BANGKOK, Thailand -- U.S. officials announced the arrest of Roger
Clark in Thailand for extradition to New York for alleged narcotics
and money laundering conspiracies when he worked at Silk Road, "a
secret online marketplace for illegal drugs, hacking services, and a
whole host of other criminal activity."

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Internal Revenue Service
(IRS) along with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Department
of Homeland Security (DHS) and others led Thai police to arrest Clark
on December 3.

They nabbed Clark where he was residing on Thailand's touristy
tropical island of Koh Chang near the Cambodian border, according to
the Justice Department's announcement on December 4 which included
investigators' statements.

"Clark may have thought residing in Thailand would keep him out of
reach of U.S. authorities, but our international partnerships have
proven him wrong," FBI Assistant Director Diego Rodriguez said.

Clark, a Canadian, was being held in Thailand pending extradition to

We’ve seen so much horrendous death recently; the annual year-end listings seem insignificant. My favorite thing about the year was watching the human spirit have superior attributes over negative entities.
  After watching the Black Lives matter movement, the pro-choice rallies, legalization of gay marriage, socialized health-care and other displays of enlightenment, I thought there was a sure sign of a majority social enlightenment backed by expansive resilience in the face of adversity.
  Power to the People.

  But now people are getting shot at protests and pretty much everywhere.  It’s weird watching people actually try to induce the apocalypse.
  I would like to explain to ISIS, distraught white men and murderous police that killing random people will not cause Armageddon.
  It will kill innocent people, while the powers that be will leverage this for profit, or limitation of our rights.
  You aren’t even going to war profiteer. The guy selling you weapons will.

It’s almost Christmas. If you haven’t figured that out by from the ads for Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales, you can see it in all the holiday-oriented fare on local stages.
  BalletMet’s The Nutcracker. A couple of takes on A Christmas Carol. Heck, even the Jewish Community Center-based Gallery Players has a show with “Christmas” in the title, though it boasts an appropriately Jewish theme. (See complete list below.)

  In Columbus, the granddaddy of all holiday shows is Shadowbox Live’s Holiday Hoopla. This decades-old tradition occasionally comes off as just that: a tradition. Some years, it has a same-old, same-old quality that is as comfortable as an old slipper—and about as exciting.

  This, thankfully, is not one of those years. For 2015, Shadowbox has added new songs and freshened up old ones. Best of all, its skits are a deft combination of sly humor and bittersweet sentiment.

Shop local, shop independent, shop small business, and shop for social justice!

  To be a responsible consumer during a stressful holiday season, you can support your own community by shopping at real stores instead of national websites, and keep the individuals and artists making a living selling their own products or owning neighborhood stores. Here are some gift ideas for discerning progressive Free Press readers:

ACTIVIST gifts

  For friends or family members who frequent street rallies, consider giving a bullhorn. A good, sturdy megaphone with a strong audio range is a boon for chanting and giving speeches outdoors. For your activist friends who give occasional educational presentations using a computer at a meeting or conference, a pocket video projector is a thoughtful gift. Some are no bigger than a smartphone. You can find bullhorns and projectors at local office supply store – and don’t forget while you’re there to add in some thick black markers and colorful poster board for sign-making and some clipboards and pens for petitioning.

The more things change, the more things stay the same for Wil Trapp.
  For some, playing for a championship is a once in a lifetime experience. For Trapp, a midfielder for the Columbus Crew SC, playing in the MLS Cup championship on Dec. 6 was more like a case of déjà vu.
  Six years ago, Trapp led his school, Gahanna Lincoln High School, to a Division I state title and a national title. Trapp scored the game-clinching goal as Gahanna defeated Cleveland St. Ignatius 1-0 (4-3 shootout) for the title in what is now Mapfre Stadium.
  Trapp headed into the MLS Cup showdown with the Portland Timbers on Dec. 6 hoping to recapture the same kind of magical feeling.
  “It’s exciting,” Trapp said. “It has been a long season but we kind of are firing on all cylinders at the right time of the year. Our guys are confident, guys are excited. The club is excited. The city is excited.”