Phoenix, Arizona - The defence expert Alyce LaViolette was on the stand again today and finally made it clear that the murder victim, Travis Alexander was indeed a ‘human being.’ Juan Martinez the prosecutor asked her and she agreed, he was a ‘human being’ and Martinez continued to try to discredit her, since he thinks she is a “human lie detector.”
The expert psychotherapist finished her $300 an hour testimony Friday, but is under a court ordered subpoena to return to court on Tuesday to discuss an (issue) that Judge Sherry K. Stephens wants to discuss with her.
Why do you think LaViolette has been ordered back to court to address an “issue” that she is aware of? Also the court has ordered an InSession (TruTV) producer to attend court next week to discuss something.
After all, LaViolette has the opinion that sometimes lies, are not lies, there are white lies and medium lies and then real lies, in her opinion.
Arizona is one a the few states that allows jurors to ask questions and Friday they asked about 160 questions of LaViolette. In day 101 of the trial the started on January 2/2013 there have only been three defence witnesses and she had stated to a jurors question she had given evidence in court about men, “one or two times.”
After another heated cross by prosecutor Juan Martinez, he got her to admit she actually did not give testimony in court but had filed “a report” with the court about an earlier interview she did several years ago.
Also in another surprise move juror #11 was released from duty due to an unannounced illness. Another alternate (16 remain) will take his place, which makes two jurors released from duty since the start of the trial.
Court will resume again on Monday, but LaViolette will not appear until Tuesday because of a prior conflict on Monday.
Domestic violence expert Alyce LaViolette was still on the stand today (day 9) as she was answering questions from the defence and yet prosecutor Juan Martinez didn’t miss a step trying to interrupt her answers with constant objections.
Judge Sherry K. Stephens did not fall for it and in almost all objections from Martinez she overruled his ignorant interruptions. It appears he wants her to still answer questions “his way” even though he is NOT asking the questions.
Judge Sherry K. Stephens at a ‘sidebar’
For the past four/five days while he was cross-examining LaViolette he would battle her with questions that he only wanted ‘yes or no’ answers even though she wanted to give her honest answer.
How will Juan Martinez’s questioning, objecting, bullying, fighting with the defence witnesses effect the jury in their deliberations once the case goes to the jury? It’s unlikely, but remember only one juror has to disagree with the prosecution and it would be a mistrial, and it all starts all over again.
There is no doubt Jodi Arias killed Travis Alexander, she has admitted it. The question here is, will the jury have the option to find her guilty, and yet not allow the death penalty to be imposed.
During the questioning from the defence today, LaViolette was asked “do men like Travis Alexander (the victim) have a double life?” Was again constantly challenged by Martinez.
Jennifer Willmott
Then the defence attorney Jennifer Willmott went on to ask, “given all the lies Arias has told in the past, does it cause problems in your believability?”
“No they don’t, because if Ms. Arias was a really good liar she would have planned a really good lie and she didn’t,” answered LaViolette.
Martinez objected to that asking, “give us a definition of a really good lie,” which was overruled by Judge Stephens, “the answer will stand.”
Coming up next will be jury questions, and the last round, they asked over 200.
One of the big questions will be, where was Alexander shot with the gun, in the closet or in the bathroom. And was he shot before he was stabbed or like Arias said, she stabbed him first in the bathroom.
The trial will continue tomorrow Friday and several Fridays within the next couple of months if the trial continues that long.
Toronto, Canada – A new subway entrance (Midtown Blvd Station) popped up for one day downtown Toronto at Carlton/Parliament and although many thought it was thanks to Mayor Rob Ford, it was not real.
It was a fake station entrance for a new CBS/CW-TV series, Beauty and the Beast being shot in the Old Cabbagetown area and Pinewood Studios in the Portlands.
Massive gridlock on film set with paid duty cops not directing traffic while getting $65 an hour (see below)
It use to be fun having films shot in the city, but it is becoming increasingly annoying as they constantly cause horrendous traffic jams while they are shooting weekdays in the downtown area.
Toronto is still a very popular filming site for Hollywood because the crews and the Canadian Dollar are very attractive to producers. Recently the remake of Total Recall with Colin Farrell was filmed down on the Lakeshore, and we experienced the same thing, as the roadway was closed for several days while the filming took place.
The Toronto Film Office maintains the film industry brings money to the city, and it does, many local people are used as extras in the production but they tend to demand discounted rates for anything that they buy. Car/truck rentals and hotels used for the actors are given at highly discounted rates, and they don’t buy much food because they have everything catered on site.
Caution: This is not a real subway, there are no steps
While it is still a bit fun to see them filming Hollywood style series and movies in the city, lets try and keep it to the weekends.
For larger view, click picture
And if you have to hold up traffic while they are filming, keep it to five minutes at the most. While they were filming on Parliament this week, they had 3-4 paid duty police officers, but they barely controlled traffic, as you can see at the Carlton/Parliament intersection. (above)
They would stop traffic for up to 20 minutes with no police directing traffic on the south side of Parliament, rather they were standing on the side of the road chatting and the one officer is even texting/facebooking his friends while on official duty.
Keep in mind the officers are only making $65 an hour for uniformed paid duties, and possibly they make even more on film sets. But rarely do we see them directing traffic at their paid duty locations (film or construction.) The city claims we have no money, and there is too much gravy, and the police received over $2 million last year, just for paid duties.
Phoenix, Arizona – Prosecutor Juan Martinez has been cross-examining the defence’s domestic violence expert Alyce LaViolette (psychotherapist) for the past eight days and today he was concentrating on Jodi Arias stalking of the victim Travis Alexander.
Martinez has been on a rant about the mischaracterizing of the witness in regards to her assessment of Jodi Arias almost three years ago. He suggests she is being paid to give her assessment and he thinks she is siding with the defendant. Basically he is suggesting she didn’t do her job, according to him.
Yesterday he wanted LaViolette to give testimony on a hypothetical situation and continue to do it ‘under oath.’How can you testify to something that is not real? Oh yeah, Martinez deals in unreal situations with his questioning about Snow White last week.
He didn’t skip a beat about the evidence when he brought up the point about Travis Alexander viewing child pornography. LaViolette had misspoke, and mentioned that she believed Alexander was viewing child pornography online but according to the defendant, he was viewing them with real pictures on his bed days before he was killed.
He touched on Arias’s evidence Alexander asked he to wear a little boys spiderman underwear, while they were having sex. But there is no evidence showing that Alexander had any interest in young boys, other than Arias’s evidence. It was suggested the reason Alexander wanted her to wear spiderman underwear was because he saw Cameron Diaz with them in a movie Charlie’s Angels.
Alyce LaViolette was conducting a forensic assessment when she interviewed Jodi Arias. I’m not exactly sure whether she is suppose to interview her and give her opinion.
But it appears prosecutor Martinez is trying to suggest she was wrong in her assessment and was just siding with the defendant Jodi Arias.
But we all must remember when the prosecution or the defence have an expert, they pick one that is going to give them answers that agree with their arguments.
Phoenix, Arizona - Alyce LaViolettedomestic violence expert getting $300 per hour was under fire again today from prosecutor Juan Martinez in the three-month first degree murder trial of Jodi Arias.
The trial has cost the State of Arizona at least $1.5 million so far up to the end of March with no end in sight.
Martinez didn’t let up for a second in trying to discredit the witness on the smallest contradiction from her notes in her assessment of Arias.
He asked “Do you even have any memory of your notes?” And then went on to ask her if she knew the “Webster’s definition of manipulative” suggesting Jodi Arias was very manipulative.
LaViolette answered, ” I haven’ been asked for a Webster’s definition.”
He went on to say Arias plays the victim all the time and doesn’t believe she was the victim of domestic violence at the hands of her murder victim, Travis Alexander.
Whenever LaViolette tried to answer any questions without a yes or no answer which Martinez always maintains he would ask Judge Sherry K. Stephens to admonish the witness, to get in line with what he wanted, and demanded.
She often tries to give complete answers and yet Martinez is not satisfied and of course must give her a scolding from the Judge. He must have had a very tough time growing up as a young man if he acted as, the ‘bully’ he appears to be in this trial.
Mr. Martinez finally cleared up the major question in this three-month trial, “Yes or no, was Mr. Alexander a man?” LaViolette answered correctly and told us “yes he was.”
This is what you are missing if you don’t watch the trial, earth shattering information about who was killed back in 2008 by Jodi Arias.
LaViolette – “If you were in my group, I would ask you to take a time-out” which was admonished by the Judge.
The trial continues tomorrow, and no doubt Martinez will continue in the same fashion. If you don’t have HLN or In Session you can watch the LIVE streaming trial online HEREremember they are 3-4 hours behind the east coast time zone.
HLN-In Session complete coverage is extensive and ratings are way up, 50%
World-wide coverage
Phoenix, Arizona – Jodi Arias, 32 is on trial for the vicious stabbing/shooting murder of mormon Travis Alexander, 30 in Arizona in 2008, and the trial is being carried by HLN (part of CNN) and they emphasize it is ‘LIVE.’
She is facing the death penalty after she has admitted killing Alexander, but she claims it was in self-defence after she stabbed him 27 times and shot him once. She is claiming battered women syndrome and an expert was on the stand today for the defence. She has been in custody since her arrest in 2008.
Last week and today, psychotherapist Alyce LaViolette (over 35 years) was testifying and prosecutor Juan Martinez asked about a seminar she gave back in 2010 about Snow White being a battered women.
She kept saying she only used that title because it was “catchy” and drew attention to her seminar, but for some reason Juan Martinez never could ‘catch’ the concept.
He actually asked her “how old were the dwarves” but she did not have an answer, since it is not real, it is a fairy tale, created by Disney.
This is probably the first high-profile trial that has been covered this way, although many have asked for it since Digital Video Recorders (DVR) came into homes in the last decade. DVR’s allow you to watch LIVE TV and pause the show like a VCR. It saves the live stream in the computer memory on the DVR and although tv stations have had this equipment for many years, it’s the first time a trial has been covered in this way.
HLN ratings are up over 50%, yikes
The trial is something you don’t want to miss, even if you don’t like trials.
There’s never a dull moment, and the best is when the prosecutor Juan Martinez is questioning the defence witnesses.
It’s like a battle for Martinez to get a “yes/no” answer to nearly every question. He thinks it’s like a boxing match and must win on every point no matter how small it may be.
To get a better understanding of how annoying prosecutor Martinez can be, just watch the first 20 minutes of him constantly objecting during the direct testimony of LaViolette last week. (below) He may legally be correct, but it must take a toll on the jury, and they may also be annoyed with Martinez, they could lean towards giving Arias, a life sentence instead of the death penalty. He never gives it a rest, constantly objecting on the smallest of the small.
Today he tried to discredit psychotherapist Alyce LaViolette as he went on a rant about her not being the lead speaker at a seminar in Los Angeles in 2010. He was suggesting that she lied on her resume and pulled every punch he could to bring her down, without success.
Prosecutor-pitbull, Juan Martinez, ouch
With all the objections from the defence, and the constant sidebarswith the judge the trial has gone on for nearly three months.
It seems when ever the defence objects, the judge always allows Martinez to continue with his constant badgering of the witnesses.
It is expected to end within the next week, but the way it is going, no-one knows for sure.
Certainly not a dull moment, and with Martinez trying to discredit every defence witness, this could go on for another month before it goes to the jury.
Yes/no, yes/no, yes/no? gurrr
There has been one juror released from service and an alternate took her place, but it’s unclear why she was removed after over two months.
The jurors have not been sequestered, and why is unclear. The defence has requested they be sequestered after juror No. 5 was given the boot.
The defence request for a mistrial was denied by Judge Sherry K. Stephens. Trial continues Tuesday on HLN and InSession (truTV,)however there is no court on Fridays. Why not?
UPDATE: Since I wrote this Judge Stephens announced yesterday they would now be holding court on a few Fridays within the next month or so. Maybe she has read my BLOG and thought it may be a good idea, and save the State some money.
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I’m all for inclusion, and we have seen it for many years, sign language (ASL) of political speeches, but tonight was a first for me.
‘Signing (ASL)’ the anthems at New Jersey Devils
New Jersey Devils have a women performing sign language for the ‘singing’ of the National Anthems.
Is that really necessary, since I thought most people know the words of their National Anthems.
It’s possible the New Jersey Devils received a lot of calls, I mean texts, from the hearing impaired community.
UPDATE: If you missed Don Cherry on Coaches Corner last week, they started off this weeks segment with the kiss on the cheek of points leader of the Leafs, Nasem Kadri in Ottawa. (YouTube below)
Cherry was on his rant again about the touch icing not being addressed in the NHL. This is where one team sends the puck the length of the ice and icing is not called until the receiving team touches the puck.
This causes both players to race to touch the puck first and in many cases can be career ending resulting from these chases into the end boards.
Cherry has always maintained this problem could be resolved if they just blow the whistle when the puck crosses the end goal line, but the NHL thinks the way it is, creates ‘excitement’ in the game, yeah right real excitement.
NHL thinks this is sooo exciting, not fans, except for serious injuries to players
Oh just a footnote, the Leafs beat the Devils, in New Jersey Satiurday night, 2-1.
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It appears that Nazem Kadri has finally made a mark in the NHL and scored his second hat-trick this year, but the previous American management of Ron Wilson and Brian Burke tag team didn’t think he was worthy to play in the NHL. They have both been fired, thank goodness.
Kadri is now Leafs leading point leader
Kadri is currently sitting in sixth place in the NHL behind Patrick Kane of the Chicago Blackhawks, and there is still about 12 games to go before playoffs.
Go Leafs Go and maybe, just maybe we will see the playoffs for the first time in almost a decade.
Kadri even got the pleasure and endorsement of Don Cherry in the video above, with a kiss on the cheek as he did to Leaf favorite Doug Gilmour many years ago.
TTC University subway line was closed Sunday for upgrades, buses replaced subway, but was it over staffed when TTC say they have no money?
The closure of the University line was widely announced through the media for weeks but the management at TTC felt it was necessary to have way too many buses and staff to handle the few passengers on the route. Several of the drivers and staff associated with the closure were on overtime, and there were many workers all along the shuttle bus line, directing the few passengers.
At a time when the TTC maintain they are constantly needing money to run the system.
Are they managing the system correctly and efficiently, and using our money the right way? I don’t think so. From what I saw Sunday, there were an awful lot of empty buses running up/down University Avenue and they had paid duty cops along the route, giving buses the right of way, which is an additional cost to the TTC.
It was announced by the TTC they are upgrading the signals along the University line since the signalling system is over 50 years old. They say the upgrade will allow trains to run closer together and thus improve service.
To get a look at the TTC track cleaning train, check it out HERE.
The TTC is an efficient service and one we can be proud of, but when they mismanage the system as they have done on the University line shuttle buses is that making it efficient and worthy?
On Coaches Corner Saturday night Don Cherry said he’s okay with players wearing visors as Patrick Kane on the left of Chicago Blackhawks.
But was he told by higher-ups in HNIC (Hockey Night in Canada) that he had to change his view on visors? Since many times before he has complimented players who do not wear visors, as “look at him no visor”as if a player not wearing a visor is some sort of ‘real man’ which is very far from the truth.
Below you can see what Cherry had to say in 2011, about visors which got him into trouble again, and his dislike for Europeans and French Canadians.
Is this what a ‘real man’ looks like?
Cherry always speaks his mind, at least when he is told to change it. He’s a good broadcaster and we like him, but over the years he has been told to stop certain things and he complies. Many years ago he was a heavily against European players in the NHL and it seems he has conceded that, and now encourages Canadian and Toronto players when he gets the chance.
Players you are willing to take advice from this guy?
It’s been reported that about 75% of NHL players wear visors and the ones that do not are, ‘real men?’
I don’t think so, they are wrongly following the lead of Don Cherry, and in the worst case scenario could very easily lose an eye. If they do, they could end their career, and would be sorry to admit it.
The simple answer to this problem, is make it mandatory for anyone coming from the minors to wear a visor since all players are now required to wear visors in the minor junior leagues. They have worn face protection since they were tykes.
Check out some of the other postings about what Don Cherry has had to say, just click HERE.
For some very strange reason people, players, reporters think getting hit in the eye is a joke, and funny. It’s very far from that and could be career ending. I just don’t understand what is funny about getting hit in the eye, when you have the ability to prevent it with a piece of very efficient equipment called a visor. Below you will see the interview of Chris Pronger who received such an injury, which could have been 100% preventable.
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Toronto, Canada - An extremely small sign at the TTC (Toronto Transit Commission) collector booth in downtown Toronto startled me yesterday when I saw this sign (below) that there will now be a 10% surcharge if you are paying in US Funds for your transit ride.
Seems like the TTC jumped the gun big-time, since the US Currency is just a cent or two below Canadian and fluctuates back and forth. The current USD to Canadian rate stands at (1 USD = 0.975585 CAD) and is expected to fall even more.
Americans have enjoyed a 20% premium on their currency for many years but that has changed. Others are reporting it may continue to fall on the world market up to and beyond the Presidential Election in November 2012.
Danny Nicholson a long time spokesperson for the TTC said, “I am not aware of the new signs but would get back to you.”
Brad Ross of TTC Corporate Affairs Communications said “I’m not aware of those signs either.”
No-one from TTC got back to me about why this new procedure is in effect and how it came about, before press time.
They were spotted at the Queen/Yonge subway on Monday.
Other retailers have not made the jump, yet, but with the holiday season approaching, anything is possible.
Reports of some authorized ticket sellers charging an extra fee for tickets and Metropasses, report if you encounter this from an authorized TTC dealer.
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South of the Border, USA - It was just announced by Comcast in the United States, they are reducing the amount of bandwidth (what is bandwidth) allowed to their customers for uploading/downloading on the internet.
When you sign up for internet, or a TV package you are allowed a certain amount of bandwidth for your internet searches and watching videos, playing games etc.
It seems USA internet/TV carriers offer around 300GB of downloads/uploads per month and we get a measly 25GB per month with FibeTV. It’s not even close, and if they go over the 250GB it’s an extra $10 per 50GB when you go over the limit, with Comcast.
Bell FibeTV offers larger packages, but they cost more, but 25GB (standard) compared to 250GB is a big difference, is Bell just ripping us off, bigtime?
Just to give you an idea, if you were to watch a full movie online, that counts towards your monthly limit in Canada, it would be about 2-3GB per movie.
Bell FibeTV have recently been adding special features to their TV side of the packages, like Facebook, twitter and other apps. They do say you are charged bandwidth, towards your monthly limit, when you use them, but it seems very sneaky. Do people really pay attention to those warning, do your kids?
This bandwidth thingy is just a cash cow for Bell and the other providers and probably doesn’t cost them anything, it’s just a way for them to generate revenue since hardly anyone has phone service with them anymore.
How is it that carriers in the USA get 300GB per month and we sit back and take getting 25GB per month and say nothing?
Be sure to ask any carrier in Canada, how much bandwidth they allow with your package for internet and TV. Don’t get ripped off, shop around and ask the tough questions.
Do you remember when Verizon in the USA tried to put controls on the talk time on ‘unlimited‘ cell calling, there was a huge uproar from their customers and they changed their minds.
Now carriers for cell service in the USA are calling their packages ‘truly unlimited’if you can believe it. It’s just plain stupid, it’s like calling a parking space ‘reserved’ and then near the doors they have other spots that say, ‘strictly reserved.’
Unlimited is unlimited, and reserved is reserved.
And if we sit back and take it they will squeeze every nickel they can get out of us unless we stand up and say, we aren’t going to take it anymore.
A Canadian carrier called TekSavvy offers truly unlimited internet but if you have Bell FibeTV you cannot get just the TV connection, you must buy it with their internet as well. Although Bell FibeTV does allow you to cancel the phone in the package.
Well I’m sure the little old lady in rural Northern Ontario still has a phone that’s she is still paying a monthly fee of $6.95 rental on her Bell phone for the past 40 years and no-one told her she can buy one.
Be sure to read my other reports about Bell FibeTV and the problems we incurred from day one, and shop around and ask the tough questions before you sign up.
Many would ask, “If you don’t like it why have you stayed with Bell FibeTV for almost two years,” true, but it is one of the best services I have ever seen, when it is working properly.
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August 18/2012 – I know it’s hard to believe, but yes, Ashleigh Banfield has NOT been fired, she’s just been moved around, and now she’s filling in on Outfront which happen a to be live on primetime.
I guess I’m not the only one that finds Banfield a little “OFF” although this guy below goes a little over the edge but he’s right on.
CAUTION: Adult language/opinion bytrendyasdabbers so view at your own discretion. His main question about Banfield is, “How could CNN think that they need her on their network”
But then they have Nancy Grace, maybe it’s just for ratings? Maybe it helps to smoke a doobie to watch Ashleigh Banfield or Nancy Grace. Are you “OKAY” with that?
Be careful CNN, Banfield does look great, great legs, until she opens her mouth and starts a live interview, with her opinions.
But for some reason people love to listen to her, or just look at those great legs. But Banfield is just plain ‘Goofy” and consistently she makes a fool of herself and CNN.
You, the public must decide, with your channel changer, and maybe, just maybe, they will get the message, but I doubt it.
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Please comment what you think about the TRANSLATION full BLOG feature. I’ve been trying to add it for years and I think it’s very powerful, thanks Google. Tell us what you think, leave a comment.
(COPY) UPDATE: July 14/2012 - One of the biggest hits I get on my site, seems to be for you guessed it, Ashleigh Banfield. Since she wasn’t on air this morning on Early Start everyone is searching to see if she has been fired. (at least everyone will be at work at 11AM) That is if she really has been moved to 11am daytime slot, but just have her read the news and not comment and do interviews.
I haven’t been able to confirm it, but she is bouncing all over the place, and maybe she is on vacation.
Wasn’t Ted Baxter from Mary Tyler Moore show, afraid to take vacation because whomever replaced him might do a better job and he would never return.
Ted Knight was a character, playing a part, not real, but he reminds me of Ashleigh Banfield and many on news shows today.
It wouldn’t take much for someone to do a better job than Banfield, but then maybe CNN likes that.
Whether she is on vacation or taken off Early Start, I can’t believe it, I’m missing her. I enjoyed seeing her screw up, and make a fool of herself. But I’m sure she will be back at CNN, I bet she signed a long contract.
The new people on Early Start are boring, and just read the script, it’s no fun at all.
Check this interview out (if you can stomach it) on Mediaite with Congressman Joe Walsh (R) – Illinois, she really blew it. I don’t think Walsh lost it, she did as usual.
“Ashleigh, Ashleigh, Ashleigh” says Walsh, but Banfield says “I play the adversary” in the interview, it seems she is acting as campaign manager for Iraq War Vet Lt. Col. Tammy Duckworths (D) Illinois, she should appear neutral, but then it is CNN. And if you visit her website you will see what Walsh is talking about, war vet, war vet. I respect war vets too, but don’t just run on that fact alone. Duckworth is a “True Hero.”
You might what to see everything that Mediaite has to say about Ashleigh Banfield, I think her limit staying with any outlet is about two years, and she’s Canadian or at least she was.
UPDATE: March 5/2012 -The gift that just keeps giving and yet, Ashley Banfield is still on the air. Today, in reference to a comment about Rush Limbaugh, suggesting that a College student was a ‘slut and a prostitute’ because she wants the government to pay for her birth control. Banfield made a comment directly to Limbaugh saying, “shut your cake hole” and she still works for CNN?
UPDATE: February 27/2012 – (6:06am)Ashley finally got it right, this morning, when she actually said,“Because I’m an idiot,” talking about the Academy Awards. She was referring to Hugo, as an ‘animated film?‘
I couldn’t believe this is the first time since I have read a review about this new show “Early Start” on CNN.
They do stay away from the 98% news about the Presidential election, but this Ashleigh Banfield is just plain “Goofy”as she has been, everywhere else.
UPDATE: Friday, February 17/2012 - CNN actually put her on primetime during the day yesterday and the rest of the public has now seen how ‘goofy’ she really is. The hits have gone crazy, everyone looking up Banfield.
What happened to American Morning? I don’t think the other reporter, Zoraida Sambolin, is quite as bad, but I’ll be surprised if CNN keeps this pair in the morning slot. The morning shows are usually one of the most important shows on TV or radio, but then maybe CNN doesn’t care.
But that’s what I don’t understand, isn’t it their job to get people to watch a show instead of not watching. If you have Ashleigh on any show, people are going to stop watching, like we did when she was on CourtTV, she was just terrible.
Checkout whatNYPOSThad to say about the pair, it wasn’t as nice. She drives people away, she doesn’t bring viewers in.
This morning she was interviewing a guest, and he said “Did you just say CRAP?” And she said, “Yes.”
She really thinks she is ‘hot stuff’ check out her own website HERE.
UPDATE:February 7/2012 – Just after this terrible tragedy, Banfield interviewed the sister (of Susan Powell still missing) and aunt of the two young boys killed when their father Josh Powell killed them at his home. Powell was a suspect in the murder of their mother Susan, in 2009 but was never arrested, until he had a supervised home visit with the boys on Sunday, when he ‘clubbed’ the boys with a hatchet, and set his house ablaze, killing them all.
Banfield asked the sister, Denise Cox, today, “Is your family … are you all Okay,” and of course she said “umm .. NO.” For that alone, Banfield should be fired, how disgustingly incentive.
Just plain GOOFY, but then with CNN, you never know. Just watch one morning, and you can decide for yourself.
To find more about Ashleigh Banfield on my BLOG, CLICK HERE.
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UPDATE: August 28/2012 – It seems we are getting the same old story reported in a long-term study from London, and the USA, that young people over 18 may be causing more brain damage then they can imagine.
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A new method of buying marijuana has been revealed, where a group of about 10 teens pool their money and then buy the product from one known ‘dealer’ in their area.
Is it legal and what could the ramifications be if they are caught?
Bypassing dealers may seem like a good idea, but how will he feel when he finds out he is losing business? After all, the group is just dealing in small quantities and how could it ever interfere with the big ‘dealers’business.
But how will the ‘big dealer’ respond to someone cutting into his profits, with reason and compromise?
In an unnamed American state, Canadian province, the thinking is the state itself has allowed people to get marijuanamedical certificates, and said they can drive while they are impaired under the influence of pot, but strangely cannot reveal a court case that has set a precedent.
Is it because no-one has been caught yet?
But what if someone is driving while under the influence of pot, and let’s say another car hits them?
The person that is not responsible for the accident will likely be charged with impaired driving, and their life will change forever.
To take it a step further, the teens are not concerned about their operation.
They feel it is a small community (block) and yet they know about the other ‘dealers’ in town. So if any of these teens stop buying from the known ‘dealers’ will they not know about this little group who are taking business away from their sales? And what happens when the regular ‘dealers’ in town find out?
Will they go to the group leader and suggest to rationalize with him about why they should shut-down their little group?
Not likely, these are the cases we read/hear about everyday, where the ‘big dealer’ just goes over and eliminates the competition for good. I don’t think so, are the group members afraid to get caught and go to jail and ruin their futures.
That does not seem to be their biggest obstacle to overcome. We’ve all read about and seen situations where the ‘dealer’ in your area has known customers, and they stop buying on a regular basis, they do find out who is taking their business away.
It does not end in a pleasant fashion, as possibly the known ‘dealer’ may bring a gun and put a stop to someone cutting into his profits.
UPDATE: A study released in Arizona yesterday claims that marijuana used for select medical conditions has no benefits. It doesn’t say who funded the study, was it big pharma, because they are cutting into their pain management business. You decide.
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Toronto, Canada – Many of us are animal lovers, and we have heard very little about the effects of the nuclear radiation on the animal kingdom in Japan and near the Fukusima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant.The focus is centred on the residents, but what about the animals? The devastation of the earthquake, tsunami and now nuclear radiation that hit Japan on March 11, 2011 has killed many and displaced thousands but we always seem to forget about the domestic pets and animals in the area.
The nuclear radiation from the nuclear meltdown at Fukusima Daiichi, Japan affects those that have survived this tragedy and that means animals too. It is estimated there are 30,00 domestic pets affected by this and many residents are bringing them to the shelters with them. There was a YouTube video that can be seen below of one injured dog standing by and protecting his friend as rescuers come to save the two. Although many forget about the animal kingdom, animal lovers from all over the world have been concerned for the domestic pets and wildlife and how the radiation will affect them if they have survived this incident. Dr Joanna Coote, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) from the Toronto Humane Society took some time to explain how the radiation could have an impact on animals and wildlife that could have survived the tragedy.
“I guess it depends which animals you are referring to, so if we talk about dogs, cats, horses, cattle, pigs, goats, sheep those are all mammals, so the way that animals are affected by radiation will be quite similar to humans, they often worry about the cumulative radiation effect so that if you are exposed to certain levels of radiation over time they’re worried that there would be a cumulative effect of radiation that can cause dangerous levels.” said Dr. Coote. “In animals they don’t really have a prolonged exposure to radiation, because they have such a short lifespan relative to humans,” she went onto say about farm animals, “If they are farming dairy, goats or chickens, it’s the issue with, one, the real exposure to radiation the way we get exposed in the atmosphere so there’s that exposure and then there’s the exposure they get from the vegetation that they are eating. And it’s also in the water, the runoff and the rain.”
“Birds and insects will be affected as well and they can spread the radiation as they fly miles from the danger zone but they have a very low life-span and then it becomes a problem for the food chain as the bird eats the contaminated insect or the bird eats a contaminated fish that’s a concern and then flies miles away and then the bird gets eaten by another predator and the cycle continues”
Tokyo, Japan - “Japan National Police Agency, on Tuesday (March 16, 2011) said, dead and missing has exceeded 12,000 and is expected to go well beyond this figure. Out of this number 4277 are confirmed dead with 2282 injured from the tsunami and earthquake, not including any that may die from nuclear radiation.
On Sunday (March 13, 2011), police chief of Miyagi, one of the prefectures hardest hit disaster, said the number of death toll is estimated at more than 10,000 in its own territory.” Story from WorldNews
Ontario Veterinary College spokesperson Barry Gunn said,
“There really isn’t anybody that can talk about your questions clearly, in general, the assumption is that any threat would be the same as it is for people, these animals might be exposed to radiation from food or water, some of the nuclear isotopes have a short half-life, and caesium has a half-life of 30 years so they disappear soon after exposure and I suppose the caesium will be around for a while in the soil.”
World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) has committed $150,000
Health hazards if exposed to nuclear radiation, Great LINK about radiation effects.
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UPDATE: September 7/2011 - Nothing has really changed much since I wrote this almost a year ago, I’m still getting pixillating and soundouts but it is better than the first week they installed the new FIBE-TV. After more than 15 service professionals have attended our home we still have issues that have not been resolved, and yet Bell has said they were resolved.
I have to commend them for updating a few features which are quite neat, they now allow you to pause LIVE TV on all boxes within your house and they just added another feature which allows us to go online and either watch or update our recordings from the internet. Caution for Canadian customers, if you watch your shows online you must monitor your bandwidth usage because if you go over your limited bandwidth you could be charged extra.
UPDATE – May 5/2011 - Bell has been, and can be very arrogant, if you look at this flyer we received this week telling us the service is available in our building. And the fact that they say the service is good quality, “Best TV picture?” We are still experiencing problems six months later, although it is better than in the first week in November 2010, it is still pixillating, and sound-outs. To say “This technology is the BEST” is really a stretch. When it’s working, is is excellent, but that has not been our experience.
Click picture for larger view
One Bell techie told us “You can’t expect it to be 100%” but Bell expects us to PAY 100%?
November 29/2010 - It’s almost a month since I had Bell Fibe TV/internet installed and I must say I am very impressed by Bell Canada, and especially Ryan the techie who dropped by on Sunday and did a thorough and excellent job fixing my TV signal.
I have had some complaints and they have finally addressed them, however I am still annoyed with the sales practices of the in-lobby sales people. But with that put aside, after talking with the Bell Executive Team in Montreal (they called me) my pixillating and sound problems have . The picture quality is absolutely excellent, no pixallating (where the picture takes a burp,) or sound outs.
UPDATE – December 8/2010 - Pixillating and sound outs are back, but nice try. They say they will still resolve the problem but when it is working it’s great.
My next question is, will this corrective measure be addressed to “everyone” that has problems? I hope so, and suspect it is in Bell’s best interest to do so, and will people just give up and switch back after the first few weeks of pixillating picture.
On another happy note another service techie called and was able to fix the Bell anti-virus software that I was told was a “known issue and would not be resolved for a few months.” The internet side was not a problem other that the anti-virus situation since it was excellent speed since the beginning.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – Dr. Kermit Gosnell, 72, is facing the death penalty for performing late-term abortions and allegedly killing newborns, as he ‘snips’ the spinal cords to make sure they are terminated (killed.)
I’m no pro-life advocate, but after reading about this monster and what he did, I may not be on the fence anymore.
Gosnell just finished a seven week trial for the murder of viable babies and the murder of one of his patients, Karnamaya Mongar, 41, a Bhutanese refugee, a low-income women who came into his clinic for an abortion and died on the table.
The jury is to start deliberations today and it is expected it will not take long before they come to a verdict, guilty of all charges.
Gosnell clinic at 3801 Lancaster, Philadelphia
The thing that upsets most, is the absence of coverage this trial has seen. Although the trial is not televised, the American main stream media has been ignoring this horrible trial and maybe it is because of the Boston bombings, as well as the explosions in Texas a few weeks ago.
The topic came up on Coach’s Corner last night about women reporters in male sports locker-rooms because of a situation last week when defenceman Duncan Keith of the Chicago Black Hawks made a comment to a women reporter in Vancouver. Other male reporters were suggesting that Keith was being sexist towards Team 1040 reporter Karen Thomson just after their lose to the Canucks at Rexall Place.
Don Cherry always has an opinion
As you can see in this tweet, Ron MacLean was not in complete agreement with Cherry. Cherry went on to say, “Equal opportunity, then why aren’t men in women’s dressing rooms?”
To which it came up about the players walking around naked and MacLean didn’t think that would be a good idea for men to be in women’s locker-rooms.
My belief is women shouldn’t even be commentators on male sports broadcasts and yes, I’m in agreement with Cherry. Is that politically correct, no. But it is my belief and they should keep women out of men’s locker rooms, period. There are plenty of women’s sports that need women to cover, and let’s keep them separate.
Was Duncan Keith sexist, not at all. He had just lost a game 3-1, and a women reporter asked if he thought a penalty should be called. All he said was, “We should get you as a ref, maybe, eh?” That does not seem like a sexist remark to me.
Toronto, Canada – In New York City, now Toronto, and no doubt around the world smartphones are being stolen in subways, on the street and everywhere.
Not only the theft of the phone is a problem but the use of the phone and the stored data/pass-codes you may have already saved on the smartphone itself.
Unknown to many, there are insurance policies available through the cell phone carriers but the price of $7 per month is very unreasonable.
Are people concerned about these possible thefts? No, most say they are not concerned and are watching, but it doesn’t make much sense, since if they are looking at their smartphones, they don’t really have any idea of what is happening around them.
“I’m confident in myself, and I’m aware of my surroundings so I know when people are approaching me and when they are not,” said Isiah while she was standing at a streetcar stop in downtown Toronto while she typed away on her IPhone.
Is cell phone insurance really worth it?
“I would beat them over the head with it, if someone tried to grab it, and I’ll continue to do it,” said Emily of Toronto.
The real concern with smartphones and the protection of the owners is the major providers in Canada do not currently have a database where they can identify cell phones that have been stolen. All a phone thief needs to do is head over to a small cell phone store where they can have the phone unlocked and re-set it, without any concerns of being tracked by the phone serial number, known as IMEI numbers.
The Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association (CWTA) has expected to create a database to track stolen phones, but that is not expected until the fall of 2013. The reality is people, mostly women are becoming targets of these thefts, and unless they hide their smartphones, these thefts will continue.
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Phoenix, Arizona - The defence expert Alyce LaViolette was on the stand again today and finally made it clear that the murder victim, Travis Alexander was indeed a ‘human being.’ Juan Martinez the prosecutor asked her and she agreed, he was a ‘human being’ and Martinez continued to try to discredit her, since he thinks she is a “human lie detector.”
Why do you think LaViolette has been ordered back to court to address an “issue” that she is aware of? Also the court has ordered an InSession (TruTV) producer to attend court next week to discuss something.
After another heated cross by prosecutor Juan Martinez, he got her to admit she actually did not give testimony in court but had filed “a report” with the court about an earlier interview she did several years ago.
April 13, 2013
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Domestic violence expert Alyce LaViolette was still on the stand today (day 9) as she was answering questions from the defence and yet prosecutor Juan Martinez didn’t miss a step trying to interrupt her answers with constant objections.
Danny Nicholson a long time spokesperson for the TTC said, 
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – Dr. Kermit Gosnell, 72, is facing the death penalty for performing late-term abortions and allegedly killing newborns, as he ‘snips’ the spinal cords to make sure they are terminated (killed.)
