After 31 years I thought he'd get away with it

Discussion
85

[reply]
When Townshend was accused he said he had contacted police before he downloaded the child porn and informed them it was for research and that he was trying to ascertain whether he was abused as a child. Turns out he did contact the police beforehand and he got away with it then.

No. His credit card details were found on a child porn database. He did not contact police. They knew nothing about it. You cannot contact police and tell them you are about to download kiddy porn. Which is why they searched his house. Weasled his way out of it. I’d say his lawyer came of it several thousand pounds richer too.

[/reply]

The story has been twisted a few times since his house was first searched as to what he did/did not do. I definitely recall reading in a magazine before that he said he contacted someone in the police as to the “research” he was conducting for his book and what it might involve. Of course this doesn’t excuse or mitigate any wrongdoing he might have done. But he did mention before that he gave someone a “heads up” so to speak.

86

It was a joke!! It was SHIRLEY TEMPLE!!!

Oh, I don’t know that person by sight.

Oh grmpy…you really DID grow up in the sticks.

yeah, I did, but that isn’t the reason, I didn’t know who Shirley Temple was. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a movie of hers, only really know the name and have only really seen clips of her, scarcely, on tv.
Late,
grmpysmrf

87

Isn’t/wasn’t Pete Townsend gay? Is he still alive? I am out of it.

He’s certainly still around and kicking. I don’t think he’s gay though, but I could be wrong.

88

yeah, I did, but that isn’t the reason, I didn’t know who Shirley Temple was. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a movie of hers, only really know the name and have only really seen clips of her, scarcely, on tv.

I am what, half your age? Lived in a different country (in some places that could be considered the sticks), never in my life seen a Shirley Temple movie, and like you I scarcely seen clips. And I knew who it was straight away. Doesn’t that prove that I am infinitely more awesome than you?

89

Grmpy, next you’ll be telling us you’ve never listened to a John Zorn album or eaten at an expensive restaurant.

90

I am what, half your age? Lived in a different country (in some places that could be considered the sticks), never in my life seen a Shirley Temple movie, and like you I scarcely seen clips. And I knew who it was straight away. Doesn’t that prove that I am infinitely more awesome than you?

AND he’s a teacher!!!

Which makes it all the more baffling.

91

AND he’s a teacher!!!

Which makes it all the more baffling.

/nods.

While on the topic, if you are attracted to a woman in a Loli costume does that make you nasty?

92

[reply]
I am what, half your age? Lived in a different country (in some places that could be considered the sticks), never in my life seen a Shirley Temple movie, and like you I scarcely seen clips. And I knew who it was straight away. Doesn’t that prove that I am infinitely more awesome than you?

AND he’s a teacher!!!

Which makes it all the more baffling.[/reply]
I guess I have no use for 1920’s pop culture.
besides Shirley Temple has never been a state standard… so what would being a teacher have to do with anything. Even more besides, I’m not a teacher anymore (at least not an employed one) lost my job with all of the state budget bullshit, currently drawing unemployment and have been turned down 30+ times for teaching gigs without even so much as an interview! [:(] unemployment sucks!
As far as your other concerns, I have NO idea who John Zorn is but yes I have eaten in an expensive restaurant.
Late,
grmpysmrf

93

I guess I have no use for 1920’s pop culture.

Shirley Temple is like Mickey Mouse. An American icon. Do you know who The Marx Brothers are?

And I think she was more late 1930’s.

Even more besides, I’m not a teacher anymore (at least not an employed one) lost my job with all of the state budget bullshit, currently drawing unemployment and have been turned down 30+ times for teaching gigs without even so much as an interview! [:(] unemployment sucks!

I would say there are plenty of people in the same boat as you. Not sure what the official unemployment figures are in your part of the world but I have heard that a home is repossessed by the bank every 15 minutes in the US. In some states, one in 22 homes are unoccupied. And I think somebody joins the unemployment queue once every 2 minutes.

But maybe you know the official stats?

My friend just got a job (I.T) after nearly 18 months on unemployment - but he kinda had depression issues etc.

As far as your other concerns, I have NO idea who John Zorn is

John Zorn - New York avant garde jazz/contemporary composer. Produced the first Mr Bungle album.

94

Shirley Temple is like Mickey Mouse. An American icon. Do you know who The Marx Brothers are?

Well I Know she’s popular with the older crowd and by older I mean retired. I’m sure I could pick Shirley temple out if she was in context (I.E. black and white movie singing “the good ship lollipop” or pouting on Santa Clauses knee) but other than that I can’t be bothered with that fad!

and yes I know who the Marx Bros. are. Comedy geniuses! (Who knew this thread would turn into a pop quiz of yesteryear pop culture?)

And I think she was more late 1930’s.

ok, sure.

I would say there are plenty of people in the same boat as you. Not sure what the official unemployment figures are in your part of the world but I have heard that a home is repossessed by the bank every 15 minutes in the US. In some states, one in 22 homes are unoccupied. And I think somebody joins the unemployment queue once every 2 minutes.

But maybe you know the official stats?

Well, the official stats are 9.6% or 9.7% or so but the real # number is closer to 15 to 16%. The difference being is JUST the people collecting unemployment are counted for the official unemployment #'s, but you only get unemployment for roughly a year or so, and if after a year you still haven’t found a job, they kick you off unemployment, as well as not count you as unemployed anymore either. So this means that roughly 6-7% have been unemployed for over a year. It’s pretty dire here! the Los Angeles Unified School District fired over 2,000 teachers. Not looking good for “the recession proof occupation!”

My friend just got a job (I.T) after nearly 18 months on unemployment - but he kinda had depression issues etc.

That sux. Depression is always made worse by unemployment! I’m putting applications in every week but with there only being 140 jobs for the WHOLE county and the majority of them being hourly jobs with school districts and not even teaching positions, its getting harder and harder to drop applications for relevent positions that will help pay the bills.

As far as your other concerns, I have NO idea who John Zorn is

John Zorn - New York avant garde jazz/contemporary composer. Produced the first Mr Bungle album.[/reply]
I was really only exposed to classical music growing up as well as oldies. Don’t think I’ve ever heard a Bungle song, even though I know who they are. Never really a major fan of Patton aside from FNM’s song Epic. I adore that piano at the end of the song.
Never been a fan of Jazz either. Sounds like 14 different instruments being tuned all at the same time.
Late,
grmpysmrf

95

Smrf, it’s horrible in most locales.

Is Mrs. smrf still employed, and is going back to university for something else an option for your future?

I heard a stat on the news the other night that this fall, UCF is projected to be the third largest university in the U.S. by student enrollment. Scary. The state budget cuts (and most likely the local unemployment rate) played a role in the record enrollment.

Last time I checked, the unemployment rate in my county was 10.7% with the neighboring counties having higher rates. In a place where tourism is the top bread supplier, recession hits hard when the parks keep jacking up their prices. Several attractions have given out pink slips making the situation even worse.

Additionally, 10% of the homes in my subdivision are foreclosures. That’s not too bad when compared to other subdivisions around the city. The HOA had a part in keeping that number low due to the rules that required the purchaser to live in the house for the first year and the second set of rules on restrictions for rental agreements.

96

Here’s an article with more information on the Townshend child porn thing:

http://ore-exposed.obu-investigators.com/PC_PRO_Operation_Ore_Exposed_2.html

“THE MUSICIANS - Rock stars Robert del Naja of Massive Attack and legendary The Who guitarist Pete Townshend were both arrested in 2003, after the police had leaked their names to the tabloid press. Both men’s names are listed on Landslide records as signed up to Keyz websites. But the police never had any evidence that the websites concerned-which are shown as “Alberto” and “Spermed” -had anything to do with children. Nothing was found on their personal computers. The investigations against Mr del Naja were dropped within a month due to insufficient evidence. But the police didn’t tell Townshend that their entire evidence against him was a single entry made on Landslide on 15 May 1999 for the purchase of the Alberto website. Under pressure of the media filming of the raid, Townshend appears to have confessed to something he didn’t do. He was cautioned and his name was placed on the sex offenders register. Ironically, In April 2006, the Home Office launched the child protection agency CEOP with del Naja’s song, Teardrop. Head of CEOP James Gamble, the person responsible for Operation Ore, told the press “I didn’t choose the music”.”

97

Is Mrs. smrf still employed, and is going back to university for something else an option for your future?

Yes she is still employed. she has tenure at her district but that doesn’t help much when disctricts are rifing people (rif=reduction in force) even though she is tenured she is still low person on the totem pole so she is the first to get a pink slip (rif notice) she got one last year but luckily there was enough student enrollment and Obama’s stimulus money came through at the right time for her pink slip to be voided. I was not so lucky I didn’t have tenure and was just let go. (we work at different districts)

yea we both went back to school, she added a multiple subjects credential to her existing single subject English credential (multiple subjects credential means she can teach grades K-8 where as her single subject just means she can only teach high school English) which means she is a more “highly qualified teacher” and is no longer the lowest tenured person at the school and shouldn’t be one of the first to get a rif notice, or if she does she should be among the first to be called back. Thing that sucks though is if those other teachers that were above her in seniority decide to go get a supplimental credential as well, then she goes back to being on the bottom again.

I renerolled in school to get another credential in Special Education (I currently have a multiple Subjects credential) to make myself more attractive a candidate but so far it seems to have been a wasted student loan. I have one last quarter to go (it’s only gonna take me 3 quarters [semester and a half for you metric folks!] to get this new credential because of all of the classes I already had under my belt!) before I’ll have this new credential but I’m already intern eligible and have been since August but nobody seems to care. Like I said, been turned down for 30+ jobs with out even so much as an interview. [:(]
sucks all the way around. my sleepig patterns are all fucked up. I fall asleep about 6 am and wake up about 2-3 in the afternoon. Barely qualified for unemployment who knows how long that money will be there from the state anyway…Just hope something comes along soon. [:|] granted hanging out on Prongs all day isn’t bad buut still wish I had a job.
Late,
grmpysmrf

98

Fuck, smrf. That’s terrible.

Just goes to show that CHILD MOLESTATION IS BAD FOR THE ECONOMY.

99

Fuck, smrf. That’s terrible.

Just goes to show that CHILD MOLESTATION IS BAD FOR THE ECONOMY.

thanks dude. were not hurting just yet but the stress of what might come is still pretty shitty. we have had to seriously curtail our extra spending so unfortunately we’ve missed revco and kmfdm and a few other shows we wanted to go to… small price to pay though to make the mortgage.
Late,
grmpysmrf

100

"THE MUSICIANS - Rock stars Robert del Naja of Massive Attack and legendary The Who guitarist Pete Townshend were both arrested in 2003, after the police had leaked their names to the tabloid press. Both men’s names are listed on Landslide records as signed up to Keyz websites. But the police never had any evidence that the websites concerned-which are shown as “Alberto” and “Spermed” -had anything to do with children.

Pfffft.

Met Del Naja at an after party after a Massive Attack gig in '92 - I think they were opening for The Beastie Boys or something. Guy was a slimeball. I could totally imagine him being that shit. Sulky little fuckwad he was. Sat in the corner and scowled when I approached and said hi. Gave me a weak as piss handshake and turned away as if to say - you’ve said hi now fuck off. Looked like he didn’t want to be there.

101

Pfffft.

Met Del Naja at an after party after a Massive Attack gig in '92 - I think they were opening for The Beastie Boys or something. Guy was a slimeball. I could totally imagine him being that shit. Sulky little fuckwad he was. Sat in the corner and scowled when I approached and said hi. Gave me a weak as piss handshake and turned away as if to say - you’ve said hi now fuck off. Looked like he didn’t want to be there.

Probably pissed it was an 18 and over event… or was pissed all the hot kids were leashed to their parents and fucked his game up. btw doesn’t massive attack compose the theme song to House M.D.?
Late,
grmpysmrf

102

[reply]
"THE MUSICIANS - Rock stars Robert del Naja of Massive Attack and legendary The Who guitarist Pete Townshend were both arrested in 2003, after the police had leaked their names to the tabloid press. Both men’s names are listed on Landslide records as signed up to Keyz websites. But the police never had any evidence that the websites concerned-which are shown as “Alberto” and “Spermed” -had anything to do with children.

Pfffft.

Met Del Naja at an after party after a Massive Attack gig in '92 - I think they were opening for The Beastie Boys or something. Guy was a slimeball. I could totally imagine him being that shit. Sulky little fuckwad he was. Sat in the corner and scowled when I approached and said hi. Gave me a weak as piss handshake and turned away as if to say - you’ve said hi now fuck off. Looked like he didn’t want to be there.[/reply]

Yeah, but I don’t quite see an ironclad connection between ‘antisocial prick’ and ‘pedophile’.

103

btw doesn’t massive attack compose the theme song to House M.D.?
Late,
grmpysmrf

Yeah it is the instrumental version of Teardrop. I have that single, it has Liz Frasier from the Cocteau Twins on vocals. In fact the all the songs she sings with them are pretty good.

104

Yeah, but I don’t quite see an ironclad connection between ‘antisocial prick’ and ‘pedophile’.

You had to be there. Definitely got that ‘loathsome’ vibe off him. He seemed seedy. WHen I heard the news it came as no surprise. Nor did his revelation that anyone who knows me well knows of my addiction to porn.