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Bodies hanging from bridge in Mexico are warning to social media users

By Mariano Castillo, CNN September 14, 2011 3:23 p.m. EDT

(CNN) -- Two bodies dangling from a pedestrian bridge in the border town of Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, created an image as gruesome as any in the four years of the country's offensive against the drug cartels.

A man and a woman, both in their early 20s, were left hanging like cuts of meat. The woman was hogtied and disemboweled, her intestines protruding from three deep cuts on her abdomen. She was then hung from the bridge by her feet and hands, topless. The bloodied man was suspended next to her by his hands, his right shoulder severed so deeply you can see the bone.

Two posters left near the bodies declared that the pair -- a young man and woman -- were killed for posting denouncements of drug cartel activities on a social network.

Bloggers who specialize in sharing news about trafficking have been threatened in the past, but this could be the first time that users of such social networks have been targeted.

The effect of such threats could be chilling, as several areas in Mexico -- including Nuevo Laredo -- have media outlets that self-censor out of fear of retribution by the cartels. In light of this censorship, blogs and social networks such as Twitter have surged as alternatives to keep citizens informed of dangers in their community.

Now the users of those networks appear to be under threat.

"This is going to happen to all of those posting funny things on the internet," one of the messages said. "You better (expletive) pay attention. I'm about to get you."

In the case of the two victims on the bridge, their ears and fingers were mutilated, said Ricardo Mancillas Castillo, an investigator for the public prosecutor's office.

There are no witnesses, and it is a nearly impossible task to identify the perpetrators, he told CNN.

In his four years based in Nuevo Laredo, Mancillas said he had never encountered a threat against Internet users. But the signs of torture -- the cuts, the disembowelment -- were along the lines of what officials are used to seeing in narco-related violence.

Thirty-six hours had passed since the bodies were found Tuesday morning, but no one had come to claim them and they remained unidentified, Mancillas said.

It will be nearly impossible to determine if the two victims actually posted anything about cartels on the Internet, as people don't usually use their real names online, he said.

The placards threatened those who report violent incidents through social media networks. It lists two blogs by name, Al Rojo Vivo and Blog del Narco.

They were signed "Z," a possible reference for the Zetas cartel, which operates in the area.

Blog del Narco is a website that deals exclusively with news related to drug violence in Mexico. Its creator remains anonymous.

On the Al Rojo Vivo forum, where citizens can make anonymous tips, one person wrote: "Don't be afraid to denounce. It's very difficult for them to find out who denounced. They only want to scare society."

One Twitter user echoed that sense of defiance in light of the threats.

"Enough! If we shut up today, we will have lost the ground that we have gained. This is the time to show what we are made of," the owner of the @QuestoyQuelotro Twitter account wrote.

In a statement sent to CNN, Blog del Narco said their site is not dedicated to denouncing crime, as are other sites.

"In addition, we are not in favor or against any criminal group, we only inform as things happen," the statement said.
“Every day is a new opportunity. You can build on yesterday's success or put its failures behind and start over again. That's the way life is, with a new game every day, and that's the way baseball is.”
-- Bob Feller

Re: Idle Chatter

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Sick! Difficult for me to understand what makes a person or persons harbor all that kind of hate!
“Every day is a new opportunity. You can build on yesterday's success or put its failures behind and start over again. That's the way life is, with a new game every day, and that's the way baseball is.”
-- Bob Feller

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We've been on baby watch since 10:00am. Been at hospital since 2:00 this afternoon. Looks like we have about 5 hrs to go. Then I should be a great aunt for the 2nd time. They elected to not find out the sex ahead of time.

Also, had a great afternoon and then dinner wt Denver Lou and JR, Mon. Lou is doing great!!

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Donnaj wrote:We've been on baby watch since 10:00am. Been at hospital since 2:00 this afternoon. Looks like we have about 5 hrs to go. Then I should be a great aunt for the 2nd time. They elected to not find out the sex ahead of time.

Also, had a great afternoon and then dinner wt Denver Lou and JR, Mon. Lou is doing great!!

I don't know nothin' about birthin' babies.

:-)


(I'm in a Gone With The Wind mood......)

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Donna

Praise be to the mother......



That's hard work. Or hard labor......


:-)

I remember a comedian once who equated giving birth to a child for a female, to a guy passing a bowling ball.


I have been a pretty good bowler in my life. It's hard enough just 'hitting my mark' with a 16 pounder.....

Good wishes.

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I take it you don't need glasses any longer JR ?!?!?!?
“Every day is a new opportunity. You can build on yesterday's success or put its failures behind and start over again. That's the way life is, with a new game every day, and that's the way baseball is.”
-- Bob Feller

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Some Vacation Home Away From Home Photos
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VIEW OF FRONT YARD

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VIEW FROM RIVER

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VIEW FROM BACK YARD

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VIEW OF RIVER FROM SWING SET

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VIEW OF LIVING ROOM AREA

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VIEW OF RIVER AND FRONT YARD FROM KITCHEN AREA

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VIEW DOWNSTREAM

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VIEW UPSTREAM

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MORTY

I'll have some Kayaking/Fishing Adventures to follow later
“Every day is a new opportunity. You can build on yesterday's success or put its failures behind and start over again. That's the way life is, with a new game every day, and that's the way baseball is.”
-- Bob Feller

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JUST A FEW OF THE MANY FISH CAUGHT ON MY KAYAKING ADVENTURES

The smallmouth shown were just a few of the dozens caught. In addition, a couple of walleye, about a dozen northern, many striped bass and rock bass, plus a few bluegill (which I never new existed in the Kishwaukee)
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“Every day is a new opportunity. You can build on yesterday's success or put its failures behind and start over again. That's the way life is, with a new game every day, and that's the way baseball is.”
-- Bob Feller

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Donna,

The trumpet vine is climbing the tree behind the outhouse in the picture taken from behind the swing set. It has to be about 20 feet tall right now. One is starting behind the tree to the left of the outhouse.

The outhouse is for Santa's elves :lol:
“Every day is a new opportunity. You can build on yesterday's success or put its failures behind and start over again. That's the way life is, with a new game every day, and that's the way baseball is.”
-- Bob Feller