Judge in Maryland Locks Up Youths and Rules Their Lives

Judge in Maryland Locks Up Youths and Rules Their Lives The New York Times The New York Times The New York Times ERICA GOODE 4 hrs ago      Judge Herman C. Dawson of Prince George’s County, Md., is more quick than others to incarcerate young offenders.  © Ozier Muhammad/The New York Times Judge Herman C. Dawson of Prince George’s County, Md., is more quick than others to incarcerate young offenders. UPPER MARLBORO, Md. — “Judge Dawson, he don’t play,” a parent once said about Herman C. Dawson, the main juvenile court judge in Prince George’s County. And on this Tuesday morning, Judge Dawson was definitely not in a playing mood. “Who’s in court with you today?” he demanded of Tanika, the 16-year-old standing before him in handcuffs. “My mom,” she said. “I know that,” Judge Dawson snapped. An honors student, Tanika had never been in trouble with the law before. But for the past year, ever since she was involved in a fight with another girl at her high school, Judge Dawson had ruled her life, turning it into a series of court hearings, months spent on house arrest and weeks locked up at a juvenile detention center in Laurel, Md. Most recently, he had detained her for two weeks for violating probation by visiting a friend on the way home from working off community service hours. Now he was deciding whether to release her. “I’m hesitating because I don’t know whether you got the message,” he said. Juvenile court judges in the United States are given wide discretion to decide what is in a young offender’s best interest. Many, like Judge Dawson, turn to incarceration, hoping it will teach disobedient teenagers a lesson and deter them from further transgressions. But evidence has mounted in recent years that locking up juveniles, especially those who pose no risk to public safety, does more harm than good. Most juvenile offenders outgrow delinquent behavior, studies find. And incarceration — the most costly alternative for taxpayers — appears to do little to prevent recidivism and often has the opposite effect, driving juveniles deeper into criminal behavior. “Once kids get in the system, they tend to come back, and the farther they go, the more likely they are to keep going,” said Edward Mulvey, a psychologist at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and the author of a major study of delinquent youths. Slowly, policy makers have begun to heed this message. After decades when states grew more punitive in their approach to juvenile crime, locking up more and more youths, more than a dozen have now revised statutes or regulations to avoid the overuse of incarceration, among them New Jersey and Indiana. But judges are not always so quick to follow. And often the judges most resistant to change are those most determined to help troubled youths, juvenile delinquency experts say. Judge Dawson is an example. Presiding in Courtroom D-15 of the mammoth county courthouse here over cases that range from shoplifting to armed robbery, he has won a reputation as a jurist who brooks no excuses and involves himself deeply in the lives of the teenagers who come before him. Raised by a single mother in the segregated South, he subscribes to a “tough love” philosophy that venerates hard work, education and personal responsibility as the antidotes to poverty, negative peer pressure, chaotic parenting and other forces that can tip children into delinquency. The juveniles who end up in his courtroom, Judge Dawson says, have often been allowed to run wild without consequences. “People have made too many excuses for them, and they end up believing it,” he said in a recent interview. But Judge Dawson’s critics, who include defense lawyers, delinquency workers and some parents of young offenders, say that in his zeal to reform wayward youths he goes too far — acting not just as judge but also as prosecutor, probation officer and social worker. He relies too heavily on locking juveniles up, these critics say, contributing to incarceration rates that are among the highest in the state. His courtroom practices sometimes violate young offenders’ due process rights. And in several instances Judge Dawson has overstepped the law in an effort to keep juveniles locked up for longer periods — in October, a state appeals court ordered him to reconsider his disposition in four cases in which he had set minimum periods of confinement for juveniles, saying that the orders appeared to violate state law. “These child-saving judges, they think they’re doing something right-minded,” said Mary Ann Scali, deputy director of the National Juvenile Defender Center, “but in fact it’s very wrong-minded.” Behind the Methods In court, Judge Dawson, 60, likes to tell stories about his own childhood: how he mowed lawns and shined shoes to earn money for college; how he marched in civil rights protests without missing a day of school; how his mother did not let him or his brothers play baseball on Sunday, taking them to church instead. QUESTIONED Tanika first appeared before Judge Dawson after she was involved in a fight at her high school. She was locked up after missing a trial date.  © Gabriella Demczuk for The New York Times QUESTIONED Tanika first appeared before Judge Dawson after she was involved in a fight at her high school. She was locked up after missing a trial date. “If I can make it out of Selma, Alabama, with all the opportunities kids have now, why is it they can’t take advantage of these opportunities and better themselves?” he asks. A compact, energetic man whose eyes constantly rove the courtroom, he exchanges teasing barbs with lawyers, and is prone to high-pitched sighs and digressions about golf and fishing. Appointed to the Circuit Court in 1998 by Gov. Parris N. Glendening, a Democrat, and elected to a 15-year term in 2000, he is a well-known figure in this mostly black county. He speaks regularly at high schools and founded a mentoring and scholarship program for troubled youths, often selecting candidates from his courtroom. But a few months ago he halted the program, he said, after complaints that his involvement was inappropriate, given his role on the bench. Judge Dawson says that in court, where his docket can run to 75 or more cases a day, his goal is to do whatever he can — including yelling, if necessary — to get the attention of young offenders. “I decided I’d do whatever I can do to work with the kids and get them into a better setting,” Mr. Dawson said.  © Ozier Muhammad/The New York Times “I decided I’d do whatever I can do to work with the kids and get them into a better setting,” Mr. Dawson said. “If I can get one of these black kids, Hispanic kids, get them out of high school and get them into college, I’ve done my job,” Judge Dawson said. To that end, he engages juveniles in a wide-ranging public catechism, peppering them with questions about school performance (“How many times were you suspended last year?”), attire (“You can walk around in a fancy hillbilly shirt but you can’t get an education?”) and behavior (“Why do you do all these dumb things?”). He routinely assigns dozens or even hundreds of hours of community service and requires that they be completed through the county’s work program, which charges a fee of $50 per case. He is adamant about restitution, bringing offenders back to court repeatedly until victims have been paid. And while most other judges waive court fees for juveniles, he insists on collecting them, even when parents protest that they cannot afford to pay. “You are so lucky Judge Dawson is not here today, lucky, lucky, lucky,” a public defender told one boy whose parents had not paid the fee, usually $155. But it is Judge Dawson’s use of incarceration that has stirred the most controversy. In Maryland, as in other states, the number of juveniles held in locked facilities has declined over the past decade, a result of dropping juvenile crime rates and increasing efforts to keep juveniles at home when possible. A project in Baltimore led by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, which is financing efforts in 39 states to develop alternatives to locking up juveniles while protecting public safety, has helped decrease the use of detention there by about 40 percent, according to state statistics. But in Prince George’s County, the rates of detention and longer-term incarceration have remained high and have risen in the more than five years Judge Dawson has presided as the primary juvenile court judge, according to an analysis by the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services. Commitments to institutional settings increased 55 percent from 2009 to 2014, while, statewide, commitments dropped an average of 5 percent over the same period and complaints filed with the Juvenile Services Department — an indicator of juvenile crime — decreased 63 percent. Detentions of juveniles from Prince George’s County in secure facilities have risen 115 percent since 2005 — despite a slight decline since 2012 — though they have dropped 29 percent statewide. Only 12 percent of the juveniles were detained for committing new crimes. The rest were locked up for violations stemming from old offenses. Prosecutors in the county find in Judge Dawson a willing partner. “If they need to be detained, he’s not afraid to detain them,” said Yvonne Robinson, the assistant state’s attorney in charge of juvenile cases. But public defenders believe that the high detention rates are driven in part by the multitude of review hearings Judge Dawson schedules to monitor juveniles’ progress. The hearings, the public defenders said, place a teenager’s behavior under a microscope, allowing prosecutors to seize on violations they might never have heard about otherwise. “I think he cares about the kids,” said Erin Josendale, chief of the public defender’s juvenile division in Prince George’s County. “But having that level of involvement, at least in our county, creates significant due process concerns.” In one of two interviews in his chambers, Judge Dawson said that the reviews were needed because the Juvenile Services Department often failed to properly monitor its charges. And he defended his use of detention, saying that it was sometimes the department that asked for a young offender to be detained. For the most part, he said, he reserved incarceration for juveniles who had repeatedly committed serious offenses. “I am looking at the nature of the offense and the harm that the person may cause,” he said. Over more than three months that a visitor observed his courtroom, Judge Dawson detained juveniles who had cut off electronic monitoring bracelets, had been “out of control” at home, had smoked marijuana while on probation, had failed to complete community service hours in a timely fashion or had missed repeated court hearings. He rarely stated in court the reason for the detentions. Judge Dawson also often set conditions for probation that even a well-behaved teenager might have difficulty meeting, for example, ordering them to maintain a specific grade average or, as in Tanika’s case, to remain on house arrest for months in a row. As delinquent acts go, Tanika’s offense was a minor one. One day in the spring of 2013, she briefly tangled with another girl outside a classroom. The school fight was so trivial that the Department of Juvenile Services initially refused to pursue the complaint. No one was injured and Tanika had no history of delinquency. (The New York Times agreed to withhold the last names of the teenagers in this article because juvenile court records are confidential.) But when the other girl’s mother insisted — her daughter’s hair weave had been ruined and she wanted $100 in compensation — the department turned the complaint over to the prosecutor, who filed a second-degree assault charge against Tanika. When the case came to court, the Juvenile Services Department recommended that no action be taken. But when Tanika failed to show up for trial in September 2013, a writ was issued for her arrest. At a hearing in November, Judge Dawson detained her — Maryland law allows the detention of children who pose a flight risk — and set a trial date for December: Tanika was locked up for a month in the detention center. She ended up pleading guilty. Judge Dawson ordered her to pay restitution and assigned 32 hours of community service. When, five months later, the hours were not completed and she arrived late to court, he doubled the hours and placed Tanika on house arrest, allowing her to leave home only for school or the county work program. Her second detention at the Laurel center came after she visited a friend. The confinement, her mother, Rachelle, said, “took her summer away.” “It just took a lot away from her,” Rachelle said. “She couldn’t go to church because of the monitor on her leg.” If house arrest was difficult, the detention center, the juvenile equivalent of an adult jail, was even worse. “It was miserable,” Tanika said. “It’s a place you don’t want to be.” At first, Rachelle visited her daughter in detention — the two had never been separated before. But she eventually decided to stay away, because, she said, “when I did go, when I was leaving, she broke down crying real bad.” Pushing the Limits Over the past year, the Maryland public defender’s office became concerned that Judge Dawson was testing the accepted limits of judicial discretion: In at least a dozen cases, he had committed juveniles to locked facilities for specific lengths of time — 18 months in one case, 12 months in several others. The commitments, the public defender’s office believed, were the equivalent of adult sentences and violated the spirit of Maryland juvenile law, which sets rehabilitation rather than punishment as the goal. “I’ve practiced all over the state, and I’m aware of no other judge in the state of Maryland who issues these types of dispositions, not a one,” said Stephen Bergman, a supervising attorney in the state public defender’s juvenile protection division. “I think it’s clearly illegal.” The public defender’s office was not the only agency unhappy about the commitment orders. The state Juvenile Services Department worried that the orders put strain on institutions that had limited bed space and were not set up to hold offenders for longer than the time it took to complete the six- to nine-month programs they offered. Besides, said Eric Solomon, a spokesman for the department, it was in youths’ best interest to move them out of facilities once treatment goals had been met. Mr. Bergman had unsuccessfully tried to get another Circuit Court judge in Prince George’s County to strike the language setting specific terms from Judge Dawson’s orders, and the public defender’s office was filing appeals. But the juveniles had remained locked up, in some cases long after the Juvenile Services Department recommended their release. One of them, Jhenifer, a slight, dark-eyed girl with a sudden, effervescent smile, had become a personal mission for Mr. Bergman, who saw her as special — bright and motivated, her potential stymied by the juvenile system and Judge Dawson’s tough policies. Jhenifer’s parents moved to the United States from Brazil when she was 3, finding an affordable house in Laurel where they could raise their two daughters. But the area was thick with drug dealing and gang activities, and Jhenifer found trouble hard to avoid. At 13, she was sexually assaulted by a much older man while at a house in the neighborhood, an attack she told no one about for several years. She lost friends to shootings and to suicide. Filled with anger and surging with nervous energy, she began drinking and smoking marijuana. Sometimes, she would leave home for days at a time. In 2011, Jhenifer, then 15, was standing on the street with friends, heavily intoxicated, when the police stopped to question the group. She tried to run but the officers tackled her, spraying Mace in her eye and leaving her badly bruised, she said. In most states, juveniles are not entitled to jury trials. And when Jhenifer came to court, she pleaded guilty to a charge of resisting arrest. Judge Dawson’s order sent her to a residential treatment program in Ohio. But when she emerged a year later she was, if anything, hardened by time spent in a tightly restricted setting, among girls who were as troubled — or in many cases, more troubled — than she was. Returning to the same neighborhood and the same school, Jhenifer took up the same routines. And over Christmas in 2012, she was arrested and charged with involvement in a burglary and two robberies, along with a group of other teenagers and at least one adult. One of the robberies involved a BB gun. No one was injured in the crimes, which netted a jacket and a small amount of cash. But Jhenifer pleaded guilty to an adult charge of armed robbery that was transferred to juvenile court. For the next 10 months, she sat at a detention center, waiting for placement in a locked residential program. When, last December, she finally came before Judge Dawson for disposition of the case, he was not in a forgiving mood. In open court, with Jhenifer and her lawyer present, he committed her to a secure facility. Later, in his written order, he specified that she must be confined for “at least 18 months.” But when Jhenifer completed the center’s six-to-nine-month program at the 14-bed J. DeWeese Carter Center in Chestertown — the state’s only secure residential lockup for girls — in only five months, and received higher scores for good behavior than any other girl there, the order began to seem more like a punishment than the rehabilitation called for by Maryland law. In April, the Juvenile Services Department sent her back to court with a recommendation that she be released. She had shown great improvement at the center, the staff there said, and they thought she should go to college. She was helpful, cooking meals for other girls and keeping her room pin-neat. And she had goals: She wanted to be a medical examiner like Dr. Jan Garavaglia of the television show “Dr. G.” But when Jhenifer arrived in court, Judge Dawson refused to hear the case, saying that she had been brought there in error. “He was actually upset because I was in his courtroom,” Jhenifer, now 19, said in an interview. “He didn’t look at me, he didn’t speak to me, he didn’t give my parents time to speak.” When Jhenifer’s case manager asked that she be given a home pass so that she could at least visit her family, Judge Dawson denied the request. CONFINED Jhenifer in the schoolyard at the J. DeWeese Carter Center. She excelled early in her stay, but Judge Dawson for months refused to release her, unconvinced she was ready.  © Gabriella Demczuk/The New York Times CONFINED Jhenifer in the schoolyard at the J. DeWeese Carter Center. She excelled early in her stay, but Judge Dawson for months refused to release her, unconvinced… For another five months, Jhenifer remained at the center, locked in her room each night and confined during the day within the fenced grounds. But in late September, as the legal challenges to his commitment orders were under review by the state’s Special Court of Appeals, Judge Dawson allowed a hearing on the case to go forward. “I have some serious questions about whether you’ve been rehabilitated,” Judge Dawson told Jhenifer, as she stood next to Mr. Bergman at the defense table. In the end, though, he agreed to let her return home — her parents had moved to another county to escape the bad influences on Jhenifer’s younger sister — assigning her 250 hours of community service that she recently completed. “You’ve gotten a number of breaks, young lady,” he told her. “Sooner or later, your breaks are going to run out.” ‘I Am What I Am’ One day, when Judge Dawson was a law student at Howard University in the late 1970s, he saw a group of juvenile offenders being taken out of a van near the courthouse. The youths were chained together. “It reminded me so much of slavery,” he said. “I decided I’d do whatever I can do to work with the kids and get them into a better setting.” If on the bench Judge Dawson is often severe, he can also show warmth and leniency. He asked for a round of applause for a girl who had done well at school. And he praised a boy who came to court in a suit. Judge Dawson met his father only once, when he was 5, and even then did not know it, only later learning the identity of the man who had bought him a candy bar at a country store. So he worries, he said, about the many young offenders whose fathers are absent or in prison, and about parents who do not seem to care about their children’s educations. “I can’t raise 1,700 kids a year,” he is fond of remarking. Yet lately, Judge Dawson has had to confront the limits on his ability to direct and control young offenders’ lives. In early October, the Maryland Court of Appeals ordered him to reconsider the set-term commitments he had ordered, noting that a previous appeals court ruling had found such dispositions unlawful. He has since either released the youths or revised the language of the orders to comply with the law. And this fall, the Casey Foundation, taking note of the high detention rates, expanded its Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative to Prince George’s County. Mark Soler, executive director of the Center for Children’s Law and Policy in Washington, is leading the effort, which offers training and technical assistance to help jurisdictions reduce overreliance on locked detention and develop other ways of holding juveniles accountable. Mr. Soler and his staff have prepared an assessment of the county’s juvenile system, based on interviews with all parties, including Judge Dawson. “We want judges to understand that the juvenile system is not the solution to all the problems of children and families,” Mr. Soler said. Among other things, the initiative encourages the use of standardized measures that rate how likely a juvenile is to flee or commit another offense — measures that Mr. Soler said neither Judge Dawson nor prosecutors had relied on in making decisions, although they can help avoid locking up juveniles unnecessarily. Yet it is far from clear whether Judge Dawson will join the ranks of the judges who have moved away from routinely locking up young offenders. Like most judges, he is not immune to community pressure: He said he receives letters and phone calls from crime victims and parents who urge him to be harder on young offenders. After the appeals court issued its order in October, he began committing youths to locked settings but specifying that they could not be sent to the secure facilities available in Maryland, meaning they would go out of state and probably be incarcerated for longer. But he has now reversed most of those orders as well, he said, after public defenders and the Juvenile Services Department objected to them. Asked if he believes some juveniles should be locked up for longer stretches, Judge Dawson said that for serious offenses like armed robbery and carjacking, they should. “I’m not in good conscience, no matter what they say about me, going to put that child back in the community,” he said. At least one of the juveniles involved in the appeals court cases violated probation within a week of being released, he said. “I am what I am,” Judge Dawson said. “If I don’t tell these kids to get out and get an education, for the most part, they are not getting it, and nobody seems to care.”

Mom Will 'Never Be the Same' After Son's Murder by Online Gaming Partner

. ABC News By LOUISE DEWAST 17 hours ago     . ˠ ➕ ✕ . .. . Mom Will 'Never Be the Same' After Son's Murder by Online Gaming Partner . View photo Mom Will 'Never Be the Same' After Son's Murder by Online Gaming Partner (ABC News) . The American mother of a 14-year-old boy killed by an online gaming partner in Britain says she did everything she could to protect her son: She limited his access to electronics, installed parental controls and forbade him from using the same server as a boy she had grown suspicious of. However, though Lorin LaFave, 47, said she warned both British police and her son, the boy, Breck Bednar was murdered by someone he met online on Feb 17. Computer engineer Lewis Daynes, 19, pleaded guilty last month to Breck's stabbing murder that day in Daynes' house in Grays, Essex, England. The teenagers had been playing games online for several months, despite LaFave's efforts to put an end to their relationship. Police Have Leads in Murder of Girl, 5, On Grandpa's Lap Connecticut Woman Accused in Murder-for-Hire Plot Faces Trial Mystery of McStay Family's Disappearance Ends With Arrest Police discovered Breck at the house with knife wounds. They gave first aid but the Christian school student was declared dead by medical staff a short time later. Daynes was arrested at the scene and charged with murder. Last month, in an unexpected turn of events, he pleaded guilty of stabbing Breck. Now, LaFave originally from Waterford, Michigan, but now living in England, is behind an effort to raise awareness about what she says are dangers of online gaming. "I want Breck’s tragedy to help open the eyes of everyone to recognize the dangers of online predators," she said in a statement. "It is a very real danger today." "People think it only happens to anti-social kids, but it’s just not true,” she told ABC News. LaFave described Breck, a member of the British air cadets, as a relaxed and warm-hearted boy who had plenty of friends. He was passionate about computing and played online games with his friends after school, according to his mother. He also played online with Daynes. At the time, LaFave thought Breck was growing out of the gaming world, that we would finally be interested in girls and go back to enjoying time with his family. Nevertheless, LaFave was aware of Daynes' existence and had been suspicious of him for months. One day, LaFave got a text message from her ex-husband saying Breck had not showed up, although he was supposed to stay with his dad for the weekend. Breck evidently had gone to meet Lewis Daynes, instead. A few hours after the text message, Breck’s siblings started receiving messages from friends saying their brother had been killed. According to LaFave, Daynes took photos of Breck and posted them on social media. The reports were soon confirmed by police, and LaFave said she broke down and will "never be the same." Daynes will face sentencing on Jan. 12. In March, LaFave created The Breck Bednar Memorial Fund to promote online awareness for teenagers and their parents. Her slogan: “Play virtual, live real.” The LaFave family is filing a legal action against Essex and Surrey Police over the handling of the case.

How 2 start your Self Love Journey Pt.1

NFL Power Rankings: Where Does Every Team Stand Heading into Week 14?

Week 13 of the NFL season did not disappoint, but it did leave us with massive changes to be made in the weekly Power Rankings. A matchup featuring the NFL's two biggest powerhouses—the New England Patriots and Green Bay Packers—meant a chance at a new No. 1 team after Sunday's action. Add that to divisional games on Thanksgiving and interesting matchups all day Sunday, and it was a week for major shakeups across the board. Who is the new No. 1 team this week? How about the new No. 32? With the season only four weeks away from completion, here's a look at which teams stack up as the best of the best. 32. Tennessee Titans (2-10) 32. Tennessee Titans (2-10) B/R Design Last Week: 31 This Week: 32 Change: -1 Week 13 brought on more of the same for the Tennessee Titans. The offense struggled, the defense couldn't pressure or stop the Houston Texan offense, and the scoreboard showed a final point total that was lopsided against the Titans. With 11 losses, the Titans can start focusing on the draft, but the coaching staff has to focus on which young players are worth keeping and developing. Is rookie quarterback Zach Mettenberger the guy head coach Ken Whisenhunt wants to build around? His job will depend on that decision. The Titans remain one of the league's bottom-feeders, and their ranking reflects that for another week. 31. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-10) 31. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-10) B/R Design Last Week: 30 This Week: 31 Change: -1 The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were one point (14-13) and one last-minute drive away from beating the AFC North-leading Cincinnati Bengals. But a penalty for having 12 men on the field in the final minute took away a 20-yard gain and took the wind out of their sails late. And that's why they're ranked No. 31 overall. Head coach Lovie Smith will likely get at least another year to build this team in his image, but the lack of building blocks on offense should be a concern for Smith and general manager Jason Licht. They must find a quarterback and also build a defense able to compete in the Tampa 2 defense Smith runs. Neither is an easy fix no matter how early the team is drafting in each round. 30. Oakland Raiders (1-11) 30. Oakland Raiders (1-11) b/r design Last Week: 28 This Week: 30 Change: -2 The happy feelings died in Oakland thanks to a road trip to meet the St. Louis Rams. With a 52-0 loss, the Raiders move back down the rankings after beating the hated Kansas City Chiefs in Week 12. And that in itself really sums up the 2014 NFL season—nothing is predictable. The Raiders are a team with individual pieces but lack the talent and leadership right now to be a great team. And make no mistake—having a few good players doesn't make you a great team. The next head coach of this team must figure out how to build around quarterback Derek Carr and linebacker Khalil Mack—both rookies in 2014 but clearly the most talented players on either side of the ball. The fight we saw from the Raiders against Kansas City was gone by the time they hit the turf in St. Louis, and that's why they fall down the rankings. 29. New York Jets (2-9) 29. New York Jets (2-9) B/R Design Last Week: 29 This Week: 29 Change: MNF The New York Jets play on Monday Night Football and will be updated after the game. 28. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-10) 28. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-10) B/R Design Last Week: 32 This Week: 28 Change: +4 For the second straight week, the team ranked No. 32 overall wins the following week. Congrats, Jacksonville: You're moving up the board. The improbable comeback win over the New York Giants will quiet doubters and give hope to the fans who know the 2014 season is—and has always been—about building a team in Jacksonville. No one expected the playoffs or really even a winning season. Progress is the key, and beating a veteran New York team is progress. The Jaguars are talent-deficient at spots, but they're also the youngest offense in the NFL. Learning from a gritty, comeback win will do the entire team good. 27. Washington (3-9) 27. Washington (3-9) B/R design Last Week: 27 This Week: 27 Change: 0 The quarterback may change, but the result does not in Washington. Loss No. 9 came at the hands of the Indianapolis Colts, and it wasn't pretty for Jay Gruden's team. Three straight losses in Washington have Gruden and Co. looking inept after the constant changing at quarterback has led to zero rhythm and consistency on offense. Not to mention the pass-heavy play-calling Gruden is known for has hurt the team in key spots (like a 4th-and-inches play call for a play-action pass). Colt McCoy, Kirk Cousins and Robert Griffin III have all tried, and failed, to lead this team. It's not just the quarterbacks failing in Washington; it's the entire team (offense, defense and coaching). 26. New York Giants (3-9) 26. New York Giants (3-9) B/R Design Last Week: 23 This Week: 26 Change: -3 The New York Giants have lost seven straight football games. The seventh, a loss to the one-win Jacksonville Jaguars, came after a 21-3 lead was established by the Giants. That's not something head coach Tom Coughlin can explain away or rest on his past accomplishments over. Coughlin was great in New York, and the Giants have two Super Bowl rings to show for it, but at what point does the current outweigh the past? You have to think nine losses and seven straight would put his job security in question. The Giants have four more games—at Tennessee, vs. Washington, at St. Louis and at home against Philadelphia to end the year. Can they win two of those games? Even a 5-11 record may not be good enough to keep Coughlin and his staff intact for 2015. 25. Carolina Panthers (3-8-1) 25. Carolina Panthers (3-8-1) B/R Design Last Week: 25 This Week: 25 Change: 0 The Carolina Panthers have been a roller-coaster team in 2014. They started the year as a middle-tier team in the rankings (No. 14 overall) before shooting up to No. 8 before Week 3. But since that time, they have been on a constant downward spiral, bottoming at No. 25 overall again for another week. Cam Newton is obviously a very good quarterback, but we're seeing that even a unique talent cannot succeed without an offense around him. The offensive line in Carolina is terrible, and even the skill position players are below average as a group. Head coach Ron Rivera was on the hot seat in 2013 before going on a big run that led to the playoffs and the No. 2 seed in the NFC. But just three wins in 13 weeks is an issue—and one that could ultimately cost him his job after the season. 24. Chicago Bears (5-7) 24. Chicago Bears (5-7) B/R Design Last Week: 22 This Week: 24 Change: -2 The Thanksgiving Day loss to the Detroit Lions doesn't knock the Bears completely out of playoff contention, but in a very tough division and with many teams fighting for two wild-card spots in the NFC, it's tough to imagine a scenario where this team gets into the postseason. The Bears have more talent than their record shows—which is generally an indictment of the coaching staff. The offense has all the pieces to be explosive (and it was in 2013), but the defense has consistently struggled due to personnel issues. The Bears were my pick to win the NFC North this year, but right now they look like they're competing with Minnesota for the last spot in the division. 23. Minnesota Vikings (5-7) 23. Minnesota Vikings (5-7) B/R Design Last Week: 26 This Week: 23 Change: +3 The Minnesota Vikings are flying under the radar, but first-year head coach Mike Zimmer has done a fantastic job with this team. Take a look at the offense, and you see a rookie quarterback on a team that lost its best threat (Adrian Peterson) and has an offensive line full of names and big salaries but very bad play. But the Vikings are winning ball games and have now won three of their last five games. That's definitely a step in the right direction for Zimmer, Teddy Bridgwater and the Vikings. It's a move up in this week's rankings thanks to a complete takedown of the Carolina Panthers. And after winning just five games in 2013, the Vikings have already matched that total. 22. Atlanta Falcons (5-7) 22. Atlanta Falcons (5-7) B/R Design Last Week: 24 This Week: 22 Change: +2 It took 13 weeks, but the Atlanta Falcons finally got a win outside the NFC South. And it's a big one as they took down the previously ranked No. 4 team, the Arizona Cardinals. With Roddy White out due to injury, the Falcons' game plan was pretty transparent—throw it to Julio Jones early and often. They did, and Matt Ryan torched Patrick Peterson to the tune of 10 catches for 189 yards and a touchdown. But they also worked in Harry Douglas, and running back Steven Jackson went over 100 yards for the first time all season. Balance on offense was the key. The Falcons end Week 13 tied with the New Orleans Saints at 5-7 but ahead in the division thanks to their unbeaten record there. The division will come down to December 21 in New Orleans as long as the Falcons can hold on against Green Bay and Pittsburgh in the next two weeks. 21. St. Louis Rams (5-7) 21. St. Louis Rams (5-7) b/r design Last Week: 21 This Week: 21 Change: 0 If the St. Louis Rams were supposed to be afraid of the Oakland Raiders in Week 13, well, someone forgot to tell them. Running back Tre Mason and defensive coordinator Gregg Williams took over the day for the Rams as Mason and the offense kept the Raiders defense off balance, and Williams' defense swarmed rookie quarterback Derek Carr. If you want to award game balls, they should go there. The Rams might not be a playoff team, but you can bet no one wants to play them right now. And that includes the Arizona Cardinals in Week 15. 20. New Orleans Saints (5-7) Share Tweet Embed Last Week: 20 This Week: 20 Change: 0 It may be hyperbole to call the Week 13 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers a season-saving-win, but it was pretty dang close to that. Are the Saints getting hot at just the right time? Stephen Nelson and I discuss in the video above. 19. Houston Texans (6-6) 19. Houston Texans (6-6) B/R Design Last Week: 19 This Week: 19 Change: 0 The Houston Texans were without quarterback Ryan Mallett in Week 13, but former starter Ryan Fitzpatrick was huge in getting the ball down the field to wide receivers Andre Johnson and DeAndre Hopkins. That led to six passing touchdowns for Fitzpatrick and a crazy 238 yards receiving for Hopkins. It's easy to forget that the Texans had just two wins in all of 2013. Credit rookie head coach Bill O'Brien and his staff for making major improvements to a team that's seen little production from its first- or third-round draft picks (Jadeveon Clowney, C.J. Fiedorowicz, Louis Nix). The playoffs may be another year away, but the Texans are headed in the right direction with a strong foundation in place. 18. Buffalo Bills (7-5) 18. Buffalo Bills (7-5) B/R Design Last Week: 18 This Week: 18 Change: 0 All the talk coming out of the Buffalo vs. Cleveland game will unfortunately be on the late-game play of rookie quarterback Johnny Manziel. That means people will overlook or forget the fact that the Buffalo Bills won by 16 points while moving to seven wins and staying very much in the AFC playoff mix. We won't forget that here, though. The Bills dominated the Browns on a day when their offense wasn't great. But the defense was. Jerry Hughes was great against Joe Thomas and put consistent pressure on the Cleveland backfield. Hughes' defensive touchdown on a strip-sack came right after a Kyle Orton touchdown, and that 14-point swing was crucial to the game. The Bills may be defying expectations, but two straight wins are keeping them in the playoff mix. 17. Miami Dolphins (6-5) 17. Miami Dolphins (6-5) B/R Design Last Week: 17 This Week: 17 Change: MNF The Miami Dolphins play on Monday Night Football and will be updated after the game. 16. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-5) 16. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-5) B/R Design Last Week: 15 This Week: 16 Change: -1 The AFC North playoff race remains a dog fight headed into Week 14, and a loss by the Pittsburgh Steelers comes at a terrible time. Now they're 7-5 (tied with the Ravens and Browns) but 1.5 games back from the Cincinnati Bengals in the division with four weeks to play. The Steelers lost to the New Orleans Saints because of poor protection for Ben Roethlisberger and poor play from the secondary. Drew Brees threw just eight incomplete passes and five touchdowns against a Steelers secondary that looked old and slow. And that's something they'll face often with a remaining schedule featuring the Bengals, Falcons, Chiefs and then the Bengals again. The Steelers' season will likely come down to two games—Week 14 and Week 17 against Cincinnati. Win those two games, and they can take the AFC North. 15. Cleveland Browns (7-5) 15. Cleveland Browns (7-5) B/R Design Last Week: 14 This Week: 15 Change: -1 The Cleveland Browns traveled to Buffalo to take on a Bills team that's quietly one of the hottest in the NFL. It wasn't pretty for Mike Pettine's homecoming. The Browns trailed early, and even strong play from the Cleveland secondary (especially Joe Haden) wasn't enough to overshadow their offensive issues. Replacing starting quarterback Brian Hoyer with rookie first-rounder Johnny Manziel did lead to a touchdown drive, but it cut the Buffalo lead to just 10 points. The Browns are still a good team, but they have to learn to win on the road and will always be a middle-tier team until the quarterback play and offense are more consistent. 13. San Francisco 49ers (7-5) 13. San Francisco 49ers (7-5) b/r design Last Week: 11 This Week: 13 Change: -2 The San Francisco 49ers remain one of the NFL's most confusing teams on a weekly basis. Their Thanksgiving night loss to the Seattle Seahawks—at home in a must-win game—may have put an end to a head-scratching run for Jim Harbaugh's team. The injuries on defense are a definite issue for the 49ers no matter how well Chris Borland is playing. But that doesn't explain why the offense is so anemic at times and disjointed at others. There is no rhythm, no identity. And that falls on head coach Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Greg Roman as much as it does on quarterback Colin Kaepernick and the players. The 49ers can still manage an 11-win season if they win out, but even that won't guarantee a playoff berth.

12-year-old Wisconsin girl stabbed 19 times; friends arrested

CNN) -- They had something to prove to someone they found on a ghoulish website. So, two girls allegedly lured a third girl into a wooded area in Waukesha, Wisconsin, over the weekend and stabbed her 19 times, police said. The suspects allegedly left the victim to crawl to her own rescue. The three girls, all 12 years old, were friends, according to a criminal complaint. A bicyclist found the wounded girl alive Saturday, lying on a sidewalk in Waukesha, Police Chief Russell Jack said. She was in stable condition at a hospital on Monday. The girls were trying to impress a certain "Slenderman," the complaint read. One of the girls encountered the name on a website known as Creepypasta Wiki, which posts horror stories. Watch this video 12-year-old stabbing suspects arrested Watch this video Police: Suspects inspired by Internet Slenderman is the site's supposed leader, and to climb up into his realm, a user must kill someone, one of the suspects told police. The fictional Slenderman character is an Internet meme that often appears in horror stories, videos and images. On Tuesday morning, a lengthy statement was posted on www.creepypasta.com. The statement expressed condolences for everyone involved, and stressed that the site does not condone or encourage violence in any way but also noted that "it's hard to justify pinning blame on an entire genre of writing." Allegedly planned The two were arrested hours after the victim was discovered Saturday, and they were being held on preliminary charges of attempted first-degree intentional homicide. The complaint identified the girls as Morgan Geyser and Anissa Weier. They are being charged as adults and appeared in court Monday. Bail was set for each in the amount of $500,000, Waukesha County District Attorney Brad Schimel said. Anthony Cotton, Geyser's attorney, told CNN on Tuesday that he's spoken briefly with her. She is housed at a juvenile facility for females, he said, and the girl's family is in "shock." Geyser has not had a mental evaluation yet, but her lawyer expects her to be given one soon. Attempts to contact an attorney for Weier were unsuccessful Monday and Tuesday. The suspects attended the same middle school as the victim and had a sleepover at the home of one of the suspects Friday night, Jack said. "Both suspects had a fascination with a fictitious character that often posted" to websites dealing with stories about death and horror, the police chief told reporters at a news conference. According to the criminal complaint, the suspects had been planning the attack since February. They first thought to kill the victim by placing duct tape over her mouth while she was sleeping and stabbing her in the neck, the complaint read. Next, the plan was to kill her in a bathroom where there was floor drain that could make cleanup easier, it continued. But, finally, the girls decided to do it in a park while playing a game of hide-and-seek, the complaint read. It states: "As they left for the park ... (the victim) was walking in front of them and Geyser lifted up the left side of her white jacket and displayed the knife tucked in her waistband. Weier stated she gave Geyser a look with wide eyes and, when asked what that meant Weier stated, 'I thought, dear god, this was really happening.' " 'One millimeter away' from death Some of the victim's major organs were struck. One of the stab wounds was near her heart, and she was "one millimeter away from certain death," the complaint read. According to the complaint, the victim told the bicyclist who found her: "Please help me. I've been stabbed." She was in extreme pain and could only answer questions with yes or no. Authorities searched for the two other girls, and a sheriff's officer found them walking near Interstate 94, Jack said. He declined to say whether the suspects had blood on their clothes, but added: "There was evidence that was readily apparent when the two were taken into custody." That evidence included a large kitchen knife inside a purse that Geyser identified as one of her mother's old purses, according to the complaint.

Hall of Famer Dan Marino suing NFL over concussions suffered during career

Dan Marino Suing NFL over Concussions: Latest Details, Updates and Reaction AP Images 45.0K Reads 186 Comments Former Miami Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino, along with 14 other former players, filed a lawsuit against the NFL over concussions last week. “On information and belief, the Plaintiff…sustained repetitive, traumatic sub-concussive and/or concussive head impacts during NFL games and/or practices,” read Marino's short-form complaint, via the Los Angeles Times' Nathan Fenno. The Hall of Fame quarterback is seeking compensation in the form of "medical monitoring and unspecified financial recovery," per Fenno. Of course, this development has implications far beyond that. Bleacher Report's Ethan J. Skolnick put it simply: The NFL is no stranger to being sued in connection with concussions. There is currently a much larger ongoing lawsuit, as over 4,500 former NFL players are suing the league, claiming that the dangers of concussions were covered up. The players had seemingly reached a $765 million settlement, but judge Anita Brody rejected that sum in January amid concerns that it wasn't sufficient. Sol Weiss, a co-lead counsel for the plaintiffs in that case, is also serving as one of Marino's attorneys. As studies reveal the effects of head injuries, the NFL is only going to continue to serve as a target—especially for former players who played before strict safety rules were put into place. It's becoming clear, however, that this massive aforementioned case may not be the end of it. FootballGuys.com's Sigmund Bloom touched on that: No matter how Marino's case plays out, this is a bad development for the NFL. The former Dolphin is one of the most respected players of his generation, and now that he has taken the league to court, we could see isolated cases such as this one pop up far more frequently. Either way, the league already has its hands full as lawsuits continue to pile up. Marino's case is sure to generate plenty of discussion and reaction considering his status and popularity throughout the league and among its fanbase, shining an even brighter spotlight on an already hot topic.

Girl Demonstrates How To Pick Up Any Girl

Watch the original video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Z-cuN...

Jimmy Dore (http://www.youtube.com/tytcomedy) Dave Rubin (http://www.youtube.com/rubinreport) and Charlie Berens (https://twitter.com/CharlieBerens) discuss the video on The Young Turks. The crew breaks down the genius of the video and run through examples of how they would pick up women. Did the reaction from the women she attempted to pick up surprise you? Tell us what you think of the video in the comment section below.

Subscribe to their channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/whatever

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The Largest Online News Show in the World. Hosted by Cenk Uygur and Ana Kasparian. LIVE STREAMING weekdays 6-8pm ET.

Young Turk (n), 1. Young progressive or insurgent member of an institution, movement, or political party. 2. Young person who rebels against authority or societal expectations. (American Heritage Dictionary)

The Young Turks (Winner - Best Political Podcast & Best Political News Site of 2009) were the first original talk show on Sirius satellite radio and the first live, daily webcast on the internet. But that is not the revolution.

We are a rare show that combines all of the news that people care about in one place. We are not afraid to talk about politics and entertainment and sports and pop culture. But that is not the revolution either.

The real revolution is in daring to be honest with people. We don't patronize our viewers or lie to them. We have real conversations and deliver the news honestly.

Download audio and video of the full two hour show on-demand + the members-only post game show by becoming a member at http://www.tytnetwork.com/tytmembership. Your membership supports the day to day operations and is vital for our continued success and growth.

Girl Demonstrates How To Pick Up Any Girl

Watch the original video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Z-cuN...

Jimmy Dore (http://www.youtube.com/tytcomedy) Dave Rubin (http://www.youtube.com/rubinreport) and Charlie Berens (https://twitter.com/CharlieBerens) discuss the video on The Young Turks. The crew breaks down the genius of the video and run through examples of how they would pick up women. Did the reaction from the women she attempted to pick up surprise you? Tell us what you think of the video in the comment section below.

Subscribe to their channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/whatever

**********

The Largest Online News Show in the World. Hosted by Cenk Uygur and Ana Kasparian. LIVE STREAMING weekdays 6-8pm ET.

Young Turk (n), 1. Young progressive or insurgent member of an institution, movement, or political party. 2. Young person who rebels against authority or societal expectations. (American Heritage Dictionary)

The Young Turks (Winner - Best Political Podcast & Best Political News Site of 2009) were the first original talk show on Sirius satellite radio and the first live, daily webcast on the internet. But that is not the revolution.

We are a rare show that combines all of the news that people care about in one place. We are not afraid to talk about politics and entertainment and sports and pop culture. But that is not the revolution either.

The real revolution is in daring to be honest with people. We don't patronize our viewers or lie to them. We have real conversations and deliver the news honestly.

Download audio and video of the full two hour show on-demand + the members-only post game show by becoming a member at http://www.tytnetwork.com/tytmembership. Your membership supports the day to day operations and is vital for our continued success and growth.

Inside The Mind Of Pimps - They're Victims Too

"The Urban Institute's sex industry study is one of the most comprehensive surveys ever done of the business of the commercial sex business, including massage parlors, brothels, escort services, and old-fashioned prostitution. Researcher Meredith Dank and a group of colleagues focused on eight U.S. cities—Atlanta, Denver, Dallas, Kansas City, Miami, Seattle, San Diego, and Washington—and conducted interviews with pimps, prostitutes (focusing on females, it would seem), and pornographers in an attempt to untangle one of the oldest underground economies in existence. The results are fascinating.

Atlanta and Miami have the largest underground sex economies of the cities studied, estimated as of 2007 at $290 million and $235 million, respectively. As in most above-ground businesses, the bosses tend to be men. Researchers interviewed 73 pimps who described finding their female employees at high schools, on college campuses, and at malls, nightclubs, and strip bars, as well as through social media. The pimps tend to seek out white women—the younger the better, although not so young that they get into legal trouble for trafficking in minors."* Ana Kasparian, Cenk Uygur, Ben Mankiewicz (What The Flick?!, TYT Sports) and Brian Unger (Showdown Of The Unbeatables) break it down on The Young Turks.

*Read more here from Kolhatkar / Business Week:
http://www.businessweek.com/articles/...

Why Is Bill O'Reilly Ripping This Beyonce Video?

)

*In the music video for the Beyoncé song "Partition," there's some incredibly raunchy imagery, including car sex and a lyric reference to Monica Lewinsky. Bill O'Reilly was fired up about this Monday night, confronting hip hop mogul Russell Simmons over what kind of message that sends to young black girls when such behavior is glorified by one of their idols...* The Young Turks host Cenk Uygur (and TYT COO Steve Oh) breaks it down.

*Read more here from Josh Feldman / Mediaite: http://www.mediaite.com/tv/bill-o%E2%...

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South Carolina's Frank Martin apologizes for harsh language

COLUMBIA, S.C. -- Suspended South Carolina coach Frank Martin apologized to fans for his harsh words aimed at Gamecocks point guard Duane Notice in the loss to No. 1 Florida this week. "I can't do anything other than apologize," Martin said Friday in a press conference to address the suspension. "I'm sorry is a powerful two words and if you use it over and over again for the same reason it loses its meaning. I can't force people to like me, but I've got to respect this university." Martin was suspended one game by athletic director Ray Tanner on Thursday. He already apologized to Notice and is not travelling with the team to its regular-season finale at Mississippi State on Saturday. Associate head coach Matt Figger will take over the team in Starkville. Martin will resume his duties before the Gamecocks play in the Southeastern Conference tournament next week. "I talk to my players a lot about maturity," he said. "I think it's time I work on my maturity as well." Martin was caught on tape cursing at Notice late in the 72-46 loss to the Gators on Tuesday night, and the tape went viral. He said he felt uneasy after the game and understood he had crossed a line. Martin called Tanner while on a recruiting trip to apologize for the tirade. He talked with his players, although stopped short of saying he had apologized to them. The Gamecocks (11-19, 4-13 SEC) are wrapping up their second straight losing season, the first two of Martin's career. The 47-year-old Martin has had a fiery reputation since becoming a head basketball coach at Kansas State seven years ago. He signed a six-year contract with South Carolina to leave Kansas State. He's known for his pointed words in timeout huddles and a steely stare at players who don't follow orders or officials who Martin believes made bad calls. But this time, Martin said he was wrong and pledged to work on improving his language and demeanor during games. Things really hit home when 6-year-old son Christian asked why they weren't heading to Mississippi State to watch basketball. "I'm extremely disappointed in my ignorant reactions that have impacted my team in a negative way," he said. Martin said he's leaving for Tennessee later Friday to attend a cheerleading competition for his daughter. He's unsure if he'll stay in a hotel room to watch his team play or keeping reflecting on the suspension before leading the team in practice Monday. "It's got to change. I don't know what else I can tell you," he said. Martin said he's successfully confronted this problem before. He gave up swearing in the last of his five seasons at Kansas State. Martin said he'd continue that policy at South Carolina, but backslid as he was confronted with the vast rebuilding job with the Gamecocks. Martin had reached the NCAA tournament four of five years with Kansas State. This year, Martin's roster has seven freshmen. He lost two experienced point guards during the season, the first when senior two-sport standout Bruce Ellington gave up his final seasons in basketball and football to enter the NFL draft and the second when Villanova transfer Tyrone Johnson broke his foot at Texas A&M when an official stepped on it. Martin wouldn't say what penalties could occur if he does it again, but believes he can overcome the problems that he alone created. When Tanner announced the suspension, he issued a statement that it was the "result of inappropriate verbal communication as it relates to the well-being of our student-athletes." Martin acknowledged he'd embarrassed himself, the university and his family. "My mother hasn't stopped crying since she heard," he said. Martin had to apologize to Brenton Williams for an outburst this January during a home game against Mississippi. Martin said Williams' father shook his hand at senior night ceremonies before the Florida game and told him, "Thank you for helping my son become a man." "I live for those moments," Martin said. Martin is friendly and engaging away from the court. No matter how animated and loud he gets on the bench, he gives thoughtful and rational responses to media in his postgame sessions. He believes the curse-filled tirades don't define him. Martin called the cursing about "12 seconds out of my 24 hour day. I've got to work on those 12 seconds."

Marry Your Cousin But Watch Out For Mongoloid Kids, Says Crazy Uncle Pat

"Televangelist Pat Robertson on Tuesday gave his viewers permission to marry their first cousins as long as they did not have "mongoloid" children.

"A close friend of mine believes that the person God wants her to marry is her first cousin," a viewer explained in a letter to Robertson. "There is clear, powerful call of the Lord on both their lives. What do you think?"

"Kissing cousins! Hey, hey!" Robertson replied. "I don't know anything in the Bible that says there's a problem about marrying first cousins. Now, look, here's the deal. If there are recessive genes and there are something in the family that would come out if those two recessive genes come together, they might wind up with children that got some kind of disability.""* Cenk Uygur, Ana Kasparian, Ben Mankiewicz and Eboni K Williams break it down on The Young Turks.

*Read more here from David Edwards / Raw Story:
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/03/04...

'Homo Demons' Pastor Targets The Young Turks & We Can't Stop Laughing [V...

"A so-called birther pastor in New York this week accused President Barack Obama of a plot to have "white homo demons" lure African-American men away from African-American women.

In a YouTube video posted on Tuesday, Atlah World Missionary Church Rev. James David Manning said that he had displayed the following sign outside his Harlem church: "Obama has released the homo demons on the black man. Look out black woman. A white homo may take your man."

"Obama has released these demons, particularly upon the black males," he explained. "This homosexual demon, hoping to influence as many black males to subscribe to ideas that homosexual perverted LGBT as possible.""* The Young Turks hosts Cenk Uygur and Ana Kasparian break it down.

*Read more here from David Edwards / Raw Story:
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/02/27...

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The Largest Online News Show in the World. Hosted by Cenk Uygur and Ana Kasparian. LIVE STREAMING weekdays 6-8pm ET.

Young Turk (n), 1. Young progressive or insurgent member of an institution, movement, or political party. 2. Young person who rebels against authority or societal expectations. (American Heritage Dictionary)

The Young Turks (Winner - Best Political Podcast & Best Political News Site of 2009) were the first original talk show on Sirius satellite radio and the first live, daily webcast on the internet. But that is not the revolution.

We are a rare show that combines all of the news that people care about in one place. We are not afraid to talk about politics and entertainment and sports and pop culture. But that is not the revolution either.

The real revolution is in daring to be honest with people. We don't patronize our viewers or lie to them. We have real conversations and deliver the news honestly.

Download audio and video of the full two hour show on-demand + the members-only post game show by becoming a member at http://www.tytnetwork.com/tytmembership. Your membership supports the day to day operations and is vital for our continued success and growth.

Join The Young Turks Network mailing list http://www.tytnetwork.com/member-opti...

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The Dating Scam You Have To Hear To Believe

"A group of Japanese singles filed a lawsuit against real estate agents which they accused of faking romantic interest so they will be persuaded to purchase properties from them. The twelve plaintiffs, two men and ten women, are all in their early 30s to 40s.

The victims sued 14 companies, real estate firms, and loan companies, and are seeking 200 million yen (approx. US$1.95 million) in damages. According to the lawyers, plaintiffs met the agents via online dating sites, and once romance ensued, the accused would encourage and talk the victims into buying properties, such as a condominium averaging 26 million yen ($254,000). As soon as the contracts had been signed and the deal completed, the agent would bail out of the relationship."* The Young Turks hosts Cenk Uygur and Ana Kasparian break it down.

*Read more here from Maan Pamintuan-Lamorena / Japan Daily Press:
http://japandailypress.com/real-estat...

**********

The Largest Online News Show in the World. Hosted by Cenk Uygur and Ana Kasparian. LIVE STREAMING weekdays 6-8pm ET.

Young Turk (n), 1. Young progressive or insurgent member of an institution, movement, or political party. 2. Young person who rebels against authority or societal expectations. (American Heritage Dictionary)

The Young Turks (Winner - Best Political Podcast & Best Political News Site of 2009) were the first original talk show on Sirius satellite radio and the first live, daily webcast on the internet. But that is not the revolution.

We are a rare show that combines all of the news that people care about in one place. We are not afraid to talk about politics and entertainment and sports and pop culture. But that is not the revolution either.

The real revolution is in daring to be honest with people. We don't patronize our viewers or lie to them. We have real conversations and deliver the news honestly.

Download audio and video of the full two hour show on-demand + the members-only post game show by becoming a member at http://www.tytnetwork.com/tytmembership. Your membership supports the day to day operations and is vital for our continued success and growth.

Join The Young Turks Network mailing list http://www.tytnetwork.com/member-opti...

or Support The Young Turks by Subscribing http://www.youtube.com/user/theyoungt...

Like Us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TheYoungTurks
Follow Us on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/TheYoungTurks

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Fans shun Sochi over bombs, bureaucracy, big bucks

SOCHI, Russia (AP) When Sven Kramer wins Olympic gold, he likes to celebrate by communing with the Dutch fans who worship him. Four years ago at the Vancouver Games, 3,000 packed a cavernous hall and went wild when Kramer appeared. At the Sochi Olympics, Kramer again partied with his flock after leading a Dutch sweep of medals in the 5,000 meters. But what was a roiling sea of people cheering him in Vancouver shrank to little more than a pond - although still a very happy and noisy pond - in Sochi. Although these are early days at Russia's first Winter Games, indications are that some would-be spectators from overseas have stayed home, seemingly scared off by terrorist bombings, pervasive security, knotty Russian bureaucracy and the big bucks needed to reach President Vladimir Putin's winter wonderland on the Black Sea coast and in the Caucasus Mountains. Some Olympic venues have a very Russian feel. Figure-skating crowds, for example, seem to be almost exclusively Russian. On the first evening of competition, even four women waving a French tricolor for France's skating team turned out to be Russians from Moscow. Many foreigners who have made it to Sochi fall into three camps: experienced world travelers who aren't easily spooked; die-hard Olympic regulars who would travel to any host city; or corporate types and wealthier tourists who delegate travel logistics to others. Spunky Japanese retiree Mitsuko Taguchi, 80, is in the first group. Having previously traveled to hotspots Afghanistan and Pakistan, she was unfazed by terror threats targeting the games. But the expense of traveling to Sochi from the southern Japanese island of Kyushu made her wince. Taguchi said she knew of at least five other people who applied to her travel agent, but only one of them ended up joining her. Including hotel, flights and a $2,000 ticket to the opening ceremony and others for figure skating, she calculated the cost of her 5-night stay in Sochi at $18,000. Taguchi said that is four times what she spent at the 2012 London Games, where she found a cheap bed and breakfast, traveled on public transport and bought black-market tickets. ''Very expensive here. I was surprised,'' she said after cheering on Japanese teenage skating phenom Yuzuru Hanyu. To shave expense, Jan van Meer and his three friends - down from the group of 10 he traveled with to Vancouver - flew via Istanbul to Krasnodar, the regional capital, rather than direct to Sochi. Unfortunately for them, their plane was made to circle for an hour over Istanbul while Turkish authorities dealt with a hijack attempt by a Ukrainian who tried to force his flight to divert to Sochi. The delay caused Van Meer's group to miss their Krasnodar-to-Sochi train. Once in the Olympic city, they waited 30 minutes to collect the special passes spectators need as well as tickets to get through security. The first four races at the speedskating arena were already finished when the party arrived, faces haggard but nevertheless radiant in the colors of Dutch fans everywhere: bright orange. They quickly cracked open beers. ''A lot of friends of mine, they didn't come,'' said Van Meer, who shelled out the euro equivalent of nearly $7,000, about what he spent in Vancouver, for 10 days at his fifth Winter Games. ''A few didn't want to come because it was too expensive. Others were worried about the bombers.'' Robert Visser said his wife pulled out after December suicide bombings killed 34 people in Volgograd, even though she could have traveled for free like him, courtesy of the auto manufacturer whose cars he sells in the Netherlands. ''A lot of people were invited. They canceled,'' he said. Casting a glance at his 20 or so travel companions, all dressed like him in orange, he added: ''These are the die-hards.'' Others said they wrestled with Russian paperwork, visas and the spectator pass. ''The process took a bit of time. I had to have confirmed accommodation and I had to have Olympic tickets, and then I had to apply for a visa,'' said Magali Robert of Calgary, Alberta, whose 18-year-old daughter is a ski jump forerunner - sent down the hill to test conditions before Olympians compete. ''Then it was a question of getting the flights. They are very expensive from Canada, and it's not easy to get here. That was probably the biggest stumbling block for a lot of people.'' Sochi organizers said about 40,000 people attended events on Day 1, but 4,000 others who had tickets did not turn up. Spokeswoman Alexandra Kosterina said Russians tend to cut things close. ''We had an issue with a lot of spectators being late.'' Organizers say 70 percent of tickets went to Russians, with the rest sold abroad. ''Tickets are nearly sold out in many countries,'' organizers said in a statement to The Associated Press. ''Japan and Germany have reported that they have sold their quotas. Tickets also sell well in European countries, Canada and the U.S. But there will be spectators from exotic countries like Tanzania, Lebanon, Oman and Namibia.'' Still, some clearly thought twice. In Vancouver, the beer-and-party hall where Kramer and other Dutch medalists wowed fans held 3,000 people and it was ''packed every evening. We had queues of 3-4 hours,'' said Mark Bogaerts, global event manager for Dutch brewer Heineken, which runs the venue. In Sochi, it cut capacity of ''Holland House'' to just 500, based on its expectation that just 2,500 travelers, including hardcore fans who ''travel no matter where, everywhere'' and athletes' family members and friends, are coming from the Netherlands. ''That's not much, eh?'' said Bogaerts. The euro 10 ($13) tickets have sold briskly - the venue is already fully booked almost through to the games' Feb. 23 close. But it is also smaller than seven party houses Heineken has run at both winter and summer Olympics since Nagano in 1998. Not that Kramer cared. On stage Saturday night, he shot a selfie of himself with delirious fans flashing two-fingered V's for victory behind him and posted it on Twitter. --- AP writers Dennis Passa in Krasnaya Polyana and Nataliya Vasilyeva in Sochi contributed. --- Follow John Leicester at http://twitter.com/johnleicester

New Jersey Paper Says it "Blew" Endorsement of Christie

As a playground bully might say, "No backsies!" The Star-Ledger, one of New Jersey’s leading newspapers, on Sunday called its endorsement last year of Gov. Chris Christie in his re-election bid “regrettable” after recent scandals have rocked his administration. “We blew this one,” a column authored by Tom Moran of the Star-Ledger’s editorial board said. “Yes, we knew Christie was a bully,” Moran wrote. “But we didn’t know his crew was crazy enough to put people’s lives at risk in Fort Lee as a means to pressure the mayor. We didn’t know he would use Hurricane Sandy aid as a political slush fund. And we certainly didn’t know that Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer was sitting on a credible charge of extortion by Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno.” In its October endorsement, the paper called Christie “the most remarkable political talent America has seen since Bill Clinton.” Christie has been on the defensive for weeks, ever since documents surfaced that suggested the closing of lanes on the heavily-trafficked George Washington Bridge last year may have been politically motivated as an act of retribution against Fore Lee Mayor Mark Sokolich, who declined to endorse Christie's re-election. The governor’s administration has also faced allegations by Zimmer, the mayor who claims the administration threatened to withhold Superstorm Sandy relief aid for Hoboken unless she approved a redevelopment project favored by the governor. Zimmer claims Guadagno issued the warning. “We regard Christie as the most overrated politician in the country, at least until now, a man who is better at talking than governing,” Moran's editorial on Sunday said. The editorial does give Chrisitie credit for making progress on education in the struggling cities of Nework and Camden as well as reining in pension and health care costs. And the editorial suggests the paper's endorsement was justifiable because Christie was a better choice than his opponent, New Jersey State Sen. Barbara Buono, a Democrat. The editorial also goes on to say given a choice in a presidential primary between Republican Senenator Rand Paul of Kentucky and the governor, the paper would endorse Christie. Attempts by NBC News to obtain a response from Christie on the editorial were not immediately successful. First published February 9th 2014, 5:24 pm via msn.com

Steroid Use Surprisingly High Among Gay And Bisexual Teens - But Why?

"Gay and bisexual boys are almost six times as likely as their heterosexual peers to misuse steroids, according to a new study.

"What was most surprising to us was the magnitude of the disparities that emerged between sexual minority and heterosexual boys," Aaron J. Blashill from Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston told Reuters Health in an email.

Upwards of 5 percent of adolescent boys use anabolic-androgenic steroids to enhance strength, athletic performance, and muscle size, but nobody had studied the association between sexual orientation and steroid abuse before, Blashill and his colleague Steven A. Safren noted.

Long-term misuse of steroids can lead to heart problems, hormone-related changes and psychiatric disorders."* The Young Turks hosts Ana Kasparian and John Iadarola break it down.

*Read more here from Will Boggs / Reuters:
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/0...

Leonardo DiCaprio's Drug Use Isn't What You Think It Is

"Given Leonardo DiCaprio's award-nominated take as the coke-snorting, Quaalude-popping Jordan Belfort in The Wolf of Wall Street, it's hard to believe that the actor hasn't indulged in debauchery of his own once or twice. But the actor told the Los Angeles Times that he's "never done" drugs.

"That's because I saw this stuff literally every day when I was 3 or 4 years old," DiCaprio said. "So Hollywood was a walk in the park for me.... I'd go to parties and it was there and, yeah, there's that temptation. Hollywood is a very volatile place where artists come in and they essentially say they want to belong. It's incredibly vulnerable to be an actor and also get criticism at a young age when you're formulating who you are. We've seen a lot of people fall victim to that, and it's very unfortunate."

DiCaprio built up a reputation as a party boy in the late 1990s when, fresh off Titanic fame, he and his actor entourage — dubbed "The Pussy Posse" — were caught on camera wreaking havoc in New York City."* Cenk Uygur, Ana Kasparian, Ben Mankiewicz and Jimmy Dore (The Jimmy Dore Show) break it down.

*Read more here from Eliana Dockterman / TIME:
http://entertainment.time.com/2014/02...

Sources: Cavaliers general manager fired

After a humiliating loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert has fired general manager Chris Grant, league sources told Yahoo Sports. Related Stories Cavaliers fire GM Grant The SportsXchange Cavaliers fire general manager Chris Grant Comcast SportsNet Chicago NBA-Struggling Cleveland fire general manager Grant Reuters It’s official: Cleveland Cavaliers fire GM Chris Grant NBC Sports Why did the Cavaliers fire Chris Grant? SB Nation Gilbert informed Grant of his dismissal late Thursday morning, sources said. Assistant general manager David Griffin will take over as the interim GM, league sources told Yahoo Sports. Gilbert had grown increasingly frustrated with the losing and dysfunction within the Cavaliers, and the loss to the Lakers – who finished the game with four eligible players – was the breaking point. Cleveland is 16-33 and losers of six straight games. They're 5.5 games out of the eighth playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Gilbert had delivered a mandate of making the playoffs for the Cavaliers this season. [Also: Nuggets center could be lost for the season ] Grant had a reputation as a hard-working executive, but failed to construct an infrastructure of talent to return the Cavaliers to the playoffs for the first time since LeBron James left as a free agent in 2010. Grant had been responsible for drafting several high lottery picks that have yet to validate themselves, including No. 1 overall pick Anthony Bennett in the 2013 NBA draft. Grant has been waiting for several top-five draft picks, including Dion Waiters and Tristan Thompson, to fulfill their promise. Cleveland had hoped a recent trade for Luol Deng would help turn the season around, but Cleveland has continued to drop in the Eastern Conference standings. Grant had pushed for the return of Mike Brown as head coach, but he has struggled in his first season back with the Cavaliers. Grant replaced his previous boss, Danny Ferry, as GM in 2010. Content Via. Yahoo.com

Best and worst ways to cope with stress

Best and worst ways to cope with stress



Best and worst ways to cope with stress

Jangled nerves got you down? There are right ways and wrong ways to get your stress under control.

From natural disasters to overly demanding bosses, our world is filled with stressors. While some research has shown that short bursts of stress can be good for you, a new study out of Ohio State University and published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that dealing with persistent, long-term stress (like that from a toxic boss or from caring for an elderly parent) can actually change your genes, leading to an increase in inflammation that can bring on a variety of health issues.

Learning how to cope properly can go a long way for your everyday health. Here, the best and worst ways to de-stress right now.

--By Lauren A. Greene, Health.com

Piers Morgan Upsets Transgender Guest And That's Just The Beginning

CNN host Piers Morgan demonstrated how not to treat transgender subjects after a problematic interview with transgender activist and author Janet Mock, during which Morgan fixated on the physical aspects of Mock's identity as a trans woman and CNN included an on-screen description stating that Mock "[w]as a boy until age 18." Under fire for his handling of the interview, Morgan responded by bitterly denouncing Mock and her supporters.

Transgender activist Janet Mock appeared on the February 4 edition of Piers Morgan Live to discuss her new memoir Redefining Realness. Rather than focus on the book, however, Morgan repeatedly brought up Mock's physical characteristics and described her as a "boy" before her transition - reinforcing the common problem of journalists objectifying transgender bodies.

In an interview with BuzzFeed after her appearance, Mock took Morgan to task for trying to "sensationalize" her life in the interview. Mock objected to Morgan's focus on her physical appearance - at the beginning of the segment, he marveled that he'd never have guessed "you had ever been a boy" - as well as her sex life and physical transition."* The Young Turks hosts John Iadarola and Ana Kasparian break it down.

*Read more here from Luke Brinker / Media Matters:
http://mediamatters.org/blog/2014/02/...

Victim Confronts Her Abuser In Unforgettable Viral YouTube Video

"A woman who says a female teacher from middle school sexually abused her for years decided to confront the teacher -- and post video of the exchange on YouTube.

Within hours, the educator resigned from her job at another school in California. Police launched an investigation. And the former student, who once felt powerless, now says she feels vindicated knowing the ex-teacher is no longer working with children.

The former student, who calls herself "Jamie," said the abuse started when she was 12 years old.

"I am 28 years old and have been waiting years to get up enough courage to report a teacher for sexually abusing me for years," Jamie's caption on her YouTube video states."* The Young Turks hosts Cenk Uygur and Ana Kasparian break it down.

*Read more here from Holly Yan, Cheri Mossburg and Janet DiGiacomo / CNN:
http://www.cnn.com/2014/01/21/justice...

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Hilarious Mormon Anti-Masturbation Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3V7Hn...

Artistic Statement Or Accidental Porn? http://bit.ly/1ewFnmQ

Victim Confronts Her Abuser In Unforgettable Viral YouTube Video http://bit.ly/1ewEJG2

DISTURBING VIDEO Of 'Occupy Pedophilia' Terrorizing Gays In Russia http://bit.ly/1b0WSg8

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The Largest Online News Show in the World. Hosted by Cenk Uygur and Ana Kasparian. LIVE STREAMING weekdays 6-8pm ET.

Young Turk (n), 1. Young progressive or insurgent member of an institution, movement, or political party. 2. Young person who rebels against authority or societal expectations. (American Heritage Dictionary)

The Young Turks (Winner - Best Political Podcast & Best Political News Site of 2009) were the first original talk show on Sirius satellite radio and the first live, daily webcast on the internet. But that is not the revolution.

We are a rare show that combines all of the news that people care about in one place. We are not afraid to talk about politics and entertainment and sports and pop culture. But that is not the revolution either.

The real revolution is in daring to be honest with people. We don't patronize our viewers or lie to them. We have real conversations and deliver the news honestly.

Download audio and video of the full two hour show on-demand + the members-only post game show by becoming a member at http://www.tytnetwork.com/member-opti.... Your membership supports the day to day operations and is vital for our continued success and growth.

Join The Young Turks Network mailing list http://www.tytnetwork.com/member-opti...

or Support The Young Turks by Subscribing http://www.youtube.com/user/theyoungt...

Like Us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TheYoungTurks
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Dumbest Reactions to the Coke Super Bowl Commercial

Glenn Beck weighed in on the "controversial" Coke ad that aired during the Super Bowl, claiming that it was made to divide us politically, by forcing racists to come out in opposition. Although a Breitbart.com editor focused on the gay couple featured in the ad, it turns out that the woman that wrote the song was a lesbian. Another Breitbart article wrote about how the CEO of Coke put the ad together in order open Americans' minds to Muslim culture so that he could sneak funds to terrorist Muslim groups that pose as Muslim charities. The Young Turks host Cenk Uygur breaks it down.

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Dumbest Reactions to the Coca-Cola Super Bowl Commercial https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jq7RE...

GREAT NEWS!!! We're One Step Closer To Getting Money Out Of Politics! http://bit.ly/LOf7d5

A Great Way To Save USPS, But Will It Happen? http://bit.ly/1ftuC2D

Frightening Report Won't Sway Barack Obama On Keystone XL Pipeline http://bit.ly/1eSFe9N

**********

The Largest Online News Show in the World. Hosted by Cenk Uygur and Ana Kasparian. LIVE STREAMING weekdays 6-8pm ET.

Young Turk (n), 1. Young progressive or insurgent member of an institution, movement, or political party. 2. Young person who rebels against authority or societal expectations. (American Heritage Dictionary)

The Young Turks (Winner - Best Political Podcast & Best Political News Site of 2009) were the first original talk show on Sirius satellite radio and the first live, daily webcast on the internet. But that is not the revolution.

We are a rare show that combines all of the news that people care about in one place. We are not afraid to talk about politics and entertainment and sports and pop culture. But that is not the revolution either.

The real revolution is in daring to be honest with people. We don't patronize our viewers or lie to them. We have real conversations and deliver the news honestly.

Download audio and video of the full two hour show on-demand + the members-only post game show by becoming a member at http://www.tytnetwork.com/member-opti.... Your membership supports the day to day operations and is vital for our continued success and growth.

Join The Young Turks Network mailing list http://www.tytnetwork.com/member-opti...

or Support The Young Turks by Subscribing http://www.youtube.com/user/theyoungt...

Like Us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TheYoungTurks
Follow Us on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/TheYoungTurks

Support TYT for FREE by doing your Amazon shopping through this link (bookmark it!) http://www.amazon.com/?tag=theyoungtu...

Buy TYT Merch: http://theyoungturks.spreadshirt.com/

Coeds Naked Kissing, Licking Chocolate - Artistic Statement Or Accidenta...

"A group of topless women staged a clandestine video shoot in Columbia University's Butler Library back in November, but the yolks on you -- their intention was not to titillate but to defy you to watch to the end.

The women were participating in an art video titled "INITIATIØN," which is the brainchild of Coco Young, a Columbia University undergraduate, and Karley Sciortino, who runs the blog Slutever. According to IvyGate, the film was shot in November but wasn't uploaded until this weekend.

A description of the video on Purple TV describes it as exploring "the rituals of American Ivy League secret societies, to the point of hysteria, highlighting our culture's perception of female desire."

In the NSFW video, the women remove their tops, crack eggs on each other and then rub the yolks into the floor. A few scenes show them crawling through a hallway in their underwear, and another has them licking what appears to be chocolate off each other's backs. All the while the Tapiola Children's Choir plays as the soundtrack.

Tyler Kingkade / The Huffington Post:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/02...

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Hilarious Mormon Anti-Masturbation Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3V7Hn...

Artistic Statement Or Accidental Porn? http://bit.ly/1ewFnmQ

Victim Confronts Her Abuser In Unforgettable Viral YouTube Video http://bit.ly/1ewEJG2

DISTURBING VIDEO Of 'Occupy Pedophilia' Terrorizing Gays In Russia http://bit.ly/1b0WSg8

**********

The Largest Online News Show in the World. Hosted by Cenk Uygur and Ana Kasparian. LIVE STREAMING weekdays 6-8pm ET.

Young Turk (n), 1. Young progressive or insurgent member of an institution, movement, or political party. 2. Young person who rebels against authority or societal expectations. (American Heritage Dictionary)

The Young Turks (Winner - Best Political Podcast & Best Political News Site of 2009) were the first original talk show on Sirius satellite radio and the first live, daily webcast on the internet. But that is not the revolution.

We are a rare show that combines all of the news that people care about in one place. We are not afraid to talk about politics and entertainment and sports and pop culture. But that is not the revolution either.

The real revolution is in daring to be honest with people. We don't patronize our viewers or lie to them. We have real conversations and deliver the news honestly.

Download audio and video of the full two hour show on-demand + the members-only post game show by becoming a member at http://www.tytnetwork.com/member-opti.... Your membership supports the day to day operations and is vital for our continued success and growth.

Join The Young Turks Network mailing list http://www.tytnetwork.com/member-opti...

or Support The Young Turks by Subscribing http://www.youtube.com/user/theyoungt...

Like Us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TheYoungTurks
Follow Us on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/TheYoungTurks

Support TYT for FREE by doing your Amazon shopping through this link (bookmark it!) http://www.amazon.com/?tag=theyoungtu...

Buy TYT Merch: http://theyoungturks.spreadshirt.com/