Storytime Tapestry Newsletter

The newsletter devoted to spreading love and cultural awareness around the world.

August 19, 2007

Publishers Favourite Sites:

Rosanne Catalano

http://www.rosannecatalano.net/

Michael Smith

http://subs.zinester.com/86758/

Barbara Weymouth

penwormprayerwarriors-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Helen Dowd

www.occupytillicome.com

Today’s Announcements

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Today’s Stories

~**~**~

Antique Road Show
by Clara Wersterfer

Anyone within earshot of me knew I was going to the Antique Road Show today for appraisals. Being a faithful watcher of this show, I learned last February they were
coming to San Antonio. Faster than lightning I got on my computer and put my name in the pot for tickets. Hallelujah, my name was drawn and an e mail in April advised me to watch my mailbox as tickets would be coming about the first of June.

From the receipt of the email in April, I agonized about what to take. There are several items I wanted to know the value of, but was only allowed to take two. It's like trying to eat one potato chip! I wanted to take everything.

The email also advised the wait would be long and so would the lines. Okay, let's don't take anything too heavy or too bulky. That narrowed it down a bit. I finally made a decision on a black bowl and a bracelet. My daughter went along with her Brush Cookie Jar and a vase.

We needed to be at the Coliseum at 8:30am on July 14. Living thirty-five
miles away, we had to leave home by 7:15 to allow for the drive, parking and walking to the show. This meant getting up at six am.

All went well. We arrived on time and lined up with the other 500 people for that time frame. Each and every hour, from 8 am until 5 pm, 500 people were admitted. There were 70 or 80 appraisers, each a specialist in a different field, glass, toys, pottery, art, jewelry,
etc.

After admission to the area of appraiser, we were directed to the proper area for our items. The jewelry line being the shortest, I hit that one first. Presented my bracelet to the first available lady, who took a look and asked where I had gotten it. I told her I bought it on ebay about ten years ago for $40.00. She looked and turned to her right and showed the bracelet to another appraiser. They whispered a little and then she showed it to the gentleman on her left. Finally I was told that $40 was a great price as the bracelet was valued at $900.00! It came from China and was probably made about 1950.

Folks, I almost fainted. Now, if that wasn't enough, after a 45 minute wait in the art
glass line, I found out the black bowl with silver overlay, art deco style that was a gift 30 years ago was valued at $800.00. I'm still pinching myself over my good
fortune.

My daughter stumped the appraiser, however. They knew nothing about the
cookie jar and were unable to find it in their catalog. The vase was appraised at $30, which was the price paid originally.

It was a lot of fun and very educational. Now the next time I watch the show, and
someone says they found an item in the trash can worth $500, I will believe them and know it is not a hoax!

Clara Westerfer

cbwest@webtv.net

~**~**~

 INNOCENT MAN EXECUTED IN 1995? 

Duane Bates

The chief prosecutor of St Louis is preparing to release a report that took two years to develop that may show that convicted murderer Larry Griffin, executed in 1995, was innocent of the crime. Griffin always maintained his innocence, filing appeals and asking the Governor for assistance, until he was executed by lethal injection in 1995.

None of the almost 1,100 persons have executed since 1977 when Gary Gilmore was executed by firing squad in Utah has been found to have been innocent, but the Innocence Project has developed DNA evidence that resulted in the exonerations of 204 current inmates, including 15 who had served time on death row. There are currently about 3,600 persons on death row in the US.  Even a one percent error rate means that 36 innocent persons are going to be eventually executed.

A careful review of the criminal justice system clearly shows possible human and factual errors at every stage including witness identification errors, false confessions by mentally or emotionally disturbed persons, poor police work, inaccurate or false positive lab work and the withholding of key evidence from the defense.  Even fingerprint evidence has been called into question because no scientific study that supports the claim that no two persons have the same fingerprints has ever been done. Fingerprint experts have widely differing standards for analyzing fingerprints, making the testimony very subjective.  Several lab technicians had been arrested for perjury, effecting hundreds of cases, where they falsely testified that evidence linked the accused to the crime.

Sooner of later it will be proven that an innocent person has been executed, it is just a mater of time.  What will be our reaction to the news that our criminal justice system has killed an innocent person?  My concern is that we will be willing to accept a one percent error rate in the execution of innocent persons in order to execute the ninety nine percent that are guilty. The need for vengeance and revenge is still strong in our society, the only developed nation that still has the death penalty. Commuting all existing death penalties to life without the possibility of parole and making that sentence our most severe punishment would allow the opportunity for inmates to prove their innocence and be released from jail.

Duane Bates

batesduane@yahoo.com

~**~**~

Old War Veterans

Bill Walker

missourisage@yahoo.com

I think all Veterans of any war are about the same. All like to be taken note of, after all those returning Vets did a job and they would like a small thank you.  Most don't care about a big party on returning home. You see most are glad to be home, but it is nice to walk up to a Veteran and say a few nice words.

Now most Veterans are not of the blow gut type, they did a job, came home and would like to forget the sights and sounds of the battle.  Most you have to understand, they would like to if they can forget the war.  Now this in a way does change for many long after getting home.

These will maybe tell what we Veterans call war stories; things that they did that really wasn't part of the action. The action part does not get much talking about.

One of the Dollies wrote a bit about meeting an old Veteran of World War Two.  That war is now history, it took place started December 7, 1941 and ended Sept. 2, 1945. The ranks of those veterans are now thin.  This Veteran was happy to meet a younger person who walked up and said thanks.  Come to think about it any old Veteran is happy when a younger person walks up to them and says one word. "Thanks."

Remember this if it wasn't for the old war Veterans, this land would not be.  It has been that way ever since 1776.  The old war Veterans who answered the call they bought, and paid the real price of Freedom. Not like the political hacks that stand and blow about how much they did.

The old Veterans returned and remembered their buddies who didn't.  Maybe after many years the old war Veteran might talk a minute, and you will see the tears, and hear the crack in the voice.  God Bless the old Veterans, and also Bless the Troops over there now. Those will soon be the old war Veterans.

Tinker and Poo; The Boys Write

http://www.iuniverse.com/bookstore/book_detail.asp?&isbn=0-595-35741-5

Poetry Corner

~**~**~

~~Regret~~

 Mary Dees

The cold stones are lonesome,

We don't visit anymore.

The creek won't be parted,

By my hand like before.

The hillside long,

And forever steep.

Will no longer imprint,

The souls of our feet.

Will I no longer look over,

With the wind in my hair;

At a cycling man,

Who's glance was a stare?

Will I know not the smell,

Of the ocean no more?

Or see its' resemblance,

Beyond my bedroom door.

Will the truest of my words,

Just drift off in the air.

Because now, no one can hear me,

And no one really cares.

My life I'll spend walking,

With regret whispering low;

True love was promised,

~~But I let it go~~

By Mary M. Dees

marlena7694@yahoo.com

~**~**~

  ~I Pray~

 Mary Dees

While searching for yourself,

Must you go without a friend?

I believe I could help you see,

Just where you've always been.

Will the road grow hot beneath you,

Once you've traveled way to far?

Even when your away from me,

I can feel you in my heart.

While looking in new directions,

I wonder, will my joy flee as well?

Will you find your answers,

When you meet up with yourself?

I pray mostly for your tender smile,

To return to you my friend.

Then I pray you'll see, that it is with me...

That you find yourself again.

By Mary M. Dees

marlena7694@yahoo.com

 ~**~**~

Readers Feedback

Loved this new writer and I sure love pneumarrhea people   Thanks carol for sharing Rosa and Rosa thanks for sharing.    hugs Leona

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