But where's the Big Fish ?
# A key Taliban commander named Hazrat Omar and important documents in his possession were seized in Shabqadar Pakistan on Thursday.
# Mullah Sufi Muhammad, who brokered a controversial peace deal for Pakistan's Swat valley, was arrested on Thursday along with his two sons. The cleric mediated between Taliban fighters led by his son-in-law Maulana Fazlullah and the NWFP government in the failed arrangement.
# But Mullah Fazlullah may still be at large.
# A key Taliban figure named Mullah Akhtar Mansur was shot to death by British forces from a gunship helicopter Monday while he was fleeing on his motorbike. He was reputed to be a major IED bombmaker in Helmand Province.
# Despite threats by Taliban militants,
the situation is looking upbeat in Kabul !
# The Women of Swat and 'Mullah Radio'
-- stories of the women refugees from Swat.
...
Thursday, June 4
Wednesday, June 3
Bookish: DIVERSE NOTES (6#) -
While Seattle itself is still struggling with a real life murder case abroad in Perugia Italy, Rob Lopresti interviewed Curt Colbert about editing the Seattle Noir collection for Akashic Books. Just a wee glimpse into the process.
# Sherman Alexie has kicked up quite a storm with his remarks about the K*ndle. Ed Champion chats with him further about the topic; the blog entry has been drawing a lot of comments.
# MA Orthofer reacts to
the latest NYTimes price increase.
Paul Gillin explains what he thinks
is going on: it looks like a kind of reader triage.
# The UN is launching
a distance learning provider [LIS]
# Vampires vs Notorious Trolls -
Caveat: web comic with a bit of vulgar language.
[via Peter Robbins at guardbookblog]
...
# Sherman Alexie has kicked up quite a storm with his remarks about the K*ndle. Ed Champion chats with him further about the topic; the blog entry has been drawing a lot of comments.
# MA Orthofer reacts to
the latest NYTimes price increase.
Paul Gillin explains what he thinks
is going on: it looks like a kind of reader triage.
# The UN is launching
a distance learning provider [LIS]
# Vampires vs Notorious Trolls -
Caveat: web comic with a bit of vulgar language.
[via Peter Robbins at guardbookblog]
...
NWFP: SENDING SIGNALS (3#) -
On Martin Savidge's PBS World Focus show last night we saw Imran Khan's video dispatch from the NWFP of Pakistan; Khan did a nice feature piece on the Frontier Constabulary Corps which has performed with remarkable bravery while suffering some heavy casualties.
Here is Khan's running blog from there.
Elsewhere in the area, Skippy bin Laden has just issued
another nutty diatribe from his own personal trogistan.
:: World Focus ::
...
Here is Khan's running blog from there.
Elsewhere in the area, Skippy bin Laden has just issued
another nutty diatribe from his own personal trogistan.
:: World Focus ::
...
Tuesday, June 2
FANGSPACED (3#) -
John Albert Sharkey, 45, who
describes himself as a vampire . . .
pleaded guilty Monday in Minnesota to the e-mail
harassment of a teenage girl he met online via MySp*ce.
The girl had tried to end their online relationship by
telling Sharkey that she was a member of an elite
vampire-hunter society, but it didn't work.
Some of Sharkey's e-mails in police reports threaten
the girl's family and friends with serious harm.
...
describes himself as a vampire . . .
pleaded guilty Monday in Minnesota to the e-mail
harassment of a teenage girl he met online via MySp*ce.
The girl had tried to end their online relationship by
telling Sharkey that she was a member of an elite
vampire-hunter society, but it didn't work.
Some of Sharkey's e-mails in police reports threaten
the girl's family and friends with serious harm.
...
Monday, June 1
Bookish: HIS WICKED WAYS etc (6#) -
The satanist Aleister Crowley became a fictional character in many novels. Jake Arnott fills in the picture of "a man with terrible flaws and precocious talents" which provided him with some inspiration for his latest book, The Devil's Paintbrush.
# Sarah Waters describes the genesis and development of her latest novel, an atmospheric psychological mystery, which originated in a real crime which was then fictionalized by a famous writer. But Waters wanted to explore other aspects of the situation.
# An outstanding interview with
Egyptian writer Alaa al Aswany by Rachel Cooke.
# Truman Capote meets Bollywood: take a peek
inside a crime magazine empire with Zac O’Yeah.
# Maureen Corrigan picks a handful of
new Mysteries to read this summer at NPR.
# "Thank you for your request, and as much as I would like to participate in the project you outlined, unfortunately I died two weeks ago, so I will be unable to contribute."
-- From a very long but very readable
Blog entry by Ali Karim at The Rap Sheet.
...
# Sarah Waters describes the genesis and development of her latest novel, an atmospheric psychological mystery, which originated in a real crime which was then fictionalized by a famous writer. But Waters wanted to explore other aspects of the situation.
# An outstanding interview with
Egyptian writer Alaa al Aswany by Rachel Cooke.
# Truman Capote meets Bollywood: take a peek
inside a crime magazine empire with Zac O’Yeah.
# Maureen Corrigan picks a handful of
new Mysteries to read this summer at NPR.
# "Thank you for your request, and as much as I would like to participate in the project you outlined, unfortunately I died two weeks ago, so I will be unable to contribute."
-- From a very long but very readable
Blog entry by Ali Karim at The Rap Sheet.
...
Friday, May 29
Mez: CYBER MISCREANTS -
Meredith Kercher Murder -
Law Enforcement has now become involved in the case here in the U.S. where police are currently investigating the transgressive behavior of some people posting their views and opinions on the Internet or harassing others who do.
Seattle resident Peggy Ganong has been cyber-stalked by an apparently deranged heckler, somewhat reminiscent of the frightening case we once followed here of Rachel in the London area.
And now it has emerged that even a
Newsweek reporter has been harassed as well.
Noted Crime Blogger Steve Huff describes
some of the online behavior as downright vicious.
Andrea Vogt reveals many previously
undisclosed details in her report today.
...
Law Enforcement has now become involved in the case here in the U.S. where police are currently investigating the transgressive behavior of some people posting their views and opinions on the Internet or harassing others who do.
Seattle resident Peggy Ganong has been cyber-stalked by an apparently deranged heckler, somewhat reminiscent of the frightening case we once followed here of Rachel in the London area.
And now it has emerged that even a
Newsweek reporter has been harassed as well.
Noted Crime Blogger Steve Huff describes
some of the online behavior as downright vicious.
Andrea Vogt reveals many previously
undisclosed details in her report today.
...
Tuesday, May 26
SoFlo: CAT SPREE KILLINGS (4#) -
A Known Phenomenon Visits . . .
Three more cats have been found skinned, gutted, and mutilated in the Cutler Bay and Palmetto Bay vicinity of Miami-Dade, then left dead on their owners' lawns.
"The latest discovery brings the number of cats killed during the past few weeks in Palmetto Bay and Cutler Bay to 25, according to Miami-Dade police."
If you do a Google query
for "mutilated cats," you'll find a lot of articles.
Including this one:
:: Mutilated Cats Mystery Draws Worldwide Interest.
...
Three more cats have been found skinned, gutted, and mutilated in the Cutler Bay and Palmetto Bay vicinity of Miami-Dade, then left dead on their owners' lawns.
"The latest discovery brings the number of cats killed during the past few weeks in Palmetto Bay and Cutler Bay to 25, according to Miami-Dade police."
If you do a Google query
for "mutilated cats," you'll find a lot of articles.
Including this one:
:: Mutilated Cats Mystery Draws Worldwide Interest.
...
Monday, May 25
Mez: TOSSING THE CORPSE (4#) -
Meredith Kercher Murder -
The Rest of the Weekend's Proceedings . . .
"Sollecito's attorney, Giulia Bongiorno, questioned the methods Stefanoni used to collect the bra clasp and identify Sollecito's DNA on it." [Vogt]
The collection of the bra clasp was delayed because of its sensitive location: as far as I know, it was situated under a pillow upon which the cadaver was resting. It is understandable that a CSI forensic team would be reluctant to disturb a woman's cadaver and its context in order to hurriedly bag a piece of evidence. Would they be expected to toss the corpse if it had been that of a blonde Swedish woman? I think not.
If Bongiorno contends that this is the only piece of evidence linking her client to the Scene of the Crime, she is mistaken. Sollecito's fingerprints were found on Kercher's bedroom door, as I noted in an earlier entry. Breaking down an inside door means popping a light lock designed more for privacy than for safety, and is generally done with the shoulder or foot, not with one's fingers. There is no legitimate reason why his fingerprints should be on her door, in my opinion.
And then, there's the blue bathmat:
"Two weeks ago, the court heard that a nude footprint in Kercher’s blood found on a blue bathmat was likely Sollecito’s, and Stefanoni further testified that Sollecito’s DNA was found on the clasp of the bra that had been cut off Kercher’s body during the assault." [Nadeau]
Certainly, Defense is entitled to challenge Prosecution's evidence, but there has been an additional intense effort to spin the evidence simply to confuse the public.
:: Vogt :: - - [Nadeau] - - [Pisa]
...
The Rest of the Weekend's Proceedings . . .
"Sollecito's attorney, Giulia Bongiorno, questioned the methods Stefanoni used to collect the bra clasp and identify Sollecito's DNA on it." [Vogt]
The collection of the bra clasp was delayed because of its sensitive location: as far as I know, it was situated under a pillow upon which the cadaver was resting. It is understandable that a CSI forensic team would be reluctant to disturb a woman's cadaver and its context in order to hurriedly bag a piece of evidence. Would they be expected to toss the corpse if it had been that of a blonde Swedish woman? I think not.
If Bongiorno contends that this is the only piece of evidence linking her client to the Scene of the Crime, she is mistaken. Sollecito's fingerprints were found on Kercher's bedroom door, as I noted in an earlier entry. Breaking down an inside door means popping a light lock designed more for privacy than for safety, and is generally done with the shoulder or foot, not with one's fingers. There is no legitimate reason why his fingerprints should be on her door, in my opinion.
And then, there's the blue bathmat:
"Two weeks ago, the court heard that a nude footprint in Kercher’s blood found on a blue bathmat was likely Sollecito’s, and Stefanoni further testified that Sollecito’s DNA was found on the clasp of the bra that had been cut off Kercher’s body during the assault." [Nadeau]
Certainly, Defense is entitled to challenge Prosecution's evidence, but there has been an additional intense effort to spin the evidence simply to confuse the public.
:: Vogt :: - - [Nadeau] - - [Pisa]
...
Saturday, May 23
Mez: A DEADLY MIX (3#) -
Meredith Kercher Murder -
On Friday, the Prosecution tipped its long-held hand to show us some cards we hadn't seen before: multiple discreet pieces of evidence - and the aggregate picture they represented was ominous. Unless Defense can provide an alternate scenario which persuasively accounts for the Prosecution's mosaic of evidence, the cumulative effect will be damning for the defendants.
We expected to see the alleged weapon presented: the knife. But there was more. At several locations in the house there was a mixture of DNA evidence containing both Knox and Kercher genetic material, including the light switch in the bathroom and in Filomena Romanelli's bedroom.
Why did this particular mixture exist?
And why was it at those locations?
What did Amanda's statement to the
Court about the pink rabbit sex toy tell us?
It seemed to tell us that Amanda believed that Meredith was an accessory in her life equivalent to a sex toy or a comb.
Which word does not belong in the following group:
murder - roommate - comb - university.
* * * * * * *
:: Nick Pisa :: -- [Andrea Vogt] -- [Ann Wise]
...
On Friday, the Prosecution tipped its long-held hand to show us some cards we hadn't seen before: multiple discreet pieces of evidence - and the aggregate picture they represented was ominous. Unless Defense can provide an alternate scenario which persuasively accounts for the Prosecution's mosaic of evidence, the cumulative effect will be damning for the defendants.
We expected to see the alleged weapon presented: the knife. But there was more. At several locations in the house there was a mixture of DNA evidence containing both Knox and Kercher genetic material, including the light switch in the bathroom and in Filomena Romanelli's bedroom.
Why did this particular mixture exist?
And why was it at those locations?
What did Amanda's statement to the
Court about the pink rabbit sex toy tell us?
It seemed to tell us that Amanda believed that Meredith was an accessory in her life equivalent to a sex toy or a comb.
Which word does not belong in the following group:
murder - roommate - comb - university.
* * * * * * *
:: Nick Pisa :: -- [Andrea Vogt] -- [Ann Wise]
...
Bookish: INTO THE HEAT (6#) -
Entering Summer Territory . . .
Is Seattle too nice for Noir?
Too laid-back and politically correct?
Seattle Mystery Bookshop is launching
Akashic's latest city darkside with its Seattle Noir.
# Feature about Eric Ambler in this weekend's WSJ.
# Jeffrey Eugenides shares his
enthusiasm for Bellow's Herzog at NPR.
# New issue of Book Forum
posted online: June-July-Aug 2009.
# Hay Lit Festival
# Whatever happened to Pat Conroy?
... and other provocative reads ... Sara Nelson's
Book Picks for this summer. Try to catch this one.
...
Is Seattle too nice for Noir?
Too laid-back and politically correct?
Seattle Mystery Bookshop is launching
Akashic's latest city darkside with its Seattle Noir.
# Feature about Eric Ambler in this weekend's WSJ.
# Jeffrey Eugenides shares his
enthusiasm for Bellow's Herzog at NPR.
# New issue of Book Forum
posted online: June-July-Aug 2009.
# Hay Lit Festival
# Whatever happened to Pat Conroy?
... and other provocative reads ... Sara Nelson's
Book Picks for this summer. Try to catch this one.
...
Thursday, May 21
FOREIGN DISPATCHES (2#) -
Egypt: LEB GLAM GAL CASE -
Former Pop Idol contest winner Suzanne Tamim was stabbed to death in her Dubai apartment last July. The verdict for this sensational case has come in. Shock and chaos in the courtroom followed.
# Pakistan: The BBC's Owen Bennett-Jones is on assignment in Peshawar. He says that Pakistani public opinion has turned against the Taliban, replacing apparent apathy.
...
Former Pop Idol contest winner Suzanne Tamim was stabbed to death in her Dubai apartment last July. The verdict for this sensational case has come in. Shock and chaos in the courtroom followed.
# Pakistan: The BBC's Owen Bennett-Jones is on assignment in Peshawar. He says that Pakistani public opinion has turned against the Taliban, replacing apparent apathy.
...
BLOGGING NOTES -
Having the same computer problem
again; keyboard not working properly.
Don't despair,
but posting may be sparse
until fixed or replaced.
...
again; keyboard not working properly.
Don't despair,
but posting may be sparse
until fixed or replaced.
...
SoFlo: BREAD CRUMB TRAIL (3#) -
Following The Money . . .
Federal Auditor demands repayment of $2.5 million,
which had been meant for The Poor over the past
two decades, from the City of Fort Lauderdale.
:: sentinel :: - [comment thread] - [#79]
...
Federal Auditor demands repayment of $2.5 million,
which had been meant for The Poor over the past
two decades, from the City of Fort Lauderdale.
:: sentinel :: - [comment thread] - [#79]
...
SoFlo: DISTRESS TREASURES (3#) -
Madoff victims sell off their luxury tschochkes,
including jewelry and paintings, in an auction
at the Kodner Galleries of Dania Beach FL.
:: uk times :: - - [wptv] - - [sentinel]
...
including jewelry and paintings, in an auction
at the Kodner Galleries of Dania Beach FL.
:: uk times :: - - [wptv] - - [sentinel]
...
Tuesday, May 19
TV SWEDE WIN (3#) -
The BBC's Wallander mystery mini-series has won four Bafta awards in London "for original television music, photography and lighting in fiction or entertainment, production design, and best sound fiction or entertainment." It is being seen on this side of The Pond on PBS. [guard]
I watched Episode 2 - Firewall on Sunday night. There are 3 episodes in the mini-series which we have here currently.
I like the way the stories unfold. And the photography has been outstanding. Wouldn't mind watching a rerun of this group of stories if they are presented again later in the year.
NB: We've been having stormy weather.
...
I watched Episode 2 - Firewall on Sunday night. There are 3 episodes in the mini-series which we have here currently.
I like the way the stories unfold. And the photography has been outstanding. Wouldn't mind watching a rerun of this group of stories if they are presented again later in the year.
NB: We've been having stormy weather.
...
Saturday, May 16
THX 4 SHARING (3#) -
American reporter Amy Herdy goes to Pakistan to run some journalism workshops. And this an excerpt from her travel diary, provided by Denver online publication Westword.
One commenter describes it
as "Legally Blonde meets Syriana."
:: wword ::
* * * * * * *
Paul Gillin points us to an online
comic strip about a contemporary newspaper.
"It features a frazzled editor, reporters, a blogger
and an assortment of politicians, weasels and snitches."
:: Pressed ::
...
One commenter describes it
as "Legally Blonde meets Syriana."
:: wword ::
* * * * * * *
Paul Gillin points us to an online
comic strip about a contemporary newspaper.
"It features a frazzled editor, reporters, a blogger
and an assortment of politicians, weasels and snitches."
:: Pressed ::
...
Friday, May 15
BILDERBERGERS MEET (2#) -
Crank up yer conspiracy theories . . .
A bunch of businessmen and
V.I.P. types are meeting in Greece.
And The Guardian's correspondent,
Charlie Skelton, runs into trouble.
:: Times :: - - :: Guardian ::
...
A bunch of businessmen and
V.I.P. types are meeting in Greece.
And The Guardian's correspondent,
Charlie Skelton, runs into trouble.
:: Times :: - - :: Guardian ::
...
BLOGGING NOTES (2#) -
I see I'm back in Google's good graces again -
they've restored me to Google Blog Search!
Well, sort of... kinda... in a way . . .
Who knows what mysteries
lurk within the Inner Googleplex?
One possible clue is at Search Engine Land this morning; Matt McGee is reporting there that Google has been quietly updating its Blog Search Algorithm.
NB: They don't list latest entries here; this blog is under Related Blogs at the top of the page for the "Meredith Kercher" search.
# I spent yesterday afternoon into evening downloading Service Pack 3. What with all the threats on the Net lately, I decided that I've been putting it off for too long and that I'd better take care of it pronto.
When I logged back online, I learned there had been some kind of outage at Google-related services.
# And so, I missed the Thursday Mystery programs on PBS TV. Although I've never been a big fan of Inspector Lynley and his sidekick Havers, I did watch the first episode of the mini-series they've been broadcasting lately on our local station.
I also noticed that Silent Witness is not listed on the scheduled offerings for this evening - bummer! PBS, though, has introduced a new Mystery mini-series called Wallander about a Swedish detective. The first episode looked pretty good.
# Alas, I did not get much done that was on my agenda for yesterday, and after that long download, I felt rather disconnected.
...
they've restored me to Google Blog Search!
Well, sort of... kinda... in a way . . .
Who knows what mysteries
lurk within the Inner Googleplex?
One possible clue is at Search Engine Land this morning; Matt McGee is reporting there that Google has been quietly updating its Blog Search Algorithm.
NB: They don't list latest entries here; this blog is under Related Blogs at the top of the page for the "Meredith Kercher" search.
# I spent yesterday afternoon into evening downloading Service Pack 3. What with all the threats on the Net lately, I decided that I've been putting it off for too long and that I'd better take care of it pronto.
When I logged back online, I learned there had been some kind of outage at Google-related services.
# And so, I missed the Thursday Mystery programs on PBS TV. Although I've never been a big fan of Inspector Lynley and his sidekick Havers, I did watch the first episode of the mini-series they've been broadcasting lately on our local station.
I also noticed that Silent Witness is not listed on the scheduled offerings for this evening - bummer! PBS, though, has introduced a new Mystery mini-series called Wallander about a Swedish detective. The first episode looked pretty good.
# Alas, I did not get much done that was on my agenda for yesterday, and after that long download, I felt rather disconnected.
...
Wednesday, May 13
Mez: GOLF FANG GANG -
Meredith Kercher Murder -
A young woman in Canada has been convicted of
participating in a vampire-style murder which seems
to have similarities to the Perugia case. The story is
reported by Edmonton court reporter Tony Blais.
:: SUN ::
...
A young woman in Canada has been convicted of
participating in a vampire-style murder which seems
to have similarities to the Perugia case. The story is
reported by Edmonton court reporter Tony Blais.
:: SUN ::
...
Sunday, May 10
CURIOUS WOMEN (2#) -
We have a new BBC hand-me-down
series on our local PBS-TV station.
It features a forensic pathologist, Dr Sam Ryan, who is working as a medical examiner or coroner. The new twist here is that the protagonist is a female this time. In our region, Silent Witness been scheduled for Fridays at 10pm. And it's worth looking into.
# An interview with writer Devon Monk, author of a series of urban fantasy novels, which are set into the background of a magical version of Portland Oregon. She is 43 and lives in Salem. Written by Barbara Curtin.
...
series on our local PBS-TV station.
It features a forensic pathologist, Dr Sam Ryan, who is working as a medical examiner or coroner. The new twist here is that the protagonist is a female this time. In our region, Silent Witness been scheduled for Fridays at 10pm. And it's worth looking into.
# An interview with writer Devon Monk, author of a series of urban fantasy novels, which are set into the background of a magical version of Portland Oregon. She is 43 and lives in Salem. Written by Barbara Curtin.
...
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