Examining the Examiner
Wednesday, August 17, 2011 at 4:56PM
Recently, a news story surfaced that claimed Caylee Anthony’s mother had “inked a multi-media deal, 6 figure cash advance.” Several local media outlets in Orlando, and perhaps elsewhere in the country, credited the Los Angeles Examiner with the shocking revelation. There’s a serious flaw with that claim because there is no such publication as the Los Angeles Examiner. The Los Angeles Examiner was founded in 1903 by William Randolph Hearst. In 1962, it merged with the Los Angeles Herald-Express and became the Los Angeles Herald Examiner. On November 2, 1989, it published its last edition. While that paper folded, the San Francisco Examiner, also once owned by Hearst, is still in business, and at one time, the two papers complemented each other.
Today, a new breed of “newspapers” have entered the fray of Internet-based media outlets. While these new kids on the block print no paper editions, they are still loosely considered newspapers to some extent. One of them is Examiner.com, and it has absolutely nothing to do with any real newspaper, in print and online form, with Examiner in its name. The Washington Examiner and the San Francisco Examiner are two examples of print and online versions and there is a lot of confusion between Examiner.com and those two legitimate Examiner newspapers. To clarify the difference, let’s clear up any confusion. Examiner.com is a division of the Clarity Media Group, which is wholly owned by The Anschutz Company. Clarity Media Group is the parent company of the Washington and San Francisco newspapers. However, neither are affiliated with Examiner.com. The CEO of Examiner.com, Rick Blair, asserted that, “We offer stories about the best bike trips in the city and where to go on the weekend. We’re really not covering news.”¹
A few years ago, I thought about applying for one of the Examiner openings. I don’t recall what position it was specifically, i.e., Orlando Flirting Examiner, Orlando Drinking Games Examiner, Orlando Beauty After 50 Examiner, or whatever. (Actually, those are job offerings as of today.) Yes, whatever it was, Examiner.com seemed to promise more than it could deliver right from the start, and I walked away without applying. Their Website claims that you can:
- Earn extra income writing about what you love.
- Build your portfolio and gain valuable experience.
- Set your own hours
- Work from home
All of this sounds enticing because “IT PAYS TO BE AN EXAMINER!”
Rosetta Thurman is the author of Blogging for Branding. Her Website claims that no one writes for “The Examiner,” you simply become an Examiner. From the Blogging for Branding Website:
I see a lot of people saying that they “write for the Examiner,” which is incorrect and misleading. Examiner.com itself is clear that (my bold emphasis):
“We are powered by Examiners, the largest pool of knowledgeable and passionate contributors in the world. Examiners provide unique and original content to enhance life in your local city wherever that may be.”
You are called “an Examiner” as a title that identifies you as a writer for the site. It is simply a descriptive noun. Again, you do not write for any of the Examiner newspapers in any way. Yet it’s a misconception that the site obviously profits from.
Now that we are aware of what Examiner.com is all about, let’s take a look at the bottom line. What kind of money can an Examiner make? Examiner.com bases its compensation on page view traffic, subscriptions, session length and advertiser interest, but it does claim that contributing writers should not consider a writing gig as any sort of full-time employment, and it “tries to be very clear and transparent that this isn’t a ‘quit your day job’ opportunity.”
WritersWeekly claims to be the “highest-circulation freelance writing ezine in the world.” Examiners were issued a call by WritersWeekly to share their experiences. After the interviews, an article was published on the site (no author credit) that consolidated the math of the respondents and claimed that the estimated cost per-article looked like this:
Penny $ 2.09 per article
Barbie $ 2.30 per article
Mario $ 0.07 per article
Katrina $ 1.96 per article
Tim $ 0.88 per article
Clark $ 1.60 per article
Franny $ 0.37 per article
Kathryn $ 1.96 per article
Courtney $ 1.88 per articleAverage: $1.46 per article
Some had written hundreds of articles (usually 400-600 words each) and these were their averages. One claimed to make 10 cents per hour when all was said and done. WritersWeekly also noted that most of the pay-per-click contracts require continued contributions from writers, so if you stop writing for Examiner.com, you lose your residual income while they keep making money in perpetuity.
While many media outlets claimed that the defunct Los Angeles Examiner published the article about the Anthony book deal, it was not remotely close to the kind of newspaper the mind generally conjures up when mentioned by legitimate media sources. To make things more clear, the Orlando Sentinel and Orlando magazine have print and online editions, whereas, Examiner.com merely has an online presence. Writers for the Orlando publications are real journalists. Those with Examiner.com cannot make that claim for the most part. That takes us to the article that started this mess. Written by Donna Thomas, the LA Crime Examiner, who is she?
Her Examiner bio says she “is a published author. She is a frequent contributor on different true crime cases. She has interviewed everyone from Ted Bundy to the Unabomber.” All fine and good, right?
Garth Stapley is a journalist with the The Modesto Bee. In a January 7, 2008 article, Stapley wrote that “Scott Peterson strangled his pregnant wife in their kitchen on Christmas Eve 2002, according to a book written by a woman claiming he confessed to her 15 months ago during a prison visit.” (See: Author says Peterson confessed how and why he killed Laci)
Stapley pointed out that Thomas’s book contained a number of inconsistencies with her first, self-published, book and with statements she made to The Modesto Bee in interviews during a 19-month period. According to Stapley:
His appellate lawyers in October issued a terse statement confirming that their client had contact with Thomas, but denying that Peterson made statements attributed to him in publicity for the book.
“It is unclear what the motivation was for Ms. Thomas’ initial contact with Mr. Peterson,” East Bay attorneys Larry Gibbs and Cliff Gardner wrote to The Bee. “We are unsure of her motive in writing the book after Mr. Peterson broke off contact with Ms. Thomas, but it was not the search for truth.”
Thomas’s “I’m sorry I lied to you” book did not cite her first book, “Conduct Unbecoming - However, the Scott Peterson I Know Is Innocent”, either. She told the newspaper that she had passed a polygraph regarding Peterson’s alleged jailhouse confession, but she never produced proof, and she never produced any of the original letters she claimed she had received from Peterson. Here’s an interesting little tidbit, in my opinion, of course. According to Stapley, Thomas pledged “to donate a portion of her proceeds to ‘Haven/Stanuslaus (sic) Women’s Refuge.’ But Belinda Rolicheck, executive director of the Haven Women’s Center of Stanislaus, said recently she has never spoken with Thomas or her publisher.”
I think Stapley pretty much painted a picture of Donna Thomas, who I am not out to impugn at all. Instead, I strongly recommend that you read The Bee article written by Stapley and formulate your own opinion.
In the 1981 movie, “Body Heat”, William Hurt played a gullible third-rate attorney who was taken advantage of by a sinister woman played by Kathleen Turner. IMDB described it this way:
In the midst of a searing Florida heat wave, a woman convinces her lover, a small-town lawyer, to murder her rich husband.
The great Paul Newman starred in a 1982 movie titled, “The Verdict”. His character was a washed-out, drunk, ambulance chasing attorney who gets set-up to fall hard by a huge law firm headed by James Mason. How could a drunk has-been (or never-was) topple the Boston Diocese and the most powerful law firm in the city? (I urge you to watch both films.)
What this leads me to is quite simple and straightforward. Jose Baez and Cheney Mason sure looked inept in the courtroom. By that, I mean the prosecution was clear and concise and they produced compelling evidence that should have convicted Caylee Anthony’s alleged murderer. While many still argue over the outcome of the trial, one thing we did learn was that the defense was shrewd, cunning, and willing to lie in order to exonerate their client. I would assert that there’s a good possibility that Donna Thomas and Examiner.com were set-up by Baez or one of his goons. For the life of me, and this is the very first thing that came to mind, I would never suspect that a real whistle-blower would contact an Examiner to hand over an exclusive story like this one. That sort of “bombshell” belongs to the Riveras and Graces of the world, or any other legitimate and credible journalist. Thomas claims it was sources that told her, not one singular source. That’s suspect to me because she wrote most of the article using the plural, but in the end, she wrote that a source said Anthony doesn’t care if her book is boycotted or not; she has her 6-figure advance and she will be flush with money for a long time to come. The article finished by citing a source - singular - not sources, as saying anyone who thinks that crime doesn’t pay is sadly mistaken. Also, who could possibly live for a long time on a 6-figure salary, particularly after the IRS, her attorneys and handlers, and potential lawsuits are paid off?
With regard to a writer for Examiner.com, any writer, my guess is that an average pay-per-click amount would be somewhere around one cent. If a “How to make meatloaf” article written by an LA Home Recipes Examiner gets about 200 hits, it might make a whopping $2.00 for the hour it took to write. Imagine a story that draws the attention of millions of people worldwide; a powerful exclusive! How many hits would you guess it could garner? Hundreds of thousands? Millions? You know, it would be an easy incentive to make a fast buck, that’s for sure. Lots and lots of bucks, for that matter, but I’m not trying to infer anything seedy about the author. No doubt, the defense is capable of doing anything to keep their client in the limelight by planting a seed and later denying it, because that will keep her star from fading into oblivion, right? I really can’t say, but as far as I’m concerned, any way you look at it, it’s pure sleaze, from top to bottom. Bottom is more like it, and I’m not going to buy into any of it.
If you have any type of problem commenting on this or any other post, please let me know by sending me an e-mail. You can use the “Contact Me” form located at the bottom of the left sidebar.
Dave Knechel | tagged Clarity Media Group, Examiner.com, Garth Stapley, Rosetta Thurman, San Francisco Examiner, Scott Peterson, The Anschutz Company, The Modesto Bee, William Randolph Hearst, WritersWeekly | in Casey Anthony, Caylee Anthony, Cheney Mason, Dave Knechel, David B. Knechel, David Knechel, Jose Baez, Marinade Dave, Marinade Dave Knechel, Marinade Dave’s Caylee Anthony Posts, Orlando Magazine, Orlando Sentinel, marinadedave | Share Article 
LEGAL NOTICE
©David B. Knechel. All Rights Reserved. No portion of this site can be reproduced in it's entirety or in part without expressed written permission by the owner/administrator of this site in accordance with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. Section 512(c)(3) of the U.S. Copyright Act, 17 U.S.C. §512(c)(3). The charges against defendants are mere accusations and the subjects are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law.
Reader Comments (43)
Would Casey's "book" be classified as "Fiction" or "Fantasy"? Everyone knows there would be NO truth in it. I understood that Casey told who the father of Caylee was ..... Funny, she's also said it was a one-night-stand and she didn't remember his name; he died in an accident; etc. She is doing good to know her own name and able to recite it. Thanks for keeping us posted on the Casey lies.
Fiction or Fantasy, Kitty? It doesn't matter to me, I wouldn't buy it, and any reputable publishing house would do some serious marketing studies before they'd pay out any sort of significant sum. She could name anyone as the father, but that wouldn't mean anything if the guy didn't submit a DNA sample, which he wouldn't be obligated to do. Someone asked me if he could file a wrongful death suit against her. Now, that would be a real turn of events!
I haven't been writing a lot, let alone about her lies, but I'm sure more posts will follow. Thank you.
Dave, this article is awesome! When I read the Examiner article I knew that it wasn't true because of many things that they said, especially about crime doesn't pay and that she would name the father. Her defense team I would hope would never let her do that because the father could come after her with a wrongful death suit if he is truly still alive. She doesn't know how to tell the truth and either does anyone on her defense team, so I don't see any kind of a book from them selling. I wouldn't put it past her defense team to plant a seed to keep her name out there so she isn't forgotten and they can still try and get a paid interview. That was my first thought, actually when I read the article in the so called Examiner.. I haven't watched any of the news programs that have anything to do with her and yours is the only blog I read even though you have articles regarding her. I really don't care what happens to her and I would like for her to just fade into the darkness and never be heard of again.
Well thats Caseys job problem for probation taken care of .Work from home work your own hours..Doh I forgot she doesnt have a home.
Dave~~I do not believe that Ca Ca signed a deal to write her memoirs. Phooey. This is just another gimmick to keep her in the limelight. I wonder how many fools ( and I was one of them) who clicked on the link , The San Francisco Examiner. All those coppers add up and we have been duped.
You put a great deal of work in this post and for that, thank you. I have to make my comments brief and hopefully they will show up in here.
Well, I didn't click on it because my objective is to avoid promoting any of CaCa's or her family's stories... wrote to Dr. Phil and told him he can kiss my patootie if he wastes time interviewing any of them and all the advertisers as well. May not have any effect, but it's worth my time to try. Thanks for your report on the false examiner(s).
I can't seem to comment on my own blog, so let's hope I can do it this way...
Hi Sandy - I should have known better to have clicked on it, but if it's any consolation, it was only one click and it stayed up all day as one click. I needed to have it up in order to write about it. As for Dr. Phil, more power to you. The more people that write in, the more impact it will have. Well, in their case, hopefully.
I'm glad you liked my report. Thank you for that and for letting me know how you feel.
well written article with good information, thanks dave.
Thank you, cali patti. I see you are able to comment again.
I also wrote the Phil show and voiced my displeasure at his upcomimg interview with the Anthonys. Why these ppl think they can get the truth when others have not been able to is mind boogling. EGO is my guess. I won't watch him again.
That's good. One of the things I heard on the news today was that there would be no restrictions on the line of questioning, but what is that supposed to mean? You should hear what Drew Kesse said about missing children and the Anthonys since finding out that Caylee was never missing. It's some pretty powerful stuff, let me tell you.
ORLANDO, Fla. -- Casey Anthony's attorneys filed an emergency motion Wednesday that could stop her probation.
The document was filed with the 5th District Court of Appeals in Daytona Beach.
Anthony's attorneys said the probation sentence would be illegal. They cited bias from the original judge in the case and mentioned an interview Judge Stan Strickland gave to WESH 2 News.
Defense Team Appeals the Turnips Probation
EMERGENCY PETITION FOR WRIT OF PROHIBITION
Thanks for the links. I am reading the petition now, so a new post may be in order.
Wow, Mary Jo, thank you! Awesome, huh? You do know that it could very well be true, but I doubt it because I do think the defense is trying to spread stories all over he place to keep the Anthony mystique alive and thriving. The big reason why I think it's not true stems from the way the article was poorly written. It's as if Baez and Mason sucker punched her with a HUGE story she just had to lap up and spit out. Heck, I could have called her with the info. I learned my lesson about believing some of the things that were sent to me without checking out the sources. Also, Mike Boslet instilled that in me when something could not be validated. Planting a seed was precisely what I thought first. I would also say that a pay-per-click site like Examiner.com could easily lead to phony stories to bump up the till. Heck, Thomas could have made thousands by now over an unsubstantiated story. What an incentive!
To be honest, I don't care about Ca Ca either. I just want her to fade away. Thank you for appreciating my article.
Hey, ecossie! How ya doin'?
I think she'll be working at one of her attorneys' office. They might even set up a cot so she can claim residency. Who knows what story they'll come up with next?
You know, Snoopy, just the mention of a memoir type book is a joke. Growing up in the Anthony family, becoming a teen mom? Come on, get real. You do know that the SF Examiner is not affiliated with the online Examiner and the REAL newspaper won't see a dime of it. Here's the deal, though. It looks to me that we might not have been the only suckers who got duped. Thomas may have suffered the same fate, but for one thing... MONEY, and she made it. So much for making money off a dead child. Where are all the trolls now?
Thank you. Yes, I did put some work into this one and I appreciate your thanks.
Hi Dave! Great article! I had heard about this "clicks for cash" thing a while ago and then I saw it on a comments section of the Orlando Sentinel I think when someone said - do not click on articles you see related to HER because people get paid - unbelievable!!!! After this trial and the sickening behavior of her attorneys who pretty much wiped out my belief in the justice system, I vow to not watch or buy anything that is even remotely related to this woman - nothing with her family either. I will continue to get my information from a trusted source - YOU! Be well :-)
Hi Lisa - I don't like the pay-per-click concept if it pertains to news because it creates the incentive to sensationalize stories in order to gain more hits. I'm not accusing Thomas of that, but it sure does question a writer's credibility.
I know what you mean by wiping out your belief in the justice system, but for the most part, juries get it right. One of the strangest things about this case is that everything seemed to fall in place for the defendant. It's as if she was a fluke of nature because she had all kinds of breaks. It was an anomaly. Now, she's appealing the probation order and she might just win that one, too. In the end, the best thing to do is what you suggest - boycott, boycott, boycott!
Thanks for having faith in me. That's quite an endorsement.
Dave~~when I clicked on that link, I thought it was a reputable newspaper because it said Examiner, San Francisco. I am not familar with all the newspapers in the US so I was duped in reading the article but I did not believe it. When I read that Ca Ca was going to identify Caylee's father is these so-called memoirs, that is when I knew the article was pure fabrication. I am stupid, but not that stupid!
Who in their right minds would advance a six digit payout to Ca Ca and expect her to refund the money, if she did not meet the deadline with a manuscript? The woman who wrote the article would do good writing comedy.
Snoopy, the whole darn thing smells of 8-day-old fish. Even the writer's grasp of grammar reeked, and absolutely, what publishing company would front someone like Ca Ca a 6-figure sum on speculation? I'm just not buying into it, no matter where the story came from.
Hi Ya Dave! Thanks for the work you put into this article. I have not clicked on that link because I pretty much ignore any hogwash being put out there....but especially after seeing this woman on HLN. She could not even maintain eye contact with the camera...I just flat out felt like she was lying. Thanks for doing the research to support the opinion I'd already formed about her story.
It is all a moot point now anyway. Caylee's alleged murderer mommy will have a lifetime to dangle that carrot in front of a worldwide audience of folks who really just want some closure...but that closure will never come in the form of justice for Caylee. The only justice we might see is that carrot wilting over and over again in the hand of the holder. IMO the only closure we can expect to get from Caylee's death is that she is safe and loved where she is now.
Hi katfish - I wouldn't normally go after a fellow writer, but this story was just too weird to take it at face value. Plural sources turned into a singular source, the grammar was off, and the story immediately struck me as farcical. Maybe I'm wrong about that, but the odds are in my favor. Knowing the defense attorneys led me to believe it could easily be something they suckered someone into writing about it, with the intent to deny it afterward. Keep you know who in the news loop.
I think people should find the closure they want on their own, because a carrot dangling before us will yield nothing from her. She will never tell the true story of what actually happened to her daughter.
I appreciate your acknowledgement about the work I put into this post. Yes, I did want to write an in-depth expose on this matter and I'm glad you think I did. Thank you. I guess you won't be making any trips to the courthouse any time soon.
Dave I dont think she could legaly work at a defence attorneys office.All there lclients tend to be criminals.An Casey is not allowed to mix with them per her probation.
That's a very good point, ecossie. Maybe Cheney can hire her as a live-in maid for a year. Kill two birds at one time.
Hi Dave,
Wow! This is an excellent article. Thanks. You certainly did a lot of research for it. I think you described Mason and Baez perfectly. I did not click on the Examiner article. I will not watch or buy anything that would give any of those lying scum bags any monetary gain. I am so very sick of the lawyers and the A's, all of them. It just seems that there is no justice even for the wicked. They all will do anything to be in the spot light. I believe that what goes around comes around but it doesn't come around fast enough for me. I can't even talk about the probation thing because it just gets me pizzed off all over again. Keep those good articles coming.
Yikes, Frankie! Thank you very much. Yes, I did some intensive research on this one, but it had to be done. I had to expose everything and everyone related to this "news" story.
There's no doubt in my mind that almost everyone is getting sick of the entire Anthony entourage and what they do to remain in the spotlight. I'm giving serious thought about writing a horror story titled, "The Family That Would Not Go Away."
Unfortunately, as long as they hang around, I'll always have something to write about. That includes the bottom feeders.
The Orlando Sentinel learned that José Baez is being investigated by the Florida Bar Assoc. re the probation. It seems that one of the defense team admitted that they knew that Ca Ca was supposed to serve her probation upon release from jail and did not inform the court of the error in the 'written' order.
EMERGENCY PETITION FOR WRIT OF PROHIBITION
Thanks for the link, Snoopy. Do I smell another story?
Dave~~you may want to take note that Baez did not sign the Emergency Petition for Writ of Prohibition!
Could it be that José is no longer representing Ca Ca? I see the petition was compiled by Mason and Fryer. Maybe Baez has taken on another role for Ms Ca Ca and it would create a conflict of interest staying on as her counsel too??
Oh, I wouldn't read anything into Baez not signing the petition. This was drawn up by Mason and Fryer, that's all. Baez may have been out of town trying to get money for an exclusive interview or something else. He was, after all, the attorney who denied the story about a book deal.
Hey Dave..
Being from the Western part of the country, I was well acquainted with the Los Angeles Herald Examiner..and when the "LA Examiner" was quoted, I ignored the story, as it did not exist. Thanks for another great post!
You know, dadgum, I found it odd that legitimate media outlets gave the LA Crime Examiner story any credibility at all. Calling the source the LA Examiner was a joke, as if it really IS a newspaper. I would like to see some retractions. I won't, I'm sure.
You are quite welcome, by the way. Thank you for enjoying the post.
Dave, Thank you for a very informative article. Casey the Teflon Felon will never tell anyone the truth about Caylee. If they gave Casey sodium pentothal, and asked what happened to Cayle, I believe the sociopath would still lie. Any book by her would be pure fiction.
Good morning, Rob, thank you. The Teflon Felon... I love it! That's a keeper. I wouldn't trust a word coming from her and it would just be a rehash of what Baez said in his opening statement. The only people who would but the book are the 12 jurors because they were the only ones that bought into her story.
Laurali - You put your comment on the "Behind-the-scenes look at the 9/11 memorial" post and I think you meant to put it here. E-mail me if you want to change the location.
Hi Dave
This is one of the finest articles I've ever read. Are you sure you're not missing your calling as an investigative journalist?
Hi Tiffany - Wow, that's quite an endorsement. Thank you. I have been told that before; that I was (or should be) an investigative journalist, and it came from a couple of media people and attorneys in town.
Believe me, I really appreciate your telling me that. It means an awful lot to me.
well Dave...even if Princess Ca-Ca pens a book, memrois, or gets a 3 page spread i will not lie, i'd probably read it just out of morbid curiosity. What ever is written about this case and regardless of the outcome it will never change my persception that she did and did it with intention. Nothing will change that...Hell to make the list of the most hated person in America is quit the feat wouldnt you agree...?
As for the parents, i think its important that we remember that to some degree they are victims and i'm pretty sure they are having a hard time with the not-guilty verdict and i'm more certain that George will never get over the lies laid out by the Defense in the interest of his daughter and her freedom.
I will say this, i dont think i'll ever get over this case regardless of how much time passes and i will not feel truely at peace until carma catches up. I soooo pray that there are so many future legal entanglements that she wishes she received the life sentence...but that's just me...
Hi BMan - Just as long as you don't have to pay for it, right? To make the list of the most hated person in America is quite a feat, yes, and that won't change any time soon, especially if she keeps popping up in the news.
George and Cindy were victims, for sure, but they didn't do much to help themselves, either. Their intentions are not as pure as, let's say, Marc Klaas or Drew Kesse; people who seem like genuine, caring and helpful individuals. The Anthonys did more to hurt themselves than help. No, they will never get over the loss of their grandchild, and George will never get over what his daughter accused him of. Fortunately for him, no one believed any of it for a second.
I don't think anyone will ever get over this case. Not the ones like us, who followed it so intently. Don't worry about a thing, she's got a lot on her plate and there will be oom for more lawsuits down the road.
Thanks, BMan, it's always a pleasure seeing you.
Ca Ca is #2 on the creepiest people in America list after Marilan(sp) Manson.
I was surprised when these lists came out that was an overlooked fact.
I would rather be hated than thought of as creepy.
Hi cali patti - I like the fact that you started your comment off by explaining that Ca Ca is #2. Literally and figuratively. She's also #1 on the most hated list. I hadn't heard about the creepy designation, but it makes sense. I'd hate to be #2 to Manson's #1, but there's no better way to describe both of them. I wouldn't want to date either one of them, either. Ca Ca, for obvious reasons, and Manson, because I don't know what sex it is. Nor do I want to know.
Thank you for sharing that information.
Hi Dave - Great article -I truly enjoyed it. I really don't think CaCa will come to Orlando even if she is ordered to. She will keep herself hidden for the time being and possibly enter a mental health center. She needs to find one that will say there is no way she can serve probation. IMO if she was so seriously mentally ill she would have entered a facility within a week after getting out. This is just an excuse. I don't keep up with her like I use to and was hoping by now she would have faded away. I think the longer Baez keeps her in the limelight the sooner her house will fall around her. She can't live like this for long - It's not in her genes.
As far as Manson Dave , he has no sex. He is a creature from outer space. But I do enjoy his hearings for parole.. No one but him could utter such loony tune reasons why he should be free. A great comedy show - How does the court keep from laughing at him?
Hi Nika1 - Thank you very much, I'm very pleased you enjoyed it. I don't think she'll come to Orlando, either, but your idea of entering a mental health facility is a good one, although I am fairly certain it would only delay the inevitable. Upon release, she'd still have to serve it, unless she could do it while there. One thing is certain - with each passing day, her value as a news asset dwindles. No one wants to pay good money and feel the wrath of a punishing public. She's toxic and there's no way a PR firm could ever rehabilitate her.
Manson is a joke, alright, but the parole board would stop laughing if they ever set him free. Nope, prison life is right up his alley.
Dave, this was great! And for what it's worth, that's not the only "news" venue out there, posing itself as the real thing, for click-cash. I have a friend who drew a measly income for a short time doing the same thing for a similar East Coast outlet- if it sounds too good to be true... more money as a dishwasher, lots of restaurants looking for help. This was really very good work.
Good morning, Karen - The most compelling thing about a pay-per-click writer is that the form of payout compromises the integrity of the writer by creating an incentive to sensationalize or completely make up a story, and there are no watchdogs to keep them on the straight and narrow. I'm reminded of Clifford Irving, who wrote the fake autobiography about Howard Hughes. Fortunately, Hughes surfaced to debunk the author. In the case of Donna Thomas, Baez surfaced to debunk her, but we all know how this team of lawyers plays games. In the end, we are more confused and their defendant remains in the news.
Thank you for your acknowledgement about my work on this post. It was something that was eating at me, so I researched the claim and came up with this. I'm glad you liked it.
Hi Dave,
Just reading about the Anthonys "latest appearance" to make money.
They are going to appear on the Dr. Phil Show. Please, tell me WHAT it
is going to take to keep these greedy GRAVE ROBBERS out of the media?
They are a shame, and embarassment to Caylee's memory.
I don't know what to say, Mary. If media groups are willing to pay them, we can either watch, read or listen, or pay them no mind at all. That's how shows get cancelled. At the same time, and I don't want to sound morbid, I think there are elements of the population that find a strange fascination with George and Cindy, in a moribund sort of way. They want to see them stumble and fall.
Hi Dave - Are you getting ready for Irene - Looks like she may be visiting the end of the week. I hope you stock up and don't forget the medicine. She might still be a cat. 1 hurricane when she comes your way . Be safe!!
Hi Nika1 - I'm not too worried about it. It will probably miss us and continue on up to Canada. Nova Scotia. Category 4.
Just kidding, Snoopy!
You are right Dave I will not be making any trips to the courthouse anytime soon....in FL that is. Jury selection is slated to begin in Nicholas Sheley's murder trial on August 29 with a tenative date of September 6 for opening statements. The trial will last 3 to 4 weeks so I will be a busy girl very soon ;)
I haven't been back to the courthouse since sentencing and I didn't think I'd be going back for anything related to you know who, but there's a hearing on Thursday morning I might attend. It will be good to see some of the people again - the media and employees, including deputies. As sad as the case was, my experience in the courthouse was one I will never forget, and there were some positive things I took from it. Now, I will look forward to reading what you have to say about Sheley. I'm sure it will be quite fascinating. Too bad I won't be able to pop into the courthouse there.
I must tell you again that I so much enjoyed our time at the trial. You are a delightful person!
Thank for researching and providing us with facts. I'm not surprised by anything you uncovered. I'm curious about what you and your readers think of Rookie Attorney Fryer so blatantly attacking the integrity of the Honorable Judge Stan Strickland and to a lesser degree the integrity of the Honorable Judge Belvin Perry. Has she cut off her nose to spite her face by accusing both of these sitting judges of improprieties and a bias against her client, AKA Ca Ca the most hated woman ( sorry Cheney Mason not child) in America. Will these judges and other judges who observe the situation think she is she is merely being a fierce advocate for her client, CaCa, or is she crossing a line? Has Mason messed up her future by insisting she be the one to make allegations against sitting judges and argue motions or is he helping her to make a name for herself? Do the judges and other lawyers think she's doing a great job? Or do they think she's nuts?
I'm curious what every one else thinks.
Hi Terry Tsk - Great to see you. One thing that I've noticed about this defense is their proclivity to put their feet in their mouths whenever a legal argument arises. While calling the attorneys "the Honorable So-and So," they turned around and insulted their integrity. That's only one, and there are many more. It's as if there's a genuine rivalry between Mason and the two judges and, oh yes, an inherent animosity, to boot. No doubt, Fryer is at Mason's beck and call, and while they may feel they are right, I seriously doubt the appellate court will agree. No, I don't think any honest judge, 5th district or circuit, would allow trashing other judges unless there was some sort of legal cause, but I just don't see it. As for Fryer, I'll give her credit for her zeal, but in court, law trumps that. She's still quite young, but I don't think her argument will prevail. In my opinion, she may have written it, but it's still Mason's signature all over it, and he just loves to rattle judges. It wouldn't surprise me if he takes it all the way up to SCOTUS if the appellate turns him down.
Best Wishes, Marinade
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAVE - Have a great day !
I am doing just that, Nika1! Thank you ever so kindly. I am really looking forward to coming back to Gainesville this year. It's a great community.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARINADE DAVE-HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY!!
Thank you, Snoopy. So far, it's a very happy day, except for that silly carrot cake in the fridge that keeps begging me to release it from the cold to the warmth of my belly. I'm biding my time.
Happy Happy Birthday to a very fine man.
Many more with each birthday being better than the last.
From California to Florida.
Thank you, cali patti, you have been a very good friend and that's important to me. I hope I have many more birthdays to spend with friends like you. That's what would make each one better than the last. The Internet sure makes Florida and California seem closer together. That's a great thing, and how we lived without it is beyond me. Perhaps, we will meet in person some day. That's a great birthday wish!
Happy Birthday Dave!!!!
Thank you, Amber. That's sweet of you. Now, I am headed to Kohl's to look for blue jeans. I just don't get it. It used to be that my inseam was more than my waist. Now, it's... well, never mind, but Kohl's generally has pants that fit.
FYI~ ~ We the Little People demand some action in this blog!!
I come to visit and never find any one home....