UPDATE: Jodi Arias murder trial on HLN (nonstop coverage) Pause/LIVE – Just for commercials?

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 sidebars with 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 In Session (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.

Click the LIKE button, if you so choose.

Daniel … Toronto, Canada,    丹尼尔     دانيال … تورنتو، كندا،
My take on everything
@dandmb50

Dutch – French – Spanish – Hindi – Chinese

Translate full Blog into any language. Click your flag above, if it’s not there click any flag. It will take you to Google Translate.There will be a drop down menu for languages, find yours and click to the right.

(English is default language)

New Jersey Devils NHL, give me a break, they now have sign language for the singing of National Anthems

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.

Click the LIKE button, if you so choose.

Daniel … Toronto, Canada,    丹尼尔     دانيال … تورنتو، كندا،
My take on everything
@dandmb50

Dutch – French – Spanish – Hindi – Chinese

Translate full Blog into any language. Click your flag above, if it’s not there click any flag. It will take you to Google Translate.There will be a drop down menu for languages, find yours and click to the right.

(English is default language)

Nazem Kadri of the Toronto Maple Leafs finally gets the respect he deserves, second hat-trick this year

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 subway closed – Way too many buses replacing subway, wasting our money

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?

Coaches Corner (Don Cherry) He’s okay with visors, yeah right, not true. Was he forced to say that?

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.

Player protection number one

Click the LIKE button, if you so choose.

Daniel … Toronto, Canada,    丹尼尔     دانيال … تورنتو، كندا،
My take on everything
@dandmb50

Dutch – French – Spanish – Hindi – Chinese

Translate full Blog into any language. Click your flag above, if it’s not there click any flag. It will take you to Google Translate.There will be a drop down menu for languages, find yours and click to the right.

(English is default language)

UPDATE: ‘Welcome aboard’ Another Carnival cruise ship adrift at sea, no power, 4000 passengers/crew, ‘raw sewage everywhere’

Carnival Cruise ship Triumph is floating off the coast, in the Gulf of Mexico, with no power, and being towed to shore by tug boats since Monday.

Click 4 larger view

The cruise left Galveston, Texas on February 7th and is expected to arrive in Mobile, Alabama on Thursday.

As you can see one of life’s pleasures, charging cell phones was at a premium.

Passengers unplugged ATM machines and gathered extensions to charge their smart phones.

Carnival Triumph guests disembark safely in Alabama – Notice the ‘red restroom bags’

Latest UPDATE: Ship is on its way to Mobile, Alabama and will  arrive sometime tonight around 11-12, with 4200 passengers and crew, it is expected to take about four hours for everyone to disembark.

Passengers have praised the crew for all their help while they are coping with many of the same problems.

Even though power was very limited, it seems the ship had power for the ATM machines.

The ship had a fire in the engine room and lost most power, especially to the elevators and the toilet system.

Many have reported it is difficult to find working toilets, and most have been advised to use ‘red bags’ for their restroom.

Emergency lighting was still working but there is no air conditioning throughout the ship and most passengers are sleeping on the main deck, for a little cooling breeze from the ocean.

Food is very limited and many passengers are eating onion sandwiches, and many are hoarding food, since there is very little.

We can only imagine how terrible it is on the ship with raw sewage streaming throughout the ship, down the corridors and through the showers. It will be interesting to see what pictures surface after the ship returns to shore.

Carnival Cruise Lines have announced today they will refund the cost of the cruise for all passengers. They have also offered a credit for any future cruises and $500 cash?

Wonder how many will take them up on that offer, or will they sue?

What about the health consequences that may occur from the constant exposure and contact with the raw sewage since Monday?

Will anyone ever take a cruise again?

When will they get it?

What has to happen before people realize it is very dangerous and unhealthy.

There was much talk about the employees of the Carnival Triumph cruise and how well they adapted to the situation, and gave the guests that extra service that was above and beyond.

If any employees wish to give their side of the story anonymously, we would be very happy to hear from you how it went for you. If you are in the continental United States we would love to hear from you.

We would also love to hear some stories from the passengers as well, how you coped with the ‘cruise’ and what you have to say about Carnival Cruises.

Click the LIKE button, if you so choose.

Daniel … Toronto, Canada,    丹尼尔     دانيال … تورنتو، كندا،
My take on everything
@dandmb50

Dutch – French – Spanish – Hindi – Chinese

Translate full Blog into any language. Click your flag above, if it’s not there click any flag. It will take you to Google Translate.There will be a drop down menu for languages, find yours and click to the right.

(English is default language)

Snowstorm Nemo in Boston takes life of 11-year-old succumbed to carbon monoxide (2)

The young boy was helping his father clear the snow piled around his car. It was getting cold and the boy asked if he could get in the vehicle and warm up, but the rear of the car was not cleared of all the snow and it had blocked the exhaust.

Meanwhile a local Hartford, Connecticut TV station set-up a time-lapse camera to catch the snowfall during the storm.

Big dig out after storm in Boston, where many took hours to reach their vehicles

The Boston area received three feet of snow but luckily in Toronto it was only about a foot.

Metric conversion

For some reason in Canada we are using metric measurement and they always give us the snowfall in centimetres, which is about 30cm in metric. However when they are looking for a murder/assault suspect they always report the measurements in feet and inches, why is that?

I think the media like the cm for snow, because it sounds like a larger amount. If it’s 20cm that sounds bigger than 6 inches.

CNN’s KathyGriffin crosses the line on NYC 2013 – NYE bash at Times Square, surprise, surprise

New York City, you can decide for yourself if she was inappropriate or not.

Will Kathy be on next year?