Hausfrau Speaks-Examining the Examiner (TORONTO RELATIONSHIPS)

JUST WHO IS THE TORONTO "RELATIONSHIPS EXAMINER" ?

The person supplying the "User Content" for both the Toronto area "Relationships"  and "Political Buzz" blog is Christine Beswick.  Under the "Relationships" banner, examiner.com states "Christine has been writing "for the public since she was a junior in high school when she landed her first byline for a weekly column in the town's local paper. Since then her work has appeared in newspapers, magazines, and has most recently been featured in SZ Mag." "The Sting of Stigma" was published in the Winter, 2014 issue, but don't bother googling Sting of Stigma, at least a half-dozen other writers have used the same title for their own articles regarding the social stigma of patients who have autism, bi-polar and other mental health issues.  I was not able to locate Beswick's article.  (SZ is a digital magazine dedicated to schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder.) examiner.com continues: "Christine is a graduate level educated single mom and writes on everything from relationships to investigating news that matters. When not writing, she spends time baking or serving the families in her son's school."

Christine's second bio at the examiner.com, where she is listed as a "Political Buzz Examiner" reads "Christine has been writing about politics for the public since she was a junior in high school when she landed her first byline for a weekly column in the town's local paper. During that time, in addition to covering local and school politics, Christine worked behind the scenes of a newsroom on election night where she handled phone calls from the community and kept track of election standings. Now, she's serving her seventh consecutive term as School Council Chair in her son's elementary school and investigating political buzz that matters to Canadians. Christine loves hearing story ideas from her readers about what political issues Canadians want to talk about and can be contacted at (Redacted)." 

It's intriguing that the first "bio" states:  "Christine is a "graduate level educated" writer."  This might lead some to believe that she has a Master's Degree or better.  But, I think that is what they WANTED you to believe!  In this case, it could mean anything! No where in any online resources has Christine indicated that she graduated from any college OR that she has attended upper-level Graduate Courses, let alone that the degree or courses were in Journalism, English, Communications or Liberal Arts.  I was able to confirm that Miss Beswick is a 1992 graduate of Niagara District High School, Niagra on the Lake, Ontario.  (yasni.co.ca) 

In the second bio, she doesn't mention her "graduate level" education, but DOES include that she has been "writing about politics" since she was a junior in high school!  Additionally, it appears that Christine is much more interested in American politics than in the interesting issues in her own country.  I seem to not be the only one confused.  "Pirate" commented on a recent blog ".......the 'journalist's' latest is a column on Hillary Clintons' run for the White House. (Like there isn't anything in Canada for her to write on?). I am totally confused! A CANADIAN 'relationship" writer is writing on a trial in the USA/a CANADIAN ''political' writer (?hmmm) (does she change berets for that?) is writing on an US politician. Perhaps someone could point out some of the things that are going on in her OWN backyard in both trials and politics? She could have covered Magnotta but she didn't/she should be covering the Harper government and C-51 which is dividing a lot of people......but she isn't. Perhaps she thinks she is a Pseudo-American since the US BURNED her town in the War of 1812?  I am so confused."

Yes, you are not the only one confused, Pirate.  I've heard that "politics makes strange bedfellows" but, Miss Beswick is mixing the two in an unconventional manner. 

In yet another bio written by Christine, she claims to have "at the age of 15...landed her first byline for a weekly column in her town's local paper".  The bio continues "Christine is a single mom to her ten year old son with Autism, and when she's not writing, she spends her free time serving as President of the PTA at her son's school for her fifth consecutive term."  

It's interesting that Christine's LinkedIn profile offers no previous experience, no former employers and no professional references.something unusual for a "Frelance Writer" who would always be seeking another writing gig, especially a single mother trying to support a disabled child.  She lists her skills as copy editing, news writing, newspapers and editorial. Nowhere does she state that she is a member of any Professional Organiation, such as the Prrofessional Joirnalists Society which adheres to strict standards of journalistic excellence.  I could find no professional groups to which she belonged, either locally, nationally or internationally.  For as much as she claims to be a "journalist", in fact, she is not.  At best, she is a blogger.

I wasn't able to confirm that she had worked as a free-lance writer with a by-line other than four articles found which had been published at one time on a website called "GreatNewsNow.com". Again, she wrote nothing about her own country, the place she lives, rather, it was all about United States news!  This seems to hold great interest for her. (I wasn't able to locate any of these articles either.  It appears that "GreatNewsNow.com" did not renew their domain name, and is no longer available online.)

• "Big Aristotle Launches Luv Shaq Vodka"  12/19/12
• "Mayor Bloomburg wants to Make Composting Mandatory" 6/16/13
• "Supreme Court Rules on ARIZONA Voter Registration" 6/17/13
• "Understanding Neuropathy Symptoms""  6/27/13

MORE EXAMINING THE EXAMINER

RationalWiki confirms that Examiner.com is a "multiuser blogging site that presents itself as a news site" and says "Don't be fooled."

Examiner.com has been criticized for its meager pay scale and it is common knowledge that examiner.com pays its writers based on pageviews, unique viewers, subscriptions, time spent on the site and other variables called the "gawker model" made famous by gawker.com. Examiner.com claims it tells contributors that they "should not consider this full-time employment" and "tries to be very clear and transparent that this isn't a 'quit your day job' opportunity.”  As a result, a lot of Examiner material tends stoop to National Enquirer sensationalism, to attract attention — positive or negative doesn't matter, it's all clicks, and at times, I have suspected that Beswick encourages "negative" comments!  In the online world, you never know WHO you are commenting back to, and at times I've speculated that Beswick has alias accounts she uses to "stir the soup" in her "comments" section!  According to RationalWiki, there have been such ridiculous posts as "U.S. to bomb the moon on UFO witness John Lennon's birthday" and "Official disclosure of etraterrestrial life is imminent" are standard offerings! . Rational Wiki also states that "You will see enthusiastic Examiner bloggers linkspamming furiously on other sites (to the point of being in Wikipedia's spam blacklist since 2009) often touting their work as "media coverage" (and themselves as "journalists" or "the press") rather than just a blog post they themselves wrote."  Writers Weekly is quoted saying examiner.com is "just another pay-per-click meat market, exploiting writers to attract people to their site by paying them pennies."

Cranks and those with extremely poor critical and logical thinking skills will re-post, link, repeat and copy Examiner articles as if they're edited journalism rather than some guy with a keyboard and Internet access blogging!  CAUTION: If you use an Examiner page as a reference for anything whatsoever, treat it with great caution. Not all Examiners are poor sub-standard writers...BUT.....

Wiki continues "The domain name used to be owned by the San Francisco Examiner, a proper newspaper, which now uses sfexaminer.com." The examiner.com DOES offer a print tabloid edition in a few cities, usually free at mass-transit stops, BART, etc, and run "local" news. (But, then again, we've seen a certain Relationships Examinter who lives in Ontario writing about a trial in Arizona, so much for "local experts!)

So, you might be asking, what is the "win" for the owners of the examiner.com?  ADVERTISING. Did you notice how you have to click 3-5 times to get to the article you want to read?  I know sometimes just clicking the X to close the advertisement takes me there, whether I want to go or NOT!

A REVIEW OF EXAMINER BLOG POST BY CHRISTINE BESWICK  March 17, 2015

JODI ARIAS: ASSETS SEIZED IN JODI LAND MARIA de la ROSA NAMED ON BANK ACCOUNTS!

Several months ago, If one could ignore the spelling and grammatical errors, poor syntax and the enivitable paragraphs re-stating the basic elements of the Arias Trial, Beswick produced an interesting blog. She followed the "standard formula" newspaper reporters are so fond of using: a basic recap of the trial.. "Jodi Arias is on trial for the brutal slaying of her 30-year-old lover TRAVIS Alexander in 2008. This case has garnered an international audience due to the savageness of this crime, and the seemingly endless lack of remorse from this particular defendant. There is no sentence to date delivered in this case because the defendant has manipulated and wriggled her way out of every chance of giving the victim’s family closure in this case."  Sometimes it's at the top of the blog, sometimes at the end, sometimes in the middle, but always, the "news reporter's recap", as if we hadn't a clue.

But, even more interesting than the blog itself, were the comments!  Most were well thought out, intelligent, full of other views, perspectives and theories. But, back in early January, whether orchestrated by Beswick to increase traffic or not, the comments are now disgusting!  Comments contain profanity, hatred, bias, and racial hatred.  But, Beswicks ploy certainly worked!  Prior to this new hate-filled commentary, her blogs rarely had more than 200-500 comments.  The blog of March 17th has a current total of over 2600!  More comments than she has ever received before!  Even Beswick herself gets into the hatred act! She doesn't care if she is universally loved, she is constantly on the attack (except with her SideKick "Tie")!  No, she seems to take pleasure in proving that she is so much better than her readers!  she regularly accuses commenters who don't agree with her as being drunk or high, and she answered one commenter who wrote to another commenter "Just call me Corki, Sandra! Take care, be safe!" With the following:

Christine Beswick. I think it may be time for you to put down the corki things, and the bottles they are in, and sober up a l'il bit sweetie.. don't worry honey, if you are having a problem making that choice all by your drunken self, I understand some information will be coming to light very soon that will help you in terms of....sobering up. Happy Friday :)

Her act is no different on Twitter, abusing anyone who asks her a question or questions her sources.  She is obviously a very unhappy woman, and there have been times when I've felt great pity for her.  She tries so hard to be someone she isn't, just to get some positive reinforcement, and she takes the smallest bit of constructive critism as a full blown attack, and then retaliates.

As far as the veracity of what is contained in this blog, I cannot corroborate and no proof has been submitted for public scrutiny.  In general, there exists a small contingent of Beswick fans who require no proof.  I'm sure that this is the same group who spotted ELVIS at Bob's Burgers last week. The content of the blog itself, has not been corroborated by any other news organization.  Beth Karas, when asked on Twitter her opinion stated "@BethKaras:  I don't have it confirmed. Until I do, it's not a story for me."  Jeff Gold (the Gold Patrol) tweeted "@jeffgoldesq: we will just have to see"  and "@jeffgold: we cannot confirm, so we are not reporting, in fact we are moving on to other trials"  Troy Hayden tweeted. "@troyhaydenfox10: not sure about sources. Need proof."  B. Atlinburg tweeted: @BAtlinburg: Every one of that main steam media has washed hands of this BLOG!" and "@BAtlinburg: Just admit the whole thing was to make money on hits to the blog". So, I too, will refrain from further comment on what Beswick posted, instead, I'd like to comment on the form of Beswick's writing in general.  I was once a single mother trying to support my child too.  Unlike Christine, I did not live in "a compound in a high tax-base" because I lost both parents before I turned 21. But, I do know how difficult it is to be the sole support for a young child.  I encourage Christine to attend her local community college or learning center and take a basic "English Rhetoric" writing class. Many people in their mid to late forties attend these classes, so she won't feel out of place.  I myself, didn't graduate college until after I turned 48, and I have great respect for "older" students, and I'm sure she would see the results in her readership.

Since January 1, 2015, Christine has written 38 articles on examiner.com. Of those 38 articles, only four (4) were written under the "Political Buzz Examiner" banner.  Of those four articles, only one was about Canadian politics, and the one and only comment on that post was by "captain psychedelic" asking "What a stupid article. Wasn't this same thing published 8 years ago?"  So much for being of the cutting edge of politics in your own country.  Of the other three posts, two on Hillary Clinton and the other on Mitt Romney, the most interesting seemed to be the one on Mitt Romney, garnering twelve (12) comments, five of which were by Christine, herself.  If the pay scale is based on visits an comments, not even the "silly season" of American politics can save her.

The remaining 34 blog entries which were posted online from November 20, 2014 to March 17, 2015, ALL but ONE was about the Jodi Arias trial.

• 11 in November
• 11 in January
•   8 in February 
•   4 in March

Compare that production to her July, 2014 entries which totaled 33 for the MONTH.  While the examiner has a lasses faire attitude about what their Content Providers post, to decrease work product volume from what one PREVIOUSLY produced in one month to that same volume over THREE months, indicates a serious issue!

There is another issue with her content,  Because she isn't producing content every day, she delivers content several days AFTER events have happened, therefore, readers have read that same information everywhere else FIRST!  While this would work if you were writing humor, which will be as funny next week as it is today, "news" is more time sensitive!  There were several weeks during the Arias trial when she didn't post her content until the weekend!  THE Trial was on EVERYONES "gotta know" list!  "What happened yesterday?" (Or this morning/afternoon!) Waiting 4-5 days is just unacceptable when your major competition is posting every day AND tweeting (and all of YOUR posts are regurgitated information from THEM!) She LIVES in CANADA, she's not in Arizona, she's not even in the United States! And as much as examiner.com says that their "Examiners" are experts in the area they LIVE, as long as the blogs are receiving "clicks" no one says anything!

My last comments are on "style", sources and language.  Berwick's last entry began: "The glamorous high profile murder trial that is known as the Jodi Arias trial has wrapped up in Phoenix,  Arizona,". Admittedly, high profile!  But "GLAMOROUS"?  I think not! Being a "some-times writer, I know how difficult it can be to produce a post.  But, Beswick's training appears to be more "on the job" than in the classroom.  There's nothing wrong with that!  I've believed for a very long time that on the job training can discover natural talent better than just learning "technique".  

Beswick tends to use more "flowery" language, such as is found in young adult or romance novels. "It is a fresh path of grief..." Or "Every step that they have taken to this point has burned like coals on their soles..." Or "Napoleon (dog) now lives with a beautiful woman..."  She also finds a phrase and repeats it several times within one piece.  "This killer will fade to black soon enough", "Jodi Arias is going to fade to black", "this killer will fade" and she got creative with "She will disappear into the underbelly of prison society" and she will "even develop a few new minions"

She limits her sources to Twitter; Trial Diaries, (Jen Wood) (five times in this post), FaceBook and AZCentral.  Rarely she will quote Fox or ABC (tweets). In this article she wrote Jen Wood, Trial Diaries or Tweet seven times!  She rarely, if ever quotes anyone that she has actually interviewed.  

Lastly, will someone who lives near poor Christine PLEASE give her a thesaurus?  In this post alone, Beswick repeats the word "killer" 19 times!  Websters defines a "murderer who kills with malice and aforethought", which, indeed, Arias Is. she is a convicted Murderer.  And while all murderers are killers, not all killers are murderers!  It's that whole "premeditated" thing!  

People I know online have expressed concern for Christine Beswick.  Like me, they have observed a change in her demeanor, her writing, her production, and yes, even in the way that she treats commenters on her blog.  Although there are over 2600 comments on this particular blog, they all seem to originate from the same 10-14 individuals. I suspect that these same people have multiple sign-in names, so these would count as "unique visitors" each day on her blog, and she would get paid for those "extra visits".  But, if a neophyte like me can figure out that ABC is the same person as XYZ (because they both spell the same VERY unique word wrong), I'm guessing that examiner.com can figure it out too. (If they care enough to try, and if they don't? Who cares?)

Concerning retailers and restaurants, I've often said that "I don't complain, I vote with my feet!" And, I'm going to vote with my feet with Beswick, as well.  I was willing to wait a few hours to get my daily fix of trial news, but waiting so long to read news I've already seen isn't my style.  I have noticed that approximately 80% of the other bloggers and Tweeters are not only college educated, but are also attorneys.  I can COUNT on what they report.  At one time, I THOUGHT I could count on CHRISTINE, too.  But this last post is right up there with  "U.S. to bomb the moon on UFO witness John Lennon's birthday"!  IF this post had ANY validity, ALL the other reporters, bloggers and writers would have been putting their spin on events too!  Yet, all we are hearing are ::crickets::

There is one thing in this world that no matter how much money you have, you can't buy...no matter how little money you have, no one can steal...it's your INTEGRITY.  An old fashioned idea, perhaps...but what was the major issue with JODI Arias? That she was unable to tell the truth.  And if you will lie to make money, you have no integrity.  You lack a moral compass, you lack ethics.  Lord knows I've made many mistakes in my life.  I've learned a lot by trial and error.  But the one thing I value most is that when I look in the mirror, I see a good, honest person looking back at me.  Someone my parents and ancestors would have been proud of. Yes, I've been known to "pop off" when I lose my temper or when I get frustrated.  I didn't claim to be a saint, only a human trying to do the best I can every day.  Someone my children will be proud of.  Until proof regarding Christine's post is brought forth, not just innuendo, excuses or threats, I won't read Beswick/examiner.com. I hope that you look into your heart too, and read those bloggers, reporters, and news personalities who don't rush to report rubbish just to increase blog hits.  Read and listen to reporters who have values and integrity.

Hausfrau Speaks-What is Examiner.com?

WHO/WHAT IS THE EXAMINER?

A question arose a few days ago.  "Just WHO/WHAT is the "Examiner"?  

When I lived near San Francisco, I read the Sunday Edition of the San Francisco Examiner; here on the East Coast,  I pick up a copy of the Washington (DC) Examiner.  Almost EVERYone has heard of or is familiar with The Examiner Newspapers, it has the same name recognition as "The Daily Planet"!  But, Examiner.com is NOT the same as either award-winning newspapers, although they are "distant cousins".

I'll try not to get too detailed here, but, what I understand, ANSCHUTZ CORP and affiliates Anchutz Company are part of the diversified investment interests owned by Philip ANSCHUTZ.  

Anschutz investments, holdings and wholly owed subsidiaries are more complicated than a nine-armed octopus, and I was confused after reading no more than two paragraphs detailing their venture capital, minority stakes and media stakes. (After all, I'm just a drunken hausfrau!). This conglomerate owns examiner.com through its ownership of CLARITY MEDIA.

(Clarity Digital Group d/b/a examiner.com)

Examiner.com is an online media company that maintains a network of websites.  They allow "pro-am" "contributors" access to "share their city-based knowledge" on a blog platform. "Professional Amateurism" is a mix of professionals and amateurs within any group, in this case, writers.

Generally, "pro-am" writers are within the groups who have more leisure time; housewives, retirees and the unemployed who have the time to pursue hobbies and other interests.  Examiner.com calls their pro-am writers "Examiners"; they are NOT professional journalists who must follow the ethics and rules that professional journalists are bound to follow.

The Society if Professional Journalists is the largest journalism organization within the profession.  The 100 year old Society is dedicated to "stimulating high standards and ethical behavior in the practice of journalism and perpetuating a free press." The Society also states "ethical journalism strives to ensure the free exchange of information that is accurate, fair and thorough. An ethical journalist acts with integrity!

JUST WHO ARE "EXAMINERS" ?

Examiner.com do not call their writers "reporters", "journalists", etc.  The individuals who provide content for Examiner.com are called "examiners".

From the Examiner.com website, they define "examiners" as:

• Credible, passionate and knowledgeable writers and local subject matter insiders/experts who contribute unique content to entertain, inform and inspire their readers.
• Photographers who provide captivating images or slideshows for their audience,
• Active within their communities.
• Diverse and come from all walks of life and professions, including seasoned journalists, college students, civil servants, retirees, musicians, physicians, stay-at-home parents even PhDs.
• Over the age of 18
• Residents of the city/edition in which they write. (i.e.:i.f you live in Canada, you'd write about Canada, not Arizona)
• Real people who have passed a background check.
• INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS who retain copyright for their work and adhere to the TERMS OF USE
• Are able to stop being an Examiner at any time
• Never charged fees for being an Examiner
• Paid via PAYPAL
• Part of the largest network of online subject mater insiders

ANYONE can provide content for examiner.com! 

There are several basic rules any writer should use, whether the article or content is for print or Internet.  Usually these basics are learned in the first journalism class a writer takes, but with so many amateurs writing blog content who have never attended college, I will touch on a few of them here:

• NAME YOUR SOURCES--It's the old "He said, She said".  In naming sources, you lend credibility to your story and demonstrate your professionalism.  Only use "SHIELD LAW" when if divulging the identity of the source would put them at risk of harm!
• PROTECT YOUR SOURCES--Avoid the use of "confidential sources" whenever possible!  Attributing information to unnamed sources inhibits your reader's ability to assess the credibility of your article, and by extension YOU!  Use of the "shield law" should be the EXCEPTION, NOT the rule!  If utilizing the "shield law", sources should not be revealed to even co-workers or supervisors. You can be imprisoned for refusing to divulge sources if a judge orders you to do so in a court of law, so you must be prepared to protect your source at all costs. Use "shield law" only for stories of SIGNIFICANT public interest and importance.  **Please see addendum at bottom of page.
• BE OBJECTIVE/OFFER BALANCE--True journalism should be void of all OPINION.  Your readers will appreciate that your content is objective.  Opinion should be printed in the Op-Ed sections, not as a news article.  Get information from ALL sides!  If the opposing side is unable or unwilling to talk, make a note of that in your piece. 
• AVOID CONFLICT OF INTEREST--if you have a close tie to the source in your story, make that known.  For it to come out later, readers will suspect your reliably and integrity.  Friends have no place in yout content. Give the best you have!  Don't allow your reputation be tarnished by something foolish and that could have been avoided.
• GET IT RIGHT--take your time, verify sources, don't allow the pressure of deadlines jeopardize your integrity.  It is better to be ACCURATE than it is to be FIRST.
• GET THE FACTS--NO FACTS, NO story.  DONT "wing" it!
• KEEP IT CLASSY--Do not allow yourself to be pulled into one side or the other.  Don't get angry, don't get nasty, and most important, watch what you say and how you say it. If you are a respected journalist or blogger, you have the ability to influence your readers, when you lose your temper, you lose the respect you've worked so hard to acquire.
• KEEP YOUR PERSPECTIVE--Don't believe everything that you are told.  Confirm your source's sources! Having "Well that's what I was told!" or "I was just reporting what someone else said!" as an excuse for poor writing taints your integrity. It's YOUR by-line, so it is YOUR job to get out of your chair and go chase the story.  If you verify, verify, verify, you won't have to retract, apologize and look foolish!
• RECORD KEEPING--Record interviews, take notes and keep the files. Woodward and Bernstein used their notes later to write "All the President's Men."  Notes cannot be made "after-the-fact"!
• WRITING PYRAMID--All stories start with a good headline, an introductory paragraph, then followed by the story containing the supporting information.  Go back to your English 101, Rhetoric Writing classes; use an outline and cover all the important supporting arguments.
• SPELLCHECK--Please remember to run spellcheck prior to publishing your content.  There is nothing that hurts you more than misspelled words or the wrong tense used in sentences. Always remember that you are a professional!  Poorly written articles filled with typographic errors, errors in punctuation, grammatical errors and errors in syntax will will say more about you  than you realize.
• FINALIZE--Read your story OUTLOUD to yourself.  This will assist you in finding syntax errors, or poorly worded sentence structure. Use a thesaurus if you discover you are over utilizing the same words or phrases.  Build your vocabulary!

One last recommendation--NEVER STOP LEARNING!  Whether you've been writing for five days or five decades, there is still more to learn!  There are writing classes available at your local community colleges, or Universities and workshops all over the country!  Join professional organizations and local groups to become more aware of current issues and current laws.  Remember, you are never too thin or too smart!

SELECTED QUOTES FROM EXAMINER.COM TERMS AND CONDITIONS:

Each INDEPENDANT CONTRACTOR who provides content to examiner.com does so under a strict TERMS OF USE.  While not an integral part of this article, it does prove to be interesting reading.  I've included only the Chapters and sub chapters relevant  to someone who chooses to write under the examiner.com umbrella..  Examiner.com seems to have a comprehensive "TERMS OF USE"!

"5. USER-SUBMITTED CONTENT

Any Content uploaded, posted, submitted, or otherwise made available by individual users of the Site, including without limitation articles or other submissions by Examiners, comments to articles, classified or self-service advertisements, or other Content which does not originate with Examiner.com ("User Content"), is the sole responsibility of the person who made such User Content available on the Site. Under no circumstances will Examiner.com be liable in any way for any User Content made available through this Site by you or any third party.  (Emphasis mine)

Since Examiner.com does not control the User Content posted on the Site, it does not guarantee the truthfulness, integrity, suitability, or quality of that User Content, and it does not endorse such User Content. You also agree and understand that by accessing the Site, you may encounter Content that you may consider to be objectionable. Examiner.com has no responsibility for any User Content, including without limitation any errors or omissions therein. The Examiner.com Parties are not liable for any loss or damage of any kind incurred as a result of any User Content on the Site.

User Content is owned by the author thereof, and Examiner.com does not claim ownership of original works created and posted by individual visitors to this Site. However, by uploading, posting, transmitting or otherwise making any User Content available on or through this Site, you are granting Examiner.com, and its parent, subsidiaries, affiliates, and other related entities an irrevocable, nonexclusive, perpetual, royalty-free, transferrable, sublicensable, worldwide license to copy, reproduce, modify, publish, display, distribute publicly, perform, exploit, and prepare derivative works of such User Content (including your name, image, likeness, or information you have made publicly available in connection therewith) in any manner, media or format now existing or hereafter devised, without any obligation of notice, attribution or compensation to you.

Examiner.com reserves the right (but has no obligation) in its sole discretion to pre-screen, edit, refuse, move or remove any Content that is posted on the Site. You agree that the exercise by Examiner.com of such discretion shall not convert or transform User Content to Content owned or provided by Examiner.com, and the user who made such User Content available on the Site will retain ownership thereof as described below.

6. Prohibited Content and Activities

You agree that you will not post to the Site, or use the Site to transmit or make available any Content that:

• violates any laws or regulations, contains any threats, is abusive, tortious, harassing, vulgar, obscene, indecent, violates any person's rights of privacy or publicity, is defamatory, libelous, hateful, contains any disparaging statements or opinions regarding racial, gender or ethnic background, or is otherwise objectionable; 
• infringes any intellectual property rights of any party, including, but not limited to any patent, trademark, trade secret, copyright or other proprietary rights; 
• contains any private information about an identifiable person without that person's permission, or any content soliciting any personal or private information from any individual; 
• you know or have reason to know is false, misleading, or fraudulent;
• you do not have a right to make available under any law or under contractual or fiduciary relationships (such as inside information or proprietary and confidential information learned or disclosed as part of employment relationships or under nondisclosure agreements); 
• contains any unauthorized advertising, promotional materials, or material which can be characterized as "junk mail," "spam," "chain letters," "pyramid schemes," "Ponzi schemes" or similar material, any request for or solicitation of money, goods, or services for private gain, or any information (other than advertisements approved by Examiner.com) posted primarily for advertising, promotional, or other commercial purposes; 
• incorporates within it any software viruses or any other computer code, files or programs whose purpose or function is to interrupt, destroy or otherwise impair the operability of any software or hardware or telecommunications equipment; 
• contains links to any websites containing content violating any of the foregoing requirements, or links to any websites for purposes of disrupting the operations of such website, harassing the owners of such website, or other objectionable or illegal purposes. 

You further agree not to use the Site to:

• engage in any click fraud or other unethical means of receiving payment based on any Content posted to our Site (including without limitation payment to third parties for non-human traffic to any Content on our Site); 
• engage in any conduct which might be harmful to any individual; 
• impersonate any person or entity or falsely state or otherwise misrepresent your affiliation with a person or entity; 
• engage in or facilitate any conduct that is deemed, or found by any court or similar agency, to constitute "stalking" or otherwise harassing conduct aimed at another person or entity; 
• engage in or transmit any material that encourages conduct that could constitute a criminal offense, give rise to civil liability or otherwise violate any applicable local, state, national, or international law or regulation.

In addition, you are prohibited from interfering with or disrupting the Site, or servers or networks connected thereto. 

8. Disclaimer Regarding Accuracy of Content

Much of the Content on the Site, including without limitation User Content, has been provided by or obtained from parties other than Examiner.com. For example, content posted by "Examiners" on our Site is written solely by the Examiners (who are independent third parties, not employees of Examiner.com, and not under the control or direction of Examiner.com) and is posted to the Site by the Examiners without review by Examiner.com. Examiner.com makes no representations or warranties as to the accuracy or reliability of any Content on the Site created or provided by third parties (including without limitation Examiners). Examiner.com makes no warranties or representations whatsoever with regard to any product or service provided or offered by any vendor on the Site (including without limitation advertisers on the Site and individuals or entities placing classified advertisements on the Site) and you acknowledge that any reliance on representations and warranties provided by any party other than Examiner.com shall be at your own risk. You expressly agree to hold Examiner.com harmless for any claims of damage arising from any information, advice, product or service provided or promoted by any third party, including without limitation the Examiners.

UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED ON THIS SITE, OPINIONS EXPRESSED ON THIS SITE ARE THOSE OF INDEPENDENT THIRD PARTY "EXAMINERS" OR OTHER CONTRIBUTORS TO OUR SITE, AND NOT OF EXAMINER.COM, AND ARE NOT ENDORSED BY ANY OF THE EXAMINER.COM PARTIES. INFORMATION AVAILABLE ON THIS SITE SHOULD NOT BE SUBSTITUTED FOR PROFESSIONAL ADVICE, AND YOU ARE ADVISED TO CONSULT YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER OR OTHER PROFESSIONAL AS APPLICABLE BEFORE ENGAGING IN ANY EXERCISE PROGRAM, MEDICAL TREATMENT, DIET MODIFICATION, OR TAKING ANY OTHER COURSE OF ACTION THAT COULD POTENTIALLY IMPACT YOUR HEALTH, FINANCIAL INTERESTS, OR WELL-BEING IN ANY OTHER MANNER.

On 9/12/13, the federal shield law bill (Free Flow of Information Act of 2013, S. 987) passed through the Senate Judiciary Committee, 13-5, and it included amended language defining who is entitled to reporter’s privilege. The definition is really broad, as it should be. It includes college journalists, freelancers, bloggers (particularly those with traditional legacy media experience in the past 20 years), anyone working for a “news website” and just about anyone else gathering information and disseminating it for the public good. It specifically excludes terrorists and there is language that would exclude groups like Wikileaks.

Shield Law also vary by State.  In the map below, White indicates No Shield Law,  Green indicates "Absolute Shield law" and Blue  indicates "qualified" or Shield Law containing exceptions.  Please consult a qualified attorney in your State or Country to determine the laws applicable to your specific situation.

Hausfrau Speaks-Thank You

Thank you, Twister, Truly and Sherry! The doc told me I would see the greatest improvement this first week! I’m already seeing fewer spelling errors in my posts! YEA!!!

Each passing hour gives me a few more percentage points of vision…and each hour, I am overwhelmed with what I am able to see! As my DH says “It’s impossible for me to understand, because my vision is corrected to 20/20, I’ve never had cataracts, I’ve always had vision in both eyes!” Well, you all know my PollyAnna outlook…in a way, I’m grateful for the years that I had little vision in one eye, and no vision in the other…because, with “my eyes opened” now, I have a greater appreciation for my improved eyesight, and I have more compassion for those who are now enduring the problems like I used to have…and especially those whose vision is even less than I had! 

Sometimes it’s difficult to know exactly “why” we have been given a particular challenge to overcome…perhaps it’s only humans that have a need to understand “cause and effect” (you never hear of a beaver asking why it was HIS foot in the trap, now do you?). So, its human to have questions…and to have ANSWERS to those questions…it’s also very “human” to blame/credit our Supreme being!….I’m guessing that even the cavemen were crediting (or blaming) the Supreme Being for the challenges and often the answers, too! 

Now, don’t misunderstand…I love God…and I do my best to live the life that would make my Gramma proud of me (and God too!) One of the BIG lessons I learned as a 3rd Grader was that no matter HOW MUCH you PRAY…if you don’t study, you will still flunk the test! So, I’m not going to “blame God” for my eye issues, I’m blaming genetics (science). And I’m not planning to give ALL the credit to God for the “repair”, either! But I WILL credit the Good Lord giving my Surgeon his steady hand, and giving him a “natural talent”! And He gets credit for inspiring a researcher to think out the answer to Endothelial Dystrophy…

I KNOW *I* would NEVER, in a million years have thought up THIS thought…”I have an idea! Let’s take a razor to Ugg’s eyes (he’s dead and won’t feel it anyway) and slice off this here part, and then, we will slice off this HERE part of Uggina’s eyes and replace it with the part from Ugg! And THEN, everything will be good as new for Uggina!” Nope, I would have never have been able to think that part up…I AM grateful to be living in the 21st century, when such scientific wonders are successful…AND well within the financial affordability of most Americans.

My great grandmother had the same disease I have. Corneal transplants were being done early in the 20th Century, but Medicare was not put into law until 1965, and I cannot find what Medicare covered in 1970. But, as she was close to 85 when Medicare began, there is no way to discover if Medicare would have covered the procedure, and impossible to know if she would have been a good candidate for the transplant. If *I* had been born at ANY other time in human history, I would have just had no answer to my challenge at all. My Tribe would have left me somewhere with a “skin” of water, if I was lucky…and perhaps some dried deer or antelope meat. And they would say goodbye and left me to die…because I could not be a productive member of the tribe.

Actually, they would have probably done so long before my eyes became an issue…my degenerative spine would have kept me from trekking across desert or woodlands…

No doubt, our lives are more complicated than the lives our ancestors had. But, in many ways, they are much easier. One thing I’m positive of is “These are the good old days!”

Thanks to each of you for your words of support, encouragement and caring. My life is fuller because of you.

Hausfrau Speaks-1000 Things/Part 2-Daytona Bike Week

Dear Jodi: for your further edification, today's article is a pictorial!

Daytona Beach Bike Week, also called Daytona Bike Week, is a motorcycle event and rally held annually in Daytona Beach, Florida. Approximately 500,000 people make their way to the rally area for the 10-day event. The festivities include motorcycle racing, beauty contests, concerts, tons of parties, and street festivals. The event is usually held on the first full week of March and contends with the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally as the most popular motorcycle rally in the United States.  (Oh, and should I mention, ALCOHOL? And hot guys and hotter motor cycles?)

Boy, this is one event that you would have loved to attend!  No singing...but being the exhibitionist you are...I just KNOW you would have LOVED sharing your $300 boob job to everyone!  Bike week is like a nationwide slut convention! (But that's ok, you only "dabbled" in Mormonism, and I think that little "murder" thing probably sent you to Hell anyway, so, no big "whoop" if you know what I mean!)

You know, I MUST ask...are you REALLY sure that you did the right thing now?  If you had just turned and walked away....

Well, enjoy the photos!  I'll be back next time with something I'm SURE you will enjoy!

 

Hausfrau Speaks-Part 1, 1000 To See

Dear Inmate 458434:

This is just one of the 1000 Places To See Before You Die--that you won't...sorry....

From page 327-328 :
In 1565, Spanish conquistadors arrived in "La Florida" and established a settlement known as St. Augustine. The Spanish remained in control of the area until 1763, then regained it after the American Revolution, and finally sold it to the United States permanently in 1821.

The historic part of the city contains approximately 60 buildings dating as far back as the 16th century. Many of these buildings are made of coquina, a type of masonry made of sand, shells, and water. It made a very strong and durable construction material, enough so that the Spanish fort Castillo de San Marcos withstood many attacks without sustaining any damage.

I think it is very sad that you will never get to see this beautiful lighthouse and the beautiful little town of St. Augustine!  Life could have been so much easier for you.  All you had to do was turn, and walk away when he said he would never marry you!  I cannot help but ask,,,was it worth it?  Was it worth the rest of your life to insure he would never love anyone else?  No, he will never love another woman.  But he never felt hated,  like you do.

He will never be forced to sleep on a two inch vinyl covered mattress with his head mere inches from the toilet. His fear of dying lasted only a few horrific, mind numbing minutes.  You will fear for your life every minute of every day for the rest of your miserable life!  Oh, you are all smiles over a Hershey bar now, enjoying your video chats with the minions...but this is your last "huzzah!", my little prison pen-pal!  You will be in with the big 

girls in about 30 days, and maybe in your first REAL prison strip search, you will discover that you are nothing more than a murderer.

So, enjoy the picture!  I shall ask my friends if they live near one of your "beloved" 1000 places to see...and we will make a little notebook called Inmate 458434's 10,000 Places She'll Never See!  You will discover that at Perryville, no one will care about your name, you will be nothing but a number.  Every prisoner there knows the enormous sums of money your "fancy" (read:slimy) lawyers soaked the system for.  These are the same women who didn't have enough money or press attention to get the treatment you got.  Most of them pleaded out, took the best deal they could get.  Some are guiltier than sin; like Angela Simpson...some, I would bet are as innocent as newly fallen snow, and perhaps one day, if they manage to survive, will be exonerated.  You will need good luck.  I hope you have someone praying for you!

Hausfrau Speaks-I Love Arpiao!

Way to go Sheriff Joe! 


Maricopa County, AZ) Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, citing various violations of jail video visitation policies, today is banning ten (10) of inmate Jodi Arias’ most regular visitors.

The ten are not only regular visitors to the high profile inmate but are also responsible for assisting Arias in her prolific use of social media.

Arpaio says the ten visitors who no longer can visit with Arias are being banned for violations such as using cell phones for photographic purposes and/or using other people’s names/accounts in order to gain access to Arias. One of those being banned is a video visitor from Greece. He is using a false ID to gain access to her.

One person on the banned list, for example, is a convicted felon who circumvented the video visitation system by using another person’s name.

Arpaio says he may expand the ban to of all non-legal video visits to Arias because of some information that has come to light from his jail Intel/monitoring team. The team reported to Arpaio that recently parents of two 15 year old girls from Ohio caught the girls video visiting Arias for no reason other than their fixation with the 
high profile inmate. The parents prohibited the girls from continuing contact with her. 
Now Arias has been seen by Jail Intel officials instructing the 15 year olds as to how to get false IDs in order to continue the visits. 

"In her thirst for adoration and attention, Arias is willing to corrupt these young girls, 
all to satisfy her own narcissism. That needs to stop,” Arpaio says. 

It's too bad I don't live in Arizona...I would vote for Joe Arpiao for Sheriff....and anyone BUT Stevens for Judge!

I've always loved a man with a set of huge Huevos, Joe!  Congratulations, you've made many of us happy!  That INMATE is a MURDERER...NOT A HOLLYWOOD STARLET.  (She wasn't even a very good waitress!)

As always, comments appreciated and answered!

Hausfrau Speaks-Visit to Death Row (Part 2)

Visit to Death Row, Part 2

After corresponding with Toney for almost a year, and reading his desire to have a visitor for so long, I filed the paperwork, passed the background check, and decided to go visit.

I looked Toney up on the Internet, just to see if there was a photo.  As I suspected, there was.  I already knew to expect a black man, so the photo was no big surprise.  He would be considered nice looking, medium tone skin, short black hair dark brown eyes.  He wasn't smiling, and the photo was just head and shoulders, so I had no idea how tall or large he was.  I had my first panic attack then.  Writing a letter is one thing, but going to visit a murderer?  Mama, what the hell are you thinking?

I wrote to Toney, and said I would come to visit on Saturday.  And, as the day got nearer, I began having panic attacks...then, I would talk myself down...after all, I was meeting him within a PRISON...NOT in a dark alley!  I said I would do this and I was adamant that I would keep my word!

You may remember that my dad was in the Navy.  Because of that, and the issue with my biological egg-donor, my sister and I moved frequently.  We also changed schools several times due to "bussing" laws.  The experience of constantly changing school districts, attending new schools, meeting new friends and adapting to new environments has actually served me well over my lifetime.  In reality, I am a very shy person, but I learned how to outwardly APPEAR calm, cool and collected, but my natural shyness is something I have always had to work at to overcome!  I learned pretty quickly that IF I ALLOWED my insecurities and fright to rule me, that I would NEVER have friends.   I just APPEAR to be much more confident than I really am!

So, when Saturday rolled around, I showered slowly (procrastinating), ate a little breakfast, kissed my dear husband and got into my car and started my adventure.

Te first 00-150 miles of the area along I-10 between Jacksonville and Tallahassee is just flat, barely inhabited farm land.  Raiford is located in Butler County and its economy is dependent on agriculture, timber and the prison complex.  The total population of Butler County (2000) was approximately 15,000 people; Raiford had approximately 190 residents living in fewer than 80 homes. The prison at Raiford is just 60 miles from my home, about 90 minutes.

Raiford is the home of Union Correctional Institution (UCI), and Florida State Prison (FSP).  The two separate institutions were originally one. UCI was the state's first prison, and was originally called Florida State Prison, the name going with the newer institution when the two were split. Both institutions house inmates in Death Row facilities. FSP conducts all executions, while most death row inmates are housed at UCI. UCI has the most diverse population of any correctional institution in the state, with close management inmates and psych inmates as well as open population inmates. Most of the latter are age fifty and over. FSP houses the violent and criminally insane, all in solitary confinement. The penitentiary compound encompasses over fifty acres and includes a farm where much food is grown that feeds inmates. The prison is the subject of the Lynyrd Skynyrd song "Four Wall of Raiford" This prison was shown in an episode of the 1960s TV program "The Fugitive".  With my luck, being what it was that day, I started at the WRONG prison, unaware that TWO prisons were on that road, so back into the car and down the road for another 3/10ths mile!  (FSP accommodates 1400 inmates, UCI accommodates 2172, and as if 2/25/15, 393 are on Death Row which includes 5 women) (In)Famous inmates (E) executed or (D) died prior to execution were: Ted Bundy (E), Eileen Wournos (E), John Couey (D) and Otis Toole (D) were all inmates at UCI/FSP complex.

The drive from the house up to I-10 was a little hectic; Jacksonville suffers the same infrastructure issues as most large cities, widening the freeway, adding egress ramps, and merging freeways even on a Saturday morning slows progress.  But once I was on I-10, the miles just zipped by.  I had way too long to think, though, and I had a good case of nerves by the time I got to the Raiford exit.  My GPS took me the LONG way, of course...out an old farm-to-market road, where the speed limit was 35-40, instead of 65.

Finally, I arrived at UCI, where Toney was housed. And then, went thru the lengthy protocol to actually get INTO the visiting room...we pick up there...

I opened the door when I heard the entry buzzer, and stepped into a room approximately 50 feet wide by 70 feet long.  To the immediate right were two COs, male and female.  I stepped over to the desk, and showed my credentials, and the officer told me that he would have the inmate brought out.  During that first visit, it was almost a shock to hear "inmate" so often.  You become accustomed in real life to "Mr, Jones" or "Toney", but it seemed that at every opportunity, the COs and staff make a point of using "inmate" as a proper pronoun!  There were several boxes of playing cards on the COs desk, and I asked if I could "borrow" them until my "inmate" arrived, and of course, I was granted that.  So, I took the cards in hand and glanced around the room.

Along the right wall was a "Concessions" window, next to that, a table with a microwave, some weird little sporks, and condiments, and on either side of the concessions window, a uni-sex water-closet! (Which I VOWED not to use!). On the far side of the room were two soda machines and a machine that dispensed bottled water.  On the left side of the room were big windows, but the "view" was only the backside of another building, but sunshine was nice!  The middle of the room was filled with stainless steel tables bolted to the floor, and 4 stainless steel stools about 12 inches in diameter.  Boy! Those things were COLD on my bootie! Each table was numbered, so I went to the table I had been assigned to, and tried to look around without looking like Mrs. Farmer Brown Just Come to Town!  There were probably 20 tables in the room, and only 5 were occupied.  One table was occupied by a Jewish couple.  There was one table with a black inmate and a younger white lady, and the rest were white couples and one couple with a young child.  Toney later told me that culturally, white families tend to come and visit, black families generally do not.

As I sat at my table, trying not to watch others in the room...occasionally a man dressed in his prison uniform would step thru a door I hadn't noticed, next to the men's room.  I would look up, expectantly, and check if the person coming into the room was Toney.  Even tho I had tried to memorize the face in the picture on the web page, I hadn't done a very good job.  Everyone and no one looked like him!  Some were obvious, white inmates, Jewish inmates, corrections officers...I was starting to feel like I was sitting at the bar of Denim & Diamonds circa 1985, hoping some cowboy would ask me to do a little "boot-scooting"...

FINALLY...he came thru the door...(and I was already ready to go home)...I stood up and gave him a quick, light hug...then we both sat down.  He told me that he didn't remember the last time he had been hugged.  I kinda felt sorry for him actually...

It was probably 12:30 or 12:45 by the time he entered the room.  I asked if he had lunch yet, and he said he had, but he was still hungry.  So, I bought us some sodas out of the machine as he stood in the canteen line.  When I joined him in line I noticed that the two best sellers at the window were "honey buns" and "hot dogs"...either way, they were nuked in the microwave...it was one of those box contraptions that has a dial timer on it, not digital, so you aren't sure if the 2 minutes was really 2 minutes or 10!  Everything came out of the micro the same: over-cooked!  Hot dogs were either exploded or more wrinkled than Grampa's....never mind...pretty cooked, anyway!  The "honey buns" seemed to be swimming in yellow stuff, which I assumed to be margarine.  Toney chose a honey bun and peanut butter cookies, I selected a container of carrots and celery.  (No wonder all these guys have diabetes and colon issues!  None if them EAT right!)

My ability to talk to almost anyone came in handy that day.  (only my dear MIL, may she RIP, has hated my guts before even learning my name, but as gramma told grampa when his jack-ass kicked him "consider the source!")  We talked about the Arias trial for a good while.  I found it interesting that men on death row thought JODI should get the Death Penalty!!  The opportunities for recreation on DR are limited, to say the least.  Toney must attend 8-10 "counts" every day, but other than that, and his 3 per week shower and 3 per week "rec"-- from 4:30 am to 9:30 pm, his time is unstructured.  He works on his appeal, writes letters, (he has several pen pals, but I'm his "favorite"! (Want to buy land in Florida?))  read books (1 per week), clean his cell, exercise and "chat" with the fellows in the next cell or with the "good" COs and watch TV!  The channels they receive are limited.  But do you remember when Court TV went off the air, the slack was picked up by HLN?  They didn't get Court TV, but DID get HLN!  So most of them, like us, the trial was the topic for every one!

We talked about his family, we talked about Jacksonville, we talked about 10 or 15 different topics. Mostly, he wanted to know about the world outside. He was amazed that 60" TVs exist, he's never been on "the Internet", never wasted the afternoon with a PlayStation or Wii....it was almost like revealing the world to a newly discovered tribe that had no idea that the rest of the world existed!

At 2:30, I told him that I wanted to beat the rush out...so I gathered my trash, gave him a brief hug and we said goodbye.

Leaving the visiting room was very similar, going thru the maze of fences, checking out, an inventory of my glasses, keys, and jewelry.  Waiting in front of gates, listening for buzzers, etc.

I had no thoughts about whether I was affected or not...until I stepped through that last gate and into "freedom"...it was the very same outside air on THIS side of the fence as the outside air on THAT side of the fence...so why did it smell "cleaner"?  As I walked to my car, I noticed that there were not as many cars parked in the lot as when I arrived, yet I hadn't noticed anyone leaving the visiting room. The "beep-beep" of the car's security system was reassuring in an odd way...I got into the car and started the engine, put the A/C on high and backed out of the space and headed for the entrance.  I didn't understand why *I* was feeling anxious! As my dad used to say "I'm free and 21!"!

A sense of relief came over me as I pulled out on the highway, and began my drive home. Thousands of thoughts swirled through my head.  I had a 100 questions I wanted to ask Toney, but, I wasn't sure I wanted the answers, and in a way, the questions seemed almost "rude".  I am the one and only person in the world that doesn't call him 300807, I'm the only person who sees him not as an inmate, but a man.  That is almost a "gift" isn't it?  Why ruin it?

I also had a lot of thoughts about Arias.  I wondered how many of her "supporters" would still be interested in her if they knew nothing of her crime?  Many are just "contrarians", what ever everyone else believes, they will take the opposite side.

Unlike Toney, who isn't "notorious", Arias has no anonymity.  Wherever she goes, she's known to be the murderer of Travis Alexander.  She's 90% murderer and 10% everything else, Toney, on the other hand, yes, is incarcerated...but people don't know his crime first.  I was able to see the other parts that make up the man. 

Let's say you had to opportunity to sit and talk with Arias...what would you have to ask about, other than how she murdered Travis? Her tracings would take about a minute, and everything else would take about two minutes.  Overall, she's not very interesting, and the only thing she has ever been successful at accomplishing is...yes....killing Travis Alexander...

That little girl voice she uses would Make me want to knock her block off!!  I've noticed in her letters, everything is me, me, me, I, I. I...Toney's letters rarely talk about himself...I have to drag information out of him...and he has tons of questions!

All of these thoughts, and more swirled through my head all the way home....finally, as I drove up to our home, a peace came over me.  I parked the car in the garage, went inside...petted Boo, who is not used to Mama being gone THAT long...then went up to my dear husband's office.

I was overwhelmed with the love I have for him.  He has not once raised his voice, not even a sharp "NO!" To Boo when he is being naughty.  I've never seen him angry.  Yes, he's kinda a "crusty old fart" on the outside, but he's a big old marshmallow on the inside.  Always "there" when I need a hug, always there for anything I need.  Always level-headed, thoughtful and compassionate.  Always supportive in whatever project I'm working on. 

It was easy to forget Union Correctional Institution, Toney and yes, even the Arias trial when my dear husband stood up and walked over to me...and just hugged me and held me close.  No words were necessary.  He would ask questions later...right then, he knew I just need him to hold me, and reassure me that all was well in my world.


FLORIDA STATISTICS
Statistics:  longest on Death Row: Freddie Hall DOB:7/21/45. Received: 12/24/68
Oldest in DR: Nelson Serrano DOB:9/15/38 Received: 6/26/2007
Approximately 177 inmates have been on death row prior to 1996

Women on death row in Florida:
Tiffany Cole. DOB:12/3/81 R:3/7/08        Double murder/buried couple alive
Amelia Carr. DOB: 8/4/84. R:2/23/11.      Murdered BFs x-wife/duct taped to chair,suffocated
Margaret Allen. DOB: 1/26/66.R5/19/11  Tortured housekeeper for hours before murdering her
Ana M. Cardona D:11/26/61.R:7/12/11   Tortured/murdered 3-year old son-Baby Lollipop
Tina Brown B:7/19/70. R:10/3/12             Beat V w/stungun, tire iron & set on fire-2 weeks to die


NOTES:  Current status of State Executions:
Executions in Florida are currently STAYED to allow time for the U.S. Supreme Court to hear a case challenging Oklahoma's lethal injection protocols. (Florida uses the same lethal injection protocol as Oklahoma)

#On February 13, 2015, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf issued a memorandum announcing a moratorium on all executiions in the state. The memo stated that no executions will take place at least until he has "received and reviewed the forthcoming report of the Pennsylvania Task Force and Advisory Commission on Capital Punishment."  

^On January 30, 2015, the Ohio State Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections announced that it would postpone all of the six executions scheduled in 2015 to that point. All of these executions would be scheduled in 2016 to allow time for the state to obtain new drugs for lethal injections. The new drugs that Ohio announced it would be trying to obtain were sodium thiopental and pentobarbital.

†UPDATE: The U.S. Supreme Court issued a stay on January 28, 2015. On January 26, 2015, the Oklahoma state Attorney General Scott Pruitt asked the United States Supreme Court to stay all executions scheduled to that point. The four inmates on Oklahoma's death row sued the state on the grounds that the lethal injection protocol violated the Eighth Amendment. On  January 23, 2015, the US Supreme Court agreed to hear the case brought forth by the inmates. Pruitt requested the stays to allow the Supreme Court to hear the case and reach a decision regarding the constitutionality of Oklahoma's lethal injection protocol. 

*On September 9, 2014, the Ohio State Department of Rehabilitation Corrections revised its execution schedule for all death sentences previously scheduled from March 2014 and beyond. This was done in order to comply with the August 6, 2014 Federal Court ruling that no executions could be carried out until at least January 2015. The court  imposed this moratorium in order to compel a review of Ohio's lethal injection protocol.