* AND PAYBACK!

* Doing some research this afternoon. Will be back tomorrow.

BLATANT RACISM!

    A man who beat a 2010 rape conviction on a technicality was sentenced after a retrial to 30 to 60 years in state prison on Friday.
    Anthony James Johnson, 29, had been offered a plea deal prior to the retrial that would have resulted in a 6-to-12-year sentence, but he refused.
The beginning of the January 12, 2012 article, “30 to 60 in state prison for child rapist.” (click here).
    I don’t believe there’s a single person in Lancaster County who doesn’t see the racism behind Johnson’s sentence – and a little payback for that “technicality.”
Please check back later today.

DID SOMEONE ASSIST?

HOW DID SHE DO IT?
    A 50-year-old climbing a tree?
    Someone hanging themselves 25 feet up?
    Someone hanging themselves from a tree without limbs?
    Someone climbing an evergreen, with all that pitch, and the needles poking you?
    And they found her body at 7 PM. How could she have pulled this off with nobody seeing what she was doing? This is right in the center of town?
    Was the tree close enough to a window that she could tie the rope to the tree, then crawl out the window?
Posted on the LancTalk forum under the article, “Body found in Elizabethtown identified,” (click here).
    Very good questions. Could someone get us some answers?
Please check back later today.

A MADE-UP STUDY! – 3

TRUTH AND JUSTICE?
    It was one Millersville University student doing a term paper. Yes, that is the truth behind Jack Brubaker’s referring to a “Millersville University study” and referring to the University repeatedly in his story (see “A MADE-UP STUDY!” 1 and 2 below).
    We assume, trust and hope that all newspapers and their owners, editors and reporters seek truth and justice and are ethical.
    They aren‘t, though, and it’s a difficult and terrible lesson to accept.
    The Steinman family has owned the Lancaster Newspapers for years. Prior to the FCC forcing them to sell WGAL-TV and the WLAN radio station, they had an absolute monopoly on all the news distributed to the public in Lancaster County.
    And the Steinman family are racists – plain and simple. And when I say racist – I mean old time segregationists to the core. And that has been reflected in their newspapers for over 75 years and directly reflected in Lancaster County being one of the most racist and segregated counties in this country.

A MADE-UP STUDY! – 2

              IT TAKES A UNIVERSITY?

      Key words: “conducted by Lancaster New Era”
    To be valid, any “careful examination” would need to be done by someone (anyone?) not from Lancaster. Preferably the FBI. Maybe when they are done in Sanford, FL?
This comment in under “A MADE-UP STUDY!” immediately below.
    Yes, of course you are right, but in this case I’m actually going for the other partner in the “study.” Again, the fourth paragraph of the article states this:
    These are some of the conclusions of a careful examination of criminal sentencing in Lancaster County conducted by the Lancaster New Era and Millersville University.
    So, what part do you believe “Millersville University” played in this? Which department at Millersville? How many professors were involved? How many students? What kind of “study” did they do?  Where was it published?
    You aren’t going to believe this…
Please check back later today.

A MADE-UP STUDY!

LIAR, LIAR!

Local judges found not
guilty of racial bias

Contrary to conventional thinking, county court sentences follow state guidelines and don’t discriminate against minorities, a new study shows.

By Jack Brubaker
Originally Published Feb 14, 2005 13:42

    Many people think Pennsylvania judges, including those here, sock minority defendants with terms far longer than the ones whites receive.
    But contrary to those perceptions, Lancaster County judges sentence most criminals within state guidelines and show no bias against minorities.
    If anything, local judges may be slightly tougher on white defendants.
   These are some of the conclusions of a careful examination of criminal sentencing in Lancaster County conducted by the Lancaster New Era and Millersville University.

(Click here to read the entire article.)

    I was so astounded when I read this article in February of 2005 that I picked up the phone and called Jack Brubaker. And I found out the whole premise of this article is a lie – a huge lie told by Jack and the editors and owners of the Lancaster Newspapers.
Please check back tomorrow.

SPOTLIGHT ON RACISM AT LNP!

FORTY YEARS
BEHIND THE TIMES!

    The Rev. Edward Bailey, a local African-American minister at the Bethel AME Church in Lancaster, wore a hoodie while walking in his neighborhood Tuesday.   And he had a different reaction when he saw a white woman walking toward him.
    Sometimes he will cross the street to avoid seeing a white person tighten up and avoid eye contact with him, he said.
    Not this time.
    “I had to tell myself I’m not crossing the street. There is no reason I should cross the street,” he said. “Today I said, ‘Good morning,’ and kept on walking.”
From today’s front page article by Cindy Stauffer, titled “Spotlight on hoodies” online but in the print edition titled “Hoodies can’t hide,” (click here).
    Seriously? This is 2012! Seriously?
    On a Tuesday morning in his own neighborhood?
    This is a direct result of the blatant racism at the Lancaster Newspapers.
    This is a direct result.
Please check back later today!

*** BREAKING NEWS ***

Bail for suspect in stabbing of Country Day student raised to $500,000
(Click here)
Someone was listening! Thank you DA Craig Stedman! 
And thanks to everyone for your comments!

“I WAS CHOSEN”

               THINK YOU KNOW ME?

    Nineteen-year-old Peter Weida had a very active twitter account in the days before he attacked an 18-year-old foreign exchange student with a meat cleaver on Sunday, March 25 at about 11:00 o‘clock in the morning.
.   His twitter account is here. Today’s LNP article, “Stabbing of teen not provoked” is here. 

March 24
– Think you know me? you don’t know shit.
– Fuhgit

March 21
– Are You ready to join the adventure?
– With the journey comes struggle, but if you let God in, you can do anything.
– His home is in your heart.. You just need to let him in when he challenges you.
– I’m not perfect.. But God’s Love is.
– I’ll be real if you let me, you just have to trust this.
– I don’t care about our past, because there is always the future..
– I mean it when I say I need you.
– Still waiting for someone to start..

March 20
– Eating candy over here…
– Sometimes you have to relearn the past to find You
– Ready for that new new
– This is the point in the relationship when you give back.. *Cough cough*
– Same old same old.
– I’ve shown you mine, now will you show me yours?
– I know what I see, but why do you continue to hide it from me?
– When we are trapped in this state of mind, we only feed to the problem. The problem that we are all trying to escape. Pain.
– We want more people to love us and more materials to please us, but when it comes to giving back, we shy away.
– When it comes down to it, we seem to only care about possessing. And in the end, it doesn’t ever actually satisfy us..
– Why do we always waste what we’re given? We all live on one world, but we never seem to be able to get enough
– I can give You everything I have, but it means nothing if —— You don’t choose to take it.
– Taking off the camo.
– I Love You
– I was Chosen
– Nothing wrong with walking.. it’s nice to just be able to look around every once in a while and take in the world.
– I’m liking the weather
Please check back later today.

OUTRAGE – $50,000 BAIL!

HE USED A MEAT CLEAVER!
  
    Weida was in custody Sunday night, charged with attempted homicide, aggravated assault and simple assault by physical menace.   
    He was arraigned today and committed to Lancaster County Prison in lieu of $50,000 bail, Umstead said.
Today’s LNP story, “UPDATE: Police say man stabbed student,” (click here).
    WGAL-TV is reporting 19-year-old Peter Weida used a meat cleaver on an 18-year-old foreign exchange student “causing deep cuts to her head and arms,” (click here). Lancaster Police Lt. Todd Umstead is quoted on the tape saying it was a “serious and brutal attack” and the other 17-year-old who intervened probably “saved her life.” Weida reportedly also threatened that person.
    And his bail is set at $50,000?
    This is so shocking and such an outrage that I need to take a break before typing any more.

YOU BE THE JUDGE!

STEDMAN VS. TOTARO? 
    I’ll take Stedman over Totaro any day. Totaro seemed to cave to his political bosses without hesitation even if it meant subverting justice, in my opinion. At least Stedman is trying to improve the archaic court system in Lancaster County.
This comment in yesterday under “INVESTIGATE THE DA!”
    So, who runs Lancaster? Who are the bosses?
    And what happened to TalkDelaware forum and will Marvelous Marv really ask his boss for the financial reports on the Marriott Hotel?
Please check back later today.

INVESTIGATE THE DA!

JUSTICE DENIED!
    Lancaster’s system is not efficient and comparing it with Chester and other counties that use individual calendars proves it, according to District Attorney Craig Stedman.
    Stedman wants the county’s judges to change the system.
    “My issue is entirely with the system rather than the judges,” Stedman said in a prepared statement last week.
    “In fact,” he added, “I want the judges more, rather than less, involved because they have to be for things to move.”
    And the district attorney reiterated his belief that “no one can really move cases efficiently in the system we have, regardless of good intentions and efforts.”
Today’s article, “Justice Delayed, part 3: How other counties handle criminal caseloads,” (click here).
    There you have it folks! All these articles were done at the behest of District Attorney Craig Stedman. It didn’t work though – and he has obviously angered the Judges on top of everything else and is now backtracking as fast as he can! And the Judges are no longer speaking to reporter Jack Brubaker.
    And what exactly is a “prepared statement” and who received it? Did the DA prepare it just for the Lancaster Newspapers? Did he send it to WGAL-TV or the Associated Press?
    This entire series has been a total bust and a joke and a waste of our time:
1. The Lancaster Newspapers suddenly declared there was a major problem with the Lancaster Courts that no one except the District Attorney seemed to be aware of.
2. They failed to adequately demonstrate that there was a major problem with the court system.
3. They felt they had a right to try to force the Judges to implement what the District Attorney requested. This is an abuse of their power and unethical journalism.
4. Last week it was noted here, from a comment made on the LancTalk.com forum, that they had not compared any of the statistics from surrounding counties. So this week that’s all they did – they compared it to one county – York – even putting a picture of the York Courthouse on the front page! Have they lost their minds?
5. In a series of 30 or so articles you need to name specific cases. They named all of two in the course of three weeks and too many articles to count.
6. It was too much for the public to read and try to digest in a short amount of time. Are you going to read three articles and suddenly decide we need to switch to a Master Judge system? Are they nuts?
    I think it’s now time for the Lancaster Newspapers to “investigate” the District Attorney’s office. For beginners they can find out how much the Grand Jury is costing us and what they are doing and they can also ask why there are so many unsolved murders.
    In fact, I’m really tired of seeing the permanent box at the top of this site on the horrific, unsolved murder of Olga Sanchez-Reyes. Why doesn’t the Sunday News investigate that and put some pressure on District Attorney Craig Stedman to solve this murder, get a killer off the streets and bring some closure to her family and friends!
Tomorrow – back to Marv Adams’ disgraceful editorial today, “You have the right to know.” And there are excellent comments coming in on several of the stories below – thank you!

IT’S NOT AWKWARD…

 IT’S UNETHICAL!

    The Sunday News is in the rather awkward position of writing about its own right-to-know request to see the county’s records of the income of county hotels and motels, relating to the tax revenue used to fund the convention center, while the paper is published by Lancaster Newspapers Inc., which is a partner in the entity which leases the Marriott from the Redevelopment Authority.
    I encourage the Sunday News to have an ombudsman. That would be an objective observer charged with assuring the paper’s objectivity, accuracy and propriety. This situation has so many cross-currents, having an ombudsman would, I believe, help you maintain your well-earned perception of integrity.
A Letter to the Editor in today’s Sunday News by Andy Saylor.
    It’s totally unethical and that’s why every code of journalism ethics states news organizations should not become involved in anything of this nature. Period.
    I could cite example after example. This is from the Associated Press Statement of News Values and Principles (click here):
    It means we avoid behavior or activities that create a conflict of interest and compromise our ability to report the news fairly and accurately, uninfluenced by any person or action.
    The Lancaster Newspapers lost their “integrity” years and years ago.
Please check back later today.

PASSED DOWN FOR GENERATIONS

BLACK MALE CODE

ESPN, “Heat don hoodies after teen’s death,” (click here).

    .…Across the country this week, parents were talking to their children, especially their black sons, about the Code. It’s a talk the black community has passed down for generations, an evolving oral tradition from the days when an errant remark could easily cost black people their job, their freedom, or sometimes their life.
Boston Globe, “Trayvon Martin, my son, and the Black Male Code.” (click here).

EXACTING CAPITAL PUNISHMENT

THREATENED?
    People make fun of Canada and our very strict gun control laws, but this Florida story makes me wonder whether the USA should collectively be treated for some Anxiety Syndrome. I really believe that Racism should receive the status of a Mental Illness Disorder. Instead, let’s make it easier for us to exact capital punishment because “we feel threatened”? God be with the parents of that poor boy!
This comment in under “STAND YOUR GROUND” below.
Please check back later today.

STAND YOUR GROUND

                        SHOCKING!
    The level of racism on this thread is shocking.
     Yesterday, I had fun with forums. Today, not so much. This was posted on the TalkPa.net forum under a thread titled, “Justice Department, FBI to probe Florida teen’s death.”
    And this is not an overstatement – the level of racism and hate on that thread is totally shocking and I’m not going to repeat any of it here.
    Related to Trayvon Martin.s death, a friend on Facebook linked to this New York Times piece, “Pity the Poor Gun Lobby,” (click here) which includes this:
    This year, in search of new worlds to conquer — or at least to arm — a couple of states are giving serious attention to bills that would allow gun owners to carry their concealed weapons in places like day-care centers and school buses.
    …Why, other than a frantic search for ways to show your gun bona fides, would legislators pass something like the Stand Your Ground law? As the whole country learned this week, 21 states now have laws allowing people to shoot anyone they feel is putting them in imminent physical danger, whether they’re at home, in a bar or on the street being hassled by an irritating panhandler. It was thanks to Florida’s Stand Your Ground law that a crime-watch volunteer was not arrested after he fatally shot an African-American teenager with no criminal record — and, as far as we can tell so far, no intent to do anything more dangerous than carrying home a bag of Skittles.

WHAT A DEAL?

COMMUTE THIS!

    If it was built for Amtrak riders, why is it ten blocks away from the station?
Posted under today’s article, “Train riders get parking deal,” (click here).
    Yeah, what’s the deal? And what the hell is going on in Columbia?
    Does anyone have any common sense?
Please check back later today.

THE RETURN OF BIGMAC!

A SEA OF OUTRAGE?

    Yeah, she’s nice but I’ll never hear from her because I called her out. She was using the TB meets to hit on other women. I had a few of the ladies let me know they were less than thrilled at her passes.
    I can’t be serious today! Joy of joys, the return of Bigmac is here! The above is something I’ve long suspected about the Trashback “outings” but never seen stated as fact before. It was posted on the TalkPa.net forum in response to this post:
    I miss the old gang from TB. I know that some have moved here, but a lot of the old gang is not here. Bigmac got in touch with me a couple of weeks ago – she was going to try to have a TB reunion and wanted to know if I was interested. I haven’t heard from her since.
    And, of course, some of the women were offended that Bigmac had not hit on them and the first poster is a male. Would he have called out a male if they were using the Trashback meets to hit on women? 
    Who cares? It’s been that kind of day. On LancTalk.com, where Limbaugh continues to be the hot topic, the relentless and ever enjoyable “ralph jesus” said this:
    I’m off to work but when I come back I’ll have a bottle of brandy and teach you some more facts about yourselves.
    The brandy must have had some affect because he came back later to thank another poster for their support and offered this:
    I appreciate the kindness in a sea of fake outrage and condemnation.
    And finally, Larry Alexander used his whole column today to try and get a large, junk filled truck from being parked in front of his house, offering this (click here): 
1. A friendly police officer could cite the guy for parking “The Hulk” too close to the driveway.
2. The guy could move.
3. A speeding eastbound tractor-trailer could come along, cruising too far right of the centerline, and strike “The Hulk,” pushing it halfway to Honey Brook.
    Want to bet the truck is gone tomorrow? Actually, I hope whoever owns it keeps parking it right in front of his house after his lame use of a column to try and get police help. You want to bet Larry already called the police and they said there’s nothing they can do?
    I think Jesus should take his brandy over to Larry’s porch and the two can commiserate and plot their revenges together.
    Watch out Ephrata!
Tomorrow, back to serious news!

FIVE INCOMPETENT JURORS?

SHOCKER?   

    Here’s a shocker. The reason why Hayward Stewart and Michael Stewart are on the street and not in prison convicted of murder has to do with 5 incompetent jurors in the Heather Nunn trial last March. Jury selection is a tough game and courts and lawyers on both sides never know what they are going to get. But these 5 were so far out of bounds in their reasoning that all common sense and logic were tossed aside. One juror actually decided that the television show CSI would guide her decision. Another could not understand why an accomplice could be also charged with murder. Another was just another dumb !profanity! redneck who would cast a vote based on what another juror said, no matter how many times she changed his mind. Hayward is in jail for a while. I’m assuming Michael Stewart is on the streets. Hayward’s assertion that the witness is a snitch only confirms what 7 others knew during deliberations – all four are guilty of murdering Heather Nunn. It’s not likely these 5 read the paper or will even understand what their lack of action did.
Posted under today’s article, “Suspect put in jail after witness claims retaliation,” (click here).
    Wow! This is why I love forums. Remember, however, that this is an anonymous poster and there’s no way to know if they were on the jury or not.
    And I attended a portion of this trial, so I’m going to come back to this tomorrow!

WHAT A TROLL..OOPS…TOOL!

NOT A CHANCE!- 

    I was simply amazed to see this posted on the Lancaster Online Trashback forum yesterday by Makita/Chance. For one thing, she had already announced her swan song and was supposed to be leaving – again!
    Two: I have recently had dealings with lying, narcissistic control freaks but this tops the cake! This is nothing but lies.
    I was going to respond to the lies today but was so overwhelmed by the sheer number and the arrogance of this post that I will address it tomorrow.
    Two weeks before TB shut down for a year I had closed my account. Pretty much had turned to bedlam due to trolls. Got tired of coming on and changing all the minus to plus. Day they closed TB with the statement of trouble makers and bigots which was left up for a year I started a thread on Talkpa so people could find us and keep the group together. One by one they arrived. Knew by posting Lancaster Online and Talkback on a thread a simple google would find us. Talkpa is my forum of choice due to the mods. Ladies seem to like it there and have to thank A1 for posting threads that pertain to Lancaster County. When Lanctalk started up it was announced on TPA. They allowed it. Funny part was when the group arrived so did TopDawg and Skillz. No idea why they followed. Not sure what the perfect forum is but locally think we need to combine the two. Believe in TPA and Lanctalk. Finding a way to combine so people feel comfortable on both is the problem. Following on a post from Lanctalk by one of my favorite people Kate.
    Table Salt – your comments will not be deleted and will be, are being discussed.
    I was the one trying to encourage new members of Talkpa into also participating on LancTalk. I enjoy participating on both sites and truly appreciate the efforts of the staff at Talkpa into accepting former LOL TB members.
    At LancTalk we do not have a problem with occasional reference to talkpa.net despite what the forum rules state. We are still discussing how to incorporate other sites that are similar to ours.
    LancTalk is “growing on it’s own merits”. In one month’s time we’re up to about 125 new posters. We’re a new site still dealing with birthing pains. I personally would appreciate having some members from talkpa.net to participate and perhaps help us.
    Thank you for your insight and input.

THEY ALWAYS COME BACK!

NOT A SWAN SONG!
    Internet is a big place. Plenty of room for multiple forums.
Posted on the Lancaster Online Trashback forum under the thread “Forum Wanted.”
    Yep, the internet is a big place!
Please check back later today.

PIMPING FOR THE DA!

JACK & MARV!

    With all these different articles about court reform, is there a comparison to other counties?
Posted on the LancTalk.com forum under today’s article, “ARD program cuts caseload for courts.”
    No, there are no comparisons. This appears, again, to be District Attorney Craig Stedman running to the Lancaster Newspapers and requesting their help to turn things his way. And unbelievably, reporter Jack Brubaker and Sunday News editor Marv Adams are trying to do just that.
    The opening sentence to today’s lead story in this series, “Justice Delayed, Part 2: A new order in the court?” is:
    Lancaster County’s customarily collegial legal community is in the midst of a spirited debate over what to do about its criminal justice system.
    That’s because the Sunday News started the debate! This is absurd! There are so many articles to read that I will come back to this tomorrow.
    But I will state again – it is the ultimate corruption of the press that the Sunday News is secretly meeting with court officials in an attempt to change the criminal justice system with no input form the public. It is an outrageous abuse of their power.
    I have also been taken today by a poster with a spider avatar weaving a web of lies and deceit – not unlike Jack Brubaker. “FORUM WARS!“ will return this week!

SLUTS IN THE COURTHOUSE?

                     Thanks, Harl, from LancTalk.com! 
                  Do you think Jack and Marv will join?
                        Please check back later today!

WAS HE PUSHED? WHO MURDERED MARTINEZ?

I REMEMBER EPHIE!

    I was going to address this sentence from the NewsLanc.com “Watchdog” piece on the Sunday News’ “Justice Delayed” series today (click here) and then something remarkable happened…
    Having the name Steinman at the top of the masthead should assure the integrity of reporting that Lancaster experienced over the families[sic] illustrious stewardship, apart from the regrettable Convention Center anomaly.
    …I received this email late yesterday from an old Lancaster friend:
    Do you remember Ephie? The one that the police said jumped off the Prince Street Garage? My mom told me something before she passed – my uncle told her that he didn’t think that Ephie jumped. He thought he was pushed. Ephie had no reason to jump off the garage as the day before he had purchased a plane ticket to move to California just that morning. He said he knew this because he called my uncle. This is only hearsay. I am telling you this in confidence. Please do not use my name if you use this information as it may be deadly because the police may be involved.
    Yes, I remember John Dingle, known as Ephie. I remember Ephie very well. I spoke with his mother at the time he died. No one thought he jumped off the Prince Street Garage. Everyone thought he was pushed. Everyone in the minority community believed the police pushed Ephie off the Prince Street Garage.
Please check back tomorrow.

NOT A CLUE!

MORE HARM THAN GOOD!

     LNP already controls the legislative “elite”, they are desperately trying to control the hotel/tourist industry, and now they want to control the judicial system.
    Why can’t they be content to simply ‘report’ the news, instead of being so consumed with being a ‘part’ of the news?
    No wags of the tail on this one.
The third comment in under NewsLanc’s Watchdog piece on the Sunday News’ series, “Justice Delayed.” (click here).
    The first comment in is mine – and I asked them to put my name to it but that was not posted.
Please check back later today.

AN EXTRAORDINARY REMEDY?

A PERMANENT INJUNCTION!-2