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Meet Inspector Sejer: smart and enigmatic, tough but fair. At the foot of the imposing Kollen Mountain lies a small, idyllic village, where neighbors know neighbors and children play happily in the streets. But when the body of a teenage girl is found by the lake at the mountaintop, the town's tranquility is shattered forever. Annie was strong, intelligent, and loved by everyone. What went so terribly wrong? Doggedly, yet subtly, Inspector Sejer uncovers layer upon layer of distrust and lies beneath the town's seemingly perfect façade.
Critically acclaimed across Europe, Karin Fossum's Inspector Sejer novels are masterfully constructed, psychologically convincing, and compulsively readable. They evoke a world that is at once profoundly disturbing and terrifyingly familiar.
Ragnhild opened the door cautiously and peered out. Up on the road everything was quiet, and a breeze that had been playing among the buildings during the night had finally died down. She turned and pulled the doll's carriage over the threshold.
"We haven't even eaten yet," Marthe complained.
She helped push the carriage.
"I have to go home. We're going out shopping," Ragnhild said.
"Shall I come over later?"
"You can if you like. After we've done the shopping."
She was on the gravel now and began to push the carriage toward the front gate. It was heavy going, so she turned it around and pulled it instead.
"See you later, Ragnhild."
The door closed behind her-a sharp slam of wood and metal. Ragnhild struggled with the gate, but she mustn't be careless. Marthe's dog might get out. He was watching her intently from beneath the garden table. When she was sure that the gate was properly closed, she started off across the street in the direction of the garages. She could have taken the shortcut between the buildings, but she had discovered that it was too difficult with the carriage. Just then a neighbor closed his garage door. He smiled at her and buttoned up his coat, a little awkwardly, with one hand. A big black Volvo sat in the driveway, rumbling pleasantly.
"Well, Ragnhild, you're out early, aren't you? Hasn't Marthe got up yet?"
"I slept over last night," she said. "On a mattress on the floor."
"I see."
He locked the garage door and glanced at his watch; it was 8:06 A.M. A moment later he turned the car into the street and drove off.
Ragnhild pushed the carriage with both hands. She had reached the downhill stretch, which was rather steep, and she had to hold on tight so as not to lose her grip. Her doll, who was named Elise-after herself, because her name was Ragnhild Elise-slid down to the front of the carriage. That didn't look good, so she let go with one hand and put the doll back in place, patted down the blanket, and continued on her way. She was wearing sneakers: one was red with green laces, the other was green with red laces, and that's how it had to be. She had on a red sweat suit with Simba the Lion across the chest and a green anorak over it. Her hair was extraordinarily thin and blond, and not very long, but she had managed to pull it into a topknot with an elastic band. Bright plastic fruit dangled from the band, with her sprout of hair sticking up in the middle like a tiny, neglected palm tree. She was six and a half, but small for her age. Not until she spoke would you guess that she was already in school.
She met no one on the hill, but as she approached the intersection she heard a car. So she stopped, squeezed over to the side, and waited as a van with its paint peeling off wobbled over a speed bump. It slowed even more when the girl in the red outfit came into view. Ragnhild wanted to cross the street. There was a sidewalk on the other side, and her mother had told her always to walk on the sidewalk. She waited for the van to pass, but it stopped instead, and the driver rolled down his window.
"You go first. I'll wait," he said.
She hesitated a moment, then crossed the street, turning around again to tug the carriage up on the sidewalk. The van slid forward a bit, then stopped again. The window on the opposite side was rolled down. His eyes are funny, she thought, really big and round as a ball. They were set wide apart and were pale blue, like thin ice. His mouth was small with full lips, and it pointed down like the mouth of a fish. He stared at her.
"Are you going up Skiferbakken with that carriage?"
She nodded. "I live in Granittveien."
"It'll be awfully heavy. What have you got in it, then?"
"Elise," she replied, lifting up the doll.
"Excellent," he said with a broad smile. His mouth looked nicer now.
He scratched his head. His hair was disheveled, and grew in thick clumps straight up from his head like the leaves of a pineapple. Now it looked even worse.
"I can drive you up there," he said. "There's room for your carriage in the back."
Ragnhild thought for a moment. She stared up Skiferbakken, which was long and steep. The man pulled on the handbrake and glanced in the back of the van.
"Mama's waiting for me," Ragnhild said.
A bell seemed to ring in the back of her mind, but she couldn't remember what it was for.
"You'll get home sooner if I drive you," he said.
That decided it. Ragnhild was a practical little girl. She wheeled the carriage behind the van and the man hopped out. He opened the back door and lifted the carriage in with one hand.
"You'll have to sit in back and hold the carriage. Otherwise it'll roll around," he said, and lifted in Ragnhild too.
He shut the back door, climbed into the driver's seat, and released the brake.
"Do you go up this hill every day?" He looked at her in the mirror.
"Only when I've been at Marthe's house. I stayed over."
She took a flowered overnight bag from under the doll's blanket and opened it, checking that everything was in place: her nightgown with the picture of Nala on it, her toothbrush and hairbrush. The van lumbered over another speed bump. The man was still looking at her in the mirror.
"Have you ever seen a toothbrush like this?" Ragnhild said, holding it up for him. It had feet.
"No!" he said. "Where did you get it?"
"Papa bought it for me. You don't have one like it?"
"No, but I'll ask for one for Christmas."
He was finally over the last bump, and he shifted to second gear. It made an awful grinding noise. The little girl sat on the floor of the van steadying the carriage. A very sweet little girl, he thought, red and cute in her sweat suit, like a ripe little berry. He whistled a tune and felt on top of the world, enthroned behind the wheel in the big van with the little girl in the back. Really on top of the world.
The village lay in the bottom of a valley, at the end of a fjord, at the foot of a mountain, like a pool in a river, where the water was much too still. And everyone knows that only running water is fresh. The village was a stepchild of the municipality, and the roads that led there were indescribably bad. Once in a while a bus deigned to stop by the abandoned dairy and pick up people to take them to town. There were no night buses back to the village.
Kollen, the mountain, was a gray, rounded peak, virtually neglected by those who lived there, but eagerly visited by people from far-off places. This was because of the mountain's unusual minerals and its flora, which was exceptionally rare. On calm days a faint tinkling could be heard from the mountaintop; one might almost believe it was haunted. In fact, the sound was from sheep grazing up there. The ridges around the mountain looked blue and airy through the haze, like soft felt with scattered woolen veils of fog.
Konrad Sejer traced the main highway in the road atlas with a fingertip. They were approaching a traffic circle. Police Officer Karlsen was at the wheel, keeping an attentive eye on the fields while following the directions.
"Now you have to turn right onto Gneisveien, then up Skiferbakken, then left at Feltspatveien. Granittveien goes off to the right. A cul-de-sac," Sejer said pensively. "Number 5 should be the third house on the left."
He was tense. His voice was even more brusque than usual.
Karlsen maneuvered the car into the housing development and over the speed bumps. As in so many places, the new arrivals had taken up residence in clusters, some distance from the rest of the local community. Apart from giving directions, the two policemen didn't talk much. They approached the house, trying to steel themselves, thinking that perhaps the child ...
"There's no mistaking this psychologically astute, subtly horrifying crime study for a cozy village mystery or its soulful detective for one of those brainy European sleuths who make a parlor game of homicide."-THE NEW Y ORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW
"Sejer belongs alongside the likes of Adam Dalgliesh and Inspector Morse-a gifted detective and troubled man, whom I am grateful to have met and look forward to knowing better."
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(With apologies to KRS-One)
Elhiem Figures has recently released two version of the (in)famous East German Trabant car: one civilian, one police. These are 3D prints and are rather nice, much better than the Shapeways ones I bought several years back.
Both were painted in acyrlics before being weathered with oil paints. The blue police lights were done with Games Workshops range of gem paints; they look OK but I don't think they were really worth the extra effort. Still given how little paint I used they should last for years.
They make a nice little pair and should be some nice set dressing if I ever set a Cold War game in East as opposed to West Germany.

subset: commoncrawl


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Christian Articles for All of your Publishing Needs!
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Don't Eat the Cabbage
by Julie Arduini
5/15/2007 / Devotionals
Granted, it was St. Patrick's Day when most wear green and talk shamrocks and leprechauns for the day. However with Italian relatives extending a dinner invite before our weary family trekked 300 miles back home, I assumed we'd be eatingItalian. All morning my mind partnered with my stomach and together they concocted a great menu: garlic bread, lasagna, salad with homemade dressing, ziti and sauce chocked with so much meat my cholesterol rose imagining the simmering pot.
I walked in their kitchen, eyes wide open and took a whiff. My gut repulsed at the smell. Cabbage. Corned beef. Not a sauce or salad in sight. My meal wasn't quite what I expected. It spoiled the rest of my day and definitely made for a long trip home!
I believe surprise menu choices aren't the only area where expectations fall. There are people we love, respect and look up to that we desperately await a serving of lasagna-type praise. Instead, the plate we find before us is filled with foul smelling cabbage.
For instance, many of us can relate to loving our parents and we're excited to share our report card. With a cursory glance and a sigh it's handed back with the bland response,
"Nice job. How come you didn't get all A+'s?"
There isn't much to savor when we're criticized or discouraged. Most people we love don't wake up and decide to dash our dreams with the curse of their words. Usually they have been served their own corned beef where the typical reaction during a dinner is to pass the plate and keep serving the food. Words like lazy, ugly, stupid, no good, ignorant, and clumsy are sadly passed around as often as salt during meal time. Worse yet, those offerings sting as much as salt on an open wound. Time doesn't help, nor does the ridiculous phrase that 'sticks and stones may break our bones but words will never hurt us.' Too many negative words tossed our way and we can leave the dinner table smelling like Pig Pen from the Peanuts cartoon.
Is it possible to overcome a lifetime of meals where the menu every time was a fresh plate of discouragement? Absolutely! Grab a new plate called His Word. No matter what meal is on special at your home, school or place of work, grab the Bible and dig in. The appetizer, meal and dessert are all from the Master Chef. His words are always special. When you receive anything discouraging or negative, toss it off that new plate. As it states in 2 Corinthians 10:5:
"We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."
As diners, we're special, beloved and heirs. Just because we've been served the corned beef and cabbage surprises of life doesn't mean we have to eat it.
May this prayer be a tasty morsel to chew on as you enjoy this day:
"Lord Jesus, continue to be my Master Chef who helps me push away the discouraging meals and instead feast on the scrumptious truth found in Your Word. Every day I'm your special of the day. Thank You Jesus for loving me. Amen."
(Scripture taken from the NIV Bible)
Julie Arduini, http://thesurrenderedscribe.blogspot.com/, is devoted to writing for Christ in ways that encourage and inspire. A graduate of the Christian Writer's Guild, her writing resume is on her blog's sidebar. Happily married to Tom, they have two children.
@2009 by Julie Arduini
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It cannot be denied that numerous individuals today choose to travel outside their own country just to avoid the high medical costs and settle instead to have weight loss surgery in Mexico. Mexico has been one of the most famous destinations for this kind of surgery since it costs significantly less than the price offered in the US.
For those who do not have their own health insurance plan, undergoing a bariatric surgery, such as gastric sleeve, in Mexico can be an ideal option. Weight surgery in Mexico, because of their affordability, can be a blessing for people running on tight budgets, but keen on curbing obesity.
You can listen to a patient's experience after gastric bypass surgery in Mexico.
Cost of Weight Loss Surgery in Mexico
Even after taking into account all the expenses related to the testing, appointments meant for follow up, pre and post operation procedures, fills, adjustments, and of course your travel expenses in Mexico, weight loss surgery costs in Mexico will still come out to be only a fraction of what the procedures alone cost in Canada, the UK, and other North American and West European countries.
Many surgeons, who offer bariatric surgeries in Mexico, present their services in affordable packages. The most common type of all inclusive Mexico bariatric surgery includes
- Your roundtrip ticket.
- Transfers to the hotel and hospital.
- Various lab tests.
- The actual cost of the surgery.
- Fees of the surgeon
- Expenses in the hospital.
- Other travel arrangements.
Medical loans can also be availed for undergoing obesity surgeries in Mexico.
Quality Healthcare Services in Mexico
Despite being relatively easy on the pocket, weight loss surgeries in Mexico are of quality at par with that of any of the first world countries. As per a survey of American patients who had undergone medical treatments in Mexico, conducted by Belden and Russonello, Washington, nearly ninety percent of them agreed that they had received from "good to excellent healthcare in Mexico".
Hospitals in Mexico
Mexican hospitals provide safe and affordable health-care alternatives to scores of western tourists, especially those from the US, who cannot afford healthcare in their own country.
There are both public and private hospitals in Mexico. Most of the private hospitals in Mexico are internationally accredited by the JCI and the ISO, because of which a number of international patients coming for treatment feel safe to visit these hospitals. International accreditation makes it imperative to inculcate stringent quality and safety standards in the hospitals.
Many of these private Mexican hospitals have English speaking doctors & medical staff to create a supporting environment and eliminate language differences.
Some of the weight loss surgeries offered in Mexican cities are as follows:
- Lap Band Revision to Gastric Sleeve in Puerto Vallarta.
- Lap Band Surgery in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico.
- Mini Gastric Bypass Surgery in Puerto Vallarta.
- Lap Band Revision to Gastric Sleeve in Tijuana, Mexico.
- Gastric Sleeve Surgery in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico.
Highly Experienced Bariatric Surgeons in Mexico
The low cost of the bariatric surgery in Mexico should not be the only reason why it is worth it to travel to this North American country. It is also important for you to know the procedures here are done by surgeons who are highly experienced.
The reputation and credentials of these doctors and other medical staff in the area are another pull for international patients. In fact, weight loss surgeons in Mexico are known to be having more experience than the bariatric surgeons of the US.
Extending a Medical Trip to Vacationing in Mexico
Due to the diverse climatic conditions resulting in abundance of natural resources and a historic tradition of more than 3,000 years contributing to the cultural heritage of the country, Mexico is considered an ideal destination for international tourists.
Whether one comes to explore the archaeological treasures, wander through the colonial cities, or simply relax on the beautiful beaches, one will take home magical memories of the city. Opting for weight loss surgery in Mexico gives patients the opportunity to combine shedding weight with enjoying the scenic beauty of this culturally rich country.
Medical Tourism in Mexico – Some Tips
It will always be in the interest of the medical tourists to bear the following points in mind while travelling in Mexico.
- Patient's safety in any surgical procedure should never be taken lightly. Before taking the plunge, it should be your responsibility to take the time in choosing the right surgeon to do the procedure for you.
- Do your bit of homework on researching about the procedure you wish to undergo and the hospitals offering it in Mexico. Go through patient's testimonials and recommendations to form an opinion.
- Have all of your crucial documents such as passport, visa, identity proof, and your medical records in place before hand.
- Use authorized taxi services and avoid venturing out late night in Mexico.
- Avoid eating street-food and drink only packaged water.
- Engage the services of a medical tourism agency as these agencies do all the necessary arrangements for travelling within Mexico and help the patients connect with the bariatric surgeons and hospitals.
Who said that losing weight can be a tiring and cumbersome task? Curbing obesity can be a fun experience and that too without emptying the coffers, thanks to affordable weight loss surgery in Mexico.


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Android 6.0 Marshmallow QMG files for any Samsung device. (included are bootsamsung.qmg, bootsamsungloop.qmg, and my version of the shutdown.qmg.)
If you would like to use this in your ROM or other BootAnimations, just leave a mention.
A few notes to start, there are 4 files that I tend to use within the Bootanimations which are:
1) Bootsamsung.qmg = this is the large file that holds/starts the bootanimation
2) Bootsamsungloop.qmg = this is a rather small file can either loop or end the bootanimation
3) PowerOn.ogg = this is file that plays sound during the bootsamsung.qmg and bootsamsungloop.qmg.
4) Shutdown.qmg = this is a mid-size file that plays a bootanimation as the device turns off, best way to activate is to select Power-> then reboot
While shutdown.qmg's can be customized to work on different bootanimations, I have developed some bootsamsungloop.qmg's to function separate of the bootsamsung.qmg, this allows the ability to fully customize the bootanimations that you would prefer to view. These QMG's are listed in a Category called Intermezzo's as they are Interchangeable without interrupting.
A few things to keep in mind.
A custom Bootanimation works best with a custom ROM, it simply does, Stock ROMs do not finish the same.
There is usually a delay between the loading of the Bootanimation and after the Safestrap loading screen appears.
QMG files have limitations some will not be as clean as Flashable Bootanimations, while others will present better.
Bootanimation's require the use of both bootsamsung.qmg and bootsamsungloop.qmg (using one without the other will produce undesirable results.)
With PowerOn.ogg sound files I recommend when setting permissions to use rw-r-r with the "Sticky" Special Permission, sound is often more consistent.
I am only working on Bootanimation's for this Kollection at this time. Feel free to see if these work on other Samsung Device's and Tablet's at your Own Risk.
Please, give credit where due, there are many Bootanimations here, if I left someone out please let me know, if you want to post my work, please extend the courtesy.
With so many Bootanimations it is often hard to remember all of the sources that I pulled them from, the largest source Developer that does simply incredible work and is simply known throughout the Android community for his work is JaeKarr99 which most of the Bootanimations that appear in this LiBRaRy KoLLecTioN are his, I have simply accepted the challenge of using a difficult themeing system and configured it the best I can to keep these Bootanimations in the best form possible. This was done through the guidance of xessus as his walkthroughs and many many countless hours of attempting this work is hopefully showing a positive. Other themers I will mention are Crakanug with the Black Ops II Bootanimation, CyanogenMod with CM, BKJolly, and the many others, if I fail to recognize I apologize it is not intentional nor out of disrespect, please forgive me.
Let the FUN BeGiN!
-> To Start Off this KoLLeeCTioN I would like to BeGiN it with a FavoriTe Batman… <-
Batman is the "30th" Bootanimation that I have ready for the library at this moment, there will be more Superhero's, possibly Star Wars, or Star Trek character's kicking off Future BULK ADDITIONS!!!
First of all I give credit to KalKat579 for peaking my interesting with the Bootanimation's through the QMG format's.
Boot Animations QMG Format [Team Vanguard] UPDATED 11-05-13
KalKat579 <- All Credit Goes To
I also give credit to xessus for his instruction and guidance with the Samsung Theme Designer program and QMG Formatting. Also, a Special Thanks to JaeKar99 who is the "Original Bootanimation Designer" that created large portion of these bootanimations seen here, I have reformatted them for our viewing pleasure!
Silver Surfer Preview by KachowPow
Red Orb Thanks JaeKar99
Blu Rotator Thanks JaeKar99
Blue Lines Thanks JaeKar99
Blue Kystal Machine Thanks JaeKar99
Blu Wave Thanks JaeKar99
Red Binary Nex Thanks JaeKar99
Super Mario Shroom'vision
Star Wars Battle
Star Wars Battle Ground Old Republic
Android Blue Cube Shutdown Thanks xessus
Android Blues Thanks JaeKar99
AOKP Thanks JaeKar99
Apple Tippiddy-Tap
[click here for GIF image]
Apple Smash (Updated logo is jumpy)
Atomic numbers Thanks JaeKar99
UPDATED 2/17/14 AeNomolyll-1(current favorite) Thanks JaeKar99
BA_AeNolmoyll Thanks JaeKar99
For GIF image click here
Beanstown106's_Bootanimation from his current Verizon ROM
Bios similar to what appears on the Hyperdrive ROM Thanks ade_tobat
For GIF image click here
Dr. Who Unknown credit
Dr. Who 50th Anniversary
UPDATED 2/11/14 Dr. Who Time Traveler Extended Cut Thanks JaeKar99
Flyn Vs Thanks JaeKar99
Javanese, the themer is Dark-R his OP is here.
[for GIF image click here]
Knox RAID ATT ROM Bootanimation Thanks drakeymcmb
Marvel Thanks JaeKar99
Note III Thanks kevinrocksman
UPDATED 2/17/14 Reactor Thanks JaeKar99
STOCK Verizon Bootanimation
SlimKat Thanks SlimROMs
The Cross Thanks JaeKar99
Nostalgic Collection
AAL-Nex Thanks JaeKar99
[click here for GIF image]
Apophamator Thanks JaeKar99
Flaming Red Skull Thanks JaeKar99
Use Your Illusions Part I Thanks JaeKar99 (unsure of development)
Use Your Illusions Part II Thanks JaeKar99 (unsure of development)
Use Your Illusions Part III Thanks JaeKar99 (unsure of development)
Use Your Illusions Part IV (Picture of all 3 images above included) Thanks JaeKar99 (unsure of development)
This happens to be a "Special Bootanimation" as it combines Parts I, II, & III into one Incredible Bootanimation, check it out!!!
Here is a BIG Request... THE MATRIX COLLECTION happens to be the Matrix, Bootanimation and Shutdown, Enjoy! Thanks JaeKar99
Matrix Droid Thanks JaeKar99
Matrix in Blue Thanks JaeKar99
Apple Rotten to the Core Thanks JaeKar99
Pissing on Apple Thanks JaeKar99
Krynisis Thanks JaeKar99
For GIF image Click here
Galaxus Thanks JaeKar99
For GIF image Click here
Countdown to Call of Duty ~ Ghost Countdown Thanks JaeKar99
Bbokeh Thanks JaeKar99
[click for GIF image]
UPDATED 2/17/14 Star Trek Twist Thanks zul8er
Star Wars R2D2
click for GIF image
Alien Blue Bootanimation Thanks JaeKar99
[for GIF image click here]
Alien Green Bootanimation Thanks JaeKar99
Alien Orange Bootanimation Thanks JaeKar99
[for GIF image click here]
Blowing Smoke Bootanimation Thanks JaeKar99
Motorcycle Bootanimation
[for still image click here]
BKJolly's Pac Man Bootanimation Thanks BKJolly
Wave-Ani_Bootanimation Thanks JaeKar99
click for GIF image
Multi-Color Swirl Bootanimation Thanks JaeKar99
[for still image click here]
Nexus Beam Bootanimation Thanks PartimusPrime
Kit Kat 4.4+ Bootanimation
Black Ops II FINAL Version Thanks Crackanug
E-Core Thanks JaeKar99
FlyinVs (This is the original version without the Note 3 Logo no Sound) Thanks JaeKar99
Pretty in Pink THIS IS FOR LADIES... THIS IS FOR LADIES... THIS IS FOR LADIES... Thanks JaeKar99
SciFiDroid Thanks JaeKar99
Stargate Thanks JaeKar99
Supernova Thanks JaeKar99
You are more beautifulTHIS IS FOR LADIES... THIS IS FOR LADIES... THIS IS FOR LADIES... Thanks JaeKar99
Hulk-Smash Puny-God (Bonus) +Includes+ an extra Avenger Thanks wally3614
Thor1 Got'em Thanks Preshak


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The dangers of truck driver taking illegal substances
Truck drivers are on the road for hundreds of hours each month. While most of these drivers are safe and responsible behind the wheel, some truck drivers may take illegal substances, including alcohol and other drugs.
By drinking alcohol or taking these drugs, truck drivers not only put themselves at risk but also put other drivers at risk. While under the influence, these drivers are often unable to operate their vehicle properly and safely.
If you or anyone you know has been involved in an accident with a truck driver who was under the influence, contact the Iowa truck accident lawyers of LaMarca Law Group, P.C., at 877-327-2600.


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Follow us
Earlier this year I accompanied a friend to one of Utah's most iconic and often-photographed roadside views. We were not actually there to photograph the view, but to see if it may have been too crowded to incorporate into the itinerary of an upcoming workshop (it was crowded). Shortly before sunrise, virtually no room was left to fit even a single tripod. Among the latecomers were two photographers who arrived just as the golden light unfolded. They were muttering loudly until another photographer concluded his work early and vacated a spot, which they quickly swooped in to fill before embarking on a profanity-laden rush to set up their cameras before the light faded. Five minutes later they were already on their way back to the parking area. As chance would have it, we saw them shortly after at a local café, waiting for their breakfast at a table adjacent to ours. They were still engaged in a loud and cantankerous exchange about their morning experience. As the arrival of their food put an end to the conversation, one commented to the other, "Oh well, at least we got the shot."
Often, when asking photographers why they repeatedly photograph the same iconic places in the same way the retort is "they are iconic for a reason," which is true, but few take the time to articulate what that reason is. If the reason is only that they are beautiful to behold, then there is no reason to photograph them at all, as many spectacular images of them can be seen in books, postcards and online. That leaves two other possibilities: bragging rights and the quality of the greater experience of being there. The former is easily dismissed when you consider that there is little to brag about when you're following directions to a roadside attraction; the latter, however, raises a more difficult question: if you got the shot but didn't get the true experience of being in a wild and inspiring place, what have you really gained?
What is the worth of a shot without an even more worthy experience? It's like earning a medal for driving a car to the finish line of a foot race, getting a high score on a test for which you were given the questions – and answers – in advance, or winning a baking contest with a pie purchased at a bakery. In order to feel (and not just claim) the experience, in order for the image to mean something more than a predictable trophy, it should be the legitimate reward for something more challenging and deserving than a few minutes of jockeying for a spot and an hour of indignant gripping. Don't you think?
Read this and many more articles in High Definition inside Issue 48 of Landscape Photography Magazine.


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Reader sends us lighthouse/implication that our mind is soiled
Reacting to an almost four-year-old post wherein we quite unabashedly and unapologetically said that the American Family Association's propagandistic "It's Not Gay" video is "polluting minds," a reader has sent us this reply:
Yea, it's the pride flags that sully our queer minds. Those colorful suckers contain more pollutants than a smoky aerosol can factory with a leaky sewage runoff drain!
But even through our smog-filled minds, we can still clearly see that the American Family Association's particularly vehement anti-gay propaganda (which has only increased over the past four years) is a societal detriment that deserves derision, mockery, or a carefully blended combination of both. So we thank this reader for the dual suggestion to (a) step up the attention we place on Wildmon Co.'s unscrupulous attacks, and (b) check out some of this nation's gorgeous lighthouses. Good ideas, both.
Your thoughts
Interesting that in a claim that our minds are already polluted, he sends you a rather phallic image.
Posted by: RainbowPhoenix | Mar 16, 2009 12:44:16 PM
Well, they ARE slow....
Posted by: John Ozed | Mar 16, 2009 1:25:47 PM
WEELLLL it could have something with a participant in "It's Not Gay" engaging in gay hotel orgies while at the same time proclaiming that God "delivered" him from homosexuality.
Posted by: a. mcewen | Mar 16, 2009 6:35:36 PMcomments powered by Disqus


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CCHR Nashville to Participate at Father's Day Event
The Citizens Commission on Human Rights Nashville Chapter (CCHR Nashville) is working to educate parents on their basic rights as they relate to their children's mental health and well-being. To do this, volunteers have been to several recent events and informational fairs, and now are preparing to participate in Father's Day celebrations in Nashville.
CCHR has long been an advocate for human rights, especially as relates to patients' rights in the field of mental health. Per the international CCHR website, cchr.org, "CCHR has long fought to restore basic inalienable human rights to the field of mental health, including, but not limited to, full informed consent regarding the medical legitimacy of psychiatric diagnosis, the risks of psychiatric treatments, the right to all available medical alternatives and the right to refuse any treatment considered harmful."
Rev. Brian Fesler, who serves on the board of CCHR Nashville, said, "CCHR volunteers are getting the word out, but there is so much work to be done. People are getting hurt every day at the hands of psychiatrists."
CCHR is a non-profit, non-political, non-religious mental health watchdog. Its mission is to eradicate abuses committed under the guise of mental health and enact patient and consumer protections. CCHR receives reports about abuses in the field of mental health and is especially interested in situations where persons experienced abuse or damage due to a false diagnosis or unwanted and harmful psychiatric treatments, such as psychiatric drugs, electroshock (ECT) and electronic or magnetic brain stimulation (TMS). CCHR is often able to assist with filing complaints, and can work with a person's attorney to further investigate the case.


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Lingua Franca
- Featured: FEURZEIG / WHITEHOUSE
- Release Date: 9/28/2018
Lingua Franca is the first album devoted to the music of David Feurzeig, whose compositions "test the boundaries between vernacular and concert music, seriousness and humor, and disparate musical traditions" (Dresdner Amtsblatt.) A lingua franca is any language or hybrid of several languages used as a common tongue-an apt description of Feurzeig's music, which speaks in a unique personal synthesis made from elements of highly diverse styles. The entire album was recorded, mixed, and mastered by Grammy-winning producer and recording engineer Adam Abeshouse. The title piece features the "world's top-selling cello/bass duo" Low & Lower (Brooks Whitehouse and Paul Sharpe) in a virtuosic display as they play while reciting or singing five gems of International English-today's lingua franca-which range from a Belgrade hotel elevator sign ("press a number of wishing floor") to the instructions on a chopstick wrapper ("the traditional and typical of Chinese glonous history"). Feurzeig is the performer on the alternately poignant and hilarious "Four Homages," which reimagines the work of great composer-pianists of the past in contemporary vernacular piano styles: from the Bartokian "Bela's Blues" to "Stride Rite," a 3-minute summary of the Rite of Spring in ragtime. The set concludes with a tribute to Martin Luther King, a quodlibet of "We Shall Overcome" and "Happy Birthday," which is both a cri de couer for our troubled times and somehow also a rollicking boogie-woogie celebration. The album begins and ends with pieces for unaccompanied solo string instrument. Whitehouse performs the majestic five-movement Sonata for Solo Cello, which extends the monumental tradition of the Benjamin Britten solo sonatas into the 21st century with innovative virtuoso techniques. Violist Daniel Panner, Naumburg winner and principal of the NYC Opera, plays the Sonata for Solo Viola, which likewise tests the limits of the instrument, but always in the service of passionate expression.
|Lingua Franca
|American Modern Recs
|Release Date:
|Product Type:
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Lex; in Breve
The online supplement to our eponymous journal features concise and insightful articles penned by law students from the University of Malaya, as well as guest writers.
3/10/2018 1 Comment
The Spy Who Testifies - Quantum of Corroboration in Cases Involving Agent Provocateurs
Does an agent provocateur need to be corroborated under the law?
I. Introduction
Does Malaysia have an intelligence agency like the CIA or MI6? States usually have their own method of operative centre for matters of intelligence and espionage. What if James Bond was an agent of our own intelligence agency? He would most certainly be an agent provocateur, or in other words, a spy, and not merely an informer. That being said, let there be a hypothetical situation in which Mr Bond and friends were to fumble and be called in the Malaysian courts – does Mr Bond then require corroboration for the evidence given during his testimony before the court? Surely this has never happened in the British film series – having the greatest spy of all times to testify in court as a botched operation always gets concealed in the end. However, in reality, case laws have established on whether it is necessary to corroborate an agent provocateur and an informer. This article provides a comparative analysis of the legal positions in the jurisdictions of Malaysia, United Kingdom and Singapore.
II. The Malaysian Current Legal Position
A. Distinction between an accomplice and an agent provocateur
A distinction should be made between an accomplice and an agent provocateur as different corroboration rules apply.[1]To begin with, the rules of corroboration do not apply for agent provocateurs, as opposed to accomplices.[2] Hence, an accused can be convicted on the uncorroborated evidence of agent provocateurs if the court accepts the truth of the evidence.
It is essential to understand who an agent provocateur is. The Court in PP v Rosli bin Rikidin[3] was aided by the definition found in Black's Law Dictionary (7th Ed.) – an agent provocateur is (1) An undercover agent who instigates or participates in a crime, often by infiltrating a group involved in suspected illegal conducts, to expose and punish criminal activity; (2) Person who entraps or entices another to break the law and then informs against the other as a lawbreaker. Additionally, the Concise Oxford Dictionary (9th Ed.) defines an agent provocateur as a person employed to detect suspected offenders by tempting them to overt self-incriminating action. The question of who an agent provocateur is was also considered in the 2016 decision by the Federal Court in Hari Bhadur Gale v PP.[4] The Court referred to the United Kingdom Report of the Royal Commission on Police Powers and Procedure [1929] Cmd 3297, which defined an agent provocateur as 'a person who entices another to commit an express breach of the law which he would not otherwise have committed, and then proceeds or informs against him in respect of such offence'.[5] The Federal Court interpreted the aforementioned definition as any person can be an agent provocateur and need not be only a class or category of persons or members of a law enforcement agency.[6] Further, it was held in paragraph 34 of the judgment that:
"There is nothing in the first limb of S.40A(2) of the Dangerous Drugs Act to suggest that it has reversed or limited the common law principle that any person can be an agent provocateur and that only a police or a customs officer can be an agent provocateur. All it does is to highlight a situation (second situation) that even when an agent provocateur is a police or customs officer, any statement made to him by any person shall be admissible as evidence. The Court has no discretion to refuse admitting (as opposed to weight) such evidence."
The Court in Teja Singh also held the law to be correctly stated in Emperor v Chaturbhuj Sahu[7] which provided a satisfying rule to determine whether a person is an agent provocateur or accomplice:-
"It may sometimes be difficult to draw the line of discrimination between an accomplice and a pretended confederate, such as a detective, spy or decoy; but we think, that the line may be drawn in this way:-- If the witness has made himself an agent for the prosecution, before associating with the wrong-doers or before the actual perpetration of the offence, he is not an accomplice; but he may be an accomplice if he extends no aid to the prosecution until after the offence has been committed."[8]
Apart from distinguishing between accomplice and agent provocateur, it must be noted that an agent provocateur is not an informer. In the Supreme Court's decision in Munusamy v PP,[9] whether a person is an informer or an agent provocateur depends upon the role played by that person in all the circumstances of the particular case. In PP v Ee Boon Keat,[10] Augustine Paul J (as His Lordship was then) held that while an informer merely supplies information regarding an offence without taking part in it, an agent provocateur participates actively in the commission of the offence. A meticulous examination of the facts of each case is required to answer this question.[11]
B. Effect of non-disclosure of an agent provocateur by the prosecution
Will the non-disclosure of an agent provocateur by the prosecution in the trial be fatal? The issue of non-disclosure was considered by the Federal Court in Wan Yurillhami bin Wan Yaacob & Anor v PP,[12] which held that the informer is protected from giving evidence while an agent provocateur is not. If a person is merely an informer, the prosecution is not required to call him as a witness or offer him to the defence as the informer is protected under a specific provision such as S.40 of the Dangerous Drugs Act. On the contrary, an agent provocateur is required to give evidence in court as a prosecution witness. If he is not called, he has to be offered and made available to the defence. Failure to comply with this requirement will attract the application of adverse inference under S.114(g) of the Evidence Act 1950(Act 56) against the prosecution's case.
Nevertheless, depending on the circumstances of the case, the failure to make an agent provocateur available as a witness to the defence may not always be fatal to the prosecution's case if the agent's evidence was neither material nor relevant.
One of the leading Malaysian authorities on the issue of non-corroborative evidence for agent provocateurs is Teja Singh & Mohamed Nasir v PP.[13] The Court relied on the passages in Roscoe's Criminal Evidence, 15th Edition (p.156)[14] and Phipson on Evidence, 8th Edition (p.478),[15] and also the headnote in Rex v Bickley[16] which stated that "The evidence of a police spy or agent provocateur is not that of an accomplice and does not require corroboration." This set the pathway for future cases and legislations in Malaysia on agent provocateurs as that line from Bickley continued to be cited until today.[17] There is no doubt that there may be witnesses in any of the categories, as cited in Roscoe's, who may be wholly unworthy of credit. In Spenser Wilkinson J's view, however, the credit of any such witness depends upon the facts of each particular case and not upon the particular label which can be attached to him.[18]
The difference in requirement of corroboration between an accomplice and an agent provocateur is enunciated in a passage by Maule J's judgment from the case of R v Mullins,[19]which was quoted with approval by the Court in Teja Singh:[20]
"An accomplice confesses himself to be a criminal, and may have a motive for giving information, as it may purchase immunity for his offence. A spy (agent provocateur), on the other hand, may be an honest man; he may think that the course he pursues is absolutely essential for the protection of his own interests and those of society… If he does so and if he believes that there is no other method of counter-acting the dangerous designs of wicked men, I can see no impropriety in his taking upon himself the character of an informer. The government are, no doubt, justified in employing spies; and I do not see that a person so employed deserves to be blamed if he investigates offences no further than by pretending to concur with the perpetrators. Under such circumstances they are entirely distinguished in fact and in principle from accomplices, and although their evidence is entirely for the jury to judge of, I am bound to say that they are not such persons as it is the practice to say require corroboration."
C. Applicable rules on corroboration by an agent provocateur
When an agent provocateur is called upon to testify in court, he is just another witness- his evidence is therefore, subject to the general rules of evidence and procedures, both statutory and common law. However, there is an exception to this general rule when there is a statutory provision to approach a particular category of evidence and witness in a certain manner .[21] Corroboration warning for agent provocateur has been dispensed with in certain statutes. The evidence given by such agents shall also be admissible in trial and that 'admissibility' as opposed to 'weight' is of prime importance. The emphasis on the word 'shall' denotes that the court has no longer any discretion to refuse to admit such statement in evidence. These statutes can be referred to in Table 1.1 below.
Table 1.1.
Statutes which provide for the admissibility of uncorroborated evidence by agent provocateur
Besides, these statutes on specific type of offences also provide for specific rules on the credibility of an agent provocateur. The provisions are usually similar, hence will be reproduced to take their construction as: "No agent provocateur shall be presumed to be unworthy of credit by reason only of his having attempted to commit, or to abet, having abetted or having been engaged in a criminal conspiracy to commit, such offence if the main purpose of such attempt, abetment or engagement was to secure evidence against such person."[22]
In Hari Bhadur Gale,[23] the Federal Court held that the variations or exceptions in the statutes [S.40A(1) of the Dangerous Drugs Act in this case] serve to remove or minimise the impact of the presumption of credit unworthiness as a witness against an agent provocateur. Such presumption could otherwise be invoked under the general rules of evidence and procedure given the role that he might have played in the commission of the offence in question. Without the subsection, a trial judge may have a basis to exclude such evidence on the ground of prejudicial effect outweighing its probative value, unfairness, abuse of state or executive power and abuse of the court process, or even if admitted, he may give no or little weight to the evidence upon finding the agent provocateur unworthy of any credit as a witness (see also Brannan v Peek).[24]
The Federal Court in Wan Mohd Azman Hassan v PP[25] held that in the case of an agent provocateur's evidence, the statutory approval for the admission of such evidence as governed by S.40A of the Act, is indisputable. The law is silent on the need to subject such evidence to a balancing exercise although it was argued by the counsel of the appellant to apply such requirement in the interest of fairness, like the position in England. The Federal Court highlighted that the principle of fairness is a double-edged sword. In the fight against the drug menace, Parliament has deemed it fit that such evidence of an agent provocateur is admissible without any restrictions. The trial judge is no longer vested with a discretion to exclude such evidence. Hence, there is no need to corroborate the evidence of an agent provocateur. The court's role is to only interpret legislations and not adding new elements especially when the words in statutes are clear and unambiguous.
In foreign jurisdictions, agent provocateur is discussed conjointly with the defence of entrapment. Specific provisions in Malaysian statutes have not altered, but reaffirmed the substantive rule of law that entrapment (or use of agent provocateur) does not per se afford a defence to a criminal charge.[26] The Federal Court in Wan Mohd Azman Hassan v PP[27] held that the common law position that entrapment is not a substantive defence remains the law. Moreover, the Malaysian Evidence Act, does not provide for any such exclusionary provision such as that in S.78 of the English Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, which shall be discussed in Part III(A) below.
III. Comparative Jurisdictions
A. English position
The issue of protection of members of the public from the activities of undercover police officers and others came under the attention of the government by the government in the beginning of the 20th century.[28] The matter was first considered by the Royal Commission on Criminal Procedure in 1929, followed by the Home Office through its guidelines in 1969 and in 1984.With the advent of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act in 1984 ('the 1984 Act'), the Association of Chief Police Officers also issued further guidelines to assist in briefing any police officer assigned to work as a test purchase officer.[29]
Post-World War II, one of the authorities on the issue of agent provocateurs was that by Lord Goddard CJ in Brannan v Peek,[30] "It is not right that police authorities should instruct, allow or permit detective officers or plain clothes constables to commit an offence so that they can prove that another person has committed an offence." However, it is to be observed that Lord Goddard did not say that the evidence of the police officer sent into a public-house to commit an offence should be rejected; and neither did Lord Goddard refer to any exercise of discretion by the court or matters of public policy.
Next came the 1967 position which was found in Sneddon v Stevenson,[31] similar to the Malaysian rule on non-corroboration of evidence by agent provocateur in Teja Singh, "The evidence of a police spy or "agent provocateur" was not that of an accomplice and did not require corroboration".
The landmark authority before the 1984 Act came in the form of R v Sang.[32] Lord Diplock held that under the English system of criminal justice, the judge does not have the discretion by himself to acquit the accused or to direct the jury to do so, notwithstanding that he is guilty of the offence. A trial judge in a criminal trial always have the discretion to refuse to admit evidence if, in his opinion, its prejudicial effect outweighs its probative value. Except for admissions and confessions and generally with regard to evidence obtained from the accused after the commission of the offence, he has no discretion to refuse to admit relevant, admissible evidence on the grounds that it was obtained by improper or unfair means. The court is not concerned with how it was obtained. In the exercise of discretionary power, it is not a ground to exclude evidence merely because the evidence was obtained from the result of the agent provocateur's activities.
Nevertheless, the decision in R v Sang on the admissibility of evidence obtained unfairly has not been entirely reversed by Parliament via the introduction of S.78[33] of the 1984 Act. There is also S.82(3)[34] of the 1984 Act which can be interpreted as to preserve the judge's common law discretion to exclude evidence so as to ensure a fair trial.
In R v Harwood,[35] the Court of Appeal stated that S.78 of the 1984 Act has not abrogated the rule that neither entrapment nor agent provocateur affords a defence to a criminal charge. The rule that entrapment was no defence could not be evaded by the procedural device of preventing the prosecution adducing evidence of the commission of the offence.
The Court of Appeal in R v Smurthwaite & Gill[36] held again that S.78 has not altered the substantive rule of law that entrapment or the use of an agent provocateur does not, per se, afford a defence in law to a criminal charge. A purely evidential provision in a statute, which does not even mention entrapment or agent provocateur, cannot have altered a substantive rule of law enunciated by the House of Lords in R v Sang about 14 years prior. Had Parliament intended to alter the substantive law, it would have done so in clear terms. The right approach to the 1984 Act is to examine the language of the relevant provision in its natural meaning and not to strain for an interpretation which either reasserts or alters the pre-existing law.
Thus, the fact that the evidence has been obtained by agent provocateur does not, ipso facto, require the judge to exclude it. However, should the judge considers that in all circumstances the obtaining of the evidence in that way would have adverse effect as described in the statute, then he will exclude it. The Court of Appeal found that it is impossible to give a more general guidance as to how a judge should exercise his discretion under S.78, since each case must be determined on its own facts.
Regina v Shannon[37] was an application under S.78 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 to exclude evidence on the grounds of entrapment. The Court of Appeal held that while the facts and circumstances of such entrapment might be taken into account, the principal focus of the judge's attention had to be upon whether the fairness of the proceedings will be adversely affected by admitting the evidence of the agent provocateur. Other factors which have to be considered are the nature and reliability of the prosecution evidence and the fullness and fairness of the opportunity available to a defendant to deal with the evidence which the prosecution sought to adduce. If the unfairness complained of is no more than the visceral reaction that it is in principle unfair as a matter of policy or of law, then that is not by itself sufficient, unless the behaviour of the police (or someone acting on behalf of or in league with the police) and/or the prosecuting authority has been such as to grant a stay on grounds of abuse of process. There was no general rule requiring a court on grounds of fundamental fairness not to not to entertain a prosecution at all in cases of incitement or instigation by an agent provocateur regardless of whether the trial as a whole could be a fair one in the procedural sense.
It is important to consider that Article 6 of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms[38] (play a crucial role in cases of admissibility of evidence by agents provocateur post-1998. There was a real concern that the adoption of entrapment evidence might contravene an accused's right to a fair hearing under Art.6. The approach by the English courts since then makes it necessary to balance the two competing requirements that (i) those who commit crimes should be convicted and punished, and that (ii) there should not be an abuse of process which would constitute an affront to the public conscience. In such balancing exercise, it will be necessary for the court in each individual case to take into account a number of factors according to their respective circumstances.
B. Singaporean position
Singaporean cases share a similar position to Malaysia on the non-requirement for corroborating evidence by an agent provocateur due to the precedent from Teja Singh. In Lian Teck Chew v Regina,[39] the Singaporean Criminal Court of Appeal held that it is unfortunately true that certain offences can only be detected by the action of this kind by the police and their agents, extending in some cases so far as the commission of actual offences. The propriety of the action is a matter for the authorities concerned, and convictions so obtained are good.
Wee Chong Jin CJ in Cheng Swee Tiang v PP[40] stated that while the Courts have, consistently and without language ambiguity, criticised the use of agent provocateurs, whether they be law enforcement officers or not, the courts have also consistently admitted evidence obtained by such persons provided its admissibility does not operate unfairly against an accused. Both on principle and authority, no absolute rule can be formulated and the question is one that dependson the circumstances of each particular case. The dicta of Ambrose J is also worth noting, "It is one thing to lay a trap for catching a man who has every intention of assisting in carrying on a crime [in this case, public lottery] and quite another thing to instigate a man to assist in carrying on the crime when he has not evinced any intention to do so."
In the landmark decision of How Poh Sun v PP,[41] Yong Pung How CJ held that the evidence of an agent provocateur cannot be excluded in the exercise of judicial discretion. Further, the defences of agent provocateur and entrapment do not exist in Singaporean law. It is not the province of the court to consider whether the law enforcement agencies [in this case, the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB)] should have proceeded about its work in one way or the other. The court can only be concerned with the evidence before it.Yong Pung How CJ also stated in two other cases that Courts need not treat the evidence of an agent provocateur (for the purpose of exposing a criminal) with 'special caution over and above any other witness'[42] and to hold otherwise would be to place a stumbling block in the investigative methods of our law enforcement agencies.[43]
The Court of Appeal in PP v Rozman bin Jusoh & Anor[44] held that there is no common law or statutory defence of entrapment. A person, who is capable of forming a specific criminal intent and commits an offence owing to the entrapment set up by others can be properly convicted of the offence as if he had committed the offence entirely on his own initiative. If the requisite mens rea and actus reus are present, they cannot be said to have been diminished or eradicated simply because the offender was induced or influenced by an agent provocateur, however active a role such agent provocateur might have played in persuading the offender to commit the offence. If entrapment can be considered at all, it is relevant only insofar as mitigation of the sentence is concerned.
IV. Conclusion
In light of the move by other jurisdictions to remove the corroboration requirement for accomplices and child victims of sexual offences, it is pertinent to consider whether Malaysia should introduce rules to corroborate the evidence given by an agent provocateur.
The need to corroborate evidence by agent provocateurs must be balanced with the political, economic and social conditions of the country. To illustrate, Malaysia is located in the Golden Triangle, a hub for the illegal drug trafficking trade. Requiring corroboration rules would thus burden the enforcement of law and the administration of justice. It is indeed difficult to secure evidence conventionally. Covert activities of drug traffickers are carried out with a high degree of secrecy that, without using this technique of surveillance and investigation, it may be impossible for anti-drugs law enforcers to penetrate into this nefarious underworld activity and identify who the perpetrators are. The act of the police in resorting to this method of using an agent provocateur, though undesirable, is necessary in circumstances where drug trafficking has become a national issue, which may lead to a national crisis.[45] The use of Agent Provocateurs, undercover agents or police spies is now a common method utilized by the police in flushing out and ultimately apprehending drug traffickers.[46]
A memorandum[47] by the Malaysian Bar in 2013 stated that the evidence of an agent provocateur is often frowned upon because he is a particeps criminis.[48]The common law has recognised the dangers of accepting as truth the evidence of an agent provocateur without corroboration as it gives rise to the dangers of fabrication. It violates the concept of fairness and would bring the administration of justice into disrepute. The Malaysian Bar cited the European Courts of Human Rights in Teixeira de Castro v Portugal,[49] which voiced its concern on the use of undercover agents [in this case agent provocateur] and urged for safeguards, "even in cases concerning the fight against dangerous drugs trafficking". Nevertheless, the ECHR considered that the case must be examined as a whole on its fairness and emphasised that the conduct of prosecuting authorities in the prevention and investigation of criminal offences was primarily a matter for regulation by domestic law.
Nevertheless, Malaysia does not subscribe to Art.6 of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. This is why it is essential to distinguish the English and Malaysian current positions. With such backdrop, it came as no surprise that the House of Lords held in Looseley (supra) that it would be an abuse of process and a misuse of state power if a person were lured, incited or pressured into committing a crime which he would not otherwise have committed. It is, however, important to note that the House of Lords also made it clear that active complicity by the State or its agents did not always necessarily equate an abuse of executive power warranting the attendant consequences. Lord Nicholls speech in Looseley[50] stated at paragraph 3 that "In some instances, a degree of active involvement by the police in the commission of a crime is regarded as acceptable. Test purchases fall easily into this category."
In conclusion, the law should remain as it is and there is no need to corroborate the evidence of agent provocateurs in Malaysia. The Courts should always take into consideration the facts and circumstances which are unique to its case. People must refuse to commit a crime even if tempted or invited to do so.[51] The fact that a defendant would not have committed an offence but for the activity of an agent provocateur should never be a defence. A man who intends to commit a crime and did commit the crime is guilty of the offence whether or not he has been persuaded or induced to commit it, no matter by whom.[52] It would moreover be seriously detrimental to public safety, and law and order if in such circumstances, the law immunised an accused from conviction. Lord Alverstone CJ in R v. Mortimer[53] observed, "I do not like the police traps any more than does anybody else, but at the same time there are some offences the commission of which cannot be found out in any other ways, and unlawful acts were done in consequence of the trap are nonetheless unlawful."
Written by Erique Phang Li-Onn, a final year law student of the Faculty of Law, University of Malaya.
Edited by Rachel Ng and Nurul Zafirah Jaya.
12/7/2018 09:05:17 pm
Espionage is really a sensitive issue to talk about. Spies or informers are difficult to deal with especially when a court ruling is involved. Certain laws of countries require them to be present and show evidence for their information, but some countries and their laws do not. I hope the international courts and the united nations will do something about this. They can make a law that would ensure the anonymity of a spy or informer, but still ensure the validity of an accusation.
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Checked the temperature lately? Or the snowfall totals? Winter has definitely arrived—and that calls for a different sort of fashion statement. These days, manufacturers and retailers of cold-weather gear are pushing the boundaries, both in terms of form and function. Forget the lumberjack look: A new sort of stylishness—and even a sense of playfulness—has come to define winter wear. There's also a new emphasis on innovation, as in fabrics that offer better protection from the elements or clothing items that even have battery-powered heating units sewn right in. "There's always something new out there," says Dan Tiegs, an industry veteran who's the founder of WILD Outdoor Apparel, an Oregon-based company that aims to "bring unique, fun" apparel to outdoor enthusiasts. Add it up and it equates to expanded product lines and booming sales. Upscale retailer Hammacher Schlemmer says it's doubled its winter-gear offerings in the last five years (its newest arrivals include a "three zone" heated jacket and ear warmers with built-in headphones). Smaller companies are also seeing a boost: Ramsey Outdoor, a retailer in Northern New Jersey, says that winter gear sales are already up 10% this season, particularly because of the chill. "Cold weather and early snow drives the business," says owner Stuart Levine. To see how far we've come since days of long johns and puffy coats, we scoured the retail universe and found five noteworthy products. Stay warm!
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Speaking of Hammacher Schlemmer, one of its biggest winter sellers of late is a $40 knit cap with a "foldaway detachable beard." The company admits the Bearded Beanie is a bit of gag, but one that dovetails with the beard (and moustache) mania of late. At the same time, Hammacher says the cap does keep a man's face warm, thanks to "a tight weave that refuses to even acknowledge the cold, let alone allow it to gain purchase against one's skin." Hammacher says the item has proved so popular that the company has had to reorder it to keep pace with demand.
Flash Pants
Goose down: It's not just for jackets anymore. A number of winter-gear manufacturers have been rolling out down pants (and even down long underwear). Why? Because down is both warm and lightweight, and it's therefore equally good at protecting the lower half of the body as the upper. Western Mountaineering, a California-based manufacturer, has seemingly taken the concept to the next level with its down-filled Flash Pants ($225). The pants provide "ample warmth for many situations," according to the company, and yet they weigh in at less than 10 ounces and can "compress down to about half the size of your water bottle." And they can be worn underneath other pants, though perhaps not a snug pair of jeans. The big drawback? The company admits the pants don't exactly scream fashion statement. "I don't think you're going to see anybody clubbing in these things," says Western Mountaineering production manager Gary Peterson.
Parents want to make sure that their children stay warm. But car seats and coats don't make for an easy mix because of the sheer bulk of most outerwear (in other words, the coats stand in the way of the child being strapped in tightly). That's why Cherlyn Jenkins, a mom and entrepreneur, came up with the Cozywoggle ($75). It's a regular coat in most respects, except for the addition of zippers that run along the sides. The idea is that the coat can be partly removed when the child is being securely buckled in, but it can remain draped over the child after the fact, so that it still provides protection against the cold. It's still early to tell how popular the Cozywoggle will prove; Jenkins unveiled it this past October and says she's sold $14,000 in coats to date.
The Japan-based clothing retailer Uniqlo has gained a reputation for its stylish approach to casual wear—an Asian answer to The Gap, though the brand is also quickly gaining in popularity in the U.S. (it has stores in the New York area and San Francisco and plans to open as many as 200 locations in the coming years). When it comes to winter wear, Uniqlo has offered what it calls a very unique line: the Heattech brand of men's and women's clothing. These are items, from underwear to pants to scarves, made from a specialty acrylic rayon/polyester fabric that's designed with an almost sacred "seven functions" in mind: heat generation, heat retention, soft texture, odor control, stretch, anti-static, non-deforming (meaning it retains its shape after repeated washing). Regardless of the technology involved, this much is clear: It's plenty popular. Since the line's introduction a decade ago, more than 300 million pieces of Heattech wear have been sold, including 100 million in the last two years alone.
ThermaCELL Heated Insoles
Got cold feet? Sure, you can put on an extra pair of socks, but the folks behind ThermaCELL claim to have a better idea: namely, a battery-powered heated insole ($135). Among the features of the product: a cordless remote (you can opt for high or medium heat settings), a rechargeable lithium-ion battery and an optional car charger (for $20). The product, which was introduced in the fall, comes in five sizes, from small to XXL.


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We are pleased to announce that the region's two leading real estate organizations have elected new officers for 2017.
The Columbia-Greene Board of Realtors (CGBR) has elected Ronald Caplan of Real Estate Opportunities as president; James Conway of Red Apple Realty as vice president; Barbara Hermance of Land Source Real Estate, treasurer, and Carol Shaw of Shaw Country Realty, as secretary.
The Columbia-Greene-Northern Dutchess Multiple Listing Service (CGND-MLS), administered by CGBR, has elected as president Richard Reilly of Fraleigh & Rakow Realty; Steve Hubbard of Steve Hubbard Real Estate Services is vice president; James Male of HOUSE Hudson Valley Realty is now secretary, and William Laraway of C21 Lynn Strunk Realty Inc. has been elected treasurer.
The Columbia Greene Board of REALTORS® mission is to provide real estate professionals with resources to practice real estate ethically, professionally, and successfully in Columbia, Greene, and Northern Dutchess Counties. CGBR is dedicated to helping REALTORS® stay up-to-date on industry issues and real estate business activities.
Two Cats Productions is developing several new TV series in the real estate/property space for a major cable network and are looking for outstanding talent to star in the shows. TwoCatsTV is an Emmy Award-winning nonfiction production company in NYC. They seek people in two spaces specifically:
(Additionally, the network has asked to find a woman who works in these areas herself.)
See What's New at RPR, April 2016
Website Enhancements
The new Autofill Address Suggestionjumps into gear when searching for a single property. Note that the address matches will be for properties within the user's MLS(s). This new feature will also return matches for cities, counties and neighborhoods.
The Agent Remarks Field has been extended from a 500 character word limit to a 4,000 limit. Accordingly, Showing Instructions has increased from a 300 to 4000 character limit.
The Home Facts Section now includes the option to add additional, customized facts to any property. This includes any "standard fact" that we may not receive from MLS or Public Record data, and also any unique or custom fact that the user would like to include about the property.
Home facts entered by the user will appear along with other facts within reports. Note: the added home facts will not flow to the Comparative Analysis or Sales Comparison Analysis tools.
RPR Commercial
Commercial practitioners can now search properties by specific keywords within a listing description.Specify up to six words or phrases within the advanced search or within the search filters on the left hand side. The results will return listings that use at least one of the keywords.
Enhancements to RPR Mobile™
TheRedo Search option reverts a map back to the original area after the user has zoomed in or out of the map.
To make you aware, there have been real estate scams reported lately of two different kinds.
One is the "Home for Rent" scam on Craigs List. Please make sure your properties are not listed where they should not be. And if you find them out there, the state police are currently investigating these situations so you may want to contact them as well as contacting Craigs List to report the scam.
Please be aware that there is a person in the Greene County area who is representing himself as a Real Estate Agent and he is not on the DOS website as a licensee.
The father of this scammer, a handyman, may also be involved. They have gone so far as to contact the homeowners to show the property.
Please ensure that your sellers or buyers know to contact you as their agent to confirm the legitimacy of a request to show a property
If you do not know the agent, check to see if they are in the MLS or on the DOS website. Keeping yourself, your clients and their properties safe is of the utmost importance.
The State Police in Greene County have been contacted.


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Kevin Holdsworth considers the creation of a new national monument in southeastern Utah.
Notes from Wyoming
Kevin Holdsworth is the author of Big Wonderful: Notes from Wyoming and Good Water. His work has appeared in numerous periodicals, including Cimarron Review, Post Road, Creative Nonfiction, and Denver University Law Review. In 2009 he was awarded the Wyoming Arts Council creative writing fellowship for fiction. He lives with his wife, Jennifer, and son, Chris, in south-central and southern Utah.
The recent Outdoor Retailer convention debacle proves Utah's elected officials are the least good.
If ever a federally managed public land deserved protection under the Antiquities Act, it is Bears Ears.


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Top News
Black bear parts seized in international enforcement effort at New Brunswick border
Operation Thunderball identifies possible trafficking of Canadian bear pieces
The INTERPOL-led Operation Thunderball involved wildlife enforcement efforts throughout June, leading to the seizure of thousands of plants and animals — everything from elephant ivory to live primates, to Canadian black bear parts discovered at a New Brunswick border.
Sheldon Jordan, director general of the wildlife enforcement directorate with Environment and Climate Change Canada, was part of the organizing committee for the operation, tracking Canada's contribution to the anti-smuggling, poaching and trafficking effort, paired with protection.
"We looked at the export of Canadian species, we looked at the import of foreign species into Canada, and we looked at the protection of Canadian species with a special focus on species at risk," he told The Telegram this week.
Black bears can be legally hunted in Canadian provinces, in regulated and licensed hunts, including in Newfoundland and Labrador, where two bears can be killed per licence. Provincial wildlife enforcement generally deal with in-province issues, while federal responsibility follows interprovincial and international movements of plants and animals, or plant and animal products.
From an international viewpoint, Jordan said, black bears are coveted.
"Canada is actually the last country in the world that has a population that is healthy of black bears. Most places of the world, they've been wiped out through habitat loss, or because of demand for their meat or their organs for traditional medicine," he said.
Jordan said he's seen signs of an increase in demand within Canada in the last number of years for bear organs, particularly gall bladders, in what he called the traditional medicine market.
There's also demand from outside the country, leading to "blitzes" — the checks at the Canada-U.S. border that were part of Operation Thunderball.
"Once they're in Asia, a bear gall bladder can go for thousands of dollars, whereas in most provinces in Canada it's illegal to even possess a gall bladder. It has to be left in the gut pile," Jordan said.
"What we found wasn't bear gall bladders. What we found was a bunch of bear baculums. And a bear baculum is the penis bone that comes out of the bear. We found 16 of them in three different provinces (including New Brunswick) during export checks, which is something that really surprised us. The penis bone and testicles — we also found a number of bear testicles — are sought after. … We also found a number of bear paws that were being smuggled out of the country. Those are usually used in a soup. So it's more of a delicacy."
Throughout Canada, there were many seizures during the month believed to be linked to traditional medicines, including of endangered wild orchids, diet pills made from endangered African cacti, and Canada's first seizure of pangolins (commonly described as scaly anteaters, and believed to be the world's most trafficked mammal).
The World Customs Organization worked with INTERPOL, in addition to national enforcement, and Operation Thunderball was the third such effort in as many years, preceded by Thunderstorm (2018) and Thunderbird (2017). Beyond border blitzes, the Canadian efforts include on-site activities throughout the country, from markets to nesting areas. There were checks, for example, of known and potential nesting areas for migratory birds, including the piping plover and bank swallow.
"The bank swallow is a small, migratory bird and the populations have plummeted by 98 per cent in the last 40 years. So they are terribly vulnerable," Jordan said.
The birds sometimes dig in and nest at construction sites, quarries and gravel pits. And at times, the nests have been illegally disturbed and destroyed. Some locations are identified based on tips from the public (independent of the ongoing enforcement operation, more than 100 tips were recorded by federal enforcement during the month).
While the operation was a flurry of activity, enforcement and protection efforts don't stop. Within the last week, Jordan said, wildlife officers based in Corner Brook were dispatched to Labrador to check for bank swallow sites and ensure that operators understood their legal obligations.
Twitter: @TeleFitz