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Post by patricklondon on Oct 31, 2018 18:26:22 GMT
I'll bet. You'll be pleased (or not) to know it's illegal over here to install video surveillance without warning notices, not that many people seem to be bothered about it. But then, the whole business of access to land is different over here - it's usually pretty clear what's private and where the public footpaths go. My blog | My photos | My video clips | My Librivox recordings"too literate to be spam"
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Post by kerouac2 on Oct 31, 2018 18:48:46 GMT
It is illegal in France, too, except general municipal street surveillance which is a highly appreciated municipal service. Private parties and businesses must always put up a sign.
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Post by kerouac2 on Nov 23, 2018 16:55:00 GMT
Today when I took the metro to Aubervilliers to get a bus to Saint Denis, there was a horrible person in the metro car. It is the end of the line with almost no passengers, so savages tend to decide that it is time to completely let go. This guy had shaved temples and a mop of dirty hair on top and was smoking a cigarillo inside the metro. Naturally he put his feet on the seat across from him, because he was being as transgressive as possible. Between each puff on his cigarillo, he spit on the metro window, and it was running down the glass in the most appalling way. As we approched the final station, he was fishing around for something in his pocket and a number of coins fell out on the floor. He picked up the ones in front of him but did not notice the two that were behind him. So when he exited the car, I picked up 4 euros from the floor and felt appropriately compensated for the disgusting scene that I had been forced to witness for 80 seconds.
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Post by whatagain on Nov 23, 2018 16:59:08 GMT
If you go to nogo zones without the SWAT team, that is what happens ;-)
But it should be in the petty tramas thread... not in the feel good one !
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Post by bixaorellana on Nov 23, 2018 17:56:42 GMT
That is so sweet, Whatagain! How old is she now? I lose track of the anyport kids' ages.
I gagged reading Kerouac's post.
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Post by kerouac2 on Nov 23, 2018 18:14:18 GMT
But it should be in the petty tramas thread... not in the feel good one ! Every now and then, it is necessary to put a little vinegar in the sugar here.
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Post by bixaorellana on Nov 23, 2018 23:10:18 GMT
Awwww! Does she like being the baby of the family?
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Post by questa on Nov 25, 2018 22:35:29 GMT
She is one of those people who bring sun with them. When they are somewhere the place is brighter. That is beautiful, whatagain. Please write it out and put it with her photo where you can see it every day.
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Post by bixaorellana on Nov 25, 2018 22:51:37 GMT
What a sweetheart she sounds, Whatagain! I know you've had sorrow, but my impression of you when we met was someone who looks for the positive side of life.
My own little thing that means a lot is not in the same league as Whatagain's sweet girl, but I am very happy about it ~
Last night I had just put my supper on the table & sat down -- hadn't even taken a bite, when the doorbell rang. *sigh* The dogs barked, but it was their friendly barking, so I figured I'd better go see. When I opened the speakeasy window in the gate, there was a man selling potting soil. Potting soil! The thing I've been needing desperately! I bought all three big croker sacks he had. I am now dirty & tired but happy because I spent all day potting.
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Post by bixaorellana on Nov 26, 2018 0:41:22 GMT
Hot showers!
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Post by rikita on Nov 26, 2018 1:44:25 GMT
little kisses on the cheek. and then having a little cheek held to my face so i can kiss it, too.
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Post by casimira on Nov 26, 2018 16:22:38 GMT
This past Friday I received a Jury Summons for Criminal Court to serve in December. Well, I was outraged when I saw this because I had just served this past September and one is not supposed to have to serve for another 2 years (in my case 2021) I phoned this a.m. and was greeted by a cheery and efficient clerk who listened intently and then within just a few minutes laughed and said "you're going to love this". I was dubious to say the least. She then went on to tell me that there were 2 of me on the books. Same exact full name including my maiden name, same birthdate, address etc. and yes indeed that one of "us" had served in September but the "other" had not. She then laughed and said, well, "you could have some fun with this. If you spend too much money on your credit card or do something naughty you can always tell your husband it was the "other CMQ"." Anyway, she told me not to worry and that she would document it as a duplicate clerical error. When I asked for her name she told me it was "Lark". I told her she was a "rare bird" and that I wished there were more than one clerk like her. She "got it" and laughed.
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Post by kerouac2 on Nov 26, 2018 16:28:40 GMT
I have only been drawn for "possible" jury duty once in my life and it did not materialise. Then again, France does not have very many jury trials.
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Post by bjd on Nov 26, 2018 18:01:09 GMT
I served on jury duty a few years ago. I had to be available for one month, along with about 50 other people. Each trial lasted about 3 days and at the beginning of each trial, we had to be there and wait while names were drawn for 8 jurors and two extras. As it turned out, I only was on the jury for one complete trial. My name was drawn for a second (re-)trial but one of the main people who had to testify being ill, the trial was postponed.
It was really interesting in fact to see how these things work. We were also told that trials where jurors might be in danger (like drug trafficking by big bosses) were tried only by magistrates. I remember one woman whose name was rarely called but she stayed and sat through all the trials.
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Post by onlyMark on Nov 26, 2018 18:39:40 GMT
I am ineligible for jury duty.
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Post by kerouac2 on Nov 26, 2018 18:43:18 GMT
Like butchers, I suppose.
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Post by cheerypeabrain on Nov 26, 2018 18:52:27 GMT
Husband, eldest and in have all done jury duty. Surprising really when so few people are called.
Love cooking and now that we are entering winter I have an excuse to make lovely tasty stews, pies and casseroles.
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Post by onlyMark on Nov 26, 2018 21:13:14 GMT
Butchers?
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Post by kerouac2 on Nov 27, 2018 11:20:28 GMT
I have read that butchers cannot serve on a jury for murder trials because they are not affected by the sight of blood.
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Post by questa on Nov 27, 2018 11:39:20 GMT
In some states in Oz nurses are exempt as they have to be replaced and it is too costly for the Government.
I am exempt because I am a Justice of the Peace. As such, I fulfil the serving of the community that jury duty does.
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Post by onlyMark on Nov 27, 2018 11:40:17 GMT
I know lighthouse keepers can't be called for service, but maybe it is butchers can but aren't picked if it is a murder trial. I'm dubious though.
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Post by kerouac2 on Nov 27, 2018 12:54:46 GMT
It might be an urban legend, but since the attorneys can reject unsuitable jurors during the selection process, the prosecution probably puts butchers at the top of the list if they are going to be displaying photos of blood or dismembered corpses.
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Post by onlyMark on Nov 27, 2018 13:25:20 GMT
In the UK it is very difficult to remove a person considered for Jury Duty. It's not like in the USA where the potential jurors are questioned by the defence or prosecution. A level of checks are done on them by the authorities and extra layers are added if it is a serious terrorist offence for example. A list of jurors is given to both sides and they are able to do whatever checks they want before the trial, but they are not allowed, as far as I know, to question them in court at the time of selection. If one side feels a potential juror is unsuitable, they need a very good reason, and prove it, as to why they are.
There are rare cases where the whole jury is contested en masse, but it would usually be an individual - and even that would be extremely rare anyway - even though the simplest of reasons would allow disqualification, such as knowing the accused. Whilst in my former employment I never came across it, but if a juror, who is randomly selected and doesn't know what case he/she will be hearing until just before, realises they know the accused, they have to say so. If not and it is found out, they can be in serious trouble. This goes for the Magistrates, Judges and Clerk of the Courts as well.
I was accused of a minor crime whilst formally employed. I appeared as a civilian at a Magistrates Court. One of the Magistrates knew me as she had been my teacher at school. She declared it and a short discussion took place I wasn't a party to. All was ok it seems and we continued. I was found not guilty - as I wasn't guilty anyway but you never know what will happen in a Court. Two days later I appeared at the same Court in my official capacity - the same Magistrate was sitting. When she saw me walk in as a witness for the prosecution when I was called, she did a double take and nearly fell off her chair. I have had the unfortunate experience of appearing both at Magistrates Court three times, and Crown Court in front of a jury in a separate case once, as a defendant, i.e. the accused, and on the other side of the fence a number of times, for the prosecution. The latter far more than the former I hasten to add.
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Post by bixaorellana on Nov 27, 2018 17:01:18 GMT
I wasn't guilty anyway but you never know what will happen in a Court. This is one of my major paranoias; although I admit it's up there with my other paranoia of freshwater shark attack.
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Post by questa on Nov 27, 2018 21:45:02 GMT
I have just done a search for a novel I read years ago but can't find it. It is called "The Juror" and was written by an Australian Judge of high rank, whose name I have forgotten. The story is set in Melbourne and the plot revolves around what happens when a man is called up for jury duty. He knows the accused is innocent because he, himself, did the murder. He is not an evil person, but equally isn't going to give himself up. He wants the accused to be found 'not guilty', but knows that too much trying to steer the other jurors will attract attention.
It is a ripper read, if anyone has any knowledge of it, please share.
(you didn't think I'd tell you the ending, did you?)
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Post by kerouac2 on Nov 28, 2018 15:53:34 GMT
I remember similar plots like that and they are always amazingly clever.
Hard to know where I should say that I received a big box of chocolates from the city of Paris today for the holiday season. It's of course the same box that my mother received every year for ten years in the nursing home, so I know what comes next. However, I always thought it was very nice when she received the box. I would bring it out almost every day, and we would each eat one or two chocolates, but it would last at least a month. The staff would tell me horror stories about some of the residents who would eat the whole box in one go and get very sick. This generally concerned new residents whose cravings had net yet been noted by the staff. My mother could have very easily been one of those people if I had not been in control of the box, which was stored on the upper shelf of her closet.
Anyway, I have mixed feelings about having a box myself this year and no family member with whom to share it, but it brings me warm memories of my mother, so that is nice. I know plenty of people who will be happy to gobble the chocolate.
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Post by bjd on Nov 28, 2018 17:59:53 GMT
Enjoy your chocolates, Kerouac. That might be your last box if the city starts trying to save money. Maybe you could share some with the guys working on your roof?
Speaking of juries, I can only say what happened when I served, but there was certainly no picking and choosing of jurors. Before going there, all I knew was from watching old Perry Mason TV shows when I was young. But in France, they don't pass around gruesome photographs of any thing, so I would think the business about butchers being unaffected by the sight of blood is indeed an urban legend.
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Post by kerouac2 on Dec 7, 2018 16:06:49 GMT
I am one of those people who always check the price ratio per kilo or litre. Today I found not one but two items that I wanted to buy at Monoprix were actually cheaper in the smaller size than the big one.
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Post by bjd on Dec 7, 2018 16:39:08 GMT
I do that too and I agree that sometimes the large size is more expensive than 2 of the smaller ones.
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Post by bixaorellana on Dec 7, 2018 16:49:08 GMT
I just sort of assumed that thing about butchers, if indeed it's true, was from the old days before refrigeration. A butcher, unlike a vegetable or dry goods vendor, couldn't just leave his business in the hands of anyone else. The raw meat had to be dealt with & sold immediately.
As far at size to price ratio, in the US it always seemed that the larger size presented a savings. Not so here, although of course I always check.
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