Friday, October 28, 2011

All Change for Royalty

The leaders of the 16 Commonwealth countries where the Queen is head of state unanimously approved the changes to succession to the throne laws at a summit in Perth, Australia. The Commenwealth (used to be the pink bits on old maps) are actullay still around 54-nation organisation, which represents two billion people around the globe ranging from Canada, Australia, South Africa. New Zealand, and India to small West Indian islands such as Barbados and Grenada.

Under the old succession laws, dating back more than 300 years, the heir to the throne is the first-born son of the monarch. Only when there are no sons, as in the case of the Queen's father George VI, does the crown pass to the eldest daughter. So Princess Anne, even though Prince Charle's sister currently finds herself way down the pecking order when it comes to assending to the throne.

This is now no longer the case.

This change will apply to descendents of the Prince of Wales. They will not be applied retrospectively. So what it mans is that under the new ruling a first-born daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge William and Kate) will take precedence over younger brothers. In other word, first come no matter what sex will be the next in line.

That was not the only rule that was changed, the ban on a future monarch marrying someone of any faith except a Catholic, which goes back to the days of Henry VIII has also been lifted. The actual monarch must still be in communion with the Church of England, because after all he or she is the head of that Church. But now they can marry a person from "any faith" without exception.

Barry Eva (Storyheart)

My Blogs:

Book Information and Things UK - Across the Pond

Book and a Chat Radio Show Guests - A Book and a Chat

Funny, Weird Or Just Interesting News From Around the World - Laugh I Thought My Trousers Would Never dry

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Was the Declaration of Independence legal?


Was the Declaration of Independence legal?

reported by BBC...

On Tuesday night, while Republican candidates in Nevada were debating such American issues as nuclear waste disposal and the immigration status of Mitt Romney's gardener, American and British lawyers in Philadelphia were taking on a far more fundamental topic.

Namely, just what did Thomas Jefferson think he was doing?

Some background: during the hot and sweltering summer of 1776, members of the second Continental Congress travelled to Philadelphia to discuss their frustration with royal rule.

By 4 July, America's founding fathers approved a simple document penned by Jefferson that enumerated their grievances and announced themselves a sovereign nation.

"When a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security”

Called the Declaration of Independence, it was a blow for freedom, a call to war, and the founding of a new empire.

It was also totally illegitimate and illegal.

At least, that was what lawyers from the UK argued during a debate at Philadelphia's Ben Franklin Hall.

The event, presented by the Temple American Inn of Court in conjunction with Gray's Inn, London, pitted British barristers against American lawyers to determine whether or not the American colonists had legal grounds to declare secession.

For American lawyers, the answer is simple: "The English had used their own Declaration of Rights to depose James II and these acts were deemed completely lawful and justified," they say in their summary.

To the British, however, secession isn't the legal or proper tool by which to settle internal disputes. "What if Texas decided today it wanted to secede from the Union? Lincoln made the case against secession and he was right," they argue in their brief.

A vote at the end of the debate reaffirmed the legality of Jefferson and company's insurrection, and the American experiment survived to see another day.

It was an unsurprising result, considering the venue - just a few blocks away from where the Declaration was drafted. But did they get it right? Below are some more of the arguments from both sides.

The American case for the Declaration

Did the Founding Fathers have any respect for the law? The Declaration is unquestionably "legal". Under basic principles of "Natural Law", government can only be by the consent of the people and there comes a point when allegiance is no longer required in face of tyranny.

The legality of the Declaration and its validity is proven by subsequent independence movements which have been enforced by world opinion as right and just, based on the fundamental principles of equality and self-determination now reflected in the UN Charter.

The British case against it

The Declaration emerged from the second Continental Congress The Declaration of Independence was not only illegal, but actually treasonable. There is no legal principle then or now to allow a group of citizens to establish their own laws because they want to. What if Texas decided today it wanted to secede from the Union?

Lincoln made the case against secession and he was right. The Declaration of Independence itself, in the absence of any recognised legal basis, had to appeal to "natural law", an undefined concept, and to "self-evident truths", that is to say truths for which no evidence could be provided.

The grievances listed in the Declaration were too trivial to justify secession. The main one - no taxation without representation - was no more than a wish on the part of the colonists, to avoid paying for the expense of protecting them against the French during seven years of arduous war and conflict.


Barry Eva (Storyheart)

My Blogs:

Book Information and Things UK - Across the Pond

Book and a Chat Radio Show Guests - A Book and a Chat

Funny, Weird Or Just Interesting News From Around the World - Laugh I Thought My Trousers Would Never dry

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Is this a new form of "Mad Cow" ?


An animal charity has rescued a cow in South Ayrshire which got its head stuck in a ladder.

Members of the public called the Scottish SPCA after spotting the bewildered beast in a field beside the Troon to Barassie road last month.

An inspector contacted the farmer who owned the Belgian Blue bullock and helped return it to the herd unharmed.

The farmer, who recently took on the lease to the land, said he had no idea how the ladder ended up in the field.

'Surprisingly calm'

Scottish SPCA Inspector Kerry Kirkpatrick contacted the farmer after being alerted to the cow's plight.

He said: "When the job came through my first thought was, this is a wind up, but I arrived at the field to find the cow looking confused but surprisingly calm despite having his head wedged tightly in between the rungs of the ladder.

"The farmer's family rounded up the whole herd into a holding pen and we managed to gently pull the ladder off the cow's head.

"The farmer had no idea how the ladder ended up in his field as he only recently took on the lease for the land. It may have been used to patch up a hole in the fence or it could have fallen off a passing van or lorry. Either way, it's a rescue I won't forget in a while."



Barry Eva (Storyheart)

My Blogs:

Book Information and Things UK - Across the Pond

Book and a Chat Radio Show Guests - A Book and a Chat

Funny, Weird Or Just Interesting News From Around the World - Laugh I Thought My Trousers Would Never dry


Thursday, July 7, 2011

A Real Cold Case

A murder mystery dating back to 1879 has been finally resolved after a skull unearthed in BBC legend David Attenborough's garden was formally recognised as that of a woman murdered by her maid 132 years ago.

Julia Martha Thomas, a wealthy widow aged 55, was killed by her 29-year-old housekeeper Kate Webster very close to Park Road in well-to-do Richmond, but her head was never found.

The case became known as the 'Barnes Mystery', which gripped London at the time.

Webster, a convicted thief and fraudster, chopped up Thomas with an axe, boiled the remains and gave the dripping to local children to eat.

A box containing human flesh was found in the nearby River Thames days after the killing and one of the victim's feet was found on an allotment.

Webster was tried and executed, but the head was never found until it was unearthed in October by workmen building an extension at the home of Attenborough, the face of BBC natural history programmes for more than 50 years.

Thomas lived at almost exactly the same spot as the 85-year-old broadcaster, while the garden where the skull was found used to be the site of a pub said to be a favourite of the killer.

Alison Thompson, the west London coroner formerly identified the recovered skull as that Thomas. She recorded a verdict of unlawful killing and the cause of death as asphyxiation and head injury.

After reviewing records of the murder from the time of her death, along with census records and radiocarbon testing, the investigating officer was able to provide the coroner with compelling evidence that the skull was indeed Thomas's.

"This is a fascinating case and a good example of how good old-fashioned detective work, historical records and technological advances came together to solve the 'Barnes mystery'," said Richmond borough police commander Chief Superintendent Clive Chalk.




Barry Eva (Storyheart)

My Blogs:

Book Information and Things UK - Across the Pond

Book and a Chat Radio Show Guests - A Book and a Chat

Funny, Weird Or Just Interesting News From Around the World - Laugh I Thought My Trousers Would Never dry

Monday, May 16, 2011

A Book and a Chat with Steve Berry


(There is a slight gap at the begining of the show when I lost all my connections, but the show is one not to miss.)

New York Times best selling author Steve Berry is a person I use as a example to other authors, and it was interesting upon having him back as my guest on tonight’s show, that he uses the same example of what happened to him when talking to other users.

Steve has been writing since 1990, and it took him 12 years and 85 rejections (over five different editions) to finally sell a manuscript. Now nine years later his books are printed in 40 languages, and he has kept 12 million readers in 51 countries on the edge of their seats with the exploits of his hero “Cotton Malone”.

Cotton has been having adventures all over the world to all parts of Europe (The Templar Legacy, The Paris Vendetta), Asia (The Venetian Betrayal), Antarctica (The Charlemagne Pursuit), the Middle East (The Alexandria Link) and China (The Emperors Tomb). It’s no wonder that he told Steve that he wanted some time off so will not be back in a fresh story until 2013. That is however not before one last adventure before his break this time through Steve’s latest smash hit of an adventure; “The Jefferson Key” takes our hero to America.


Steve Berry
is such a great guest always sharing with us his latest news as well as a few hints along the way about what we might be reading from him next. Now this can also be shared in two ebooks which will introduce to you or perhaps follow up on other characters that appear in both this new book and the "Emperors Tomb" in the form of “The Balkan Escape” and “The Devils Gold”.

We also learned in this show about Steve’s trip to the Middle East along with other “Thriller/Mystery" writers to visit the troops and the great reception they received there.

So what about The Jefferson Key, which is officially launched tomorrow (May 17th)?

Four United States presidents have been assassinated—in 1865, 1881, 1901, and 1963—each murder seemingly unrelated and separated by time.

But what if those presidents were all killed for the same reason: a clause in the United States Constitution—contained within Article 1, Section 8—that would shock Americans?

This question is what faces former Justice Department operative Cotton Malone in his latest adventure. When a bold assassination attempt is made against President Danny Daniels in the heart of Manhattan, Malone risks his life to foil the killing—only to find himself at dangerous odds with the Commonwealth, a secret society of pirates first assembled during the American Revolution.

In their most perilous exploit yet, Malone and Cassiopeia Vitt race across the nation and take to the high seas. Along the way they break a secret cipher originally possessed by Thomas Jefferson, unravel a mystery concocted by Andrew Jackson, and unearth a centuries-old document forged by the Founding Fathers themselves, one powerful enough—thanks to that clause in the Constitution—to make the Commonwealth unstoppable.


The response the author has received from the book is amazing, as he stated normally there are a few who do not like the book for one reason or another yet so far he has received nothing but praise, and I can tell you that I for one also think this is his best book so far!

When you get reviews like…

“One of the most spellbinding and ingenious openings in all of thrillerdom. The cast of characters is huge but every one of them is memorable. The action is intense and masterfully choreographed. As always with Steve Berry, you’re educated about significant things while your knuckles are turning white and the pages are flying. Easily Cotton Malone’s most epic, swashbuckling adventure.” —David Baldacci


"The Constitution. . . secret codes . . . loads of history. . . AND pirates! What else does anyone need? The Jefferson Key won't just haunt your nights--it'll haunt your life. Cotton Malone is coming back to the scariest place of all: Home." —Brad Meltzer

"THE JEFFERSON KEY starts with a bang and holds the reader in its grip until the last page. Fascinating American history, up-to-the-minute politics, pulse-pounding action. This is a story Mitch Rapp would love." —Vince Flynn


You know it’s a sure hit that will soon have the name of Steve Berry and Cotton Malone back on the New York Times Best Sellers list.

So listen to an interesting and hugely entertaining show as I spend sixty minutes sharing "A Book and a Chat with today Steve Berry"

Barry

Direct link to the show
"A Book and a Chat with Steve Berry".

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
"Steve Berry"

You can find out more about my guest and their books at:
"Steve Berry - The Jefferson Key"

Barry Eva (Storyheart)

My Blogs:

Book Information and Things UK - Across the Pond

Book and a Chat Radio Show Guests - A Book and a Chat

Funny, Weird Or Just Interesting News From Around the World - Laugh I Thought My Trousers Would Never dry

Sunday, May 1, 2011

Teenage thiefs find out just "who dares wins"


TEENAGE thieves targeting vans parked on a council estate forced open the doors of one - and were confronted by four SAS men on a stakeout.

Two of the Who Dares Wins heroes stayed put while the other two chased the panic-stricken tearaways and gave them "a bit of a slap".

The SAS surveillanced team was on a night-time counter-terrorism training exercise in Manchester.

A source said: "The lads each had a machine gun and a side pistol with live ammunition to make it realistic. They saw these scrotes coming for some time.

"They were trying their luck on every van in the estate, looking for tools they could pinch.

"One of the team was resting, one on standby, one log-keeping and monitoring the radio, and the fourth was watching the practice target through the scope of a sniper rifle.

Heroes ... SAS crest
"They didn't want to move for fear of ruining the exercise and hoped the gang would pass them by.

"The lads decided they would teach them a lesson if they did get into their van, which is exactly what happened.

"To this day, those idiots probably still don't have any idea who they were messing with - but it hopefully made them think twice about doing that to anyone else again."


With the team's cover blown, the exercise was cancelled. But no official report was made to police to prevent members having to give court evidence.

The incident was confirmed by senior defence forces. But The Sun has been asked not to reveal specific details.

ABOUT The Special Air Srvice:

The Special Air Service (SAS) is the principal special forces organisation of the British Army. Formed in 1941 to conduct raids behind German lines in North Africa, with the Long Range Desert Group, it today serves as a model for similar units fielded by many other countries.

The SAS is a small and secretive organisation, but attracts a disproportionate amount of media coverage. It forms part of the United Kingdom Special Forces, alongside the Special Boat Service (SBS) and the Special Reconnaissance Regiment (SRR).

The SAS is widely regarded as one of the finest and best trained special forces units in the world.

Barry Eva (Storyheart)

My Blogs:

Book Information and Things UK - Across the Pond

Book and a Chat Radio Show Guests - A Book and a Chat

Funny, Weird Or Just Interesting News From Around the World - Laugh I Thought My Trousers Would Never dry

Thursday, April 21, 2011

A Book and a Chat with Anne Greer

Originally I was going to have Tim Vandehey one of the co-writers of “The Chimp Who Loved Me” instead it went one better when I had on tonight’s “A Book and a Chat” the other co-authors whose real life stories go to make up a truly humorous and enjoyable book, Veterinary Chiropractioner, Farmer and chat show host… “Annie Greer”.

Let’s face it, when you read under your guests description that they have “always been English” and the first question they ask you on your show is “PG Tips or Typhoo” (that tea), followed by “love or hate marmite” you know it’s going to be a show that would be filled with a lot of laughter and so it was.

The Chimp Who Loved Me is a collection of very funny real-life accounts of Annie's strange life with animals. The stories are “laugh out loud” funny, with some slightly strong language, but then these are true stories from real life… it shows the wonder of animals from the dogs and cats we're all so familiar with to the cougars and wolves and chimps that come into our lives from time to time

You know it's going to be a fun read, when for instance you read from the first story about Sammy the chimpanzee…

"All I could think was, 'Oh God! I'm going to be sexually assaulted by a chimp!' I pictured the 911 call. I saw the operator laughing so uncontrollably that she forgot to send help. I tried to peel Sammy's pinching, prying hands off my naked, wet body and realized that I had to get some clothes on."

The show as you can expect is full of laughter, English humour and stories about Annie’s animals, including how a person tried to steal her flying squirrel by stuff it down the front of their trousers.

About The Chimp Who Loved Me

The Chimp Who Loved Me is a collection of true stories from the life and times of Annie Greer, a veterinary chiropractitioner, animal healer, radio host, speaker, farmer's wife and all-around magnet for bizarre animal behavior. When Annie and Tim Vandehey, a professional writer, met in 2006 and began talking about Annie's endless trove of strange and pants-wettingly funny tales about drill sergeant sheep and insane veterinary clinic customers, a book was born.

Infused with Annie's trademark dry English wit and Tim's storytelling panache, The Chimp Who Loved Me is a sort of twisted love child of Dave Barry, David Sedaris and James Herriot of All Things Bright and Beautiful fame. If you're sick of the treacly sweetness of animal books like Marley and Me or Dewey and crave twisted tales of sex, poop, pee and death, where apes throw donuts at chefs during dinner parties and stoned veterinary students dispense bizarre advice to puzzled dog show contestants, then you won't be able to put The Chimp Who Loved Me down...until it hits you in the nose because you're reading in bed, silly.


It is a great book, a must to be left in the bathroom for visitors, whom you know are enjoying the stories when you hear the sounds of laughter coming from the smallest room.

So listen to an interesting and hugely entertaining show as I spend thirty minutes sharing "A Book and a Chat with Annie Greer"

Barry

Direct link to the show
"A Book and a Chat with Annie Greer".

or you can download the mp3 file of the show from
"Annie Greer"

You can find out more about my guest and their books at:
"Annie Greer - The Chimp Who Loved Me"

Barry Eva (Storyheart)

My Blogs:

Book Information and Things UK - Across the Pond

Book and a Chat Radio Show Guests - A Book and a Chat

Funny, Weird Or Just Interesting News From Around the World - Laugh I Thought My Trousers Would Never dry