Society's Child

Aleppo Christmas celebrations: French NGO founder arranges presents for children

Sputnik
Sat, 24 Dec 2016 19:21 UTC

Pierre Le Corf, founder of the NGO "WeAreSuperheroes" is the only Frenchman who has been living in the west of Aleppo for several months. He spoke with Sputnik in an interview about how Aleppo is preparing to celebrate Christmas and showed 1200 gifts intended for children.

"There is a bit of everything. For example, board games, toy cars for kids, superman figures with candy inside. There are balls, dolls and small gears for soap bubbles. All these little dolls are for girls, so are the skipping ropes, machines for soap bubbles, etc.," Le Corf said.

He further said that together with his team they worked to collect different gifts not only for Christmas but also to make contact with people, especially with children.

Inside each small plastic bag containing the gifts there is a postcard attached. The postcards are in Arabic but there is an English version too.

"It's a beautiful day and soon a new year full of promises, Inshallah, of peace, reconciliation, and reconstruction. Remember that you're stronger than this war through hope and imagination. Every day is a new day full of lessons, sometimes hard but it makes you stronger. You are a super hero in your own way, because you are who you are, a unique person with your own story, experiences and impact on people around you. These last years were difficult in Aleppo, some of you have lost their dreams, their trust, their self-confidence, family members or friends ... but never give up, never stop believing in yourself, never stop being who you really are and whatever happens, don't forget to live, to smile. It's not always easy, for sure, but we believe in you. Merry Christmas and we love you," the card reads.

Le Corf told Sputnik that everyone is involved in the program in their own way. People are actually going out onto the streets more often and are gathering together near the Christmas trees.

Comment: People who have left the Syrian city of Aleppo, as well as other Syrian civilians, have received about 8 tonnes (metric tons) of humanitarian aid, including presents for children, the Russian center for Syrian reconciliation informs.

According to the statement, the aid was delivered to temporary shelters for people who have left Aleppo, as well as to residents of other areas. New Year presents were delivered to children in the city of Tartus.

"In the past 24 hours three humanitarian initiatives have been carried out, as a result of which humanitarian cargo was passed to civilians," the center said in a bulletin published by the Russian Defense Ministry on Friday.

Christmas in Aleppo: Locals share joy, loss with RT's Lizzie Phelan

RT
Sat, 24 Dec 2016 17:48 UTC

Aleppo

This year, many people in the liberated city of Aleppo are celebrating for the first time since the war began. RT's Lizzie Phelan talked with residents of the war-ravaged city now recovering from its wounds.

"We did not expect that this moment would ever actually come. We had four years of pain, of war and blood... We are so happy that we can celebrate once again. Aleppo has been returned to us. This is our homeland. We couldn't even imagine that we would once again see all this joy and celebration," a young woman named Maja said.

Most of the city's residents, however, are mourning as well as celebrating - that's just how life is right now.

For teenager Reem, this is the second Christmas without her elder sister Nour, an accomplished basketball player, who was killed by a sniper's bullet while coming back home from a game.

"Life without her is very hard, but I think about her every minute and I feel like she is with us," Reem told RT.

Indiana mother arrested for beating sons who opened Christmas gifts early

CBS Chicago
Thu, 22 Dec 2016 17:30 UTC

An Indiana woman has been charged with two felonies, after she allegedly beat her two sons for opening their Christmas gifts early.

According to court documents, 36-year-old Sascha Collins, of Greenfield, admitted she lost it when her 7- and 9-year-old sons found Christmas presents hidden in her closet and opened them.

"They're all excited about gifts, they're wanting to go through and open things. My 16-year-old is still trying to do that," neighbor Buffy Lutz told CBS 4 Indianapolis.

Comment: She must have had a really bad hangover after "drinking and snorting hydrocodone".

Hydrocodone, also known as dihydrocodeinone, is a semi-synthetic opioid synthesized from codeine, one of the opioid alkaloids found in the opium poppy.^[4] It is a narcotic analgesic used orally for relief of moderate to severe pain, but also commonly taken in liquid form as an antitussive/cough suppressant.^[5]

Hydrocodone is prescribed predominantly within the United States, with the International Narcotics Control Board reporting that 99% of the worldwide supply in 2007 was consumed in the United States.^[6]
Common side effects of hydrocodone are nausea, vomiting, constipation, drowsiness, dizziness, lightheadedness, anxiety, abnormally happy or sad mood, dry throat, difficulty urinating, rash, itching, and narrowing of the pupils. Serious side effects include slowed or irregular breathing and chest tightness

Hydrocodone can slow or stop your breathing. Never use this medicine in larger amounts, or for longer than prescribed. Do not crush, break, or open an extended-release pill. Swallow it whole to avoid exposure to a potentially fatal dose. Hydrocodone may be habit-forming, even at regular doses.

Missing PA teen found dismembered in woods, adoptive mom called 'person of interest'

Crimesider
CBS/AP
Fri, 23 Dec 2016 17:44 UTC

The adoptive mother of a teenage girl who went missing in July has been charged with child endangerment and obstruction in what is now a homicide investigation.

Prosecutors in suburban Philadelphia say the body of 14-year-old Grace Packer was found dismembered in a wooded area in northeastern Pennsylvania.

Hunters found her body near a dam in Bear Creek Township, Luzerne County, more than 100 miles away from the family's home, on Oct. 31. Authorities had not previously announced the discovery. Sara Packer, the girl's adoptive mother, has been named a "person of interest" in the killing, but has not been charged, reports CBS Philly.

"It's a sad day when you have to announce that a missing teenage girl was found, but not found alive," said Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele at a Thursday press conference.

Christmas spirit: Elderly Pennsylvania man's trip to store ends 900 miles from home in Alabama

Sputnik
Sat, 24 Dec 2016 17:11 UTC

An 89-year-old Pennsylvania man's trip to a store to buy electrical supplies ended up on a slight 900-mile detour to rural Alabama. He claims to have no memory of his expedition.

Jody Tarbutton of Boothwyn, Pennsylvania, grandfather and World War II veteran, climbed into his pickup truck Friday afternoon to do a bit of shopping. The next thing he remembers is being in an unfamiliar restaurant. Tarbutton then approached several police officers who were eating breakfast and asked them where he was, and they told him that he was in Haleyville, Alabama, and that it was Monday morning.

Dan Goldstein, the Jewish lawyer who harassed Ivanka Trump and her family on JetBlue flight (Update: trolling ensues)

Sam Kestenbaum
Foward
Fri, 23 Dec 2016 22:31 UTC

The JetBlue passenger who confronted Ivanka Trump on a flight is a Jewish lawyer from Brooklyn who was traveling with his husband and child.

"Your father is ruining the country," lawyer Daniel Jennings Goldstein snapped at the future first daughter as he boarded the morning flight at John F. Kennedy International Airport.

Comment: First president to ruin the country before even taking office? Hardly: US markets surprise with record highs in post-election rally

"Oh my God, this is a nightmare," a witness quoted Goldstein as saying, the New York Daily News reported "They ruin the country and now they ruin our flight."

"Why is she on our flight?" Goldstein added. "She should be flying private."

Comment: Sounds like Goldstein is doing the best job he can at actually ruining America. Is he such a precious snowflake that sitting in the same space as a woman who has done nothing to him constitutes a "nightmare" and "ruins" his flight? Get over yourself, you thin-skinned reprobate. We thought the U.S. was a free country? And the fact that she's flying coach says a lot. In fact, after this tantrum, Ivanka is coming across a lot better than you, Mr. Goldstein.

JetBlue personnel then escorted Goldstein off the flight.

Comment: Goldstein and his husband Lasner are receiving quite the troll lashing on Twitter (being called "jerks," "misogynists," "political terrorists," "heterophobic bigots") and Amazon. The reviews on Lasner's book are pretty darn funny:

Suspected Arizona 'lone wolf' terrorist arrested for providing 'material support' to Islamic State

RT
Sat, 24 Dec 2016 16:42 UTC

A suspected "lone wolf" terrorist in Phoenix, Arizona, has been arrested for allegedly trying to commit a terrorist attack and providing material support to Islamic State.

Court documents show that Derrick Thompson, who also goes by the name Abu Talib Al-Amriki, was arrested Tuesday and "was involved in communications and activity that show material support for the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant."

Police were first tipped off about Thompson's plans back in January, after he tried to buy a gun on Backpage.com, an online classified advertising site. Thompson has prior felony convictions, which prevented him from legally obtaining or attempting to obtain any firearms.

GUILTY: Cop gets life in prison for tasering a man to death

Kristin Weed
NBC
Wed, 21 Dec 2016 15:03 UTC

A former East Point police officer found guilty of felony murder was sentenced Wednesday. Former Sgt. Marcus Eberhart was sentenced to life in prison for the 2014 death of 24-year-old Gregory Towns. The jury found Eberhart guilty on all counts, including felony murder and aggravated assault.

Former Cpl. Howard Weems was also convicted in Towns' death and sentenced to five years in prison with 18 months to serve. Weems was found not guilty of felony murder, and not guilty of aggravated assault, but guilty of involuntary manslaughter, reckless conduct and violation of oath of office.

Before the judge ruled on Weems' sentence, Towns' girlfriend Aisha Smith spoke, holding the hand of their son.

"It's like I'm doing a life sentence of hurting. So I just ask that today, you take into consideration that these officers took an oath to serve and protect our community," said Smith.

Their son was only 3 months old when she made the 911 call that would lead to Towns' death. Smith says she's lived with the guilt ever since, but hopes now she will be able to forgive herself and move forward. She says their son has already started to ask about his father.

Comment: A good reminder to avoid calling the police if at all possible. Too many families have been torn apart by 9-1-1 calls that resulted in the death of a loved one.

Comment: While it is good to get justice in this particular case, one might suspect that both officers being African American had something to do with it. If these officers were white it's quite likely they would have received a lighter sentence, and that's assuming they went to trial at all.

Poor snowflakes: Sex therapist claims city's Hillary-supporting women have lost their libido over Trump victory

Ryan Parry West
Daily Mail
Sat, 24 Dec 2016 16:12 UTC

Kimberly Resnick Anderson claims the agony of seeing their beloved Hillary Clinton defeated has sapped the libidos of the women of Los Angeles
Sex therapist claims the 'Trump bedroom effect' is still running weeks after his victory over Hillary Clinton
One man told her his wife knew he supported Trump and 'she wants nothing to do with me in the bedroom. It's as if I am suddenly the enemy'

Sex is off the menu this Christmas - at least in Los Angeles - and according to a leading expert it's all President-elect Donald Trump's fault.

Sex therapist Kimberly Resnick Anderson claims Trump winning the presidency has led to a widespread loss of libido in the bedroom among her clients. Dubbing it 'The Trump Bedroom Backlash' Resnick Anderson says she has seen it time and again in her office. But she claims it is more widespread than just what she describes as the 'mecca for progressives and liberals'.

The certified sex expert told DailyMail.com: 'Since Trump won a common complaint in my office is that women get more easily annoyed when their husbands or boyfriends initiate sex.

'There are so many women complaining about it, I dubbed it "The Trump Bedroom Backlash".

God poll: Religious beliefs take a dive during 2016 in Britain

RT
Fri, 23 Dec 2016 17:22 UTC

Terrorist attacks, controversial election results, and the deaths of a string of beloved celebrities might have caused many to lose faith in God, a recent poll suggests. According to a YouGov poll for the Times, a total of 4 percent of Britons lost their faith in the almighty between February and December 2016 - falling overall to 28 percent. Atheism went up by five points, from 33 to 38 percent.

Agnosticism, or the belief in some superior power, remains stable at 20 percent. Fourteen percent of those quizzed replied they did not know what to believe in. Having "no religion" has been on the rise over recent years. A 2015 British Attitudes Survey showed how atheism had gone from 15 percent in 2011 to 25 percent four years later. Believing in God was something half of Britain still happily acknowledged in 1991, but only 35 percent of Brits felt the same way by 2008.

And while the YouGov poll did not make any direct links between the annus horribilis of 2016 and the loss in faith, the drop in religious belief was higher in the last 11 months than the 1 percent year-on-year average.

Another survey by the same group did, however, find that nearly half of all the EU referendum 'Remain' voters did not hold any religious beliefs. And despite the fact that the majority of 'Leavers' were aged 65 or over, the number of non-believers among Euroskeptics was actually 35 percent. Yet figures quoted by the Times suggest that 46 percent of 18 to 24 year-olds actually reject the idea of God or a higher power, while only a quarter of those aged 65 and over feel the same.

Despite the Church of England (CofE), Catholic and Methodist congregations dwindling in numbers, mosques and independent churches, especially Pentecostal denominations, are reportedly booming. A CofE spokesman commented only that polls were "questionable" things.

Comment: God's poll numbers are dwindling, if you can 'believe' that! Maybe this calls for a "Reverend-um"?

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Winternights3

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Buffalo_Ken

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ReRan

Society's Child

Aleppo Christmas celebrations: French NGO founder arranges presents for children

Christmas in Aleppo: Locals share joy, loss with RT's Lizzie Phelan

Indiana mother arrested for beating sons who opened Christmas gifts early

Missing PA teen found dismembered in woods, adoptive mom called 'person of interest'

Christmas spirit: Elderly Pennsylvania man's trip to store ends 900 miles from home in Alabama

Dan Goldstein, the Jewish lawyer who harassed Ivanka Trump and her family on JetBlue flight (Update: trolling ensues)

Suspected Arizona 'lone wolf' terrorist arrested for providing 'material support' to Islamic State

GUILTY: Cop gets life in prison for tasering a man to death

Poor snowflakes: Sex therapist claims city's Hillary-supporting women have lost their libido over Trump victory

God poll: Religious beliefs take a dive during 2016 in Britain

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