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IT’S A DAY of rest, and you may be in the mood for a quiet corner and a comfy chair. We’ve hand-picked the week’s best reads for you to savour.
Justin Fenton brings us the stories of people who died during summer violence in Baltimore, such as a young man murdered outside a store, and introduces us to those trying to bring an end to the killings. Using photographs and video, it is an intimate look at the shattering impact of violence on families and friends. (Baltimore Sun) (Approx 27 minutes reading time – 5546 words)
The last couple of years, you have seen the violence rise,” he said. “East Baltimore, West Baltimore, Cherry Hill. … For all the little kids around here and my son, of course I’m scared.” Had Owens not been working a day-labor job, hauling junk and abandoned mattresses out of an East Baltimore yard, he said, he would’ve been with Jones that fatal summer night. “Probably would be a victim myself. Probably wouldn’t be standing here,” he said.
Arnon Grunberg spends Christmas in Tessaloniki, Greece’s second-largest city, as people grapple with the impact of the financial crisis. While there, he meets a nude cyclist, a doctor, a musician and members of an anarchist collective to find out how they are coping. (The Believer) (Approx 25 minutes reading time – 5037 words)
Cities like that are often at least as interesting as the capital, and if God is in the details, then the truth is going to be revealed at the periphery. In conversations with people working in various capacities to regenerate Greek social and economic life, I would try to assess the collateral damage from this newest international conflagration. But I also went to Thessaloniki to meet its mayor, Yiannis Boutaris, who had recently rocketed to international stardom.
File: Rescued battery hen. Pic: Ben Birchall/PA Archive
Jesse McKinley and Malia Wollan bring us the story of the rescue of 1,200 farm hens in California. Why were they rescued, and who rescued them? We find this all out, plus the challenges of rehoming such birds. (New York Times) (Approx 6 minutes reading time – 1304 words)
Protecting farm animals like chickens, cows and pigs has become a priority for animal-rights groups across the country; in 2008, California voters passed a proposition that would effectively outlaw the small “battery cages” in which the Elmira passengers once lived. (It takes effect in 2015.) But once rescued, finding new homes for beleaguered birds — de-beaked, atrophied and often suffering from osteoporosis — can be a challenge.
Andrew Crumey looks at the idea of parallel universes, and how it first emerged. Then, he moves onto the idea of a ‘multiverse’ of possible worlds, and what this could mean for us. (Aeon Magazine) (Approx 13 minutes reading time –2457 words)
Detecting the work of a divine hand, Leibniz proposed that the universe is optimised in every detail by God. Thus was born ‘optimism’, the idea (ruthlessly parodied by Voltaire in Candide) that we live in the best of all possible worlds. Applying the theory to the problem of why evil exists, Leibniz gave it graphic form, as a pyramid, infinite and many-roomed, in each of which is a possible world.
Guantanamo Bay Pic: AP Photo/Bill Gorman
Molly Crabapple, writer and artist, visited Guantanamo Bay to meet with the men in captivity there. With grace and sensitivity, she captured their portraits and their stories. (The Daily Beast) (Approx 11 minutes reading time – 2257 words)
“I sometimes feel sorry for these young prison guards at GTMO,” Aamer told Kassem. “They have been trained not to be kind, even where their instincts tell them to be kind. They have been told lies and absurdities about the prisoners to the point that they are shocked that I can speak English and they are still in disbelief that I know bands like AC/DC and that I listened to that band before the guards were even born.”
Amanda Lindhout was kidnapped in 2008, on a dirt road near the Somalian city of Mogadishu. Along with her friend Nigel Brennan and three local men, she was taken by AK-47-toting men and brought to a secret location. One day, she and Nigel tried to escape. What happened next is detailed here. (The New York Times) (Approx 45 minutes reading time – 9013 words)
After our car was searched that day, we were pulled from the ditch and then driven about 45 minutes through the desert, swerving off the paved road and into a brushy wilderness. My heart pounded loudly in my ears. The car — piloted by one of the masked men — dodged thorn trees and ran right over bushes, not following any sort of path. With every passing minute, I knew we were moving farther off the grid.
…AND A CLASSIC READ FROM THE ARCHIVES…
Pic: Shutterstock
In 1997, Lynda Edwards detailed the avenging angels and horrible demons that occupy the world in the minds of children living in homeless shelters in Miami. The tales are strange ones, dark fairytales that are far from even the most frightening of childhood stories. But the children have allies, too, as Edwards tells us. (Miami New Times) (Approx 40 minutes reading time – 8168 words)
One demon is feared even by Satan. In Miami shelters, children know her by two names: Bloody Mary and La Llorona (the Crying Woman). She weeps blood or black tears from ghoulish empty sockets and feeds on children’s terror. When a child is killed accidentally in gang crossfire or is murdered, she croons with joy. “If you wake at night and see her,” a ten-year-old says softly, “her clothes be blowing back, even in a room where there is no wind. And you know she’s marked you for killing.”
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What a fast 3 years. It’s hard to believe nobody was caught for this.
Yet …
Because they are been protected!
Protecting their own is what “good Republicans” do.
These skum were no republicans, in fact if there hadn’t been a ceasfire these filth would have left the country or be buried long before they murdered this garda given there long list of crimes which were going unpunished.
Don’t worry Gerry, despite half a dozen police forces around the world looking into this Dermot and MK76 are now on the case and we can expect developments within hours. After all they seem to have inside knowledge that nobody else does despite consistently proving themselves idiots when it comes to even telling which group is which I’m sure this time they’re on the ball…
Rasputin you’re an unadulterated fool.
I seem to recall Commissioner Callinan telling us that he KNEW who they were and “they should be looking over their shoulders” What happened ?
He was told to resign
Peter the usual happened. Witness intimidation, can’t convict anyone if no one will speak up.
True
They are waiting till after the election, no point proving that this had no connection to sinn fein before the election. The government have no problem make the friends and family of this man suffer to try and secure there feet under the table for another five years.
Maybe I’m wrong but would it not be in their best interest to connect SF with this before an election? In fact maybe this is what they could be holding back. Apart from the odd snipe they have been holding back on the SF bashing recently and before an election you would think they’re holding a kicker in reserve.
The dogs on the streets know who done it , an absolute vile animal , ya know if Mi6 made him disappear , no one would care
Probably on the MI6 payroll
Ah so it wasn’t a botched robbery attempt this fine garda came upon , love the republican Sinn Fein logic , twisted and illogical
It wasn’t a botched robbery? I think you’ll find it was.
Was it not good republicans?
Without a doubt a “good republican” did it. Sure weren’t they only weeding out the dissidents – that is anyone who doesn’t buy into their narrative of betraying Bobby Sands for the Queen’s shilling in Stormont.
” without a doubt”. Only thing clear with your post is that you are without a doubt an amadan.
Are these the RNU type dissidents who did it or what? A lot of crap on this thread, have the gardai even arrested anyone, maybe the know it all’s on here can tell them or let us know who did it? Otherwise stop your lying political muck using this man’s murder to peddle your lies!
The fact this murder and that of Paul Quinn and others in that general area remains unsolved says one thing very clearly and that is that something is very wrong somewhere in the system that needs to be addressed,the fact that two police forces are unable to nail these killers is simply astonishing it just cannot be put down to the usual ack of resources argument,
It’s called intimidation.
No leo in fact they were neither good nor republican.
Leo Lowe, wasn’t it only yesterday you were telling us all how republicans were involved in the Jennifer Guinness kidnapping?? And expert it seems…. Would you like to tell us all which particular group were involved here because most people agree it was dissidents and where could we quickly locate one of those I wonder…
Republican sympathiser scu-mbags on a frenzy on this comment section, easy up skan-ers, don’t worry sure HE was never in the IRA you know.
The police know exactly who did it.
Well apparently they know exactly who did it and they’re under surveillance in US and Australia. I’d imagine the fresh appeals are for new evidence rather than who did it.
Whats worse is the gang only got off with 4,000 euro in the end
Yeah, would have been much better had they got off with 400,000 euro, would have been some consolation for the late garda’s family.
My point was they were willing to kill a Garda for the sake of 4000 euro. Divided between the 5 of them, it probably cost them as much to flee the country
The armed guards are not there to protect the cash they are there to protect the public. Serial numbers on stolen notes can be recorded from banks, more money can be printed, insurance cashed out. They are protecting the public on those runs.
Sorry but you’re wrong there. Yeah they’re there to protect the staff who carry the money, but they’re mainly there to stop tens of thousands of euro getting into the hands of criminal gangs.
I feel so sorry for the late Garda Donohoe’s wife who is also a member of the Gardaí.
I can’t understand why it’s taking so long to apprehend those responsible. I remember reading over this past few years that the Gardaí knew exactly who they were looking for. Also one of the perpetrators had fled to the US and there was talk of him being deported. So unsatisfactory and sad.
I think they know quite well who did it. It’s a matter of building a case and everybody who can should help..
We all remember Garda Gerry McCabe who was MURDERED, but late night knocks on doors around Adare generated many cases of amnesia. Same “desease” probably probably works farther up the country as there are a few hight profile cases up there, where “no one (wisely!) saw nothing”
It’s actually disgusting that the lead apologist for the kind of moron that murdered Garda Donohoe will top the poll in Louth.
Well he openly supported Pearse McCauley after the murder of Det McCabe so it seems to be par for the course for Mr Adams.
Adams offers to act as go-between for anyone with info on Adrian Donohoe shooting http://jrnl.ie/1902140
Yeah like anyone would trust him.
They could not even get their lies consistent on McCabe. First they were doing it on their own not with the orders of the local ”CO”, for their own personal financial benefit not for ”the army”. Then suddenly “oh no wait…we…er..lied there when we said that (I guess) they were engaged in a ”military operation” so they are POW’s please release them.
They should never have been let out, and if they were the pardon should have been conditional, ankle bracelets with location beacon recording their every move and every word, restrict them from drinking etc make so their lives have no enjoyment, they don’t deserve it. TBH I’d even go as far as a special referendum to allow the justice minister to sign an arrest and internment warrant for people in cases where they are suspected of killing a cop.
Andrew Corcoran, are you a republican apologist or just a gobsh-te,
They must be a fairly tight group to say nobody’s been caught 3 years on from the murder.
Wall of.silence.from “good Republican’
It seems incredible in 2013 such an execution of a member of the Irish security forces could happen and even more incredible that no arrests have being made. Should banks and credit unions not pay for private security companies to escort their cash and allow state resources concentrate on protecting the state. Has a reward being offered by the credit union for information and are they helping to pay for the investigation to date. Maybe a shakeup in the team investigating this heinous crime would bring different results? To think people like this are still at large and being protected by others just as guilty of pulling the trigger. At what point do we just except that the criminals are winning and declare that we can’t even protect our own security forces.
yes there is a reward. why should a private security put their life on the line as opposed to a gardai would you arm private security companies.
There may be a reward, but it would have to be worth getting your legs smashed by “Good Republicans”
Dont just red thumb this comment .. Post a reply and let us know who you are!
This will be a Jamming free thread for a change.
Horrible that blueshirts are using the death of a garda by criminals with no links to sinnfein to try and win votes, they really are despicable.
Thanks to the Journal for taking off you comment where you try to justify the killing of Garda Gerry McCabe. I hope the electorate can see that voting for IRA/SF is voting for your type!
How many decent irish men who joined the RIC were gunned down by filth like Michael Collins. These RIC men had wifes and children to feed and were only doing their job protecting citizens and keeping law and order. Michael Collins was responsible for the murder of these irish citizens and their children being left to starve. Hardly surprising that this piece of filth then agreed to let nearly half the population of the six counties to fester under british oppression.
You have a thing for filth don’t you Gerry, you are nothing but a pathetic, bitter, sad and insignificant excuse for a human being.
Amazing that we’ve heard nothing from Comical Eddie and Jammin on this.
Wow.
Anyone who knows anything at all needs to disclose what they know to An Garda Siochana and to cooperate in bringing these evil murderers to justice. There is no conceivable justification for what happened.
Fiona – I have no doubt that the organisation you support know who did it and could point the finger. People should not vote for the party that supports and protects garda killers.
Powerabby, apparently a lot of people know who did it. Jim Cusack writing in the Irish Independent knows who did it. the Gardai and the PSNI know who did it so why is it that you focus in on a particular party? Could it be that you and the rest of your cohorts love nothing more than using the pain and suffering of victims and their families to score political points?
Brian – absolutely not. When you members welcome a garda killer out of prison then you know clearly what they think of victims and their families.
I’m incensed that you should describe Garda Gerry McCabe in a disparaging way. This man was killed in cold blood by the IRA while performing his duty. IRA/SF will try to take away the character of anyone who will damage their wish to gain in the elections. Hopefully the electorate are more educated that to be fooled by this.
Gerry O’Donell you are a disgrace.
Fine Gael had 100s of gardai protecting water meter installers. Denis O’Brien’s business interests outway the cold blooded murder of a police officer.
Many “good” Republicans know who did it, however as usual stay silent
So true Brian they care nothing about these people or their families. If the truth be told it looks like they are from the same belief mind set as the labour senator.
have your say