| Topic: |
Religions > Atheism |
| User: |
"Liz" |
| Date: |
16 Feb 2006 05:47:59 AM |
| Object: |
Sex Crimes Unit foils Valentine's Day meeting |
http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/news/13876167.htm
Young Valentine turns out to be cop
By Gina Mace
Special to the Beacon Journal
MEDINA - With pages of Bible Scriptures on the seat of his Pontiac
Sunfire and condoms in his pocket, a 26-year-old Fairlawn man was
ready for his Valentine's Day encounter with someone he thought was a
15-year-old girl.
But like more than a dozen before him since the inception of the
Internet Sex Crimes Unit, Kevin Kelly instead met members of the
Medina County Sheriff's Department. And the 15-year-old girl who
allegedly caught Kelly's attention Monday was in reality 1st Sgt. Gary
Hubbard.
``It was five minutes into the conversation before he started talking
about sex,'' Hubbard said.
Kelly suggested that the ``girl'' take off school Tuesday and meet
him, Hubbard said.
As soon as Kelly realized what was happening, Hubbard said, he was
contrite.
``He took full responsibility,'' Hubbard said. ``He said he saw the
20/20 thing (on Internet predators) and he had a feeling that was what
was happening.''
Kelly also brought alcohol, which he told deputies was in a gym bag,
but according to Hubbard, Kelly said he didn't buy it for the meeting.
Kelly -- who is 6 feet, 7 inches -- told Hubbard he is a professional
basketball player, with the Xzuberant Faith Basketball League, a
Christian-based sport league. The league is under investigation for
fraud by the Canton Police Department, according to Lt. Jerry Steiner.
Kelly is in the Medina County Jail and is to appear in Medina
Municipal Court today.
Überwench #658 Now a *real* atheist!
Dame Liz the Undaunted Ath.D BAAWA
Charter Member of SMASH
and Queen of the known universe
.
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| User: "Robibnikoff" |
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| Title: Re: Sex Crimes Unit foils Valentine's Day meeting |
16 Feb 2006 06:17:23 AM |
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"Liz" <ehuth1@donotspam.com> wrote in message
news:e1p8v158ilf30tpkdpdmc6amn5um6ehb2b@4ax.com...
http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/news/13876167.htm
Young Valentine turns out to be cop
By Gina Mace
Special to the Beacon Journal
MEDINA - With pages of Bible Scriptures on the seat of his Pontiac
Sunfire and condoms in his pocket, a 26-year-old Fairlawn man was
ready for his Valentine's Day encounter with someone he thought was a
15-year-old girl.
But like more than a dozen before him since the inception of the
Internet Sex Crimes Unit, Kevin Kelly instead met members of the
Medina County Sheriff's Department. And the 15-year-old girl who
allegedly caught Kelly's attention Monday was in reality 1st Sgt. Gary
Hubbard.
``It was five minutes into the conversation before he started talking
about sex,'' Hubbard said.
Kelly suggested that the ``girl'' take off school Tuesday and meet
him, Hubbard said.
As soon as Kelly realized what was happening, Hubbard said, he was
contrite.
``He took full responsibility,'' Hubbard said. ``He said he saw the
20/20 thing (on Internet predators) and he had a feeling that was what
was happening.''
Kelly also brought alcohol, which he told deputies was in a gym bag,
but according to Hubbard, Kelly said he didn't buy it for the meeting.
Kelly -- who is 6 feet, 7 inches -- told Hubbard he is a professional
basketball player, with the Xzuberant Faith Basketball League, a
Christian-based sport league. The league is under investigation for
fraud by the Canton Police Department, according to Lt. Jerry Steiner.
Kelly is in the Medina County Jail and is to appear in Medina
Municipal Court today.
Oh my. Good christians all around <cough>
--
------
Robyn
Resident Witchypoo
#1557
Science doesn't burn people at the stake for disagreeing - Vic Sagerquist
.
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| User: "Liz" |
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| Title: Re: Sex Crimes Unit foils Valentine's Day meeting |
16 Feb 2006 06:40:00 AM |
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On Thu, 16 Feb 2006 07:17:23 -0500, "Robibnikoff"
<witchypoo@broomstick.com> in news message
<45j8qgF6tk2sU1@individual.net> wrote:
"Liz" <ehuth1@donotspam.com> wrote in message
news:e1p8v158ilf30tpkdpdmc6amn5um6ehb2b@4ax.com...
http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/news/13876167.htm
Young Valentine turns out to be cop
By Gina Mace
Special to the Beacon Journal
MEDINA - With pages of Bible Scriptures on the seat of his Pontiac
Sunfire and condoms in his pocket, a 26-year-old Fairlawn man was
ready for his Valentine's Day encounter with someone he thought was a
15-year-old girl.
But like more than a dozen before him since the inception of the
Internet Sex Crimes Unit, Kevin Kelly instead met members of the
Medina County Sheriff's Department. And the 15-year-old girl who
allegedly caught Kelly's attention Monday was in reality 1st Sgt. Gary
Hubbard.
``It was five minutes into the conversation before he started talking
about sex,'' Hubbard said.
Kelly suggested that the ``girl'' take off school Tuesday and meet
him, Hubbard said.
As soon as Kelly realized what was happening, Hubbard said, he was
contrite.
``He took full responsibility,'' Hubbard said. ``He said he saw the
20/20 thing (on Internet predators) and he had a feeling that was what
was happening.''
Kelly also brought alcohol, which he told deputies was in a gym bag,
but according to Hubbard, Kelly said he didn't buy it for the meeting.
Kelly -- who is 6 feet, 7 inches -- told Hubbard he is a professional
basketball player, with the Xzuberant Faith Basketball League, a
Christian-based sport league. The league is under investigation for
fraud by the Canton Police Department, according to Lt. Jerry Steiner.
Kelly is in the Medina County Jail and is to appear in Medina
Municipal Court today.
Oh my. Good christians all around <cough>
It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood. <shakes head>
Überwench #658 Now a *real* atheist!
Dame Liz the Undaunted Ath.D BAAWA
Charter Member of SMASH
and Queen of the known universe
.
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| User: "Liz" |
|
| Title: Re: Sex Crimes Unit foils Valentine's Day meeting |
16 Feb 2006 06:56:56 AM |
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On Thu, 16 Feb 2006 07:17:23 -0500, "Robibnikoff"
<witchypoo@broomstick.com> in news message
<45j8qgF6tk2sU1@individual.net> wrote:
"Liz" <ehuth1@donotspam.com> wrote in message
news:e1p8v158ilf30tpkdpdmc6amn5um6ehb2b@4ax.com...
http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/news/13876167.htm
[-----]
Kelly also brought alcohol, which he told deputies was in a gym bag,
but according to Hubbard, Kelly said he didn't buy it for the meeting.
Kelly -- who is 6 feet, 7 inches -- told Hubbard he is a professional
basketball player, with the Xzuberant Faith Basketball League, a
Christian-based sport league. The league is under investigation for
fraud by the Canton Police Department, according to Lt. Jerry Steiner.
Kelly is in the Medina County Jail and is to appear in Medina
Municipal Court today.
Oh my. Good christians all around <cough>
Followup:
Saturday, February 11, 2006
By Todd Porter REPOSITORY SPORTS WRITER
Related Stories
League hoped to build its base through local churches
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CANTON - Another fledgling minor league basketball team is trying to
start up in Canton, but former employees and players claim it’s a
farce or a scam.
Hundreds of people appear to be out $150 to $200 that Xzuberant Faith
Basketball Association President Michael W. Heard has collected, and
local law-enforcement officials want to investigate.
Heard denied anyone is out money. He said players willingly signed a
waiver that allowed him to keep registration fees that initially were
to be returned.
I totally, totally understand why people are nervous, Heard said
Friday. I’m a young black man working to do something positive. My
intentions were my very best. I made some business mistakes, and I’m
working hard to correct all of them.
ALL ARE WELCOME
Heard’s XFBA promotes itself as a religious-based professional
basketball league operating in 50 cities. The league’s Web site
promises that no player regardless of talent will be refused a
contract that would pay as much as $1,400 a week, plus full medical
and dental benefits.
Part of the business plan is to solicit churches in each of the
league’s cities to buy tickets to wholesome family entertainment
rooted in God.
But critics, such as former employees Sheneva Williams and Mechelle
Morelli and player Al Burge, say the league really is rooted in false
promises.
The Repository went to a Ninth Street NW residence late Thursday night
to ask Heard about allegations he took registration money from
players, employees and coaches in return for promises of pro
contracts.
Heard wouldn’t come out of the house, but XFBA Chief Operating Officer
Gregory Railey answered some questions. Heard called a reporter back
Friday morning.
All the games that were scheduled have been canceled because we didn’t
sell any tickets, Heard said. And everyone signed a waiver that the
(registration) money would not be returned if they agreed to try out.
Why a tryout if all players are accepted?
I wanted to get some guys who wanted to play basketball and believe in
what we’re doing, Heard said. I was thinking these guys were going to
be really good. We didn’t expect to have so many willing to
participate.
When I seen I made a mistake I’ve been open about that I decided to
let people come on with a tryout. We offered every player their money
back, or they could try out.
ADMISSION for MEDIA PARTY
Egypt Burge and her husband, Al, attended the league’s media launch
party at the Southeast Community Center on Jan. 7. The Repository got
no announcement of the party, and it’s unclear if any media attended.
Heard said ESPN was there as well as television shows, but he couldn’t
recall which shows. He also said a release was sent to The Repository
in December.
As many as 1,000 people did attend, according to three who were there.
And it cost them.
Former league employee Shevena Williams said players’ relatives each
paid $25 to enter the Southeast Community Center that day to watch
their sons, husbands or boyfriends sign pro contracts.
Generally, people were there from word of mouth, Williams said. They
ran out of chairs. People were standing. There was a line out the door
outside to get in.
It was packed, Egypt Burge agreed. If the fire marshal had come in,
he’d have shut it down. ... It was ridiculous. They had a short, dirty
red carpet there to walk on.
When Burge saw someone walking with an ESPN microphone, she became
skeptical. Why would a national sports network cover a minor league
basketball event that was poorly run, she asked.
WHO AGREED TO WHAT?
League literature promoted the XFBA as open to all; no player,
regardless of skills, was to be turned away.
Because we do not have tryouts and because this is a Christian Based
League, we will not refuse to accept any young man that desires to
play for the XFBA, it explains.
But there was a caveat.
To quickly separate the serious players from those who are not as
serious, each player is required to pay a one-time registration fee of
$200.
The league promised to refund the $200 in the first paycheck. Al Burge
said the first paychecks never came.
They were supposed to be issued Jan. 30, according to the contract. Al
Burge said he was told he’d be paid Feb. 15, but is coming to realize
that’s not going to happen.
Heard said he has no record that Al Burge was on an XFBA team. But
even if he were, Heard added, he shouldn’t have expected a check yet.
They know we don’t get paid without playing a game, Heard said. Games
are supposed to start this week. I had to let everyone in the
marketing department go ... because after a month no one produced one
ticket sale.
He acknowledged that now he doesn’t know when the first game will be
played, and planned to meet this weekend to restructure.
Neither Railey nor Heard would discuss the league’s finances nor how
much money the XFBA made off tryouts and the launch party.
Sheneva Williams, hired as a marketing administrator on Jan. 10,
estimated that more than 400 players who attended the launch party
paid a registration fee of $150 to $200. Others attending, estimated
at more than 500, paid the $25 to enter the black-tie affair.
GOD AND MONEY
It was spectators who came to support a local black man who was doing
something we thought was wholesome, Williams said. Heard used himself
as a man of God to deceive all of us. ... When a local black man is
doing something that you think is positive in the community, you want
to support that, especially when it’s supposed to be from a man of
God.
Heard said there has been no deception. I’m just being me. I’m not
using my relationship with God, or my religion to convince people.
Heard insisted he’s made no money. I had expenses to pay. I didn’t
make a dime off it.
He wasn’t the only one.
In addition to signing player contracts, Heard hired team marketing
administrators who were to cold-call churches in team areas to sell
tickets.
We called white and black churches, said Williams. This started with
churches around here and grew. We had 165 cities we were marketing in.
Williams said the league planned teams in the Atlanta, Ga., area as
well as St. Louis and Kentucky and elsewhere, and that Heard promised
to pay her $1,200 a week.
She said she was hired Jan. 10, got just $300 and was fired Jan. 30
for standing up to Mr. Heard. I realized something wasn’t right.
Railey said marketing employees were fired for not getting results.
Morelli said she, too, started on Jan. 10 and worked in marketing
until Feb. 3. She said the department was to secure arenas mostly
throughout the Midwest and to sell at least 10 tickets to churches in
those areas.
The arenas started calling us back the week we were fired and said
they hadn’t received any money to secure the venues, Morelli said.
These were all out-of-state places.
She thinks it all was a fraud.
I believe they intended to collect money from players, get churches to
buy tickets and then not secure the venues and fold up, Morelli said.
Why else would you fire the whole marketing department the day we were
supposed to be paid?
When they were paid, she said, it was with $300 money orders instead
of a company check.
Morelli confirmed, too, 400 to 500 players came to the Canton launch
from Ohio and elsewhere. The tryout took place in Columbus.
There were another 200 players or so there who paid the registration
fee, Morelli said. The tryout consisted of a bunch of 10-minute games.
How can you judge someone’s talent in 10 minutes?
Heard still intends to have a team in Canton, but he said he won’t
play a game in the city.
This community has totally, totally rejected everything we tried to do
based on the words and gossip of others, he said.
I don’t know what the future holds.
CRIMINAL CHARGES?
Canton Safety Director Bernard Hunt and City Law Director Joseph
Martuccio both said the future may hold a criminal investigation.
Railey told The Repository the XFBA met with Hunt and everything was
OK.
Actually, responded Hunt, I have some serious, serious concerns. I
told them this whole thing looks a little weird to me. ... Come on.
You pay 200 bucks and you’re automatically in a league that pays you
$1,400 a week? I said to them, ‘Who would believe this?’
If it walks like a duck, talks like a duck and looks like a duck, it’s
probably a duck.
So far, said Hunt, no one has called his office or the police asking
for an investigation.
Though he hadn’t looked at it closely yet, things are beginning to
look like this was a rip-off, Martuccio said.
The key question to determine whether something rises to the level of
a criminal fraud is whether the act was intentional.
If it was knowingly designed to say, ‘Here is our brand new league,
we’re well-dressed and well-spoken and disciplined, and if all along
the plan was to get application fees and fold, there is a fraud there,
Martuccio said.
NEEDING MORE INFORMATION
As word of the XFBA began to spread, City Councilwoman Kelly Zachary,
D-4, began hearing people were stiffed. The Southeast Community Center
is in her ward, and she started to investigate.
I’ve always been taught that if something is too good to be true, it
usually is, Zachary said. Whether or not it’s a scam, I can’t say for
sure. I believe if it’s not a scam, and it’s a poorly orchestrated
venture, then Mr. Heard and his colleagues should be more forthcoming.
Zachary estimated Heard’s group made $12,500 at the launch party.
He made a nice little chunk of change on that, and (few have) gotten
paid, Zachary said.
~
http://72.14.207.104/search?q=cache:gdzJKBxwe0EJ:www.cantonrep.com/index.php%3FID%3D268742%26r%3D0%26Category%3D11+Christian+basketball+league+Canton+Oh&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=2&lr=lang_en
I'm unsure how the original pervert could claim he was a professional
basketball player when they have never played a game. I especially
liked the quote:
"All the games that were scheduled have been canceled because we
didn’t sell any tickets."
Curiouser and curiouser.
Überwench #658 Now a *real* atheist!
Dame Liz the Undaunted Ath.D BAAWA
Charter Member of SMASH
and Queen of the known universe
.
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| User: "Robibnikoff" |
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| Title: Re: Sex Crimes Unit foils Valentine's Day meeting |
16 Feb 2006 01:57:05 PM |
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"Liz" <ehuth1@donotspam.com> wrote in message
news:nms8v1le3v0mncr1nje46cv4s3c5ct6o2k@4ax.com...
On Thu, 16 Feb 2006 07:17:23 -0500, "Robibnikoff"
<witchypoo@broomstick.com> in news message
<45j8qgF6tk2sU1@individual.net> wrote:
"Liz" <ehuth1@donotspam.com> wrote in message
news:e1p8v158ilf30tpkdpdmc6amn5um6ehb2b@4ax.com...
http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/news/13876167.htm
[-----]
Kelly also brought alcohol, which he told deputies was in a gym bag,
but according to Hubbard, Kelly said he didn't buy it for the meeting.
Kelly -- who is 6 feet, 7 inches -- told Hubbard he is a professional
basketball player, with the Xzuberant Faith Basketball League, a
Christian-based sport league. The league is under investigation for
fraud by the Canton Police Department, according to Lt. Jerry Steiner.
Kelly is in the Medina County Jail and is to appear in Medina
Municipal Court today.
Oh my. Good christians all around <cough>
Followup:
Saturday, February 11, 2006
By Todd Porter REPOSITORY SPORTS WRITER
Related Stories
League hoped to build its base through local churches
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CANTON - Another fledgling minor league basketball team is trying to
start up in Canton, but former employees and players claim it's a
farce or a scam.
Wow. Is it just me or are the majority of the scam artists out there
christians?
--
Robyn
Resident Witchypoo
#1557
.
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| User: "stoney" |
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| Title: Re: Sex Crimes Unit foils Valentine's Day meeting |
17 Feb 2006 05:07:49 PM |
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On Thu, 16 Feb 2006 14:57:05 -0500, "Robibnikoff"
<witchypoo@broomstick.com> wrote in alt.atheism
"Liz" <ehuth1@donotspam.com> wrote in message
news:nms8v1le3v0mncr1nje46cv4s3c5ct6o2k@4ax.com...
On Thu, 16 Feb 2006 07:17:23 -0500, "Robibnikoff"
<witchypoo@broomstick.com> in news message
<45j8qgF6tk2sU1@individual.net> wrote:
"Liz" <ehuth1@donotspam.com> wrote in message
news:e1p8v158ilf30tpkdpdmc6amn5um6ehb2b@4ax.com...
http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/news/13876167.htm
[-----]
Kelly also brought alcohol, which he told deputies was in a gym bag,
but according to Hubbard, Kelly said he didn't buy it for the meeting.
Kelly -- who is 6 feet, 7 inches -- told Hubbard he is a professional
basketball player, with the Xzuberant Faith Basketball League, a
Christian-based sport league. The league is under investigation for
fraud by the Canton Police Department, according to Lt. Jerry Steiner.
Kelly is in the Medina County Jail and is to appear in Medina
Municipal Court today.
Oh my. Good christians all around <cough>
Followup:
Saturday, February 11, 2006
By Todd Porter REPOSITORY SPORTS WRITER
Related Stories
League hoped to build its base through local churches
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CANTON - Another fledgling minor league basketball team is trying to
start up in Canton, but former employees and players claim it's a
farce or a scam.
Wow. Is it just me or are the majority of the scam artists out there
christians?
It isn't just you.
--
Fundies and trolls are cordially invited to
shove a wooden cross up their arses and rotate
at a high rate of speed. I trust you'll
be 'blessed' with a cornucopia of splinters.
.
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| User: "Robibnikoff" |
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| Title: Re: Sex Crimes Unit foils Valentine's Day meeting |
17 Feb 2006 07:47:05 PM |
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"stoney" <stoney@the.net> wrote in message
news:nplcv1lsr1tc8tquqs98kg0jenlb2j750p@4ax.com...
On Thu, 16 Feb 2006 14:57:05 -0500, "Robibnikoff"
<witchypoo@broomstick.com> wrote in alt.atheism
"Liz" <ehuth1@donotspam.com> wrote in message
news:nms8v1le3v0mncr1nje46cv4s3c5ct6o2k@4ax.com...
On Thu, 16 Feb 2006 07:17:23 -0500, "Robibnikoff"
<witchypoo@broomstick.com> in news message
<45j8qgF6tk2sU1@individual.net> wrote:
"Liz" <ehuth1@donotspam.com> wrote in message
news:e1p8v158ilf30tpkdpdmc6amn5um6ehb2b@4ax.com...
http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/news/13876167.htm
[-----]
Kelly also brought alcohol, which he told deputies was in a gym bag,
but according to Hubbard, Kelly said he didn't buy it for the meeting.
Kelly -- who is 6 feet, 7 inches -- told Hubbard he is a professional
basketball player, with the Xzuberant Faith Basketball League, a
Christian-based sport league. The league is under investigation for
fraud by the Canton Police Department, according to Lt. Jerry Steiner.
Kelly is in the Medina County Jail and is to appear in Medina
Municipal Court today.
Oh my. Good christians all around <cough>
Followup:
Saturday, February 11, 2006
By Todd Porter REPOSITORY SPORTS WRITER
Related Stories
League hoped to build its base through local churches
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CANTON - Another fledgling minor league basketball team is trying to
start up in Canton, but former employees and players claim it's a
farce or a scam.
Wow. Is it just me or are the majority of the scam artists out there
christians?
It isn't just you.
Whenever my husband comes across a televangelist while flipping through the
channels, he mutters "fucking scam artists fleecing the sheep". I don't
know what bothers him more - the televangelists or the morons that give
these people money ;(
--
------
Robyn
Resident Witchypoo
#1557
Science doesn't burn people at the stake for disagreeing - Vic Sagerquist
.
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| User: "stoney" |
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| Title: Re: Sex Crimes Unit foils Valentine's Day meeting |
18 Feb 2006 01:50:16 PM |
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On Fri, 17 Feb 2006 20:47:05 -0500, "Robibnikoff"
<witchypoo@broomstick.com> wrote in alt.atheism
"stoney" <stoney@the.net> wrote in message
news:nplcv1lsr1tc8tquqs98kg0jenlb2j750p@4ax.com...
On Thu, 16 Feb 2006 14:57:05 -0500, "Robibnikoff"
<witchypoo@broomstick.com> wrote in alt.atheism
[]
CANTON - Another fledgling minor league basketball team is trying to
start up in Canton, but former employees and players claim it's a
farce or a scam.
Wow. Is it just me or are the majority of the scam artists out there
christians?
It isn't just you.
Whenever my husband comes across a televangelist while flipping through the
channels, he mutters "fucking scam artists fleecing the sheep". I don't
know what bothers him more - the televangelists or the morons that give
these people money ;(
Probably the latter since they make the former possible
--
Fundies and trolls are cordially invited to
shove a wooden cross up their arses and rotate
at a high rate of speed. I trust you'll
be 'blessed' with a cornucopia of splinters.
.
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| User: "skyeyes" |
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| Title: Re: Sex Crimes Unit foils Valentine's Day meeting |
16 Feb 2006 02:01:32 PM |
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Robibnikoff wrote:
Wow. Is it just me or are the majority of the scam artists out there
christians?
It's not just you. ;->
Brenda Nelson, A.A.#34
EAC Professor of Feline Thermometrics and Cat-Herding
.
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| User: "Liz" |
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| Title: Re: Sex Crimes Unit foils Valentine's Day meeting |
16 Feb 2006 05:50:14 PM |
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On 16 Feb 2006 12:01:32 -0800, "skyeyes" <skyeyes@dakotacom.net> in
news message <1140120092.217508.73500@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com>
wrote:
Robibnikoff wrote:
Wow. Is it just me or are the majority of the scam artists out there
christians?
It's not just you. ;->
I think it is because there is a built-in network of easy marks.
Christians are primed to believe. The religion says that impossible
things are possible. So if a fellow Christian tells you that you too
can be a professional basketball player and spread the gospel at the
same time, of course, you will jump at the chance to be parted with
your money.
Liz #658 BAAWA
Noone can break my faith, if the bible said
that the sky was greenish pink, then i would look up
and see greenish pink. - anonymous Christian
.
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