text:
In OZ ~ A caring and sharing problem
CAROL NADER
IT READS like a script for any relationship destroyed by violence. Their time together was volatile. He was controlling and manipulative. She felt powerless to do anything whenever he exploded into an alcohol-fuelled rage. And when she finally found the strength to walk away, he breached a series of intervention orders, heightening her anxiety.
In her affidavit, the woman cites a litany of incidents, sometimes witnessed by their young children. She claims that he threw her down the stairs. That he punched her when she was pregnant. That he verbally abused her. Her former partner, in his own affidavit, does not deny that he had been violent. But he says he has never directed any aggression towards the children. He says he has tried to make improvements to his life. And all he wants now is to spend time with his kids. Their mother is terrified by the prospect of the children being with their father without the safety of supervision. So she fights it.
It is a story that can be adapted to apply to almost any family in the throes of severe conflict. In years past these battles would have gone from the family home directly to the courtroom. But since 2007, the law has required separating couples who can't agree to their own parenting arrangements to at least try mediation first. For some, the conflict is so entrenched that this proves impossible. Such as this couple, for instance, who were given a certificate declaring that they were not suitable for mediation, effectively giving them the green light to continue their argument in the Family Court.
For the vast majority of couples, it never gets to this. Most people who separate can work out their own arrangements congenially - or at least civilly. In the past, cases that ended up in court tended to grant primary care to mothers, and fathers would usually get alternate weekends. But the law now requires the court to consider shared parental responsibility, if it is appropriate. This may include some kind of shared care arrangement.
This law and the mandatory mediation requirement were introduced by former prime minister John Howard, who spoke of a generation of children being raised ''fatherless''. The changes, along with other parts of the family law system, are now under review. The Australian Institute of Family Studies is near the end of an evaluation of the Howard amendments. Attorney-General Robert McClelland recently announced two more reviews. One, being led by former Family Court judge Professor Richard Chisholm, will look at the way the court responds to allegations of family violence. And the Australian Law Reform Commission is developing a national legal framework to tackle family violence that will include how state family violence and child protection laws interact with federal family laws.
These issues are complex and emotive and never black and white. The Howard changes came after groups representing fathers fiercely lobbied his government for a better deal. At the same time, societal expectations had changed, spawned by a strong belief that fathers should be encouraged to play a significant role in their children's lives. Occasionally, tug-of-war stories emerge that have a tragic ending. When McClelland announced the reviews, he singled out the horrific case of the father accused of throwing his daughter over the West Gate Bridge in January.
There is near universal agreement, at least, that it is best for people, where possible, to stay out of the adversarial court system. And the early signs are that forced mediation might be contributing to a reduction in people going to court. The Age reported last week that the number of applications for court orders over parenting and property matters had its biggest decline in the year mediation was enforced - from 20,350 in 2006-07 to 17,265 in 2007-08. Dr Matthew Gray, deputy director of the Australian Institute of Family Studies, who is involved in the evaluation of the Howard changes, says the intention of the legislation wasn't necessarily to reduce the numbers of people going to court, but to ensure that the kinds of families ending up in court are those that really need to be there. ''The real question is, are people taking appropriate pathways through the system?''
Underpinning all of this has to be that parents are acting in the best interests of their children, instead of using their children as weapons. But much of the research suggests that where there is a high level of conflict between parents, a shared care arrangement can be damaging for children. Retired Family Court judge John Fogarty believes dividing care between parents - whether it's a 50-50 split or 60-40 - is very problematic when there is high conflict. ''It creates a totally artificial situation where children are split between two families, which can only work if those two families are very co-operative,'' he says. ''It builds up a great deal of tension and unfortunately some men respond to that by becoming violent and aggressive.''
WHERE it can work, Fogarty says, is when separated parents get along and live in reasonably close proximity so that children can go to the same school, the same doctor and have the same friends. ''Once you shift the barometer too far towards the centre, then you are going to have all these troubles unless the parents are co-operative, in which case they don't need the court and will work it out themselves.''
Part of the problem also stems from how the legislation is interpreted. When the law first came in, it raised the expectations of fathers that they were going to get equal care of their children. But, says Stephen Winspear, the chairman of the family law section of the Law Institute of Victoria, shared responsibility is about decision-making, and does not necessarily mandate shared care. If the court decides that shared responsibility is appropriate, then it can consider whether shared care is too. Family Court figures show that the court awards a 50-50 time split in just 15 per cent of contested cases, with mothers still getting most of the primary care. And Winspear says he does not know of any cases in which the court has granted equal shared care where there is a high risk of abuse. In one recent ruling, a judge gave a woman and her two young children permission to change their identities and effectively go into hiding to escape her ''violent, abusive and controlling'' former partner.
But the court does grant access in some cases where allegations of violence have been made. This month, a mother who alleged that she was subjected to physical, sexual, verbal and emotional abuse by her ex-husband fought in court for him to not have any access to their son. The court found there were ''serious inconsistencies'' in her story and granted access to the father on weekends and school holidays.
Whether there is any connection between the presumption of shared parenting and family violence will be considered as part of Chisholm's review. Chisholm has previously told The Age that he will also look at whether parents are being pushed to sign consent orders. Fogarty believes that in some cases there is pressure behind the scenes to sign - pressure that judges aren't aware of. ''A major reason for it is some lawyers will say to their female client, 'If you don't agree and it goes to court, the judge may order 50-50', and that will be worse than what they're currently proposing,'' he says. ''And so they're drawn into accepting something that they know is wrong, but they're led to believe that it will be the lesser of two evils, and of course it may be.''
Which brings us back to the first woman in this story. She claims that she was pressured into signing a consent order agreeing to give the father unsupervised access and, eventually, overnight access. She says that the children's independent lawyer, and even her own barrister, led her to believe that if she did not consent the court would make her move back to the suburb from which she had fled to escape her former partner. ''I was put in a horrible position,'' she says now. Each time the father has his unsupervised time with the children, she worries that he may harm them. ''If I can take it back to court, I'll try,'' she says.
Family violence is also an issue in many of the cases that are settled outside of court, through mediation, whether at a government-funded family relationship centre or another service. But it is still possible to reach an agreement. Francesca Gerner, manager of post-separation services at Centacare, which is involved in running family relationship centres in Ballarat, Shepparton and Geelong, says ''family violence issues'' affect many of the couples seen, because the definition in Victoria of family violence is so broad, including emotional, psychological and even economic abuse. There are parents who come to mediation armed with intervention orders - sometimes against each other.
Despite this, some couples are still willing to engage in the process in good faith. Arrangements can be made for supervised access, or for the handover of children to take place at a venue where the parents don't have to see each other. But what of those who are beyond talking to each other?
Professor John Zeleznikow, from the Laboratory of Decision Support and Dispute Management at Victoria University, says forcing couples who are unwilling and unable to mediate just prolongs the agony all round. Voluntary mediation should be encouraged, he says, but there should be no compulsion. ''All they are doing is going through mediation as a sham because eventually they want their day in court,'' he says.
Those who favour mediation believe that a pilot, soon to start, that will allow lawyers to get involved in the mediation process might dissuade parents from turning to court to make a decision for them. ''There are times in mediation you get to a point where one party won't move,'' says Kath Barry, manager of the Broadmeadows family relationship centre. ''That party often thinks they're going to get a better deal in court.'' But lawyers, she says, might provide a reality check.
WITH the system under unprecedented scrutiny, there are fears from those who pushed for a better deal for fathers that the current reviews will go against them. Lindsay Jackel, from the Shared Parenting Council of Australia, was among those who lobbied the Howard government. He accepts that violence is an issue in some cases. But he believes that allegations of violence can sometimes be used as a tactic by mothers to diminish the time fathers have with their children. ''We sometimes in our group will ask not who has had an intervention order, but who hasn't?'' he says.
But the National Council for Children Post-Separation is pushing for immediate change, and says children are at risk whenever they are placed with a parent - either a mother or father - who has a history of violence or abuse.
Jackel points out that there have been cases where mothers have committed violent acts against their children. Like the case of the woman who jumped off a bridge with her child last year, because she feared she would lose custody.
Parenting battles that end in this tragic way are almost impossible to anticipate. Stephen Winspear says it is hard to predict how severely distressed people are going to behave in a stressful and emotional situation. ''These cases are all involving people who snap in a way that's completely unpredictable,'' he says. ''With the fickle nature of human nature and the sheer numbers involved, there will always be the occasional tragedy. It's absolutely impossible to guarantee protection in every case.''
- The presumption of shared parental responsibility and whether shared care is appropriate.
- The requirement to mediate before going to the Family Court.
- The Family Court's response to allegations of family violence.
- The interaction of federal family laws with state child protection and family violence laws.
Carol Nader is social policy editor.
http://www.theage.com.au/national/a-caring-and-sharing-problem-20090828-f2ju.html
Labels: 50/50 shared parenting, Australia
Domestic abuse law blasted
Interesting how this is only news when it happens to a female but it is an everyday event for a man. Look at the smile on Epstein's face. That man has no idea of the misery created by his involvement in a process that has ruined so many men's lives and families. To add insult to injury they interview Peter Jaffe again another promulgator of skewed and scientifically suspect feminist statistics. MJM
TONY BOCK/TORONTO STAR FILE PHOTO
Philip Epstein, a well-respected family law expert who helped draft Ontario's so-called "duty to report" policy on domestic violence 30 years ago, now says it needs a review and better use of discretion. (Jan. 9, 2008)
Authorities 'overreact' as warring couples use zero-tolerance rule to gain upper hand, lawyer says
Comments on this story (53)
Susan Pigg
Living Reporter
Ontario's "zero tolerance" policy on domestic violence has come into question following an unusual court case involving an Orangeville-area woman who was charged with assault after joking in emails that she could solve her marital problems with a gun, if only she could get one.
Alison Shaw, 40, was forced out of her home and ordered to stay away from her three children after her estranged husband claimed to have been "frightened" by the online missive, which followed what a judge described as a "one-punch bar fight" over a month earlier in an area Legion hall.
The ruling is unusual on two fronts:
It's a twist on what men's rights groups claim divorcing fathers have been suffering for years at the hands of police and the criminal court system. And it's creating buzz in legal circles because a well-respected family law expert who helped draft Ontario's so-called "duty to report" policy 30 years ago now says it needs a review and better use of discretion.
"This is a gross overreaction by the Crown and by the police in response to what they thought is the zero-tolerance rule," says Philip Epstein, a veteran divorce lawyer who sat on the committee that crafted the 1979 directive.
"We know so much more about domestic abuse now than we did back then. It's time to re-examine the policy and create some limited discretion for the police and Crown attorneys to deal with this problem," he said.
Criticism of Shaw's treatment first arose more than a year ago in a family law decision from Ontario Court Justice Bruce Pugsley, who said it's "commonplace" for the criminal justice system to be manipulated by estranged spouses claiming abuse, "no matter how remote the assault may be in time or, indeed, how trivial the contact."
Epstein has highlighted the decision – and his concerns – in the recently released Reports of Family Law, a critique of interesting or unusual family law judgments. He and other lawyers have praised Pugsley as being the first judge to so clearly tackle the thorny issue of how some warring couples use the criminal courts to get custody of their children and gain the upper hand in divorce cases.
The way such allegations are handled by police and Crown attorneys can have "the disruptive force of a hand grenade" for families, Pugsley said, setting in motion a chain of events that can wreak "havoc" on children.
Shaw's treatment was fairly typical: She had no criminal record, was charged and held in jail overnight until she could post $5,000 bail, and ordered to stay away from her home and kids "without any regard for children's best interests," the judge said. Her bail conditions also restricted her from using the Internet.
"This is not for one moment to diminish the impact of spousal abuse on family members and children in
Canada," said Pugsley, a point Epstein also stresses. But "the events after the arrest of Ms. Shaw do not, in retrospect, show the police, the Crown, counsel or the criminal judicial system in a good light."
Shaw and her husband, Stephen, were estranged, but still living in the same house, when he hacked into her computer in late 2007 looking for evidence of an affair. Instead, he found what Pugsley described as "vile language" and "gossipy joking" in an email to a girlfriend that talked about "solving her matrimonial problems with a gun, if she could only get one."
The husband reported them to police, as well as an incident over a month earlier in a bar in which she is alleged to have punched him. He returned to ask police to lay a charge of assault after meeting with a lawyer.
"I can only hope that no licensed lawyer in this province would have advised the father that the fastest way to get custody and exclusive possession of the family home was to report the mother's transgressions to the police," Pugsley said in his ruling.
While Epstein says false or trumped-up allegations are rare, and domestic abuse remains a "very, very serious and real issue," they can unfairly cripple an accused legally and financially because Ontario's court system is so slow and overburdened.
He added the legal aid system is so cash-strapped, it can take eight months to a year for a criminal case to be decided.
During much of that time, the parent has no access to their children. (Pugsley moved quickly to give Shaw 50/50 access to her kids on alternating weeks.)
Epstein had one case where a wife alleged abuse and then started clearing valuables out of the house while her husband awaited a bail hearing. Some men have started fighting back, says one lawyer whose female client is being threatened with a $250,000 wrongful prosecution suit by her ex-husband.
Domestic violence experts such as University of Western Ontario professor Peter Jaffe says the research is clear on what constitutes domestic abuse, but more training of police and Crown attorneys is needed. In fact, they point to what they consider a far more worrisome trend: Police who are simply throwing up their hands, charging both partners, and leaving it up to judges to sort it all out.
"The number-one problem in 2009 isn't minor allegations that are blown out of proportion or the potential for false allegations. The number-one problem in Ontario in 2009 is that there are still 30 to 35 domestic homicides a year and that so many people are being abused and not seeking help," says Jaffe.
Revenge not a divorce
As so often happens the police and Crown given power abuse power. The idea behind the domestic abuse directive is good but like any directive that doesn't give leeway to those responsible for caring it out there is room for abuse of the process and as often happens the abusers say they are following orders. Women have used this as a weapon so often that innocent men have been charged with everything from sexual assault to threatening for nothing more than the fantasy in the women's mind. Lives have been ruined and careers destroyed and I have written this before. Lawyers are at fault often as are policemen. The real fault lies with women who want revenge and not a divorce.
Submitted by HRHFHM at 7:36 AM Friday, August 28 2009
Agree 19
Alert a Moderator
A joke!
This zero tolerance policy has been abused for years. Women have for years used such flimsy evidence to get custody of their children. What is news here is that a guy is using the system for his advantage. Maybe now the rules will be changed - its high time!
Submitted by Turners at 7:33 AM Friday, August 28 2009
Well...isn't that interesting...
Too bad there's a whole industry to protect...Equality and proper investigation before laying charges are major detriments to the divorce and domestic violence industries...
Submitted by VanGrungy at 7:32 AM Friday, August 28 2009
Shame on these people...
for clouding such an important issue with frivolous claims in order to gain the upper hand against their former partners. Meanwhile there are very real and valid cases of domestic abuse where women's (and men's, I'm sure) lives are legitimately in danger. Fighting at the legion - very classy.
Submitted by svanzijl at 7:27 AM Friday, August 28 2009
Bull...
There are few cases of false reports and allegations of abuse? That is bS and a lie, it happens all the time.
Submitted by allison1957 at 7:21 AM Friday, August 28 2009
This zero tolerance situation ordered for law enforcement has created a climate as discribed in this article, however I believe the article downplays the abuse over the years. The criminal courts have become a tool for custody and support issues. The hands of the police & crown's are tied. Men have been at the short end of this stick for years, they lose custody of their kids and pay support in a highly disproportionate number compared to women. The fact that this one case involving a woman being the accused causes the story to be reported is really quite sad on two parts. One, this is clearly a abuse of the system by the husband. Two, it takes a woman getting the short end of the stick for there to be any action or outcry on this matter.
Submitted by Bosco at 9:44 AM Friday, August 28 2009
Unbeleivable, it's taken a case against a woman for someone to stand up and state the system is a joke. Meanwhile the province is littered with destroyed families and fathers with zero involvement in their kid's lives. I guess when spousal support, child support and false abuse allegations begin to effect the mother's life, the laws will change...it would be comical if it weren't so tragic, but certainly predictable.
Submitted by MensRightsNow at 9:43 AM Friday, August 28 2009
This "zero-tolerance" stuff is a wicked joke. Hard to find someone that doesnt know a man that had his life destroyed by a woman's lie these days. I was charged with rape last year and had my life destroyed only because a woman said I raped her. in the end, during the trial, the judge concluded that the "victim' was a compulsive lier, and the police never ever had enough evidence to charge me. I also have a freind that was stabbed by his bipolar wife, and get this, HE WENT TO JAIL!!!!!Until these laws are fixed may I suggest males keep away from woman. Love is great but the court system is HELL!!!
Submitted by NOTGUILTY at 9:38 AM Friday, August 28 2009
not funny
It's never "funny" to say you'll solve the problem with a gun. She's getting what she deserves. Live and learn.
Submitted by aplysia at 9:34 AM Friday, August 28 2009
Zero tolerance? No such thing. My dayghter had her fingers sprained and hand broken by her husband when he repeatedly slammed the door holding her hand in the door jam. She called the cops. Their reaction was that it was his house, even though he had invited her over to talk when the assault happened, they would not charge him. Zero tollerance, yea, right.
Submitted by suzzi at 9:27 AM Friday, August 28 2009
Disagree 10
The legal Industry
"trumped-up allegations are rare"? Oh, come on. As the judge said... "it's commonplace for the criminal justice system to be manipulated by estranged spouses". Law is a very biased game in Ontario. Want Justice? You better have the money to pay for it. Chief Justice Winkler voiced his concerns last year about the cost of justice in Ontario."civil justice system that fails to be accessible to many". The family law industry requires a complete overhaul in Ontario.
Submitted by Industrialguy at 8:10 AM Friday, August 28 2009
Spousal abuse is serious
I completely agree that there should be zero tolerance with SPOUSAL ABUSE, but there should also be ZERO tolerance when a spouse falsely accuses the other with abuse. To me, that is also a form of abuse. I have unfortunately witnessed divorcing couples use this tactic exactly how this article described. When the charges are proved bogus (at great expense to the wrongly accused and the justice system)the damage has already been done. These accusers should be dealt with as severely as the "alleged" abuser.
Submitted by WeeOne at 7:48 AM Friday, August 28 2009
Had a man sent such an email in similar circumstances, saying similar things, they would have thrown the book at him and no one would have batted an eye.
Submitted by tbo at 7:47 AM Friday, August 28 2009
Interesting Timing
I find it indicative of the way in which the sexist doctrine of the militant man-hating martriarchal fiminists of the 1980's still dominates much of our thinking in this area that no problem was recognized until it was a women who was victimized. The fact that a whole generation of men were treated unfairly never seemed to matter.
Submitted by Gandalf at 7:44 AM Friday, August 28 2009
Judge Pugsley is living in another world
if he thinks lawyers don't advise their client to seek charges to gain custody or get a leg up in a divorce settlement. Zero tolerance has helped scores of women get out of abusive situations but you can't suddenly say the police and crown are over reacting if they follow that set policy. Mr. Epstein you can't such and blow at the same time.
Submitted by Maxbear at 7:44 AM Friday, August 28 2009
NEVER - EVER any excuse
With all the cases where one spouse has assaulted the other, or been caught trying to hire someone to, there can be no tolerance for any statements that can possbly be taken for a threat. The right thing was done here.
Submitted by WJM at 7:41 AM Friday, August 28 2009
About times a voice of reason
The amount of power given to police officers and the crown by this legislation extrapolates the individual rights provided by the charter. I had a similar experience once and if I had the financial means I would have fought it all the way to the supreme court. It is about time to fight against overzealous Crown Attorneys, untrained police officers and a tyrannical and oppressive system. I hope pressure mounts to knock down this legislation that has impacted negatively so many families.
Submitted by Mark K. at 7:36 AM Friday, August 28 2009
Interesting that a man "uses the system"
I totally agree with "WeeOne". I can only imagine who the individuals are that DON'T agree with WeeOne's statement, "I completely agree that there should be zero tolerance with SPOUSAL ABUSE, but there should also be ZERO tolerance when a spouse falsely accuses the other with abuse. To me, that is also a form of abuse." Unfortunately, even ZERO tollerance could not repair the damage done to the children after false allegations are made.
Submitted by Itsallcovered at 10:11 AM Friday, August 28 2009
So hard to quantify abuse
I had a boyfriend who used to manipulate me and yell and scream, and then when I reacted and got angry, he would call the cops and tell them that I was the instigator. It was a hard thing to deal with, because he was a master manipulator, and I am lucky that I didn't get carted away. I applaud those who are looking to modernize the laws, but I think there is a lot of training that needs to be done so that the police have a real understanding of what is possible. Abuse isn't just threats and hitting. It took me a long time to understand myself that I was being abused. The police were unable (or possibly unwilling - I am unclear which) to assist me because there was no clear way I could state my case to make them understand what had happened. I can see where other commenters are coming from with regard to the issue being brought to light by the fact that a woman is being accused, but should we not just be glad that it is being reviewed at all???
Submitted by tigerleo at 10:10 AM Friday, August 28 2009
Don't tie up the 911 line unless its an emergency
I was at a friend's house years ago and she and her husband were fighting over who had to stay home with their 3 month old baby, as both of them wanted to go out on their own to a Queen Street nightclub. The war of words escalated, my female friend hit her husband hard, and he pushed her away as she kept hitting. As soon as he defensively pushed her away, my friend triumphantly said 'HA! I'm calling 911 to report that'. She then called 911, to report 'domestic abuse'. I hated that she was tying up 911 lines, and pictured an elderly person, possibly having a heart attack, getting a busy signal at 911. The police came, I talked to them, as did my friends and no one was charged. (this was 1992) It left me disgusted with my friend. I think people have to be more careful of not rushing into relationships because of lust.
Submitted by Brett_Andie at 10:09 AM Friday, August 28 2009
With domestic violence statistics stating that women and men commit it equally against each other it is a wonder it has taken this long for incidents such as this to come out. Oh I forgot the woman was the perp not the man and the Star has once again misread its readership. If the aim was to feel sorry for the woman the comments prove you missed the mark completely.
Submitted by scatmasterdd at 10:04 AM Friday, August 28 2009
As one previously involved in enforcing these laws I can say that the system is biased against men. When stories differ, the woman's is taken as true. Many women don't want their spouses charged; only counseled. I've known many women who, after calling Police cried, begged and pleaded, to no avail, that charges not be laid against their husband. I can only believe that were these women ever assaulted again, many would not report it the next time because of zero tolerance. Zero tolerance is a Left wing, we know better than you, big sister policy that many times does more harm than good and does not take into account the feelings of the victim.
Submitted by CJ Craig at 10:02 AM Friday, August 28 2009
They chanted for equality, FINE. That means equal for all. No double standards or reverse double standards when it comes to punishments and sentencing.
Submitted by overture at 10:02 AM Friday, August 28 2009
@mezzi
Domestic violence statistics show both men and women participate equally. Until you understand that domestic violence is about a bad relationship breakdown and NOT about bad men and the "patriarchy" our society will NEBVER fix this problem...in fact you're actually promoting the problem by demonizing men. There needs to be a paradigm shift in how we study domestic violence, and the first step is women need to accept that they are also part of the problem and therefore part of the solution. I know many men who were/are physically, psychologically and emotionally abused by women, yet they get ZERO government support to deal/help them with their problems. Try not to make this about a tiny minority of men, and I won't make this about a tiny minority of women.
Submitted by MensRightsNow at 10:01 AM Friday, August 28 2009
Ont laws is haphazard
My soon to be was like this and i got fed up, got online read the law and court cases and fought back. To many people fall in this trap and the cops either do not file charges or let the abuse continue and say words of encouragement to allow it to continue. Goos story Ms Pigg.
Submitted by SMC at 10:00 AM Friday, August 28 2009
Best. Quote.Ever.
"I can only hope that no licensed lawyer in this province would have advised the father that the fastest way to get custody and exclusive possession of the family home was to report the mother's transgressions to the police," Pugsley said in his ruling. Is this guy kidding??? Is this quote serious? Lawyers do this all the time, the more animosity in a divorce, the more they make. Lawyers coach clients all the time on how to exaggerate and twist the truth. It's amazing how this judge "moved quickly" to give the mother 50/50 despite the gun "joke". Chivalry or the feminist industry? Who knows?
The law can be a weapon.
I've never laid a finger on a woman in anger, but I once had a (somewhat imbalanced) girlfriend who didn't take well to our breakup. At one point, she started smashing her head into a brick wall, and she just smiled and said "I'm going to tell the police that you beat me up." I realized that if the police DID show up and saw blood trickling from her forehead, I would have been slammed into the ground with full force, cuffed and hauled off to jail...period. I immediately ran over to a friend's house and asked him to come back with me - it was terrifying. It's time that we started talking about these issues as SPOUSAL abuse (or simply violence) instead of politicizing them as "a war on women" or other such garbage.
Submitted by Rossvegas at 9:48 AM Friday, August 28 2009
False Allegations Should Be Punished
My experience with this sort of thing is quite real. My ex fooled around and I found out so I decided to leave. The same day I went to meet my divorce lawyer she goes to the police telling them I threatened her a few weeks prior. I had to mount a very costly defense and it came down to credibility. She had made false complaints to police regarding two men prior to me so her "it took so long to report because I didn't know what the process was" story didn't hold water and she backed down completely. Luckily I had no record and was able to afford top dollar lawyers. I did go back to the arresting officer so lay out what had happened but all he claimed was that she was very believable in her statement and would he would not charge her. Lives can easily be ruined. Spousal abuse is deplorable and the police are in a tough spot. But they need training on how to spot false complaints and they need to charge those that make false complaints.
Submitted by sledr at 9:47 AM Friday, August 28 2009
We must EDUCATE !
educate our young girls about domestic violence! Teach them about self-esteem, and in turn morals and values. Parents need to STEP UP! It relies on PROPER PARENTING to instill these values... You would be suprised about the # of young women in abusive relationships even in UNIVERSITY!!!!
Submitted by jmeezi2009 at 9:47 AM Friday, August 28 2009
Reading this article
make me glad I am not married. No doubt, it's tough for a woman to be in an abusive situation, but sometimes twice as tough for a man. This is because women, on average, seem a little more supportive of other women in domestic violence situations and have community support available to them. Conversely, both men and women (or the community at large) hardly seem sympathetic to guys who find themselves abused by their spouses. His "buddies" will likely laugh at him, tell him to stand up to her wife or quit being a "girly-man". Even the police have been known to laugh at guys who report spousal abuse. This is because guys normally have a physical strength advantage over women. However, an abusive woman knows she has the law on her side, and when her spouse indeed acts in self-defense, she can spin that into a false accusation of abuse and have him charged by those same police who laughed at him earlier. Protection from domestic violence should apply to both genders.
Submitted by tscott at 11:16 AM Friday, August 28 2009
"The Process of Justification"
"Zero Tolerance" is aka, "the war on Men", is Ontario's Law of Gender Apartheid. ALL ILLEGAL but "justified". Ontario Courts are swamped by criminal proceedings that generally have no hope of a "Genuine" conviction yet, dubious convictions are made to give "a win" to a mother for custody and access purposes. Most DV charges are laid to terminate children's relationships with their father and no doubt in some cases with mothers but those cases are small by comparison. The real criminals are the family court judges who flagrantly abuse their powers to "justify their decision" with the first or nearest fictitious story presented to them or suggested to them. The same judges then issue massive orders for costs to forever prevent the father from coming to court again. The Legal Cartel's Judicial representatives want all to pay a lawyer or get crucified as a self rep. Our corrupt courts have more in common with Casino's with high minimum bets with the odds all stacked on Gender.
Submitted by 613_797_DADS at 11:09 AM Friday, August 28 2009
We could probably get a lot......
.......farther by training "couples" in how to maintain a relationship. If a marriage contract is to be successful the participants have to know the rules BEFORE they enter into it. But, as in most daily activities, we allow people to plod ignorantly along and then expect the police, the caretakers of society, the Crown and the courts to resolve everybodys' problems. Of course the police and the Crown will follow - to the letter - the training that they are given because if they use "discretion" they can be guaranteed they will become one of "accused" if something goes wrong. Society doesn't pay them enough to take that risk and certainly won't back them if a reasonable choice turns out to be in error. In a perfect world people would be adults but they, in many cases aren't. That's not the fault of the police & Crown!
Submitted by 7thGenCanadian at 11:02 AM Friday, August 28 2009
I was a victim of these laws
My ex used her knowledge of these rules, to have the police charge me based on false accusations. I was forced to spend $3600 just to get a fair bail hearing. When I got out, my ex refused me access to my belongings. By the time I got a court order to retrieve them, she had stolen all my valuables. I think that there should be a polygraph (lie detector) test, for any spouse wishing to accuse the other spouse.
Submitted by star11 at 10:57 AM Friday, August 28 2009
No protection
I agree with the fact if it was a man that this, it would not have been news. My ex, all she had to do was to go to the station and cry of being abuse due to the fact i was of a ethnic background and she was Caucasian. We as man have little protection from the law. The only thing we can do is dig deeper into our pockets and prey.
Submitted by crfrprjr at 10:46 AM Friday, August 28 2009
Resentment and Hate
There are few things that cause resentment and hate deeper and more enduring than false accusations. If you want your grave cursed by the parent of your children go ahead. They will be raised with you in the ugliest light and stand a better chance of cursing you too. Now if you're a liar and law manipulator - you deserve it.
Submitted by Llamma at 10:43 AM Friday, August 28 2009
The march of history
Discretion WAS the better part of valour.The concept has been lost in the discordance of contemporary society. It diminishes all of US.This article is indisputable truth.
Submitted by Peter Hazlewood at 10:41 AM Friday, August 28 2009
there was a case not too long ago
the man was arrested and jailed after his wife gave false complaint of abuse. when the case finally got to a judge he not only threw out the case, but the man got the right to sue her LAWYER on the grounds that the lawyer had advised his client to use this technique. now that the shoe is on the other foot (for once!) it is an abuse! WHERE WAS MR EPSTEIN BACK WHEN THIS TRAVESTY WAS MAKING ITS WAY THROUGH THE COURTS???
Submitted by gonzo at 10:29 AM Friday, August 28 2009
False allegations are out of control
Simply make an allegation, true, false, or exagerated, and the Police will happily charge you. They won't even ask for your side. Lawyers want $5000 retainer, then maybe, just maybe after a few months, the Crown will decide the charge is just spin and release you. Its long past time to compensate people who have been harmed in this way, for the system to say "We made a mistake, we will correct it" Better yet, prevent these wrongful arrests from occuring in the first place, require the authorities to show unequivocal cause, before proceeding. Our current system is arbitrary, and anyone can be wrongfully charged.
Submitted by Equaljustice.ca at 10:25 AM Friday, August 28 2009
LAWYERS!!!!
i have spoken and listened to several women tell there story, and it starts with a lawyers advice, want custody of your children call the police, as she has to say is, i am fearful, and the police and crowns no better, error on the side of their careers, put the guy in jail, trouble for all the "lives" they have ruined, all the innocent people in jail, they have NOT NOT reduced domestic violence or deaths
Submitted by ted1313 at 10:21 AM Friday, August 28 2009
too many mistakes, too many ruined lives
I once had a neighbor that constantly fought with his girlfriend which he had a child with. She was a short-fuse drunk, and it didn't take too many drinks to get her beligerance up. One day he came over to my house and asked if he could escape his wife's tirade for an hour. Next thing I know the police are banging on my door asking for him as a false report was issued by his girlfriend. I tried to explain to the police that he'd been at my apt for the last 45 minutes but away he went in cuffs.
Submitted by opinion_guy at 10:19 AM Friday, August 28 2009
Why do only women suffer injustice?
Every year hundreds of men in Ontario are falsely arrested because the women in their lives know the fastest way to obtain the upper hand in a seperation. When my ex and I were involved in an argument and the police were called I was told by one of the officers, "When we are called, someone is going to jail and it will usually be the male." another officer told me, "We don't arrest women in Durham county" my ex has now been living in our home with custody of the kids for almost 2 years and even though I have had 4 court orders granting me permission to go to my home and see my children she refuses and tells the police she is afraid of me. The police always take her side and have told me, "We do not enforce court orders, we are only here to keep the peace." The court system takes forever and is very costly and the police force is very biased, but if a women suffers some form of injustice all of a sudden there is a problem.
Submitted by Andrew66 at 10:18 AM Friday, August 28 2009
Services for Male Victims and Female Abusers
Statistics Canada reports that "ALMOST EQUAL PROPORTIONS OF MEN AND WOMEN (7% and 8% respectively) had been the victims of intimate partner physical and psychological abuse (18% and 19% respectively). These findings were consistent with several earlier studies which reported equal rates of abuse by women and men in intimate relationships" Based on the Statistics, that is a significant proportion of male victims and female perpetrators that are ignored and discriminated against by our current system of primary treatment for victims and perpetrators of domestic violence and abuse.
Submitted by Denis Pakkala at 12:04 PM Friday, August 28 2009
@tscott
Yah, very unfortunate double standard. What's a guy to do? Not to diminish the commonality or seriousness of violence against wives. But what support does a man have? That said, women in these relationships don't get the support you might imagine. Women may seem to talk about everything, but they usually find it too humiliating or unbelievable, or even justify being abused, to the point where they isolate themselves even more. Women with good support systems are generally less likely to be abused in the first place. Or STAY in these relationships. I have nothing to say about any of these laws, though.
Submitted by MaggieG at 12:01 PM Friday, August 28 2009
Don't change the legislation!
The "one strike and you are out" law for domestic abuse is VERY necessary. I have lived in a country where the legal system only recently offered this kind of protection and have seen the change that has occurred. People will abuse ANY law for personal gain , this one being no exception. I have only one question to the so called "victims" of this law...What were you thinking when you married that person?
Submitted by ProudIndian at 12:00 PM Friday, August 28 2009
Guilty until proven innocent
I remember when I was hauled off to jail. How embarrassing it was. I had just gotten home, my ex walked out the door with a great big smile on her face. She had gone next door to call the police. The police came, read me my rights and off I went. I was shocked. I had no idea what was going on. I found out that she told them that she was terrified of me and that I had sexually assaulted her. Well, she got what she wanted. She got the house and the kids, and I got a $4000 lawyer bill to prove my innocent. That was just the beginning. Now I had to get access to my kids. Another lawyer and again, prove that I was not the man she said I was. For a man, its guilty until proven innocent.
Submitted by djc101 at 11:57 AM Friday, August 28 2009
divorced women harm their kids while claiming to protect them
as i read this i cannot help but be disgusted, this is just one example of how the 'law' can be manipulated - I am a woman but my blood boils when i see what women have been allowed to get away with - and my reasoning is: all kids lover their dads just as much as they lover their moms and these women who poinson their kids minds and confuse them only harm those children - but too stupid\selfish to understand - and many times THAT Is the reason for hte divorce, not anything that realy happened... we MUST create a balance, this automati 'woman is always right' is disgusting
Submitted by karina at 11:55 AM Friday, August 28 2009
Lack of discretion
Is common place now in the legal system. The cops go only by the book, no discretion, crown only by the book, no discretion. Judges have seen so much of the same crap they just use case law and done. We had discretion in the system in the 70's we need some back. But we also have to be able to ensure the nut cases out there who have the long records of abuse get put away. That's where the discretion of Judges needs to stop, if they guy/girl has a history of abuse slam them away.
Submitted by buster013 at 11:40 AM Friday, August 28 2009
Domestic Violence is Gender Neutral
Too often, accusations of domestic violence are used to gain the upper hand in divorce court. Most often, these accusations are made by women, but it only becomes media worthy on the rare occaision that a woman is accused. GOVERNMENT OF CANADA http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/ncfv-cnivf/familyviolence/pdfs/Intimate_Partner.pdf Statistics Canada reports that "ALMOST EQUAL PROPORTIONS OF MEN AND WOMEN (7% and 8% respectively) had been the victims of intimate partner physical and psychological abuse (18% and 19% respectively). These findings were consistent with several earlier studies which reported equal rates of abuse by women and men in intimate relationships"
Submitted by Denis Pakkala at 11:36 AM Friday, August 28 2009
Been there...Done that
My ex wife sucker punched me, i YELL at her while my nose is pouring like a tap, NEVER touched her as i am holding cold cloth on my face to stop bleeding , she calls police, i am arrested ( i have zero record not even a traffic ticket to my name), police admit this was the easiest way to deal with the situation by ONLY charging ME, $4,000 for lawyer, 5 months away from house and kids, family services investigates wife and I they declare she has anger management issue, charges dropped by crown in first court hearing. Result: 12 year marriage flushed. Police discretion was certainly not apllied properly. Menatlly i suffered HUGE...i really didn't care about the money i felt like a loser and criminal. Thank you Ontario.
Submitted by opinion1967 at 11:35 AM Friday, August 28 2009
@MensRightsNow
I didn't say anything about men. I'm sure there are cases involving women initiating the violence. I simply spoke about educating young females about self esteem, b/c early education and CONSTANT education is essential in curbing domestic violence. I highly doubt that both sexes participate equally in D. violence. But another point you should consider, is that many cultures have a history of male dominance over their female counterparts. It is deeply rooted.
Submitted by jmeezi2009 at 11:34 AM Friday, August 28 2009
Another Family Law Travesty
Here's another travesty for you....a hunting partner of mine was going through a divorce. His ex made completely fabricated abuse complaints and called in a false "public safety issue" to the Canadian firearms centre. On at least three occasions, she also called the police and claimed that he was stalking her after she spotted him shopping in the same small town grocery store as she was. He ended up being charged with numerous offences and had all his firearms seized. After a lengthy court battle, he was cleared of all charges and the ex was found to have lied about everything. Shockingly, she was never charged with any offence and there were absolutely no legal consequences of any kind for her heinous actions. She should have been charged with public mischief and perjury and should have been made to pay his legal bills but she got off scott free.
Submitted by Mantis at 11:32 AM Friday, August 28 2009
abused dad story
6 months after separation, my ex called police to say I scratched her ankle with the zipper of a sweater when I threw it on the ground in front of her. The result: My arrest, detention, fingerprinting, photographing, and being released on condition I do not contact my 2 very young daughters or ex in any way. This lasted for 5 weeks before it was dismissed by the Crown. Long enough for her to get sole custody based on the status quo she created by lying. My lawyer said it happens all the time, and that lawyers often advise their clients to be the first one to the post re: such accusations to get a leg up in custodial proceeding. One of his clients was jailed for throwing an orange peel at his wife. My kids and I suffered greatly. It took a year and constant hounding for me to get the RCMP to destroy the arrest record. This must stop!
Submitted by Lorne at 11:19 AM Friday, August 28 2009
The only thing
I dislike more than Police/Crown/Court "discretion" are the stupid laws & lack of laws we have in this country & the whole English common law world. Napoleon wrote what is essentially the same laws they have now for the country of France a couple of hundred years ago & we still don't have an equivalent set of laws. Of course this means there is lots more work for lawyers which I suppose explains it. in Germany they have laws & it's the same in most western European countries; the laws protect you. Here, you have to hire lawyers which is like getting medical care in the US; lotsa money=great care. Not so much money=none or not so great care or you go bankrupt. Doubt me; wait till you call the cops next time a fraudster does you; they will tell you with a straight face to hire a lawyer.
Submitted by biker650 at 11:17 AM Friday, August 28 2009
http://www.thestar.com/news/ontario/article/687729
This is a follow-up article.
Woman jailed for abuse 'back on track'
Authorities 'overreact' as warring couples use zero-tolerance rule to gain upper hand, lawyer says.
'Zero tolerance' policy landed 'venting' wife behind bars over email about wishing for gun
Alison Shaw still wakes up some nights convinced she's back in an Orangeville holding cell, her fingertips covered in black ink.
"To this day, I don't understand why I was put in handcuffs and put in jail overnight," says Shaw, 42.
The Shelburne mother of three isn't all that different from many women. As her nine-year relationship with her husband Steve unravelled around her last year, Shaw took to "venting" to girlfriends via email, joking with one that she wished she had a gun to put herself out of her misery.
"I even put LOL at the end," Shaw said in an interview yesterday.
But Shelburne police weren't laughing. Nor was her estranged husband, who took it as a personal threat.
Unbeknownst to Shaw, he had been monitoring her emails for months. Shortly after she threatened to leave him back in March 2008, and take their children with her, he took the emails to Shelburne police – along with a complaint his wife had punched him in the face a month earlier at a Legion dance.
Shaw acknowledged she has a lot of regrets, especially over hitting her ex-husband when "nine years of frustration and anger just got the better of me."
Her ex couldn't be reached for comment, but Shaw was ordered into an anger-management program by the court, which, she says, "has been really helpful." Ironically, she claims, the counsellor said she needs to speak her own mind and stand up for herself more.
After her husband saw the reference to a gun in her email, Shaw faced the same wrath that divorcing dads say they've been subjected to for years at the hands of police and Ontario's criminal justice system: Police arrived at her door, slapped her in handcuffs, charged her with assault and held her in jail overnight until her mother arrived to post $5,000 bail.
While Shaw would just like to put the whole ugly incident behind her, it's ignited concerns around Ontario's "zero tolerance" domestic abuse policy.
Over a year ago Ontario Court Justice Bruce Pugsley criticized Shaw's treatment in a family law decision and expressed frustration at how it's "too commonplace" for the criminal courts to be misused by one spouse – usually it's the wife, but in this case it was the husband – to gain custody of the kids, possession of the house and an advantage in divorce proceedings.
This week well-respected family law lawyer Phil Epstein, who sat on the committee that drafted Ontario's so-called "duty to report" directive to police and Crown attorneys back in 1979, said it's time to re-examine the domestic abuse policy and create some "limited discretion."
What happened to Shaw is almost textbook: She was questioned at the police station, searched for a gun, charged and held overnight. She was released on bail, on condition she stay away from her house and her computer. In effect, her ex was given custody of the kids.
It was days until she saw them, for just half an hour, she says, and 10 months until she could step into her own home. Her mother was allowed to go in, with a list of Shaw's personal items and clothes that she stuffed into garbage bags.
The bosses at the office where Shaw works were "very understanding" when she returned from her arrest unable to focus. They let her take two months off.
"I spent that time seeing lawyers, going to court and doing the things I had to do to get back on track."
Over a year later, Shaw is in a healthy, happy relationship, she says. Her kids are with her every second week.
While he wouldn't comment on Shaw's case, Shelburne police chief Kent Moore acknowledged that domestic abuse cases are among the most difficult for police. But "zero tolerance" is a bit of a misnomer, he added. It implies that police lay charges every time they are called, when, in fact, they investigate each case, looking for a reasonable level of proof that abuse occurred.
Every suspect has to be handcuffed while in a cruiser, for the safety of officers, he stressed.
Shaw no longer has a computer.
"My girlfriend has moved to Hamilton now. We talk from time to time, but not by email. I don't talk to anybody on the computer anymore. I'm kind of afraid to."
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/article/688210
Labels: Court of Appeal of Ontario, Domestic Violence, duty to report, Philip epstein, zero tolerance peter jaffe


UC Irvine coach Russell Turner tried to rattle Oregon's Louis King by calling him "Queen" and encouraged his players to do likewise.
I'm not sure what was worse, that UC Irvine coach Russell Turner thought it was OK to be homophobic or degrade women in taunting an opposing player, or that he thought it was funny.
It wasn't either of those things.
Turner lingered with Oregon's Louis King in the postgame handshake Sunday night, after the Ducks had beaten the Anteaters to reach the Sweet 16. When asked about it afterward, Turner said he'd tried to rattle the Ducks' second-highest scorer by calling him "Queen." Encouraged his players to do it, too.
That's right. A 48-year-old man showing all the maturity of an 8-year-old to try to get an edge.
UC Irvine must be so proud.
RANKINGS: Which Sweet 16 team is most likely to win it all?
Turner claimed it was a sign of respect, that he was likening King's importance to Oregon to that of the queen in chess.
No, Turner was trying to get under King's skin by questioning either his sexuality or his masculinity. It really doesn't matter which it was; in Turner's view, being gay or being a woman is equally demeaning and worthy of ridicule.
UC Irvine interim athletic director Paula Smith didn't return a phone call Monday from USA TODAY Sports. Oregon declined to comment Sunday night and again Monday, but King's mother Ativea said Monday on Twitter that she and King's father want Turner to publicly apologize to their son.
"It was in poor taste," Ativea King said.
It was more than that, actually. Words matter, as do the messages they send, and the casual homophobia and misogyny of Turner's taunts perpetuates the marginalization of both gays and women. That's not only disappointing, it's dangerous.
When women or members of the LGBTQ community are discriminated against, harassed or worse, it doesn't happen in a vacuum. It happens because they are considered "less than," not as deserving of equality or respect. It's OK to humiliate or attack them because they're not as important. Their lives – their health, their safety, their self-esteem – mean less.
That Turner, at his age and with his life experiences, thinks this way is appalling. That he's in a position, as the Anteaters' head coach, to pass on his bigotry is unacceptable.
Studies have shown we are not born with prejudice or bias. They're learned behaviors. And the UC Irvine players are still impressionable, teenagers and young men living on their own for the first time and trying to figure out what kind of adults they'll be.
Maybe they'll embrace the values they learned from their parents or follow the example set by a favorite teacher. Maybe they'll be influenced by the friends they make at school or have their eyes opened by classmates of different genders, races and sexual orientation.
But some players will hear Turner's bigoted comments or pick up on his small-mindedness and think that that's OK. That they're entitled to belittle and mistreat others.
And what if there's someone on Turner's team who is gay? Imagine how unwanted and alone he would have felt not only hearing Turner insult King, but encouraging his other players to use the slur, too.
The heckling of King wasn't very effective, given that Oregon won and he had 16 points on five-of-10 shooting. But that doesn't make it any less important to call Turner out.
Ignorance and bigotry are never funny. They're never appropriate. Shame on Turner for thinking they were.


text:
President signs bill on large deals by Orlen Lietuva, Achema, Telia Lietuva
Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaitė has signed into law a bill that opens the way for authorities to vet large deals by three privately-owned companies -- Orlen Lietuva, Achema and Telia Lietuva -- and to block deals that are deemed a threat to national security.
© Organizacijos nuotr.
"The president has signed the law," her spokeswoman Daiva Ulbinaitė told BNS on Wednesday.
The law allows vetting a deal by an enterprise of strategic importance to national security if it exceeds 10 percent of its annual revenue. If the government decides that a deal does not meet national security interests, it will not be allowed to go through.
The Law on Enterprises and Facilities of Strategic Importance to National Security and Other Enterprises of Importance to Ensuring National Security will also apply to large state-owned companies -- from Lietuvos Geležinkeliai (Lithuanian Railways) and Lietuvos Paštas (Lithuanian Post) to Lietuvos Oro Uostai (Lithuanian Airports).
Seimas passes bill to vet large deals by strategic companies
Seimas bulldozing in obligations for business
The Seimas passed the law on Jan. 12 after lengthy discussions, which centered around the question of whether or not the state is interfering too much with privately-owned businesses.
The telecommunications company Telia Lietuva is owned by Sweden's Telia Company and the crude refiner Orlen Lietuva is owned by Poland's state-run oil group Orlen. Lyda Lubiene, a Lithuanian national, is the majority shareholder of Achemos Grupė (Achema Group), which owns the fertilizer manufacturer Achema.
OECD experts will carefully assess the provisions of the law before deciding whether to invite Lithuania to join the organization this year.
A special government commission in Lithuania will be able to vet state-owned and privately-owned...
Raimundas Lopata. Skvernelis obtained his own Borisov?
A project that may spark disputes between neighbours
Lithuanian energy minister promises to seek compromise on vetting strategic companies' deals
Lithuanian Energy Minister Žygimantas Vaičiūnas says that a compromise satisfying all parties...
Authorities seek more control over Orlen Lietuva, Achema, Telia Lietuva deals
The Lithuanian parliament's Committee on Economics seeks to set clear-cut criteria under companies...

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Canadian jewish news
Where Did All The Canadian Jews Go?
JTANovember 2, 2017
The new census shows that the Canadian Jewish population dropped 56 percent in five years—but Jewish organizations say that can't be true.
Canadian Jewish News Names Yoni Goldstein As New Editor
JTADecember 17, 2013
The Canadian Jewish News named a former columnist as its new editor following a five-month search and after reversing its decision to shut down.
'Chief Rescue Officer' for Canadian Jewish News Is No Longer at Post
JTAMay 24, 2013
The man tasked with rescuing the Canadian Jewish News is no longer in his post.
Holocaust Survivor Reinvents Himself at 87
Michael KaminerNovember 16, 2012
The e-mail came with a photo of an elderly man in a butcher's coat next to the faded, black-and-white image of a tot. "At age 87, my father is re-launching his meat business — which for fifty years was a staple of the Jewish community in Canada," Miriam Perl wrote to the Forward. "Suggested headline: Holocaust Survivor reinvents himself at age 87."
Canada Stakes Out Strong Pro-Israel Stand
Sheldon GordonNovember 8, 2011
While Israel's had a bumpy ride with the U.S., things have never been chummier with Canada. Prime Minister Stephen Harper is close friends with Benjamin Netanyahu.
Blogger Spreads News of Anti-Semitic 'Jew Count' at University of Toronto
Renee Ghert-ZandJune 20, 2011
With all the Israel-related new anti-Semitism taking place on college campuses lately, people might forget that there is still some good old-fashioned, early 20th century-style anti-Semitism out there, too.


The IMA is pleased to be one of more than 100 satellite locations that will host a regional Women in Data Science (WiDS) event in conjunction with the annual WiDS Conference taking place at Stanford University. In addition to live-streaming the conference, the IMA event will feature talks from University of Minnesota faculty and local data scientists. Students and postdocs will have the opportunity to present a poster and give short talks.
The WiDS Conference aims to inspire and educate data scientists, regardless of gender, and support women in the field. This one-day technical conference provides an opportunity to hear about the latest data science related research in a number of domains, learn how leading-edge companies are leveraging data science for success, and connect with potential mentors, collaborators, and others in the field.
This event is intended for local participants as no funding is available. Please apply through the online application.


Would you like more information on hours, classes and programs available at United Taekwondo - Chapman Dojang? Please contact the school with your questions.
Update the details, Write a Review or Report Error of United Taekwondo - Chapman Dojang.
This Chart shows the Martial Arts Styles offered most in Chapman, Australia area. View a list of Dojo in Chapman, or enter your address below to find schools closest to you.


Frog Squats are an effective workout for your lower body but determine what is the best exercise for your body you must consider your fitness goals. Do you want to lose weight, tone existing muscle or strengthen your lower body? All squats as part of a regular routine, including frog squats, can tone your legs, thighs and glutes but to lose inches you must pair it with cardio.
To do a frog squat stand with your legs in a wide stance, wider than shoulder-width, and do a standard squat. With your hands at your waist bend you knees and shift you hips back as if to sit into a chair lowering until your thighs are near parallel to the floor. This low deep version of the squat targets the adductor inner thigh alongside the gluteal muscles, hips, quadriceps and hamstrings.
Cardio exercise paired with a healthy diet allowing you to expend more calories than you take in is key to losing inches. While you can not target your lower body, choosing cardio that strengthens and tones your lower body will give maximum benefit. Do an hour on the elliptical machine or stationary bike at the gym five days a week or take a run from home for excellent results.
Consider other variations of the squat to get maximum lower body benefits. After you are comfortable with the frog squat and standard squat then consider the jump squat. Begin a standard squat by lowering as if sitting back into a chair and have your hands free extending them alongside your hips. At the bottom of the movement pause briefly and jump into the air taking care to land on flat feet with stability. Feel free to move your arms forward to balance this movement.
As with any new exercise consult your doctor before beginning especially if you have substantial weight to lose or joint issues. When learning the squat ask a trainer to watch and critique your form for best results. The bottom of your movement should not allow your knees to pass your toes.


text:
Q: Add dynamic library to firebreath I'm developing a plugin for mac. I'm trying to use afnetworking and other frameworks which needs arc. I'm trying to create a .a(library) for the framework and access it in firebreath. I tried adding the directory which contains .a using include_directories in projectdef.cmake then linking it in target_link_libraries. Please lemme know how to add this and whether the framework can be used in firebreath without any pitfalls

A: I have used external libraries in firebreath. Though I have used editors to link the libraries. You need to specify .h files for the function prototypes, along with .a files which will dynamically link to .dylib
Try adding these via Xcode and see if that works.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
genderconfused
leftcult
liberalmob
Clintons vacationed extensively at Epstein's New Mexico 'baby-making ranch': Report
12/05/2019 / By News Editors
The Clintons regularly stayed at Jeffrey Epstein's weird New Mexico ranch where the deceased pedophile had grand plans to seed the human race with his DNA, according to his estate manager.
(Article by Tyler Durden republished from ZeroHedge.com)
Bill, Hillary and even Chelsea visited the 10,000-acre estate "almost every year after they left the White House," according to the Daily Mail. The former first family didn't stay at the property's main compound, however – they spent their time in a custom cowboy-themed village Epstein built a mile south of his mountaintop villa.
the Clinton family bunked down in a special cowboy-themed village created by Epstein, which is a mile south of his own luxury mountaintop villa. They'd use one of the two guest houses, which look like they're straight out of the 19th century.
Seen in exclusive DailyMailTV images, the guest homes are next to other traditional Wild West-style buildings such as an old schoolhouse and saloon bar. An American flag is raised high above the village, which is next door to Epstein's private airstrip, where he arrived on his private planes, including his infamous 'Lolita Express'.
This is all according to security expert Jared Kellogg, who was brought in by long-standing ranch manager Brice Gordon to improve security and set up a camera system at the main house and 'cowboy village'. –Daily Mail
The Clintons maintain that they had minimal contact with Epstein, despite records proving he flew on the disgraced financier's 'Lolita Express' Boeing 727-200 no fewer than 27 times (which Epstein sold one week before his July arrest on suspicion of sex-trafficking minors).
According to Kellogg, ranch manager Brice Gordon kept bragging about the Clintons staying at the ranch – one of several of Epstein's homes were underage girls were reportedly trafficked from all over the world.
"My contact was Brice, their main concern was that there was no video surveillance on the property at all. I thought this was a simple request, as they wanted surveillance to protect their investment. It's a huge site," said Kellogg. "But what was weird was that the whole time I was on site, Brice would be bragging about how the Clintons would visit, the whole family. Not just Bill, but Bill, his wife, their kid, and they would stay on the ranch itself. He had built this Western replica village with a saloon, barn houses, old school house and when you're walking through it, it feels like you're walking through the 1800s."
"His biggest concern was monitoring and covering that area, so my main focus was mounting cameras on poles to cover the driveways, walkways, the ins and outs of each house and facilities," the Mail cites Kellogg as adding. "It was like Westworld, it's like they built a functioning movie set, they put a lot of thought and detail into it, the flooring and facilities in there."
'I was saying how cool the replica houses were, they're pretty neat like the 1800s. He said: "Yeah, they're built for guests, we get a lot of visitors. It's really cool the Clintons come out and hang out [with Epstein]."
'It sounded like a normal summer vacation.' -Jared Kellogg
As the Mail notes, Epstein had a picture of Bill Clinton in a blue dress hanging in his Upper East Side townhouse – a strange parody of former the infamous cum-stained dress Monica Lewinsky wore (and kept), as revealed by the Drudge Report.
Kellogg says he was stopped from going into certain areas of Epstein's New Mexico estate, but briefly explored its underground sections.
In November, a former contractor told the Mail that Epstein had built a secret basement 'strip club.'
"My access was very controlled. During the site walk, it was dictated where I could and couldn't go. There were certain facilities I wasn't allowed to go in, which was odd, as they were boarded up, and they looked like they could have big parties in them, but I didn't think much of it.
"They wanted to put very, very limited camera coverage on the main house itself. I was going to put up a couple of cameras on the exterior of the main entrance.
"At the main entrance, there's a downward slope at the back that goes into the basement. I was able to briefly go in. There was a long hallway to a big foyer and there was a door and that was about it. The two guest houses I was not permitted to go into," Kellogg said.
'Due to security reasons, I wasn't permitted to even put a camera location on the drawing that we would then have on our records.
'What is odd is that as a security professional, for me to give the best protection I can give a customer, I need the full layout of the land. I need to see the nooks and crannies, all the blind spots. They were limiting that access.
'The staff only lived in one house, as far as I was aware, which is the the one nearest to the main gate. The saloon bar is in the center [of the village], there's a bar area and looks like where they'd throw parties from my own observations. There's also a barn/hay storage, and they'd put tractors and other vehicles in it.'
Considering Epstein was a multi-millionaire, Kellogg said Gordon wanted to do the security on the cheap.
Instead of using an expensive, robust camera system, which used underground cables, he wanted a 'point-to-point wireless fluid mesh design', which means cameras are operating via antenna, and is considerably cheaper. –Daily Mail
"What was odd to me was that I wasn't able to interact with Epstein. If it's your house, you have your concerns, the task had been delegated to Brice, he seemed to be in charge of everything."
Maybe it would have been different if Bryce was a 14-year-old girl?
Read more at: ZeroHedge.com
Tagged Under: bill clinton, Child rape, child trafficking, Clinton, democrats, epstein, evil, Hillary Clinton, left cult, pedophiles, Pedophilia, politics, Twisted
Confused by the language police? Behold the "Glossary of Progressive Terminology" that will clear it all up for you
12/06/2019 / By Mike Adams
Tim Berners-Lee, inventor of the World Wide Web, calls for an end to all independent speech
Constitutional law professor Jonathan Turley blasts Democrats over their "dangerous, woefully inadequate" rush to impeach Trump
Leftists decry fake university ICE sting practiced during Obama administration
LA County introduces electronic voting system to silently rig all future elections in favor of Democrats
EU government opposes proposed law that would stop pedophilia
12/04/2019 / By Lance D Johnson
This is what 'the enemies of America within' don't want us to know! Mass murderer Joseph Stalin would have been proud of Adam Schiff & 'the cabal' & their Soviet-style coup attempt
The left hates The Salvation Army. That's all you need to know about the left
Tesla drivers forced to wait up to an hour in long lines to charge their vehicles
Schiff's phony baloney impeachment recommendation blames Trump for everything DEMOCRATS have done in Ukraine
Flashpoint ahead! The 'gun control master plan' & push for the 'final execution of the US Constitution & Bill of Rights in one fell swoop' are on display for all to see in Virginia
More proof that Democrat law enforcement leaders are deliberately releasing child RAPISTS onto the streets to carry out violent crimes against children
Dem strategist builds phony local news sites in battleground states to sway voters away from Trump, yet conservatives are the ones banned from social media
The radical leftist media has fully distorted reality in America with the loonies on the left blaming President Trump for sun spots, cancer, dandruff, climate change and scurvy
Proposed Virginia law would make every firearms instructor a criminal felon… and imprison fathers who teach sons how to hunt
A 'scourge of pestilence' is brewing in America with the 'plague of leftism' unleashed on Democrat-run cities: 'suitable soil' for the world's next killer pandemic?
Violent, radical Muslims now have full legal immunity in France and can murder citizens with impunity, thanks to political correctness
The worst idea ever? Genetically engineered plants will deplete the atmosphere of carbon dioxide, causing a mass die-off of food crops and rainforests
The ACLU sues to make sure unborn babies can be dismembered, piece by piece, in cruel, inhumane abortions
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Have you ever wondered why we have a Christmas tree or why it's an evergreen? I learned recently about a man named Boniface. (680–754) He was a Christian missionary, best known for establishing the first organized Christianity in many parts of Germany, and founding the use of a Christmas tree to celebrate the birth of the Christ Child. It's a fascinating story!
From his other missionary travels, Boniface knew that in winter the inhabitants of the village of Geismar, Germany gathered around a huge old oak tree (known as the "Thunder Oak") that they had dedicated to the false god Thor. The gathering was an annual event of pagan worship centered on sacrificing a human, usually a small child.
Astonished by the destruction of the oak tree and in awe of Boniface's preaching of the gospel, the German tribe accepted Jesus Christ and were baptized. Instead of using the oak tree to worship a false god, Boniface suggested for them to use an evergreen tree to represent Christ. Why? (1) Because the green leaves of an evergreen are constant and unchanging, just like Christ's love… (2) it is a sign of an endless life… (3) and it points toward Heaven.
Tonight, when you gaze upon your radiant Christmas tree, I hope you think of our faithful and constant God.


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Brewers go back-to-back, but lose back-to-back games
A pair of solo home runs were not enough to beat the Reds tonight.
By Kyle Lobner May 10, 2013, 10:00pm CDT
Share All sharing options for: Brewers go back-to-back, but lose back-to-back games
Jamie Sabau
W: Alfredo Simon (3-1)
L: Yovani Gallardo (3-2)
S: Aroldis Chapman (8)
HR: Jean Segura (5), Ryan Braun (8), Brandon Phillips (6)
MVP: Jean Segura (+.202 WPA)
LVP: Carlos Gomez (-.245)
Win Expectancy Graph
This is not how good road trips start.
Yovani Gallardo was stretched to the limit just to finish four innings tonight. He only allowed three runs but gave up five hits and five walks and needed 100 pitches to complete four frames, sending him to the showers early. He picked up an ugly loss and left the Brewer bullpen to pick up four innings on the first of 13 games in 13 days. They did so reasonably well, but the Crew still lost 4-3 to drop to 1-7 in May.
Meanwhile, all of the Brewer offense came in the fourth inning when Jean Segura and Ryan Braun went back-to-back against Tony Cingrani. Like Gallardo, Cingrani was chased from the game early but the Brewers were unable to complete a rally against the Reds bullpen.
Carlos Gomez went 0-for-4 tonight to snap his hitting streak at 14 games. Braun's home run extended his streak to eleven games. Meanwhile, Norichika Aoki was on base five times with three singles and two walks, but did not score until the ninth inning, when his run didn't matter.
This series continues tomorrow at 3:10 with Hiram Burgos taking on Mat Latos.


I would have asked her.
and you'll meet your coffee shop keeper.
When did you get so tall?
- What, are the boots too tight again?
Of course they are, damn boots!
Good boy! Good on you!
I'll give you the ship's command.
and take us to Buenos Aires!
- We go Buenos Aires?
- Don't you know where that is?


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International Sports Law: An Introductory...
Liber Amicorum
International Sports Law: An Introductory Guide
Series: Short Studies in International Law
August 2017 Author: Prof Ian Blackshaw , Court of Arbitration for Sport, Lausanne, Switzerland
Pages: ix + 153 pp.
Publisher: T.M.C. ASSER PRESS
Distributor: Springer
Formats: Hardcover, eBook and online on SpringerLink
E-ISBN: 978-94-6265-198-2
With a foreword by Prof. Dr. Steve Cornelius, International Sports Law Centre, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
This book, written by an expert in the field, covers some of the following issues, namely high-profile WADA cases such as that of Maria Sharapova, the Bosman ruling, decisions by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), and footballers' employment contracts and transfers for enormous amounts. These issues have led to sport no longer being confined to the back pages of traditional media such as newspapers, but increasingly finding its way onto the front pages and into new media.
Since ancient times sport has been practised but today it is a multi-billion dollar 'industry', and Sports Law as a discipline in its own right is developing apace and is increasingly being studied and practiced at all levels of interest and competency. Thereby creating a need amongst students, lawyers, accountants, sports marketers, promoters, agents, sports broadcasters, sports administrators and managers for some basic and general knowledge of the legal aspects of sport.
This introductory guide to international sports law will serve to satisfy the needs currently not being met in present-day sports law literature, and should also be of interest to researchers and the general reader. Although the topics covered are necessarily selective, sports law being such a vast subject, they are representative of the main legal issues facing the world of sport today. Throughout the book, the reader is referred to articles, publications and other materials that provide further information on the various subjects treated in the text, thus enhancing its value and usefulness. The Law is stated as at 1 January 2017, according to the sources available at that date.
Prof. Ian S. Blackshaw is an International Sports Lawyer, a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of England and Wales, and a Visiting Professor at several Universities, including Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, United Kingdom, and The University of Pretoria, South Africa. He is also a member of the Court of Arbitration for Sport, Lausanne, Switzerland.
Specific to this book:
Written by an acknowledged expert in the field
Clear and concise presentation
Includes references throughout to further information and materials
Excerpt from a book review:
"Prof Ian Blackshaw has provided an excellent and comprehensive overview of the core areas and intricacies of 'sports law', enabling the reader to understand why it is, quite rightly, a distinct doctrine of law worthy of study and research on its own merits."
"It's an excellent guide to all aspects of sports law for lawyers – and those interested in this subject matter in general."
Hilary Forde,
Sports solicitor and director of racing governance
and compliance at the Irish Greyhound Board
Law Society Gazette, Dec. 2017
Frontmatter, incl. Table of Contents
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text:
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 * PACS
 * Virtual Data Product Query Interface
 * Main Function
 * Entrance Function
 * First invoked Function
 * Require pacs.js pacs.util.js pacs.button.js pacs.map.js pacs.list.js
 * @author Ziheng Sun
 * @date 2015.8.4
 */
pacs.main = {
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pacs.main.load();

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
answerstravel blog
A quirky, entertaining and extremely informative blog with an experienced and opinionated perspective on travel, aviation and tourism.
The Best Airline Re-Branding
Over the last four decades, we have had the opportunity to participate in or observe the rebranding of numerous airlines. Some were given a new identity because of new management or new marketing strategies, while others were re-branded because of new ownership or the merging into an airline group.
In the first category are case-studies such as JAL to Japan Airlines, Air Lanka to Sri Lankan, and Air Pacific to Fiji Airways. The national airline of Japan actually retained its name, but after 10 years with a modernistic non-descript use of its initials, it chose to revert to its original logo featuring its full name. In traditional Japanese culture, the red-crowned crane (Grus japonsensis) is viewed as a symbol of long life, and it is a powerful and effective symbol of how Japan uniquely cherishes ancient culture in cultivating an ultra-modern lifestyle.
The list of airlines re-branding under a larger group is very long, but to us, the most successful of these is the metamorphosis of Dragonair to Cathay Dragon, joining its sister-carrier Cathay Pacific in a stylish new simultaneous re-branding.
We believe The Best Airline Re-Branding is of Dragonair to Cathay Dragon because it brings the healthy and growing carrier into an elegant and effective equal-partnership within the Cathay Pacific group. Each airline has an equally elegant livery of almost identical application, but in complementing different colours.
In 2006, Dragonair became part of the Cathay Pacific Group, and the two airlines have worked in increasing closeness to provide a synergy of connectivity and service from Hong Kong to about 200 destinations in mainland China and the rest of the world. It makes sense, therefore, that the new name deftly brings Cathay Dragon into the family while retaining its distinctive identity. The new livery of both airlines has been designed to align them more closely with each other, and we like the integration of that iconic Cathay Brushwing on the tail of all aircraft within the Group while maintaining a little updated version of the original Dragonair logo on the nose of Cathay Dragon aircraft.
The new hues are also distinctive and attractive – stylish with an understated dignity. Overall, the new Corporate Identity of Cathay Dragon is clean, elegant and effective – well-deserving of our award for The Best Airline Re-Branding.
Photographs by kalid.com.cn and Cathay Pacific Group
Posted by answerstravel at Saturday, March 12, 2016 No comments:
Labels: Aviation, Best Airlines Of The World
Best Airlines Of The World
Best Airports Of The World
Best Destinations Of The World
Best Hotels Of The World


With the simplicity and efficiency of today's online tools, A/B testing has become a no-brainer for many email marketers. Not only can it help you understand the effectiveness of each campaign, but it can save you time, money, and effort by providing insight into customer behavior and preferences for use in future strategizing.
For the uninitiated, A/B testing involves sending different versions of a given email — varying anything from subject lines to layout to photos to links — to different groups of subscribers, then measuring reactions to determine which is more effective at driving preferred behavior. The results can be used to increase the impact of your campaigns.
Subject line: The length, wording, and tone of your subject line can have a profound effect on your campaign. In fact, research shows 47 percent of email recipients quickly decide to open or ignore your emails based on the subject line alone. Psychology plays a major role in that behavior, and researchers continually try to determine the parameters involved. For example, Experian last year found personalizing subject lines led to a 42 percent lift in unique open rates in the consumer products and services segment, while VerticalResponse achieved better responses by offering something in a subject line rather than requesting action. In fact, VerticalResponse makes it easy for Pro users to A/B test their subject lines.
Best day and time: The question of which day to send emails, and at what time, remains the subject of much speculation. The answer tends to be different for each audience. Many experts recommend 50/50 split testing in which half your list is sent one day, half another. "One current theory is that consumers are making more purchases in the evening, when they are engaged with their tablets or mobile devices while watching TV," says Cara Olson on Marketingland.com.
Best calls to action: Calls to action are highly subjective and bound to produce different results based on their wording, format, imagery, placement within your email, and so on. "The CTA can significantly increase email engagement and conversion, so it's important to plan your campaign thoroughly and consider the true power behind effectively mapping to those three elements," advises Paul Ford on Marketingprofs.com.
Once you've run a test and received the first set of results, don't stop there. Incorporate what you've learned into your next campaign and keep testing. Remember, a hit with readers today may not work as well down the line. In order to keep your messages fresh and effective, run tests on an ongoing basis and use the results to fine-tune the way you create and send emails.
If you're ready to start testing your campaigns, an automated tool like VerticalResponse A/B subject line testing simplifies the process. Sign up for a Pro Plan to use this powerful feature today.


text:
Yearn to Fear by Chas Murrell
readandrated March 11, 2021 March 9, 2021 #amreading, Blog Tour, Book Promo, Damp Pebbles Book Tour
I hope you will enjoy an excerpt from Yearn to Fear by Chas Murrell…
Peter Esser's office was a short walk from the lab space; she could see his office entrance through the Perspex of the lab's double doors as she headed there. The end of the day was the best time, not many people about.
Peter sat at his desk and bade her come in, smiling at her. "How can I help you, Sarah? Do you bring news?"
Sarah closed the door behind her and sat in the same chair she did each time she suffered through a fortunately not too often visit. "Not quite. I want to talk about my contract."
"I see, do you want more money?" he pre-empted, in a tone sounding like there was some genuine willingness to negotiate.
Well, she hadn't seen that one coming, but didn't suppose he was really willing to anyway. Not that it mattered. His was an extraordinary knack for keeping her off balance. "I don't want more money," she explained. "I want to be released from our agreement, please." His poker face appeared. Sarah continued, "This is wrong for me, and it's adversely affecting me, so I can't continue with it." He remained silent, so she kept going. "I know you might not be happy with what I'm saying, so I'm more than prepared to give you my word that all progress reports will still come through you." She tried to make herself sound as conciliatory as possible.
Peter's facial expression morphed into one she couldn't decipher. He spoke quietly as he cocked his head towards her. "Thank you for explaining your position, Sarah. I think I understand and appreciate where you're coming from."
She thought he might actually think about it. "I know it's a bit out of the blue so if that suits, can I leave it with you and come back tomorrow?" In truth, she only wanted to leave before her nervous tension gave out, and she projectile vomited all over his desk.
"That won't be necessary," he said with a dismissive wave of his left hand.
She cringed inside, here comes his answer …
Sarah had considered that, with a situation this delicate, Peter might pause and think about his words before speaking. Not so.
"You can't. We've signed a contract and that's that. You can't renege because you're suddenly identifying as an oversensitive Gen Y teenager." He held up two lazy fingers and said, "Two years. We're a couple of months in, you just need to sit tight like I said and go with it." The poker face was back. "Is there anything else? I'm a busy man." Emphasising 'man', while looking down at paperwork on his desk with pretend interest.
Sarah had thought some level of pushback was likely, but surely some possibility existed he would at least reconsider. Wrong again. His abruptness, his superiority, the pure dismissive arrogance of this 'man' cut her grass as low as anyone ever had. Attempting to process the psychological brick wall built in front of her, she had unintentionally remained in the chair.
"Are you still here? Go back to work, or have you forgotten the money you're going to make from the opportunity I gifted you?" Not even bothering to look up, his condescension was total.
What a fucking charmer, Sarah thought in anger as she attempted to digest this latest rebuff. Gifted? Gifted has less than zero to do with his deal. This prick doesn't have a benevolent bone in his entire piece-of- shit body. Not wanting to admit defeat so quickly, she tried to sound resolute. "I think we should try to reach an agreement. Negotiate."
"Oh, you do, do you?" quipped Peter as his expression morphed again, and he met her gaze this time. His was not a good look. "You didn't want to negotiate when I offered this contract, did you? You wanted a job here. I gave you this one, and you couldn't believe it. You would have done anything at the time, don't you remember? I bet you'd have fucked me if I'd stuck that little gem in the contract as well, wouldn't you have, hmm?"
Sarah was so mad her teeth were grinding, and she cupped her clenched right fist into her left palm to prevent herself from striking out. He wasn't just under her skin, this scumbag had dug way deeper now. Then, right then, Sarah's anger wrestled the reins of self-control from her reason, and she made a mistake of mammoth proportions. "I'll go to the CEO! She'll be more than interested I'm sure. You'll end up in some crappy police cell by nightfall!" She saw him raise his eyebrows, but little else in his expression changed, although his tone turned to one of sarcasm.
"Why would I be in trouble? I'm the victim here, not you."
"You're the fucking what?" she blurted. "How the flying fuck, do you work that out?"
Peter rose and took a casual stroll to a nearby filing cabinet, punching in a combination on the keypad. He turned towards her and mocked her with pious regret. "It's my fault, I should have been stronger." Continuing to pretend rather poorly, he said, "I shouldn't have let you blackmail me like this." He retrieved what she recognised as her original job application and started flicking through the pages.
His ability to throw her off balance had set a new benchmark. Mystified, she barely heard herself say, "What?"
"Oh yes," Peter said. "As I'll tell the detectives," he continued skimming her application, "I should have realised reading her application she would be trouble. Yes, here it is, and I quote, 'I am eager to start and will aggressively pursue any developments which present, as far as possible with all vigour. I will do whatever it takes to achieve every success possible', unquote. And apparently, so you did. This, coupled with me being the unsuspecting victim of a honey trap. Like I said, I should have been stronger." He mocked her unashamedly.
"Honey trap? What fucking honey trap!?!" With zero idea of what he was talking about, and thrown headlong off balance once again, she tried to regain the initiative. She played what she thought was her trump card. "You can say what you like, but you can't lie your way around the contract though, you dumb fucker." She did notice this comment register, and, emboldened. "You gave me a fucking copy with your signature. I'm paying you money every month!! For fuck's sake. You're in it up to your neck!" She spat the words out in disgust and triumph, staring at him. If he were worried in the slightest, he sure as hell didn't show it. It was more like what? It was more like … supreme confidence. He's more confident than ever now. How the fuck does that work?
Peter started again, "Are you telling me after everything you've been told, you still don't get what's gone on here? I thought you'd be smart enough to understand. This isn't a difficult jigsaw. Perhaps I should connect a few more pieces, so you can move on with your life for the next two years, hmm?" She didn't move or say anything. He took that to be a yes. "Tell me, Sarah, where did the unsigned copies of the contract come from?"
Mystified yet again she replied, "You gave me them on a USB."
"Yes, well that may be your memory of it, but it certainly isn't mine, the physical evidence reveals something altogether different. With a little help from some technical associates, the contract file itself shows it was created on your computer, and in support of this fact, also printed on your printer. I first saw the contract when you forced me to sign it as the jaws of your honey trap sprang shut. Look at the way the contract's written. Peter doesn't demand Sarah pay up. The legal style reads as if you're the one making the demands, not me. Like I said, I'm the victim." Peter enjoyed her confusion profusely and added almost comically, "You wicked wench."
She felt herself deflating. "But you're extorting me, I'm paying you extortion money!" It was more a plea than anything. She realised she was done, he would have worked this out as well. As far as legs to stand on went, sitting down would be a necessity for quite some time.
"For god's sake, woman!" he exclaimed in frustration, "your money is paid to me for ongoing services rendered. You're bribing me. You're paying me to keep quiet now you have the PM spot. You're paying me to provide you with everything and anything you request. Haven't you noticed how quickly you get what's requisitioned with no questions asked? I'm on your payroll. You're paying me, to remind me who's boss and that you have the power. Need I go on?"
"No … No need." She resigned herself to abject surrender as her addled mind caught up slowly. "Let me guess, you didn't speak at my house so I couldn't record you. The written instructions provided a guarantee no evidence would exist that might conflict with your version of events."
"Thank heavens. Finally. Correct."
"The bag you brought in had a bug scanner in it. You used it on your house tour to make sure no hidden cameras or recording devices were present."
"Now you're getting it." He paused. "Go on, ask me the one question you couldn't fathom about my visit that night."
He's gloating? Sarah hesitated in total defeat. "I'm not sure I really want to know."
His composure was of the mighty conqueror standing over a vanquished foe.
"I trashed your bed before I made a quiet little video on my phone with the messed-up bed in the background. I spoke so remorsefully. Oh god, please forgive me for what I allowed her to do to me. I should have been stronger, blah blah blah. After all, I was being weighed down by guilt instead of basking in the afterglow of our union. Just more proof of how you manipulated me. Would you like a copy of the video for your Facebook page?" he asked as if there were actually somewhere in time and space anywhere in the universe where that question would be funny. "Look, Sarah," he said in a conciliatory tone, as if another person had just stepped into his shoes, "Hang in there, I'll be retired soon. It will all be over before you know it, you'll be 600K richer, if not $2.6M richer if you hit pay dirt. Deals don't get better than this, now focus on the benefits you're getting, NOT THIS SHIT!"
Sarah stood in a semi-zombie-like state and with a single minute disbelieving shake of her head, resigned herself to her fate.
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