24 Hour Countdown & Thanks

So I remember what this is all about - Emily Rose enjoying chocolate ice cream in DeBary, Florida in 2004

This time tomorrow I'll be on the plane and somewhere over the Atlantic south of Iceland en route to New York.

I have to say that I am chewing my arms off here with the interminable waiting - after so long I should have learned patience but when it comes to it, in these final hours I am becoming agitated and just want to go now.

Yesterday I posted regarding the miscreants but today, as I am amidst final preparation for the off a big "Thank You!" is in order to some very special people who have made this trip possible and here they are in no particular order:

David Thelen - The Committee for Missing Children
Atlanta, Georgia

Thank you Dave for the plane tickets and the support as well as the email humour - you are an inspiration my friend

Jill Jones-Soderman - Law is Not Justice Foundation
Nyack, New York

Thanks Jill for the lawyers especially the immigration attorney and the first dance is with you!


Brooks Newmark Member of Parliament for Braintree
House of Commons, London UK

My current MP and deserving of a big thank you for his efforts and his time as well as providing colouring materials for Dizzy during our meetings - a child friendly MP if ever there was one.


David Vedder - Immigration Attorney
Ormond Beach, FloridaThank you Dave and Amanda for dealing with the US Embassy

The Parachute Regiment Association
&
The Airborne Forces Security Fund
Colchester, UK


Along with The Royal British Legion, a big thank you for the financial assistance in looking after my family in the UK.

Dennis Gray - 101 Uses for Babywipes
San Luis Obispo, California


A podcaster extrordinaire and role model for dad's everywhere - 100% of Evan's asked rated Dennis #1 Dad in the World - thank you Dennis!

Congressman John Mica
&
Congressional Aide Jean Carrero
Maitland, Florida


I'd like to thank Jean Carrero in particular for helping this Johnny Foreigner with her emails and letters to the US Department of State and the US Embassy, London - without the effort of Congressman Mica's offices I doubt I would have ever received any visas for court hearings at all


Simon Burns, Member of Parliament
(with David Cameron - Conservative Party Leader)
House of Commons, London UK



My former MP and a politician who took the time out of his busy schedule during an election to bring the UK Foreign Office and Department of Constitutional Affairs (now the British Ministry of Justice) together to thrash this bag of snakes out and the despatch of Paul Sizeman, Head of Consular Affairs to Washington DC to raise the issues directly with Assistant Secretary of State Maura Harty.

Teri Stoddard - Shared Parenting Works
California


Mum, sexy grandma and shared parenting advocate and writer as well as an all round good egg who whould have been snapped up off the market years ago but you guys are just too chicken to know a good woman when you see one!

Annie Armen - Journalist and Radio Host of
Annie Armen Live
California

The irrepressible host of Annie Armen Live and real tonic - when you need something cleaned up get a shot of Anniebiotics!

Heike - family advocate
Germany

Thanks Heike for everything including giving this fallschirmjaeger a shoulder when desperately needed.

Paul Tucker OBE, The Royal British Legion
Chelmsford, UK


Thank you to Mr Tucker OBE for the financial assistance rendered by The Royal British Legion and looking after my family here in the UK.

David Bennett - Attorney & Second Best Wit in London (after me!)
Salt Lake City, Utah

Thanks David for a great evening in London and your advice - drill sergeant impressions will be mandatory in New York shortly.

David Ferguson - Attorney, Woodard & Ferguson
Ormond Beach, Florida

Thanks "Big Wave" Dave and Cindy for everything these past 5 years

Bev & Gary Holt
DeBary, Florida

Thanks to both of you for looking after Emily when you could and I could not

Bill & Frank Jennings - The Brickhouse Bar & Grill
Deland, Florida



To all the Brickhouse Boys & Girls - Junior, Joe Bones, Scott, Warren, Big D, and even Connie and all the rest - thanks for making a stranger very welcome and I'm going to see you soon and pay my respects to Louis - Irish Car Bombs and Hoops mandatory

Allison Quets - Mother to Holly & Tyler
Orlando, Florida

From me to you - thank you!

Kathleen Grant - Attorney, GrantLaw
Wausau, Wisconsin

A big thank you Kathleen for your help from the start - I hope we get to have that gin & tonic in due course

Tom Pearson -Attorney, Ericson, Pearson & Aanes
Minnesota

Tom, it has been a long time but thank you for your help in Minnesota

EarlyMary

By neccessity, anonymous but M you are a lovely lady and I hope one day that the kids are all together and we get to trip the light fantastic - thank you to you and everyone up there.

Heather Rainbow

Thank you Heather for all the messages of support you have given; your encouragement has been a great personal help to me over time and more than you know

Josef Cannon - Actor/Director and left behind parent - Voice of National Identity Theft Campaign
Hollywood, California

Josef you opened my eyes to a different attitude and approach to this - thanks matey!

Walt & Vicky Mentzer - Private Investigator
DeLand, Florida

Dear Walt & Vicky, not to forget Snoopy the pocket dynamo, thanks for all of the help and in particular looking after me and putting up with a reprobate in your home. You guys have always been there and I am looking forward to getting back to see you as I owe you dinner as I recall!

Officer Rod Hancock - DeLand Police Department
DeLand, Florida

Rod ran the Citizens Police Academy and I have bumped into him policing the mean streets of DeLand on occasion - a great bloke and always had time for "English" but don't let him lose with a saw!

Angela Jackson & Francine Sindhoo - left behind mothers

Both succeeded in recovering their children against very high odds - if they can do it, so can I.

Loz & Maureen

Thank you!


Donna Hindle - ex wife to Emily's Dad
Chelmsford, UK

Never failing to be amazed at the trouble an ex husband can still cause, Donna has always been there from the start of this and has never flinched though she has winced on occasion.

Max & Dizzy Hindle

My two eldest children - I love you dearly and without you two, I would have given up - when things have been almost without hope you two have been and are tangible reminders of why Emily is so important and must come before me.

Jason & Anne Hindle - brother and sister-in-law
Australia

How on earth a sex kitten came to get hitched to my ugly runt of a brother is an amazing tribute to the power of Hindle charm or Anne's short sightedness - is there nothing a woman cannot overlook in a man?

See you soon and I miss you both too.

For all those I have missed off here - THANK YOU!!

Trial Date Set - 23rd May 2008

Docket sounding took place yesterday and a trial date has been set for 9.30am on 23rd May 2008.

Finally, after over 5 years of international cat and mouse, Emily Rose will now have the issues that confront her heard by a judge, His Honor Hudge John V Doyle at the Volusia County Courthouse in DeLand, Florida.

Given the inordinate delay in letting the court hear the case, Emily Rose has become permanently blinded in her right eye - she needed her medical treatment to have been concluded by the age of 3. I don't think Judge Doyle is going like what he is going to see so I have a personal message to the following:

Assistant Secretary of State Maura Harty, US Department of State
Former US Ambassador to the United Kingdom William Stamps Farrish
John Ballif, former Director OCI, State Department
Glenn Keiser, former Head US Central Authority, State Department
Barbara Greig, Team Leader, US Central Authority, State Department
Patricia Mintzer, Consular Official, US Embassy London
Captain Alan Osowski, DeBary District Commander, Volusia County Sherriff's Office, Florida
Deputy Sherriff Agostina, VCSO, Florida
Frank Sclafani, VCSO, Florida
Teresa Anderson, Attorney of Abeles & Anderson, DeBary, Florida
Roberta Miranda, Investigator, Dept. of Children & Families, DeLand, Florida
Richard Brown,Investigator, Dept. of Children & Families, DeLand, Florida
Dan Testerman, Dept. of Children & Families, DeLand, Florida
David Howe, Supervisor, Dept of Children & Families, Florida
Tom Sylvester, Program Director, Dept of Children Families DeLand, Florida

"YOU MESSED UP BADLY - PAYBACK IS A REAL ___________!"

Here's some 101 in Dealing with Emily's Dad:

1. don't lie - you get caught eventually;
2. children being allowed to go blind is not acceptable just because it is not life threatening;
3. children are not given to convicted pedophiles as part of child protection arrangements
4. do what the judge tells you - they are called "orders" for a reason;
5. obey the law - it is generally a very good idea;
6. do not falsify reports (Captain Osowski, Roberta Miranda & Barbara Greig in mind here) - you get caught eventually;
7. the most powerful force on the planet is the love and bond between children and their parents - interfere with that at your own considerable peril;
8. Judge Doyle is a rare breed in my experience of US officialdom - His Honor is honest, uncorruptible, and has integrity - His Honor is not stupid - you all have made me out to be a monster but I think you are more frightened of His Honor than Karl Hindle.
9. Gandhi took on an Empire and won - "First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight and then you win." - guess where you are right now on this curve and keep guessing because I know exactly where you are - in a bare knuckle fist fight and this is going to get bloody as hell (in a completely metaphorical lawful way); and
10. Henry Kissinger on dealing with terrorists said, "Pursue them coldly and relentlessly, with no emotion and let them realize there is nowhere to hide."

Better yet;

"It's their rink, it's their ice, it's their referee, it's their crowd but tonight we are going to nail those *******'s" - Paul Newman in Slapshot.

Osowski - Anderson - Greig
5 years and counting - coming ready or not!

Currently, all contact with Emily Rose has ceased and we have heard nothing back in respect of various requests to arrange access for Emily and I.

There is a huge worry in my mind that Sheila, Emily's mother will not show or has disappeared again but that is secondary as I am thinking more that I may get to see Emily Rose again after two years.

Last time I visited the US, Emily Rose had been locaed up in Kansas/Missouri and we had had no contact for eighteen months - when we were first reunited I asked her if she knew who I was and she said "You're Dad!" - so I have no doubts Emily Rose will know who I am this time around.

The question in my mind is how much poison has Sheila put into Emily Rose's head?

Cartoon Studios Becomes First Frozenheart Corporate Sponsor

Well the internet does work!

After an initial launch of the Frozenheart web site, a flurry of responses from around the world and from many people who have contacted me for the very first time.

Remember the primary aim intially is to establish a world wide network of accomodation for parents that is no cost for left behind parents travelling abroad to recovery their children.

An unexpected fringe benefit that is going to start taking centre stage is an email I received from Richard Duszczak of the Cartoon Studio Limited in the UK.

The Cartoon Studio have offered to become a corporate sponsor for Frozenheart and have kicked this off with £500 worth of free artwork and logo design and other support as well.

So, to Richard and his team at Cartoon Studios, I'd like to say thank you and I hope you are the first of many!

Now here's an unashamed plug for those awfully decent chaps and chappettes at the Cartoon Studio:

For more information on Cartoon Studio Limited and how they can help your business with illustrations, logos and cartoon imagery contact them using the information below.

Cartoon Studio Limited
29 Lake View Avenue, Walton, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, UK S40 3DR
Tel: +44(0)1246 209034 Fax: +44(0)1246 209034
Email: rd@cartoonstudio.co.uk
Web: www.cartoonstudio.co.uk

Frozenheart Website

In between getting packed and sorting out paperwork and evidence to carry over to the US on Monday, I finished my very first website and published it in the wee hours.

Frozenheart

I'm signing the papers next week in New York to register Frozenheart as a registered non-profit in the United States so all in all it is going to be a busy month in the land of the free.

Pay a visit to Frozenheart and see what you think - we are also building a network of accomodation for parents that need help with having a place to stay while away - both in the UK and the US. I'm arranging to discuss with some contacts in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa to try to get something moving over there but if you have a place where a parent can stay while trying to get their kids back send me an email or contact me through Frozenheart.

Let's Go!! versus Let's 'Ave Some!!

The clock is slowly counting down to getting on the plane and heading Stateside - 5th May cannot come quickly enough but then neither can the return flight as it is an ambivalent trip - seeing Emily again hopefully after two years and leaving my family behind for 5 weeks.

It is a dilemma that parents in this situation face but then we are the lucky ones - while I am itching to get in there and do the business I am mindful of other parents who have never been allowed the opportunity and never see or hear from their children again.

For me it's "Let's Go!" and I'm bloody lucky to be able to do this.

I had a telephone conference with my custody attorney, David Ferguson in Ormond Beach, Florida a few days ago too.

He spoke with a Mr Gleeson at the US Department of State with regards to getting the deposition of Barbara Greig at the Office of Childrens Issues at the Department of State in Washington DC.

"She's got a job to do and is too busy.", was the response to Mr Ferguson's repeated requests for her evidence and as David told me "The more you keep saying "No" the more I think you have something to hide."

Well, if Barbara Greig and the Department of State are not prepared to stand up and give their evidence in a court of law that speaks volumes - the silence is deafening.

I chuckled a little too as I was thinking of when Dizzy my eldest daughter (real name is Elizabeth but Dizzy is my pet name for her) was playing a Wii game - bowling. The Mumbling Midget (my other pet name) is a pocket dynamo and taking a run across the living room floor yelled out as her bowling ball went whizzing down the virtual alley - "Let's 'Ave Some!!" - coming from such a tiny person we all laughed but not when she had three strikes in a row.

Let's Go or Let's 'Ave Some?

Who cares, we are going to "Git 'r' Done!" - hey, it is happening in Florida after all :)

Visa Shenaniggins Part 3

Loud knock on the door this morning as I was slurping a coffee after packing the little darlings off to school.

"I have a passport for you sir, from the US Embassy."

Sign for the packet and rip it open to see if the visa is real - yes it is but ....

Hang on a minute?

Expires on 20th May?

But trial period as Judge Doyle wrote to the Embassy is for three weeks starting on 12th May!

The US Embassy made me buy flights before they would issue the visa - the return flight is June 7th - they know this!

In other words you can go to the US but you have to leave before the trial has finished - perhaps before it has even started.

Visa News - You can Go Mr Hindle

I received an email from the Department of State advising that I am now being issued with a visa to go to the US for the trial in May.

Even Judge Doyle had to get in on the act and write to the US Embassy in London which seems to have been the straw that has broken this stubborn camel's back - thanks Judge Doyle!! I don't think His Honor really likes me but he has no idea of how high a regard I hold him.

Now my flights are all taken care of, I have places to stay in New York and Florida and most of all I am hoping to be able to get to see Emily again.

Almost two years since I last saw her being taken by her mom and her friend after being stopped from having our last visitation in DeLand which left me heartbroken but at least the judge is finally going to be allowed to see all of this nonsense.

Blindness, pedophiles, adoption, abduction, forgery, false police reporting, false allegations of the most depraved kind, coaching of little Emily by her mom, perjury, criminal contempt, and the sad litany goes on and on.

I fly into New York at the start of May and leave at the start of June. My children here are all a little upset at the thought of me having to leave again but then they understand why and they want to see Emily again too. I'm a very fortunate man to have such kids and they have helped me get through this enormously.

Tabbing is what Para's call Yomping - remember that term from the Falklands War in 1982. TV footage of paras and marines carrying impossibly large packs across horrendous terrain in appalling weather. I was talking with a friend last night about my tabbing song (though the Falklands was before my time) - I used to replay Madness "Our House" and "My Girl's Mad at Me" in my head while blisters on my blisters developed and those infamous bergen burns seared my shoulders and back - anything to take your mind off the pain.

I remember only too well, staff yelling at you to "Switch On!" and you dared not sit down at any time - the reason being was that you had to go through all of that and still be capable of fighting and winning at the end of it. It's what sets Paras apart from the rest.

TAB is Tactical Advance to Battle.

The tabbing is now almost over and it has been the hardest slog in my life and the most painful.

Now I am going to fight but not with SLR, GPMG, Charlie G, 7.62's, grenades and a bayonet but with the love I have for little Emily.

The pen is supposed to be mightier than the sword but if you want a nuclear bomb of a weapon in your armoury while you try to care for your children in these situations ,the most effective and powerful weapon you have is quite simply "Love"....and a bank balance helps too!

You Can Have a Visa....briefly! Woof!!!

Well what can I say - the email ether has been busy today with the US Embassy London and the Office of Childrens Issues asking for flight information and addresses and contacts for where I would be staying in the US - provide that and I can have a visa for a few days to go to the hearing in Florida that is scheduled for ...... tomorrrow morning.

OK guys - if I buy a flight, hoof into London to your Embassy - hang around for however long it takes for you to contemplate your navel - get a train to one of the airports - bear in mind taking all my papers and files for court - grab a flight - fly 3,500 miles to Florida - I may, just conceivably may, get to the court on time for a hearing.

Probably I'll stink like a dog, look dishevelled, unshaved, no time to discuss or prepare with my attorney and probably I won't even get there in time and indeed, I may not be allowed in to the country because I also then have to convince immigration I am not going to blow up Abraham Lincoln's statue or fart on the sidewalk. Yeah right - I'll give that character a kid ...NOT!

Seems fair?

Let me think - the Department of State has been repeatedly advised of this hearing and court for several months - after much wrangling 3 days before the hearing they gracefully give an emergency interview, and less than 24 hours before the hearing that takes place several thousand miles away they say I can go ..for a few days.

Why is the European Union and the UK sending children to a jurisdiction that behaves so badly?

Why has Emily Rose been allowed to go blind in an eye?

Why is the US Government ignoring US and UK judges and international, US and constitutional law?

Why was Emily Rose taken from the UK by the US Embassy London with no due process, no evidence and hidden in the US while being put up for sale and adoption and into the care and contact of a convicted child sex offender?

What the bloody hell is so wrong with a US judge that the US Government doesn't defer to his wisdom and court orders?

Why am I being treated like a dog?

Karl, heel boy heel! Roll over!! Sit!!! - Oh for Pete's sake will you play dead!!!!

I'll do the doggy impressions, swallow my pride and try to be dignified - but why has Emily Rose been treated like shit?

April Fool's Day - What a Difference a Day Makes!

I received an email last week from the British government advising me that the US Embassy was prepared to provide an emergency appointment for a visa interview.

I have just hot footed it back from the US Embassy in London - no visa and my passport has been returned as the consular official advised more processing needs to be done.

Fortunately I now have an immigration attorney, Mr David Vedder of Daytona handling the application so in his words, let them process for a couple of weeks and then we chase.

Strange how an appointment could be arranged so quickly when previously it has taken months?

First they ignore you....

"First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, then you win."

I came across this quote which resonated deeply with me - as a foreigner it is easy to be ignored, as an individual it is expedient to be ridiculed.

Barbara Greig and Glen Keiser - otherwise faceless US government officials have read this play book - it works.

Ignore people - they go away in the vast majority of cases.

Ridicule them - we are the US government and have credibility while you, are an emotional wreck because your child or children are beyond borders and God help them because no-one else will:

"Mr Hindle your allegations are the product of a vile diseased mind...you should seek help, I really think you need help."

(Glen Keiser, former head of US Central Authority now in India as a Consular Official after being told of Emily's medical need for her blindness and adoption/sale attempts involving a convicted pedophile

...unless

You are prepared to continue and carry on and fight.

I was told once upon my lifetime that dealing with Emily's case would take years, thousands of dollars and a great deal of "intestinal fortitude" - like a berk I asked what that was and was promptly told "Guts!"

So I fought.

Now after five years, Emily losing her eye, a pedophile fessing up and no due process - we have a fight.

I'm shaking my head at all of this because there was never any need for any of this bovine or equine excrement.

Gandhi knew a thing or two; after all he saw off an Empire using only a cotton spinning wheel.

Gandhi was a good man and so am I.

Barbara - you picked a fight and now you have one - I'm going the distance.

I love Emily and you don't - sucks to be you to pick the one case in a million where a parent is not going to take you lying down.

Now I'm going to win - or you can come to the table and sort your mess out.

By the way; this is an offer to resolve this bag of snakes without the unpleasantness of a judge sorting it out - and I will not win anything - you know why?

Emily lost her eye - blind for no reason except your embuggerance of due process and the fantasies of a silly woman.

I failed Emily because I could not convince you, judges,law enforcement or child protection services in America that nine doctors and a British Supreme Court Judge had got it right - that Emily needed a 50 cent eye patch for a few hours a day to stop her going BLIND!

I love my daughter - I'd give anything for her - including my own eye or eyes, indeed I'd give my life.

If that makes me a "crazy guy" or a "nut" - yes I am - I love my little girl.

TRIAL ! (but you can't go)

Docket sounding has been scheduled for 4th April for a trial date commencing 28th April for three days.

I called the US Embassy visa line in the UK to get an interview - they can't see me until at least AFTER the 23rd May.

In other words they won't interview me for a visa until AFTER the trial takes place.

An Open Letter to Barbara Greig

A Letter to Barbara Grieg of the US Central Authority, US Department of State2201 C Street, N.W. SA-29, 4th FloorWASHINGTON, DC 20520-2818United States of AmericaDirect Tel: 202-736-9142 Email: greigbj@state.gov

So you are aware - as you ought to be every single day - almost 2 years have elapsed since Emily and I have seen each other.

You helped Emily go blind.

You helped to hide her.

You believe you know better than Judge Doyle and that you are above the law.

You are irresponsible and dishonest and there appears little I can do to bring you to account for your appalling conduct.

BUT

Given the impasse with the mess you have directly helped create such that Emily and I are never to see each other again I am heading to the High Court in London this week armed with a petition and a request for directions based upon the evidence obtained of your fraudulent, abusive misconduct and the failure of an American court to enforce an order for medical treatment for a British child entrusted to the jurisdiction of Florida.

A jurisdiction that has failed to issue orders promptly and effectively, failed to enforce orders promptly and effectively and failed to provide a standard of child protection at least the equivalent of what Emily would have enjoyed in the UK... you know the Hague Convention so you ought to appreciate where I am going to be heading with my arguments and don't think for one moment that I believe Judge Doyle is anything other than an honourable Southern gentleman and a very intelligent, highly competent judge; you could learn a thing or two from him, integrity and decency spring immediately to my mind.

I expect the High Court to turn me away ...and then I file in the European Court of Human Rights.

I suggest if you have any shred of decency that you take a seat in Kathy Ruckman's office and spill your sad, sorry lying guts and give her an opportunity to clean up your foul mess before I do.

s/Karl Hindle

Emily Turned 6 on March 1st - Happy Birthday Darling

Emily turned 6 on March 1st - another missed landmark in her short life for her family and her.

Telephonic access as ordered by the Florida court has ceased again and no doubt, the presents we sent to Emily have "not arrived" once more.

Efforts with the State Department to get a visa to travel appear to have come to nothing yet again - I am not allowed a visa because the US Embassy claims I am trying to emigrate.

A blatant lie by the US Embassy and State Department officials seeking to cover up their misconduct.

The truth is they have permanently barred me from entering the US to see Emily because they have allowed themselves to be misled by an unstable, dishonest American mother who amongst other things has claimed domestic violence, graphical sexual abuse of my children in the UK and of Emily in Florida and had every single allegation demonstrated to be false and dismissed by the US court, the same court even finding her guilty of criminal contempt in the process and yet, and yet ... minor US officials such as Barbara Greig can take it upon themselves to dismiss the findings of an American judge and with no hearing, no due process and no evidence simply abuse their position of authority and unchecked powers to sweep Emily and her rights under whatever bug infested carpet they have for this purpose.

It is almost two years since Emily and I have been allowed to have our court ordered access while the US Government claims it "must defer to the Florida court in matters concerning Emily"; defer in all respects when it suits them but not when it comes to letting Emily see her dad; not when it comes to letting Emily have the medical treatment that could have saved her sight,; not protecting Emily when she was put up for sale and into the care of a convicted American pedophile.

Is this because I'm not American?

Or is it because I have a pair of balls instead of a pair of tits?

Or is it because the best interests of the child are clearly subject to the expediency of covering up the dishonesty of lying, corrupt US Government officials such as Barbara Greig and consular officials at the US Embassy, London?

101 Uses for Baby Wipes - Dennis Gray Podcaster & Friend

ATASCADERO FATHER CREATES PODCAST
Daddy has 101 uses for baby wipes
Simple Web postings grew into podcasts that reach 80,000 listeners and some sponsors
By Patrick S. Pemberton

Gray started posting questions on the Web about being a dad after bringing his then-infant son, Evan, home from the hospital.

Dennis Gray puts on radio-type shows that can be downloaded or streamed on computers or MP3 players. Here he is at home with his dog, Ben.

* External Link Link to Dennis Gray's blog

There was a time when Dennis Gray wasn’t sure he wanted to have kids. But when a difficult delivery kept his wife in the hospital longer than expected, the Atascadero man found he had to step up.

“I had never held a baby, changed a diaper, fed a baby,” Gray said. “I had no clue how to make formula — none of this stuff.”

He’d read “What To Expect When You’re Expecting” and other baby preparation books. But that wasn’t enough. So soon after bringing son Evan home from the hospital, he started posting questions online. That eventually led him to create a blog and then a podcast, dispensing tips, interviews with experts and discussions with other fathers from around the country.

Initially, he said, the idea was simply to share information with friends and family via the Internet.

“I found it very difficult to sit down and write to everybody what was going on,” he said. “And mass e-mail, in my opinion, was tacky. So I thought, ‘Hey, I’ll just set up a Web site. I’ll throw some audio up there, and if somebody wants to know what’s going on right now this second, they can play it.’

“But once I had 12,000 people listening, it was like, ‘Wow! Obviously I’m hitting a chord with something.’ ”

Recorded in what used to be the family’s sunroom, Gray’s podcast, called “101 Uses for Baby Wipes” (http://101uses forbabywipes.blogspot.com/), now has about 80,000 listeners and a handful of sponsors.

If you’re still not sure what a podcast is, don’t feel too left behind. The term “podcast” wasn’t even coined until 2004. And the podcast still is not as popular as other media, such as television and radio.

But its popularity is gaining rapidly, largely because it’s so easy to create a podcast. Anyone with a computer, a microphone and the Internet can create a podcast, a radio-type show that can be downloaded or streamed on computers or MP3 players.

Recognizing the importance of podcasts, commercial radio outlets have taken notice, offering their broadcast shows online as podcasts. For example, local shows on KCBX, such as “Take Two” and “Ears On Art,” can be listened to anytime on a computer. And national shows, such as National Public Radio’s “Fresh Air” and “Wait Wait, … Don’t Tell Me!,” have become popular podcasts.

Even presidential candidates have recognized the power of the podcast. Democrat John Edwards was the first to launch a podcast, and others quickly followed.

A local trailblazer

San Luis Obispo County has a fair share of bloggers—those who create their own Web pages — but few podcasters. That makes Gray somewhat of a local trailblazer in the medium.

Gray’s podcast started out small but grew quickly after it was featured on two podcast shows by Adam Curry, the former MTV VJ who is a pioneer in podcasting.

“My subscription went from like 12 to 12,000 in a span of three weeks, and my server crashed,” Gray said. “So I e-mailed Adam Curry and said, ‘You’ve got to help me, man.’ ”

Eventually Curry signed Gray to join his podcast network, PodShow, which features political, musical, sports and family podcasts.

Gray’s family-oriented show includes several segments, with sound effects and music interspersed with the material. Some shows feature the Daddy Panel, where other podcasting fathers get together to discuss issues, such as fussy eaters, balancing work and family, and avoiding arguments.

Gray also conducts interviews with people such as Phil Lerman, author of the book “Dadditude,” and Karl Hindle, a British resident who has been fighting to gain custody of his child who was removed from England by her American mother.

Not long after he appeared on Gray’s show, Hindle said, a listener in Texas put him in touch with a civil rights organization that is now funding his legal battle.

“I’d been interviewed on radio and TV before,” Hindle wrote in an e-mail, “and the podcast response was better. At the time it was broadcast, there was a flood of traffic to my Web site for Emily, including several people who have become deeply involved in helping with the situation, which is still being unraveled today.”

‘Professional geek’

Though he conducts interviews and discusses news events, Gray doesn’t consider himself a reporter.

“Journalism? Nah,” he said. “Gathering up information and sharing it with people? Yeah, I’ll go with that.”

As his podcast became more popular, Gray found he was dedicating more time to it.

“I was working my regular 50-hour-a-week, high-stress job and then coming home and doing another 10 to 12 hours a week putting a weekly podcast together,” he said.

Gray is a self-described “professional geek” — and, he added, “it would violate several nondisclosure agreements if I told you who I worked for and what I did.” Vaguely, he said he does “information security stuff.”

While the podcast has sponsors, the payoff is not enough to make a living.

“There are very few people who make serious money podcasting,” he said. “I try to explain it this way: It doesn’t pay the mortgage, but it makes the lease payment just fine. It keeps the car in the driveway.”

To avoid threatening the family values he talks about, Gray did back off a bit, doing fewer shows. (He posts about two a month now.)

‘101 uses’

As for the title of his show, Gray said once he had a baby, he realized quickly how handy baby wipes can be.

“When my son was born, I had no clue about diaper-changing,” he said. “I had no clue about baby wipes. And I discovered that these things can be used for just about anything.

“I would come to work and say, ‘You know you can use baby wipes to clean the ceiling fan?’ And co-workers said, ‘You should write a book and call it that.’ ”

He has been approached to write a “101 Uses for Baby Wipes” book, he said, but right now there’s too little time.

Still, the success of the podcast demonstrates that eventually there will be an audience for it.

“People like to have a little bit of reinforcement, knowing that, ‘Hey, I’m not alone; fussy eating is nothing new. Parents have dealt with that for centuries,’ ” he said.

“Hearing how someone else deals with it can give you perspective.”

We need your help

Hi All:

You may be familiar that my latest effort to obtain a visa to enter the US to continue with court hearings and to have visitation with Emily have failed as the US Embassy London has overridden Judge Doyle in FL and now permanently barred me from entering the US for visitation on the grounds I have harassed the US mother despite the repeated findings of Judge Doyle to the contrary. Further I cannot enter the US for court hearings on the grounds that I cannot demonstrate sufficient connection to the UK, despite being British, born here, maintaining a home here, working here, being a disabled veteran, all my family except Emily here, and having custody of my eldest child.

Emily is now permanently blinded in her right eye and the deposition of the convicted pedophile in Wisconsin has been taken and he has confirmed the adoption attempts by Emily's mom in Wisconsin.

The US GAO has asked for my papers on this matter which I have provided in connection with a request for them to investigate the Deaprtment of State's role in removing Emily from the UK, hiding her in the US and denying involvement in covering up the adoption/sale of Emily, placing her in the care of a pedophile in WI, allowing her to become permanently blinded in her right eye despite 9 doctors advising treatment and arranging for my arrest by the Department of Homeland Security in May 2004 and removal from the US.www.emilyrosehindle.blogspot.com

What I am asking from you

First, I'm asking that you send an email requesting that the GAO investigate the conduct of OCI and the US Embassy London in connection with Emily and the behaviour in obstructing Judge Doyle in Florida and perverting the course of justice in London UK.

You can contact Jess Ford at FordJ@gao.gov please keep your language temperate and polite - Jess has offered to look at this for me and I am grateful for his effort - please copy me in and also fraudnet@gao.gov

If you have a fax, send a fax to 202-512-3086 as well.


Also please write to the GAO - I have attached a letter that simply requires your name and address and signature and putting in the mailbox.

Second, contact Congressman Mica through Jean Carrero at jean.carrero@mail.house.gov

Again, please be polite Ms Carrero has been extremely helpful in trying to get visas and so on resolved.

Kindly ask for Congressman Mica to request oversight of the US Department of State and to intercede on Emily and my behalf and a sample letter is also attached.

Again please copy me in on the email and if you can please also copy the letter and post it to him as well - the address is on the letter.

A message form is also available on Congressman Mica's website here
http://www.house.gov/mica/messageform.shtml

If you have a child that has been internationally abducted kindly tell them that and express your concerns at this situation as it relates to getting your child back home to America.

Please keep me posted of replies and please distribute this as far and as wide as possible.

Emily and I really, really need your help.

Thanks

Karl
karlhindle@aol.com

He Says She Says - Judge Doyle-v-Sheila Fuith

It's been quite some time since I posted anything and a few people have been asking if things are ok so I thought I'd better put a few minds at rest.

Yesterday I paid a visit to the US Embassy in London and was interviewed for a visa to go back to Florida and Washington DC so I could see Emily and continue with the legal process in America.

I had to get a police report from the British police documenting that I have no criminal or arrest record here in the UK which I did and along with my tenancy agreement for my home and all the other paraphanalia to demonstrate I have a right to see Emily, court orders and such.

I was interviewed by a young lady who rejected my visa request. I asked why, and she advised me while tapping away at her keyboard with wonderfully manicured nails that:

"It's very honorable that you want to see your daughter but you are permanently ineligible for a visa for access because you've harassed the mother."

I gave her my court orders from Judge Doyle that rejected the mothers request for a domestic violence injunction along with my court order for access and all I got was:

"We've overridden them, you are permanently ineligible for a visa and that is that."

More furious tapping at the keyboard ensued with those lovely nails rattling away - I thought she's going to break them !

I asked why I couldn't have a visa for going to court and what I got was:

"You have an attorney you don't need to go to court."

Extra furious tapping from the keyboard, sounding like heavy rain on a tin roof.

"But I'm filing in federal court and representing myself, I need to be there."

The tattoo of keystrokes didn't miss a beat and without looking up she told me:

"Get an attorney to do that for you. You cannot demonstrate sufficient connection to the UK Mr Hindle so I have to presume you are an immigrant so I'm not allowing a visa for that."

I countered, transfixed by the dexterity of the finger manipulations wondering if she actually was typing anything or just using the activity to avoid looking me in the eye:

"How can you say I don't have sufficient connections to the UK, I'm British, I'm a veteran, I have a house here, I look after my eldest child, I'm studying here what more can anyone do to show they are connected to the UK?"

The rat-a-tat-tat stopped and looking me in the eye for the first time she says:

"I'm not giving you a visa."

I said it was just shameful how the State Department was behaving, but nothing was said as those beautiful fingers picked up the paperwork and put them in the out tray and pushed a rejection notice under the glass window that separated us.

"Have nice day!" followed me as I left the cubicle.

I left for home and sobbed in the toilet compartment of the train home. I'll never see Emily again and Judge Doyle's Florida court orders are worth nothing while I cannot even go to court in the US - the used toilet paper I found left in the bowl of the toilet on the train home has more value than all of the court orders from the British Supreme Court, the Hague Convention and the court room of His Honor Judge John V Doyle in Florida. I flushed that excrement ridden piece of paper down the toilet as effectively as Ms Manicured Fingernails flushed Judge Doyle's court orders and our rights earlier that day at the US Embassy - at least it is now fertilizing the weeds that grow on the train track somewhere between London Liverpool Street and the train station at Hatfield Peverel.

These custody cases are often "He said, She said" driven but it's a new twist when "The Judge says and She says" but the State Department sides with mom and not the American judge.

US Embassy Visa Shennanigins ... again

OK - here we go again :)

I telephoned the US Embassy visa operator to try to sort out a visa appointment as Maria Damour and the visa section at the US Embassy in London have not responded to requests for me to get a visa interview appointment (the first step in getting a visa).

At £1.20 a minute (that's about $2.50 a minute for US readers) I was on the telephone for about 20 minutes trying to sort out an appointment - the visa operator finally came back with- you need to email the US Embassy with this so here it is (for a 3rd time):

From: karlhindle@aol.com
Show/Hide all the To recipientsTo: londonconsular@state.gov
Show/Hide all the CC recipientsCC: Jean.Carrero@mail.house.gov, graeme.wise@fco.gov.uk, dcarter@reunite.demon.co.uk, kruckman@state@gov, dferguson@ormondlawfirm.com, lucy.benyon@express.co.uk

Subject: ciu760 FAO: Maria Damour - Hindle re: visa appointment
Date: Thu, 26 Apr 2007 4.41PM
Attachments:
Immigration_Report.2.jpg (218K)greigfax.0.jpg (179K)


Dear Ms Damour:

I have spoken with the US Embassy visa appointment line and have been advised to contact you again.

This is the third such email I have sent to the US Embassy in accordance with instructions of the visa operator - I have received no replies from the first two.

I have been advised that I cannot proceed with obtaining a visa appointment without emailing you in respect of the following:

1. I am applying to British police for a Subject Access Statement as instructed by the operator:
2. I was refused a visa in September 2006 by the US Embassy London:
A. for court ordered access to minor child on the grounds I have harassed the US citizen mother of my minor child in the US (despite the findings of the US court that I have not done so and court orders repeatedly provided to you and the US Embassy); and
B. for attendance and prosecution of court proceedings in Volusia County Florida in connection with minor child on the grounds I am attempting to emigrate to the United States.

The visa operator advises me that the US Embassy needs to provide me with the visa refusal codes before they can offer an appointment date; and

3. That given my arrest by US Immigration in Florida on 28th May 2004 I must provide a sworn statement from an entity you must specify in the United States in a form you will specify as to the circumstances of that arrest. I have appended a copy of the US immigration arrest report of the arresting officer Wayne Baehre and a fax to US Immigration by Barbara Greig of the State Department, which demonstrates my arrest was predicated on information provided by Barbara J Greig, Office of Childrens Issues, Department of State, Washington DC.

I understand you require the following:

Name: Karl Ernest Hindle
Nationality: British
Passport Number: 305478269
Email address : Karlhindle@ol.com

Karl Hindle
5 Berwick Cottages
Terling Hall Road
Hatfield Peverel
Essex CM3 2EY
UNITED KINGDOM

US Department of State - Partial Release of US Passport Application for Emily Rose

US Department of State continues to withhold paperwork

I recently received page 3 of a US Passport application made for Emily Rose in January 2003 - the US passport that was issued to Emily Rose in order to remove her from the UK to the US.

The US Department of State continues to withhold the rest of the paperwork that was requested, including the supporting forms for the issuance of the passport and internal communications regarding the role of various State Department officials in removing and hiding Emily Rose in the US.

What does this mean ?

One of the pieces of paper provided purports to be my consent to the issuance of the passport - except the law required my signed notarized consent and guess what - it isn't my signature and it isn't notarized, so where did it come from ?

Interestingly enough, the passport application page is dated January 2003 but the "consent" form is dated April 2002 - does that seem strange to you because it sure does to me.

I'm waiting on the outcome of a show cause motion for Maria Damour to show cause for her contempt of the federal proceedings in Orlando, Florida - the explanation from the US Attorney General is that the defendants i.e. various State Department officials do not recognise the jurisdiction of the federal court in Orlando, Florida.....hmmmmm.

Watch this space.

Tech Tags: US passport US+Embassy Emily+Rose State+Department Maria+Damour

Australian a danger to Baby - so the headline goes

Abduction from Australia to Alabama, US

Recently reported in the Alabama Press-Register is this case of a baby taken from Australia to Alabama, US.

Mom is an American, Susan Elizabeth Beaty and moved to Australia where she had a relationship with an Australian, Gareth Baran and a child was subsequently born.

Mother claims domestic violence, heavy drinking and that dad is a threat to the child.

Dad claims mom abducted the child from Australia to the US and is standing on the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction for the return of the child to the jurisdiction of Australia.

The case is scheduled to be heard by a federal judge sometime later this month and it will be interesting to see the outcome - the attorney for the mother claims that the father gave consent for the removal and that he represents a clear danger to the child.

These things are never clear on the face of them - if Gareth Baran gave consent then Susan Beaty is going to have demonstrate that absolutely - she is the one who has the burden of evidencing her claims here. The issues of domestic violence, I personally think, should be better heard by the court where the evidence is available and that means back in Australia but will the federal court in the US agree ? This is a source of much debate in the US and elsewhere these days and I am concerned that this the thin end of the wedge in slowing proceedings down.

If the issue of "best interests" of one of the parents is to start playing a part in Hague Convention proceedings then it becomes much less sustainable to argue the "best interests of the child" should not also play a part in the process - at this time, the only "best interest" of the child that figures in Hague Convention proceedings is that proceedings should take place in the country of habitual residence and a return shall be effected as quickly as possible - if dad is an alcoholic deadbeat, that is not relevant to a return order under the Hague Convention but it will become relevant for the court of habitual residence just the same as if a mom is medically neglecting a child, placing them up for adoption or endangering them by placing them into contact with a convicted pedophile.

Let's see how this one gets handled by the US judge.

Tech Tags: adoption Alabama Australia domestic+violence Hague+Convention international+child+abduction Pedophile US

Emily's Dad Quoted on Opinio Juris

Karl Hindle quoted extensively by Opinio Juris

Roger Alford of Pepperdine School of Law quoted Karl Hindle in full on a recent posting on international child abduction:

Roger Alford (mail):
I received this thoughtful email from a reader and I forward it to you without attribution (but with permission):

Hi Roger:

Noted your post on Opinio Juris and I have these suggestions in response to how to further prevent international abductions:

Prevention i.e. before a child is removed
1. Rigorous enforcement of the two parent signature law (Nance/Donovan etc) for passport issuance to minors within and without the US (removal of passport issuance function from the Department of State);
2. Cessation of domestic violence exception in 8 CFR 51 for issuance of passports to minors
3. Exit controls at point of departure from locations within the US (currently there are none - have passport will travel);
4. Federal level legislation and control - (at the State level it is worthless as it is so easily by-passed and if a child is removed from the US, federal level intervention alone will carry weight with a non-US jurisdiction, State warrants are practically useless) cf Synclair-Cannon Law, California (Larry Synclair and Josef Cannon - put either name in google and you'll find the legislation) - further unilateral state legislation eg Nebraskan LB 341 sponsor Senator Schimek, can compromise international cooperation between the whole of the US and another HC contracting state.


Cure i.e. after a child is taken
1. Rigorous enforcement of the Hague Convention and obligations imposed upon the US in the event of a return of a child to the United States - currently it is a take it or leave it buffet, once a child is sent to the US for proceedings an abducting parent subsequently has very little chance of fair proceedings in the US which is causing "disquiet" abroad;
2. Removal of administration and functions of the US Central Authority from the Department of State to the Department of Justice - in practice, the US has a reputation for operating a three-tier system in regard to international abductions based upon a sliding scale of diplomatic expediency, then gender and claims of domestic violence and thereafter you have a catch-all - this is not appropriate, a legalistic approach to the Hague Convention is required not a diplomatic one (note the US is the only contracting state to the HC that has the Central Authority embedded in it's foreign service and not the justice department);
3. Full adoption of the HC by the US - at present it has reserved on certain aspects such as providing free legal representation for HC hearings (in the UK it is fully expensed by the UK taxpayer and in many other contracting states but this is not reciprocated); and
4. Full accounting by the US Central Authority of returns and access orders granted AND enforced - currently the US claims a 90% return rate (Asst Sec of State Maura Harty &Ernie Allen NCMEC) however no substantive evidence to support this has ever been provided despite censure by Congress and the GAO - the only study of comparative return rates I am aware of is that of Professor Lowe, Law Professor Cardiff University UK which indicates that under reported HC cases a return of 52% from the US is demonstrated - this is an average result for the largest budget in the world.

These suggestions do not directly assist US parents in recovery but the first thing the HC is about is mutual trust not custody issues - to this end it is interesting to read what foreign judges have had to say about returning children to the US (as it is after all a non-US judge that will determine a return or not) cf Tom Johnson and Sweden non-return (google him); Josef Cannon in the High Court London UK non-return to the US.

Presently, the US is perceived by many in the EU and elsewhere as a major violator of the HC, not officially of course, but judges, practitioners and civil servants abroad are not stupid and many EU states only allow a small pool of judges to hear HC cases who have gained experience of events after a US return is made, it does not generally make for happy reading - there have been several cases of children sent to the US on the basis that it will protect a child and has failed, several spring to mind involving Sweden, UK, Germany and Spain.

Suggestions for HC Development
1. Reciprocal agreements between contracting states regarding use of their jurisdictions as safe havens - ICARA/IKPA deal with abductions out of the US but not to it, I think this is a fundamental weakness in the current HC aproach of dealing with the issue after the child has been taken - imposing sanctions on a parent who abducts to your jurisdiction may be a better way of preventing an abduction to begin with rather than the current cat-and-mouse game with an abducting parent simply hiding until a child is settled in the new environment;
2. Sanctions against non-compliant contracting states e.g. suspension of returns, demand for monetary damages enforceable and mandated at the Hague, enforcement powers at the Hague for dispute resolution;
3. Contracting states provide "attributable rights" to foreign parents litigating in the jurisdiction - by this I mean, a right to freely enter and leave a contracting state (i.e. no visas or no revocation of spousal visas upon divorce cf Japan); same rights and protections as a native of a contracting state would enjoy eg privacy (US Privacy Act and current State Department practice as outlined in FAM 7 denies a right to privacy for a non-citizen for instance) - this develops art 7 &21 and the removal of obstructions by contracting states to resolution;
4. Change the name of the HC from "Child Abduction" to "Jurisdiction for Child Hearings" as with the UCCJA/UCCJEA - abduction = kidnapping in laymans eyes, even for law enforcement and social services and it is not - it benefits no-one to make this a more emotive affair.

Tech Tags: Hague+Convention ICARA IKPA international+child+abduction Opinio+Juris UCCJA UCCJEA State+Department Justice+Department

The First Lady on International Child Abduction

Laura Bush at the International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children Conference

Elysée Palace,Paris, France - January 17th, 2007

"The United States made missing and exploited children a priority in 1981"

First Lady Laura Bush of the United States of America January 2007

I recently came across this press release issued by the Whitehouse press center after the First Lady of America, Laura Bush addressed an international conference hosted in Paris, France by President Chirac.

I agree wholeheartedly with Mrs Bush's sentiments but I do have serious issues with the gap between words and deeds. There is a call for greater foreign government cooperation

Every country must educate its citizens, especially women and children, so they can avoid this degradation

however very scant attention is paid to the void that exists for parents who have children abducted to America or from America.





In the pecking order of priorities it is clear that international child abduction ranks extremely low, not only for local agencies and law enforcement but at the Whitehouse.

The majority of Mrs Bush's address dealt with the international issue of child pornography and the growing international response to dealing with perpetrators of this heinous crime.

Let's put this in perspective - international child abduction-v-international child pornography - I cannot disagree that child pornography must be tackled and must receive a higher priority than international child abduction and I write as a parent who's child has been taken across international boundaries and given into the care of a convicted pedophile.

When I found that Emily Rose was being "adopted" in Wisconsin in April 2003 I was staggered and frightened however when I found that this was happening from a convicted pedophile who advised me his son was adopting Emily Rose and he (the pedophile) had also been looking after her, I was terrified beyond anything I have ever experienced in my existence on this planet.

What I feel needs to be done is to educate senior leaders in America, Europe and around the world that international child abduction needs more attention too, not allowed to be an also ran that is disposed of rather than dealt with. Mrs Bush does not seem so far away from that sentiment as she goes on to state:

"A society shows its character in the way it treats its most vulnerable citizens. Each of us can help protect children in our societies, and every country must help protect children in our global society."

Mrs Bush, if you ever get to read this - salut as President Chirac would say, but please do not forget to mention the thousands of children who are internationaly abducted and at great risk as a consequence next time you have the opportunity and I write as a parent who's child taken to America, has been allowed to go blind.

Tech Tags: Laura+Bush First+Lady America international+child+abduction Missing+and+Exploited Children child+pornography Pedophile blindness child+abuse