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Reminder about your invitation from Samantha Shu

LinkedIn This is a reminder that on June 23, Samantha Shu sent you an invitation to become part of his or her professional network at LinkedIn. Follow this link to accept Samantha Shu's invitation. https://www.linkedin.com/e/-mp2z2e-gb1uu7rg-5h/doi/1410402735/UkX8RZHm/gir_86063249_0/EML-inv_17_rem/ Signing up is free and takes less than a minute. On June 23, Samantha Shu wrote: > To: [whoisshu.sammy@blogger.com] > From: Samantha Shu [whoisshu@gmail.com] > Subject: Invitation to connect on LinkedIn > I'd like to add you to my professional network on LinkedIn. > > - Samantha The only way to get access to Samantha Shu's professional network on LinkedIn is through the following link: https://www.linkedin.com/e/-mp2z2e-gb1uu7rg-5h/doi/1410402735/UkX8RZHm/gir_86063249_0/EML-inv_17_rem/ You can remove yourself from Samantha Shu's network at any time. -------------- © 2010, LinkedIn Corporation Friday, June 25, 2010 Read some samples of my work on samanthashu.blogspot.com Thursday, June 24, 2010 whoisshu.com check it out! everything is fresh and new. Wednesday, June 23, 2010 Article Marketing Tips And Strategies http://bit.ly/cdshQe BloodThirsty http://bit.ly/9V6wkq There’s a Season For All http://bit.ly/cJfkR3 Neither a wise man nor a brave man lies down on the tracks of history to wait for the train of the future to run over him. ~Dwight D. Eisenhower Whispered Dreams http://bit.ly/9pma8h Invitation to connect on LinkedIn LinkedIn I'd like to add you to my professional network on LinkedIn. - Samantha Samantha Shu Author at A-Argus Books Greater Denver Area Confirm that you know Samantha © 2010, LinkedIn Corporation Friday, June 11, 2010 Bloodthirsty Chapter Thirteen Charlie looked windblown and frazzled as she pushed a plastic bag into Timbers hand and said “I got another one. Read it!” “Give me a sec.” Timber said. “No! Read it now!” the frazzled redhead demanded. “Jeez woman, chill.” Timber said. “Yeah read it, then tell me to chill.” Timber unfolded the letter carefully by the corners and gaped at the blunt text. I leave clues at house with no home 3854 s Dartmouth. Don’t wait bring a friend! Genesis Timber gripped her phone and held down the button allowing direct contact with the person on the other end. “Blake?” A snapping and a buzz came across the line as his voice replied. “Blake here, what’s up?” “Got something. Get some big whites over to 3854 Dartmouth, Denver. Might wanna hurry.” His voice came back, “On it. See you there.” As Timber pushed past her, slipping the note back into the bag, Charlie said “I’m coming too.” “Just stay behind the tape,” Timber said, already feeling impatient with the willful reporter. Wasn’t it enough that a member of the media was embedded in her investigation? Did she also have to be so damn bouncy and excited about it? She looked at the note again. ‘Genesis’. The name was obviously biblical. She considered the implications. A beginning. A new start. Did the unsub think they were starting something new or was it a signal that it was only the beginning? Timber considered these possibilities while mulling over several others. Why were there extra letters in the message before this one? ‘K A K E’s another spelling for ‘cake’? Call letters of some kind? The lab was analyzing the letter but you never know how productive a lab would be in these circumstances. Ciphers sometimes got solved and sometimes people got away with murder. It sucked but it was true. Minutes later Timber pulled into the front of a small nondescript white house with brown trim. A realtor’s sign was stabbed into the front lawn announcing the sale of the property. A broad faced man, smiling and looking downright cheerful, graced both sides of the sign. As Timber stepped from her car Charlie jogged up to her. Great! “You think that’s what he meant by a house with no home?” she asked, pointing to the sign. “That seems like the most obvious answer.” Timber muttered. “I thought so too. Seems strange. He hasn’t been obvious before.” “So far…” Timber stopped herself as she stepped onto the lawn and turned abruptly. “So far?” Charlie asked expectantly Timber looked at the uniforms lining the walk and yelled to the young female officer. “Hey Peterson. Tape off this scene and no press. Got it?” She looked at Charlie Peterson came running over and saying”Yes ma’am” on her way to accomplish the task. Charlie yelled at Timber’s retreating back: “This isn’t much cooperation on your part Agent.!” As Timber walked across the well-manicured lawn she noticed how quiet the neighborhood was. There were no ‘looky-loos’, no old women walking their dogs, no children playing in yards. A black sedan pulled up and Robin Blake jumped out, slamming the door. His long legs brought him to Timber’s side in a few easy jogging steps. “Where’d the tip come from?” he asked. “Her.” She jabbed a finger over her shoulder. ‘Wow, you must love that.” he said, quietly chuckling. “Sure do, I’m planning on putting her on my Christmas list.” Timber said deadpan. “Let me guess, you’re gonna buy her a muzzle.” “I was thinking a ball gag. But that’s good.” she said and took the front steps in one leap, her adrenaline peaking. Blake entered the front room behind Timber and they both stopped, staring for a moment taking in the sight before them. Two walls had writing on them. One looked to be blood, the liquid dried in a dripping pattern with streaks where it had been smeared to make the words ‘death to pigs’ On the wall adjacent to that one, the message was written in a different medium, but of approximately the same color. For heavens sake catch me before I kill more I cannot control myself “Think that’s lipstick?” Blake asked. “Sure do.” Said Timber. Blake looked at Officers Cable and Sebastian standing at the back wall looking up at the three words. “Where’s the body?” he asked. “Ain’t one.” Sebastian said. “Come again.” Blake said. “Aint no body. Just this.” he said again. “Well, shit.” Timber said. “Make sure you take photos of every room and print it all. Don’t cut corners. This may be the crime scene from a past body dump.” Blake said. Cable took a step toward Timber, looking nervous. “Agent Byrne?” “Yeah?” she answered. “I heard you were putting together a task force and I wanted to tell you that I put in a request for me and my partner to be on the team.” The uniformed officer looked as new as he sounded. “Is this your partner?” she asked motioning toward Sebastian. The other man spoke up “Ah, no I like to ride alone.” “You’re Mike Sebastian?” Timber remembered seeing his name on a few reports. His writing was surprisingly better that his speech. “Yes ma’am” he replied. “You want to work on this too?” she asked. “Yes ma’am.” he answered. Blake nodded at her signaling his approval of the two officers. “Process this scene. Crime techs will be here soon. Follow chain of custody and get it to me. I want everything. I don’t care if one of you has to camp outside of the lab. Follow me?” “Yes ma’am!” Cable said clearly thrilled. Sebastian only nodded. Until tomorrow. Fortune favors the brave! Samantha Shu Hearsay: part two of forensic science • Rules of evidence 801 defines hearsay as-“ a statement other than one made by the declarant while testifying at trial offered in evidence to prove the truth of the matter asserted.” • The three rules that must be adhered to are 1. The statement isn’t the same as the original “declarants” persons testimony that they gave while under penalty of perjury 2. The statement is the same as the “declarant” and is used to back up their original story. 3. The statement identifies the person after the witness has seen them • The Frye case, for example, is all about whether it is admissible in a trial that a parson is telling a lie based on increased blood pressure. The way this is used is to debate whether the process is scientific of experimental. FYI • An expert in computer forensics is qualified as an expert witness when…  the expert is familiar with the standards in forensic prodical and can explain that they have followed those procedures. Until tomorrow. Fortune favors the brave! Samantha Shu Thursday, June 10, 2010 A Few Details About Computer Forensics • Computer forensic science describes the scientific process to investigate criminal activity using a computer and the presentation of that at trial. It’s showing that computers have been used in the process of committing crimes. • Computer forensic analyst may recover such things as child pornography, stolen password and banking information, information pertaining to any criminal activity. • The process of computer forensics is to duplicate the hard drive, generate hash value, to maintain integrity, verify file signature, examine computer disk , complete analysis. Then make a forensic report. • An accepted methodology is important because the original evidence needs to be protected with an acceptable protocol that doesn’t differ. This way when the evidence goes to trial it is easily understood and translated to the court. • GUI used by Microsoft windows is a point and click user-friendly application. Easy to use there are two versions Encase, forensic tool kit, password cracking is an important component of this program they also have image viewing through gallery systems keyword search. • Command line: These are mush cheaper programs but much more difficult to use. These programs are reminiscent of the old DOS style. One of these programs allows for a bit by bit brake down of a disk. It provides al of the same programs that the GUI programs offer but they are more difficult to use and work better for an already computer savvy individual. Until tomorrow. Fortune favors the brave! Samantha Shu Wednesday, June 9, 2010 The Llife and Times of a Denver ATF Agent My Source (I will call her Sally for this purpose.)  became a Federal agent in 1981. She graduated from Texas A&M. with honors. Upon gradation she was pleased to receive ten generous job offers. Unfortunately the starting pay for these jobs was listed at $ 22,000 to $29,000 a year. This was not an appealing amount of money. Frustrated by the employment possibilities available to her she attended a job fair in hopes of better prospects. While attending the fair, Sally saw a poster for recruitment, for the police department. The poster stated that she could make $33,000 a year, starting pay. This was so much more appealing to the young college graduate that she immediately signed up. The recruitment process was difficult, but nothing compared to the challenges she would face latter in her career. Sally was a police officer for five years with the Dallas department. At the end of that time, at age twenty-seven she became disillusioned with the inability to follow a case from its beginning to its inevitable conclusion. She disliked dealing with the dregs of society on a daily basis and longed for a more rewarding career. Searching for this new level of contentment in her work she discovered opportunities in the field of federal law enforcement, Sally applied for and began working for the A.T.F. (Alcohol Tobacco& Firearms) She discovered that the process of getting hired was arduous and full of paperwork and patience. The requirements for her chosen path were filled with many obstacles. The first of these was a four-year degree. This degree can be in anything from criminal justice to basket weaving. It’s the degree that maters not the major. This was not a problem for Sally because she had achieved her degree years prior to her application process. There is also a test called the T.E.A. (there are books on how to pass) from the department of justice. You must achieve 70% to pass. You must achieve at least this to get an interview. Agents say that a sixteen year old could pass the exam. The reputation is that it’s fairly easy. Mim took the test and passed without difficulty, as expected. After this you must schedule your polygraph. Again taking the polygraph was not a problem for the applicant. After passing her polygraph and filling out all of the appropriate paperwork (this is all available at atf.gov) she submitted it and waited to be notified. Typically the Federal Government will contact your past employees, talk to your school, do a complete background check and let you know the results as they receive them. The average time to get hired at the A.T.F. is two years. They call that “the magic number.” While you are waiting you are considered “in the que” this is when a folder with your name, all of your finished tests and background info, is placed in a stack waiting to be read and evaluated by the S.A.C of the division in which you have applied. When a position comes up your folder is opened and you are called. When you get the call, you will acquire your interview. If hired you will receive a letter saying you will be hired. When Sally received her letter ,detailed information was provided as to when her training would begin. As with all new hires, Sally was sent to the Academy. The Academy for the A.T.F. is located in Glencoe, Georgia. This is situated on the Florida, Georgia border. You are required to finish the full four-month training program. While at the Academy, you will learn to make and defuse bombs, shoot, take apart and reassemble several forms of weapons, including handguns. You will learn to fight, shoot skeet in order to show that you can hit a moving target, tactical driving, paintball, shoot don’t shoot scenarios, undercover work, forensic science, print work and reconstruction. There is also a program called NIBIN that is studied to learn about distinguishing the differences between shell casings Potential agents will focus on the legalities of cigarettes and alcohol. There is a law stating that these products must contain Surgeon General Warnings. Without the warnings all alcohol and tobacco products are illegal. As an agent you will need to know what to look for as merchants bring these products from other countries and try to sell them here. Sally went through all of these protocols and graduated with honors. Upon graduation you will have a ceremony. The valedictorian will give a speech. Sally was the valedictorian of her graduating class. She received a small gold badge on a thin chain that she still wears around her neck. All graduating classes receive a small meaningful gift, celebrating their achievements. Each class’s gift is diverse and meaningful. After graduation you will be dispersed to your assigned city. When you fill out your paperwork, initially, you are asked to request three choices to be transferred to. Under no circumstances will you be allowed to stay in your hometown. Usually you will be assigned to one of the three choices on your list. After geographical locations, division assignments are given. You will either be assigned to one of two branches law enforcement or investigation. Most of the agents go directly into law enforcement. These agents carry guns; therefore they get a hirer salary. Any armed agent receives automatic 25% uncontrolled overtime pay Investigators are a much smaller group, there are only 25 agents in the Denver division. There are 500 investigating A.T.F. agents in the entire country. If you are assigned as an investigator you will not carry a gun, there will be some travel, but mostly you can work from home. The job description includes, making sure that firearm dealers and manufacturers are compliant with federal and state regulations. Any person that purchases a gun must fill out form 4473. These investigators check that the forms are filled out correctly and that all applicants were checked out properly. Investigators also go to explosives plants and bunkers, to assure that all safety regulations are being met. These agents are called I.O.I.’s Industry Operations investigators. When Senior Special Agent Sally Minow graduated from the academy, she was assigned to the law enforcement brace and put on Arson and Explosives. This is a rare detail. There are four groups in the law enforcement branch that focus on guns and one group that focuses on arson and explosives. In each of the gun groups there are 15 agents in the Denver division. In the arson and explosives group there are five agents. When you graduate you are assigned into a group. You have no input into those assignments. After five years of exemplary service, with outstanding evaluations and no internal investigations, you can apply for several different opportunities. In Sallys case she applied for Senior Special Agent. To apply for this position you must go to D.C. and take a test. The assessment center in D.C. scores the test and if you score high enough you will be promoted. The promotion process is as follows. • You graduate as an agent • Special agent, • Senior special agent, • Supervisor • There are two positions that are equal but different depending on size of group. 1. If the group is large- the next step up is Group Supervisor or G.S. 2. If it is a smaller group- the next step would be Resident Agent in Charge or R.A.C. • There is also a Divisional Operational Officer. • Next step up the ladder is the Assistant Senior Agent in Charge A.S.A.C. • After that, you can apply to be Supervisory Agent In Charge S.A.C. There is only one of these per division. Pay grades for these positions are based on a scale. When you graduate from the academy you are • GS7, As a GS7 your salary starts at $30,000 a year. • GS9, • GS11, • GS12, • GS13. At $86,000 Every other year your pay grade increases. The top pay grade for investigators is GS13. The bonus in this line is that most investigators see this as a desirable situation. This position may pay less, but it enables the employee to spend more time with family by working from home. This is widely referred to as “the cushy job” Agents in the law enforcement branch can continue to increase their pay grade, depending what position they apply for. At this time Sally holds a GS13 and has exceeded the investigators by achieving a pay bump. Her salary is $124,000 annually, Plus a twenty five percent salary enhancement for carrying a gun. One interesting venue would be to try and get on the Joint Terrorist Task force. The J.T.T.F has one representative from each agency, so you can imagine the competition for this position would be fierce. This team does all of the work-investigating terrorist nationally and internationally. This team does not have Air or water support. Should the need for this form of support arise, the DEA or the Air Force is called in. They also use Customs for a lot of support to the J.T.T.F, although they are now referred to as I.C.E. During Special Agent Minow's illustrious career she has been involved in several high profile cases. She arrived at the Oklahoma City bombing incident the day after the event, to investigate on site. As the criminally insane cult leader David Koresh held his members hostage, Sally worked with other agents to solve the problem. For several years she was stationed in Guam and just this year she was a coordination agent for the A.T.F. at the D.N.C. Senior Special Agent Sally Minow became an agent at twenty-seven years old. She doesn’t regret a day of that time. Her advice to anyone trying to get a federal assignment at this time would be to, try and get in with Border Patrol. Because of these difficult times, the Border patrol is hiring at an exponential rate and their waiting period is much less than all other federal agencies. Once you get in the door of a federal agency it is very easy to move laterally to other desirable agencies. The Federal Borough or Investigations offices are in the Same Building with the Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms. Although they are different agencies they work together and support each other should the need arise. The floor plans of these offices are very much like any other office building. Cubicles with agents sharing space, small conference rooms and corkboards with maps and computer printouts pined to them. The only difference I noticed was the security checkpoints for entering the building. Thanks Sally! Wink wink:) Until tomorrow. Fortune favors the brave! Samantha Shu Monday, June 7, 2010 Fire Setters In the small town of Colorado Springs a new and innovative program has been started. The dramatic and stunning statistics of children who set fires is a loud wake up call to the parents of potential fire setters everywhere. Children set 397 fires in the year 2008. For the first time in history more children are setting fires than adults. The goal of the program is initially to lay out and define the Red Flags of the potential fire setter. Collecting fire materials, poor self esteem, daydreaming about fires, watching fires without the desire to put it out and history of abuse, are only a few of the things to watch out for. The fire department in Colorado Springs has focused specifically on ages between 3 and 7. The goals are to educate in the dangers of fire setting and show the effects from damage done to victims. The program includes a face to face with victims of severe burns, a dramatic but effective tactic. The victims stand and express their fears, talking about their terrifying experiences. Upon examining this program I learned a few things I had been unaware of and also found that I would add a few things to the program. I would add visits to the hospital burn units and counseling sessions with family members. I would have the children do a community program where they work with burn victims and their families. I would add as much interaction with the victims and the potential traumas of the fire setters’ victims. It is imperative that the interaction is supervised by a licensed psychologist who specializes in this sort of behavior. Identifying the causation and desire could go along way to preventing future problems. As a side note: more than half or the known serial murderers were fire setters as children. Resources: Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Retrieved, July 11 2008 http://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles/fs9751.pdf Until tomorrow. Fortune favors the brave! Samantha Shu Friday, June 4, 2010 Bloodthisty Chapter Four Blake adjusted his tie and scanned the dark precinct’s parking lot. He was tired and edgy. Too many hours chasing shadows had put them under his eyes. He squinted as a breeze caused a small box to slide across the pavement before tipping and rolling as only a square could roll. It thumped along the pavement propelled by the elements. Blake could have sworn it was moving with intent in his direction. He thought about walking toward it. Save the time and trouble of the extensive quest in the small item’s future. Yet, he didn’t move forward. He stood in the dark parking lot staring at a small box blowing in the soft breeze. He laughed as it blew past his boots and continued on its way. “That could have been wicked.” he said aloud, imagining how cool it would have been if the box had stopped at his feet. Still it seemed odd. As it had rolled past he noticed a green ribbon tied with a large bow. The box itself seemed simple, old cardboard. Maybe something a small trinket would come in. He looked around at the parking lot. A half o’ dozen cars remained, no one around to drop anything and it was late. He glanced at his watch, after midnight. “Man oh man, do I need to get a life outside of work.” Again he looked at the box. It had stopped its movement across the pavement and now sat illuminated by a small beam of light at the corner of the parking lot. Eerie. As he approached the object, it became clear that this was something special. The green ribbon wasn’t ribbon at all but an iridescent tube. The bow had been built in some factory from the ordinary fare that would eventually be sold as a small Christmas ornament. Someone had used hot glue or super glue to apply it to the tubing. The cardboard was covered in dark lines; he couldn’t tell exactly what they were, maybe marker. He bent and took a closer look, suddenly fascinated by it. The lines appeared to intersect in several different places. He reached inside of his coat pocket and pulled out a latex glove, slipped it on his left hand and carefully picked up the box. It was heavier than he had imagined and as he turned it there was a subtle feeling of liquid inside. He stood and quickly went back into the building. On his way in he looked to his left and right, taking in as much of the street as possible. He had been contemplating the mysterious item for only a few minutes; still the person or persons who had placed it in the parking lot of his precinct were long gone. He took the stairs hoping to avoid those nosey graveyard guys, still in the bag, or as the civilians like to say, chained to the patrol car. Whether using cop slang or civilian speak, it all shook out the same. Sometimes the bitterness and jealousy could get very old. Blake was young for a detective. He was thirty nine, although he appeared to be at least ten years younger, a curse instead of a blessing. Blake spent the better part of his career proving himself. Yet, he continued to do things that puzzled those around him and made it harder for people to take him seriously. Making jokes at inappropriate times, talking just a little too fast when dealing with a suspect. Then there were his ties. Every day for three years he had dressed for success. Shined black leather police issue boots, black or dark blue suit, cut to fit. A slick and ironed shirt usually in burgundy or blue, but occasionally he’d fall into the status quo and wear white. But his ties were always the sticking point. Blake had a collection of over six hundred ties. They ranged from Batman to Mickey Mouse. He had collectors’ ties and ties that he’d tripped across in Wal-Mart. The collection had started his first day as detective. As a joke he wore a Superman tie and it had gotten such a good response he wore a Batman tie the next day. Soon girlfriends were buying him ties and people he hardly knew were adding to the collection. Now he had the wonderful capacity to wear a different tie every day. He thought of it as his mutant super power. Standing in his office looking down at the small box on his desk, Blake considered his responsibilities and weighed them against his curiosity. After all, there really wasn’t anything sinister about the box other than its simple existence. Otherwise it was just a found item. He shook his head and pulled his phone from his jacket pocket. Covering his ass wasn’t a new experience. As he dialed he wondered at his choice. He smiled as a female voice made itself clear on the end of the line. “Fuck, Robin. What do you want? I’m sleeping!” He knew she’d be asleep and the satisfaction of waking her was apparent in his next words. “No kidding? I thought you’d be up training your flying monkeys.” “Ha, Ha! You’re so goddamned funny! WHAT DO YOU WANT?” she yelled into the phone. He pulled the phone quickly away from his ear and laughed. It was amazing that while she was bitching a blue streak, he was picturing her in her tiny white underwear and silky tank top. Of course he had no way of knowing she was wearing that particular outfit. Yet, he would always remember her the way she was the last time he had walked out of her bedroom - her short hair a mess, one strap falling off her shoulder and sparks of blue fire shooting from her eyes. He imagined those sparks flying from her eyes now. Enough time had passed, he’d finally moved past the anger and into acceptance. Now as he listened to her bitch and moan, all it brought from him was mild amusement. “Honey, I found a box. I want to open this box and I don’t want to wait around till morning. I don’t want to call in forensics until I’m sure it’s not a box of candied walnuts someone dropped by accident.” He waited, half expecting her to comment on the use of the word ‘honey’. She didn’t. "Do you think it is walnuts?” she asked. “No” he stated flatly. “Why?” She was intrigued now. He could tell by how monosyllabic she had become. No quip, no diatribes, she was curious. So he told her the simple truth. “I have several reasons but the most important is it’s making the hair on the back of my arms stand up.” She made a noise that sounded like a snort. “Hey!” he said, insulted “Fine, stop whining. I’m getting dressed.” “Don’t do anything drastic,” he teased. “Tell me Robin, have you always been such a funny guy?” Before he could come back with some witty repartee he heard the distinctive disconnect loud in his ear. He sat down in his desk chair, rested his boots on his desk and stared at the mysterious thing resting on his desk. Timber walked into the office of the Denver Police Department, flashed her badge and passed the patrolman behind the front desk. The elevators faced the west side of the building. Instead of going in that direction she headed for the stairs, still feeling a little groggy and in need of a heart rate boost. She took the stairs two at a time, kicking up endorphins and sharpening her mind. As much as she loved to give Robin Blake a hard time, it was all for show. He was a good cop and she knew it. There were valid reasons for his success in the department. He trusted his gut. She had seen him get flack for it, had seen him press the issue and come out of a pile of shit smelling like chocolate ice cream with a cherry on top. Tonight he had found something. Something that she would have dismissed had anyone else called in the middle of her slumber, especially to come look at a box. As she ran up the four floors she felt more energized and could actually feel her synapses start to fire. Her mind was sharpening. She pushed open the door from the stairwell. As she heard the door close behind her she looked around at the empty offices. Memories of different times washed over her. She quickly shook those thoughts away and walked directly to Robin Blake’s office. As she walked in she didn’t mince words. “Okay, Blake, show me!” She put her fists on her hips and took a defiant stance. “What happened to ‘Robin’?” he asked, swinging his feet off the desk and standing. She lifted her shoulders and shook her head.” Too personal, we’re working now.” “We weren’t working on the phone?” “I was half asleep. Don’t make a thing.” She slipped too easily into a comfortable place with this man. The last thing she wanted to do was admit that. He smiled knowingly and shrugged “Ok. I like Blake better anyway. Especially the way it rolls off your tongue.” That was exactly what she needed. Irritation flooded her. “Oh fuck off, Blake!” She put the emphasis on his name, practically spitting it. “Get to it, show me the damn box and let’s see if we’re going to be intrigued or if we’re going to be eating fancy walnuts.” “I’m hoping for the nuts.” he said, staring down at the box. “Me too,” she said. “Let’s go.” They both slipped on latex gloves. She opened her kit and pulled out a small vile, two baggies, and a sheet of plastic. Blake lifted the box and placed it on the plastic sheet. He took a small pair of snips and cut through the green plastic tube. A hissing sound emanated from the small opening and they both took a step back, “A gas?” he queried. “No… Smells like…” She paused. “What is that smell? Man, it’s lilac.” she said triumphantly and grinned his way. “Are you sure?” The grin dropped away. “Come on. I’m not a big guesser. I’m a…” He finished for her, “Pain in the ass?” “My God, you just keep getting funnier. No. I’m a Knower.” “That’s not even a word.” He shook his head, laughed out loud, and leaned in closer to the box. “You’re right, lilacs.” “I told you… Knower.” He ignored her and began opening the box, first carefully removing the tubing and bow then slowly removing the paper it was wrapped in. “I wonder why lilacs?” “Well,” Timber said, staring down at his handiwork. “Maybe the walnuts are a gift and the recipient likes the fragrance of lilacs.” “Maybe.” he mumbled. “So if it’s walnuts we gonna eat ‘em?” “I hate walnuts.” Until tomorrow. Fortune favors the brave! Samantha Shu Thursday, June 3, 2010 Philosophy and Punishment There are two theories of punishment that, at the same time contradict and compliment one another, the utilitarian philosophy and the retributive. Utilitarian theary or pilosophy, is concerned with societies overall happiness where the retributive philosophy, focuses more on the crime and criminal, than the effect or reintegration into society. The word utilitarian seems to imply, we are more concerned with the function and less with the apearance. The acual theary is in conflict with the name. The utilitarian is concerned with the society as a whole working to apear functional by detering and rehabilitating criminals. In reality we are doing more hand holding while smiling at the cameras. The retributive philosiphy, on the other hand, is utilitarian. It takes a criminal and punishes him for the crime committed, with the belief that he deserves to pay for that crime. No hand holding nessasary. As much as I am for retribution I realise the power of comprimise. If used together these two theories would work well, while alone, each seems to follow an extreamist view. Until tomorrow. Fortune favors the brave! Samantha Shu Tuesday, June 1, 2010 Web Sites for Criminal Justice Database NCJRS National Criminal Justice Reference Survive http://www.ncjrs.gov/App/search/AdvancedSearch.aspx This site covers corrections, courts, crime prevention, juvenile justice, there are publications and a library The legal and legislative resource center http://www.lpig.org/justice.html This site gives explanations and definitions for case law criminal and civil Infrastructure safety and environment http://www.rand.org/ise/reorganized.html This site covers information about homeland security, safety and justice terrorism risk along with many other programs Digital library http://csdl2.computer.org/persagen/DLAbsToc.jsp?resourcePath=/dl/mags/co/&toc=comp/mags/co/2002/03/r3toc.xml&DOI=10.1109/2.989927 This site is compatible with many other sites and is helpful in locating source material in every category Bureau of Justice statistics http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/aboutbjs.htm BJS mission: “To collect, analyze, publish, and disseminate information on crime, criminal offenders, victims of crime, and the operation of justice systems at all levels of government. These data are critical to Federal, State, and local policymakers in combating crime and ensuring that justice is both efficient and evenhanded.” Information Today inc. http://newsbreaks.infotoday.com/wndReader.asp?ArticleId=40879 This site has blogs information services advertising news and events. Washington access to criminal history https://watch.wsp.wa.gov/ “The Washington State Patrol Identification and Criminal History Section (WASIS), has established this web site as the official Internet source providing criminal history conviction records for the state of Washington.” Prairie View A&M University http://www.pvamu.edu/pages/3797.asp Full-length journal, magazine and newspaper articles can be found in these online article collections. New York Times http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/14/nyregion/14dna.html?ref=science This site covers crime articles covered in the new York Article on criminal database for DNA http://homepages.law.asu.edu/~kayed/pubs/genlaw/01-CJ.htm This is an article covering the idea of DNA requirements in criminal Justice. Court records http://www.courtrecords.org/?hop=brummie&xpath=lp_criminalrecords Find Nationwide Court Records Fast with Direct Data Retrieval! Government Public records Database http://gov-reports.net/search.php?search=CRM&title=Criminal%20Records Search Hundreds of Millions of Public Records Instantly Access The Same Databases Used By Law Enforcement & Government Officials Data Net department of administration Land management Minnesota http://www.lmic.state.mn.us/datanetweb/ Census mapping and reports, population pyramids, and much more for analasis of conditions in Minnesota Criminal Justice Databases and resources for Westfield state college. http://www.lib.wsc.ma.edu/offcampdbmenu.html This site lists many criminal justice sites that are varied and informative. People Lookup http://www.peoplelookup.com/people-search.html?searchform=name&&PHPSESSID=af3e2937b01cc555b0c3ed9cf6f29c68 This is a site for locating people a free access to databases of people and personal information provided for free. Center for community criminology research http://cjip.memphis.edu/projects.pdf This is a PDF file that covers the research and evaluation The Center for Community Criminology and Research (CCCR) was established in 2001 incorporating five components in the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice involved in research and outreach functions. Staff from these components work together on projects to provide comprehensive research support to regional law enforcement and criminal justice agencies, and other community-based organizations. Actual innocence awareness database http://web.austin.utexas.edu/law_library/innocence/ “The Actual Innocence awareness database lists selected United States resources pertaining to wrongful convictions, selected from the popular media (such as newspaper articles and segments which aired on television news magazines), journal articles, books, reports, legislation and websites. The selected materials are classified into subtopics considered the primary causes of wrongful conviction: forensics/DNA; eyewitness identification; false confessions; jailhouse informants; police and/or prosecutorial misconduct; and ineffective representation. There is also a “general” category for those materials which cover multiple subtopics or defy further categorization.” Terrorism Project http://www.cdi.org/terrorism/infosharing-pr.cfm Multitude of Databases Complicates Information Sharing on terrorism and effective defenses against future attacks. Debatepedia http://wiki.idebate.org/index.php/Welcome_to_Debatepedia%21 “Debatepedia is a wiki encyclopedia of pro and con arguments and quotations in important public debates from around the world. It is considered "the Wikipedia of debate", helping the world centralize arguments and quotations found in millions of different articles, essays, and books into a single encyclopedia, so that citizens can better understand important public debates and make informed choices. Join this cause and community and become an editor of the site. Your efforts will improve your own thinking and have a major impact on the way thousands of other citizens draw conclusions. Debatepedia is endorsed by the United States' National Forensic League” National forensic League http://www.nflonline.org/Main/HomePage “As an organization, the National Forensic League embraces diversity, interconnection, and visionary leadership. We empower students to become effective communicators, ethical individuals, critical thinkers, and leaders in a democratic society.” Tru tv serial killers http://www.trutv.com/library/crime/serial_killers/ this link has stories about famous serial killers there crimes and court Seize The Night http://www.carpenoctem.tv/killers/ this site has a list of serial killers details about there crimes along with historical facts and charactoristics. Alcohol and Drug abuse devision http://www.cdhs.state.co.us/adad/aboutus.htm The mission of ADAD is to develop, support and advocate for comprehensive services to reduce substance use disorders and to promote healthy individuals, families and communities. Drug related crimes Fact sheet http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/publications/factsht/crime/index.html “Drugs are related to crime in multiple ways. Most directly, it is a crime to use, possess, manufacture, or distribute drugs classified as having a potential for abuse (such as cocaine, heroin, marijuana, and amphetamines). Drugs are also related to crime through the effects they have on the user's behavior and by generating violence and other illegal activity in connection with drug trafficking. The chart on this page summarizes the various ways that drugs and crime are related.” Home Office information on crime and victims http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/crime-victims/reducing-crime/drug-related-crime The links between drug use and crime are clearly established. In fact, around three-quarters of crack and heroin users claim they commit crime to feed their habit. It is our priority to break this damaging chain.Acquisitive crime – such as shoplifting, burglary, vehicle crime and robbery – to which drug-related crime makes a significant contribution, fell by 55% between 1997 and 2007. (Source: recorded crime figures)This is largely thanks to key Government programmes, such as the Drug Interventions Programme, which directs drug-misusing offenders out of crime and into treatment Until tomorrow. Fortune favors the brave! Samantha Shu Subscribe to: Posts (Atom) Follow this blog Samantha Shu Click image to link to the Author's Homepage About Me Samantha Shu, Author I investigate, I play, I dance, I love, I seek, I sleep, I dream, sometimes I cry, in the end... I write. View my complete profile Blog Archive ►  2012 (294) ►  April (12) ►  March (96) ►  February (90) ►  January (96) ►  2011 (894) ►  December (112) ►  November (124) ►  October (127) ►  September (124) ►  August (128) ►  July (128) ►  June (121) ►  May (30) ▼  2010 (284) ►  December (7) ►  November (42) ►  October (27) ►  September (4) ►  August (1) ►  July (166) ▼  June (19) RT @sammyshu: All in a days work of testing... ht... We are doing a lot of great testing to bring Whois... 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