Silversea Water Cooler: Welcome!

[TLCOhio]

With all of the sunshine and warmer temperatures today, I finally got the ornaments and lights removed from our Christmas tree on the screened porch. Great to have good weather back.

 

Below are some visuals from a little backyard walk-around this afternoon. Fortunately, we have 1.4 acres in our middle-of-the-city, wood ravine setting. Makes it fun to have Spring happening right now.

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

For details and visuals, etc., from our July 1-16, 2010, Norway Coast/Fjords/Arctic Circle cruise experience from Copenhagen on the Silver Cloud, check out this posting. This posting is now at 174,086 views.

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1227923

 

 

Checked out our backyard areas this afternoon and discovered that the first of the spring flowers are up. Wonderful!! And, as the first picture shows, there's a bee already out and working. Quite a switch from the heavy snow on the ground Monday to be seeing on Thursday this pleasant improvement. Second and third are our two lab dogs exploring and enjoying this backyard area where a herd of deers had been in this location just a week ago. Rudy is the male yellow lab, nearly nine years old. Roxie is the female black lab, nearly twelve years old with just a little distinguished gray hair showing. Finally, here's another view of the flower fun today.:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[TLCOhio]

From the New York Times earlier this week, they have this headline: "Secrets of Food Porn Photos" with these highlights: "the most important part of the recipes we publish, at least in terms of how successful we are in exciting the palates of our readers and getting them to save and cook the recipes, is a photographer who makes beautiful images that set taste buds to tingling. He makes people want to cook."

 

Here are some more highlights: "This is not always an easy task. There is the food itself. It may be stunning: a roasted bird; a delicate cake. But it is not always so (see: stew, porridge, soup). He never allows them to get in the way of his pursuit of the shot that shows them wrong. Because even a brown stew, photographed in the right light, at the correct angle, with the correct bowl or platter or cutting board in the background, with a dish towel dropped just so or a crumb expertly flicked onto the border of a plate, can become beautiful."

 

There is also a video that provides a look inside the studio where their NY Times photographer creates his images. Hint? Lighting is a super key factor. This process has grown over the years to include thousands of images of dishes both simple and deluxe.

 

Full story and video at:

http://lens.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/03/12/secrets-of-food-porn-photos/?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=first-column-region&region=top-news&WT.nav=top-news&_r=0

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

Enjoyed a 14-day, Jan. 20-Feb. 3, 2014, Sydney to Auckland adventure, getting a big sampling for the wonders of "down under” before and after this cruise. Go to:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1974139

for more info and many pictures of these amazing sights in this great part of the world. Now at 102,282 views for this posting.

[jpalbny]

Terry, nice pictures of Rudy and Roxie, looking happy to see bare ground. I liked the flowers too; quite the industrious bee out so early!

[Lord Horace]

Hello Terry

Thank you for the very good instructions for adding photos to this site. I have tried but something, somewhere is not correct. I have visitors staying for the weekend and will enlist their help. Lovely to see your Labradors. We too have always had two labs, always puppies from dog rescue centres, always a male and female and always one black, one golden. Our last two Whisky and Soda died 30 months ago at the ages of 14 and 16 and as usual are buried on our land with appropriate headstones. To date there are five dogs and one cat. When they died we decided that we were getting too old for puppies, they might outlive us (this proved to be correct as my husband died suddenly and unexpectedly this Christmas) so would get a middle aged lab form a rescue charity.

We now have a black Lab x with (we think) a German Shepherd. He was six years old when we adopted him, and he had had a very poor life. He had been found abandoned by the RSPCA (Royal Society for the Protection of Animals) at 6 months. They could not find a home for him so was eventually transferred to the Dogs Trust. After More than four years he found us/we found him. He is a very large dog, some 47kilos, but such a gentle giant. It took him a while to adapt to country life and to walk on grass etc. he had never seen wildlife...he could not get his head around deer, pheasants, rabbits, ducks up close to our floor to ceiling windows, but in time managed and now spends hours just watching the antics...but squirrels...no. How can they climb trees and he cannot?

So after having such a poor start in life he has survived and now enjoys the comforts of home, the love, the entertainment, the toys and the excercise that all domestic dogs adore.

The snow drops are out here, but the daffodils have yet to bloom. The Ransom (wild garlic) is showing through. It will not be long before the blue bells etc will be a spectacular sight. Further South in the UK all is more developed. Mother Nature never seeks to amaze me, albeit the three trays of primulas the garner planted last week, have all but two plants been eaten by the pre Easter baby bunnies. Keep the wildlife photos coming, we are so privileged to have wildlife in our doorsteps.

 

Message to UK Jeff,,if you are able, can you give me any recommendations on some interesting, albeit 'comfortable and safe' restrauants in Singapore for a single lady? To enjoy?

[TLCOhio]

Terry, nice pictures of Rudy and Roxie, looking happy to see bare ground. I liked the flowers too; quite the industrious bee out so early!

 

Lord Horace: Hello Terry Thank you for the very good instructions for adding photos to this site. I have tried but something' date=' somewhere is not correct. I have visitors staying for the weekend and will enlist their help. Lovely to see your Labradors. We too have always had two labs, always puppies from dog rescue centres, always a male and female and always one black, one golden. Our last two Whisky and Soda died 30 months ago at the ages of 14 and 16 and as usual are buried on our land with appropriate headstones. To date there are five dogs and one cat. When they died we decided that we were getting too old for puppies, they might outlive us (this proved to be correct as my husband died suddenly and unexpectedly this Christmas) so would get a middle aged lab form a rescue charity. [b']We now have a black Lab x with (we think) a German Shepherd[/b]. He was six years old when we adopted him, and he had had a very poor life. He had been found abandoned by the RSPCA (Royal Society for the Protection of Animals) at 6 months.

 

Appreciate so much these nice comments on Roxie and Rudy. They both came from the same mother, but have such different personalities and styles. Both are fun and interesting!! Roxie is the super smart, strong-willed lab. Rudy is more the "lover" and is clearly a "boy toy"!!

 

Good luck for figuring out how to post larger pictures. Hopefully your upcoming guests can help you doing a little "fine-tuning" in your approach. If not, let us know and we can try to provide help.

 

Yes, people are looking for Jeff and his skilled expertise.

 

Will have lots more flower pictures to show off during the coming weeks. There are about 7,000+ bulbs planted on our property. Lots were planted by the original owner that built our original home in 1929. We are the second owners here and have been here since 1988. Love being here during the joyous spring period.

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

If Venice is one of your future desires or past favorites, look at this earlier posting for many options and visual samples this city that is so great for "walking around", personally seeing its great history and architecture. This posting is now at 49,287 views.

Venice: Loving It & Why??!!

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1278226

[spinnaker2]

O...LUX...time to bait Jeff.

Is he sulking somewhere?

We all need to know he is ok.

Maybe he is off crushing grapes somewhere.

[UKCruiseJeff]

Hello all ... still around .... thanks for asking ...

 

Message to UK Jeff,,if you are able, can you give me any recommendations on some interesting, albeit 'comfortable and safe' restrauants in Singapore for a single lady? To enjoy?

 

 

Hello Lady H. I recall you're at the Shangri La Valley Wing, which is a lovely haven a short walk from Orchard.

 

To be honest I haven't eaten much in restaurants in Singapore and the only really decent one was a champagne brunch freeby at the Intercontinental.

 

To be clear you can go anywhere in Singapore at any time and be perfectly safe. I'd say only that as a single lady I'd probably avoid the Little India area in the evenings not because it's unsafe for you just because it will be a bit less comfortable for a lady by herself.

 

If you are a foody and this is your first trip to Singapore by yourself, and as it is an important occasion - may I just throw something into your pot for you ....

 

The best food Singapore has to offer is the cheapest food. Consider focusing on hawker centres. Food courts and hawker centres are two entirely different animals and also what you will find outside of the main hawker centres that tourists often go to can provide a great variety that would provide some great food experiences. You aren't going to get much authenticity or memorable experiences from food courts. You will get a lot more in many of the central hawker centres particularly places like Tiong Bahru and the odd stall at places like Golden Mile etc.

 

Singapore people are lovely and welcoming. See someone eating something you like the look of .... excuse yourself and ask them what it is and where they bought it. So many times people have taken me to the stall .... and then wanted me to chat ..."where you from ..."!

 

There are still many hawker stalls that are family staffed and handed down through the generations and who have perfected very narrow ranges of dishes that they are obsessive with and immensely proud of and that are world class eating experiences. This is also often the most genuine "fusion" food you will see anywhere in the world as the families have fused many of the foods of those that made Singapore what it is as a trading nation. These stalls are sadly reducing in number and are rarer in city areas but are really worth seeking out. They are the nuggets of foody Singapore and provide a superior and unbeatable eating experience than many of the expensive places. They are easy to find. I wouldn't over plan these visits. Just wander, look, join a queue, buy stuff you think looks odd. Just join a queue in a hawker centre near some of the housing estates out of the centre. This oddly provides a bit of evidence for my other theory in that it often seems the further away from the centre of town, the better the food and the cheaper the food. If you want to find out about these there are many on-line guides and a great book called The CEOs Hawker Guide. Example pages of an old one ....

 

https://melissadaltonbradford.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/singapore-best-hawkers-1.pdf

 

If you go into the reception of Knight Frank in the CBD I think they are still happy to "sell" you the current one for the charity donation.

 

This first trip back by yourself is really important so I'd like to help you have a great stay in Singapore so if I can so please ask anything you want. Let me know how long you'll be there and ask any specifics.

 

Jeff

[UKCruiseJeff]

 

 

 

 

[Lord Horace]

Thank you Terry for your encouragement, will see what happens. Just been for a walk with my hound and now sat with a coffee and sharing a pork pie.

 

Thank you Jeff for your info, I will try to be brave and go a little out of the main city into the suburbs and try street food. Somehow now on my own , I do not feel as if I maybe quite as adventourous, not from a safety point but a stomach point. I will have to start packing this pm as I fly Emirates via Dubai to Singapore. The plus side is they do a chaffeur car each end and we arrive early afternoon. The down side is that I fine their buisiness class seats a little narrow! I prefer BA seats. Also I have found Emirates on board service a little hit and miss, I suspect it depends on which route. BA fly later in the day and it would mean the usual over night stop over in Terminal 5 Sofitel, I never trust booking an internal domestic flight to Lhr on the same day in case of cancellations. I am only in Singapore 3 days then board Wind, eventually disembarking in Athens. the reason we. Chose this one was because we had not been to Burma, so it was/is giving me a taste. Reading another thread, it implies Wind has recently been in dry dock. I am assuming since last summer??? As were we last on her last August and nothing stood out as been new/fresh. Perhaps just my eyesight.

A chilli 6 degrees up here and very murky. Daffodils just beginning to bud and spring lambs now in the fields. Central heating on.

You food Jeff always looks delicious. I see you use Waitrose, one of the things I miss when we moved north, our nearest would be Harrogate an hour plus way.

My house sitters arrive later today so will have to get a wriggle on

[TLCOhio]

Hello all ... still around .... thanks for asking ...

Jeff

 

Glad to hear that Jeff is alive and well. PLUS, most important, sharing food photos as proof that he is not starving, nor neglecting the art of getting dining visuals.

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

Enjoyed a 14-day, Jan. 20-Feb. 3, 2014, Sydney to Auckland adventure, getting a big sampling for the wonders of "down under” before and after this cruise. Go to:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1974139

for more info and many pictures of these amazing sights in this great part of the world. Now at 102,484 views for this posting.

[UKCruiseJeff]

Glad to hear that Jeff is alive and well. PLUS, most important, sharing food photos as proof that he is not starving, nor neglecting the art of getting dining visuals.

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

 

Thanks Terry .... no we're fine. I'm pleased you missed the food. :D

 

It's been an interesting week which has caused a lot of mixed emotions.

 

Linda Carty this week has been granted a review of the evidence which we believe might lead to a retrial and hopefully the justice she has so far not enjoyed.

 

A few days ago, however, without warning the Pakistani authorities have quietly re-scheduled Shafqat Hussain’s hanging for next Thursday. They broke their promise to investigate the many miscarriages of justice in his case, and now Shafqat’s life is in imminent danger once again. Shafqat was a 14-year-old boy when he was illegally sentenced to death. He was brutally tortured and made a false confession to make the abuse stop. They tried to execute him in January, but thousands of us took action together and succeeded in stopping it.

They will kill him in a few days if our pleas and work fail. So, this week we have tried to lobby and garner some publicity to save this child's life.

 

Thank you Terry for your encouragement, will see what happens. Just been for a walk with my hound and now sat with a coffee and sharing a pork pie.

 

Thank you Jeff for your info, I will try to be brave and go a little out of the main city into the suburbs and try street food. Somehow now on my own , I do not feel as if I maybe quite as adventourous, not from a safety point but a stomach point. I will have to start packing this pm as I fly Emirates via Dubai to Singapore. The plus side is they do a chaffeur car each end and we arrive early afternoon. The down side is that I fine their buisiness class seats a little narrow! I prefer BA seats. Also I have found Emirates on board service a little hit and miss, I suspect it depends on which route. BA fly later in the day and it would mean the usual over night stop over in Terminal 5 Sofitel, I never trust booking an internal domestic flight to Lhr on the same day in case of cancellations. I am only in Singapore 3 days then board Wind, eventually disembarking in Athens. the reason we. Chose this one was because we had not been to Burma, so it was/is giving me a taste. Reading another thread, it implies Wind has recently been in dry dock. I am assuming since last summer??? As were we last on her last August and nothing stood out as been new/fresh. Perhaps just my eyesight.

A chilli 6 degrees up here and very murky. Daffodils just beginning to bud and spring lambs now in the fields. Central heating on.

You food Jeff always looks delicious. I see you use Waitrose, one of the things I miss when we moved north, our nearest would be Harrogate an hour plus way.

My house sitters arrive later today so will have to get a wriggle on

 

Hi Lady H.

 

Don't go out to the suburbs .... that was me being general and possibly unhelpful. I get carried away ..... :)

 

Go to Lau Pa Sat .... it is mid-way between a hawker centre and a food hall. Just take a cab.

 

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=lau+pa+sat&biw=1523&bih=662&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=IzoEVcTdF8_faISDgugG&sqi=2&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAg

 

If you are feeling a touch more adventurous but don't want to stray from town centre than a really good compromise us Tiong Bahru market. This is also good because it is in a wonderfully atmospheric original housing estate. The Queen has been their twice! The market has a traditional food market and a hawker center and you'll love walking around the food stalls in both. Fresh (very fresh ......) frogs anyone?

 

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=lau+pa+sat&biw=1523&bih=662&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=IzoEVcTdF8_faISDgugG&sqi=2&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAg#tbm=isch&q=tiong+bahru

 

I also have a pretty decent level of love for Athens as it is full of kebabs. Did you like the picture of my duck satay? I boned a whole duck to do those .... we had them with peanut sauce. Next to Lau Pa Sat in the evenings is satay street ... you may have seen my earlier pictures. Order 20 sticks and a Tiger beer.

 

Also you're going to find a lot of food halls in Orchard.

 

Sounds like your flights are wonderful. I haven't tried BA long haul business only shorthaul. I'm rather stuck because Lady Jeff (and indeed me if I'm honest ...) won't do anything other than First for long hall and it isn't that much better than business.

 

If you qualify as a "senior" then make sure you take a photocopy of your passport and go to Botanic Gardens which you are close to. If you are a senior then your passport will get you into The Orchid Gardens for S$1 instead of S$5! It's a very short taxi ride away.

 

Please ask if I can help in any way.

 

Jeff

[TLCOhio]

Thanks Terry .... no we're fine. I'm pleased you missed the food. :D

Linda Carty this week has been granted a review of the evidence which we believe might lead to a retrial and hopefully the justice she has so far not enjoyed.

Jeff

 

Appreciate the updates from Jeff. Did some more reading on the Linda Carty case from the Houston newspaper. Had not heard about that legal battle there. Lots of twists, turns and questions for this case. Which is closer to your view for the "facts" of this case? That Carty had no connection or involvement with the three criminals who went into neighbors' apartment, abducted the mother and child at gunpoint, resulting in the death of the mother? Or, that the death penalty is too extreme for her since the other three directly involved escaped from the death penalty?

 

The case gets a little like a "soap opera" with the claims of her being a DEA informant and maybe having an affair with one of their special agents, questions of actions/pressures by the prosecutors, etc. What's true and not? Crimes were committed, a mother died as a result, but who pays what penalties?

 

THANKS! Terry in Ohio.

 

Did a June 7-19, 2011, cruise from Barcelona that had stops in Villefranche, ports near Pisa and Rome, Naples, Kotor, Venice and Dubrovnik. Dozens of nice visuals with key highlights, tips, comments, etc. We are now at 195,912 views for this live/blog re-cap, including much on wonderful Barcelona. Check these postings and added info at:

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1426474

[UKCruiseJeff]

Terry,

 

I'm pleased you have read something of this issue. Whatever I say will seem contentious to anyone who isn't acquainted with the detail.

 

In summary, I have no doubt whatsoever that she is completely innocent and has been deprived of both her rights as a British subject and deprived of any semblance of a defence. I don't wish to post here the actual act she is accused of but it is totally preposterous. It is an utter fantasy.

 

There is no credible evidence whatsoever to support a reasonable belief of her guilt. She was found guilty based on the testimony of convicted criminals who plea bargained for their own skins and conditional that they falsely implicated her and were encouraged to provide false testimonies by the very people she had previously informed on as an accredited DEA informant and helped to take off of the streets. The prosecution seems to be that she worked with them to commit this crime which is bizarre. They escaped the death penalty on condition that they gave testimony that had to lead to her receiving the death penalty. As you know she was previously a highly regarded Sunday school teacher before she moved to the US and became at their request an unpaid DEA informant because of her knowledge of the drug gangs in her country of origin. She worked undercover and at considerable risk with no financial reward with the DEA to entrap dealers. The false fabrications is what the latest admissions by them state. She is an exceptional woman. as so many people who have known her have vouched for her have said.

 

Among them is the only person who claimed to have seen Linda Carty (56) carry out the murder of Joanna Rodriguez, who has now admitted that Texan District Attorneys (DAs) “threatened me and intimidated me” into identifying Ms Carty as the culprit. Christopher Robinson, who was the key to the prosecution case, admits that he never saw Ms Carty kill anyone and his testimony to this extent at trial was a lie.

 

Mr Robinson has signed an affidavit, filed in September 2014, in which he testifies that prosecutors “told me I had to testify at Linda’s trial to avoid the death penalty, and they made it clear what it was I had to say.” Mr Robinson adds that they “[told] me I would get the death penalty myself if Linda Carty did not get the death penalty.”

 

Several other witnesses at Ms Carty’s trial have also admitted they were “blackmailed” by Texan prosecutors, and lied or omitted evidence as a result.

 

Charles Mathis, a former Drugs Enforcement Agency (DEA) officer who was Ms Carty’s ‘handler’ during the time she worked as an informer for the Agency has stepped forward to reveal the lengths the prosecutors went to obtain the testimony they needed. Mr Mathis’ affidavit states that when he told the Texan DA that he “knew that Linda did not have it in her to kill anyone,” and so did not want to testify against her, the DA “threatened me with an invented affair that I was supposed to have had with Linda.”

 

“I felt that [Texas DA Connie] Spence was threatening and blackmailing me into testifying,” Mr Mathis concludes. “It struck me that Spence wanted a death sentence as a feather in her cap. She was far more interested in a death conviction that the truth.”

 

As a result of the Prosecutor’s threat to smear him and ruin his marriage with a fictional affair, Mr. Mathis omitted testimony regarding “misconduct during the investigation”.

 

The new testimony – which was unearthed by lawyers at international legal non-profit Reprieve following years of work and investigation – is currently being considered by the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals (CCA). Ms Carty’s lawyers are asking for an evidentiary hearing to air this newly discovered evidence and ultimately seek a new trial.

 

Commenting, Clare Algar, Executive Director of Reprieve said:

 

“If Linda is not granted a new hearing, she faces the death penalty based on lies extracted by prosecutors desperate to secure an execution at any cost. The behaviour of prosecutors in this case has been so appalling it takes the breath away. They have stooped to targeting the marriage of one witness with invented slurs, while using the threat of death to force another to produce the lies they needed for conviction. Linda’s last hope is that Texas recognises that she deserves a new – and this time fair – trial.”

 

It actually doesn't matter what I think Terry. You will know from your reading, that whatever else she hasn't received anything close to a fair trial and in fact has been deprived of one at every turn. I'd like to see her back with her family and grandchildren as soon as possible and cannot wait for her trip to the UK to see us all ... hopefully.

 

Jeff

Edited March 14, 2015 by UKCruiseJeff

[TLCOhio]

Appreciate this added background from Jeff. Not sure what is true and/or not relevant. From many decades working with attorneys, judges, prosecutors, media folks, etc., etc., I know that each side tells, pushes and focuses on just its version of the "truth".

 

I love to quote the line from Jack Nicholson to Diane Keaton in the 2003 movie "Something's Gotta Give". He said: "I have never lied to you. I have always told you some version of the truth." She quickly replied: "The truth doesn't have versions, okay?"

 

Jack also had this famous quote: "You only lie to two people in your life: your girlfriend and the police."

 

I understand that these are serious issues/questions, not a movie script. A good friend in Houston is a retired minister there. He follows these kinds of issues closely. I have ask him for any of his insights that he has on this specific case. Will share what I hear back. From both sides on many issues I have observed over the many years, I know there are advocates, organizers and fund-raisers pushing various viewpoints for various reasons and motivations. Personally, I like to hear and examine closely BOTH sides, see what is really credible and total solid, etc. Some media reports are good. Others, only about half-way in a shallow, limited manner.

 

THANKS! Terry in Ohio

 

For details and visuals, etc., from our July 1-16, 2010, Norway Coast/Fjords/Arctic Circle cruise experience from Copenhagen on the Silver Cloud, check out this posting. This posting is now at 174,242 views.

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1227923

[UKCruiseJeff]

Terry .... as you have expressed an interest ...

 

APPLICATION FOR POST CONVICTION

WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS

 

Jeff

[TLCOhio]

Terry .... as you have expressed an interest ...

APPLICATION FOR POST CONVICTION WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS

Jeff

 

Appreciate your sending a copy of this 78-page brief. I do not know what the reply brief from the prosecutor's side will say, but to me one of the key factors is that the Baker, Botts law firm has spent lots of time and energy fighting this case.

 

This law firm is one of the most historic and respected legal resources in the state of Texas. The firm's roots go back to founding of Texas. Also, one of their key partner has been the former Chief of Staff for President Reagan, plus being U,S, Treasury Secretary and America's Secretary of State. That's James A. Baker, III. Lots of smart and very respected people at that very large law firm. They would not get involved if they did not sincerely believe that there were some serious legal questions in this case.

 

Look forward to hearing what my minister friend in Texas says. He married both my wife and me, plus our son and daughter-in-law. Plus, look forward to seeing how this case plays out in the coming weeks.

 

THANKS! Terry in Ohio

[UKCruiseJeff]

Thanks Terry,

 

As you can see they are working pro bono which says much.

 

I find it totally perplexing that this has gone so far. It is interesting that Connie recently received a special FBI Directors award for her prosecution work ...

 

Anyway, I appreciate the indulgence of letting me post about this without sanctions or attacks. I feel it important to talk about the issue as often and as opportunistically as I can. There but for the grace of god could be any one of us ... and then we would be relying on someone like me going on about it ...

 

My son is in touch with Linda's daughter and Reprieve keep Linda's reading list and anyone who wishes can not only support Reprieve but can also send her books via Amazon which she loves to receive.

 

 

Jeff

[UKCruiseJeff]

"Ten things about race that are true but we can't say" - Trevor Phillips ex chairman of the Commission for Racial Equality (CRE) argues that the fear of causing offence is making racism worst and harming minorities.

 

It seems that Trevor agrees with me .....:)

 

Some excerpts ...

 

 

 

There is a real cost to this type of intimidation. The upshot is that the next time a white person wants to speak up for minorities, I would guess they’ll hesitate and ask themselves: “Will I make things worse by speaking out?”

 

It’s not just the impact on free speech that we need to be concerned about. We find it more and more difficult to address real problems in our society because we are afraid to describe them.

 

Preventing anyone from saying what’s on their minds won’t ever remove it from their hearts. People need to feel free to say what they want to without the fear of being accused of racism or bigotry.

 

That means we’re all going to have to become more ready to offend each other. If we do, we might — in time — begin to see each other in our true colours. And surely that’s what the aim of changing Britain’s attitudes to race was all about.

 

Trevor Phillips’s documentary, Things We Won’t Say about Race that Are True, will be on Channel 4 on Thursday at 9pm

 

http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/newsreview/features/article1530667.ece

Edited March 15, 2015 by UKCruiseJeff

[TLCOhio]

Thanks Terry, As you can see they are working pro bono which says much. I find it totally perplexing that this has gone so far. It is interesting that Connie recently received a special FBI Directors award for her prosecution work ... Anyway, I appreciate the indulgence of letting me post about this without sanctions or attacks. I feel it important to talk about the issue as often and as opportunistically as I can. There but for the grace of god could be any one of us ... and then we would be relying on someone like me going on about it ... My son is in touch with Linda's daughter and Reprieve keep Linda's reading list and anyone who wishes can not only support Reprieve but can also send her books via Amazon which she loves to receive. Jeff

 

YES, Jeff, I had noticed the pro bono work by this Texas law firm. As I re-call, they have put in a million-dollars, plus, of legal work on this case. That's significant!!

 

Last night, I did hear back from my retired minister friend in Houston. He has been very active in such more liberal social cause issues, but he has not heard of or followed this case. Sorry! Keep us posted on its major developments. I would be interested, also, in reading the "brief" filed for the other side of the case. Good judges, if they are doing the required work, must look at BOTH sides, see what's credible . . . or NOT.

 

To paraphrase what I posted earlier and from knowing many attorneys, they always tell and promote "their version of the truth"!!! The serious and honest challenge is to sort out these various "versions of the truth".

 

THANKS! Terry in Ohio

 

From our Jan. 25-Feb. 20, 2015, Amazon River-Caribbean combo sailing over 26 days that started in Barbados, here is the link below to that live/blog. Lots of great visuals from this amazing Brazil river and these various Caribbean Islands (Dutch ABC's, St. Barts, Dominica, Grenada, etc.) that we experienced. Check it out at:

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2157696

Now at 19,160 views for these postings.

[UKCruiseJeff]

YES, Jeff, I had noticed the pro bono work by this Texas law firm. As I re-call, they have put in a million-dollars, plus, of legal work on this case. That's significant!!

 

Last night, I did hear back from my retired minister friend in Houston. He has been very active in such more liberal social cause issues, but he has not heard of or followed this case. Sorry! Keep us posted on its major developments. I would be interested, also, in reading the "brief" filed for the other side of the case. Good judges, if they are doing the required work, must look at BOTH sides, see what's credible . . . or NOT.

 

To paraphrase what I posted earlier and from knowing many attorneys, they always tell and promote "their version of the truth"!!! The serious and honest challenge is to sort out these various "versions of the truth".

 

THANKS! Terry in Ohio

 

From our Jan. 25-Feb. 20, 2015, Amazon River-Caribbean combo sailing over 26 days that started in Barbados, here is the link below to that live/blog. Lots of great visuals from this amazing Brazil river and these various Caribbean Islands (Dutch ABC's, St. Barts, Dominica, Grenada, etc.) that we experienced. Check it out at:

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2157696

Now at 19,160 views for these postings.

 

Thanks Terry, I'm presuming your not playing at being a judge ... but like me is entitled to work out whether she has been treated fairly or not. I'm surprised that the amount of overwhelming evidence including enough to convince the law firm you mention should put you at least 99% there ....;)

 

Forgive me for stating the obvious ..... but the "other side" have stated their case ... it's called the prosecution. They will simply deny all the charges in the writ. In our system you start off innocent, and you have to be proved to be guilty beyond all reasonable doubt. You have to have a fair trial.

 

It is an unavoidable uncontradictable fact that Linda was entitled as a British dependency subject to the assistance of British consular help which was denied her. The case in fact stops there if you wish. This could have provided her with a competent lawyer at the first hearing. You need to read about that lawyer ...

 

On that basis alone .....

 

However, the prosecution's side will simply to be to deny that they concocted the case, coached and blackmailed the witnesses, including blackmailing her DEA handler, did warn her spouse that evidence needn't be given against a spouse and that her defence lawyer who met her for the first time and only spent 15 minutes with her before the hearing and failed to ever win a similar case and has been characterised as the most incompetent public defender lawyer is untrue. What else can they say?

 

She wasn't at the crime scene and there is only one piece of evidence and that was a single witness who had never even heard of her and at some personal risk has now belatedly told the truth.

 

The issue is as we both know, even if in the fullness of time Linda receives her justice - will anything happen to those that perpetrated this?

Edited March 15, 2015 by UKCruiseJeff

[Lord Horace]

Hello Jeff

 

I will certainly get a taxi and try one or more of your suggestions.

I wish I could afford long haul First Class. I was once upgraded to First LHR to Vancouver, but obviously did not have use of the first lounge as the upgrade was at the gate. However We did used to fly Concorde a lot to the States, and really enjoyed her, albeit she was a little noisy, but you got used to it. It was a. Wry sad day when they retired her too early. The world used to stop what they were doing and look upwards etc, even cricket matches at the oval. A glorious sight to see....the big white bird.

Cases all packed, tickets, money etc all checked, and Emirates have rung to confirm chauffeur pick up time. Off to the pub now with my friends who are house sitting for me. A lovely spring like day up here, but still chilli

[UKCruiseJeff]

Lady H!

 

This is very sad ... but I feel the sense of your anticipation ... and so hope you really enjoy! I think what you have taking everything into account your flight is at least as good as BA F so Neil Desperandum!"

 

Let me know if I can help any more re Singapore in particular.

 

I so, so, so hope you have a great trip.

 

Jeff

 

:)

[jpalbny]

Leaving on Friday evening for France, and the river cruise! Chris and I are both feeling pretty tired, as we came down with some nasty colds at the end of last week. We spent most of the weekend lying around recuperating, but managed to get some clothes laid out for packing later this week. My big accomplishment was some homemade chicken soup yesterday.

 

Tonight we felt a little better and managed to go out for a walk after work. We are in full "clean out the refrigerator before holiday" mode. Found a box of mushrooms that we'd forgotten about, but they still looked salvageable. We also had some leftover broth from yesterday's chicken soup, so we decided that mushroom risotto would make for a nice supper... It was delicious with a nice California Pinot Noir. No pictures, though. My phone was on the charger and I was too hungry to stop eating!

 

Next step will be to dig through the freezer to see what random scraps of meat I can find to grind up into a meatloaf mix for tomorrow. It's a fun game to try to use up everything in the refrigerator before we go on holiday, though we do have to leave enough there so that we don't starve when we return!

 

Because the US adopted the super-early Daylight Savings Time, we're only 4 hours behind GMT for the next few weeks. So when we fly to Paris on Friday night, we only lose 5 hours instead of the usual 6. Europe doesn't switch to DST until our last night there - so we lose one hour of our vacation on the morning we fly home. Could be worse... I'm sure we'll be up late regardless.

Edited March 17, 2015 by jpalbny

[spinnaker2]

Feel better.

[UKCruiseJeff]

Home-made chicken soup cures everything. :D

 

Enjoy your cruise JP. Looking forward to your reports and piccies.

 

:)

 

EDITED: Thought I'd add my last-night's pizza ....

 

Edited March 17, 2015 by UKCruiseJeff