Information taken from the Daily Texan online.
Daily Texan online
Rodney Reed has spent the last ten years on death row in a Texas prison. He was found guilty of the murder of 20 year-old Stacey Stites, whose body was dumped by the side of a road in Bastrop, Texas, eleven years ago.
Rodney is a black man who was found guilty of the crime by an all-white jury, in spite of what the lawyers presenting Rodney's appeal for a new trial, report as strong evidence linking other people to the crime.
"......including Stites' fiance Jimmy Fennell, to the murder. Last week, Fennell, who is now a police officer in Georgetown, Texas, was indicted by a grand jury on a charge of sexually assaulting a woman in custody at gunpoint, and he was placed on administrative leave from his job. At the time of Stites' death, Fennell was a police officer in Giddings, a town just east of Bastrop."
The evidence linking Jimmy Fennell to the murder of Stacey Stites is, according to the article, more compelling than that linking Rodney Reed.
"The amount of evidence pointing to Fennell in Stites' murder case is overwhelming. In two polygraph tests taken after Stites's murder, Fennell failed the question, "Did you strangle Stacy Stites?" According to a May 13, 1998, Department of Public Service report, fresh beer cans found at the crime scene contained DNA from Stites and two of Fennell's friends, police officers David Hall and Ed Salmela (the original investigator for the case). Furthermore, the truck alledgedly used to transport Stites' body contained fingerprints from only Fennell and Stites and was handed over to Fennell the day it was discovered. Fennell sold the truck the next day."
So, the truck which was allegedly used to carry the body contained fingerprints (allegedly) only from Fennell and Stites. It was returned to Fennell, who sold it the next day? There goes some of the evidence!
"The main evidence linking Reed to the murders is a semen sample containing Reed's DNA, which was taken from the scene of the crime. That can easily be explained by the sexual relationship he and Stites allegedly had before her death."
Beer cans at the scene of the dumped body, showing DNA from Stites and two of Fennell's friends, plus fingerprints in a truck, which was allegedly used to dump the body, only from Stites and Fennell. Semen from Rodney Reed at the scene. It appears to me that there is a strong case for a retrial.
"Reed has been sitting on death row for more than 10 years for a crime he very likely did not commit. The Bastrop County prosecutors should open the case and start a new investigation into his claims of innocence. In the meantime, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, which has Reed's case in their hands, should order a new trial in which the jury can hear all of the new evidence."
More info at: Free Rodney Reed
Tuesday, 11 December 2007
New Jersey Nears Repeal of Death Penalty
New York Times, Tuesday 11th December, 2007. New jersey comes closer to repealing the death penalty after Monday's vote in the State Senate.
New York Times
"By JEREMY W. PETERS
New York Times
"By JEREMY W. PETERS
TRENTON, Dec. 10 — The New Jersey Senate voted Monday to make the state the first in the country to repeal the death penalty since 1976, when the United States Supreme Court set guidelines for the nation’s current system of capital punishment.
Approval in the Senate was seen as the biggest obstacle to the repeal, and in the end, it passed 21 to 16, receiving the bare minimum number of votes required in the 40-seat chamber. Three senators did not vote.
Legislators on both sides of the debate said they expected the measure to pass easily on Thursday in the General Assembly, where Democrats hold 50 of the 80 seats.
Gov. Jon S. Corzine, a Democrat and a staunch opponent of the death penalty, has said he would sign a measure ending executions.
“Today New Jersey can become a leader, an inspiration to other states,” Senator Robert Martin, a Republican from Morris Plains who voted for the bill, said during Monday’s debate.
For those opposed to capital punishment, New Jersey’s repeal would represent a victory that has eluded them in the modern history of the death penalty. Though legislatures across the country have tried to abolish capital punishment since 1976, none have succeeded. This year alone, the legislatures in Nebraska, Montana, Maryland and New Mexico have debated bills to repeal those states’ death penalties, but each measure failed, often by a slim margin.
So far, opponents of the death penalty have succeeded only through court rulings, including the decision in 2004 declaring New York’s capital punishment statute unconstitutional, or through moratoriums imposed by a governor, as in Illinois and Maryland.
“What New Jersey is going to do is have a legislature-initiated repeal, and that’s different,” said Frankin E. Zimring, a law professor at the University of California, Berkeley.
Opponents of the death penalty said Monday that they hoped New Jersey’s action would give new energy to movements in states that have recently voted down repeal bills, and would serve as a catalyst for other states to revisit their laws on capital punishment.
Diann Rust-Tierney, executive director of the National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty, said: “The New Jersey Legislature did the right thing. And we think we’ll be seeing more state legislatures saying, ‘We don’t want the death penalty.’”
While the Senate vote mainly broke down along party lines, four Republicans did break from the party leadership and vote for the bill. Three of them — Mr. Martin, James J. McCullough of Atlantic County and Joseph A. Palaia of Deal — will not be returning to the Senate when the new Legislature is seated next month. Three Democrats voted against the bill.
Earlier Monday, a bill to replace the death penalty with a sentence of life in prison with no parole was approved on a 5-1 vote by the Assembly’s Law and Public Safety Committee.
Because the Senate voted during a lame-duck legislative session, legislators who might otherwise have voted against the bill were afforded some political cover — a factor that may have tipped the balance.
Mr. McCullough said Monday that he arrived at his decision over the summer after meeting with law enforcement officials and the family of a murder victim. “That’s the right thing to do,” he said. “I’m an outgoing senator.”
But opponents of the bill were sharply critical of Senate Democratic leaders for scheduling a vote during a lame-duck session, when issues of such import are seldom taken up.
“Why not let this go to the new session?” asked Senator Robert W. Singer, a Republican.
Robert Blecker, a professor at New York Law School who testified on Monday before the Assembly committee, called the process a “charade” and criticized lawmakers for not allowing for more time to debate the bill. “You’ll go where you want to go,” he said. “You’ll abolish the death penalty in New Jersey, and the world will watch.”
Since the legislative elections on Nov. 6, the process to repeal New Jersey’s death penalty has unfolded swiftly. The Senate president, Richard J. Codey, and the Assembly speaker, Joseph J. Roberts, both Democrats, placed bills abolishing capital punishment at the top of their agendas for the lame-duck session, and called for votes to be taken by the end of the year.
Supporters of the bill said the process was not rushed and pointed to a six-month-long review of the state’s capital sentence system by the New Jersey Death Penalty Study Commission, which found that the system was ineffective and recommended that it be replaced with life in prison without the possibility of parole.
The state has not executed anyone since 1963. In addition, its procedures for carrying out an execution were declared unconstitutional in 2004 by a state appeals court, and the Department of Corrections has said it has no intention of rewriting them.
Yet prosecutors still seek the death penalty in some cases, and eight men are currently on death row at the New Jersey State Prison here.
The measure approved by the Senate gives the eight men 60 days to file motions to be resentenced to life in prison.
Mr. Codey, who sponsored legislation in the early 1980s that reinstated New Jersey’s death penalty, said the system plays a cruel hoax on murder victims’ families by giving them the false hope of an execution.
“The best thing to do for us as a society to do is to be honest with them,” said Mr. Codey, who more recently served as governor. “Don’t tell someone that we’re going to execute somebody when the reality is it’s not going to happen — at least here in the state of New Jersey. Maybe in Texas. Maybe in other states. But it’s not going to happen here in New Jersey, and we’ve got to accept that.”
Monday, 10 December 2007
Christmas in Royal Leamington Spa
This is the view from the bottom of The Parade, looking north. On the right is the Town Hall with good Queen Victoria on her plinth.
Royal Leamington Spa is a spa town built mainly during the 19th century. The town was visited by Queen Victoria in 1838, and was given the "Royal" status.
Leamington's main architectural characterisitic is it's wide main streets, with elegant Georgian, Regency and Victorian buildings, many lined with trees.
Well, I have been looking for images of Christmas lights in my town and this is the best I can find. Not wonderful, but then the rest of the lights are not wonderful either. This is the usual Christmas tree outside the Town Hall. My favourite lights are the very simple strings of white lights, randomly threaded through some of the trees at the bottom of the main shopping street, The Parade, but alas, no photos! Maybe I should have a go at taking some!
In the few weeks before Christmas most of The Parade is closed off on Sundays for the Christmas market. This is very popular and well worth a visit for the variety of craft stalls with unusual gifts as well as the Greek stall with a huge range of olives and feta, and some interesting clothes stalls.
My first visit of the year was yesterday and it was a wash-out! The wind and rain had kept many of the stallholders away and my two large bags stayed empty except for a small pack of hand-made gift cards.
I haven't had a great deal of luck with my shopping this week in general. The Japanese web site, from which I wanted to buy a watch, was sold out of the one I wanted. After trawling deep into Google, where the sites are all in foreign, I spotted a link with the words, "Votre panier est vide." So, I thought, "Aha! A site that is selling the watches, not just doing a review of them." After navigating through the French, I got as far as the checkout and my card wasn't one of those listed! Drat!
Then there was Wellesbourne market on Saturday. This is a huge open-air market on an airfield and at this time of year it is usually heaving with people and the stalls are bulging with Christmas goodies. Well, that was a wash-out too! Where there should have been stalls there were huge empty areas with sodden rubbish blowing across the tarmac of the airfield runways. I narrowly missed a collision with a large green wheelie bin that was doing eccentric wheelies through the rubbish and headed back to my car after just ten minutes of holding a soggy hat to my head and desperately looking for something interesting on the few stalls which were there.
Two more shopping weekends 'til Christmas! For anyone living in the Warickshire area, I hear there is a late night Christmas market in Stratford-Upon-Avon each Thursday until Christmas. I guess I'd better get there! I hate those smug people who are telling me they've got all their Christmas shopping done!
Sunday, 9 December 2007
The Day They Moved Australia!
For some reason, when I spotted the am news alert from the Sydney Morning Herald in my inbox, the first thought after, well it's bedtime, was of an article I came across a couple of years back. It was so funny that I saved the pic and now I've managed to find the article again!
"Tired of being isolated and ignored, Australia decides to move"
"After what witnesses described as an all night blinder during which it kept droning on about how it was always being bloody ignored by the whole bloody world and would bloody well stand to do something about it, Australia this morning woke up to find itself in the middle of the North Atlantic.
"Good Lord, that was a booze up," said a bleary-eyed Australian Prime Minister, John Howard, speaking from his residence at Kirribilli House, approximately 600 nautical miles east of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina.
According to Australians and residents of several countries destroyed or lewdly insulted during the continent's nearly 7,000-mile saltwater stagger, the binge began just after noon yesterday at a pub in Brisbane, where several patrons were discussing Australia Day (Jan. 26) and the nation's general lack of respect from abroad.
"It started off same as always; coupla fossils saying how our Banjo Patterson was a better poet than Walt Whitman, how Con the Fruiterer is funnier than Seinfeld, only they're Aussies so no one knows about 'em," recalled witness Michael Ewen. "Then this bloke Martin pipes up and says
Australia's main problem is that it's stuck in Australia, and everybody says 'Too right!'"
"Well, it made sense at the time," Ewen added.
By 2 a.m., powered by national pride and alcohol, the 3-million-square-mile land mass was barging eastward through the Coral Sea and crossing into the central Pacific, leaving a trail of beer cans and Chinese take-aways in its wake.
When dawn broke over the Northern Hemisphere, the continent suddenly found itself smack in the middle of the Atlantic, and according to most of its 19 million inhabitants, that's the way it's going to stay.
"We sent troops to Afghanistan. You never hear about it. We have huge government scandals. You never hear about it. It's all 'America did this,' and 'Europe says that,'" exclaimed Perth resident Arron Gunthorpe. "Well, we're right in the thick of things now, so let's just see if you can ignore us."
Officials on both sides of the Atlantic conceded that would be difficult. "They broke Florida," said U.S. State Department spokesman Richard Boucher. "And most of Latin America is missing."
Meanwhile, victims of what's already been dubbed the "Australian Crawl" are still shaking off the event.
"Australia bumped into us at about midnight local time," said the Spanish President Juan Carlos. "They were very friendly, they always seem friendly but they refused to go around unless we answered their questions. But the questions were impossible! Who is Ian Thorpe? Do you have any Tim Tams? What day is Australia Day?'"
"Fortunately, somebody here had an Unimportant World Dates calendar and we aced the last one," President Carlos added.
By late morning today, however, not everyone in Australia was quite so blithe. "We've still got part of Jamaica stuck to Queensland," said Australian army commander Lt. Gen. Peter Cosgrove. "I think we might have declared war on it. I don't bloody remember. Maybe it's time to go home."
Cosgrove, however, is not in the majority, and at press time, U.S., African, and European leaders were still desperately trying to negotiate for Australia's withdrawal. But the independent-minded Aussies were not making it easy.
In a two-hour meeting at midday, Australian representatives listed their demands:
-
Immediate inclusion in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization,
-
A permanent CNN presence in all 6 Australian states,
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A worldwide ban on hiring Paul Hogan,
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A primetime U.S. television contract for Australian Rules Football,
U.S. negotiators immediately walked out, calling the Australian Rules Football request "absurd."
Latest News
New Zealand becomes the major power in the South Pacific with Samoa
New Zealand awoke this morning to find itself as the lone superpower in the South Pacific, after Australia moved north during the night.
"About Bloody time too" stated the Prime Minister Helen Clarke. "we have had just about enough of the whiners and were considering allowing Ngai Tahu to invade them and claim Queensland.
Look out Northern Hemisphere, you don't know what you are in for. They steal your entertainers, claim anyone who even visit them as their own, and inflict their sports teams on them. We will be better off working with Samoa"
Popular opinion is that New Zealand moves to occupy Australia's place as the weather is better.
No report has come from Tasmania. It is believed that Australia left quietly so Tasmanians wouldn't notice and want to follow. It appears the ruse has worked. New Zealand has offered to adopt Tasmania as West New Zealand."
http://stuffucanuse.com/aussie_windows/am.htm
Saturday, 8 December 2007
Celtic Shamanism: Part One
My shamanic teacher, good friend and mentor passed on from this reality just a few weeks ago. She had been ill for some considerable time and is now at peace.
So, what is Celtic Shamanism? I was introduced to the practice some 13 years ago when I met the woman who was to become my teacher and friend. Am I a Shaman? Not at the moment! Only when I am involved in shamanic work.
Celtic Shamanism, as I and my circle work with it, has its roots in the Celtic traditions of Britain, as well as borrowing practices from Scandinavia and from North America and other Aboriginal peoples. At the heart of shamanic practice is the shamanic journey. This is a journey into non-ordinary reality, without, I must add, the aid of any kind of drugs in this particular form. There are three levels into which the shaman journeys, the upper world, the middle world and the lower world of non-ordinary reality.
The journey rhythm is set by the drummer and it is thought to induce a state of theta brain waves, a trance-like state. A journey is undertaken to find answers to questions and is always in the company of guides and helpers. Non-ordinary reality can be a dangerous place. So, the very first journey of a newcomer is always to meet one's guides and helpers. This journey is also always done in the company of an experienced person, who must ask a particular and very important question before the start and the newcomer must give a particular answer to the question. I'm going to remain vague on that as well as on a few other details!
Before the ritual of journeying begins, there is the ceremony of smudging with incence. This can be a smudge stick, an incence stick or herbal mixtures on a charcoal block in a dedicated holder. The smoke is wafted around the body to cleanse the aura and protect. As this is taking place there is usually chanting. There are many beautiful chants.
There is usually an altar, on which are placed any objects which are special to the circle or are important for the ceremony. At least one candle will be on the altar, and if more than one, there will be a, "Mother Candle," from which all others are lit.
After smudging comes, "Rattling in," which is a traditional ritual with, well, a rattle! There is a set pattern of rattling to the seven directions...yes, the seven directions...the compass points, plus above, below and within. The purpose of rattling in is to summon the guides and helpers and let them know you're ready to boogie. The rhythmic drumming starts and everyone will lie down and cover themselves with blankets, as the drumming reaches journey rhythm and the expedition begins. After 20 minutes or so, the drumming rhythm changes to the, "Call back," and everyone will rise and record their journey in a special book. Then begins the reporting back, the drummer always being last.
I have a very special drum, called, "An Elk Dreaming Drum," which was made by Nicholas Wood of South Wales. Nicholas is well known in shamanic circles and a Nicholas Wood drum is a very special one.
http://www.nicholaswood.net/
My drum is similar in shape to the ones in the little photo in the right-hand column, but it is made from elk skin rather than deer skin. Nicholas only makes Elk Dreaming Drums to order as the skin is heavier to work with and requires a stronger hoop than the deer skin drums. One very important piece of information about a shamanic drum is that it is a, "power object," and must never be touched without permission. So, even if you were to see my drum rolling down the road, you must not touch it!
Celtic Shamanism cannot be used to cause harm to another person or to any creature. An attempt to use the practice for harm would result in that harm rebounding on the person intending to injure or hurt.
Oh! I forgot to mention the final part of the journey sequence! When reporting back has been completed, comes the, "Rattling Out," which is similar to rattling in, but this time it's done in reverse order and tells the guides and helpers that they are not needed any longer and can go for their dinner!
So, what is Celtic Shamanism? I was introduced to the practice some 13 years ago when I met the woman who was to become my teacher and friend. Am I a Shaman? Not at the moment! Only when I am involved in shamanic work.
Celtic Shamanism, as I and my circle work with it, has its roots in the Celtic traditions of Britain, as well as borrowing practices from Scandinavia and from North America and other Aboriginal peoples. At the heart of shamanic practice is the shamanic journey. This is a journey into non-ordinary reality, without, I must add, the aid of any kind of drugs in this particular form. There are three levels into which the shaman journeys, the upper world, the middle world and the lower world of non-ordinary reality.
The journey rhythm is set by the drummer and it is thought to induce a state of theta brain waves, a trance-like state. A journey is undertaken to find answers to questions and is always in the company of guides and helpers. Non-ordinary reality can be a dangerous place. So, the very first journey of a newcomer is always to meet one's guides and helpers. This journey is also always done in the company of an experienced person, who must ask a particular and very important question before the start and the newcomer must give a particular answer to the question. I'm going to remain vague on that as well as on a few other details!
Before the ritual of journeying begins, there is the ceremony of smudging with incence. This can be a smudge stick, an incence stick or herbal mixtures on a charcoal block in a dedicated holder. The smoke is wafted around the body to cleanse the aura and protect. As this is taking place there is usually chanting. There are many beautiful chants.
"Spirit of the Wind carry me
Spirit of the Wind carry me home
Spirit of the Wind carry me home to myself
Spirit of the Ocean, depth of emotion
Spirit of the Sea, set myself free
Spirit of the Rain, wash away the pain
Spirit of the Storm, help me be reborn
Spirit of the Sun, warm light healing one
Spirit of the Sky, spread my winds and fly
Spirit of the Earth, help me with my birth
Spirit of the Land, hold me in your hand
Spirit of the River, blessed forgiver
Spirit of the Shore, shows me more and more."
There is usually an altar, on which are placed any objects which are special to the circle or are important for the ceremony. At least one candle will be on the altar, and if more than one, there will be a, "Mother Candle," from which all others are lit.
After smudging comes, "Rattling in," which is a traditional ritual with, well, a rattle! There is a set pattern of rattling to the seven directions...yes, the seven directions...the compass points, plus above, below and within. The purpose of rattling in is to summon the guides and helpers and let them know you're ready to boogie. The rhythmic drumming starts and everyone will lie down and cover themselves with blankets, as the drumming reaches journey rhythm and the expedition begins. After 20 minutes or so, the drumming rhythm changes to the, "Call back," and everyone will rise and record their journey in a special book. Then begins the reporting back, the drummer always being last.
I have a very special drum, called, "An Elk Dreaming Drum," which was made by Nicholas Wood of South Wales. Nicholas is well known in shamanic circles and a Nicholas Wood drum is a very special one.
http://www.nicholaswood.net/
My drum is similar in shape to the ones in the little photo in the right-hand column, but it is made from elk skin rather than deer skin. Nicholas only makes Elk Dreaming Drums to order as the skin is heavier to work with and requires a stronger hoop than the deer skin drums. One very important piece of information about a shamanic drum is that it is a, "power object," and must never be touched without permission. So, even if you were to see my drum rolling down the road, you must not touch it!
Celtic Shamanism cannot be used to cause harm to another person or to any creature. An attempt to use the practice for harm would result in that harm rebounding on the person intending to injure or hurt.
Oh! I forgot to mention the final part of the journey sequence! When reporting back has been completed, comes the, "Rattling Out," which is similar to rattling in, but this time it's done in reverse order and tells the guides and helpers that they are not needed any longer and can go for their dinner!
"Earth my body
Water my blood
Air my breath (and)
Fire my spirit."
Water my blood
Air my breath (and)
Fire my spirit."
Go well, be well, stay well!
Right Said Fred!
I just thought I'd tell the story about my big desk! For many years the desk at which I worked was a huge ex-army, very plain and functional piece of wooden furniture. Four years ago I decided that it was time for a replacement and with very clear ideas about what I wanted, I trawled the local and not-so-local furniture stores. I found nothing that matched my ideas. So, I then looked for a carpenter who would build one for me. I decided that I wanted a desk in natural wood, and of the same dimensions as the old desk. So, with measurements and design ideas, I eventually found a carpenter.
My desk is big! When you accumulate as I do, you need lots of space! It is made of red pine, named for the colour of the bark on the particular species of pine. It has a honey glaze, water-based with honey to give a golden colour. It is a very simple style: I stipulated....no curly or fancy bits! And it is lovely. Well, to me it is lovely, kind of Shaker-style I suppose!
Do you recall that old song about the men moving a piano? "Right Said Fred"? Well, it was like that when my desk was delivered. When I moved into this house with my old desk, I managed to manoeuvre it quite easily into the room in which it stood for about 10 years. When the new one, of identical proportions, was delivered, two hulking great men huffed and puffed, got the desk trapped on its end in the hallway, then took it back outside to the garden path. I tried to give them some advice about how to just kind of swivel it round to fit through the doorway, but well, what would a little woman know about these things? So, they took the knobs off! They got the desk stuck again and took it back outside! They took the drawers out and unscrewed the door off its hinges, got it stuck upside down in the hallway and took it back outside.
The men then decided that the job was impossible, no matter what I suggested or what I said about the previous desk having been identical in size! So, I watched as my lovely new desk got heaved back into the van and driven away!
Three months later, the men came back with my desk, having taken it apart somewhat, and they part-built it in the room in which it now sits!
So, there you are! My big desk and this is News From My Big Desk!
My desk is big! When you accumulate as I do, you need lots of space! It is made of red pine, named for the colour of the bark on the particular species of pine. It has a honey glaze, water-based with honey to give a golden colour. It is a very simple style: I stipulated....no curly or fancy bits! And it is lovely. Well, to me it is lovely, kind of Shaker-style I suppose!
Do you recall that old song about the men moving a piano? "Right Said Fred"? Well, it was like that when my desk was delivered. When I moved into this house with my old desk, I managed to manoeuvre it quite easily into the room in which it stood for about 10 years. When the new one, of identical proportions, was delivered, two hulking great men huffed and puffed, got the desk trapped on its end in the hallway, then took it back outside to the garden path. I tried to give them some advice about how to just kind of swivel it round to fit through the doorway, but well, what would a little woman know about these things? So, they took the knobs off! They got the desk stuck again and took it back outside! They took the drawers out and unscrewed the door off its hinges, got it stuck upside down in the hallway and took it back outside.
The men then decided that the job was impossible, no matter what I suggested or what I said about the previous desk having been identical in size! So, I watched as my lovely new desk got heaved back into the van and driven away!
Three months later, the men came back with my desk, having taken it apart somewhat, and they part-built it in the room in which it now sits!
So, there you are! My big desk and this is News From My Big Desk!
Wednesday, 5 December 2007
Serving Life for Providing Car to Killers
Ryan Holle, 25, convicted of murder, is serving life without the chance of parole at the Wakulla Correctional Institution in Florida.
From Adam Liptak in the December 4th edition of the New York Times comes this very strange, to me, story of American justice.
"CRAWFORDVILLE, Fla. — Early in the morning of March 10, 2003, after a raucous party that lasted into the small hours, a groggy and hungover 20-year-old named Ryan Holle lent his Chevrolet Metro to a friend. That decision, prosecutors later said, was tantamount to murder."
The friend used Ryan's car to drive three other men to the place where they intended to commit a burglary. Ryan was a mile and a half away at the time. The burglary went wrong and the eighteen year-old daughter of the marijuana dealer, they were robbing, was killed. It did not matter to the prosecution that Ryan was not there:
"He was convicted of murder under a distinctively American legal doctrine that makes accomplices as liable as the actual killer for murders committed during felonies like burglaries, rapes and robberies."
This is how the prosecutor justified the charge of murder against Ryan Holle.
"A prosecutor explained the theory to the jury at Mr. Holle’s trial in Pensacola in 2004. “No car, no crime,” said the prosecutor, David Rimmer. “No car, no consequences. No car, no murder"
"Most scholars trace the doctrine, which is an aspect of the felony murder rule, to English common law, but Parliament abolished it in 1957. The felony murder rule, which has many variations, generally broadens murder liability for participants in violent felonies in two ways. An unintended killing during a felony is considered murder under the rule. So is, as Mr. Holle learned, a killing by an accomplice.
Especially not the acts of others, I would say, over which the person had no control and during which the person wasn't there.
"About 16 percent of homicides in 2006 occurred during felonies, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Statistics concerning how many of those killings led to the murder prosecutions of accomplices are not available, but legal experts say such prosecutions are relatively common in the more than 30 states that allow them. About 80 people have been sentenced to death in the last three decades for participating in a felony that led to a murder though they did not kill anyone."
Ryan Holle was not participating in a felony, though. After a raucous party, Ryan Holle lent his car to a friend, who subsequently used the car to drive to the scene of a crime.
"Mr. Holle, who had given the police a series of statements in which he seemed to admit knowing about the burglary, was convicted of first-degree murder."
He, "seemed to admit."? What kind of evidence is that? He seemed to admit knowing about the burglary, so he was responsible as an accomplice to first-degree murder?
"But Mr. Holle did testify that he had been told it might be necessary to “knock out” Jessica Snyder. Mr. Holle is 25 now, a tall, lean and lively man with a rueful sense of humor, alert brown eyes and an unusually deep voice. In a spare office at the prison here, he said that he had not taken the talk of a burglary seriously.
Jeez! That is justice? A man wakes up with a hangover after a raucous party, lends his car to a friend, thinks they're joking about stealing the safe from the marijuana dealer, and is as guilty as the person who killed the girl?
"Not every state’s version of the felony murder rule is as strict as Florida’s, and a few states, including Hawaii, Kentucky and Michigan, have abolished it entirely.
"The laws that they use to convict people are just — they have to revise them,” he said. “Just because I lent these guys my car, why should I be convicted the same as these people that actually went to the scene of the crime and actually committed the crime?"
From Adam Liptak in the December 4th edition of the New York Times comes this very strange, to me, story of American justice.
"CRAWFORDVILLE, Fla. — Early in the morning of March 10, 2003, after a raucous party that lasted into the small hours, a groggy and hungover 20-year-old named Ryan Holle lent his Chevrolet Metro to a friend. That decision, prosecutors later said, was tantamount to murder."
The friend used Ryan's car to drive three other men to the place where they intended to commit a burglary. Ryan was a mile and a half away at the time. The burglary went wrong and the eighteen year-old daughter of the marijuana dealer, they were robbing, was killed. It did not matter to the prosecution that Ryan was not there:
"He was convicted of murder under a distinctively American legal doctrine that makes accomplices as liable as the actual killer for murders committed during felonies like burglaries, rapes and robberies."
This is how the prosecutor justified the charge of murder against Ryan Holle.
"A prosecutor explained the theory to the jury at Mr. Holle’s trial in Pensacola in 2004. “No car, no crime,” said the prosecutor, David Rimmer. “No car, no consequences. No car, no murder"
"Most scholars trace the doctrine, which is an aspect of the felony murder rule, to English common law, but Parliament abolished it in 1957. The felony murder rule, which has many variations, generally broadens murder liability for participants in violent felonies in two ways. An unintended killing during a felony is considered murder under the rule. So is, as Mr. Holle learned, a killing by an accomplice.
India and other common law countries have followed England in abolishing the doctrine. In 1990, the Canadian Supreme Court did away with felony murder liability for accomplices, saying it violated “the principle that punishment must be proportionate to the moral blameworthiness of the offender.”
Countries outside the common law tradition agree. “The view in Europe,” said James Q. Whitman, a professor of comparative law at Yale, “is that we hold people responsible for their own acts and not the acts of others.”
This seems to be a reasonable view, "..we hold people responsible for their own acts and not the acts of others."Especially not the acts of others, I would say, over which the person had no control and during which the person wasn't there.
"About 16 percent of homicides in 2006 occurred during felonies, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Statistics concerning how many of those killings led to the murder prosecutions of accomplices are not available, but legal experts say such prosecutions are relatively common in the more than 30 states that allow them. About 80 people have been sentenced to death in the last three decades for participating in a felony that led to a murder though they did not kill anyone."
Ryan Holle was not participating in a felony, though. After a raucous party, Ryan Holle lent his car to a friend, who subsequently used the car to drive to the scene of a crime.
"Mr. Holle, who had given the police a series of statements in which he seemed to admit knowing about the burglary, was convicted of first-degree murder."
He, "seemed to admit."? What kind of evidence is that? He seemed to admit knowing about the burglary, so he was responsible as an accomplice to first-degree murder?
"But Mr. Holle did testify that he had been told it might be necessary to “knock out” Jessica Snyder. Mr. Holle is 25 now, a tall, lean and lively man with a rueful sense of humor, alert brown eyes and an unusually deep voice. In a spare office at the prison here, he said that he had not taken the talk of a burglary seriously.
“I honestly thought they were going to get food,” he said of the men who used his car, all of whom had attended the nightlong party at Mr. Holle’s house, as had Jessica Snyder."
New York TimesJeez! That is justice? A man wakes up with a hangover after a raucous party, lends his car to a friend, thinks they're joking about stealing the safe from the marijuana dealer, and is as guilty as the person who killed the girl?
"Not every state’s version of the felony murder rule is as strict as Florida’s, and a few states, including Hawaii, Kentucky and Michigan, have abolished it entirely.
“The felony-murder rule completely ignores the concept of determination of guilt on the basis of individual misconduct,” the Michigan Supreme Court wrote in 1980."
Ryan Holle was the only one of five men charged to be offered a plea deal of ten years in prison, which he turned down. To accept he would have to have accepted culpability for the murder, which he clearly was not prepared to do."The laws that they use to convict people are just — they have to revise them,” he said. “Just because I lent these guys my car, why should I be convicted the same as these people that actually went to the scene of the crime and actually committed the crime?"
Tuesday, 4 December 2007
Senate panel votes to abolish death penalty
The state of New Jersey is set to become the first to abolish the death penalty since it was reinstated by the US Supreme Court in 1976.
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
By MICHAEL RISPOLI
Gannett State Bureau
TRENTONGannett State Bureau
A state Senate committee Monday advanced a proposal to eliminate the death penalty in New Jersey, moving the state one step closer to becoming the only one to legislatively eliminate the punishment since it was reinstated nationally in 1976.
In front of a room spilling over with members of the public, the Senate budget committee took an hour and half of testimony for and against the measure to replace capital punishment with life without parole before approving the measure 8-4.
Public support for the bill came from those morally against the penalty and some victims' families saying the unused law -- no one has been executed in the state since 1963 -- harms families seeking swift justice.
Joined by over a dozen victims' family members, Vicki Schieber, whose daughter Shannon was raped and murdered in Philadelphia in 1998, said the death penalty and its long legal process is "not an answer to many of us who have been through this pain."
"There is no such word as closure, and going through the long, difficult, painful process of a trial puts much more pain and victim in the murder victim's families," said Schieber, a member of the Murder Victims' Families for Human Rights.
Not all victims' families felt this way. Linda Rusconi, whose sister was murdered in 2005, said, "It just doesn't seem fair or just to me to have her killer in prison hurting other guards and people, getting visitors, getting to read books, get to exercise and watch TV while we, my mother, myself, my sister's children . . . have to go visit my sister in the cemetery," Rusconi said.
Opponents of the bill want to refine the law and save the death penalty for the "most vicious, serious, grievous of murders," said ex-state Sen. John Russo.
"Clean it up, make it better," urged Russo, a member of the state's Death Penalty Study Commission, who did not agree with the commission's suggestion to repeal the law.
Senate Minority Leader Leonard Lance, R-Hunterdon, tried to introduce an amendment to reserve the punishment for cop-killers, terrorists and those who rape and murder juveniles, but the amendment was not considered by the committee.
New Jersey has eight men on death row.
Some Democratic senators said although they previously favored the death penalty, they had changed their mind and voted in favor of the repeal.
Sen. Stephen M. Sweeney, D-Gloucester, said the current law gives victims' families "false hope."
"Families deserve closure. They deserve at least an attempt to move on with their lives. The death penalty doesn't give that to anyone," said Sweeney, who voted to abolish the death penalty.
The other tri-county senator on the panel, Martha Bark, R-Burlington, voted to keep the death penalty.
The budget committee took up the bill to review the potential savings the state could see as a result. Bill sponsor Sen. Raymond Lesniak, D-Union, called this "weakest reason to repeal the death penalty." While savings were brought up, the committee quarreled mostly over the principles of the bill and not its fiscal impact.
The Office of Legislative Services determined it could not accurately quantify the total costs or savings of the bill due to a number of variables. OLS did, however, find moving inmates from the Capital Sentence Unit to the general prison population generated an estimated $32,481 savings per inmate annually, and the state could save $1.46 million annually from Office of the Public Defender trial costs based on the average number of capital-punishment cases per year.
The measure now heads to the full Senate for a vote which could come as early as next Monday. Lesniak said he expects the bill to pass, but conceded "it'll be close."
Lance said the Senate Republicans' caucus will not take a party position and that each GOP lawmaker will be advised to vote their conscience.
Legislative leaders have pushed to have the measure voted on before the current legislative session expires Jan. 8. Along with the expected Senate vote, an Assembly committee is set to take up similar legislation next Monday, with a vote expected in the lower house Dec. 13.
Reach Michael Rispoli at mrispol@gannett.com
Courier Post Online
Monday, 3 December 2007
Who Is Paying Metodo 3?
I have just lifted this piece of information straight off the Daily Mirror forum. It's from an item on Spanish TV Channel Antena 3.
" They claimed to have permission from Metodo 3 to reveal:
*Who is paying M3? Brian Kennedy and no one else. BK is said to have no doubt whatever of the McCanns´ innocence. Certain "leaks" to the UK press have commented that the Fund is paying the bill, but this is untrue. CM was misquoted/misunderstood..
*M3 is charging 60,000 euros (plus expenses) for a contract of 6 months.
They also mentioned the following
*Yes the Fund will be paying 80,000 euros for a PR campaign in the Spanish province of Andalucia.
*the McCanns will be re interrogated by the PJ within 10 days.
*that 6 witnesses put RM on the scene that night (3 May)
*the odd coincidence of the British Ambassador´s visit to the PJ within minutes of their return from UK
*the Birmingham forensic tests are not completely finished
* there is a connection between JT and ROB and Murat (through a sister in Exeter)"
So, according to Antena 3, Brian Kennedy, "..and no one else," is paying Metodo 3? Strange! According to this extract from Gerry's blog, the fund is paying loads too!
" Day 210 - 29/11/2007
With this in mind, Madeleine’s fund has started the £80,000 advertising campaign in Southern Spain which will also target North Africa and Portugal. The fund is also contributing £50,000 per month to support the private investigation. We appeal to anyone who may have information to call confidentially our hotline number +34.902.300.213, e-mail investigation@findmadeleine.com or contact the police."
So, if Antena 3 is right and Brian Kennedy and no one else is paying Metodo 3, why is Gerry saying that the fund is contributing £50,000 per month? I did wonder if Brian Kennedy was not paying the full costs, but according to Antena 3, the TV channel has permission from Metodo 3 to say, amongst other things, that only Brian Kennedy is paying them.
If the fund is not paying that money to Metodo 3, it cannot be as cash-strapped as John McCann is saying. Or, if £50,000 is going out of the fund each month and not going to Metodo 3, where is it going?
Daily Mirror Forum
" They claimed to have permission from Metodo 3 to reveal:
*Who is paying M3? Brian Kennedy and no one else. BK is said to have no doubt whatever of the McCanns´ innocence. Certain "leaks" to the UK press have commented that the Fund is paying the bill, but this is untrue. CM was misquoted/misunderstood..
*M3 is charging 60,000 euros (plus expenses) for a contract of 6 months.
They also mentioned the following
*Yes the Fund will be paying 80,000 euros for a PR campaign in the Spanish province of Andalucia.
*the McCanns will be re interrogated by the PJ within 10 days.
*that 6 witnesses put RM on the scene that night (3 May)
*the odd coincidence of the British Ambassador´s visit to the PJ within minutes of their return from UK
*the Birmingham forensic tests are not completely finished
* there is a connection between JT and ROB and Murat (through a sister in Exeter)"
So, according to Antena 3, Brian Kennedy, "..and no one else," is paying Metodo 3? Strange! According to this extract from Gerry's blog, the fund is paying loads too!
" Day 210 - 29/11/2007
With this in mind, Madeleine’s fund has started the £80,000 advertising campaign in Southern Spain which will also target North Africa and Portugal. The fund is also contributing £50,000 per month to support the private investigation. We appeal to anyone who may have information to call confidentially our hotline number +34.902.300.213, e-mail investigation@findmadeleine.com or contact the police."
So, if Antena 3 is right and Brian Kennedy and no one else is paying Metodo 3, why is Gerry saying that the fund is contributing £50,000 per month? I did wonder if Brian Kennedy was not paying the full costs, but according to Antena 3, the TV channel has permission from Metodo 3 to say, amongst other things, that only Brian Kennedy is paying them.
If the fund is not paying that money to Metodo 3, it cannot be as cash-strapped as John McCann is saying. Or, if £50,000 is going out of the fund each month and not going to Metodo 3, where is it going?
Daily Mirror Forum
"Maddie's Uncle In Fund Fury"
Gerry McCann's brother John, who lives in Glasgow, has been sounding off about the lack of cash coming in for the Find Madeleine fund.
Scottish Sunday Mail
"THE uncle of missing Madeleine McCann has blamed negative stories about the family for the drop in donations to their fighting fund.
The arrogance of the McCanns really makes me shudder. They fully expect the public to cough up to support their lifestyle and to fund £50,000 a month for a bunch of Spanish anti-fraud detectives with no real experience of finding missing children. The fund has been financing the McCanns' living expenses and has made two mortgage payments for them. Is that what the child sold her toys on E-bay for?
John McCann's whinging about those nasty press stories and how they have reduced the cash flow just exposes that family for the money-grubbers they are. I just can't get over the expectation here that the public will keep giving money to them and the arrogance that accompanies that expectation. No wonder Michael Hitchen of ionglobaltrends calls them, "the Grubs." Dung beetles, I'd say, rolling up and protecting their little heaps!
Scottish Sunday Mail
"THE uncle of missing Madeleine McCann has blamed negative stories about the family for the drop in donations to their fighting fund.
Around £700,000 of the £1.1million raised has been spent in the hunt for Maddie, who disappeared in Portugal on May 3.
Donations to the Find Madeleine Fund dropped following lurid stories after her parents Kate and Gerry were named as official suspects.
The fund brings in around £10,000 a month but the family are paying out £50,000 a month to private detectives.
Gerry's brother, John, of Glasgow, said: "The funds aren't anywhere near the level they were a few months ago thanks to a lot of the crap that's been written over here."
Meanwhile, Portuguese police are set to reinter view the McCanns and their friends, the so-called Tapas Seven."
You'd think there would be some gratitude for all the money that's rolled into that fund, for all the cash pouring in from, "Best Sellers," the wristbands, and from, "Don't You Forget About Me, T Shirts, All Sizes Available! Click Here." But not a bit of it! There was a child who sold her toys on E-bay and sent the cash to the fund, an older man who said that he had donated the money he had been saving for a new pair of shoes, but tell me John McCann, what have you given up? Have Kate and Gerry sold any of their belongings to help in the search for their daughter?The arrogance of the McCanns really makes me shudder. They fully expect the public to cough up to support their lifestyle and to fund £50,000 a month for a bunch of Spanish anti-fraud detectives with no real experience of finding missing children. The fund has been financing the McCanns' living expenses and has made two mortgage payments for them. Is that what the child sold her toys on E-bay for?
John McCann's whinging about those nasty press stories and how they have reduced the cash flow just exposes that family for the money-grubbers they are. I just can't get over the expectation here that the public will keep giving money to them and the arrogance that accompanies that expectation. No wonder Michael Hitchen of ionglobaltrends calls them, "the Grubs." Dung beetles, I'd say, rolling up and protecting their little heaps!
Sunday, 2 December 2007
Child Exploitation Online: Keep your children safe!
How safe are your children online? You don't know who they're talking to when they are in their own rooms, tapping away on the keyboard and the most worrying part is that neither do they. The online chat room is a honey pot for the pervert who wants to conceal his true nature, who grooms your child with sweet words and makes the child feel special. That pervert may be the one who stealthily lures your child into the honey trap, arranging to meet your child, who then feels that they have no control over what is happening with an adult male who turns up in the place of the teenager they thought they were meeting.
Keep your child safe and help to keep others safe. Children do not need to feel that they have let themselves in for whatever happens, as some children will feel. They can take control by being aware of how the pervert sets up his honey trap.
"The Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre works across the UK and maximises international links to tackle child sex abuse wherever and whenever it happens."
For advice on how to stay safe online, parents and children can visit: Thinkuknow
Encourage your children to watch this video and circulate it to as many young people and their parents as possible.
CEOP-Think U Know
The internet has opened up a whole new world of opportunity for the pervert to exploit. Do all you can to make sure it's not your child who goes out to meet that stranger at the bus station or in the park. The internet is one of the best inventions ever for communication and immediate access to information, but it is also a route straight into the heart of our homes, where we think our children are safe, where our children should be safe.
Teach your children to be wary, cynical and above all safe, by giving them the information and the resources to stop the online pervert before he makes inroads into your home and your life and changes your family for ever.
http://www.ceop.gov.uk/
"Parents and adults can click here to download our new Strategic Overview which contains information on the key threats to children and young people online."
Make every child matter.....everywhere!
Keep your child safe and help to keep others safe. Children do not need to feel that they have let themselves in for whatever happens, as some children will feel. They can take control by being aware of how the pervert sets up his honey trap.
"The Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre works across the UK and maximises international links to tackle child sex abuse wherever and whenever it happens."
For advice on how to stay safe online, parents and children can visit: Thinkuknow
Encourage your children to watch this video and circulate it to as many young people and their parents as possible.
CEOP-Think U Know
The internet has opened up a whole new world of opportunity for the pervert to exploit. Do all you can to make sure it's not your child who goes out to meet that stranger at the bus station or in the park. The internet is one of the best inventions ever for communication and immediate access to information, but it is also a route straight into the heart of our homes, where we think our children are safe, where our children should be safe.
Teach your children to be wary, cynical and above all safe, by giving them the information and the resources to stop the online pervert before he makes inroads into your home and your life and changes your family for ever.
http://www.ceop.gov.uk/
"Parents and adults can click here to download our new Strategic Overview which contains information on the key threats to children and young people online."
Make every child matter.....everywhere!
Dans Le Noir?
Well, I was saying to a friend the other day that my son does not, "do ordinary." He and his bunch of cronies seem to be constantly on the look-out for the most unusual eating places, for instance.
There was the Japanese place they all trooped off to that had cooking facilities in the middle of the tables and what you ordered got cooked right there.
Then there was the place with lights set into the floor and the venue with female wrestlers.
Now, for his birthday, my son and his new dining experience-seeking posse are going to, "Dans Le Noir?", where eating is undertaken in total darkness. I kid you not!
http://www.danslenoir.com/london/
"Dans le Noir ? is a restaurant offering the visitor a dining experience in complete darkness"
Maybe next time I invite people for dinner I could introduce them to the wonderful sensory experience of dining in total darkness. My offerings would certainly be better appreciated, I reckon, if my guests did not actually have to look at them!
There was the Japanese place they all trooped off to that had cooking facilities in the middle of the tables and what you ordered got cooked right there.
Then there was the place with lights set into the floor and the venue with female wrestlers.
Now, for his birthday, my son and his new dining experience-seeking posse are going to, "Dans Le Noir?", where eating is undertaken in total darkness. I kid you not!
http://www.danslenoir.com/london/
"Dans le Noir ? is a restaurant offering the visitor a dining experience in complete darkness"
Dans le Noir ?... A unique human and sensory experience
of a dinner in the pitch dark…
of a dinner in the pitch dark…
Sensory experience
Dans le Noir? allows you to completely re-evaluate the notion of taste.
Without sight, other senses are offered a new sensation and emotions.
Darkness leads to truthfulness about taste, kills preconceptions and let you face the realities of ingredients and cuisine. Our chef elaborates a refined and sensorial cuisine with fresh ingredients to help our senses to enjoy the “truth” taste of food.
True conviviality
Dining in the total darkness represents a very unusual social experience. How many times have you ever had the chance to talk to people without any preconception that sight implies?
At Dans le Noir? there is no more pressure of other people’s visual judgment. You talk more freely and spontaneously. The absence of vision changes completely the way you act and react, both emotionally and socially. That’s why Dans le Noir? is far more than just a restaurant: it offers a social and convivial experience. Dans le Noir ? raises some questions such as the role of sight in the way we relate to others.
Empathy
In the dark room, you are guided and served by our blind staff.
A magic switch between sighted and blind people happens. For once, blind people actually become your eyes.
This reversal of roles implies a transfer of trust from the sighted person to the blind guide because without him we are just lost. Who actually feels the most Dans le Noir??
The experience is emotionally strong and this empathy really encourages mutual trust and respect.
Maybe next time I invite people for dinner I could introduce them to the wonderful sensory experience of dining in total darkness. My offerings would certainly be better appreciated, I reckon, if my guests did not actually have to look at them!
Saturday, 1 December 2007
Good God In Heaven! What you can find on Bebo!
I must have led a very sheltered life! I would never have thought to find so many asterisks in a communication, which had been lifted from what is intended as an internet space for mostly young people to communicate with each other and make friends!
The following was lifted from a Bebo site, which has since been deleted. I have added +++ to distinguish where I have deleted names from the asterisks which will, of course, convey that rabid swearing has been censored.
"+++++++-+++++-++++++
Well well well if it isnt the dirty little slapper her self +++++!!!
What the **** you acusing me of???!!
Deleting that dirty little whores ++++s page???
Well it wasnt me and thats the truth so get your facts right you stupid little t*rt, your so ****** up upstairs that you cant even find out who it was, see ++++ shouldnt **** with people she dont know who shes ******* with, so im telling you this now, you stay away from +++++ right, go near her in school even right and i be waiting out side for you, what you going too do +++++, print this off again? your ******* so sad
Lisen, ++++ is a ****** up druggie who needs too go get help and stop ******** her dad and the ponys and you just need too stay away from my girlfriend before i ******* tell you too your pony ass face, so go back rubing your **** on ++++s face and sniff some glue your dirty trany.
Stay away from MY girlfriend and say anymore about her and there be BIG **** you DIRTY ******* *****, YOUR A *****! Report Spam34 weeks ago
message 2
+++++++-+++++-++++++
Be warned +++++ right, that sad wee ******* below is 16 years old i will ******* kill him, so if i was you i still wouldnt think you it, you ******* dirty little ****.
Go near +++++ anymore or say anything about her or too anyone then i be waiting outside the school right.
so **** off you ******* dirty little **** so hag ++++s pony you twisted *****!!! Report Spam33 weeks ago "
Well, I wonder what kind of person makes that kind of filthy threat? I hope the parents are thoroughly ashamed of whoever it is, if they know that he/she is writing such disgusting tripe on an internet site. Just as well it has been deleted. Bebo is used by many thousands of young people and I hate to think of the vulnerable ones who might come across such filth accidentally.
Be safe all you young people out there. If anyone posts comments like this on your Bebo site or responds to comments you make on other sites, report immediately to Bebo admin. Put a stop to the filth!
Edit: Will this remain anonymous or will someone claim it as theirs and threaten me with breach of copyright? You never know, they may well be that stupid!
The following was lifted from a Bebo site, which has since been deleted. I have added +++ to distinguish where I have deleted names from the asterisks which will, of course, convey that rabid swearing has been censored.
"+++++++-+++++-++++++
Well well well if it isnt the dirty little slapper her self +++++!!!
What the **** you acusing me of???!!
Deleting that dirty little whores ++++s page???
Well it wasnt me and thats the truth so get your facts right you stupid little t*rt, your so ****** up upstairs that you cant even find out who it was, see ++++ shouldnt **** with people she dont know who shes ******* with, so im telling you this now, you stay away from +++++ right, go near her in school even right and i be waiting out side for you, what you going too do +++++, print this off again? your ******* so sad
Lisen, ++++ is a ****** up druggie who needs too go get help and stop ******** her dad and the ponys and you just need too stay away from my girlfriend before i ******* tell you too your pony ass face, so go back rubing your **** on ++++s face and sniff some glue your dirty trany.
Stay away from MY girlfriend and say anymore about her and there be BIG **** you DIRTY ******* *****, YOUR A *****! Report Spam34 weeks ago
message 2
+++++++-+++++-++++++
Be warned +++++ right, that sad wee ******* below is 16 years old i will ******* kill him, so if i was you i still wouldnt think you it, you ******* dirty little ****.
Go near +++++ anymore or say anything about her or too anyone then i be waiting outside the school right.
so **** off you ******* dirty little **** so hag ++++s pony you twisted *****!!! Report Spam33 weeks ago "
Well, I wonder what kind of person makes that kind of filthy threat? I hope the parents are thoroughly ashamed of whoever it is, if they know that he/she is writing such disgusting tripe on an internet site. Just as well it has been deleted. Bebo is used by many thousands of young people and I hate to think of the vulnerable ones who might come across such filth accidentally.
Be safe all you young people out there. If anyone posts comments like this on your Bebo site or responds to comments you make on other sites, report immediately to Bebo admin. Put a stop to the filth!
Edit: Will this remain anonymous or will someone claim it as theirs and threaten me with breach of copyright? You never know, they may well be that stupid!
SOS Maddie
SOS Maddie is a French language blog, which has published a great deal of information not available in the UK press. Actually, whether it is accurate information from reliable sources or simply speculation, presented as fact, I have no way of knowing.
Today SOS Maddie refers to the visit to the UK by the Portuguese police which took place this week. In addition to details about meetings with the Leicestershire police and with the forensic scientists at FSS, where samples collected from the McCanns rented car and from the holiday apartment have been analysed, there is also mention of records of telephone calls.
http://sosmaddie.dhblogs.be/
"De leur visite au Royaume-Uni, la Police Judiciaire à ramené des résultats, mais aussi des détails de plusieurs diligences effectués par leur collègues de Leicestershire, notamment les relevés des appels téléphoniques effectues par le groupe pendant leur séjour au Portugal."
Translation: As to their visit to the United Kingdom, the Portuguese Police gathered the results, but also the details of several observations by their Leicestershire colleagues, notably transcripts of phone calls made by the group during their holiday in Portugal.
If this is true, these transcripts may be very revealing about the events of the evening of May 3rd, when Madeleine disappeared from the holiday apartment. Perhaps this is another piece of the puzzle, which has encouraged the Public Prosecutor to give permission for the PJ to seek further interviews with the Tapas 9. It was previously reported that the Public Prosecutor would only give permission if significant new evidence were to emerge.
Today SOS Maddie refers to the visit to the UK by the Portuguese police which took place this week. In addition to details about meetings with the Leicestershire police and with the forensic scientists at FSS, where samples collected from the McCanns rented car and from the holiday apartment have been analysed, there is also mention of records of telephone calls.
http://sosmaddie.dhblogs.be/
"De leur visite au Royaume-Uni, la Police Judiciaire à ramené des résultats, mais aussi des détails de plusieurs diligences effectués par leur collègues de Leicestershire, notamment les relevés des appels téléphoniques effectues par le groupe pendant leur séjour au Portugal."
Translation: As to their visit to the United Kingdom, the Portuguese Police gathered the results, but also the details of several observations by their Leicestershire colleagues, notably transcripts of phone calls made by the group during their holiday in Portugal.
If this is true, these transcripts may be very revealing about the events of the evening of May 3rd, when Madeleine disappeared from the holiday apartment. Perhaps this is another piece of the puzzle, which has encouraged the Public Prosecutor to give permission for the PJ to seek further interviews with the Tapas 9. It was previously reported that the Public Prosecutor would only give permission if significant new evidence were to emerge.
Kate and Gerry McCann May Face More Questions
"Portuguese police investigating Madeleine McCann’s disappearance are poised to return to England to re-interview members of the group who were on holiday with her parents when she went missing."
Daily Telegraph
Following a visit to the UK by a group of Portuguese police and forensic scientists, it is reported that the McCanns and the rest of their group, known collectively as, "The Tapas 9," may be re-interviewed by the police.
"Detectives have long believed the key to unravelling the mystery of the four-year-old’s disappearance could lie with the so-called Tapas Nine – the name given to the McCanns and the seven friends who dined with them on the night Madeleine vanished."
"Public prosecutor Jose Magalhaes e Menezes had refused to sanction further questioning of the group until the full forensic results were known.
There are very few facts available to the public concerning the disappearance of Madeleine McCann. What has been printed in the mainstream media seems to be full of contradictions, especially concerning a timeline for the evening of May 3rd in Praia da Luz, and the various comings and goings of the Tapas 9, during their meal, when the McCanns say that they and their friends checked regularly on the children.
What we do know is that, by their own admission, the McCanns left three small children on their own in a holiday apartment, night after night during their holiday in Portugal, and that one of those children, Madeleine disappeared from that apartment on the evening of May 3rd.
Hopefully the Portuguese police will now be interviewing all of the Tapas 9 re the apparent inconsistencies in their statements about the events of May 3rd in the Mark Warner holiday resort in Praia da Luz. We may yet find out what has happened to Madeleine, that little girl who was left by her parents while they dined at the Tapas Bar, 20/40/50/70/100/120 metres from the apartment! Apparently, if they could walk across the swimming pool, the distance between the Tapas Bar and the apartment was 50 metres! I am assuming that neither Gerry nor Kate could have accomplished this miraculous feat!
Daily Telegraph
Following a visit to the UK by a group of Portuguese police and forensic scientists, it is reported that the McCanns and the rest of their group, known collectively as, "The Tapas 9," may be re-interviewed by the police.
"Detectives have long believed the key to unravelling the mystery of the four-year-old’s disappearance could lie with the so-called Tapas Nine – the name given to the McCanns and the seven friends who dined with them on the night Madeleine vanished."
"Public prosecutor Jose Magalhaes e Menezes had refused to sanction further questioning of the group until the full forensic results were known.
It is thought that Paulo Rebelo, the head of the investigation, will now send a team accompanied by Mr Magalhaes e Menezes and the “letters of appeal” to British authorities to carry out the interviews."
Seems to me that if the public prosecutor is about to visit our shores to possibly assist the British police, there could be fairly important developments in this case in the next week or so. It has been suggested by some posters on public forums, particularly that of the Daily Mirror, that the Portuguese police may be returning simply to remove Kate and Gerry from their status as formal suspects, or arguidos, in the disappearance of their daughter. Could be, I suppose, but surely this information could be conveyed to the McCanns via the British police, who have been assisting the Portuguese police since Madeleine disappeared?There are very few facts available to the public concerning the disappearance of Madeleine McCann. What has been printed in the mainstream media seems to be full of contradictions, especially concerning a timeline for the evening of May 3rd in Praia da Luz, and the various comings and goings of the Tapas 9, during their meal, when the McCanns say that they and their friends checked regularly on the children.
What we do know is that, by their own admission, the McCanns left three small children on their own in a holiday apartment, night after night during their holiday in Portugal, and that one of those children, Madeleine disappeared from that apartment on the evening of May 3rd.
Hopefully the Portuguese police will now be interviewing all of the Tapas 9 re the apparent inconsistencies in their statements about the events of May 3rd in the Mark Warner holiday resort in Praia da Luz. We may yet find out what has happened to Madeleine, that little girl who was left by her parents while they dined at the Tapas Bar, 20/40/50/70/100/120 metres from the apartment! Apparently, if they could walk across the swimming pool, the distance between the Tapas Bar and the apartment was 50 metres! I am assuming that neither Gerry nor Kate could have accomplished this miraculous feat!
Anonymous Said.......
Copied from the comments section of this blog!
"Anonymous said...
Disclaimer: please note, any allegations in the above comment by Roxcy are the sole responsibility of the poster, Roxcy, and are not the views of Anna Silvestro.
"Anonymous said...
Dear Anna Silvestro
I have just found your post on Samantha Osborn and I can tell you; after seeking legal advice from Google`s legal department you are in breach of data protection act and copyright; A notice of Copyright theft and data protection breach has been submitted to Google CA who will now be taking the matter forward with Police.
It is my understanding that Samantha herself has kindly requested that you remove this content about her, why have you not?? Is it because you want to make everyone know that she USE to be missing or the simply fact you are a sad loner that has nothing else to do than to put their nose into others private lives.
Wind your neck in, and respect Samantha`s wishes.
As regards Samantha`s boyfriend, her future plans what the hell has that got to do with you????????!!!!!
NOTHING.
As regards your silly little blogspot, shall I point something out that you might like to add to your blog about this case as you refuse that to remove this content, which will happen as there is now an investigation underway by Google CA and CA legal services, is that she has been found.
She is happy you fail to note, you fail to note that infact Samantha was being subject to violent abuse by her mother, serious violent abuse.
All of which is supported by medical evidence and witnesses.
Samantha is 16 years old, she can do as she pleases, make her own mind up on what she does in HER life, that is not for you to talk about on here on your sad low-life blog, your pathtic!!!!!!
But do you know what is really vile is that you have not respected Samantha`s personal request for this post to be removed, which means you dont give a single toss about her or her feelings; meaning to anyone with a brain reading this that your a sad low-life who just wants to TRY and not allow Samantha to move on from her past.
As for her parents being ashamed, yes I bet they are, for abusing a defenceless girl, why not pick on someone their own size???!!!
Maybe that poster infact is Samantha`s mother who has made mutiple false allegations against Samantha`s boyfriend and left many comments pretending to be another person.
I will end on a final note, being a friend of Samantha`s, I know that she is happier than ever and that the best thing she ever did was getting away from her vile mother who tried to murder her; with such medical evidence supporting such.
I also know one last thing, whatever you say on your silly little blog, whatever anyone says it will not break Samantha and her boyfriend up, it will not get Samantha down, Samantha is stronger than ever.
I wish you good day and happy receiving notice of legal action from Google in due course.
Roxcy
Disclaimer: please note, any allegations in the above comment by Roxcy are the sole responsibility of the poster, Roxcy, and are not the views of Anna Silvestro.
Published Information on Samantha Osborn
Someone posting comments on my Samantha Osborn posts has said that the Daily Mirror is under investigation, by whom he/she does not say. As a matter of interest, here are links to the two articles published by the Daily Mirror.
19/07/07
Vanished Without A Trace
"The police took away her computer to see if it held any clues. They discovered she'd been talking to people in the West Country, and soon all kinds of scenarios began playing over and over in my mind.
6/11/07
Why won't My Little Girl Come Home?
Thames Valley Police, 26/4/07
Thames Valley Police
" It is believed that Samantha may be in the Bristol area, but she has been known to travel to Milton Keynes on occasion.
Samantha has asthma and family are worried whether she has appropriate medication, such as an inhaler, and any chemists who may have been approached by her are asked to please contact the police. Her family also do not believe she has access to money.
Detective Inspector Vince Grey from Thames Valley Police, who is leading the investigation, said: “We’ve exhausted our enquiries with her friends and contacts in Buckinghamshire and we are now extending our enquiries to other areas where she is known to have contacts – top of this list is Bristol.”
So, to the person who has posted comments, threatening to sue me for breach of copyright, whose copyright have I breached? Thames Valley Police? Or do you think the police have also breached someone's copyright?
So, as can be seen above, the Thames Valley police discovered that Samantha had been communicating with people in the West Country area, via the internet, and subsequently they made Bristol top of their list as a possible place that Samantha had gone to. So, my saying that Samantha was thought to have met someone on the internet and that she was believed to be in the Bristol area, is there a breach of copyright there? If so, whose?
Will someone please indicate where, in my initial post about Samantha Osborn, I referred to her boyfriend?
Someone thinking of threatening Thames Valley Police for breach of copyright? That should be very interesting. Perhaps they think that Thames Valley Police are, "low life," too for publishing these details?
Please note: I will remove the photo of Samantha Osborn when I have received a request from Samantha herself. To date, the email address I have requested has not been provided. So, I have no way of knowing if the person claiming to be Sammy Osborn is in fact Sammy.
I will not remove any text from this blog which is in the public domain, especially that which has been published by Thames Valley Police, unless requested to do so by the police.
19/07/07
Vanished Without A Trace
"The police took away her computer to see if it held any clues. They discovered she'd been talking to people in the West Country, and soon all kinds of scenarios began playing over and over in my mind.
She didn't seem to have run away so we had to suppose she'd gone to meet someone - probably one of her internet friends. But that brings its own nightmares and soon we feared she was being held against her will."
6/11/07
Why won't My Little Girl Come Home?
Thames Valley Police, 26/4/07
Thames Valley Police
" It is believed that Samantha may be in the Bristol area, but she has been known to travel to Milton Keynes on occasion.
Samantha has asthma and family are worried whether she has appropriate medication, such as an inhaler, and any chemists who may have been approached by her are asked to please contact the police. Her family also do not believe she has access to money.
Detective Inspector Vince Grey from Thames Valley Police, who is leading the investigation, said: “We’ve exhausted our enquiries with her friends and contacts in Buckinghamshire and we are now extending our enquiries to other areas where she is known to have contacts – top of this list is Bristol.”
So, to the person who has posted comments, threatening to sue me for breach of copyright, whose copyright have I breached? Thames Valley Police? Or do you think the police have also breached someone's copyright?
So, as can be seen above, the Thames Valley police discovered that Samantha had been communicating with people in the West Country area, via the internet, and subsequently they made Bristol top of their list as a possible place that Samantha had gone to. So, my saying that Samantha was thought to have met someone on the internet and that she was believed to be in the Bristol area, is there a breach of copyright there? If so, whose?
Will someone please indicate where, in my initial post about Samantha Osborn, I referred to her boyfriend?
Someone thinking of threatening Thames Valley Police for breach of copyright? That should be very interesting. Perhaps they think that Thames Valley Police are, "low life," too for publishing these details?
Please note: I will remove the photo of Samantha Osborn when I have received a request from Samantha herself. To date, the email address I have requested has not been provided. So, I have no way of knowing if the person claiming to be Sammy Osborn is in fact Sammy.
I will not remove any text from this blog which is in the public domain, especially that which has been published by Thames Valley Police, unless requested to do so by the police.
Leaving School and Getting a Job
This is in response to a comment on one of my posts. Please see comments on the Samantha Osborn posts.
Now to the question of school leaving age in the UK and whether someone who is 16 years old can do exactly as they please.
When can someone officially leave school and be free to do exactly as he/she pleases? This is an abstract from Section 8(4) of the Education Act 1996.
"A new single school leaving date has been set for 1998 and all subsequent years. This is the last Friday in June in the school year in which a child reaches age 16. In 1998 the date is 26 June. Until that date:
Now to the question of school leaving age in the UK and whether someone who is 16 years old can do exactly as they please.
When can someone officially leave school and be free to do exactly as he/she pleases? This is an abstract from Section 8(4) of the Education Act 1996.
"A new single school leaving date has been set for 1998 and all subsequent years. This is the last Friday in June in the school year in which a child reaches age 16. In 1998 the date is 26 June. Until that date:
a. Parents and guardians must ensure their child's participation in education, at school or otherwise;
b. Local education authorities (and/or the Funding Agency for Schools) must secure the provision of suitable education;
c. Employers may not employ a child full-time;
d. Training providers may not provide full-time Government sponsored training."
So, let's say that a young person reached the age of 16 on 22nd September, 2007, when could that young person leave school, get a job and do exactly as she pleases? According to the legislation quoted above, since the birthday falls within the school year, the official school leaving date for that young person would be the last Friday in June, 2008.
So, until that date in June, 2008, someone whose 16th birthday was 22nd September, 2007, would not be able to get a full-time job, and would possibly be sought by a truancy officer, if not attending school full-time.
I hope this helps the person who submitted the rather long comment to the Samantha Osborn post. if you have any further doubts, I would advise you to contact your local education department where you are living, or your local Social Services Department, who will be very pleased to assist you.
Dfes.gov.uk
Friday, 30 November 2007
The Religion of Peace My A$$!!!
Well, the religion of peace does it yet again! Thousands of people were out on the streets of Khartoum following Friday prayers, (Amazing the kind of actions that are incited by those prayers!) demonstrating against what they see as a the lenient sentencing of Gillian Gibbons. Gillian is the British woman who has been working as a teacher in Sudan, who committed the heinous crime of allowing a class of small children to call a teddy, Muhammed.
"Gillian Gibbons, 54, from Liverpool, was jailed for 15 days on Thursday after allowing children in her class to name a teddy bear Muhammad."
BBC report
Yes, after Friday prayers, encouraged by their devotion to their faith, there were people out on the streets of Khartoum, burning effigies of Gillian Gibblons and calling for her to be executed!
According to Sky News:
"The perceived leniency incensed Sudan's hard-line Muslim clerics."
Indeed, the demonstration is said to have been orchestrated, rather than having been a spontaneous outburst of feeling.
"The crowd had been ferried in on pick-up trucks after Friday prayers. Riot police kept them away from the presidential palace.
Journalist Andrew Heavens told Sky News: "There were signs that this protest was highly orchestrated. This was not the spontaneous act of a mob."
Clearly the mob had been incited to action by the words of the clerics at Friday prayers. What kind of religion is that, where its preachers encourage people to violence and calling for a death penalty for something as trivial, in my opinion, as calling a teddy bear Muhammed? It's a religion that cannot cope with any kind of criticism. It's a religion whose followers take to the streets, facing contorted with hatred, inciting violence and calling for executions for anyone whom they see as offending their oh-so-delicate religion."During Friday sermons, the Muslim cleric at Khartoum's main Martyrs Mosque denounced Mrs Gibbons, saying she intentionally insulted Islam.
Ms Gibbons was jailed for 15 days
"Imprisoning this lady does not satisfy the thirst of Muslims in Sudan," said the cleric, Abdul-Jalil Nazeer al-Karouri, a well known hard-liner."
Sky NewsDoes not satisfy the thirst of Muslims in Sudan? What are they thirsting for? Answering yet another of my own questions, I guess it's blood they're thirsting for. What strange and inhuman people the religion of peace has created.
I simply do not understand a religion that incites its followers to violence and killing over slights and misdemeanors.The Religion of Peace my a$$!!!!!!
Tuesday, 27 November 2007
Jilona
It is with deep sadness that I write about the death of Jilona. For those who have ever posted on the BBC message boards, or one of several other popular boards, the name will be familiar. Jilona died suddenly on November 12th.
Jilona was passionate in her beliefs and strong on her principles of justice. Her comments on message boards were well-researched and went straight to the heart of any issue being discussed. She was strident and clear in her opinions, ate trolls for breakfast, and was one of the most intelligent and articulate message boarders ever to grace the internet. And grace the internet, she did.
A very sad loss for good debate and online friendship and my thoughts are with her husband at this time of his very sad loss.
YouTube Video For Jilona
Jilona was passionate in her beliefs and strong on her principles of justice. Her comments on message boards were well-researched and went straight to the heart of any issue being discussed. She was strident and clear in her opinions, ate trolls for breakfast, and was one of the most intelligent and articulate message boarders ever to grace the internet. And grace the internet, she did.
A very sad loss for good debate and online friendship and my thoughts are with her husband at this time of his very sad loss.
YouTube Video For Jilona
Monday, 26 November 2007
The Glasgow Story
A street in the Gorbals, circa 1950
I was born in Coatbridge, which is one of those towns you will miss on your way from Glasgow to Edinburgh. My father was born and raised in Glasgow, in that part which is probably synonymous with slum Glasgow, the Gorbals. Many of my father's family lived in the Gorbals throughout my childhood and we visited there often, walking from the bus stop in Duke Street, down through Glasgow Green and over the bridge into Florence Street to see my Auntie Minnie who had a shop in that street, and my Uncle William, who lived there.
Much has been written about the close-knit communities that existed in areas like the Gorbals, and that is the memory I retain from my visits. My Uncle William had a daughter, who was close to my age, and two sons. I was always sent out to play with my female cousin and this meant, usually, playing, "roon the middens." Behind the tenement buildings, there were areas, known as, "the middens," where there were brick-built sheds, housing the large bins that domestic refuse from the flats was thrown into. These sheds were dirty, offensively-smelling places, crawling with rats, but used by many kids as hiding places.
My cousin would take me out, round the back of the tenement, where dozens of kids congregated, climbing over the high brick walls into the neighbouring midden area, which served another part of the street. These kids absolutely terrified me. They were foul-mouthed, brash and bossy and often made fun of me for being a wimp who was scared of walking along the tops of some of the high brick walls. To me, my cousin was every bit as street-smart as the rest of the Gorbals kids, and I felt like the small town ignorant relative in comparison.
The above is a photo of a Gorbals street from the 1950s. I don't know what street it was, but Florence Street was very like this at the time.
In the 1960s, the Glasgow Fathers decided, in their wisdom, to start knocking down the tenements, build high-rise flats and send thousands of displaced people out to new housing estates in places like Castlemilk and Easterhouse. The most famous, or rather, notorious, of these high-rise flats were those designed by Sir Basil Spence, 19 storey blocks on stilts, on the banks of the Clyde. Hailed at the time as brilliant architecture, the buildings were demolished in the 1980s; apart from being bleak boxes that no one, especially people with families, wanted to live in, they were sinking into the boggy land by the Clyde!
Gone were the close-knit communities. By the late 1960s, it had begun to dawn on the City Fathers, the Councilmen, that they might have made a few mistakes! There then began an experiment in which instead of knocking down the tenements, which were solid Victorian buildings, they renovated them. They knocked a few interior walls down and put in bathrooms and toilets and created more living space than there had been in the old, "Room and kitchen," and,"Single End," dwellings. A, "Room and kitchen," was a two-roomed flat, the room being the bedroom in which whole families slept; the kitchen being living-room, dining-room and kitchen all-in-one, where the whole family congregated, cooked and gathered to listen to the radio or watch TV. The facades of the tenements were cleaned, and the midden areas were turned into children's play areas and car parks. What were once slum dwellings are often now sold privately for a good market price.
The Glasgow Story web site:
The Glasgow Story
Here you will find fascinating insights into Glasgow's history from the Industrial Revolution right up to the 21st Century, how the city has undergone great upheaval and change, and has entered this new century as a bright, colourful city of culture.
For people who trace their family to Glasgow, there is a very useful link on The Glasgow Story site to, "Valuation Rolls." (Link top left) If you want to know where your relatives lived, you can search by street name or by ward.
"The Valuation Rolls contain information that includes descriptions of Glasgow properties; street number and street; the proprietor's name and address; name and occupation of tenant; occupier and "inhabitant occupier" and information relating to the value of the property for rating purposes. They are an invaluable source for family historians, and we have digitised a complete set of the Rolls for Glasgow for the year 1913-1914."
Not all of the changes to the city have been changes for the good of the communities who once lived in places like Florence Street. Where the old Victorian buildings stood, with the road leading to the river, there are now, blocks of flats and a Neighbourhood Centre. There are huge open spaces, which I am sure were intended to bring new amenities to the residents of the area, amenities which were thought to be lacking in the crowded-together tenement buildings. However, the wind that blows off the river is now tunneled between the high-rise blocks and blows unbuffeted across the huge open spaces.
Still, I love it. It's my kind of town, Glasgow is, my kind of town! I like Buchanan Street even better now that it has been pedestrianised and you can saunter through the small shopping arcades of little niche shops and wander up to the impressive shopping mall at the top.
It's a fine city and well worth a visit. If you do find yourself in the previously known, "NO Mean City," don't forget to include a trip to the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum to view the city's most praised piece of art, the Salvador Dali, "Christ of St John of The Cross."
Go well, now! Be safe!
Sunday, 25 November 2007
What Has Happened To Our Schools?
I was looking through stacks of books in a school library recently, books that were for sale and I found, "An Introduction To Botany," by Priestley, Scott, Harrison. There are nearly 700 pages of information-rich text, with mostly line drawings and a few photographs. When I did A Level Botany, this was the kind of textbook I used. I know! This sounds like, "In my day bla bla," but in comparison, the modern textbooks look like comic books, with bite-sized chunks of text and comic book type illustrations, looking like someone's idea of how to illustrate a textbook for, "cool," young people.
It seems to me that education is now delivered in packets, like cook-chill food, nicely packaged and presented in meal-sized portions, delivered in the ubiquitous hand-out.
And when did we stop asking kids to copy notes, and to read a few books and start handing out reams of paper? I asked a year 10 class (around age 15) to copy two, not very long, paragraphs recently. "Do I have to write all that? Why Can't I just stick that in my book?" Because, dear child, if you write it out, you might remember some of it!
Seems to me that the internet has brought a revolution in information into the classroom. Kids now have access to such a wealth of information, but they want to copy and paste it, without reading or understanding a lot of time. Here's a nice chunk of information, I'll have that! Looking over a year 9 student's shoulder, reading research he was doing on protein in the diet, I read about, "long chain molecules." and, "peptide bonds." So, I asked what a molecule was! Don't know! Well, what's a, "peptide bond?" Don't know!
Every school, secondary and primary, in the UK, now has a reprographics department. When I see the stacks of paper sitting there and the ream upon ream that gets printed on every day, I can see where a load of that money is going that the Labour government has poured into education. The plastic chairs may be falling apart and the formica-covered tables are wobbling, but look at the lovely hand-outs!
And will somebody please tell me when it became OK to swear at teachers and for there to be no consequences? I think this must have been around the same time that it became OK for girls to turn up at school in lycra skirts that just cover the gluteus muscles, carrying their make-up and mobile phone in a cute little pink handbag, with no room for useful stuff like pencils, pens and rulers!
Laptops in classrooms could be an absolutely briliant addition to the resources for learning that teachers have to offer. Unfortunately, they are also a brilliant way for many young people to update their, My Space, Bebo, or Face Book sites, and communicate with their mates in chatrooms. Jeez! These kids think I don't know what a minimised page looks like! I am so sick of spending so much time saying, "Close that page." There must be better ways to use my time.
A lot of the time I feel like I'm doing crowd control, rather than what I trained to do, teach! If I have the same number of kids in the room at the end of a lesson as I had at the start, that's some kind of success! I haven't sent any to, "Isolation," and I haven't lost a few to join the so-called, "tourists," who roam the corridors.
I am having a jolly good rant today about this, but this is what working in a secondary school is like for many of us in the UK now. A colleague commented the other day that the only skill needed to work in many schools is the ability to cope with verbal abuse. If I was a waitress I'd have more rights! Anyone who came into my cafe and called me a, "stupid f*****g bitch," would be banned, yet, as a teacher, that's one of the milder insults!
And then there's the league tables! Exam results are shown to have been improving year-on-year! So, how come kids who can hardly string a sentence together in meaningful English are achieving a few GCSEs? I shall leave that question until another time.
Any sensible job offers that would take me away from all this are very welcome.
It seems to me that education is now delivered in packets, like cook-chill food, nicely packaged and presented in meal-sized portions, delivered in the ubiquitous hand-out.
And when did we stop asking kids to copy notes, and to read a few books and start handing out reams of paper? I asked a year 10 class (around age 15) to copy two, not very long, paragraphs recently. "Do I have to write all that? Why Can't I just stick that in my book?" Because, dear child, if you write it out, you might remember some of it!
Seems to me that the internet has brought a revolution in information into the classroom. Kids now have access to such a wealth of information, but they want to copy and paste it, without reading or understanding a lot of time. Here's a nice chunk of information, I'll have that! Looking over a year 9 student's shoulder, reading research he was doing on protein in the diet, I read about, "long chain molecules." and, "peptide bonds." So, I asked what a molecule was! Don't know! Well, what's a, "peptide bond?" Don't know!
Every school, secondary and primary, in the UK, now has a reprographics department. When I see the stacks of paper sitting there and the ream upon ream that gets printed on every day, I can see where a load of that money is going that the Labour government has poured into education. The plastic chairs may be falling apart and the formica-covered tables are wobbling, but look at the lovely hand-outs!
And will somebody please tell me when it became OK to swear at teachers and for there to be no consequences? I think this must have been around the same time that it became OK for girls to turn up at school in lycra skirts that just cover the gluteus muscles, carrying their make-up and mobile phone in a cute little pink handbag, with no room for useful stuff like pencils, pens and rulers!
Laptops in classrooms could be an absolutely briliant addition to the resources for learning that teachers have to offer. Unfortunately, they are also a brilliant way for many young people to update their, My Space, Bebo, or Face Book sites, and communicate with their mates in chatrooms. Jeez! These kids think I don't know what a minimised page looks like! I am so sick of spending so much time saying, "Close that page." There must be better ways to use my time.
A lot of the time I feel like I'm doing crowd control, rather than what I trained to do, teach! If I have the same number of kids in the room at the end of a lesson as I had at the start, that's some kind of success! I haven't sent any to, "Isolation," and I haven't lost a few to join the so-called, "tourists," who roam the corridors.
I am having a jolly good rant today about this, but this is what working in a secondary school is like for many of us in the UK now. A colleague commented the other day that the only skill needed to work in many schools is the ability to cope with verbal abuse. If I was a waitress I'd have more rights! Anyone who came into my cafe and called me a, "stupid f*****g bitch," would be banned, yet, as a teacher, that's one of the milder insults!
And then there's the league tables! Exam results are shown to have been improving year-on-year! So, how come kids who can hardly string a sentence together in meaningful English are achieving a few GCSEs? I shall leave that question until another time.
Any sensible job offers that would take me away from all this are very welcome.
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