Meredith Kercher Murder Case . . .
The Italian Supreme Court is expected to issue a ruling late tomorrow on whether the acquittals at Appellate level of Amanda Knox and Raffaele Sollecito should stand or be rejected. Prosecutors in Perugia want the acquittals tossed and a new trial held in Florence.
:: Nick Squires :: reports from Rome ::
:: Andrea Vogt reports ::
...
Sunday, March 24
Trayvon Nullification Vehicle -
Jim DeFede, CBS Miami reporter, becomes the willing dupe of a very cynical, venal, and malicious propaganda machine which is demonstrably working here to nullify Due Process when, on the pretext of sharing some of his favorite books about Florida, he reports:
"According to the killer, George Zimmerman, it was the victim's fault. His presence had made him feel threatened. That was why he had followed the boy, and ultimately killed him, so the police said what they would have in 1980, 1935, 1920 - or 1876 or 1818. It had been okay to kill him. They told Zimmerman he could go home."
Hey, Jim, when are you moving to Burma?
You don't deserve to live in the United States!
Yes, folks, this is what the American Press consists of these days: whores, psychopaths, seditionists, nihilists, drug addicts, low lives, and pond scum; coming to a neighborhood near you real soon to poison your jury pool and guarantee that you can never get a fair trial.
These are the people who have the megaphones, the videocams, and the distribution system that constitute The Mighty Wurlitzer Propaganda Machine. These are the people who have the connections to buy Freedom of the Press.
This is what passes for Freedom of the Press these days: the freedom to poison jury pools, the freedom to thwart Due Process and the freedom to obstruct the course of justice.
:: Blowing Sunshine ::
...
"According to the killer, George Zimmerman, it was the victim's fault. His presence had made him feel threatened. That was why he had followed the boy, and ultimately killed him, so the police said what they would have in 1980, 1935, 1920 - or 1876 or 1818. It had been okay to kill him. They told Zimmerman he could go home."
Hey, Jim, when are you moving to Burma?
You don't deserve to live in the United States!
Yes, folks, this is what the American Press consists of these days: whores, psychopaths, seditionists, nihilists, drug addicts, low lives, and pond scum; coming to a neighborhood near you real soon to poison your jury pool and guarantee that you can never get a fair trial.
These are the people who have the megaphones, the videocams, and the distribution system that constitute The Mighty Wurlitzer Propaganda Machine. These are the people who have the connections to buy Freedom of the Press.
This is what passes for Freedom of the Press these days: the freedom to poison jury pools, the freedom to thwart Due Process and the freedom to obstruct the course of justice.
:: Blowing Sunshine ::
...
Friday, March 22
Counterfeit Edens -
The Retreat at Twin Lakes, which was
the setting for the Trayvon Martin Shooting . . .
was a porously enclosed multi-residential private estate located in Sanford Florida. Its lack of secure boundaries made it a magnetic treasure chest attracting outside marauders.
Instead of reporting the situation as it existed, the Mainstream Media preferred to depict it as a kind of paradise theme park into which George Zimmerman, the villain, introduced Evil.
The American Press is no longer being held accountable for presenting fantasy in place of fact. Lawyer James Beasley, recently hired by Zimmerman, seems to be the only agency able to get results.
Meanwhile . . . the city of Sanford has held a special summit meeting of community leaders to discuss what needs to be done about the current crime rate among its young African-American males which is "spiraling out of control."
Google seems to be in the process of shredding and burying the Blogosphere. People have been reporting that their Google Alerts have not been working properly. And I have been getting Error results lately when I've tried to ping their Feedburner page.
It is no longer possible to use Blog Search to find blogs discussing your topic of interest; the results are highly manipulated, censored, very limited, and usually worthless.
It's beginning to look like Google may have acquired BlogSpot just to destroy it. Most of the space on Google News is now devoted to simply advertising the legacy media giants.
Soon we will have only one
news source: Google, our new Overlords.
The visit of Blogger Yoani Sanchez is throwing the American MSM into turmoil, because it puts on display their frothing hypocrisy. In Cuba the government is hostile to Bloggers, but here in the U.S. it is the MSM which seethes with intense hatred for self-selected alternate perspectives in the Blogosphere.
Clearly, this sinister Coalition of the Swilling is getting ready to crush us. Kent Brockman, as a trusted TV personality, will be helpful in rounding up the gullible to toil in their underground caves.
...
the setting for the Trayvon Martin Shooting . . .
was a porously enclosed multi-residential private estate located in Sanford Florida. Its lack of secure boundaries made it a magnetic treasure chest attracting outside marauders.
Instead of reporting the situation as it existed, the Mainstream Media preferred to depict it as a kind of paradise theme park into which George Zimmerman, the villain, introduced Evil.
The American Press is no longer being held accountable for presenting fantasy in place of fact. Lawyer James Beasley, recently hired by Zimmerman, seems to be the only agency able to get results.
Meanwhile . . . the city of Sanford has held a special summit meeting of community leaders to discuss what needs to be done about the current crime rate among its young African-American males which is "spiraling out of control."
Google seems to be in the process of shredding and burying the Blogosphere. People have been reporting that their Google Alerts have not been working properly. And I have been getting Error results lately when I've tried to ping their Feedburner page.
It is no longer possible to use Blog Search to find blogs discussing your topic of interest; the results are highly manipulated, censored, very limited, and usually worthless.
It's beginning to look like Google may have acquired BlogSpot just to destroy it. Most of the space on Google News is now devoted to simply advertising the legacy media giants.
Soon we will have only one
news source: Google, our new Overlords.
The visit of Blogger Yoani Sanchez is throwing the American MSM into turmoil, because it puts on display their frothing hypocrisy. In Cuba the government is hostile to Bloggers, but here in the U.S. it is the MSM which seethes with intense hatred for self-selected alternate perspectives in the Blogosphere.
Clearly, this sinister Coalition of the Swilling is getting ready to crush us. Kent Brockman, as a trusted TV personality, will be helpful in rounding up the gullible to toil in their underground caves.
...
Thursday, March 21
G Reader Orphans -
Joshua Rothman engages in a bit of nostalgia for Google Reader, but, in the end, he reluctantly admits to himself
and us:
"I won’t miss Reader when it shuts down, on July 1st. But I will miss the old me - the person I described in Google Reader, without knowing it."
Rebecca Greenfield shares some theories about why Google Reader was doomed and some alternatives.
+ Adding Our Man in Boston to sidebar links.
...
and us:
"I won’t miss Reader when it shuts down, on July 1st. But I will miss the old me - the person I described in Google Reader, without knowing it."
Rebecca Greenfield shares some theories about why Google Reader was doomed and some alternatives.
+ Adding Our Man in Boston to sidebar links.
...
Monday, March 18
Trayvon / Zimmerman Update -
George Zimmerman's Defense submitted a motion for the court to reconsider the deposition of Benjamin Crump. And it's worth reading.
# Nearly a third of U.S. adults have stopped turning to a news outlet because it no longer provides them with the news they were accustomed to getting, according to this year's Pew News Media Report.
# When a reporter is assigned to do a project he knows nothing about, he usually does some homework first to prepare for his assignment.
But when reporter Craig Rivera is assigned to interview a woman within the campus of a condo complex, he demonstrates that he knows nothing about condo complexes, how they operate or how they finance their expenses.
Younger viewers may not notice anything amiss with Rivera's performance, but viewers who are in the 55+ empty nest category will, because they are more apt to be familiar with how these communities operate.
After Rivera has passed through the gates of the Retreat at Twin Lakes which bear conspicuous signage warning that you are now entering Private Property, he doesn't seem to believe the signs. He is seen on camera declaring that the communal concrete path he is using is a Public Walkway.
It is not.
The maintenance of the common facilities of condo complexes is financed by the condo owners who pay a special fee to have the grassy commons mowed, the clubhouse cared for, and whatever other amenities the community may offer, such as swimming pool, tennis courts, etc.
Brandy Green says that she has lived in the RATL for four years and has never heard of any crimes happening there. What about reports of a rash of thefts within the estate? She says she doesn't believe the reports.
Her denial absolves her of any responsibility to help her neighbors, who she refers to as "they."
She describes the communal concrete walkways thusly: This is where they walk their dogs. She does not use the word "we," which implies that she is a transient renter who has nothing invested in the community and that she doesn't identify with her neighbors.
This points to the crucial reason why many condo owners are strongly opposed to other owners in their community being allowed to rent out their units to transients.
Many gated communities are enclosed by high walls, but this one was not securely enclosed. According to news reports, there were gaps in the enclosure which allowed intruders, marauders, and trespassers to enter.
Among the more sensitive areas of an apartment complex or condo community is the mail kiosk.
Thieves may loiter about to ask residents what time the mail is delivered, because they may want to intercept the mail person in order to steal the master key for the mail kiosk.
Once they have the master key, they may be able to steal checks from the residents' mail. And much trouble can ensue from such events.
Thus, it is crucial for residents to report anyone loitering near the mail kiosk, especially at inappropriate times.
Although younger viewers may watch this video and not question what they are seeing, more mature and experienced viewers may have second thoughts after watching it.
...
# Nearly a third of U.S. adults have stopped turning to a news outlet because it no longer provides them with the news they were accustomed to getting, according to this year's Pew News Media Report.
# When a reporter is assigned to do a project he knows nothing about, he usually does some homework first to prepare for his assignment.
But when reporter Craig Rivera is assigned to interview a woman within the campus of a condo complex, he demonstrates that he knows nothing about condo complexes, how they operate or how they finance their expenses.
Younger viewers may not notice anything amiss with Rivera's performance, but viewers who are in the 55+ empty nest category will, because they are more apt to be familiar with how these communities operate.
After Rivera has passed through the gates of the Retreat at Twin Lakes which bear conspicuous signage warning that you are now entering Private Property, he doesn't seem to believe the signs. He is seen on camera declaring that the communal concrete path he is using is a Public Walkway.
It is not.
The maintenance of the common facilities of condo complexes is financed by the condo owners who pay a special fee to have the grassy commons mowed, the clubhouse cared for, and whatever other amenities the community may offer, such as swimming pool, tennis courts, etc.
Brandy Green says that she has lived in the RATL for four years and has never heard of any crimes happening there. What about reports of a rash of thefts within the estate? She says she doesn't believe the reports.
Her denial absolves her of any responsibility to help her neighbors, who she refers to as "they."
She describes the communal concrete walkways thusly: This is where they walk their dogs. She does not use the word "we," which implies that she is a transient renter who has nothing invested in the community and that she doesn't identify with her neighbors.
This points to the crucial reason why many condo owners are strongly opposed to other owners in their community being allowed to rent out their units to transients.
Many gated communities are enclosed by high walls, but this one was not securely enclosed. According to news reports, there were gaps in the enclosure which allowed intruders, marauders, and trespassers to enter.
Among the more sensitive areas of an apartment complex or condo community is the mail kiosk.
Thieves may loiter about to ask residents what time the mail is delivered, because they may want to intercept the mail person in order to steal the master key for the mail kiosk.
Once they have the master key, they may be able to steal checks from the residents' mail. And much trouble can ensue from such events.
Thus, it is crucial for residents to report anyone loitering near the mail kiosk, especially at inappropriate times.
Although younger viewers may watch this video and not question what they are seeing, more mature and experienced viewers may have second thoughts after watching it.
...
Sunday, March 17
Notable Media Developments -
The Boston Phoenix Alt-Weekly has come to an end. Its demise came as a shock to many because it seemed like one of the most vigorous members of its genre. Some say that the era for Alt-Weeklies has passed, but there may yet be autopsies to determine what, if anything, went wrong.
# Google has announced they are retiring their Google Reader and Igoogle. Some Tech websites have been proposing other options, including Feedly, Netvibes, The Old Reader, and many others. If you're interested, you should take a look around.
# Blogger Yoani Sanchez has finally managed to exit Cuba for a trip abroad! She is expected to appear here in SoFlo at Miami Dade College’s Freedom Tower on April 1st.
# One of South Florida's most active bloggers, known simply as Rick, is hanging up his keyboard and calling it quits, probably due to burnout. I hadn't read his blog in years. It made me uncomfortable because he seemed to use a lot of stuff owned by other people or publications without posting legal permissions for doing so. I only learned about the end of his blog belatedly from reading other local bloggers.
...
# Google has announced they are retiring their Google Reader and Igoogle. Some Tech websites have been proposing other options, including Feedly, Netvibes, The Old Reader, and many others. If you're interested, you should take a look around.
# Blogger Yoani Sanchez has finally managed to exit Cuba for a trip abroad! She is expected to appear here in SoFlo at Miami Dade College’s Freedom Tower on April 1st.
# One of South Florida's most active bloggers, known simply as Rick, is hanging up his keyboard and calling it quits, probably due to burnout. I hadn't read his blog in years. It made me uncomfortable because he seemed to use a lot of stuff owned by other people or publications without posting legal permissions for doing so. I only learned about the end of his blog belatedly from reading other local bloggers.
...
Tuesday, March 12
Browsing Around -
Cartoonist and Metro Archeologist Ben Katchor has a new book out called Hand-Drying in America which is reviewed by David L Ulin at the LAT.
# Adam Woog reviews Cara Black's latest
Aimee Leduc Mystery, Murder Below Montparnasse.
# James McGrath Morris reviews a gripping new
memoir, After Visiting Friends by Michael Hainey.
# The Infatuations by Javier Marias is a murder mystery
novel which, Robert McCrum claims, is never boring.
...
# Adam Woog reviews Cara Black's latest
Aimee Leduc Mystery, Murder Below Montparnasse.
# James McGrath Morris reviews a gripping new
memoir, After Visiting Friends by Michael Hainey.
# The Infatuations by Javier Marias is a murder mystery
novel which, Robert McCrum claims, is never boring.
...
Wednesday, March 6
Trayvon: Tainted Testimony -
It was disclosed in Tuesday's court hearing that the state's star Witness 8 lied about being so distraught over Trayvon Martin's death that she had to go to the hospital.
Ever since the Dr Phil program presented Alicia Martin, Trayvon's stepmother who raised him on an everyday basis for most of his life, the credibility of this story has not been able to withstand close scrutiny in strong sunlight.
Even if DeeDee's story turns out to be little more than a tissue of similar lies, her story does not directly impact on the central credibility of the story of Trayvon Martin's death.
Most normal American parents treat their animal pets better than Trayvon was treated by his father, because most pet owners provide an ID tag to their dogs and cats.
Every year many elementary schools hold an ID Day. Mothers bring in a recent photo of their child and help make up a kit which can be used by police or the media in case a child gets abducted or goes missing.
Do you believe any father would dump his son without identification a hundred miles away from home on someone else's private property and without any adult supervision? Couldn't a mature adult parent anticipate the possibility that his son could get arrested for trespassing? Are these people for real?
This story was originally released to the Media and then to the public based on the presumption that the America public has no life experience or common sense.
:: ClickOrlando ::
...
Ever since the Dr Phil program presented Alicia Martin, Trayvon's stepmother who raised him on an everyday basis for most of his life, the credibility of this story has not been able to withstand close scrutiny in strong sunlight.
Even if DeeDee's story turns out to be little more than a tissue of similar lies, her story does not directly impact on the central credibility of the story of Trayvon Martin's death.
Most normal American parents treat their animal pets better than Trayvon was treated by his father, because most pet owners provide an ID tag to their dogs and cats.
Every year many elementary schools hold an ID Day. Mothers bring in a recent photo of their child and help make up a kit which can be used by police or the media in case a child gets abducted or goes missing.
Do you believe any father would dump his son without identification a hundred miles away from home on someone else's private property and without any adult supervision? Couldn't a mature adult parent anticipate the possibility that his son could get arrested for trespassing? Are these people for real?
This story was originally released to the Media and then to the public based on the presumption that the America public has no life experience or common sense.
:: ClickOrlando ::
...
Monday, March 4
Perugia Slasher Update -
Amanda Knox is giving her first American television interview to ABC News in an on-camera sitdown with Diane Sawyer which is scheduled to air April 30th.
The interview is timed to promote the publication of Knox's book of memoirs which will debut simultaneously.
...
The interview is timed to promote the publication of Knox's book of memoirs which will debut simultaneously.
...
Thursday, February 28
Trayvon Death: A Year
of Slippery Boundaries -
The anniversary of Trayvon Martin's death passed with peaceful gatherings in his name in Sanford, Miami, New York City, and elsewhere.
Nevertheless, the Mainstream Media have installed Race Czars performing as Black Spokesmen to tell us how we must think about Race in the News Media so that everyone can be politically correct.
Since Race is mostly an intellectual construct combined with a generous dose of subjective perception, this has incited an angry backlash of its own which is often reflected in the comment threads to their news stories. Just as responsible reporters insert the descriptive qualifier "alleged" into their stories, they may need to start adding "perceived" as well.
* * * * *
The FBI is refusing to disclose their records on the Trayvon Martin Shooting without the DOJ's approval.
There are two things you should keep in mind about this:
First, the FBI is not called in for every shooting incident. This was a local event which occurred on a private property multi-residential estate displaying conspicuous warning signs that you are entering Private Property, you are being watched, and your behavior is reported to the police.
The second thing to keep in mind is The Big Picture. The DOJ already made the decision to send in their Community Affairs Unit, which is how they wanted to handle this situation.
* * * * *
Talk Show Host Steve Malzberg touched bases with Harvard law professor Alan Dershowitz day before yesterday about the ongoing legal process in the George Zimmerman Case.
* * * * *
:: News organization turns off online
commenting for most crime stories. ::
:: Black Journalists at CNN ::
...
Nevertheless, the Mainstream Media have installed Race Czars performing as Black Spokesmen to tell us how we must think about Race in the News Media so that everyone can be politically correct.
Since Race is mostly an intellectual construct combined with a generous dose of subjective perception, this has incited an angry backlash of its own which is often reflected in the comment threads to their news stories. Just as responsible reporters insert the descriptive qualifier "alleged" into their stories, they may need to start adding "perceived" as well.
* * * * *
The FBI is refusing to disclose their records on the Trayvon Martin Shooting without the DOJ's approval.
There are two things you should keep in mind about this:
First, the FBI is not called in for every shooting incident. This was a local event which occurred on a private property multi-residential estate displaying conspicuous warning signs that you are entering Private Property, you are being watched, and your behavior is reported to the police.
The second thing to keep in mind is The Big Picture. The DOJ already made the decision to send in their Community Affairs Unit, which is how they wanted to handle this situation.
* * * * *
Talk Show Host Steve Malzberg touched bases with Harvard law professor Alan Dershowitz day before yesterday about the ongoing legal process in the George Zimmerman Case.
* * * * *
:: News organization turns off online
commenting for most crime stories. ::
:: Black Journalists at CNN ::
...
Monday, February 25
Fragile Veneer -
Tomorrow is being commemorated as the anniversary of the Trayvon Martin Shooting in Sanford FL, where life will never be same again.
The town has sacked its white police chief and hired an African American for the job. And a native of Sanford is working at the law firm which has produced the state's
Star Witness #8 in the criminal prosecution of the accused shooter, George Zimmerman.
The town of Sanford, it has emerged, is actually two towns combined. The other town called Goldsboro was a historically black town which was absorbed by Sanford. Some black residents still harbor resentments about it, feeling that the merger stripped them of their identity and history.
This resentment roils just under the surface there, where the racial fissures that divide the two towns were papered over for cosmetic appearance and prospective prosperity. In retrospect, that merger may have been a mistake, because it left many black residents feeling robbed.
The story was originally introduced into the Mainstream Media by a well-connected Press Agent, after which it was ruthlessly exploited by the Press which has largely replaced accurate reportage about it with worthless or incendiary propaganda.
:: A Year After ::
:: Transcripts of Witness 8 ::
--- via TalkLeft Discussion Forum ---
...
The town has sacked its white police chief and hired an African American for the job. And a native of Sanford is working at the law firm which has produced the state's
Star Witness #8 in the criminal prosecution of the accused shooter, George Zimmerman.
The town of Sanford, it has emerged, is actually two towns combined. The other town called Goldsboro was a historically black town which was absorbed by Sanford. Some black residents still harbor resentments about it, feeling that the merger stripped them of their identity and history.
This resentment roils just under the surface there, where the racial fissures that divide the two towns were papered over for cosmetic appearance and prospective prosperity. In retrospect, that merger may have been a mistake, because it left many black residents feeling robbed.
The story was originally introduced into the Mainstream Media by a well-connected Press Agent, after which it was ruthlessly exploited by the Press which has largely replaced accurate reportage about it with worthless or incendiary propaganda.
:: A Year After ::
:: Transcripts of Witness 8 ::
--- via TalkLeft Discussion Forum ---
...
Saturday, February 23
Blackwell's Own Goal -
Trayvon Martin Shooting;
George Zimmerman Accused . . .
The leitmotif of Friday afternoon's court session was the state's Star Witness #8. I followed the live-streamed proceedings on my laptop, but the quality of the audio I received was rather poor.
The Defense Team fielded two principal motions. The first motion was an effort to depose Benjamin Crump who was being represented by Bruce Blackwell. The second motion was an effort to get the addresses of Witness #8 and several other witnesses as well.
Benjamin Crump's role in this matter is highly ambiguous. I would describe his role as that of a deus ex machina because it was he who inserted Witness #8 into this case. If it weren't for Benjamin Crump, there would be no DeeDee. Her entry into this case was critically contingent upon Benjamin Crump producing the largely unintelligible tape recording of her alleged ear witness of the incident. The problem with this is that deus ex machina is not a legally-defined role.
Bruce Blackwell argued that his client Benjamin Crump should be immune, exempt, and insulated from deposition. And, according to my best understanding, Blackwell, at one point, argued that Crump's role was that of a Qui Tam, which I did not find credible at all. From where I sit, Crump's role appears to be, at best, that of a friend of the court or amicus curiae. It is what it is and quite simply just that.
As far as Don West's questions about the provenance of Witness #8 which can impact upon DeeDee's authenticity and veracity, Blackwell seemed to argue that such discourse would be privileged "work product." Thus, as a direct result of Blackwell's argument, DeeDee herself now appears to have been the "work product" of Benjamin Crump who may have entirely manufactured her.
Blackwell bloviated to such a degree about this that I believe he scored an "own goal" with it. In using this "work product" concept, Blackwell seemed to have completely rubbished DeeDee's credibility altogether. At this point, Tinker Bell might be more credible.
One is obliged to wonder why Blackwell was trying so hard to shield Crump from scrutiny concerning the provenance of Witness #8 - the obvious probability would be: because Crump suborned this witness. I hope that's not true.
I agree that DeeDee's identity should be protected and I expect her to testify in court in silhouette behind a screen. It's my impression that she speaks only an African American subculture patois, a dialect which is so distinctly different from mainstream American English so as to be incomprehensible to 300 million other Americans. Thus, DeeDee is entitled to be furnished with a court-appointed interpreter.
I agree that her address should be shielded from the Media and the random Public, but it is my understanding that the law clearly affords Defense access to it.
In the end, Judge Nelson ruled that Defense may not depose Benjamin Crump because he has nothing relevant to contribute. I think he does have relevant information about the provenance of this magic rabbit he pulled out of his hat which directly impacts upon the authenticity and veracity of Witness #8, but I won't miss his deposition, since Blackwell has already all but destroyed her credibility anyway.
This case has suffered mightily in the Public's understanding from shoddy reportage which mostly looked like the product of some exotic Institute of Propaganda. Even a year later, some reporters still haven't accurately nailed down the basic "W" issues.
Thus, I was happy to see that TV Station WKMG in Orlando commissioned a competent person to write a summary of this hearing which is distinguished by the absence of such batsh*t crazy nonsense. Kudos to this organization! I can only hope that other news organization will now follow suit. It's about time; don't you think?!
:: WKMG Summary of Hearing ::
:: TalkLeft Discussion of Hearing ::
...
George Zimmerman Accused . . .
The leitmotif of Friday afternoon's court session was the state's Star Witness #8. I followed the live-streamed proceedings on my laptop, but the quality of the audio I received was rather poor.
The Defense Team fielded two principal motions. The first motion was an effort to depose Benjamin Crump who was being represented by Bruce Blackwell. The second motion was an effort to get the addresses of Witness #8 and several other witnesses as well.
Benjamin Crump's role in this matter is highly ambiguous. I would describe his role as that of a deus ex machina because it was he who inserted Witness #8 into this case. If it weren't for Benjamin Crump, there would be no DeeDee. Her entry into this case was critically contingent upon Benjamin Crump producing the largely unintelligible tape recording of her alleged ear witness of the incident. The problem with this is that deus ex machina is not a legally-defined role.
Bruce Blackwell argued that his client Benjamin Crump should be immune, exempt, and insulated from deposition. And, according to my best understanding, Blackwell, at one point, argued that Crump's role was that of a Qui Tam, which I did not find credible at all. From where I sit, Crump's role appears to be, at best, that of a friend of the court or amicus curiae. It is what it is and quite simply just that.
As far as Don West's questions about the provenance of Witness #8 which can impact upon DeeDee's authenticity and veracity, Blackwell seemed to argue that such discourse would be privileged "work product." Thus, as a direct result of Blackwell's argument, DeeDee herself now appears to have been the "work product" of Benjamin Crump who may have entirely manufactured her.
Blackwell bloviated to such a degree about this that I believe he scored an "own goal" with it. In using this "work product" concept, Blackwell seemed to have completely rubbished DeeDee's credibility altogether. At this point, Tinker Bell might be more credible.
One is obliged to wonder why Blackwell was trying so hard to shield Crump from scrutiny concerning the provenance of Witness #8 - the obvious probability would be: because Crump suborned this witness. I hope that's not true.
I agree that DeeDee's identity should be protected and I expect her to testify in court in silhouette behind a screen. It's my impression that she speaks only an African American subculture patois, a dialect which is so distinctly different from mainstream American English so as to be incomprehensible to 300 million other Americans. Thus, DeeDee is entitled to be furnished with a court-appointed interpreter.
I agree that her address should be shielded from the Media and the random Public, but it is my understanding that the law clearly affords Defense access to it.
In the end, Judge Nelson ruled that Defense may not depose Benjamin Crump because he has nothing relevant to contribute. I think he does have relevant information about the provenance of this magic rabbit he pulled out of his hat which directly impacts upon the authenticity and veracity of Witness #8, but I won't miss his deposition, since Blackwell has already all but destroyed her credibility anyway.
This case has suffered mightily in the Public's understanding from shoddy reportage which mostly looked like the product of some exotic Institute of Propaganda. Even a year later, some reporters still haven't accurately nailed down the basic "W" issues.
Thus, I was happy to see that TV Station WKMG in Orlando commissioned a competent person to write a summary of this hearing which is distinguished by the absence of such batsh*t crazy nonsense. Kudos to this organization! I can only hope that other news organization will now follow suit. It's about time; don't you think?!
:: WKMG Summary of Hearing ::
:: TalkLeft Discussion of Hearing ::
...
Tuesday, February 19
Hole In The Wall Furor -
A Banksy mural called Bunting Boy which was hacked off a wall in north London is being put up for auction in Miami with a guide price of $500,000 to $700,000, much to the consternation of local residents across The Pond.
:: Guardian :: - - ::WSVN ::
:: BBC :: - - :: Haringey ::
...
:: Guardian :: - - ::WSVN ::
:: BBC :: - - :: Haringey ::
...
Monday, February 11
SoFlo Using Social Media -
The Miami Herald is changing
its internet commenting system . . .
"Readers who want to comment on stories will be required to log in using a Facebook account... The cloak of anonymity stifles respectful debate. We believe this change will encourage conversation - but in a safer, civilized space."
Social Media is a safe place?
A South Florida man used Facebook to recruit a local 16-year-old girl to "join da team" and work for him in the flesh industry, telling her she could make as much as $3,500 a week for selling her services, according to court records.
Meanwhile, WPTV is reporting that Facebook may be working on an app that tracks users' locations, but James Ball is not convinced this concept is so nifty.
...
its internet commenting system . . .
"Readers who want to comment on stories will be required to log in using a Facebook account... The cloak of anonymity stifles respectful debate. We believe this change will encourage conversation - but in a safer, civilized space."
Social Media is a safe place?
A South Florida man used Facebook to recruit a local 16-year-old girl to "join da team" and work for him in the flesh industry, telling her she could make as much as $3,500 a week for selling her services, according to court records.
Meanwhile, WPTV is reporting that Facebook may be working on an app that tracks users' locations, but James Ball is not convinced this concept is so nifty.
...
Sunday, February 10
Weekend Browsing -
Famous Literary Agent Sterling Lord has published his memoirs at the age of 92 in paperback and e-book formats, Carolyn Kellogg reports.
# Rage is Back is a novel by Adam Mansbach about NYC's Graffiti Subculture; reviewed here by Geeta Dayal. An interview with the author by Jonathan Donaldson.
# Adam Woog reviews a clutch
of new Nordic noir mystery novels.
# Nicolas Lezard reviews
Forever Rumpole by John Mortimer.
# An unusual graphic novel about
architecture, Batman: Death by Design.
# Letter from the Jaipur Lit Fest from JD Daniels.
# Jake Kerridge picks some new detective novels.
# Geoffrey Wansell reviews
a trio of crime fiction novels.
# The Uninvited by Liz Jensen
reviewed here by Anna Mundrow.
...
# Rage is Back is a novel by Adam Mansbach about NYC's Graffiti Subculture; reviewed here by Geeta Dayal. An interview with the author by Jonathan Donaldson.
# Adam Woog reviews a clutch
of new Nordic noir mystery novels.
# Nicolas Lezard reviews
Forever Rumpole by John Mortimer.
# An unusual graphic novel about
architecture, Batman: Death by Design.
# Letter from the Jaipur Lit Fest from JD Daniels.
# Jake Kerridge picks some new detective novels.
# Geoffrey Wansell reviews
a trio of crime fiction novels.
# The Uninvited by Liz Jensen
reviewed here by Anna Mundrow.
...
Thursday, February 7
Six Degrees of Ambiguity -
IMO: Trayvon Martin, A Death By Misadventure vs
George Zimmerman, Accused 2nd Degree Murder . . .
A seemingly voluble old-fashioned Southern country lawyer put in a dramatically late appearance during the Tuesday morning proceedings which could have been straight out of Perry Mason. He had the entire courtroom riveted on him when he introduced himself as Mr Blackwell, according to my notes, and announced that he was there to represent Bernard Crump, lawyer for the birth parents of the decedent.
With a collegial nod to Mark O'Mara, he apologized for being late, explaining that his client, Mr Crump, was based at a distance in Tallahassee. Mr Blackwell wanted to submit an affidavit on behalf of his client whereupon a back-and-forth erupted about the use of the affidavit and/or the deposing of Mr Crump. Don West for the Defense argued that since he hadn't had an opportunity to look at the 15 page affidavit, it would be premature to decide about a deposition; however, Don West also introduced a point of law about this matter.
Does Mr Crump's affidavit satisfy all our questions about Witness #8? No, it didn't answer all my questions. I still feel unclear about how many DeeDees there may be; whether the DeeDee interviewed by Mr Crump and the DeeDee recorded by Matt Gutman are one and the same; whether any of the DeeDees is substantially as Mr Crump depicted her; and whether this conversation actually took place at all.
Already a possible discrepancy has arisen in discussions about this case; viz: Mr Crump claimed DeeDee was a juvenile of tender age and a legal minor, but an alternate source of information claims she was not a minor and that she was already 18 years old or more.
Witness #8 aka DeeDee appeared in this case like the quintessential legerdemain white rabbit from out of the cloak of Benjamin Crump Esq, but since then has been mostly just magic with scant documentation.
If the State cannot nail down a palpable one-and-only DeeDee, I expect that failure would significantly erode the credibility and efficacity of its case against George Zimmerman.
Further to Defense's crucial question: what were the circumstances of the State's first contact with Witness #8? Someone - I believe it was Bernie de la Rionda - mentioned that it was Martin Spoffard who was the State's first contact with Witness #8. Thus, observers were left to assume that Don West will have to locate this individual on his own and depose Spoffard himself for further information.
Undoubtedly, Mr Blackwell's belated entry with sizzling affidavit in hand was the highlight of the hearing, although there had been some chatter on the Internet which predicted that Mr Crump would be represented by a spectacular
Jackie Chiles.
Judge Nelson refused Defense's effort to delay the trial, and I formed the impression that she wants to wrap up this trial as speedily as possible.
From the Stuff Happens Dept: my Internet connection was disrupted due to some mysterious red tape snafu; sorry for the delay in posting this entry. I watched the proceedings streamed over Click Orlando, although I arrived a bit late.
TalkLeft has a recap of the legalities covered in the foregoing session and a link to a copy of the aforementioned affidavit.
The next hearing may be on March 5th.
...
George Zimmerman, Accused 2nd Degree Murder . . .
A seemingly voluble old-fashioned Southern country lawyer put in a dramatically late appearance during the Tuesday morning proceedings which could have been straight out of Perry Mason. He had the entire courtroom riveted on him when he introduced himself as Mr Blackwell, according to my notes, and announced that he was there to represent Bernard Crump, lawyer for the birth parents of the decedent.
With a collegial nod to Mark O'Mara, he apologized for being late, explaining that his client, Mr Crump, was based at a distance in Tallahassee. Mr Blackwell wanted to submit an affidavit on behalf of his client whereupon a back-and-forth erupted about the use of the affidavit and/or the deposing of Mr Crump. Don West for the Defense argued that since he hadn't had an opportunity to look at the 15 page affidavit, it would be premature to decide about a deposition; however, Don West also introduced a point of law about this matter.
Does Mr Crump's affidavit satisfy all our questions about Witness #8? No, it didn't answer all my questions. I still feel unclear about how many DeeDees there may be; whether the DeeDee interviewed by Mr Crump and the DeeDee recorded by Matt Gutman are one and the same; whether any of the DeeDees is substantially as Mr Crump depicted her; and whether this conversation actually took place at all.
Already a possible discrepancy has arisen in discussions about this case; viz: Mr Crump claimed DeeDee was a juvenile of tender age and a legal minor, but an alternate source of information claims she was not a minor and that she was already 18 years old or more.
Witness #8 aka DeeDee appeared in this case like the quintessential legerdemain white rabbit from out of the cloak of Benjamin Crump Esq, but since then has been mostly just magic with scant documentation.
If the State cannot nail down a palpable one-and-only DeeDee, I expect that failure would significantly erode the credibility and efficacity of its case against George Zimmerman.
Further to Defense's crucial question: what were the circumstances of the State's first contact with Witness #8? Someone - I believe it was Bernie de la Rionda - mentioned that it was Martin Spoffard who was the State's first contact with Witness #8. Thus, observers were left to assume that Don West will have to locate this individual on his own and depose Spoffard himself for further information.
Undoubtedly, Mr Blackwell's belated entry with sizzling affidavit in hand was the highlight of the hearing, although there had been some chatter on the Internet which predicted that Mr Crump would be represented by a spectacular
Jackie Chiles.
Judge Nelson refused Defense's effort to delay the trial, and I formed the impression that she wants to wrap up this trial as speedily as possible.
From the Stuff Happens Dept: my Internet connection was disrupted due to some mysterious red tape snafu; sorry for the delay in posting this entry. I watched the proceedings streamed over Click Orlando, although I arrived a bit late.
TalkLeft has a recap of the legalities covered in the foregoing session and a link to a copy of the aforementioned affidavit.
The next hearing may be on March 5th.
...
Saturday, February 2
Poking The Peacock -
NBC News Chief Steve Capus is stepping down from that position and will be leaving the organization altogether in the near future.
NBC is the target of a lawsuit by George Zimmerman's Defense for maliciously manipulating a tape recording in order to give viewers the false impression that Zimmerman is a racist who shot Trayvon Martin because the juvenile was Black.
Speaking of Zimmerman, a hearing will be held on this coming Tuesday, February 5th, before the judge.
Also of interest to those following the case, Defense has filed a Motion for Specific Discovery.
...
NBC is the target of a lawsuit by George Zimmerman's Defense for maliciously manipulating a tape recording in order to give viewers the false impression that Zimmerman is a racist who shot Trayvon Martin because the juvenile was Black.
Speaking of Zimmerman, a hearing will be held on this coming Tuesday, February 5th, before the judge.
Also of interest to those following the case, Defense has filed a Motion for Specific Discovery.
...
Wednesday, January 30
News Notes From Florida -
All they ever found of Lorraine Hatzakorzian's remains was her head. No one knows what happened to the rest of her. But the authorities did discover who was driving her blue Dodge pickup truck.
# George Zimmerman's lawyer has released what the defense says is a new picture of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin on Wednesday. Mark O'Mara has filed for a continuance, asking for more time to prepare the case, as it has been a protracted struggle to get prosecutors, who seem to be dragging their feet in slow motion, to turn over evidence.
# An elderly Canadian snowbird couple were found slain inside their Hallandale Beach condo earlier this past month. David Pichosky, 71, and Rochelle Wise, 66, from Toronto were the victims of a double homicide, but the police have not disclosed much information about the circumstances, which has left the couple's neighbors feeling very uneasy.
...
# George Zimmerman's lawyer has released what the defense says is a new picture of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin on Wednesday. Mark O'Mara has filed for a continuance, asking for more time to prepare the case, as it has been a protracted struggle to get prosecutors, who seem to be dragging their feet in slow motion, to turn over evidence.
# An elderly Canadian snowbird couple were found slain inside their Hallandale Beach condo earlier this past month. David Pichosky, 71, and Rochelle Wise, 66, from Toronto were the victims of a double homicide, but the police have not disclosed much information about the circumstances, which has left the couple's neighbors feeling very uneasy.
...
Monday, January 28
Brief Browse -
Fans of Miami's Wacky Factor . . .
will be delighted to learn that Dave Barry has a new novel making its debut called Insane City. And NPR has posted a recent interview with him.
# Laura Wilson briefly reviews a clutch of crime fiction picks, including The Man from Primrose Lane by James Renner.
# The Future of Davos:
Is a Hipper World Forum On Its Way?
# Man Booker Prize Finalists announced.
# Jaipur Literature Festival
...
will be delighted to learn that Dave Barry has a new novel making its debut called Insane City. And NPR has posted a recent interview with him.
# Laura Wilson briefly reviews a clutch of crime fiction picks, including The Man from Primrose Lane by James Renner.
# The Future of Davos:
Is a Hipper World Forum On Its Way?
# Man Booker Prize Finalists announced.
# Jaipur Literature Festival
...
Friday, January 18
Chasing Media Phantoms -
"Trust your mother, but cut the cards,"
as the late Sidney Zion used to say . . .
The story about the football player's girlfriend who turned out to be a hoax, which the Mainstream Media went along with, is a cruel story, but not more cruel than the MSM's shoddy reportage of the Trayvon Martin shooting.
"The tissue of lies in the Notre Dame star’s personal life would have been easy to unravel, but few tried. How the mainstream press fell for the story of an imaginary tragedy."
# How does a five-month-old baby go missing for 15 months and no one look for him? the High Priests at The Miami Herald cogitate. Yeah, that's a real thumb-sucker.
A five-month-old child named Dontrell has gone missing for 15 months. What went wrong here? Well, we can guess: the young mother should have been plugged into the long-established Baby Be Well Program sometimes known as the Well Baby programs.
It starts when the young mother is giving birth in the hospital (if not in the pre-natal phase). A Registered Nurse Practitioner comes around and solicits the young mother by offering her a range of irresistible services while getting the mother's contact information, home address, etc.
Then, when the young mother leaves the hospital, the RNP takes the initiative to travel out into the field and visits the young mother in situ. The RNP is able to answer all sorts of questions, has resources available for vaccinations, and can spot any basic problems which may arise.
# It Came Outa Boca Loca: The Weekly World News is going behind a paywall! Their website now has twice as many visitors per month as its former print edition, so they have decided to follow the leadership of The Miami Herald.
...
as the late Sidney Zion used to say . . .
The story about the football player's girlfriend who turned out to be a hoax, which the Mainstream Media went along with, is a cruel story, but not more cruel than the MSM's shoddy reportage of the Trayvon Martin shooting.
"The tissue of lies in the Notre Dame star’s personal life would have been easy to unravel, but few tried. How the mainstream press fell for the story of an imaginary tragedy."
# How does a five-month-old baby go missing for 15 months and no one look for him? the High Priests at The Miami Herald cogitate. Yeah, that's a real thumb-sucker.
A five-month-old child named Dontrell has gone missing for 15 months. What went wrong here? Well, we can guess: the young mother should have been plugged into the long-established Baby Be Well Program sometimes known as the Well Baby programs.
It starts when the young mother is giving birth in the hospital (if not in the pre-natal phase). A Registered Nurse Practitioner comes around and solicits the young mother by offering her a range of irresistible services while getting the mother's contact information, home address, etc.
Then, when the young mother leaves the hospital, the RNP takes the initiative to travel out into the field and visits the young mother in situ. The RNP is able to answer all sorts of questions, has resources available for vaccinations, and can spot any basic problems which may arise.
# It Came Outa Boca Loca: The Weekly World News is going behind a paywall! Their website now has twice as many visitors per month as its former print edition, so they have decided to follow the leadership of The Miami Herald.
...
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