Blog Heap of Links for the day 23 February 2009

Police and federal agents have rescued 10 child prostitutes and arrested 35 people in Western Washington as part of a nationwide sweep aimed at curbing the sexual exploitation of children.... ationwide, "Operation Cross Country III" took 48 child prostitutes into protective custody and police and agents in 29 cities — including Seattle, Everett and Tacoma — arrested 571 people for investigation of a number of state and federal charges involving the domestic trafficking of children for sex. ...

In the four years since a Texas woman was killed when a piece of concrete fell from an interstate bridge and crashed through her windshield, more than two dozen other people have filed similar claims against the state. Although no deaths were reported, information provided to The Associated Press under an open records request shows 26 people have filed claims against the state involving falling concrete since Osborn's fatal accident in June 2004.

[Two great lines in this article:] If you ever put any content on the Internet, expect it to stay there. [and] fighting the Internet is as futile as trying to wade into the ocean and control the tides.

The 20-gauge shotgun an 11-year-old Pennsylvania boy used to blow away his father's pregnant fiance was a Christmas present from his gun-loving dad, cops and family revealed Sunday. ... Jordan is being charged as an adult in the killing of his stepmother-to-be in her bed Friday morning in their Wampum, Pa., home. She was eight months pregnant. Jordan's lawyer, Dennis Elisco, said he plans to ask for the boy to be released on bail Monday and have the case moved to juvenile court. Elisco says there's no clear motive for the shooting, and he maintains his client's innocence.

"Adam@Home" cartoonist Brian Basset is getting a helping hand from former Universal Press Syndicate cartoonist Rob Harrell of "Big Top" fame. Beginning with the Feb. 23 "Adam@ Home" comic, Harrell will take over the strip's art and will assist in its production. Basset's hoping the move will free up more time to dedicate to his other comic strip, "Red & Rover."

Ubuntu 9.10, Karmic Koala, has been officially announced, and promises to change, among other things, the one problem keeping Linux from world domination: the poop-colored desktop theme.

Social networking websites are causing alarming changes in the brains of young users, an eminent scientist has warned. Sites such as Facebook, Twitter and Bebo are said to shorten attention spans, encourage instant gratification and make young people more self-centred. [Yeah, sure. Think of the children! Think of the childreennnnnn!]

1977 public service film from the House Committee on Un-American Activities informing the country of the Keene Act - a law passed to eliminate the costumed menace and to put an end to masked vigilantism.

An alert citizen, quick police response and an emergency run for chicken nuggets made for a joyous reunion Sunday on the Northwest Side. Police brought 4-year-old Gael Dominguez back to his home in the 2400 block of North Lowell almost four hours after he was reported missing.