Hemingway Wisdom

 

A Look Back At The Beaton Marionette's 'The Nativity' And 'Twas The Night Before Christmas'

I recall a conversation I had with my granddaughter some years ago about old Christmas traditions. I told her that her grandparents and millions of others used to watch the Beaton Marionettes on TV every year as they performed The Nativity and Twas the Night Before Christmas. 

Marionettes pouncing from strings must seem very low-tech and primitive to a preteen and teenager today, but when we were children in the 1950's and 1960's the marionettes were magical, and we loved them. We watched them every year as we grew up.

The two programs were narrated by the late, great actor Alexander Scourby (seen in the above photo). Scourby also portrayed C. Clement Moore, the author of Twas the Night Before Christmas.

The TV programs brings back fond memories of Christmas as a child. My parents did not have a lot of money, but they always provided a grand Christmas holiday for our family.

You can watch the two short programs via the below links: 

Twas the Night Before Christmas

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzNJxLvbRrM

Part One of The Nativity

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXCNTW2glEw&playnext=1&list=PLEE47A548FC0AC749&index=15

Part Two of The Nativity

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xD1sCa5pBLo&feature=related 

California Political Operative Arrested On Complaint Alleging He Acted As Illegal Agent Of People’s Republic Of China

The U.S. Justice Department released the below information:

A criminal complaint filed Dec. 17 and unsealed this morning charges Yaoning “Mike” Sun, 64, for allegedly acting as an illegal agent of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) while serving as the campaign manager for a political candidate who was elected in 2022 to the city council of a California city. Sun was arrested today is expected to make his initial appearance this afternoon in the Central District of California.

Sun is also charged with conspiring with another man, Chen Jun, who was sentenced to prison last month for bribery and acting as an illegal agent of the PRC government.

According to the complaint, Sun served as the campaign manager and close personal confidante for a Southern California politician (referred to in the complaint as Individual 1) who ran for local elected office in 2022. During the campaign, Sun communicated with Chen regarding his efforts to get Individual 1 elected. Chen allegedly discussed with Chinese government officials how the PRC could “influence” local politicians in the United States, particularly on the issue of Taiwan. In November 2022, shortly after Individual 1 was elected to office, Chen instructed Sun to prepare a report on the election that was sent to Chinese government officials, who responded positively and expressed thanks, according to the complaint.

About a month after Individual 1’s election, Chen arranged a lunch at a Rowland Heights restaurant with Sun and others, a gathering that Chen described to a PRC official as a “core member lunch,” the complaint alleges. Chen subsequently described the lunch as “successful” as participants agreed to establish a “US-China Friendship Promotional Association.” While Individual 1 did not attend the meeting, Chen identified Individual 1 as being part of “the basic team dedicated for us,” in a communication to a Chinese government official.

In early 2023, Chen instructed Sun to write another report for Chinese officials describing “[Sun] and [Chen] cultivating and assisting [Individual 1’s] success,” according to the complaint.

In February 2023, as the second report to PRC officials was being finalized, Sun forwarded to Chen a proposal to combat “anti-China forces” by participating in a U.S. Independence Day parade in Washington, D.C, according to the complaint. Sun proposed that the PRC government provide an $80,000 budget to support his and Chen’s efforts in the United States.

After Chen and Sun discussed a planned trip to China to meet with “leadership,” and after Chen directed Sun to schedule a meeting with the Chinese consul general in Los Angeles, Sun and Individual 1 traveled to China in August 2023.

If convicted, Sun faces a statutory maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for acting as an illegal agent of a foreign government. Sun also faces a statutory maximum penalty of five years in prison for conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The FBI is investigating the case.     

Assistant U.S. Attorneys David Ryan and Amanda Elbogen for the Central District of California and Trial Attorney Garrett Coyle of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are prosecuting the case.

A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Davis Departing: On This Day In 1971 I Left The Aircraft Carrier USS Kitty Hawk

On this day in 1971 I saluted the ship’s American flag sharply and then walked down the brow of the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk for the last time as a young sailor in San Diego. 

I served aboard the Kitty Hawk from the 1970 overhaul in Bremerton, Washington to our sea trials from our home port in San Diego, and on to Southeast Asia for the 1970-1971 WESTPAC cruise, the aircraft carrier's 5th Vietnam cruise. 

I served on "Yankee Station" in the Gulf of Tonkin in the South China Sea off the coast of North Vietnam during the aircraft carrier’s online periods. And I made port of calls to Honolulu, Subic Bay in the Philippines, Sasebo, Japan and Hong Kong.

It was quite an adventure for a young man.

I was 17 & 1/2 years old when I boarded the Kitty Hawk and 19 & 1/2 when I departed the carrier. 

Even after all these years, I recall vividly my two interesting years on the great aircraft carrier. 

I have mementos, photos and a framed large poster of the USS Kitty Hawk in my basement office and library, which reminds me daily of my time on the USS Kitty Hawk.

I'm proud of my service on the USS Kitty Hawk.

Arrested: My Broad & Liberty Piece On A Suspected Thief Who Is Alleged To Have Stolen More Than $160, 000 Worth Of Items From Parked Cars

Broad & Liberty published my piece on the arrest of a man whom police believe stole more than $160,000 worth of items from parked cars.

You can read the piece via the below link or the below text:

Paul Davis: Arrested — suspected thief is alleged to have stolen more than $160,000 worth of items from parked cars. 

Some years ago, I discovered that my parked car in South Philadelphia had been broken into and several items had been stolen.

My wife’s sunglasses, a couple of CDs and some change had been taken from the front seat. And three items on the back seat floor that my wife planned to return to a store were also taken. 

As I noted in an earlier piece here, a police officer showed up to take a report. I told the officer there were several cameras on the block that could identify the thief or thieves. But for such a minor crime, the officer said, shaking his head, no detective would be assigned to investigate it.

After the break-in, I spoke to a veteran Philadelphia detective I knew. He told me that car break-ins were preventable.

“Car break-ins, or smash and grabs, are crimes of opportunity,” the detective told me. “Many victims leave valuables in their parked cars, such as shopping bags, a briefcase, a cell phone or a laptop, and that creates an opportunity for a thief. If you must leave something in your car, hide it under the seat or under a blanket. Keep it out of plain sight.”

Theft from vehicles is a minor crime, but it is a quality-of-life crime that profoundly affects the victims who feel violated.    

I later spoke to a man who was devastated on Christmas Eve when he discovered that a thief had broken into his car and stole a trunk full of Christmas presents. 

The man had hidden the gifts in the trunk of his car so his two young children who still believed in Santa Claus would not find them. On Christmas Eve, he went out to his parked car to retrieve the gifts and saw that his car’s front window had been broken and the interior of the car was torn apart. Several items that he left in the car’s interior were gone. He also discovered that his trunk had been raided and a dozen wrapped gifts were gone. 

He called the police, and a police officer came and took a report. The victim called his brother and sister, and thanks to the support of his family members, his children’s Christmas celebration was somewhat salvaged. 

The anti-Santa thief was never caught.    

But one suspected major thief who stole from cars was recently caught.   

On December 12th, Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner held a press conference to announce that Chaun Davis (no relation) was arrested and charged for his role as ringleader in what Krasner called “a brazen and sweeping theft scheme that victimized dozens of Philadelphia residents.” 

The thefts were in excess of $160,000 worth of items that were stolen from vehicles that were often damaged in the course of these crimes.

Joining Krasner at the press conference were Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel, Captain Robert McKeever, Commanding Officer of Southwest Detectives Division, Assistant District Attorney William Fritze, the supervisor of the Gun Violence Task Force, Assistant District Attorney Patrick Doughty, the District Attorney’s Office’s Economic Crimes Division and Carjacking Enforcement Unit, and Assistant District Attorney Anna Walters from the Gun Violence Task Force. 

According to the District Attorney’s Office, Davis is charged with dozens of thefts from vehicle offenses he allegedly committed across the city between January and October of this year. These items include firearms, cash, credit cards, electronics, and even police equipment such as bulletproof vests, firearm magazines, and gas masks. The District Attorney’s Office believes that in three of these incidents, Davis worked with two co-conspirators. 

Stolen goods and ammunition seized at the suspect’s home. (Picture from Phila. DA office)

Charges currently include: seventeen counts of felony and misdemeanor Receiving Stolen Property, sixteen counts of felony and misdemeanor Theft by Unlawful Taking, fourteen counts of Theft from Motor Vehicle (M1), two counts of VUFA 6105 (F1), and related Robbery (F1) and Conspiracy (F1) charges.

Davis is also under investigation in other jurisdictions beyond Philadelphia as well, including Lower Merion and Montgomery counties. According to the District Attorney’s Office, Davis has a lengthy multi-state criminal history for other offenses dating back to 1995. These crimes include illegal possession of firearms, Burglary, and Forgery. 

The District Attorney’s Office stated that this remains an active investigation. Davis is currently in custody on $1.25 million bail.

“Thanks to tireless police work, Chaun Davis’ wide-ranging crime spree is coming to an end,” said Krasner. “My office is also taking this case incredibly seriously, as the Gun Violence Task Force and the DAO’s Economic Crimes Division and Carjacking Enforcement Unit are working together on the prosecution of this defendant.”

Krasner went on to thank the Philadelphia City Council and Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker for their support of enforcement initiatives such as the DA’s Carjacking Enforcement Unit in 2023. 

“This invaluable support from our city partners, simply put, enables our Carjacking Enforcement Unit, Economic Crimes Division, and the Philadelphia Police Department to collaborate and hold career criminals like Mr. Davis accountable,” Krasner added.

Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel stated, “It’s very important for the community to know that the Department is working collaboratively with the DA’s Office and our other partners to ensure that we address ALL crime.

“Thanks to the dedicated investigation by 9th District Police officers and detectives, we were able to bring this prolific offender in and now he will face justice. I also want to remind Philadelphians that this is the time of year when we ask you to be very diligent about where you keep items in your cars. Help us with prevention by not leaving valuables unattended.”

Paul Davis, a Philadelphia writer and frequent contributor to Broad + Liberty, also contributes to Counterterrorism magazine and writes the “On Crime” column for the Washington Times. He can be reached at pauldavisoncrime.com. 

You can read my previous Broad & Liberty pieces via the below link: 

You searched for Paul Davis - Broad + Liberty 

Note: Above and below are some photos released by the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office:

One Reason Why I Love Christmas Songs: Christmas Carols Still Defy Secularism

Back in 2005 I wrote a piece for the Philadelphia Inquirer about Christmas carols. 

I love Christmas carols and I noted in the piece that the most popular Christmas songs were written and performed by the best composers, singers and musicians in the business.

"The songs are also perhaps the last public medium for a politically incorrect true Christmas celebration,' I wrote in the piece. "I'm referring to the unabashed artistic celebration of the birth and life and Jesus Christ."

You can read the piece below:  

Note: The above CD cover was of a CD my daughter bought me for Christmas a few years back.

You can click on the above piece to enlarge. 

My Threatcon Column: A Look Back At The FBI’s Most Wanted Fugitive Recently Captured in Wales

 Counterterrorism magazine online published my latest Threatcon column.

You can read the column via the below link or the below text:

IACSP - ThreatCon Articles

Last month, one of the FBI’s Most Wanted Terrorist fugitives, Daniel Andreas San Diego, was arrested in Wales in the U.K. with assistance from the British government.

Who is he and why was he on the FBI’s Most Wanted Terrorist List, many have asked.

The 46-year-old fugitive was placed on the FBI’s Most Wanted Terrorist List in 2009 as he was wanted in connection with two animal rights-related bombings in Northern California 20 years ago.

The FBI announced in 2009 that San Diego was added to the FBI’s Most Wanted Terrorists list - the first domestic terrorist to be included with international terrorists such as Usama Bin Laden.

 

According to the FBI, his domestic acts of terror were planned to destroy property, to cause economic hardship for the companies he targeted, and possibly to take lives. One of his bombs was laced with nails to create potentially deadly shrapnel. The FBI offered a reward of up to $250,000 for information directly leading to his arrest.

 

At a press conference in 2009 at FBI Headquarters in Washington, Michael J. Heimbach, then-Assistant Director of the FBI’s Counterterrorism Division, stated, “We have added San Diego to the Most Wanted Terrorists list to increase public awareness about this domestic terrorist fugitive and to aid in his arrest. We will not relent until San Diego is apprehended and his potential for future acts of violence and destruction is eliminated.”

 

The FBI considers animal rights and environmental extremism to pose a significant domestic terror threat. 

 

The FBI in 2009 stated that San Diego, known to be involved with a group called SHAC- Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty- was wanted for his alleged involvement in bombing two biotech facilities that did business with Huntingdon Life Sciences, a company that conducts animal experimentation for the medical and pharmaceutical industries.

 

“The first bombing occurred on August 28, 2003, outside Chiron Life Science Center in Emeryville, California. When authorities responded, a second bomb was discovered, but exploded before it could be disarmed, raising the possibility that the device was planted specifically to target first responders,” the FBI stated.

 

“Less than a month later, another bomb exploded outside a company based in Pleasanton, California. That bomb was made with metal nails to create more powerful shrapnel and destruction. After each crime, claims of responsibly were posted on the Internet demanding that businesses end their affiliation with Huntington Life Sciences. Future violence was threatened if these demands were not met. Fortunately, no one died in the explosions, but property damage was extensive.

 

“San Diego was initially identified as a suspect after being stopped by a local police officer for a minor traffic violation in Pleasanton about an hour before the Pleasonton bombing. A subsequent search of his home and vehicle revealed bomb-making materials similar to those used in both attacks and he was later indicted for those crimes.”

 
San Diego has been on the run since October 2003. The FBI in 2009 noted that San Diego is six feet tall, weighs about 160 pounds, and has brown hair and brown eyes. He wears glasses, is known to carry a 9mm handgun, has traveled internationally, and may be living out of the country, possibly in Costa Rica.

 

“He is a vegan and avoids consuming or wearing anything made with animal products. He also has distinctive tattoos—one on his chest is round and shows burning hills and plains with the words “It only takes a spark.””

 

In the past, he has worked as a computer network specialist and with the operating system LINUX.

“Daniel San Diego’s arrest after more than 20 years as a fugitive for two bombings in the San Francisco area shows that no matter how long it takes, the FBI will find you and hold you accountable,” FBI Director Christopher Wray said in a statement. “There’s a right way and a wrong way to express your views in our country and turning to violence and destruction of property is not the right way.” 

Paul Davis’ Threatcon column covers crime, espionage and terrorism.