Protest sign: "Would we have allowed Nazi Germany to host the Olympics?"
Well, as a matter of fact...
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Jailed over mortgage | Herald Sun
Australia: Jailed over mortgage | Herald Sun: "A MAN who tried to fight a bank's repossession of his home ended up in jail with 'murderers, rapists and drug dealers'.
Melbourne business man Derek Balogh was held in one of Victoria's maximum security prisons for refusing to give up his house despite a court order.
And his mother died of cancer the day before he was released."
-------------------
So that's what happens if you take the mortgage chess game one move too many?
Melbourne business man Derek Balogh was held in one of Victoria's maximum security prisons for refusing to give up his house despite a court order.
And his mother died of cancer the day before he was released."
-------------------
So that's what happens if you take the mortgage chess game one move too many?
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Snowfall breaks record - Juneau Empire
Snowfall breaks record - Juneau Empire: "Juneau's snowfall record for April 17 was buried under more than a half-foot of snow Thursday.
The National Weather Service recorded 7.5 inches of snow Thursday at its Juneau International Airport weather station. The record had been only 1.1 inches, received on April 17 in 1948."
------------
Global warming: the gift that keeps on giving, right into the back half of April.
The National Weather Service recorded 7.5 inches of snow Thursday at its Juneau International Airport weather station. The record had been only 1.1 inches, received on April 17 in 1948."
------------
Global warming: the gift that keeps on giving, right into the back half of April.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Senate OKs sweeping property insurance changes -- South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com
Senate OKs sweeping property insurance changes -- South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com
I like this bill, but it looks like it won't pass in the state House.
I like this bill, but it looks like it won't pass in the state House.
Supreme Court upholds Kentucky's use of lethal injections - Yahoo! News
Supreme Court upholds Kentucky's use of lethal injections - Yahoo! News: "WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court upheld Kentucky's use of lethal injection executions Wednesday. The justices, by a 7-2 vote, turned back a constitutional challenge to the procedures in place in Kentucky, which uses three drugs to sedate, paralyze and kill inmates. 'We ... agree that petitioners have not carried their burden of showing that the risk of pain from maladministration of a concededly humane lethal injection protocol, and the failure to adopt untried and untested alternatives, constitute cruel and unusual punishment,' Chief Justice John Roberts said in an opinion that garnered only three votes. Four other justices, however, agreed with the outcome. Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and David Souter dissented."
----------------
This three-drug protocol starts with a huge dose of an anesthetic (Pentothal) that is supposed to prevent the inmate from feeling any pain. The second drug, also given in a huge dose, is a powerful muscle relaxant that paralyzes all muscles, including the diaphragm so breathing stops, and so that the inmate can't move. The final drug is potassium chloride, which is a powerful poison that stops the heart. The basis of the challenge as I understand it is that if the first drug doesn't fully anesthetize the inmate, he will then be paralyzed by the second drug and unable to give any evidence that he is in agony from having his breathing stopped and then hit with terrible pain when the potassium chloride is injected and his heart stops. This would go on for quite a while, because there is a period of minutes between drugs. They even take time to flush out the lines with saline solution. The whole process takes 10 or 15 minutes. The claim is that this could produce a slow, agonizing, nightmarish death that would look from the outside like a painless execution.
Of course, the states that use this method claim that this is all a big fantasy cooked up by death penalty opponents.
----------------
This three-drug protocol starts with a huge dose of an anesthetic (Pentothal) that is supposed to prevent the inmate from feeling any pain. The second drug, also given in a huge dose, is a powerful muscle relaxant that paralyzes all muscles, including the diaphragm so breathing stops, and so that the inmate can't move. The final drug is potassium chloride, which is a powerful poison that stops the heart. The basis of the challenge as I understand it is that if the first drug doesn't fully anesthetize the inmate, he will then be paralyzed by the second drug and unable to give any evidence that he is in agony from having his breathing stopped and then hit with terrible pain when the potassium chloride is injected and his heart stops. This would go on for quite a while, because there is a period of minutes between drugs. They even take time to flush out the lines with saline solution. The whole process takes 10 or 15 minutes. The claim is that this could produce a slow, agonizing, nightmarish death that would look from the outside like a painless execution.
Of course, the states that use this method claim that this is all a big fantasy cooked up by death penalty opponents.
TaxProf Blog: Where Do Your Tax Dollars Go?
TaxProf Blog: Where Do Your Tax Dollars Go?
Note that only 9% goes to the social "safety net," and 15% to "everything else," while social security and medicare alone add up to 42%, defense is 22%, and interest on the debt is 9%. So when you hear politicians talking about their proposed new spending programs, consider the facts.
Note that only 9% goes to the social "safety net," and 15% to "everything else," while social security and medicare alone add up to 42%, defense is 22%, and interest on the debt is 9%. So when you hear politicians talking about their proposed new spending programs, consider the facts.
Global View - WSJ.com
Global View - WSJ.com: The Political Wisdom of former President Jimmy Carter: "'When I go to a dictatorship, I only have to talk to one person and that's the dictator, because he speaks for all the people.'"
----------------
What a nice arrangement. Of course, "the people" may not agree that the dictator speaks for them, but who cares? Jimmy doesn't need to talk to them anyway.
----------------
What a nice arrangement. Of course, "the people" may not agree that the dictator speaks for them, but who cares? Jimmy doesn't need to talk to them anyway.
Brigitte Bardot on trial for Muslim slur | U.S. | Reuters
Brigitte Bardot on trial for Muslim slur | U.S. | Reuters: "PARIS (Reuters) - French former film star Brigitte Bardot went on trial on Tuesday for insulting Muslims, the fifth time she has faced the charge of 'inciting racial hatred' over her controversial remarks about Islam and its followers. Prosecutors asked that the Paris court hand the 73-year-old former sex symbol a two-month suspended prison sentence and fine her 15,000 euros ($23,760) for saying the Muslim community was 'destroying our country and imposing its acts'."
---------------
POLS 354:
Thought crimes are all the rage in Europe these days. Kind of scary, isn't it? President Bush takes a lot of heat for infringing civil liberties, but so far in this country you can still express a dumb opinion (as BB did) without getting hauled into court.
---------------
POLS 354:
Thought crimes are all the rage in Europe these days. Kind of scary, isn't it? President Bush takes a lot of heat for infringing civil liberties, but so far in this country you can still express a dumb opinion (as BB did) without getting hauled into court.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Punditry | Professor Bainbridge
Punditry | Professor Bainbridge
How far to the left is Obama? Law prof Stephen Bainbridge comments.
How far to the left is Obama? Law prof Stephen Bainbridge comments.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)