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'How to murder your husband' writer on trial for murder of husband. 🤨 https://www.straitstimes.com/world/united-states/how-to-murder-your-husband-writer-on-trial-for-murder-of-husband Nancy Crampton Brophy stands accused of shooting Daniel Brophy, using a gun whose now-missing barrel she bought on eBay. PHOTO: GOODREADS.COM LOS ANGELES (AFP) - A writer who penned a piece titled "How To Murder Your Husband" is on trial in the United States for...killing her husband. It is a case that has all the hallmarks of classic detective fiction - a huge insurance payout, an impecunious suspect who claims to have amnesia, a missing weapon, and surveillance footage that seems to have caught the culprit red-handed. But for novelist Nancy Crampton Brophy, it's not the plot of her latest book; it's real life in an Oregon court room. Crampton Brophy, whose "Wrong Never Felt So Right" series of novels include "The Wrong Husband" and "The Wrong Lover", stands accused of shooting Daniel Brophy, using a gun whose now-missing barrel she bought on eBay. Prosecutors say the 71-year-old writer was struggling to make payments on her mortgage, but kept up multiple life assurance policies that would pay out a total of US$1.4 million (S$1.94 million) in the event of her husband's demise. "I do better with Dan alive financially than I do with Dan dead," she said as she took the stand in Portland this week, The Oregonian newspaper reported. "Where is the motivation I would ask you? An editor would laugh and say, 'I think you need to work harder on this story, you have a big hole in it.'" Prosecutor Shawn Overstreet said security camera footage had captured Crampton Brophy's minivan outside the Oregon Culinary Institute on June 2, 2018 at almost exactly the time her chef husband was killed in one of the school's classrooms. "You were there at the same time that someone happens to be shooting your husband....with the exact type of gun that you own and which is now mysteriously missing," he said. Crampton Brophy told the court she has no memory of being there, though acknowledges she must have been, insisting the CCTV images show her in the area because she was driving around getting inspiration for a story. "This is not a man I would have shot because I had a memory issue. It seems to me if I had shot him, I would know every detail." Daniel Brophy, 63, was found dead that morning by students readying for a class. He had been shot twice. Investigators say the barrel from the Glock handgun used in the slaying was purchased by the suspect on eBay. That barrel - which would contain damning forensic clues - has never been recovered, despite an exhaustive police search. Crampton Brophy admits having bought a Glock pistol, which she says was for her husband to protect himself when he went mushroom hunting in the woods, but says the missing barrel was purchased as part of research for an unfinished novel. "There was a big separation between what was for writing and what was for protection," she told the court, The Oregonian reported. Prosecutors say Crampton Brophy, whose "How To Murder Your Husband" remains accessible online and whose books can be bought on Amazon, was facing financial ruin before her husband's death, but continued to pay into 10 separate life insurance policies. The blog on murdering a husband discusses methods and motivations for dispatching an unwanted spouse. These include financial gain and the use of a firearm, although it notes guns are "loud, messy, require some skill". "But the thing I know about murder is that every one of us have it in him/her when pushed far enough," the essay says. The trial, which began in early April, is ongoing.

https://variety.com/2021/film/global/anne-rice-interview-with-the-vampire-writer-dead-1235131503/ Anne Rice, ‘Interview with the Vampire’ Writer, Dies at 80

TAIPEI - Taiwanese writer Li Ao died on Sunday (March 18) morning at Taipei Veterans General Hospital. He was 83. Li was diagnosed with brain cancer a few years ago. The hospital will hold a press conference at 2pm on Sunday. http://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/taiwanese-author-li-ao-dies-after-battling-with-cancer Li Ao was a Chinese-Taiwanese writer, social commentator, historian, and independent politician. Li has been called one of the most important modern East Asian essayists today; his critics have called him as an intellectual narcissist.

letter from writer http://www.todayonline.com/voices/hougang-nursing-home-needs-more-sensitive-chinese-name response from THK http://www.todayonline.com/voices/hougang-nursing-homes-chinese-name-changed-over-feedback

I think blogger is right! Source ---- http://unbrandedbreadnbutter.wordpress.com...-and-cat-a-coe/

<H1 class=storyheadline>I had been thinking of this. What does the general public (in MCF) think British author defiant in court </H1> <H4 class=piccaption>'Whatever they do to me, it will prove whatever I say in my book,' Shadrake (left) told reporters outside the court after the hearing. 'I'm not a wimp, I'm not a coward. I want to have my day in court... I'm not running away. If I run away, it means I'm guilty.' -- ST PHOTO: AZIZ HUSSIN</H4> A BRITISH author facing a possible jail term over his book criticising Singapore's use of the death penalty was defiant following his first court hearing on Friday. Alan Shadrake appeared in a packed courtroom to hear contempt of court charges levelled against him by the Attorney General following the local launch of his book 'Once a Jolly Hangman: Singapore Justice in the Dock'. A High Court judge granted an adjournment, giving Shadrake's lawyer two weeks to further prepare for the case and another week for prosecutors to respond. With his passport impounded to prevent him from leaving the country, the 75-year-old freelance journalist remained defiant despite facing possible imprisonment. 'Whatever they do to me, it will prove whatever I say in my book,' he told reporters outside the court after the hearing. 'I'm not a wimp, I'm not a coward. I want to have my day in court... I'm not running away. If I run away, it means I'm guilty.' Shadrake's book features candid conversations with a retired hangman, Darshan Singh, who the author says executed some 1,000 local and foreign criminals in a career spanning nearly half a century. Based in Malaysia and Britain, Shadrake is out on bail for the contempt charges, and is undergoing a separate investigation for criminal defamation. -- AFP

Funny as hell. I am sure some people have seen video review of cars by Steve Sutcliffe (former racing driver & motor editor of Autocar) or his articles, but its amazing he didn't even know this & even post exciting on his blog, his discovery of the decades! Article here:

FUEL SUBSIDY NOT THE WAY, STILL ... Singapore should re-look

I laughed out loud when I read this letter. The fellow who wrote in to KPKB ended up getting pawned! Haha..Best thing..he tried to con the system but kenna slapped in the face instead! _____________________________________________________________ Grace period given, but one hour is too long I REFER to last Wednesday's letter, 'Insert graciousness into URA's grace period' by Mr Tan Tatt Si. Mr Tan said he parked his car at Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) Carpark B when he went to Singapore General Hospital (SGH) on April 23 to donate blood platelets. He said he was delayed in the donation process and was fined $10 for overparking. He felt URA should be gracious and waive his fine. We appreciate that Mr Tan is a blood platelet donor. This is admirable. In reviewing appeals for waivers of parking fines from motorists, however, URA takes other factors into consideration, besides the fact that the motorist is a blood donor. First, URA is sympathetic to motorists using this carpark. We understand motorists visiting SGH may be delayed for reasons beyond their control. URA gives a considerable grace period in this carpark to allow motorists to return to their vehicles to drive off or renew their coupons for extended periods of parking. At the same time, we must ensure that motorists park responsibly, and comply with parking regulations so as not to inconvenience other motorists. We also have to verify any justifications furnished by motorists when reviewing their appeals. In Mr Tan's case, he had overparked for more than one hour, which far exceeded the usual grace period there. We understand a hospital visit for blood platelet donation process normally takes two to three hours. This is made known to the public on SGH's website and is known to regular donors. Mr Tan displayed a $1 parking coupon with a start time of 11.20am for a one hour parking duration. The carpark is a 10-minute walk from the haematology centre. Based on the record of his visit to the centre, Mr Tan arrived and registered at the centre at 11.15am and completed the process at 2pm. A parking offence notice was issued to Mr Tan at 1.23pm, after the parking coupon displayed had expired for more than an hour. In reviewing appeals from motorists for waivers of fines, URA also takes into account the track record of the motorist. If he has a number of parking offences, we tend to view the appeal less favourably. Taking in the circumstances of the case and Mr Tan's track record, we could not accede to the appeal. Nonetheless, while the fine should be $20 for more than one hour of overparking, we factored in the grace period and fined him only $10. Lim Eng Chong Deputy Director (Land Administration, Carparks) Urban Redevelopment Authority