Are Social Networking Sites A Threat To One's Health?

Putting your life story on a social network is like shouting out your life story in the middle of Times Square. It is not a lot different than passing out your autobiography and resume to everyone at the mall. Is there a real danger in losing one's privacy in this modern era? Many think the dangers of spending so much time on the Internet are greater than simply the health risks of sitting on your butt for hours at a time. Some go so far as to suggest that Facebook and other social networking sites are truly dangerous because they can become tools to facilitate crime, even murder. Is there any evidence to back up such claims? The parents of three Colombian teens may thinks so...

Let's go back a few weeks. Three Colombian teenagers names appeared on a "hit list" posted to Facebook. Subsequently all three were fatally shot. International Reports. The identity of the murder remains a mystery. Even more troublesome is that the author of the list remains unknown. There are rumors that the victims may have had ties to drug gangs. Colombian news suggests the hits might somehow be related to a gang known as the Los Rastrojos ("The Stubble.") Los Rastrojos is rumored to be "one of the most powerful neo-paramilitary drug organizations" in Colombia. The gang has a reputation for making and following through on death threats.

However, others suggest that the hit list and murders are attributable to other rival paramilitary groups. What is known is that on Aug. 15, 16-year-old Diego Ferney Jaramillo and 17-year-old Eibart Alejandro Ruiz Munoz were shot and killed while riding a motorcycle. CNN. The hit list was published on Aug. 17, containing 69 names of local young men, including the two young men that were killed. The list warned: "Get out of town within three days or suffer the same fate as the victims." Facebook subsequently blocked the site. However, on August 20th, 19-year-old Norbey Alexander Vargas was fatally gunned down. His 16-year-old friend, Juan Pablo Zambrano Anacona was also wounded in the incident.

Hate lists have become all too common on social networking sites. Facebook threats. Yet little is typically done about them. In the instant case, no arrests have been made. No suspects have been named. Parents are rightfully concerned. Yet Facebook has remained quiet on the issue. Should Facebook and other sites be banned? Probably not. However, Facebook should make a commitment to do a better job of policing its site and reporting "hate lists" to the appropriate authorities. After all, an owner of a store typically has a duty to exercise reasonable care for the safety of its invitees, so why should the same duty not be extended to a social networking site?

Does Shaquan Duley Give Us Pause To Ponder When Should A Bystander Act?

You may have heard it before. If you did, you probably didn't think it was a real threat and it probably wasn't. "You make me so mad I could just ... shake/ hit/ drown/ etc./ (fill in the blank) you!" When does such a statement become a legitimate threat? Did Shaquan Duley ever make any statements that might foreshadow the future death of her two toddlers?

Duley's two children were found dead in a submerged car. Both infants were still strapped into their car seats. Duley allegedly has confessed to suffocating the children before she drove her car into a South Carolina river. While at first blush it could have been an accident, Orangeburg County Sheriff Larry Williams told reporters that Shaquan Duley admitted she staged the accident.

Shaquan Duley's alleged confession has lead to murder charges. The motive behind the alleged suffocation is not clear. However, Duley apparently became upset after arguing with her mother. This may have led Duley to cover her children's mouths with her hand. She then is charged with driving her car into the North Edisto River. "The Early Show." The bodies of Devean C. Duley, 2, and Ja'van T. Duley, 18 months, were both pulled from the river on Monday. Originally Duley claimed it had been an accident. However, she allegedly recanted the claim that it was an accident. Car submerged, boys drowned in car, children suffocated

So did Shaquan Duley ever say anything to foreshadow this tragedy? Nothing has been reported at this time. But keep this story in mind the next time you hear such words and then see if you react any differently? Take a recent example in today's news. Was a Southwest Airlines flight attendant on a flight from Dallas to Albuquerque thinking about this story when she reportedly took away a baby from its parents after the mother allegedly slapped the infant? Flying the friendly skies. The flight attendant later returned the 1-year-old child to its parents. However, at the airport the parents were apparently greeted by police. Apparently there were no signs of abuse and no charges were filed. But tragedies in the news may lead one to ponder when it is appropriate to intervene.

Humor Can Be Deadly? ~Jay

Heard about killing with kindness? Laughing one's ass off? Sure. But how about bad humor being responsible for four deaths? (If bad humor were a crime, some comedians might get life.) In a recent tragedy, bad humor may have actually been the culprit. CNN has reported that four men died after horsing around in a boat on the American Falls Reservoir in southern Idaho. One man apparently pushed another man into the water as a joke. Authorities received a 911 call from a child on the boat who apparently said the men were "horsing around." Best that I can determine, apparently a man was standing up in the front of the boat. Another man apparently got the bright idea to push him into the water as a joke. Unfortunately the man who fell in the water could not swim. While there were ample life vests, the adults apparently did not think to wear them. As a result, the other three men appear to have died unsuccessfully attempting to rescue the first man. LOCAL NEWS 8.

While exactly when and how each man died is not currently known in detail. It appears that 57-year-old Darrel Shappart, 26-year-old Jared Hale, 30-year-old Aaron Hale and 30-year-old Stephan Verbeck are all dead as a result of a prank that went wrong. Five children under the age of nine were also in the boat. One of the children was mature enough to make a 911 call that triggered a search using sonar. While the so called "adults" all died, fortunately the children were bright enough to all stay in the boat and consequently they all lived.

Does anyone else think water safety instruction for adults should be mandatory or should we only allow children under the age of nine to be in charge of boats?

~Jay

Editor's Note: Legal Pub extends its deepest sympathies to the families of those who lost loved ones in this tragedy. The exact facts of this tragedy are unknown and no disrespect is intended by this comedian's commentary advocating boat safety.

What Is So Harmful About Bradley Manning's Alleged Leaks to WikiLeaks?

So what's a leak and is it dangerous? We all know what it means when we are in a small boat and our underwear gets wet. Unless the leak is large, damage control in he form of a bucket usually mitigates the consequences. But what does it mean when it comes to the interaction between the Internet and the United States government? Adrian Lamo, is a former computer hacker. He may now be considered one of the top informers, double agents, patriots, stool pigeons, or computer forensic investigators depending upon who one talks too. Lamo recently alerted authorities to Bradley Manning, who is suspected of leaking military information to WikiLeaks. Apparently, two other men in the Boston area may have assisted Manning with the alleged disclosures.

These are not stupid people. The unknown assistants of Manning apparently both attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The men's identity is unknown because Lamo believes that his life may be in danger if he reveals his sources. The unidentified men allegedly told Lamo that they gave encryption software to Army Private Bradley Manning. With a little bit of help Manning then apparently published the information with WikiLeaks.

At the time, Manning was an Army intelligence analyst. He is now held in solitary confinement in Virginia. Just what was so secret that solitary confinement is in order? Manning is accused of leaking an air strike video published on WikiLeaks in April. The air strike reveals that a war is being fought and the unfortunate consequences of war. Manning is also suspected of disclosing thousands of field reports from the war in Afghanistan. Again, the field reports describe war and the horrible consequences of armed conflict.

As a matter of policy, WikiLeaks does not identity its sources. But with the FBI now assisting the Defense Department, it is doubtful that they will take "no" for an answer. In the mean time, all of the media attention has caused many to wonder exactly what the government does not want us to see regarding Afghanistan. Revealing military secrets that put our soldiers in jeopardy is obviously treason. However, revealing the horrors of war and its unfortunate consequences is nothing short of reality t.v. Do we really need censorship?

Update 8-6-10: The government has demanded the return of the "leaked" documents. LINK.

Update 8-21-10: Maybe it really is not a good idea to "pull the mask off the Lone Ranger." In a surprising disclosure, WikiLeaks founder, Julian Assange, is being investigated for a possible rape in Sweden. Authorities have issued a warrant for his arrest. The 39-year-old Australian denied the allegations on WikiLeaks' Twitter page by saying that the allegations "are without basis and their issue at this moment is deeply disturbing." According to the Swedish Prosecution Authority, Assange is actually a possible suspect in two separate incidents.

An arrest warrant means police are seeking his cooperation as part of an investigation but doesn't necessarily mean that criminal charges will be filed. And of course, Julian Assange is to be considered innocent unless otherwise proven in a court of law. As an editor's note, the timing of these allegations is rather suspicious. The warrant was issued in such close proximity to WikiLeaks controversial publication of first hand accounts of the Iraq war that even many conservatives are scratching their heads. Freedom of the press? You bet. That is as long as you don't tug on Superman's cape or try to pull the mask off the Lone Ranger.

Update 12-7-10: Is the founder of WikiLeaks a public enemy for recent disclosures? Julian Assange was remanded in custody by a London judge after he told the court he intended to fight moves to extradite him to Sweden on sex-crime charges.The 39-year-old Australian was asked by district judge Howard Riddle whether he consented to be extradited to Sweden, where he faces one count of rape, one of unlawful coercion and two counts of sexual molestation. The anti-privacy campaigner denies all of the charges and will fight extradition. Associated Press

Is Colton Harris Moore A.K.A. the Barefoot Bandit Merely A Criminal With A Bad Taste Of Fashion?

Reader: "Quit glorifying criminals. Stop writing about them. Otherwise, the mess you are creating will result in anarchy."

Legal Pub: Sorry, it is what we do. Why is it that the world is so obsessed with a 19 year old criminal anyway? Tons of juvenile centers, courtrooms and jails are littered with their shackled legs which don only jail house slippers. So why is Colton Harris-Moore any different than any other criminal with poor taste in footwear? Barefoot Bandit.Moore. Is it because this juvenile delinquent is claimed by America as one of its own modern day Jesse James? Colton has already pleaded guilty to a minor minor offense in the Bahamas. (Illegally entering the country.) Now he has been deported to the U.S. for probable prosecution relating to several break-ins and plane thefts across the our great nation.

The Bahamas arrest ended what is believed to be a two-year crime spree. Colton was arrested after a high speed boat chase reminiscent of a James Bond film. Yet actual charges arising out of Colton crashing an apparently stolen air plane on Great Abaco Island only subjected him to a $300 fine or three months in jail. Monique Gomez represented Harris Moore and the U.S. Embassy apparently paid the fine. Then the U.S. Marshall's office gave him a free trip back to the states.

In court, Harris-Moore's sense of fashion was apparent as he donned white sneakers without any laces. As spectators gathered outside of the court room, Harris Moore's status officially grew to that of "celebrity suspect." The "Barefoot Bandit" had become notorious by allegedly committing numerous crimes while shoeless. But as his reputation grew, so apparently did his ego. In February, the young man allegedly drew chalk-outlined feet on the floor of a grocery store during a burglary in San Juan Islands. A signature to a crime or just a charitable gift to the prosecution to spare the expense of DNA testing?

Harris-Moore appears to be no choir boy. He may be a suspect in as many as 70 property crimes across eight states and British Columbia. He is even accused of stealing a plane from an Indiana airport and flying it all the way to the Bahamas. He developed a reputation of dodging police with an efficiency not seen since the" artful dodger" of English folk lore. The teens mother may soon be represented by O. Yale Lewis, a Seattle lawyer. Lewis could potentially help her profit from her son's misadventure. But at this point, one can only speculate about possible book and movie deals.

So let's use our imagination, does the story begin with the protagonist walking away from a halfway house south of Seattle or does it go begin even further when as a young child he was allegedly wrongly accused of stealing by authorities? Does Colton's difficult upbringing capture the sympathy of the audience? Are unsympathetic school officials made out to be the real culprits for not taking the time to understand Harris-Moore's plight?

Or is this poor lad a victim of child abuse or neglect? Or is his father to blame for leaving the household when Harris-Moore was just a toddler? Or could it be that modern medicine is the real culprit because it failed to save his stepfather who died when Colton was only seven? No matter how cute he may be, no matter how much sympathy and celebrity status he is able to generate, its doubtful that the "barefoot bandit" will avoid conviction on all of the potential charges arising out of alleged crimes in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming, South Dakota, Nebraska and Iowa. So enjoy your moment of fame, you will likely find it very fleeting if you have to spend much time in jail.

Is Goran Lindberg An Example Of Why A Gal Can't Judge A Book By It's Cover? ~by Helen

Just who can a girl trust these days? Goran Lindberg seemed like a trustworthy fellow. He looked good in his blue uniform and had a steady job as a police chief in a large city in Sweden. He openly promoted equality among the sexes. He even gave lectures on prevention of sexual harassment and promotion of respect among the genders. Now this same former police chief is on trial concerning charges that claim he chained and sexually assaulted teenage girls. Lindberg denies all the charges except for eight counts of buying sex. Yet, he faces 23 counts.
Perhaps the most outrageous allegations is that one of the alleged victims was only 14 years old.

How could a respected man fall so low? Lindberg was formerly the police chief in Uppsala, the fourth largest city in Sweden. Lindberg was a decorated speaker on sexual equality and sexual harassment. Was he speaking from experience or did his speaking enhance his experience? His lawyer, Karl Harling, denies that his client has committed any crime. And of course, Legal Pub compels me to write that "Lindberg, like any suspect, is presumed innocent unless otherwise proven in a court of law." But I sure as heck would not want to be his lawyer. While the victims names are shielded from the press, they are likely to give compelling testimony for the prosecution. Furthermore, these witnesses will likely have the aid of powerful visual aids. The prosecution evidence allegedly includes a bag belonging to Lindberg that contained handcuffs, leashes and sex toys.

So just who can a girl trust? Well, the first lesson to teach your daughters is "don't judge a book by its cover." Just because the man looks good in a blue suit does not mean his intentions are pure. And if we assume that men did indeed evolve from the ape, just what makes anyone think that the male leopard can ever truly change his spots?

Mel Gibson Gives Drunks A Bad Name

Has "Mad Max" (Mel Gibson) finally flipped? His latest alleged taped conversation with his girl friend is inexcusable. While View” co-host Whoopi Goldberg defended Mel Gibson and claims that he is not a racist, the audio tape simply is not excusable. Goldberg said, “You can say he’s being a bonehead, but I can’t sit and say that he’s a racist, having spent time with him in my house with my kids. I can’t say it."

Well, perhaps Whoopi can't say it, but we can. In this day and age it is inexcusably ignorant to use racially derogatory names. Previously Gibson disparaged Jews during his drunken maledictions during his Malibu DUI arrest. While drunks may say stupid things, being drunk is not an excuse to be an idiot. Drunks all over the world are likely insulted that Gibson is included in their ranks.

Update 7-22-10: If Gibson's girlfriend, Oksana Grigorieva, threatened to release the tapes unless Gibson abided by "their agreement," then Oksana may have committed extortion under California law. Police are apparently looking into whether a possible crime has been committed. This in no way constitutes an excuse for Gibson's racially derogatory comments or anyone's attempt to make excuses for Gibson's behavior.