First Round We have the total package. Featuring Ermenegildo Zeg.na, Canali. Hugo Boss, Lacoste, Point Zero, Ben Sherman, 4-You and many more. Surprised? ohn Mark Karr's relatives to local television reports emanating were probably pulling their from John Ramsey's front lawn in offer of film rights to the Charlevoix at 5, 6 and 11 p.m., and it family's story as news spread tsunami- made no difference that JonBenet's like that the. creepy man who claimed father wasn't home. That was the local to have been with JonBenet Ramsey hook, and the media were sticking to when she died 10 years ago was just the script. lying. Local newspapers deemed the He got a nice, business-class plane story front-page worthy, and most trip out of it along with some free columnists gave their take as well, champagne and fried prawns, but even though Karr's family members, that's about it. including his ex-wife, were tell- It took less than two weeks to ing everyone that he wasn't even in quench the news-media firestorm Colorado at the time of JonBenet's around the 6-year-old beau- death. ty pageant queen's murder. During my Sunday Writing under the morning breakfast at assumed name "Daxis," Karr the Whistle Stop in had been in e-mail and Birmingham after the telephone contact with a story broke, a friend University of Colorado jour- asked me if I was the only nalism professor since 2002, columnist in America but didn't admit personal who wasn't writing about responsibility until April Harry Kirsbaum it. 2006. Authorities, then, I said I didn't want to Colu mnist began an earnest search, write anything until the finding him in Thailand. creep's DNA was checked. Since he also admitted to having Well now it's been checked, and sexual involvement with one of the "Daxis" got sprung just hours before schoolgirls he was teaching, Thai appearing before a Colorado judge. police pinched him once American And so it's off to California, where authorities learned his identity and he was arrested in 2001 for possessing whereabouts. child pornography and fled before he And that's when the big mistake could be tried. was made. If you filled every college In the end, the media and Karr got football stadium with prosecutors, I what they wanted. don't think you'd find more than one The media got a 12-day story and who wouldn't send an investigator the cable news networks got to use the to Thailand to take a cheek swab of old JonBenet theme music from 10 the guy before announcing that they years ago. solved this "Cold Case." Obviously, this Karr, who had traveled the globe prosecutor should have been a fan of "teaching" young female students and CS/, because we all know that people was about to spend some quality time lie, but DNA doesn't. in a Thai prison, played his obsession But some prosecutors and law with JonBenet to a media-hungry enforcement officers like to make prosecutor who had him escorted names for themselves, and what better from a future of living in a cage on way than to solve a big case in front of a dirt floor in Bangkok to the com- a pathologically hungry media. paratively luxurious confines of the With the war in Lebanon coming California penal system. to conclusion and weeks remaining The only other people who benefit before the Katrina and 9-11 anniver- from this story are the guys who saries could be aired, media needed dress up as this creep for Halloween another fixation. in a turquoise polo shirt and khakis JonBenet's "killer" would do. So pulled up to their armpits with no in rushed the hoard, including cable belt. II news hosts Nancy Grace and Greta Van Susteren, who both made them- Harry Kirsbaum's e-mail address is selves famous from the O.J. Simpson hkirsbaum@thejewishnews.com . case. We, here in Detroit, were treated j FRE fiNwi)'kk-- r, r'r!;ei.e Fashion Feels So Good www.freeds.com 519-258-6532 1-877-5-FREEDS MON, TUE, WED 9:30 am - 6 pm • THU & FRI 9:30 am - 9 pm SATURDAY 9 am - 6 pm • SUNDAY 12 noon - 4 pm ARI FREED DAN ORMAN The Birmingham Temple WAR ON SCIENCE Religious conservatives and religious fundamentalists are waging a war on science. If they succeed in their assault, the victims will be the American economy and the American people. Thursday, September 7t h at 8:00 PM Come and Hear: _,. • Gerald Greenwald , - Former Vice-President of Chrysler Former President of United Airlines Andy Meisner Michigan State Representative District 27 F . . THIS FORUM IS FREE TO THE PUBLIC Monday, September I I t h at 8:00 PM Confronting the Religious Right -, DISCUSSED BY RABBI SHERWIN T. WINE Upcoming Programs FORUMS DISCUSSED BY RABBI SHERWIN T. WINE War In Lebanon September 18 Hizbollah and Lebanon September 25 Israel and the Arab Enemy "-----.\ 44 ta i ttf .‘,.. , -, .\\w:,, A. The Birmingham Temple 2861 I W. I 2 Mile Rd. Farmington Hills, MI 48334 (west of Inkster Road) All Forums Start at 8:00 PM Members: Free Non-Members: Eight Dollars 248-477-1410 www.birminghamtemple.org info@birminghamtemple.org 1152900 August 31 . 2006 9