated in the Weberman trial.
Which is why two related cases need to be vigorously pursued to their conclusion.
In June, Abraham Rubin and three brothers — Jacob, Joseph and Hertzka Berger — were indicted for allegedly offering a $500,000 bribe to get the now-18-year-old victim to drop the case.
Their next court date is in January.
Then, late last month, three other Orthodox men — Joseph Fried, Yona Weissman and Lemon Juice — were caught taking pictures of the victim as she testified in court, in blatant violation of state law.
The judge promptly had them arrested on judicial contempt and intimidation charges.
They’ll be back in court in February.
So, while it’s good that Nechemya Weberman will be going away for a long time, Joe Hynes has some loose ends to tie up.
Given the culture that he’s chosen to confront, that won’t be easy.
Clearly, however, he’s up to the task.
He proved that this week.
NY POST
German parliament passes law keeping circumcision legal
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BERLIN — German lawmakers have approved a bill to keep male infant circumcision legal after a regional court ruled earlier this year that the practice amounts to bodily harm.
The government proposed the law following heavy criticism of the Cologne court ruling by Jewish and Muslim groups.
Jews in particular consider male infant circumcision an ancient and essential part of their religious tradition.
The head of Germany’s main Jewish group expressed relief at the vote, which passed with 434 lawmakers in favor, 100 against and 46 abstaining.
“The circumcision law finally restores legal certainty,” said Dieter Graumann, the head of Germany’s Central Council of Jews. “What’s important for us is the political message of this law, which is that Jewish and Muslim life is still welcome here.”
Restrictions on religiously motivated circumcision would have been particularly sensitive in Germany because of the country’s persecution of Jews and other minorities during the Nazi period.
Proponents of the law, including Chancellor Angela Merkel, noted that failure to protect circumcision would have risked making Germany the only country in the world to ban a practice that Jews and some Muslims consider an ancient and essential part of their religious traditions.
The new law, passed with 434 to 100 votes, grants parents the right to authorize the circumcision of their sons by a trained practitioner.
Once the boy reaches six months of age the procedure needs to be performed by a doctor.
A second house of parliament still needs to approve the bill. The passage of the law was expected after the cabinet approved the draft in October.
A cross-party minority in Parliament had proposed that parents should have to wait until their son is 14 so he can give informed consent for the procedure.
The World Jewish Congress welcomed the move, saying the law would help protect Jewish life in Germany
“Today, representatives of all major parties have made it clear that the renaissance of Jewish life in Germany can and should continue,” WJC head Ron Lauder said in a statement. “The bitter debate that followed the Cologne court ruling on circumcision has irritated and unsettled many Jews around the world, and we hope that a clear legal basis has now been put in place that will prevent the criminalization of religious circumcision in the future.”
BERLIN — German lawmakers have approved a bill to keep male infant circumcision legal after a regional court ruled earlier this year that the practice amounts to bodily harm.
The government proposed the law following heavy criticism of the Cologne court ruling by Jewish and Muslim groups.
Jews in particular consider male infant circumcision an ancient and essential part of their religious tradition.
The head of Germany’s main Jewish group expressed relief at the vote, which passed with 434 lawmakers in favor, 100 against and 46 abstaining.
“The circumcision law finally restores legal certainty,” said Dieter Graumann, the head of Germany’s Central Council of Jews. “What’s important for us is the political message of this law, which is that Jewish and Muslim life is still welcome here.”
Restrictions on religiously motivated circumcision would have been particularly sensitive in Germany because of the country’s persecution of Jews and other minorities during the Nazi period.
Proponents of the law, including Chancellor Angela Merkel, noted that failure to protect circumcision would have risked making Germany the only country in the world to ban a practice that Jews and some Muslims consider an ancient and essential part of their religious traditions.
The new law, passed with 434 to 100 votes, grants parents the right to authorize the circumcision of their sons by a trained practitioner.
Once the boy reaches six months of age the procedure needs to be performed by a doctor.
A second house of parliament still needs to approve the bill. The passage of the law was expected after the cabinet approved the draft in October.
A cross-party minority in Parliament had proposed that parents should have to wait until their son is 14 so he can give informed consent for the procedure.
The World Jewish Congress welcomed the move, saying the law would help protect Jewish life in Germany
“Today, representatives of all major parties have made it clear that the renaissance of Jewish life in Germany can and should continue,” WJC head Ron Lauder said in a statement. “The bitter debate that followed the Cologne court ruling on circumcision has irritated and unsettled many Jews around the world, and we hope that a clear legal basis has now been put in place that will prevent the criminalization of religious circumcision in the future.”
Bribery claims roil Euro-Jewish relations with US billionaire
To contact us Click HERE
For more than 20 years, American billionaire and World Jewish Congress President Ronald Lauder has been a driving force behind the revival of Jewish life in Central and Eastern Europe.
He has financed an array of Jewish educational and cultural activities that have helped breathe vibrancy into long-dormant communities sealed off for decades behind the Iron Curtain.
Now, European leaders are charging Lauder with using his fortune in a failed effort to influence two Jewish communal elections — for leadership of the Vienna Jewish community and for the presidency of the European Jewish Congress. The Viennese community has declared Lauder, a former US ambassador to Austria, persona non grata.
A spokesman for Lauder denied that Lauder tried to buy the Vienna election, and refused to answer questions concerning the EJC.
“I don’t know if this is a new pattern for Lauder, but I do know he’s done it twice now — once in Vienna and once during the EJC elections,” said Ariel Muzicant, a former Vienna community president.
A Lauder spokesman describes the accusations as ‘despicable and without any basis in truth’
Two vice presidents of the World Jewish Congress — Cobi Benatof and Flo Kaufmann — have called on Lauder to step down temporarily from his WJC post until the allegations are investigated. Benatof said that if the charges prove to be true, it would constitute a violation of the WJC constitution’s ban on interference in the local politics of individual communities.
It’s not clear what Lauder was hoping to gain by influencing either election, both of which were won by candidates that he allegedly was trying to displace. But theories abound.
Some say Lauder may have been seeking a counterweight to the influence of EJC President Moshe Kantor, a Russian businessman worth an estimated $2.3 billion. Kantor’s assumption of the EJC presidency in 2007 was part of a broader rise in the influence of Russian billionaires within international Jewish organizations, a movement that has generated tensions with longstanding Jewish leaders from the West.
Others speculate that Lauder perceives Kantor as a potential challenger for the WJC presidency. Kantor declined to be interviewed.
Still others say Lauder has his eye on the resources of the Vienna community, which has an annual budget of more than $16 million. But this only raises more questions: Lauder, an heir to the Estee Lauder cosmetics fortune, is reported to be worth more than $3 billion, and over the years has sunk tens of millions of dollars into his philanthropic ventures in Europe.
One thing is certain: Lauder and his associates are saying little.
In a statement, Lauder spokesman Gary Lewi called the Vienna charges “despicable and without any basis in truth.” He did not respond to allegations concerning the EJC.
Key leaders of the World Jewish Congress have called on Lauder to step down temporarily until the claims are investigated
“For some 25 years, Ambassador Lauder has demonstrated through word and deed his support for the Viennese Jewish community,” Lewi said. “It was Ambassador Lauder’s intent that the Jewish community of Vienna decide their own path and vote according to individual conscience and their own best interest.”
The row in Austria exploded on Dec. 3, when Oskar Deutsch, president of the Vienna Jewish Community, sent a letter to other European community leaders accusing Lauder of offering $5.8 million to factions of the community’s board if they elected his favored presidential candidate, Martin Engelberg. Deutsch prevailed in the election nonetheless.
After news of Deutsch’s letter broke, Muzicant came forth with the accusation that Lauder offered money to EJC delegates in exchange for supporting Dr. Richard Prasquier, a French cardiologist and head of the CRIF Jewish umbrella group, for EJC president in elections held Nov. 7. Several sources said that Lauder had lobbied them on behalf of Prasquier prior to the elections.
Prasquier himself confirmed that Lauder had made commitments to communities concerned that they would suffer financially from their vote.
“Lauder only said that communities that received money from Kantor would not be deprived of any monies if Kantor wasn’t elected,” Prasquier said.
A spokesperson for the EJC declined to comment.
Times of israel
For more than 20 years, American billionaire and World Jewish Congress President Ronald Lauder has been a driving force behind the revival of Jewish life in Central and Eastern Europe.
He has financed an array of Jewish educational and cultural activities that have helped breathe vibrancy into long-dormant communities sealed off for decades behind the Iron Curtain.
Now, European leaders are charging Lauder with using his fortune in a failed effort to influence two Jewish communal elections — for leadership of the Vienna Jewish community and for the presidency of the European Jewish Congress. The Viennese community has declared Lauder, a former US ambassador to Austria, persona non grata.
A spokesman for Lauder denied that Lauder tried to buy the Vienna election, and refused to answer questions concerning the EJC.
“I don’t know if this is a new pattern for Lauder, but I do know he’s done it twice now — once in Vienna and once during the EJC elections,” said Ariel Muzicant, a former Vienna community president.
A Lauder spokesman describes the accusations as ‘despicable and without any basis in truth’
Two vice presidents of the World Jewish Congress — Cobi Benatof and Flo Kaufmann — have called on Lauder to step down temporarily from his WJC post until the allegations are investigated. Benatof said that if the charges prove to be true, it would constitute a violation of the WJC constitution’s ban on interference in the local politics of individual communities.
It’s not clear what Lauder was hoping to gain by influencing either election, both of which were won by candidates that he allegedly was trying to displace. But theories abound.
Some say Lauder may have been seeking a counterweight to the influence of EJC President Moshe Kantor, a Russian businessman worth an estimated $2.3 billion. Kantor’s assumption of the EJC presidency in 2007 was part of a broader rise in the influence of Russian billionaires within international Jewish organizations, a movement that has generated tensions with longstanding Jewish leaders from the West.
Others speculate that Lauder perceives Kantor as a potential challenger for the WJC presidency. Kantor declined to be interviewed.
Still others say Lauder has his eye on the resources of the Vienna community, which has an annual budget of more than $16 million. But this only raises more questions: Lauder, an heir to the Estee Lauder cosmetics fortune, is reported to be worth more than $3 billion, and over the years has sunk tens of millions of dollars into his philanthropic ventures in Europe.
One thing is certain: Lauder and his associates are saying little.
In a statement, Lauder spokesman Gary Lewi called the Vienna charges “despicable and without any basis in truth.” He did not respond to allegations concerning the EJC.
Key leaders of the World Jewish Congress have called on Lauder to step down temporarily until the claims are investigated
“For some 25 years, Ambassador Lauder has demonstrated through word and deed his support for the Viennese Jewish community,” Lewi said. “It was Ambassador Lauder’s intent that the Jewish community of Vienna decide their own path and vote according to individual conscience and their own best interest.”
The row in Austria exploded on Dec. 3, when Oskar Deutsch, president of the Vienna Jewish Community, sent a letter to other European community leaders accusing Lauder of offering $5.8 million to factions of the community’s board if they elected his favored presidential candidate, Martin Engelberg. Deutsch prevailed in the election nonetheless.
After news of Deutsch’s letter broke, Muzicant came forth with the accusation that Lauder offered money to EJC delegates in exchange for supporting Dr. Richard Prasquier, a French cardiologist and head of the CRIF Jewish umbrella group, for EJC president in elections held Nov. 7. Several sources said that Lauder had lobbied them on behalf of Prasquier prior to the elections.
Prasquier himself confirmed that Lauder had made commitments to communities concerned that they would suffer financially from their vote.
“Lauder only said that communities that received money from Kantor would not be deprived of any monies if Kantor wasn’t elected,” Prasquier said.
A spokesperson for the EJC declined to comment.
Times of israel
11 Aralık 2012 Salı
NYPD sergeant commits suicide on Long Island
To contact us Click HERE
An NYPD sergeant killed herself this morning in Long Island after fighting with her girlfriend, law enforcement sources said.
Stephanie Moses was found in the bedroom of her Baldwin home with a single gunshot wound to her head, sources added.
“On behalf of the New York City Police Department, I extend my deepest condolences to the family and friends of Sgt. Stephanie Moses who was, on so many occasions, the face of the NYPD on the national stage as well as routinely at police ceremonies,” said Police Commissioner Ray Kelly.
“She epitomized professionalism in her appearance, conduct and dedication to duty. The department has suffered a great loss today that is felt personally by the many who knew and respected Sgt. Moses.” Moses spent most of her career in the Ceremonial Unit, sources added.
In May 2011, Moses was greeted by Barack Obama when he arrived at the 9/11 Memorial to lay a red-white-and-blue wreath where the Twin Towers once stood after top terrorist Osama Bin Laden was killed by Navy Seals in Pakistan.
NY POST
An NYPD sergeant killed herself this morning in Long Island after fighting with her girlfriend, law enforcement sources said.
Stephanie Moses was found in the bedroom of her Baldwin home with a single gunshot wound to her head, sources added.
“On behalf of the New York City Police Department, I extend my deepest condolences to the family and friends of Sgt. Stephanie Moses who was, on so many occasions, the face of the NYPD on the national stage as well as routinely at police ceremonies,” said Police Commissioner Ray Kelly.
“She epitomized professionalism in her appearance, conduct and dedication to duty. The department has suffered a great loss today that is felt personally by the many who knew and respected Sgt. Moses.” Moses spent most of her career in the Ceremonial Unit, sources added.
In May 2011, Moses was greeted by Barack Obama when he arrived at the 9/11 Memorial to lay a red-white-and-blue wreath where the Twin Towers once stood after top terrorist Osama Bin Laden was killed by Navy Seals in Pakistan.
NY POST
Frank's Chop House - Chicken Fried Steak
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So after many years of driving by a small green building on Westheimer and Weslayan, Leaney and I finally decided to try Frank's Chop House, after repeatedly hearing how good their chicken fried steak was. I'm typically not the biggest fan of "gourmet" CFS, but I thought I might as well give this place a try (celebrating finally taking a job offer), especially since it was HALF PRICE WINE NIGHT (all wine bottles are half price on Sundays). We started out with a BBQ shrimp appetizer, which was good but WAY overpriced at $15 for 5 whole shrimp, served with the heads. For our main course, Leaney enjoyed the shrimp and grits while I went with the CFS. To my surprise, this thing was pretty legit. It was "full-sized" (many nicer places give you a smaller cut), and there wasn't an excessive amount of batter. The batter was seasoned well with a very distinct taste, and I thought it was a damn good CFS (still not as good as Mason Jar or Luby's). My only complaint is that they served it atop a bed of veggies. Who eats veggies w/ their CFS? More mashed potatoes please....
So after many years of driving by a small green building on Westheimer and Weslayan, Leaney and I finally decided to try Frank's Chop House, after repeatedly hearing how good their chicken fried steak was. I'm typically not the biggest fan of "gourmet" CFS, but I thought I might as well give this place a try (celebrating finally taking a job offer), especially since it was HALF PRICE WINE NIGHT (all wine bottles are half price on Sundays). We started out with a BBQ shrimp appetizer, which was good but WAY overpriced at $15 for 5 whole shrimp, served with the heads. For our main course, Leaney enjoyed the shrimp and grits while I went with the CFS. To my surprise, this thing was pretty legit. It was "full-sized" (many nicer places give you a smaller cut), and there wasn't an excessive amount of batter. The batter was seasoned well with a very distinct taste, and I thought it was a damn good CFS (still not as good as Mason Jar or Luby's). My only complaint is that they served it atop a bed of veggies. Who eats veggies w/ their CFS? More mashed potatoes please....
Lucky Dragon - Chinese Style Green Beans
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These Chinese style green beans were served up at the Lucky Dragon in Chinatown. We also ordered the walnut shrimp and pan-fried beef noodles, but the green beans were by far the best dish we ordered. You can still see the steam coming off these freshly sauteed green beans (with bbq pork, beef and a few onions), which was proof that our meal was prepared fresh upon arrival!
The walnut shrimp was way too mayonnaisey...as usually I prefer the sauce not to have an overpowering taste (maybe they used miracle whip? -- bleh....). The pan fried beef noodles were good, but definitely a little light on flavor overall. I think we may come back here, but probably not for a while since there are much better places to grub out in C-Town.
These Chinese style green beans were served up at the Lucky Dragon in Chinatown. We also ordered the walnut shrimp and pan-fried beef noodles, but the green beans were by far the best dish we ordered. You can still see the steam coming off these freshly sauteed green beans (with bbq pork, beef and a few onions), which was proof that our meal was prepared fresh upon arrival! The walnut shrimp was way too mayonnaisey...as usually I prefer the sauce not to have an overpowering taste (maybe they used miracle whip? -- bleh....). The pan fried beef noodles were good, but definitely a little light on flavor overall. I think we may come back here, but probably not for a while since there are much better places to grub out in C-Town.
100% Taquito - Beef Fajita Torta
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A beef fajita torta just should NOT cost $7. I don't know if there are any research papers on this topic...but it seems like there is an inverse relationship between deliciousness and price when it comes to the torta. The cheaper you can find one, the more delicious it tends to be. Good thing this meal was purchased with a Groupon (effectively halving our price paid), because it was very, very average (at best).
The torta was served on some sort of french bread. If you can't get the bread right, you should stop right there! Also, it seemed smaller than most other tortas you would get at more authentic taquerias (where's the meat, mang?). Overall, we got a crapload of food for about $25, due to the Groupon. I would not return without some sort of coupon, since 100% Taquito is actually quite deceptively pricy.
A beef fajita torta just should NOT cost $7. I don't know if there are any research papers on this topic...but it seems like there is an inverse relationship between deliciousness and price when it comes to the torta. The cheaper you can find one, the more delicious it tends to be. Good thing this meal was purchased with a Groupon (effectively halving our price paid), because it was very, very average (at best). The torta was served on some sort of french bread. If you can't get the bread right, you should stop right there! Also, it seemed smaller than most other tortas you would get at more authentic taquerias (where's the meat, mang?). Overall, we got a crapload of food for about $25, due to the Groupon. I would not return without some sort of coupon, since 100% Taquito is actually quite deceptively pricy.
BBQ From the Heights
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I have no idea where this BBQ was from, but it was DELICIOUS! (All I know is it is from somewhere in the Heights). Pictured here is a bunch of the "moist" brisket along w/ a few slices of sausage. I also put some cole slaw and rice on my plate, but I think it was really just for decoration. I must admit that the cole slaw was freakin' amazing though...
Now if I could only figure out where this was from...as there's nothing quite like staring into a buffet sized serving of moist brisket and sausage slices. Texas BBQ is the best! 1 Final paper to go... which is almost complete.....ahggg, If Arian Foster scores 16 points tonight, its gonna be a happy GCM fantasy season!
I have no idea where this BBQ was from, but it was DELICIOUS! (All I know is it is from somewhere in the Heights). Pictured here is a bunch of the "moist" brisket along w/ a few slices of sausage. I also put some cole slaw and rice on my plate, but I think it was really just for decoration. I must admit that the cole slaw was freakin' amazing though...Now if I could only figure out where this was from...as there's nothing quite like staring into a buffet sized serving of moist brisket and sausage slices. Texas BBQ is the best! 1 Final paper to go... which is almost complete.....ahggg, If Arian Foster scores 16 points tonight, its gonna be a happy GCM fantasy season!
8 Aralık 2012 Cumartesi
Submarine expert arrested after 'attempting to hand over Navy's secrets to FBI agents posing as Russian spies'
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A former U.S. Navy submarine warfare specialist has been arrested and charged with trying to give classified information about how to track U.S. submarines to people he thought were representatives of the Russian Federation - but who were actually FBI undercover agents, according to federal authorities.
Robert Patrick Hoffman II of Virginia Beach, Virginia, was arrested Thursday morning on an attempted espionage charge.
He appeared in federal court in Norfolk Thursday afternoon for an initial appearance, and the judge granted Hoffman's request for a court-appointed attorney, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office office for the Eastern District of Virginia.
Hoffman will remain in jail pending a detention hearing next Tuesday, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.
According to the indictment, on October 21 Hoffman tried to hand over national defense information to people he thought were representatives of the Russian government, including classified information "that revealed and pertained to methods to track U.S. submarines, including the technology and procedures required."
The government alleges Hoffman intended to harm the United States and give an advantage to the Russian Federation. The court documents do not state whether Hoffman sought any money for the materials.
A law enforcement official told CNN that Hoffman also was seeking money, but the official would not say how much.
The information was given to FBI agents who were conducting an undercover operation. The indictment does not charge the Russian government with wrongdoing.
Hoffman, 39, is described as a 20-year veteran of the U.S. Navy who was trained in cryptology and reached the rank of petty officer first class. He retired from active duty in November 2011. According to his biography released by the military, he served as a submarine warfare specialist.
Hoffman held security clearances, and prosecutors say he signed several documents during his tenure in the Navy promising not to divulge sensitive information.
A U.S. official said Hoffman's home in Virginia Beach was searched, as was a local storage facility he was renting. The official said there was nothing to indicate that Hoffman passed classified information to "actual Russians" any time in the past, but authorities still have to examine items taken from his home and storage locker.
If convicted, Hoffman could be sentenced to life in prison.
A former U.S. Navy submarine warfare specialist has been arrested and charged with trying to give classified information about how to track U.S. submarines to people he thought were representatives of the Russian Federation - but who were actually FBI undercover agents, according to federal authorities.
Robert Patrick Hoffman II of Virginia Beach, Virginia, was arrested Thursday morning on an attempted espionage charge.
He appeared in federal court in Norfolk Thursday afternoon for an initial appearance, and the judge granted Hoffman's request for a court-appointed attorney, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office office for the Eastern District of Virginia.
Hoffman will remain in jail pending a detention hearing next Tuesday, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.
According to the indictment, on October 21 Hoffman tried to hand over national defense information to people he thought were representatives of the Russian government, including classified information "that revealed and pertained to methods to track U.S. submarines, including the technology and procedures required."
The government alleges Hoffman intended to harm the United States and give an advantage to the Russian Federation. The court documents do not state whether Hoffman sought any money for the materials.
A law enforcement official told CNN that Hoffman also was seeking money, but the official would not say how much.
The information was given to FBI agents who were conducting an undercover operation. The indictment does not charge the Russian government with wrongdoing.
Hoffman, 39, is described as a 20-year veteran of the U.S. Navy who was trained in cryptology and reached the rank of petty officer first class. He retired from active duty in November 2011. According to his biography released by the military, he served as a submarine warfare specialist.
Hoffman held security clearances, and prosecutors say he signed several documents during his tenure in the Navy promising not to divulge sensitive information.
A U.S. official said Hoffman's home in Virginia Beach was searched, as was a local storage facility he was renting. The official said there was nothing to indicate that Hoffman passed classified information to "actual Russians" any time in the past, but authorities still have to examine items taken from his home and storage locker.
If convicted, Hoffman could be sentenced to life in prison.
Boston Market - Turkey & Dressing
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I write this post as I am about to waive the white flag in an epic battle with my HOA to replace our garage door. With 12 units with garage door damage (none of the others have replaced their doors), a bluff to enter our property and replace our door without our permission was enough to take down this GCM. I have always believed that I am a man of principle, but at some point, realizing that I could have paid for the damages with my $10 an hour campus job instead of battling this frustrating issue really made me decide to call it a day. At least I got this free meal last week (before Thanksgiving) courtesy of Boston Market. The turkey was OK, but the cornbread was REALLY amazing. The first of many meals in a very gluttonous week. Right now though, I hate turkey.
I write this post as I am about to waive the white flag in an epic battle with my HOA to replace our garage door. With 12 units with garage door damage (none of the others have replaced their doors), a bluff to enter our property and replace our door without our permission was enough to take down this GCM. I have always believed that I am a man of principle, but at some point, realizing that I could have paid for the damages with my $10 an hour campus job instead of battling this frustrating issue really made me decide to call it a day. At least I got this free meal last week (before Thanksgiving) courtesy of Boston Market. The turkey was OK, but the cornbread was REALLY amazing. The first of many meals in a very gluttonous week. Right now though, I hate turkey.
Ra Sushi - Lunch Bento Box
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Ra Sushi is usually over-priced and not very good, but the lunch bento box that I ordered last week was FANTASTIC. At only $8.50, this box of salmon, white rice, salad, spring roll and fried dumpling was the perfect amount of food. To be honest, $8.50 is really not too bad at all for a lunch portion of salmon (perfectly cooked). I saw a few TruMeals for more than $8.50 with a much smaller portion overall. I'm not a big fan of the sushi at RA, but you can bento box me anyday.
Ra Sushi is usually over-priced and not very good, but the lunch bento box that I ordered last week was FANTASTIC. At only $8.50, this box of salmon, white rice, salad, spring roll and fried dumpling was the perfect amount of food. To be honest, $8.50 is really not too bad at all for a lunch portion of salmon (perfectly cooked). I saw a few TruMeals for more than $8.50 with a much smaller portion overall. I'm not a big fan of the sushi at RA, but you can bento box me anyday.
GCM Turkey
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This is how the GCM does thanksgiving. A 12lb. turkey covered with 16 slices of maple bacon. I should have used less bacon, as the lower layers didn't get enough love from the oven. I think one layer probably works best so that the bacon is cooked properly, with MAYBE some of the fat getting removed from the strips. The Thanksgiving meal was pretty good overall, with my brown sugar ham stealing the show (I marinade and then cook the ham in a brown sugar sauce -- which is basically just brown sugar and butter). Side dishes served this year included mashed potatoes, Leaney's green bean casserole, chicken flavored rice, and STOVE TOP (yes, stove top) stuffing. Good meal, way too much turkey.
This is how the GCM does thanksgiving. A 12lb. turkey covered with 16 slices of maple bacon. I should have used less bacon, as the lower layers didn't get enough love from the oven. I think one layer probably works best so that the bacon is cooked properly, with MAYBE some of the fat getting removed from the strips. The Thanksgiving meal was pretty good overall, with my brown sugar ham stealing the show (I marinade and then cook the ham in a brown sugar sauce -- which is basically just brown sugar and butter). Side dishes served this year included mashed potatoes, Leaney's green bean casserole, chicken flavored rice, and STOVE TOP (yes, stove top) stuffing. Good meal, way too much turkey.
Thanksgiving in a Sandwich
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Post Thanksgiving, it's important to put the leftovers to good use. Pictured here is a Chef GCM Thanksgiving sandwich, using the leftover ham and bacon to make a delicious sandwich. Inspired by other popular Thanksgiving style sandwiches, I took a couple of pieces of wheat, slapped on some cheese, grilled the bread (grilled cheese style with butter on both sides) and stuffed this sucker full of leftover meats and cranberry sauce. The sandwich turned out pretty delicious, and was served with a side of fries. Why can't they sell 5 lb turkeys???
Post Thanksgiving, it's important to put the leftovers to good use. Pictured here is a Chef GCM Thanksgiving sandwich, using the leftover ham and bacon to make a delicious sandwich. Inspired by other popular Thanksgiving style sandwiches, I took a couple of pieces of wheat, slapped on some cheese, grilled the bread (grilled cheese style with butter on both sides) and stuffed this sucker full of leftover meats and cranberry sauce. The sandwich turned out pretty delicious, and was served with a side of fries. Why can't they sell 5 lb turkeys???
7 Aralık 2012 Cuma
NYPD Detective Kevin Spellman, convicted of manslaughter
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The family of a Bronx grandmother run down by an NYPD cop can finally exhale.
A jury found ex-detective Kevin Spellman guilty of second-degree manslaughter Thursday for hitting and killing Albanian immigrant Drane Nikac in Kingsbridge.
The 66-year-old woman's family sobbed with grief and relief as the verdict was read following an emotional Bronx trial that spanned more than two months.
“My family and I are emotionally exhausted and grateful that the trial is over so that we no longer have to listen to testimony about my mother's awful ordeal,” daughter Dusta Juncaj said Thursday.
The jury found Spellman, 45, not guilty of the more serious charges of first-degree aggravated vehicular homicide and vehicular manslaughter after more than a week of deliberations.
The 22-year NYPD veteran stood expressionless in a gray suit and blue tie as his verdict was read Thursday. He left the Bronx courthouse with several cops in plainclothes, without answering questions from reporters.
Spellman struck Nikac about 6:40 a.m. on Oct. 30, 2009, at W. 232nd St. and Kingsbridge Ave., and the jury heard testimony that the cop's blood-alcohol level was nearly three times the legal limit five hours afterward.
Witnesses said the off-duty cop ran a red light before the deadly crash and evidence in the trial included beer cans found in his car.
Rosemarie Arnold, a lawyer for the Nikac family, said her clients are satisfied with the verdict.
“Now they can exhale,” she said Thursday. “They understand this is a tragedy all around, not just for their family, but for the Spellman family as well.”
Spellman recently retired from the NYPD and now faces a maximum sentence of up to 15 years in prison. The charge he was convicted on didn't require the jury to find him guilty while driving drunk, said his lawyer, Peter Brill.
“We appreciate the hard work of the jury, but we think the result was wrong,” Brill said. “On the other hand, Kevin has waited three years to express his remorse.
“He wants the family to know how remorseful he is about what happened.”
Spellman is free on bail and will be sentenced Feb. 15.
By Daniel Beekman / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
The family of a Bronx grandmother run down by an NYPD cop can finally exhale.
A jury found ex-detective Kevin Spellman guilty of second-degree manslaughter Thursday for hitting and killing Albanian immigrant Drane Nikac in Kingsbridge.
The 66-year-old woman's family sobbed with grief and relief as the verdict was read following an emotional Bronx trial that spanned more than two months.
“My family and I are emotionally exhausted and grateful that the trial is over so that we no longer have to listen to testimony about my mother's awful ordeal,” daughter Dusta Juncaj said Thursday.
The jury found Spellman, 45, not guilty of the more serious charges of first-degree aggravated vehicular homicide and vehicular manslaughter after more than a week of deliberations.
The 22-year NYPD veteran stood expressionless in a gray suit and blue tie as his verdict was read Thursday. He left the Bronx courthouse with several cops in plainclothes, without answering questions from reporters.
Spellman struck Nikac about 6:40 a.m. on Oct. 30, 2009, at W. 232nd St. and Kingsbridge Ave., and the jury heard testimony that the cop's blood-alcohol level was nearly three times the legal limit five hours afterward.
Witnesses said the off-duty cop ran a red light before the deadly crash and evidence in the trial included beer cans found in his car.
Rosemarie Arnold, a lawyer for the Nikac family, said her clients are satisfied with the verdict.
“Now they can exhale,” she said Thursday. “They understand this is a tragedy all around, not just for their family, but for the Spellman family as well.”
Spellman recently retired from the NYPD and now faces a maximum sentence of up to 15 years in prison. The charge he was convicted on didn't require the jury to find him guilty while driving drunk, said his lawyer, Peter Brill.
“We appreciate the hard work of the jury, but we think the result was wrong,” Brill said. “On the other hand, Kevin has waited three years to express his remorse.
“He wants the family to know how remorseful he is about what happened.”
Spellman is free on bail and will be sentenced Feb. 15.
By Daniel Beekman / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
If Weberman Is Found Guilty, Satmar Must Deal With Its Enabling Problem
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If Nechemya Weberman had a guilty look in his eyes, the jurors never saw it. He didn’t look at them once as the prosecutor gave graphic details Thursday of the 88 counts of sexual torment he allegedly wrought upon a teenage girl he was paid to help.
If the jury finds Weberman guilty — now that lawyers have wrapped their case — the leaders of the insular Satmar Hasidic sect to which he belongs must ask themselves the same questions that dogged the Catholic Church in the wake of its own pedophilia scandals.
They must ask, did we enable him? Do our methods of reigning in rebellious young girls run counter to American law? Do we deny these girls freedoms they are entitled to, treating them as prisoners despite more than a century of hard-fought victories by women’s rights activists?
Instead, it seems this Williamsburg-based sect is operating under its own rules, some of which run counter to the law.
Satmar girls who break the sect’s stringent rules for modesty and behavior are sent by rabbis, teachers or their parents to “therapists” for “counseling” — more like one-on-one reeducation camps.
At the age of 12, Weberman’s beautiful blond accuser dared show her girlfriends a dance video from the family’s computer, a no-no for Satmars forbidden TV, radio and nonbusiness uses of the Internet.
“She lived in an insular, male-dominated society that forbade any contact with the outside world,” prosecutor Linda Weinman told the jury Thursday. “Accept your fate. Never question authority.”
The girl, already in the sights of the Satmar “modesty committee” — known to enter girls’ rooms to seize offending cell phones and clothing — was sent by her principal, Weberman’s cousin, for “therapy.”
Her counselor’s qualifications? He had been a worker in a pants factory, after leaving school in the 11th grade.
Oh, and he had also been a driver, albeit for the sect’s then-Grand Rebbe Moshe Teitelbaum.
Weberman wasn’t a licensed therapist at all.
But that was considered a positive thing, since ultra-Orthodox Jews believe any Jewish person who informs police or government agencies about a fellow Jew is a loathed informant, a “moser.”
Licensed therapists are required by law to report child molestation and domestic violence incidents.
As a nonlicensed therapist, Weberman could keep anything he heard within the Satmar community to himself.
Padlocking this girl even tighter in his grip, the young woman testified she would be expelled from her school if she tried to leave “therapy.” Her parents were forced to pay Weberman $150 an hour for this service.
But for three years, starting in March 2007 when she was 12 years old, he grotesquely manhandled her young body, Weinman told the jury as Weberman looked into a corner of the courtroom.
“I’m not doing anything wrong,” he allegedly told the girl.
She finally told a licensed therapist outside the community , who promptly reported Weberman to authorities.
Why hadn’t the alleged victim reported it to the top rabbis?
“I didn’t think they would believe me,” she testified in court.
By Joanna Molloy - NY DAILY NEWS
If Nechemya Weberman had a guilty look in his eyes, the jurors never saw it. He didn’t look at them once as the prosecutor gave graphic details Thursday of the 88 counts of sexual torment he allegedly wrought upon a teenage girl he was paid to help.
If the jury finds Weberman guilty — now that lawyers have wrapped their case — the leaders of the insular Satmar Hasidic sect to which he belongs must ask themselves the same questions that dogged the Catholic Church in the wake of its own pedophilia scandals.
They must ask, did we enable him? Do our methods of reigning in rebellious young girls run counter to American law? Do we deny these girls freedoms they are entitled to, treating them as prisoners despite more than a century of hard-fought victories by women’s rights activists?
Instead, it seems this Williamsburg-based sect is operating under its own rules, some of which run counter to the law.
Satmar girls who break the sect’s stringent rules for modesty and behavior are sent by rabbis, teachers or their parents to “therapists” for “counseling” — more like one-on-one reeducation camps.
At the age of 12, Weberman’s beautiful blond accuser dared show her girlfriends a dance video from the family’s computer, a no-no for Satmars forbidden TV, radio and nonbusiness uses of the Internet.
“She lived in an insular, male-dominated society that forbade any contact with the outside world,” prosecutor Linda Weinman told the jury Thursday. “Accept your fate. Never question authority.”
The girl, already in the sights of the Satmar “modesty committee” — known to enter girls’ rooms to seize offending cell phones and clothing — was sent by her principal, Weberman’s cousin, for “therapy.”
Her counselor’s qualifications? He had been a worker in a pants factory, after leaving school in the 11th grade.
Oh, and he had also been a driver, albeit for the sect’s then-Grand Rebbe Moshe Teitelbaum.
Weberman wasn’t a licensed therapist at all.
But that was considered a positive thing, since ultra-Orthodox Jews believe any Jewish person who informs police or government agencies about a fellow Jew is a loathed informant, a “moser.”
Licensed therapists are required by law to report child molestation and domestic violence incidents.
As a nonlicensed therapist, Weberman could keep anything he heard within the Satmar community to himself.
Padlocking this girl even tighter in his grip, the young woman testified she would be expelled from her school if she tried to leave “therapy.” Her parents were forced to pay Weberman $150 an hour for this service.
But for three years, starting in March 2007 when she was 12 years old, he grotesquely manhandled her young body, Weinman told the jury as Weberman looked into a corner of the courtroom.
“I’m not doing anything wrong,” he allegedly told the girl.
She finally told a licensed therapist outside the community , who promptly reported Weberman to authorities.
Why hadn’t the alleged victim reported it to the top rabbis?
“I didn’t think they would believe me,” she testified in court.
By Joanna Molloy - NY DAILY NEWS
Ophadell Williams, driver involved in deadly Bronx bus crash, found not guilty
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The driver behind the wheel in a nightmarish bus crash that killed 15 passengers last year was found not guilty of manslaughter charges by a Bronx jury Friday, following a dramatic trial that lasted eight weeks.
The prosecution argued that Ophadell Williams was dangerously sleep-deprived before the World Wide Tours bus left the Mohegan Sun Casino in Connecticut and headed south on I-95 toward Chinatown.
But the jury acquitted the 41-year-old from Brooklyn of manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide in the deadly March 12, 2011 crash, the most serious of the 54 counts he was charged with last September.
Williams, who wiped his brow nervously with a Bible on the defense table in front him, was found guilty only of aggravated unlicensed operation of a vehicle, the least serious charge, and will pay a $500 fine after time served.
The bus veered off the highway, slammed into a guardrail and flipped onto its side at about 5:40 a.m. on March 12, 2011 near the Bronx and Westchester County border. Passengers screamed with fear as a metal signpost sliced through the vehicle, traumatized survivors testified.
The prosecution compared driving under a state of exhaustion to driving drunk. But Williams claimed he was forced to swerve because he was cut off by a tractor trailer and his lawyer objected to the argument that driving while tired is a crime.
“Many people function on four to five hours of sleep,” lawyer Patrick Bruno said Friday.
The driver’s wife wept with relief as the verdict was read, using a handkerchief to wipe her glistening eyes.
“I knew they would do the right thing,” Williams told Bruno after the decision was read, Bruno said.
But Florence Wong, the daughter of a passenger killed in the crash, left the courtroom Friday with a troubled frown.
“The jurors have spoken,” she said.
When asked whether she agreed with the verdict, Wong simply answered, “No.”
Bruno said Williams felt horrible about the tragedy.
“But on the other hand, he felt he was being made a martyr, the fall guy for a terrible accident,” the lawyer said Friday.
In addition to the 15 passengers who were killed, 18 were injured, including a woman who now uses a wheelchair and a man who took the witness stand to describe how he lost both arms in the horrific crash.
Survivors and relatives of passengers killed in the crash are pursuing at least 25 civil lawsuits against Williams and World Wide Tours, Bruno said, noting that many witnesses had money riding on the outcome of the trial.
But Assistant District Attorney Gary Weil argued Williams was responsible for getting enough sleep. Weil cited cell phone and rental car records to prove the driver was awake during much of his time off, and witnesses said Williams was driving erratically before the crash.
The "black box" recovered from the bus showed Williams failed to hit the brakes in the seconds before the accident, suggesting he was nodding off, not swerving to avoid another vehicle.
Passengers who survived the wreck, and motorists on I-95 at the time of the accident, testified they saw Williams weaving between lanes and changing speeds - behavior Bruno attributed to construction zones and speed traps along the highway.
One witness said she thought the vehicle was a "party bus" and it reached 78 mph in a 50 mph zone before the crash, Weil said.
The National Transportation Safety Board investigated the accident and in June cited driver fatigue as the probable cause, finding Williams had little sleep in the three days prior to the crash, dozing from midnight to 3:20 a.m. on the day of the accident, while the passengers were gambling.
The NTSB also found Williams previously had his license suspended eight times for various violations, some under false aliases.
Many of the passengers were immigrants and senior citizens who bought round-trip tickets to gamble and attend a concert at Mohegan Sun.
Relatives of the dead were among 55 people who testified for the prosecution, but Bruno called no witnesses. He instead painted Williams as a victim among many victims, not a lawbreaker.
Photos and accounts of the gruesome crash scene led to the closure of World Wide Tours and a push to reform the discount bus industry, with the feds shutting down 26 bus lines in May 2012.
Indicted in September 2011, Williams was held on $250,000 bail throughout the trial. He faced a maximum sentence of up to 15 years in prison for manslaughter, up to 7 years for assault and up to four years for criminally negligent homicide.
Lawsuits for damages filed in several state Supreme Court jurisdictions have been consolidated into a single case file in Brooklyn and will share the same trial, said Steven North, lawyer for one of the crash survivors.
The damages available through the case against World Wide Tours and Williams won't total more than $5 million, the sum amount that the defunct bus company was insured for.
But North said he and other attorneys have filed lawsuits against the city Transportation Department, along with claims against the state Thruway Authority for highway defects that allegedly contributed to the severity of the crash.
The claims allege that the metal signpost may have been installed too close to the road and that it should have buckled under the weight of the bus, said North, who believes the allegations were substantiated by the NTSB investigation.
Lastly, victims of the accident are suing Mohegan Sun in the Mohegan Nation tribal court for not providing bus drivers adequate sleeping quarters, he said.
"The amount of insurance coverage maintained by the company is woefully inadequate to cover all of the injured plaintiffs," North said.
His client, a Chinese immigrant, suffered brain damage that impairs his ability to think clearly and leg fractures that make it difficult for him to walk.
"He suffers pains and recognizes that, in a way, he is not the same as he was before," said North.
Bruno said the civil lawsuits amount to roughly $3 billion in lawsuits but North said the claims don't include dollar amounts.
The driver behind the wheel in a nightmarish bus crash that killed 15 passengers last year was found not guilty of manslaughter charges by a Bronx jury Friday, following a dramatic trial that lasted eight weeks.
The prosecution argued that Ophadell Williams was dangerously sleep-deprived before the World Wide Tours bus left the Mohegan Sun Casino in Connecticut and headed south on I-95 toward Chinatown.
But the jury acquitted the 41-year-old from Brooklyn of manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide in the deadly March 12, 2011 crash, the most serious of the 54 counts he was charged with last September.
Williams, who wiped his brow nervously with a Bible on the defense table in front him, was found guilty only of aggravated unlicensed operation of a vehicle, the least serious charge, and will pay a $500 fine after time served.
The bus veered off the highway, slammed into a guardrail and flipped onto its side at about 5:40 a.m. on March 12, 2011 near the Bronx and Westchester County border. Passengers screamed with fear as a metal signpost sliced through the vehicle, traumatized survivors testified.
The prosecution compared driving under a state of exhaustion to driving drunk. But Williams claimed he was forced to swerve because he was cut off by a tractor trailer and his lawyer objected to the argument that driving while tired is a crime.
“Many people function on four to five hours of sleep,” lawyer Patrick Bruno said Friday.
The driver’s wife wept with relief as the verdict was read, using a handkerchief to wipe her glistening eyes.
“I knew they would do the right thing,” Williams told Bruno after the decision was read, Bruno said.
But Florence Wong, the daughter of a passenger killed in the crash, left the courtroom Friday with a troubled frown.
“The jurors have spoken,” she said.
When asked whether she agreed with the verdict, Wong simply answered, “No.”
Bruno said Williams felt horrible about the tragedy.
“But on the other hand, he felt he was being made a martyr, the fall guy for a terrible accident,” the lawyer said Friday.
In addition to the 15 passengers who were killed, 18 were injured, including a woman who now uses a wheelchair and a man who took the witness stand to describe how he lost both arms in the horrific crash.
Survivors and relatives of passengers killed in the crash are pursuing at least 25 civil lawsuits against Williams and World Wide Tours, Bruno said, noting that many witnesses had money riding on the outcome of the trial.
But Assistant District Attorney Gary Weil argued Williams was responsible for getting enough sleep. Weil cited cell phone and rental car records to prove the driver was awake during much of his time off, and witnesses said Williams was driving erratically before the crash.
The "black box" recovered from the bus showed Williams failed to hit the brakes in the seconds before the accident, suggesting he was nodding off, not swerving to avoid another vehicle.
Passengers who survived the wreck, and motorists on I-95 at the time of the accident, testified they saw Williams weaving between lanes and changing speeds - behavior Bruno attributed to construction zones and speed traps along the highway.
One witness said she thought the vehicle was a "party bus" and it reached 78 mph in a 50 mph zone before the crash, Weil said.
The National Transportation Safety Board investigated the accident and in June cited driver fatigue as the probable cause, finding Williams had little sleep in the three days prior to the crash, dozing from midnight to 3:20 a.m. on the day of the accident, while the passengers were gambling.
The NTSB also found Williams previously had his license suspended eight times for various violations, some under false aliases.
Many of the passengers were immigrants and senior citizens who bought round-trip tickets to gamble and attend a concert at Mohegan Sun.
Relatives of the dead were among 55 people who testified for the prosecution, but Bruno called no witnesses. He instead painted Williams as a victim among many victims, not a lawbreaker.
Photos and accounts of the gruesome crash scene led to the closure of World Wide Tours and a push to reform the discount bus industry, with the feds shutting down 26 bus lines in May 2012.
Indicted in September 2011, Williams was held on $250,000 bail throughout the trial. He faced a maximum sentence of up to 15 years in prison for manslaughter, up to 7 years for assault and up to four years for criminally negligent homicide.
Lawsuits for damages filed in several state Supreme Court jurisdictions have been consolidated into a single case file in Brooklyn and will share the same trial, said Steven North, lawyer for one of the crash survivors.
The damages available through the case against World Wide Tours and Williams won't total more than $5 million, the sum amount that the defunct bus company was insured for.
But North said he and other attorneys have filed lawsuits against the city Transportation Department, along with claims against the state Thruway Authority for highway defects that allegedly contributed to the severity of the crash.
The claims allege that the metal signpost may have been installed too close to the road and that it should have buckled under the weight of the bus, said North, who believes the allegations were substantiated by the NTSB investigation.
Lastly, victims of the accident are suing Mohegan Sun in the Mohegan Nation tribal court for not providing bus drivers adequate sleeping quarters, he said.
"The amount of insurance coverage maintained by the company is woefully inadequate to cover all of the injured plaintiffs," North said.
His client, a Chinese immigrant, suffered brain damage that impairs his ability to think clearly and leg fractures that make it difficult for him to walk.
"He suffers pains and recognizes that, in a way, he is not the same as he was before," said North.
Bruno said the civil lawsuits amount to roughly $3 billion in lawsuits but North said the claims don't include dollar amounts.
Darrell Issa Burglarized: $100,000 In Jewelry Stolen From California Home
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VISTA, Calif. — San Diego County authorities say $100,000 worth of jewelry has been stolen in a burglary at the home of California U.S. Rep. Darrell Issa.
U-T San Diego says more than 50 items, including watches, rings, earrings and bracelets, were taken from the Vista home on Nov. 29. No arrests have been made.
An Issa spokesman says the pieces were irreplaceable family heirlooms.
The Republican who chairs the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee is one of the wealthiest members of Congress. He made his fortune with a company that produces car alarms and other auto security products.
VISTA, Calif. — San Diego County authorities say $100,000 worth of jewelry has been stolen in a burglary at the home of California U.S. Rep. Darrell Issa.
U-T San Diego says more than 50 items, including watches, rings, earrings and bracelets, were taken from the Vista home on Nov. 29. No arrests have been made.
An Issa spokesman says the pieces were irreplaceable family heirlooms.
The Republican who chairs the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee is one of the wealthiest members of Congress. He made his fortune with a company that produces car alarms and other auto security products.
Submarine expert arrested after 'attempting to hand over Navy's secrets to FBI agents posing as Russian spies'
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A former U.S. Navy submarine warfare specialist has been arrested and charged with trying to give classified information about how to track U.S. submarines to people he thought were representatives of the Russian Federation - but who were actually FBI undercover agents, according to federal authorities.
Robert Patrick Hoffman II of Virginia Beach, Virginia, was arrested Thursday morning on an attempted espionage charge.
He appeared in federal court in Norfolk Thursday afternoon for an initial appearance, and the judge granted Hoffman's request for a court-appointed attorney, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office office for the Eastern District of Virginia.
Hoffman will remain in jail pending a detention hearing next Tuesday, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.
According to the indictment, on October 21 Hoffman tried to hand over national defense information to people he thought were representatives of the Russian government, including classified information "that revealed and pertained to methods to track U.S. submarines, including the technology and procedures required."
The government alleges Hoffman intended to harm the United States and give an advantage to the Russian Federation. The court documents do not state whether Hoffman sought any money for the materials.
A law enforcement official told CNN that Hoffman also was seeking money, but the official would not say how much.
The information was given to FBI agents who were conducting an undercover operation. The indictment does not charge the Russian government with wrongdoing.
Hoffman, 39, is described as a 20-year veteran of the U.S. Navy who was trained in cryptology and reached the rank of petty officer first class. He retired from active duty in November 2011. According to his biography released by the military, he served as a submarine warfare specialist.
Hoffman held security clearances, and prosecutors say he signed several documents during his tenure in the Navy promising not to divulge sensitive information.
A U.S. official said Hoffman's home in Virginia Beach was searched, as was a local storage facility he was renting. The official said there was nothing to indicate that Hoffman passed classified information to "actual Russians" any time in the past, but authorities still have to examine items taken from his home and storage locker.
If convicted, Hoffman could be sentenced to life in prison.
A former U.S. Navy submarine warfare specialist has been arrested and charged with trying to give classified information about how to track U.S. submarines to people he thought were representatives of the Russian Federation - but who were actually FBI undercover agents, according to federal authorities.
Robert Patrick Hoffman II of Virginia Beach, Virginia, was arrested Thursday morning on an attempted espionage charge.
He appeared in federal court in Norfolk Thursday afternoon for an initial appearance, and the judge granted Hoffman's request for a court-appointed attorney, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office office for the Eastern District of Virginia.
Hoffman will remain in jail pending a detention hearing next Tuesday, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.
According to the indictment, on October 21 Hoffman tried to hand over national defense information to people he thought were representatives of the Russian government, including classified information "that revealed and pertained to methods to track U.S. submarines, including the technology and procedures required."
The government alleges Hoffman intended to harm the United States and give an advantage to the Russian Federation. The court documents do not state whether Hoffman sought any money for the materials.
A law enforcement official told CNN that Hoffman also was seeking money, but the official would not say how much.
The information was given to FBI agents who were conducting an undercover operation. The indictment does not charge the Russian government with wrongdoing.
Hoffman, 39, is described as a 20-year veteran of the U.S. Navy who was trained in cryptology and reached the rank of petty officer first class. He retired from active duty in November 2011. According to his biography released by the military, he served as a submarine warfare specialist.
Hoffman held security clearances, and prosecutors say he signed several documents during his tenure in the Navy promising not to divulge sensitive information.
A U.S. official said Hoffman's home in Virginia Beach was searched, as was a local storage facility he was renting. The official said there was nothing to indicate that Hoffman passed classified information to "actual Russians" any time in the past, but authorities still have to examine items taken from his home and storage locker.
If convicted, Hoffman could be sentenced to life in prison.
30 Kasım 2012 Cuma
Dominique Strauss-Kahn and maid who accused him of attempted rape reportedly settle lawsuit
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NEW YORK — Former International Monetary Fund chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn and a hotel maid who accused him of trying to rape her have reached an agreement to settle her lawsuit against him, a person familiar with the case said Thursday.
The person spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity to discuss the private negotiation. The details of the deal were unknown.
Strauss-Kahn lawyer William Taylor wouldn't comment Thursday. Lawyers for the housekeeper didn't immediately respond to phone and email messages.
The person said Bronx Supreme Court Judge Douglas McKeon facilitated the agreement, which hasn't been signed.
The deal would end a legal saga that forced Strauss-Kahn's resignation as head of the IMF and ended his French presidential ambitions last year. Prosecutors dropped related criminal charges.
The housekeeper, Nafissatou Diallo, said Strauss-Kahn attacked her when she arrived to clean his upscale Manhattan hotel suite in May 2011. He said their encounter was consensual and called the lawsuit defamatory.
Strauss-Kahn, 63, initially argued that he had diplomatic immunity from the lawsuit. A judge turned down that claim in May.
Strauss-Kahn said Diallo, who's from Guinea, had sullied his reputation with a "malicious and wanton false accusation." And when prosecutors dropped criminal charges against him, they said they had developed concerns about her credibility. But she said she told the truth about their encounter.
The charges against Strauss-Kahn seemed to open a floodgate of further sex-crime accusations in France, some going back years, against a man who had been seen as a randy charmer. He has acknowledged some "libertine" behavior but denied doing anything criminal or violent.
In August, a separate case against Strauss-Kahn that centered on allegations of rape in a Washington, D.C., hotel was dropped after prosecutors said the accuser, an escort, changed her account to say no rape was involved in the encounter when Strauss-Kahn headed the IMF.
Diallo's lawyers had long emphasized that a grand jury found there was enough evidence to indict Strauss-Kahn, and they said prosecutors cravenly discredited Diallo to extricate themselves from a daunting, high-profile case. The attorneys portrayed the lawsuit as her way of getting justice in another court.
Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance Jr. said he dropped the case in August 2011 because he ultimately wasn't sure what transpired between Strauss-Kahn and Diallo.
The Associated Press generally does not name people who say they have been sexually assaulted unless they come forward publicly, as Diallo has done.
The New York Times first reported the agreement.
NEW YORK — Former International Monetary Fund chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn and a hotel maid who accused him of trying to rape her have reached an agreement to settle her lawsuit against him, a person familiar with the case said Thursday.
The person spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity to discuss the private negotiation. The details of the deal were unknown.
Strauss-Kahn lawyer William Taylor wouldn't comment Thursday. Lawyers for the housekeeper didn't immediately respond to phone and email messages.
The person said Bronx Supreme Court Judge Douglas McKeon facilitated the agreement, which hasn't been signed.
The deal would end a legal saga that forced Strauss-Kahn's resignation as head of the IMF and ended his French presidential ambitions last year. Prosecutors dropped related criminal charges.
The housekeeper, Nafissatou Diallo, said Strauss-Kahn attacked her when she arrived to clean his upscale Manhattan hotel suite in May 2011. He said their encounter was consensual and called the lawsuit defamatory.
Strauss-Kahn, 63, initially argued that he had diplomatic immunity from the lawsuit. A judge turned down that claim in May.
Strauss-Kahn said Diallo, who's from Guinea, had sullied his reputation with a "malicious and wanton false accusation." And when prosecutors dropped criminal charges against him, they said they had developed concerns about her credibility. But she said she told the truth about their encounter.
The charges against Strauss-Kahn seemed to open a floodgate of further sex-crime accusations in France, some going back years, against a man who had been seen as a randy charmer. He has acknowledged some "libertine" behavior but denied doing anything criminal or violent.
In August, a separate case against Strauss-Kahn that centered on allegations of rape in a Washington, D.C., hotel was dropped after prosecutors said the accuser, an escort, changed her account to say no rape was involved in the encounter when Strauss-Kahn headed the IMF.
Diallo's lawyers had long emphasized that a grand jury found there was enough evidence to indict Strauss-Kahn, and they said prosecutors cravenly discredited Diallo to extricate themselves from a daunting, high-profile case. The attorneys portrayed the lawsuit as her way of getting justice in another court.
Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance Jr. said he dropped the case in August 2011 because he ultimately wasn't sure what transpired between Strauss-Kahn and Diallo.
The Associated Press generally does not name people who say they have been sexually assaulted unless they come forward publicly, as Diallo has done.
The New York Times first reported the agreement.
Stevie Wonder won't perform for IDF
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Legendary singer Stevie Wonder, recipient of 25 Grammy Awards and an Academy Award, has canceled his performance at the annual Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF) Western Region Gala on Thursday, December 6.
Representatives of the performer cited a recommendation from the United Nations to withdraw his participation given Wonder’s involvement with the organization. FIDF National Director and CEO, Major-General (Res.) Yitzhak (Jerry) Gershon, said in response: “We regret the fact that Stevie Wonder has decided to cancel his performance at an important community event of the FIDF, an American organization supporting the educational, cultural, and wellbeing needs of Israel’s soldiers, their families, and the families of fallen soldiers.
"FIDF is a non-political organization that provides much-needed humanitarian support regardless of religion, political affiliation, or military activity.”
The gala, chaired by FIDF National Board member and major supporter, Haim Saban, and his wife Cheryl, will be attended by over 1,200 FIDF supporters and dignitaries from the United States and Israel, who will gather to promote FIDF wellbeing and educational programs benefiting Israel’s soldiers.
Legendary singer Stevie Wonder, recipient of 25 Grammy Awards and an Academy Award, has canceled his performance at the annual Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF) Western Region Gala on Thursday, December 6.
Representatives of the performer cited a recommendation from the United Nations to withdraw his participation given Wonder’s involvement with the organization. FIDF National Director and CEO, Major-General (Res.) Yitzhak (Jerry) Gershon, said in response: “We regret the fact that Stevie Wonder has decided to cancel his performance at an important community event of the FIDF, an American organization supporting the educational, cultural, and wellbeing needs of Israel’s soldiers, their families, and the families of fallen soldiers.
"FIDF is a non-political organization that provides much-needed humanitarian support regardless of religion, political affiliation, or military activity.”
The gala, chaired by FIDF National Board member and major supporter, Haim Saban, and his wife Cheryl, will be attended by over 1,200 FIDF supporters and dignitaries from the United States and Israel, who will gather to promote FIDF wellbeing and educational programs benefiting Israel’s soldiers.
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