Month: November 2019

Details are emerging on London Bridge killer Usman Khan, a convicted terrorist who was freed from prison on an electronic tag and apparently attending a prisoner rehabilitation event when he struck, killing two.

Khan was imprisoned for his part in a plot to bomb the London Stock Exchange and pubs in Stoke, as well as planning to establish a terrorist training camp in Pakistan, in 2012, and originally serving an indeterminate sentence for public protection (IPP) — meaning he could have been kept behind bars as long as the relevant authorities deemed him too dangerous to release.

However, Court of Appeal judges led by Lord Leveson quashed his IPP in 2013 and swapped it for a fixed term of 16 years, with eligibility for release on licence at the halfway point — as is standard in the British criminal justice system.
Mohammed Shahjahan and Nazam Hussain, who were convicted as part of the same radical Islamic terror cell as Khan, also had IPPs changed to fixed terms, while a fourth man, Mohibur Rahman, had his term reduced by six months.

IPPs were abolished by the Tories altogether after the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) ruled they were “arbitrary”.

It should be noted that the European Court of Human rights is technically not a European Union institution, like the separate European Court of Justice (ECJ), but past Lord Chancellors such as Lord Falconer believe EU member-states are effectively required to submit the ECtHR’s jurisdiction as a condition of membership.

“This individual was known to authorities, having been convicted in 2012 for terrorism offences. He was released from prison in December 2018 on licence and clearly, a key line of enquiry now is to establish how he came to carry out this attack.”

— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) November 30, 2019

Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu confirmed that Khan “was known to authorities, having been convicted in 2012 for terrorism offences [and] released from prison in December 2018 on licence”, and that “The circumstances, as we currently understand them, are that [he] attended an event earlier on Friday afternoon at Fishmonger’s Hall called ‘Learning Together’.”

Khan is believed to have begun his attack at the prisoner rehabilitation event “before he left the building and proceeded onto London Bridge, where he was detained and subsequently confronted and shot by armed officers.”

Assistant Commissioner Basu also confirmed that “Tragically, two people – a man and a woman – were killed during the attack. Three others – a man and two women – were also injured and remain in hospital.”

The Metropolitan Police are appealing for “anyone with information, images or footage of the incident” to share it with them “on the UK Police Image appeal website https://ukpoliceimageappeal.co.uk/ … [or]  call police, in confidence on 0800 789 321.”

“The public should continue to remain vigilant and report any concerns they have to police. If you see something that doesn’t seem right, trust your instincts and ACT by reporting to police, in confidence, at https://t.co/jdc8xdZ6iL.”

— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) November 30, 2019

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Whodathunk it? President Trump’s little laser pointer trick on the press, posting a photoshop of himself as “Rocky” to tweak those pompous clowns, had a knock-on effect 8,140 miles away.

As President Trump flew overhead to Afghanistan to cheer the U.S. troops there, Hong Kong’s locals waved the ‘Rocky’ picture as their own emblem of victory, identifying easily with Trump’s fighter image.

They also waved thousands of American flags and sang the Star Spangled Banner, too, in what was billed as a Thanksgiving for America rally.

Here’s the New York Post:

President Trump is Hong Kong’s sudden hero.

Hours after he signed two bills to support human rights in Hong Kong, angering Chinese government officials, pro-democracy protesters in the beleaguered city held a “Thanksgiving Rally” Thursday night to commend him for taking the action.

And front and center at the rally were printouts of the president’s Wednesday tweet showing his head on Rocky Balboa’s chiseled body.

“Fight for freedom, stand with Hong Kong,” thousands of protestors chanted in a public square as they waved American flags and held up copies of the photo composite.

Here’s The Hill, which left out the uncomfortable-for-them part about the Trump pictures:

Thousands of Hong Kong residents took to the streets of the city on Thursday for a “Thanksgiving” rally after President Trump signed a bill in support of pro-democracy protesters.

The demonstrations began hours after Trump signed the legislation, with some participants draped in U.S. flags as they celebrated the show of support from the administration.

“The rationale for us having this rally is to show our gratitude and thank the U.S Congress and also President Trump for passing the bill,” 23-year-old Sunny Cheung told Reuters. “We are really grateful about that and we really appreciate the effort made by Americans who support Hong Kong, who stand with Hong Kong, who do not choose to side with Beijing.”

Here’s the fun stuff:

 

Hong Kong celebrated America today. Thank you to President Trump for supporting their brave march for freedom. pic.twitter.com/BuNR0iAxGM

— Laura Ingraham (@IngrahamAngle) November 29, 2019

 

 

I initially thought this photo from Hong Kong was doctored. It’s real. What a time to be alive. pic.twitter.com/63f0UIfBug

— Rita Panahi (@RitaPanahi) November 29, 2019

 

President Trump had just signed the bipartisan Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act signaling his and America’s support for the Hong Kongers and their tremendous freedom struggle against ChiCom communist totalitarian rule. The Hong Kongers took the amusing photoshop to heart, and while we laughed over here at the media’s frenzied reaction, for them it was serious stuff, even as they are sophisticated people and knew it was a photoshop.

What it shows us is that in an era when woke leftists have multiplied, and done all they can to tear down and disrespect the American flag, people on the sharp end elsewhere see things differently. Unlike the local leftists, they still love America, and they still see its shining light as something to emulate. How small and rat-like it makes creeps like Colin Kaepernick, the illegals who invade America waving the Honduran flag and flashing the middle finger, the petty homeowners associations and blue city governments who order takedowns of U.S. flags, the ICE protestors who rip it down by force and hoist Mexican flags in its place, and the Harvard faculty lounge look in comparison! How hideous it makes Barack Obama look, back when he was refusing to wear the American flag on his lapel and walking around with books called ‘The Post-American World.’ These are the people who are out of touch, so yesterday – and their real aim stands naked for all to see now that Hong Kongers have taken the spotlight: Destroying America, same as the ChiComs want to do. Like the ChiComs, they’re all socialists.

And the freedom-loving Hong Kongers are not. Their Trump-picture-waving in the midst of their battle with the Chicoms stands as a happy fighter image that inspires them to keep fighting. 

It also makes the ChiComs spitting mad, which is probably something they meant to do. 

It’s a thing of beauty. Who knew such an amusing photoshop could have such a stellar worldwide chain reaction. Go, Hong Kong!

Image credit: Twitter screen shot

Whodathunk it? President Trump’s little laser pointer trick on the press, posting a photoshop of himself as “Rocky” to tweak those pompous clowns, had a knock-on effect 8,140 miles away.

As President Trump flew overhead to Afghanistan to cheer the U.S. troops there, Hong Kong’s locals waved the ‘Rocky’ picture as their own emblem of victory, identifying easily with Trump’s fighter image.

They also waved thousands of American flags and sang the Star Spangled Banner, too, in what was billed as a Thanksgiving for America rally.

Here’s the New York Post:

President Trump is Hong Kong’s sudden hero.

Hours after he signed two bills to support human rights in Hong Kong, angering Chinese government officials, pro-democracy protesters in the beleaguered city held a “Thanksgiving Rally” Thursday night to commend him for taking the action.

And front and center at the rally were printouts of the president’s Wednesday tweet showing his head on Rocky Balboa’s chiseled body.

“Fight for freedom, stand with Hong Kong,” thousands of protestors chanted in a public square as they waved American flags and held up copies of the photo composite.

Here’s The Hill, which left out the uncomfortable-for-them part about the Trump pictures:

Thousands of Hong Kong residents took to the streets of the city on Thursday for a “Thanksgiving” rally after President Trump signed a bill in support of pro-democracy protesters.

The demonstrations began hours after Trump signed the legislation, with some participants draped in U.S. flags as they celebrated the show of support from the administration.

“The rationale for us having this rally is to show our gratitude and thank the U.S Congress and also President Trump for passing the bill,” 23-year-old Sunny Cheung told Reuters. “We are really grateful about that and we really appreciate the effort made by Americans who support Hong Kong, who stand with Hong Kong, who do not choose to side with Beijing.”

Here’s the fun stuff:

 

Hong Kong celebrated America today. Thank you to President Trump for supporting their brave march for freedom. pic.twitter.com/BuNR0iAxGM

— Laura Ingraham (@IngrahamAngle) November 29, 2019

 

 

I initially thought this photo from Hong Kong was doctored. It’s real. What a time to be alive. pic.twitter.com/63f0UIfBug

— Rita Panahi (@RitaPanahi) November 29, 2019

 

President Trump had just signed the bipartisan Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act signaling his and America’s support for the Hong Kongers and their tremendous freedom struggle against ChiCom communist totalitarian rule. The Hong Kongers took the amusing photoshop to heart, and while we laughed over here at the media’s frenzied reaction, for them it was serious stuff, even as they are sophisticated people and knew it was a photoshop.

What it shows us is that in an era when woke leftists have multiplied, and done all they can to tear down and disrespect the American flag, people on the sharp end elsewhere see things differently. Unlike the local leftists, they still love America, and they still see its shining light as something to emulate. How small and rat-like it makes creeps like Colin Kaepernick, the illegals who invade America waving the Honduran flag and flashing the middle finger, the petty homeowners associations and blue city governments who order takedowns of U.S. flags, the ICE protestors who rip it down by force and hoist Mexican flags in its place, and the Harvard faculty lounge look in comparison! How hideous it makes Barack Obama look, back when he was refusing to wear the American flag on his lapel and walking around with books called ‘The Post-American World.’ These are the people who are out of touch, so yesterday – and their real aim stands naked for all to see now that Hong Kongers have taken the spotlight: Destroying America, same as the ChiComs want to do. Like the ChiComs, they’re all socialists.

And the freedom-loving Hong Kongers are not. Their Trump-picture-waving in the midst of their battle with the Chicoms stands as a happy fighter image that inspires them to keep fighting. 

It also makes the ChiComs spitting mad, which is probably something they meant to do. 

It’s a thing of beauty. Who knew such an amusing photoshop could have such a stellar worldwide chain reaction. Go, Hong Kong!

Image credit: Twitter screen shot

Less than a week after University of Illinois-Chicago student Ruth George was found unresponsive in her car following a brutal attack, her family said they “hold no hatred” toward the man charged with murdering her and that they “grieve with hope.”

The 19-year-old was reported missing by her family on Saturday morning after they had not heard from her since the previous evening, according to UIC Police.

“Her phone was ‘pinged’ to the Halsted Street Parking Garage and UIC Police and family members responded to find Ms. George unresponsive in the back seat of a vehicle owned by her family,” police said in a news release Monday.

The medical examiner later ruled George’s death a homicide by strangulation.

UIC arrested the suspect, 26-year-old Donald D. Thurman, after closely following his transportation habits via security cameras.

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Thurman was taken into custody on Sunday and “gave a full confession to this horrific crime” later that same day, police said.

He was formally charged with first-degree murder and criminal sexual assault the next day.

Also Tuesday, George’s family released a statement saying she “lived out her deep faith in Jesus by loving and serving others, leaving a legacy of Christ-centered kindness and sacrifice,” according to WMAQ.

“She was the beloved baby of our family,” the family’s statement continued.

“We grieve with hope.

“We hold no hatred towards the perpetrator, but our hope is no other girl would be harmed in this way and for a mother to never experience this type of heartache.”

Those who knew her from school held similar views of the student who was ruthlessly killed.

George, the fundraising chair for Delta Epsilon Mu, a pre-health co-ed fraternity, regularly served more than than the group’s two-hours-per-week volunteer requirement, chapter president Kevin Roy told UIC Today.

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George was also part of UIC’s Honors College.

“Some people can light up a room, and Ruthie was one of those people,” Honors College assistant dean Michele McCrillis said.

“But it’s her smile that I remember, and will miss, the most.”

Tomer Kanan, one of George’s professors, read aloud the recommendation letter he would have sent to graduate schools on her behalf.

“Ruthie was a gifted individual in many regards. She was compassionate, enthusiastic, sincere and incredibly dedicated to her studies. She never missed an opportunity to help one of her peers,” he said.

“I believe Ruthie would have made incredible contributions in her future.”

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Look, I’ll be real here: This millennial finds Secret Santa to be profoundly boring.

If you like it, that’s fantastic. There are only so many rooms I can put Bluetooth speakers in. I’ve also been told by my wife (repeatedly, really) that I don’t need any kind of candy or anything like that. It’s not my thing. If I’m roped in, I guess you’re getting … well, a Bluetooth speaker, probably from my last Secret Santa session.

I don’t exactly feel like the whole thing is high-pressured, however. I don’t feel that the eyes of the office or church group are upon me, waiting to castigate me for how much I spend on these gifts. If you like what you get, superb. If you don’t, well, there you go. I’m not calling for it to be banned.

I don’t know if this is a thing with American millennials, but over on Albion’s shores, a study by U.K.’s Jobsite found that there’s massive discontent with Secret Santa rituals, and not because of boredom. In fact, the pressure that they create has led to 35 percent of millennial workers saying they ought to be banned.

Because apparently, if millennials don’t like something, nobody can do it.

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Part of the problem may be — well, let’s face it, is — misplaced priorities.

In a Nov. 8 blog post, Jobsite revealed that 26 percent of young workers had actually incurred overdrafts or gone into their savings to buy gifts for office Secret Santa parties or other “whip-rounds.”

So, why is this? Well, apparently, “[t]he average millennial’s whip-round is 34% more expensive, with their average contribution reaching £9 (and a total of £151 per year, compared to £7 / £99 per year for all workers).”

Let me translate that for you: The average millennial decided to spend 34 percent more than other workers on “whip-rounds.” This is probably because 17 percent felt they were being judged for their contributions and 73 percent say they’d “contributed more than they could afford to an office celebration.”

“As a result, one in five (20%) workers believe that such events should not be celebrated at all in the workplace and 35% of Millennials would even like to see them banned (25% of all workers),” Jobsite reported.

However, the average millennial’s ability to withstand cognitive dissonance knows no bounds: “despite the financial and emotional pressures – The likes of ‘Secret Santa’ are here to stay, as the majority (61%) of UK office workers think they are good for morale, 60% believe they help build a healthy rapport amongst colleagues and a further 64% assert that gifting between employees is a sign of respect and appreciation.

“Interestingly, those aged between 22-38 were more likely to acknowledge these benefits (67% vs 62% on average) – despite being more likely to be on the receiving end of some of the negative side effects of contribution. This implies that while office celebrations carry value, they are in need of a modern-day rethink — especially as two fifths (42%) of the UK workforce deems them ‘old-fashioned’.”

So here’s a plausible explanation Jobsite doesn’t really explore here: Millennials like Secret Santa games (or “whip-rounds” — whatever floats your HMS Pinafore) more than other workers, which means they might spend more on them. And they feel pressure about this because … they’re overanalyzing this, just like everything. They should probably learn some financial continence here and move on.

Good conclusion? Nope: “As a result, one in five (20%) workers believe that such events should not be celebrated at all in the workplace and 35% of Millennials would even like to see them banned (25% of all workers).“

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I’m not quite sure how these two questions are different and suspect it’s because of unclear writing by someone who should be taken aside by their editor. Anyway, that’s still a minority of millennials. We should celebrate that, right?

No, because there are plenty of millennials who believe that what we should do instead is Elizabeth Warren this whole Secret Santa thing.

”A significant proportion of young workers feel like the business should shoulder the burden — rather than adding to the pressures of individual employees. Millennials in employement particularly agree with 24% asking for dedicated company budgets to avoid chipping in, compared to 21% across all UK workers surveyed,” the website read.

You know what? Fine, you’ve convinced me. Ban Secret Santa. Just freaking ban it. Let’s get Jeremy Corbyn into 10 Downing Street and he can offer Britain’s millennials Secret Santa debt forgiveness.

We can export it over here once Sen. Elizabeth Warren takes over the Oval Office. And one day, we’ll talk about how Christianity colonized offices and forced millennials into bank overdrafts in order to buy gifts for office parties.

There’s another possibility, although I’d just as soon not discuss it out of fear of offending millennials. Instead, I would ask them to contribute what they can, don’t worry about what other people think of them, don’t ask their employer to chip in for their Christmas gifts and remember that their job isn’t contingent on whether or not they spent £8 or £15 on their “whip-round” gift.

Radical stuff, this. However, the prospect of the rest of my generational cohort wanting to ban Secret Santa is almost enough to get me to embrace it. Bring on the speakers, folks! Merry Christmas to all, and to all an Echo Dot!

We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our editorial standards.