YOU GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!!

Trayvon Martin hasn't been forgotten at Claremont United Methodist Church in Claremont, Cali.-- in fact, he appears front and center in their Nativity display. He serves as a bloody and tragic reminder of the dangers of gun violence and racial privilege in today's America, reports David Allen of the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin. Amongst the traditional holy family, Martin sits hunched over in his iconic black hoodie, blood pouring from his chest and pooling at his feet, reports Patch.com. The title of the scene, "A Child is Born, a Son is Given," is outlined within the blood and evokes themes of both Christmas and Easter, according to artist John Zachary, who has been creating thought-provoking displays since 2007. Zachary told Allen in an interview that the acquittal of George Zimmerman, who fatally shot the unarmed teenager in 2012, "struck him as a worthy subject for Christmas comment." "There is no better time to reflect on gun violence than advent, when we celebrate the birth of Jesus," says a sign at the church. "Jesus was born into a state of total vulnerability as an innocent, unarmed child during a time of great violence much like Trayvon Martin." As families gather together at Christmas to celebrate, Zachary hopes to get them to think long and hard about their own blessings and privileges. He told Allen that many Christmas traditions of gifts reflect “privilege, and there’s a lot of people who don’t have that privilege. Maybe I should do something that’s provocative, that’s more in keeping with the teachings of Jesus.” Sharon Rhodes-Wickett, lead pastor at the church, told Allen that she finds this year's scene difficult to look at, due to its violence. "It's hard to look at a young man who's shot and bleeding to death," she said. "But even though I'm uncomfortable, that's the point. We have to take a look at the violence."
JUST CAN'T GIVE THIS CRAP A REST, CAN THEY????

LOSING YOUR HEAD FOR CHRISTMAS

CHICAGO (STMW) – An 18-year-old man was charged with first-degree murder Thursday after police found a decapitated man early Christmas morning in the Hermosa neighborhood on the Northwest Side. Officers responding to a homicide call found the decapitated 41-year-old man about 2 a.m. Wednesday inside a basement apartment in the 2500 block of North Kildare Avenue, police said. UPDATE: Prosecutors say teen decapitated aunt's boyfriend as a Christmas 'present'. Police said they found a knife at the scene. An 18-year-old man, later identified as Alexis Valdez, was standing outside the building and taken in to custody that evening, police said. His relationship with the decapitated man was not immediately known. Valdez, of the 5000 block of West Drummond Place, faces one count of first-degree murder for allegedly murdering and dismembering the man, police said. He will appear for a bond hearing Friday. The man was dead at the scene, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s office. He was identified as 41-year-old Silvestre Diaz-Hernandez and lived at the apartment. Area North detectives are conducting a homicide investigation

CRAZY ELF

A 23-year-old  Canadian model knows something about "elf esteem" after having her ears surgically modified to look like the mythical creature's. In August, 2011, Melynda Moon decided to get an operation that would make her ears look like a character from her favorite book series, "Lord of the Rings." "The elegance of the elf ear is something I adore," she explained on a YouTube video documenting the surgery. Moon, who lives in Guelph, Ontario, said the decision to change her elf, er, herself, was a long time coming. She believes she was a fairy in a previous existence. "I have always been very close to nature.  Pointed ears are the most adorable thing, and I find the 'elven' attire is so elegant," she said, according to International Business Times. "I have always had fantasies about what it would be like to be something other than human, so I decided to change my appearance to look supernatural." The doctors who performed the $408 surgery skinned the tops of her ear cartilage. then skinned and cut pieces from the tips to form points. These tips were stitched together and removed a few weeks later after the ear skin was allowed to fuse, the Mirror reported. Moon said the treatment left her "a bit uncomfortable the day after" and her ears "were really swollen and sore with a slight burning sensation." But she said it's been worth it just for the reaction she gets from people.
"I have a handful of people assume I am dressed up because I have put on pointed ears." she said, the Daily Mail reported. "When I tell them they are real, they look pretty confused as if they are waiting for me to say 'just kidding' -- but I am not."

REALLY???? PRESIDENTIAL MATERIAL????

South Africa – Among the enduring images from Nelson Mandela’s massive memorial service in Johannesburg Tuesday will be one of a jovial President Obama taking a cell phone pic with his seat-mates, Denmark’s Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt and Britain’s David Cameron. As the three of them smile for the camera, a stern-looking Michelle Obama can be seen staring straight ahead, hands clasped. As if to remind anyone who sees this photo years from now that it was, after all, a memorial service for one of the great human rights leaders. The first lady’s reaction — not just to the “selfie” but to her husband’s chatting and joking with the young Danish prime minister — was priceless. In one picture, Michelle Obama could be seen glaring over at him while he put his hand on Ms. Thorning-Schmidt’s shoulder. 

UTAH COP USES TASER ON NAKED MAN WHO BIT POLICE DOG

A Utah man faces a $25,000 arrest warrant on top of charges of lewdness, disorderly conduct charges and biting a police dog after being spotted causing a disturbance at a gas station. The Associated Press reported on Tuesday that 27-year-old Erasmo Guadalupe Garcia-Serna failed to appear in court on Tuesday, violating a Nov. 25 request from his attorney for more time to explore “possible mental health issues” before moving ahead with his case. Garcia-Serna first came into contact with authorities on Oct. 28, when police in West Valley, Utah, allegedly found him naked, yelling and trying to rip the gas hoses off the pumps. I said, ‘I’ve got a police dog, get on the ground, you’re gonna get bit by the dog,’” Officer Todd Zahlmann told KUTV-TV “He kept coming at me in a very threatening manner, so I released Lobo.” Lobo, Zahlmann’s K-9 partner, then charged the suspect and bit him in the chest. But Garcia-Serna then reportedly began biting the dog on the neck. “[Lobo] is now getting assaulted, so now I had to go in and help, to prevent him from getting hurt and injured,” Zahlmann said to KUTV. According to the AP, Zahlmann used his Taser against Garcia-Serna after kicking him three times to no effect. Garcia-Serna was arrested, but neither he nor the dog were critically injured. The Salt Lake City Tribune reported that the suspect was released from jail on Nov. 15 after promising to make the Nov. 25 hearing.

BIRTHING CAKE

GOAT LOVER

The victim of a sexual assault showed up to court to face her attacker. She was a goat. Katana Kitsao Gona, a 28-year-old man from Kenya, was sentenced to 10 years in jail after admitting he had sex with a goat, KTN Kenya reported Friday. The goat Gona was convicted of sexually abusing was present, brought there by prosecutors as evidence in the case. Gona was caught committing the crime last Monday, Prosecuting Chief Inspector Jimmy Kema said. The neighbor told prosecutors he went to urinate behind a bush, when he noticed clothes hanging on a tree.  He investigated and found Gona, naked, having sex with the goat. The victim was tied up to graze, according to The Star. The owner of the goat was alerted, along with other villagers who caught Gona engaging in the abuse. Police quickly took him into custody. A report from the district's veterinary officer noted that blood was found coming from its vulva, further evidence of sexual abuse.
Though Gona asked for a pardon in court, saying he had a disabled wife who depended on him, Magistrate Mrs. Muthoni Nzibe gave him the 10-year sentence -- a record sentence in that court for bestiality. Gona isn't the only busted goat abuser to make the news in recent months. In August, U.K. man Robert Newman served a six-week sentence after admitting he had sex with a goat. He also had to register as a sex offender.