The Ninth Circuit has ruled 2-1 in the long-awaited sex-sex marriage case and affirmed the lower court in finding the law unconstitutional. Eighteen months ago former Chief U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker struck down the ban on same-sex marriage. Judge Stephen Reinhardt wrote the lengthy opinion below upholding Walker and striking down the law. The Court ruled that “[b]y using their initiative power to target a minority group and withdraw a right that it possessed, without a legitimate reason for doing so, the People of California violated the Equal Protection Clause.”
Archive for the 'Uncategorized' Category
Prop 8 Decision: Ninth Circuit Rules Same-Sex Marriage Proposition Unconstitutional
Published 1, February 7, 2012 Constitutional Law , Courts , Politics , Religion , Society , Supreme Court , Uncategorized 39 CommentsFrom the Bottom of My New Heart
Published 1, January 22, 2012 Academics , Columns , Media , Science , Society , Uncategorized , USA Today 35 CommentsSubmitted by: Mike Spindell, guest blogger
For the first time I am writing a guest blog with a blatant message supporting a cause that you might say is near and dear to my heart. I hope Professor Turley excuses this personal usage of my guest blogging
privileges, as hopefully will my fellow guest bloggers. Here is my pitch. Some regulars here at the Turley blog know that I am a heart transplant recipient. I received my new heart in October 17, 2010, two days after the birth of my third grandchild. I am, needless to say, an extremely lucky man. My nuclear family all had heart issues. My parents both died at the age of 54 from heart attacks (Myocardial Infarctions {MI’s} as they’re known in the trade). It was my mother’s fourth or fifth and came as a result of her third stroke. When my father died, the requisite autopsy found that this was actually his second MI. My older brother has also had a severe stroke and an MI, but thankfully he is doing quite well today at age 75.
The main reason I am alive today, beyond the fact of my heart transplant, is because my wife during the worst stages of my illness, literally saved my life four times. Her love, care-giving, watchfulness and fierceness in ensuring my medical care, pulled me through very difficult times. We married thirty years ago when I was thirty-seven and six months later I suffered a massive MI, literally destroying one of my three main arteries. Unlike me, she had never experienced the severe illness of someone close, so this transition was obviously shattering but she saw me through. I guess you could say that there is a certain resiliency about me because I was to have two more MI’s at five year periods and yet was able to recover from them and work productively. However, seven years ago at age sixty, in the prime of my profession; I developed Congestive Heart Failure (Cardio Myopathy) and was forced to retire. Continue reading ‘From the Bottom of My New Heart’
Blocking the Vote: A Look at Who Is Behind Republican Efforts to Erect Voting Barriers in America
Published 1, January 21, 2012 Justice , Politics , Uncategorized 100 Comments
Submitted by Elaine Magliaro, Guest Blogger
Last December, the NAACP released a report titled Defending Democracy: Confronting Modern Barriers to Voting Rights in America. The report reveals “direct connections between the trend of increasing, unprecedented African American and Latino voter turnout and an onslaught of restrictive measures across the country designed to stem electoral strength among communities of color.”
Benjamin Jealous, NAACP President and CEO, said, “It’s been more than a century since we’ve seen such a tidal wave of assaults on the right to vote. Historically, when voting rights are attacked, it’s done to facilitate attacks on other rights. It is no mistake that the groups who are behind this are simultaneously attacking very basic women’s rights, environmental protections, labor rights, and educational access for working people and minorities.” He added, “Voting rights attacks are the flip side of buying a democracy. First you buy all the leaders you can, and then you suppress as many votes as possible of the people who might object.”
I should add that African American and Latino voters aren’t the only people who are being targeted by the “block the vote” effort. Young people and the elderly in some states may also face hurdles if they hope to exercise their right to vote in the November elections.
When Immunity Becomes Impunity: German Police Stop North Korean Ambassador From Fishing Without License . . . Ambassador Invokes Diplomatic Immunity and Keeps On Fishing As Police Watch
Published 1, January 20, 2012 Uncategorized 44 Comments
German police recently thought that they had just another illegal fishing incident at the Havel River in Berlin when they stopped a man and demanded his license. The man immediately informed them that he had no license and continued to fish. When they told him it was illegal, he promptly identified himself as Si Hong Ri, North Korea’s ambassador to Germany and apologized. He then continued to fish. Si Hong Ri had no identification on him, so the police were forced to call for their office to produce a picture of the ambassador and then stood there as Si Hong Ri continued to fish with immunity and impunity.
Continue reading ‘When Immunity Becomes Impunity: German Police Stop North Korean Ambassador From Fishing Without License . . . Ambassador Invokes Diplomatic Immunity and Keeps On Fishing As Police Watch’
I have warned for years about the Martian menace and the lack of preparations of anti-Martian devices. Now the Martians are throwing rocks at us and all we can do is collect them. This is a picture of a Martian meteorite that hit near Foumzgit, Morocco in July 2011 and recovered last month.
The DHS Wants to Know Who’s Spreading the News (or Expressing an Opinion), Your Rights Optional
Published 1, January 15, 2012 Constitutional Law , Free Speech , Justice , Media , Politics , Society , Supreme Court , Uncategorized 110 Comments
Submitted by Gene Howington, Guest Blogger
Freedom of speech is a well established right in this country and rooted in the 1st Amendment. ”Congress shall make no law [. . .] abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press”. The U.N.’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights Article 19 reads, “Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.” Within the United States and our jurisprudence there are some exceptions to this freedom, but by in large (up to this point in history) the restrictions are both reasonable and necessary: the Miller test for obscenity, child pornography laws, laws prohibiting speech that incites imminent lawless action, restrictions on fighting words, regulation of commercial speech such as advertising, copyright and patent laws protecting authors and inventors control over their work, and the prohibition of slander and defamation.
Let’s be clear here that the subject isn’t just free speech, but anonymous political free speech.
Here at Res Ipsa Loqitur, there is a long standing policy of allowing anonymous posting to comments and protecting poster’s anonymity. The decision to post under your own name or not is entirely yours. This policy encourages free speech while allowing that having an unpopular or minority point of view should not have negative political consequences for the speaker or unnecessarily complicate their lives simply for expressing their views. Many political insiders and Washington professionals have told Professor Turley that they enjoy reading this blog and have enjoyed posting anonymously. The only posters here required to use their real identities are the guest bloggers and the requirement is voluntary. None of us were coerced into using our real names. When offered the honor of being a guest blogger, it was simply (and I think I speak for all the guest bloggers when I say fairly) a requirement in assuming editorial responsibilities. However, all of this raises an important question.
Do you have a right to anonymous political free speech?
According to the Supreme Court, you do. According to the Department of Homeland Security, you don’t. They’ve hired General Dynamics to track U.S. citizens exercising this critical civil right.
When You Really Need A New Art Piece in Three Minutes Or Less . . .
Published 1, January 11, 2012 Uncategorized 9 CommentsIf you felt Bob Ross simply took too long on those paintings, you might want to check this guy out.
Continue reading ‘When You Really Need A New Art Piece in Three Minutes Or Less . . .’
-Submitted by David Drumm (Nal), Guest Blogger
This case has everything a Fourth Amendment nerd could want, it’s got curtilage, sniff tests, and unreasonable searches. The case is Jardines v. State in which Miami, Florida, police, supported by DEA agents, conducted a “sniff test” by a detection dog, a chocolate lab named Franky (left). The warrentless sniff test, based on an anonymous tip, occurred at the front door of Jardines’ private residence. Franky alerted to the odor of narcotics and a search warrant was obtained. The search found marijuana was being grown inside the home.
America’s Transcendent Issue
Published 1, January 7, 2012 Columns , Congress , Constitutional Law , Courts , Criminal law , Economics , International , Justice , Media , Military , Politics , Religion , Society , Supreme Court , Uncategorized 239 CommentsTags: America, congress, corruption, defense, democracy, economics, government, politics, prisons, religion, society
Submitted by: Mike Spindell, guest blogger
When you contemplate all of the problems that beset us in this election year it is hard not to feel daunted by the task of finding solutions. Many millions of American’s are without jobs, with the prospect of future employment seeming illusory. The top 1% of the American population controls vast amounts of the country’s wealth. http://www.businessinsider.com/15-charts-about-wealth-and-inequality-in-america-2010-4?op=1 Wages of average Americans have stagnated for the past 40 years to such an extent that our middle class is shrinking rapidly. The housing boom of years past has become a bust of monumental proportions and foreclosures are destroying formerly viable neighborhoods. Our once barely adequate “safety net” has been shredded and there are attempts to destroy both Social Security and Medicare as we know it. Despite a weak attempt at Medical reform millions of Americans find health care unaffordable, with many dying and others forced into bankruptcy to stay alive. Due to lack of money America’s once magnificent infrastructure is rotting and solutions are not on the horizon.
The collapse and bailout of our banking industry has cost us trillions and appears to have been brought about by fraudulent practices on the part of the industry, yet no one has been indicted. In fact the remuneration of top executives in this duplicitous industry has actually increased. Efforts to impose stiff controls ensuring that these artificial crises don’t happen again and that these huge financial entities do business ethically, have failed to pass the Congress. We see that the fallout from the American banking crisis has undercut the world’s economy and that economic crises in other industrialized nations appear regularly. Please notice I’m only referring to the economic problems we face and only producing a partial list of those economic problems.
We have seemingly come to the conclusion of an unnecessary war in Iraq, where trillions were spent and perhaps a million were killed, yet the withdrawal of troops is to bases that surround Iraq. We are leaving about 40,000 Americans in country, many as mercenaries (contractors is a euphemism) as we support the largest diplomatic infrastructure in any foreign nation. The war in Afghanistan still rages in a land that has never been significantly shaped by any outside empire, this despite the killing of Osama Bin Laden and the virtual destruction of Al Qaeda. Hundreds of billions are being spent and the lives of our troops are put in danger, in an exercise with little hope of success. Billions are going towards building Afghanistan’s infrastructure as ours is falling apart. Yet these instances fail to raise the broad spectrum of the military/foreign policy problems continuing to plague us. These issues include a military budget that far greater than that of all other nations. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_military_expenditures
However, these three paragraphs still do not encompass the broad range of problems we Americans face. There is more to be touched on before we come to the conclusion that I’ve reached, that there is one problem that not only transcends all of these, but its need for immediate solution supersedes any of the others in importance. Continue reading ‘America’s Transcendent Issue’
The Day Happy Died: New Year To Bring End To Happy Hours In Utah
Published 1, December 30, 2011 Constitutional Law , Criminal law , Free Speech , Politics , Religion , Society , Uncategorized 31 Comments
The New Year brings a host of new laws that kick in on the first. For citizens in Utah, the New Year will bring an end to Happy Hours. That’s right, the heavily Mormon state has continued its harassment of citizens who drink and outlawed “drink specials.”
Continue reading ‘The Day Happy Died: New Year To Bring End To Happy Hours In Utah’
And You Thought Your Holiday Lighting Was Impressive . . .
Published 1, December 26, 2011 Uncategorized 11 CommentsAn engineer from Ukraine put on an amazing display this year. This allows our readers to prepare for next year with some ideas to put your neighbors to shame.
Continue reading ‘And You Thought Your Holiday Lighting Was Impressive . . .’
Submitted by Mark Esposito, Guest Blogger
During the miserable trench warfare of WWI, a night of humanity offered some hope of peace. Arthur Conan Doyle called it “one human episode amid all the atrocities.” If Christmas means anything, it surely means this:
Christmas Day, 1914
My dear sister Janet,
It is 2:00 in the morning and most of our men are asleep in their dugouts—yet I could not sleep myself before writing to you of the wonderful events of Christmas Eve. In truth, what happened seems almost like a fairy tale, and if I hadn’t been through it myself, I would scarce believe it. Just imagine: While you and the family sang carols before the fire there in London, I did the same with enemy soldiers here on the battlefields of France!
Submitted by Elaine Magliaro, Guest Blogger
Here’s an acrostic poem that I wrote a few years ago. If you read down the left side of the poem, it spells out the word “wreath.”
Wrapped around itself,
Red-ribboned
Evergreen, fragrant of winter forests,
Adorned with berries, baubles, bells of gold,
Tacked to the front door…
Home for the holidays.
Happy Holidays to all!!!
The Real Insurance Frauds
Published 1, December 24, 2011 Columns , Congress , Courts , Criminal law , Economics , Justice , Lawyering , Media , Politics , Society , Uncategorized 29 CommentsSubmitted by: Mike Spindell, guest blogger
It’s Christmastime again and since my childhood, long ago, the Frank Capra film “It’s A Wonderful Life” has been shown time and again in this season, providing a message of redemption, hope and joy that we associate with this time of year. You all know the plot about selfless George Bailey (James Stewart) a man who has sacrificed his dreams for others and because of his selflessness winds up running the Bailey Building and Loan Association, of Bedford Falls, NY. Because of George this institution has provided home loans for the poor of this rural community and serves as its bank. With the Company on the verge of bankruptcy, through duplicity, George is on the verge of suicide distraught over the losses to those he loves and worried by needs of the average people of his town. You all know this plot and if you don’t its summary is here. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/It%27s_a_Wonderful_Life#Plot . I must warn you, perhaps it’s the time of year but I choked up reading the plot, yet again, as I do every time I see this beloved movie.
This introduction has not been made because I’m about to write about banks, or the depredations of the banking industry. Others here and our host have already written extensively on the predatory nature of the banking industry and the harm it has caused to our country. My point of this opening is that we have all grown up with certain mythologies about businesses that provide financial services to the public. This film has had a place in defining that American mythology, in this instance about a bank of sorts, whose leader believes in aiding the community first and profits second. Myths shape our thinking and from my youth I still remember the ad slogan “You have a friend at Chase Manhattan”.
We’ve discovered that banks are anything but our friends. Their bottom line has surpassed service to the point that each customer is looked at as a “cash cow”, to be plundered incessantly with usurious interest and fees for what should be free services. But what about “You’re in Good Hands with Allstate”, “Nationwide Is On Your Side”, or “Like A Good Neighbor State Farm is There”? Surely the Insurance industry supplies the safety net we want for our homes and cars. Do they? Last week I was sent an article by the Independent Claims Adjuster handling my interminable case for mold damage to my home. He’s helping greatly so this isn’t about me, but the article he sent certainly puts into context all the delays in the process and how property insurance companies are maximizing their profits at the expense of their customers. Continue reading ‘The Real Insurance Frauds’
The Penal State: New Study Shows One-Third of Americans Have Been Arrested For A Crime By Age 23
Published 1, December 20, 2011 Uncategorized 22 Comments
I have previously written and blogged on the criminalization of the American society. Now a study in the journal Pediatrics this week finds that, by age 23, almost a third of Americans have been arrested for a crime.
Continue reading ‘The Penal State: New Study Shows One-Third of Americans Have Been Arrested For A Crime By Age 23′
Business As Usual: What the Collapse of MF Global Reveals about Financial Reform in the USA
Published 1, December 18, 2011 Uncategorized 37 Comments
Submitted by Elaine Magliaro, Guest Blogger
Nomi Prins, a former investment banker who once worked for Goldman Sachs and Bear Stearns, recently appeared on Democracy Now! Amy Goodman questioned Prins about the collapse of MF Global and John Corzine’s testimony before Congress.
Corzine has claimed that he never directed anyone at MF Global to misuse investors’ funds. A witness named Terry Duffy, however, has testified that “Corzine was aware of loans that may have used customer money.” Duffy is chairman of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange.
In her interview with Amy Goodman, Prins spoke about a clip of Corzine’s testimony that she and Goodman watched: “We’re listening to someone try and dodge his way out of responsibility and accountability, which is very much what all of the CEOs on Wall Street have done through the subprime crisis and through past crises.” Prins added, “And for him to sit there in front of Congress and talk about ‘not intending’ and ‘I didn’t know’ and ‘I didn’t instruct’ and ‘I didn’t misuse’ and all these sort of legal maneuvers around this issue really is deplorable.”
The US Chamber of Commerce, the Enemy Within?
Published 1, December 11, 2011 Columns , Congress , Environment , International , Media , Politics , Society , Things That Tick Me Off , Uncategorized , USA Today 37 CommentsSubmitted by: Mike Spindell, guest blogger.
During the Cold War a phrase “The Enemy Within” became popular. It was a reference at first to Communist subversion exemplified by Senator Joseph McCarthy’s witch-hunt. Later it was used with other issues such as in Robert F. Kennedy’s book “The Enemy Within” which dealt with corruption in the Labor Movement, specifically Jimmy Hoffa and his teamsters. Recently, Michael Savage, right wing talk show host, wrote a book using that same title, though in this case referring to liberals and progressives as being seditious. The connotation of this phrase is that the group so labeled represents an internal movement that is so dangerous to the interests of the United States, that it can be seen as subversive.
Some may be shocked then by the title of this post. Almost all of us have grown up thinking of the Chamber of Commerce as a uniquely American Institution. Throughout the US whether in cities or in hamlets, the business community has banded together to promote local commerce and build interrelated networks. When we think of this, we think mainly of local small businesses, which are the backbone of this nation’s economy. To be honest until this week I’ve never give much thought to the Chamber of Commerce until as a MoveOn.com member I received a petition from an affiliated new organization called SumOfUs.
“SumOfUs is a brand-new global movement of consumers, investors and workers using our collective economic power for good. Together, we will work to hold the world’s corporations accountable to the public interest and move our global economic system towards social equity, democratic principles, and long-term sustainability.” http://googlequitthechamber.org/about/
The purpose of the petition was to get Google to follow the lead of other large corporations and quit the US Chamber of Commerce. The petition made various claims regarding the US Chamber of Commerce which I’ll deal with in this post.
However, I wouldn’t present this post without doing some research on the “Chamber” and its’ activity to look into the validity of the claims being made by the SumOfUs organization. In doing this research I came to realize that in my opinion the United States Chamber of Commerce is an organization that does not act in the best interests of this country and that one can call it subversive, even though it is not treasonous. These are my reasons for this belief. Continue reading ‘The US Chamber of Commerce, the Enemy Within?’
A Sordid Tale of Discriminatory Lending Practices and “Ghetto Loans”
Published 1, December 11, 2011 Uncategorized 23 Comments
Submitted by Elaine Magliaro, Guest Blogger
In the aftermath of the financial crisis back in 2008, a number of conservative commentators—including Mike Huckabee and Neil Cavuto—blamed minorities and low income people for the subprime mortgage mess. According to some of these conservatives, the responsibility for the mortgage mess lay at the feet of the Community Reinvestment Act and the poor/minorities among us who took out subprime mortgages. There didn’t seem to be any mention of banks and their predatory lending practices being at fault in any way.
Well, James Theckson, a former banker who was a regional vice president for Chase Home Finance in southern Florida, claims that banks are mostly culpable for the subprime mortgage fiasco. He told Nicholas Kristof of the New York Times that his team wrote $2 billion in mortgages in 2007—and that some of them were “no documentation” mortgages. Theckson said, “On the application, you don’t put down a job; you don’t show income; you don’t show assets. But you still got a nod.” He continued, “If you had some old bag lady walking down the street and she had a decent credit score, she got a loan.”
Continue reading ‘A Sordid Tale of Discriminatory Lending Practices and “Ghetto Loans”’
The Republicans’ “Ideas Man” & The Junior Janitors of America
Published 1, December 4, 2011 Media , Politics , Uncategorized 97 Comments
Submitted by Elaine Magliaro, Guest Blogger
A lot of interesting news stories have broken since I last posted at the Turley Blawg nearly a month ago. I’ve kept a running list of them. The story I decided to post about today is one that I placed under the heading “Asinine and Inane Ideas of the 2012 Presidential Candidates.” Now, truth be told, I had a plethora of stories from which to choose…so it wasn’t
easy. I finally selected one about the new Republican frontrunner, a man who has worn many hats—former professor, author, ethically challenged Speaker of the House, serial adulterer, historian, covert lobbyist, king of bling—the one and only Newt Gingrich!
I have often heard talking heads on television refer to Newt Gingrich as the “Ideas Man” and the “intellectual” of the Republican Party. It may be true that Newt has a lot of ideas—but I have to question whether the talking heads consider all of his ideas to be good ideas. I admit that even I was surprised when I heard Newt’s recent pronouncement that child labor laws are stupid when he spoke at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. I was truly taken aback when he suggested that school janitors should be fired and that poor kids should clean the schools that they attended.
Continue reading ‘The Republicans’ “Ideas Man” & The Junior Janitors of America’
Et Tu National Review?
Published 1, December 4, 2011 Academics , Columns , Free Speech , Justice , Media , Politics , Society , Uncategorized , USA Today 44 CommentsSubmitted by: Mike Spindell, guest blogger
The National Review was founded in 1955 by William F. Buckley, Jr. It defined its’ purpose in a statement of intentions:
“Middle-of-the-Road, qua Middle of the Road, is politically, intellectually, and morally repugnant. We shall recommend policies for the simple reason that we consider them right (rather than “non-controversial”); and we consider them right because they are based on principles we deem right (rather than on popularity polls)…” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Review
Bill Buckley, the son of an oil baron, was born to wealth and privilege. He was a lieutenant in the Army from 1943 until 1945 when he entered Yale and became a member of Skull and Bones, along with future President George H.W. Bush. In 1953 Buckley became prominent for his book “God and Man at Yale”. So when he founded the National Review he was already prominent in Conservative circles. Oh yes, it should be mentioned he was a CIA field agent under E. Howard Hunt, from 1951 through 1953.
“George H. Nash, a historian of the modern American conservative movement, believed that Buckley was “arguably the most important public intellectual in the United States in the past half century… For an entire generation, he was the preeminent voice of American conservatism and its first great ecumenical figure.”[6] Buckley’s primary contribution to politics was a fusion of traditional American political conservatism with laissez-faire economic theory and anti-communism, laying groundwork for the new American conservatism of U.S. presidential candidates Barry Goldwater and President Ronald Reagan“. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_F._Buckley,_Jr.
Whether you like the National Review or not, you must admit that it is the single most important magazine of the Conservative movement in America and has been so since its’ founding. As you can see from their mission statement above they claim to eschew popularity and polls, serving higher priciples. I was therefore interested to come across a story this week that calls into question their true dedication to higher principles, or perhaps one of their principles is merely naked greed. Continue reading ‘Et Tu National Review?’
Today’s Celebrity is Yesterday’s Aristocracy
Published 1, December 3, 2011 Academics , Bizarre , Columns , Environment , Media , Politics , Religion , Society , Things That Tick Me Off , Uncategorized , USA Today 10 CommentsSubmitted by Mike Spindell, guest blogger
Andy Warhol, said in 1968 that “In the future, everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes.” Forty-Three years later the remark has become ubiquitously prescient. The world is awash in a celebrity culture and America is at the acme of this “culture”. From one perspective this is merely the harmless fluff that people use in order to distract themselves from the depressing things their lives have offered. It is the triumph of “kitsch” over substance in the business of being famous. This has been true throughout mankind’s history. The lives and activities of the powerful have been followed by the masses with avid interest and have been the fodder of discussion around what served as the ancient’s water coolers, perhaps the public wells. Without a doubt in ancient Egypt, the Pharaoh’s comings and goings were constant conversational topics. Today, in a much different context, the American multitudes avidly follow the lives of the powerful, rich and famous, via innumerable outlets including Facebook and Twitter.
The question I’m broaching here is if this is a historic human trait, are there negative aspects of it that threaten the functioning and stability of our society? My own answer is that I’m not sure one way or another, but I am concerned about what I see all around me and perhaps would like the writers here to talk me down, so to speak. Now one might rightly ask what does this have to do with the law and the other topics we treat here on a daily basis. Only this week we have had news bulletins and stories about the sentencing of Michael Jackson’s doctor to four years in prison. On that same day no doubt there were dozens of news stories that had greater effect on our lives, yet every network paid much attention to it on their nightly news. At the risk of offending Michael Jackson fans, the death of this once famous “Pop Star”, self titled “King of Pop” if you will, was hardly worth the attention paid to it, when issues of economic collapse, wars, revolutions, genocides and famines raged throughout the media frenzy. Yet, I must say that the media knew their audience and this story catered to that audience. I understand the need for, and I myself have need of distraction from the woes of the world, so it is not as if I hold myself apart from the indulgence. Frequently instances of self loathing come to the fore as I slavishly behold the spectacle that our media creates for us surrounding people and issues that embarrass our attention, as they play out before our wide-eyed gazes. Continue reading ‘Today’s Celebrity is Yesterday’s Aristocracy’
This handsome fellow is the most recent new dinosaur — discovered in Saskatchewan’s Assiniboia district. This resulted in a named that will have kids sniggering in science classes across North America: Assiniboiensis. Thescelosaurus assiniboiensis (THES’-kel-oh-SAWR’-us ah-SIN’-ni-boy-EN’-sis) was confirmed from the 66-million-year-old partial skeleton as a new type of dinosaur.
Continue reading ‘Dino Gap: Canadians Add New Dinosaur’
The Stimulus is Still Stimulating
Published 1, November 27, 2011 Congress , Politics , Things That Tick Me Off , Uncategorized 52 Comments
Respectfully submitted by Lawrence Rafferty(rafflaw)-Guest Blogger
Now that I have digested some wonderful Thanksgiving food and celebrated my grandson’s first birthday, it is time to get back to work. In light of the recent calls by Rep. Paul Ryan, Rep. Eric Cantor and former Speaker and current GOP Presidential Candidate Newt Gingrich to terminate the non-partisan Congressional Budge Office (CBO), I couldn’t help but wonder why the Republicans have a problem with the CBO? The CBO has been critical of both parties legislation in the past when the numbers just didn’t add up. Could this latest announcement by the CBO that the Obama Stimulus package of 2009 is still stimulating the economy be the last straw for the Republicans in their support of the Congressional Budget Office? Continue reading ‘The Stimulus is Still Stimulating’
The Incarceration of Black Men in America
Published 1, November 26, 2011 Academics , Columns , Constitutional Law , Courts , Criminal law , Justice , Lawyering , Politics , Society , Supreme Court , Uncategorized 105 Comments
Submitted by: Mike Spindell, guest blogger
America has the world’s highest rate of incarceration, currently 738 per 100,000. Our nearest competitor for this dubious distinction is the Russian Federation with 607 and Cuba with 487. “The US incarcerates at a rate 4 to 7 times higher than other western nations such as the United Kingdom, France, Italy, and Germany and up to 32 times higher than nations with the lowest rates such as Nepal, Nigeria, and India.”
http://www.nccd-crc.org/nccd/pubs/2006nov_factsheet_incarceration.pdf Despite possible protestations that this is because we have the best law enforcement, my sense is that the reasons lie more in the system, than those who enforce it. No one ever lost an election in America because of the perception they “were tough on crime”.
“Race: Black males continue to be incarcerated at an extraordinary rate. Black males make up 35.4 percent of the jail and prison population — even though they make up less than 10 percent of the overall U.S population. Four percent of U.S. black males were in jail or prison last year, compared to 1.7 percent of Hispanic males and .7 percent of white males. In other words, black males were locked up at almost six times the rate of their white counterparts.” http://www.nccd-crc.org/nccd/pubs/2006nov_factsheet_incarceration.pdf
Despite possible protestations that this is because we have the best law enforcement, my sense is that the reasons lie more in the system, than those who enforce it. No one ever lost an election in America because of the perception they “were tough on crime”. “Race: Black males continue to be incarcerated at an extraordinary rate. Black males make up 35.4 percent of the jail and prison population — even though they make up less than 10 percent of the overall U.S population. Four percent of U.S. black males were in jail or prison last year, compared to 1.7 percent of Hispanic males and .7 percent of white males. In other words, black males were locked up at almost six times the rate of their white counterparts.”
http://www.laprogressive.com/law-and-the-justice-system/boiling-hot-mad/.html
These two sets of statistics when viewed together tell a terrible tale of how racial oppression still exists in this country despite our Black President and Black Attorney General. This Administration hasn’t caused of this problem, but they don’t seem to have made any progress dealing with it. We do know that there has been a widespread effort to play down the racial division that continues to plague this country. This continues despite Civil Rights Laws, Martin Luther King’s Birthday and TV beer commercials that always include at least one black male friend enjoying the camaraderie. Clearly there is a disconnect between how we Americans want to see ourselves and the reality for many Black males. Continue reading ‘The Incarceration of Black Men in America’
This afternoon, I will be one of the moderators as part of “Debating Taboos” series of the Center for Study of Responsive Law. This series, organized by consumer rights icon Ralph Nader, is designed to foster dialogue in areas where politicians and even reporters tend to avoid substantive discussion. This part is entitled “Bush and Obama: War Crimes or Lawful Wars – Debating Taboos.” I will be asking questions from the perspective of those who view torture as a war crime while Stuart Taylor of Newsweek will ask questions from the other side of the debate. The event is open to the public.
Continue reading ‘Bush and Obama: War Crimes or Lawful Wars?’
-Submitted by David Drumm (Nal), Guest Blogger
Today we have Barbara George in glorious STEREO!
The GOP Continues to Wage War on Women with H. R. 358
Published 1, October 16, 2011 Congress , Politics , Uncategorized 115 Comments
Submitted by Elaine Magliaro, Guest Blogger
The GOP continues to wage its war on women’s rights. Last week, the House passed HR 358. HR 358, ironically named the “Protect Life Act,” could be the cause of women being left to die in hospital emergency rooms without treatment if the bill becomes a law—which is unlikely since President Obama has already released a statement in opposition to the bill.
Here’s a brief explanation of the bill from Human Rights Watch:
Bill Would Permit Hospitals to Let Women in Need of Care Die
(Washington, DC) – The United States House of Representatives approved a bill on October 13, 2011, that would put women’s lives at risk, Human Rights Watch said today. The bill, if it becomes law, would reverse longstanding federal policy requiring hospitals to provide life-saving care regardless of expense, Human Rights Watch said.
The Protect Life Act, HR 358, would amend the healthcare reform law to grant hospitals far-reaching powers to deny patients abortion care, without any exception for emergency situations. US law currently requires hospitals receiving federal funds to provide emergency care to anyone in need up to the point at which they can be stabilized or transferred, if the original hospital is incapable of providing the care they need.
“The misnamed Protect Life Act is about allowing women to die if they need an emergency abortion,” said Meghan Rhoad, women’s rights researcher at Human Rights Watch. “It is a vicious attack on women’s rights and on the most basic right to life.”
Continue reading ‘The GOP Continues to Wage War on Women with H. R. 358′
The Mercatus Center: A Tentacle of the Deregulation-Loving Kochtopus Helping in the Effort to Deny Climate Change and Eviscerate the EPA
Published 1, October 10, 2011 Academics , Environment , Politics , Science , Uncategorized 292 Comments
Submitted by Elaine Magliaro, Guest Blogger
From Climate Science Watch (March 18, 2010): To the libertarians, the widely-shared scientific assessment that human-caused climate change will likely produce major harmful consequences — and the communication of this evidence to the public by the leading climate scientists — poses a particularly serious threat. An informed public concerned about the likelihood of harmful impacts of unchecked global climatic disruption is more likely to call for significant government action to curb greenhouse gas emissions. In order to block proactive government policymaking and keep corporate interests unregulated, libertarian groups have focused a significant part of their efforts on climate change on distorting the science to confuse public opinion, denying the seriousness of the problem, and, most recently, impugning the integrity of the climate science community. The Koch brothers have stepped forward with deep pockets to bankroll such efforts.
Continue reading ‘The Mercatus Center: A Tentacle of the Deregulation-Loving Kochtopus Helping in the Effort to Deny Climate Change and Eviscerate the EPA’
Submitted by Elaine Magliaro, Guest Blogger
So…I get this baby gift recently from one of my Grammy’s good friends. It’s a pink Red Sox hat. My mom—who happens to be a big fan of the Boston baseball team–loved it. She put it on me and made my grandma take a picture. Mom wanted me to wear it proudly every time she took me for a walk.
Little did my mom know when I got that gift that the Red Sox would collapse like a pup tent in a hurricane at the end of the regular baseball season. What a bunch of losers! From what I’ve overheard my parents talking about this week—the curse of the Bambino must have been reactivated! I wonder how long the curse will hang around this time???
Here is our picture of the week from our erstwhile colleague in the City of Light, Eric Tenin.
Continue reading ‘Sunday in Paris With Eric’
Submitted by: Mike Spindell, guest blogger
As a suitable companion piece to my last post, I present the less than dulcet tones of Bob Dylan.
Banned Books Week: Just a Lot of Propaganda Says Jonah Goldberg
Published 1, September 18, 2011 Uncategorized 148 CommentsSubmitted by Elaine Magliaro, Guest Blogger
Banned Books Weeks 2011 will be observed September 24-October 1.
Jonah Goldberg claims that Banned Books Week (BBW) is nothing but hype. In a column he penned for USA Today in early September, Goldberg wrote that BBW “is an exercise in propaganda.” He continued, “For starters, as a legal matter no book in America is banned, period, full stop (not counting, I suppose, some hard-core illegal child porn or some such out there). Any citizen can go to a bookstore or Amazon.com and buy any book legally in print — or out of print for that matter.”
Continue reading ‘Banned Books Week: Just a Lot of Propaganda Says Jonah Goldberg’
The Christian Zionist Movement and Jewish Confusion
Published 1, September 17, 2011 Columns , International , Justice , Politics , Religion , Society , Uncategorized 79 CommentsSubmitted by: Mike Spindell, guest blogger
Most people who regularly visit this blog know that I am Jewish. While I am not what one would call a pious Jew, being a Deist in outlook, I have always been very proud of my ethnicity and of the religion, which plays a central part in it. From their infancy, my children were immersed in Judaism both through education and by our family regularly taking part in Jewish Rituals, including regular Synagogue attendance. Where I part personally from normative Judaism is that I view the Torah, The Five Books of Moses, as primarily allegory with some real history thrown in. To me it is a work of some wise and some not so wise men, not the writings of God. I believe and have seen demonstrated in many families though, that the Torah and its 613 Commandments can serve as blueprint for living a fulfilling life.
The issue becomes complicated when it comes to my feelings about Israel. To me the existence ofI srael is a necessity for Jews to have a future in this world and if it comes to it, a final haven to make our last stand. I am an American first, so I would not willingly emigrate away from the country of my birth, unless those who hate Jews come to power. Contrary to the opinion of many, Jews are far from being a homogeneous ethnicity/religion. One cannot for instance refer to being an Orthodox Jew with any precision of description since that movement is in itself splintered on many details of interpretation. This is true of the other main branches of Judaism: Conservative, Reform, and Reconstructionism. Perhaps it is because there is no central Jewish religious authority speaking for all Jews, as much as organizations like ADL, AIPAC, et. al. would claim to, that the range of Jewish opinion is so wide on so many subjects.
This brings me to an article I read at the PublicEye.org titled: “The New Christian Zionism and the Jews”. Its’ thesis is that many Jewish supporters of Israel and the current Israeli government have allied themselves with Christian Fundamentalists whose “love” for Israel and Jews come from the wish to fulfill the prophecies of The Book of Revelations, where in fact Jews not willing to accept Jesus, will die in a horrid holocaust. This trend has been one disturbing me for a long time. I have watched Jews and Israeli’s embrace Fundamentalist Christian support, in what to me is a shortsighted and irrational policy. This could be justified by saying that a country takes its allies where one can get them. Sometimes what seems an example of realpolitik is merely an instance of dangerously narrow opportunism, as I will elaborate. Continue reading ‘The Christian Zionist Movement and Jewish Confusion’
And Like a Good Neighbor, State Farm is There: Illinois Justice Accused Of Receiving Massive Financial Support From State Farm Before Vote In Favor of Company
Published 1, September 15, 2011 Uncategorized 19 Comments
Illinois Associate Justice Lloyd Karmeier is under fire this week after a petition was filed with the court detailing what is alleged to be previously undisclosed support from State Farm Insurance Company before Karmeier voted in favor of its side in a dispute. Previously, State Farm told the court that it had given $350,000 to Karmeier. Now plaintiffs lawyers, including former Sen. Fred Thompson, allege that he actually received between $2.4 million and $4 million from State Farm sources.
Continue reading ‘And Like a Good Neighbor, State Farm is There: Illinois Justice Accused Of Receiving Massive Financial Support From State Farm Before Vote In Favor of Company’
-Submitted by David Drumm (Nal), Guest Blogger
On November 9, 2011, Justice Antonin Scalia will preside over the reenactment of Texas v. White (1869). The event is part of the Frank C. Jones Reenactment Lecture hosted by the Supreme Court Historical Society.
Each side get 20 minutes to present their case and then Justice Scalia will render his opinion. These reenactments are apparently enjoyed by the Justices who participate.
Pay to Say: Paul Ryan Charges His Constituents to Talk to Him
Published 1, September 10, 2011 Congress , Media , Politics , Uncategorized 37 Comments
Submitted by Elaine Magliaro, Guest Blogger
During the recent Congressional recess, House Budget Chairman Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) decided that he wasn’t going to hold any public face-to-face town meetings with the constituents in his district. Instead, according to Politico, he opted for town hall-style meetings that were strictly “pay-per-view.” And Ryan wasn’t the only
member of Congress who chose to charge people for the privilege of speaking to them.
In a Politico article, Reid Epstein wrote:
By outsourcing the events to third parties that charge an entry fee to raise money, members of Congress can eliminate most of the riffraff while still — in some cases — allowing reporters and TV cameras for a positive local news story.
Evidently, Ryan didn’t want to be confronted at public forums with any protesters or with angry backlash or questions from voters upset with his positions on issues like taxes, Medicare, and Social Security—as he was last spring.
Continue reading ‘Pay to Say: Paul Ryan Charges His Constituents to Talk to Him’
ADA Ugly: Texas Professor Proposes Extending Federal Protection To Unattractive People
Published 1, September 6, 2011 Uncategorized 11 Comments
An opinion piece by University of Texas economics professor Daniel Hamermesh makes a novel argument that, because studies show that “ugly” people are paid less and receive lower benefits, the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) should extend protection to them in the same way of workers protected from discrimination for conventional physical disabilities like blindness. This would lead to a new term “ADA Ugly” to replace “coyote ugly.” Yet, it might be a bit premature to cancel that botox and cosmetic surgery.
Continue reading ‘ADA Ugly: Texas Professor Proposes Extending Federal Protection To Unattractive People’
The Real Tea Party, Not Today’s Tea Party Fakes
Published 1, September 3, 2011 Columns , Congress , Constitutional Law , Environment , Free Speech , Justice , Media , Politics , Society , Uncategorized 62 CommentsSubmitted by: Mike Spindell, guest blogger
Today I came across this fascinating exposition on a facet of American History often overlooked in our educational syllabus. The Boston Tea Party, from which today’s Tea Party takes its’ name, was actually a revolt against the dominance of the largest Multi-national Corporation of its’ time and its’ monopoly of the ubiquitous tea trade. The power of this entity came through its political dominance of the British Monarchy and with its’ compliance and enforcement of this Corporation’s needs. Contrast the actual positions of today’s “Tea Partier’s” with those whose names they usurp. I think you will find this a fascinating video and I will comment after the fold.
Continue reading ‘The Real Tea Party, Not Today’s Tea Party Fakes’
The Best of All Possible Worlds?
Published 1, September 3, 2011 Academics , Columns , Politics , Religion , Society , Uncategorized 22 CommentsSubmitted by: Mike Spindell, guest blogger
I don’t know about you but I’ve had a bad month. I’m not talking about personal issues in my life because those are fine. I’m talking about the awful political and economic situations in this country, and I’m talking about the pain and misery felt by so many in the rest of our world. Each day it seems the news gets more depressing and I glean few hopeful signs from the news indicating that things will soon start to improve. As many here know, I am talking from the perspective of someone saved from the brink of death last year, so in a personal sense I have little complaint.
Taking it away from the deeply personal though, I see a country and a world in apocalyptic turmoil. Not only are we overwhelmed with seeming insoluble problems, but also from my perspective, we are beset with a host of irrational political leaders and those who follow them blindly. Added to the cacophony of these politicians, of all sides may I say, we have religious leaders who have twisted their religion to fit their own emotional needs. We also have CEO’s who will put profit above all other considerations. Finally, we have a general population so absorbed in a cult of celebrity, that civic understanding and action are mere afterthoughts. Is there no hope? Continue reading ‘The Best of All Possible Worlds?’
Submitted by Mark Esposito, Guest Blogger
Well the exodus from Texas and its drought can proceed a little faster and Indianapolis may be a few miles closer now that the rural speed limit in the Lone Star state has been raised to 85 from the pokey 80. In a state where everything is bigger — and now faster — the good ladies and gentlemen of the legislature have seen fit to ignore the high price of gas and the need for highway safety for sake of moving Texans around quicker.
My Embarrassing Secret Belief
Published 1, August 27, 2011 Uncategorized , Politics , Military , Society , Bizarre , Columns , Media , Science 147 CommentsSubmitted by: Mike Spindell, guest blogger
In the years, I’ve spent commenting here at Professor Turley’s blog, I have presented myself as an honest person, sensible and with humane beliefs. Many regulars think of me as sort of a blog “elder statesman” and one who has a rational view of the world. There are of course others, fewer in number I assert, who think me a fool and a knave, which shows you can’t please everyone. Professor Turley himself has expressed fondness related to my tendency to be honest and open about myself personally.
Yet through all of these years here, I have harbored a secret belief that I’ve avoided mentioning for fear that the esteem in which I’m held, will disappear in an avalanche of ridicule and disappointment. I have to admit that to a retired old guy on the wrong side of sixty years, my place here has provided comfort to my self-esteem and certainly the feeling that I can still find things in life to accomplish. To those who haven’t realized the obvious yet from my writings, I have my vanities and indeed my insecurities, so being a guest blogger has stroked those needy aspects of my ego. Since I’ve received much gratification from this, I have been loath to be completely honest about one of my more deeply held beliefs. I came across an article that impels me to break my silence and reveal this belief here and now. While in the eyes of some reading this blog, it might lower their opinion of me and expose me to ridicule, I must finally admit to you my dirty little secret.
Submitted by Gene Howington, Guest Blogger
A recent development in Congress is the creation of the so-called “Super Congress”; a bi-partisan committee tasked with recommending steps to reduce federal budget deficits by at least $1.5 trillion over 10 years. Like most committees, the Super Congress has to submit its recommendations to the rest of Congress for consideration. Unlike most committees, the Super Congress has a loaded back-end provision that will institute automatic military and domestic (read Social Security/Medicare/Medicaid) spending cuts in 2013 that neither side wants will be triggered. This would seem to give the committee some incentives to find viable solutions. But does it really?
Securities and Exchange Commission Accused of Shredding Investigation Documents for Nearly Twenty Years
Published 1, August 21, 2011 Congress , Justice , Politics , Uncategorized 43 Comments
Submitted by Elaine Magliaro, Guest Blogger
Senator Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) has asked the Securities and Exchange Commission to respond to allegations made by a whistleblower that the agency had destroyed files from preliminary investigations of financial firms—including Goldman Sachs, SAC Capital Advisors, Deutsche Bank, AIG, and Bernie Madoff
Investment Securities.
A Bloomberg article reported that Grassley’s request was prompted by a letter that he received from SEC attorney Darcy Flynn claiming that the SEC had “destroyed documents including materials related to Goldman Sachs’ trades of American International Group Inc. (AIG) credit- default swaps in 2009, insider-trading probes of Deutsche Bank AG (DBK), Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. (LEHMQ) and SAC Capital Advisors LP, and investigations of possible financial fraud at Wells Fargo & Co. (WFC) and Bank of America Corp. (BAC) in 2007 and 2008.”
[Do Not] Bring Out Your Dead: Illinois Announces It Can No Longer Pay For Burials
Published 1, August 12, 2011 Uncategorized 33 Comments
As our leaders continue to spend billions in three unpopular wars, our cities and states continue to move closer and closer to a state of nature. This week, the state of Illinois will stop paying to bury the dead. Funeral directors have been sent a letter that they will have to find something to do with indigent dead people.
Continue reading ‘[Do Not] Bring Out Your Dead: Illinois Announces It Can No Longer Pay For Burials’
Submitted by Elaine Magliaro, Guest Blogger
A star danced,
And under that
was I born.
~ William Shakespeare
Continue reading ‘A Star Danced and My Granddaughter Was Born!’
Smart ALEC: The Organization That May Be Helping Corporations Write Legislation for Your State
Published 1, August 5, 2011 Uncategorized 39 CommentsSubmitted by Elaine Magliaro, Guest Blogger
I’ve been gathering information for a couple of weeks for a post about ALEC—the American Legislative Exchange Council—an organization that I had never heard of until earlier this year when I was doing research for some of my previous Turley Blawg posts. I wanted to write up an extensive and cohesive post for you—but I’ll be on my way to the hospital shortly. My daughter is due to deliver my first grandchild—and she wants me with her for the momentous event. I thought I’d provide you with excerpts from a few articles, videos, and links to a number of other articles about ALEC, a behind the scenes organization that helps corporations provide state legislators with model legislation at meetings and conferences that the legislators take back to their states.
Recently, The Nation—in collaboration with the Center for Media and Democracy—did a series of investigative reports and developed a website called ALEC Exposed, which has a wealth of information about ALEC.
From John Nichols’s introduction to the ALEC Exposed reports in The Nation:
Founded in 1973 by Paul Weyrich and other conservative activists frustrated by recent electoral setbacks, ALEC is a critical arm of the right-wing network of policy shops that, with infusions of corporate cash, has evolved to shape American politics. Inspired by Milton Friedman’s call for conservatives to “develop alternatives to existing policies [and] keep them alive and available,” ALEC’s model legislation reflects long-term goals: downsizing government, removing regulations on corporations and making it harder to hold the economically and politically powerful to account. Corporate donors retain veto power over the language, which is developed by the secretive task forces. The task forces cover issues from education to health policy. ALEC’s priorities for the 2011 session included bills to privatize education, break unions, deregulate major industries, pass voter ID laws and more. In states across the country they succeeded, with stacks of new laws signed by GOP governors like Ohio’s John Kasich and Wisconsin’s Scott Walker, both ALEC alums.
Contributed by: Mike Spindell, guest blogger
My wife sent this video to me. It brought me tears and inspiration of hope for life and for humanity.I hope that it moves you as well.
Teacher Who Was Suspended for Writing Critical Comments about Students on Her Blog to Be Reinstated
Published 1, July 28, 2011 Free Speech , Society , Uncategorized 41 CommentsSubmitted by Elaine Magliaro, Guest Blogger
Back in February, Professor Turley wrote a blog post titled Teacher Suspended for Writing Critical Comments on Her Personal Blog. Many people who commented on the post sided with Natalie Munroe, the teacher who had been suspended. I did not. I thought the school administration did the right thing after I read some of the critical comments Munroe made about her students and comments she said she’d like to be able to note on her students’ report cards.
A Wonderland Through the Looking Glass: The Art of Dale Chihuly
Published 1, July 27, 2011 Uncategorized 66 CommentsSubmitted by Elaine Magliaro, Guest Blogger
While Jonathan is off gallivanting around in France for a few weeks, he’s left us guest bloggers to do the majority of postings here at the Turley blog. While I’ve remained stateside, I did have an opportunity earlier today to travel to a beautiful otherworld–one created in the imagination of glass artist Dale Chihuly. Chihuly’s ”Through the Looking Glass” exhibit at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston is breathtaking! Fortunately, I was able to take pictures without a flash. Maybe you’d like to come along on a tour of his glass art exhibit.
Continue reading ‘A Wonderland Through the Looking Glass: The Art of Dale Chihuly’
Rush Limbaugh Runs Hot and Cold on Weather Indices
Published 1, July 23, 2011 Uncategorized 37 Comments
Submitted by Elaine Magliaro, Guest Blogger
Is much of America really in the midst of a brutal heat wave? Nah! It’s really not as hot as you may think—or feel. So says radio talk show host and weather meister Rush Limbaugh. Ignore those news reports warning that the temperatures are soaring into the stratosphere. According to Rush, the mercury isn’t really rising as high
inside thermometers as reports claim.
Here’s what Rush had to say recently about what’s really going on weatherwise:
They’re playing games with us on this heat wave, again. Even Drudge. Drudge getting sucked in here. Going to be 116 in Washington. No, it’s not. It’s gonna be like 100, maybe 99. A heat index, manufactured by the government to tell you what it feels like when you add the humidity in there.
116. When’s the last time the heat index was reported as an actual temperature? It hasn’t been, but it looks like they’re trying to get away with doing that now. 116. Drudge is just linking to other people reporting. He’s not saying it, I don’t want to misunderstand, but he’s linking to stories which say 116 degrees in Washington. No!
It’s going to top out as 102, 103. It does this every year. We have this every year. There’s a heat dome over half the country, midwest is moving east. And it happens every summer. Every summer.
Continue reading ‘Rush Limbaugh Runs Hot and Cold on Weather Indices’
Submitted by Elaine Magliaro, Guest Blogger
Yesterday, a group of “gay barbarians” entered Marcus Bachmann’s Christian counseling center in Minnesota and demanded to be disciplined by Marcus himself.
Free Speech Win For Man Who Allegedly Threatened Obama
Published 1, July 20, 2011 Uncategorized 26 CommentsSubmitted by Gene Howington, Guest Blogger
Two years ago, a district court found Walter Bagdasarian guilty of threatening then-candidate Obama because of the following statements made to a Yahoo.com financial website (warning – racist and coarse language):
“Re: Obama fk the niggar, he will have a 50 cal in his head soon” and “shoot the nig”.
Bagdasarian was convicted under 18 U.S.C. § 879: Threats against former Presidents and certain other persons, which reads in relevant part: “(a) Whoever knowingly and willfully threatens to kill, kidnap, or inflict bodily harm upon; (3) a major candidate for the office of President or Vice President, or a member of the immediate family of such candidate; shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both.” But did what Bagdasarian said constitute a threat or not? A divided panel of the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals didn’t think so and on Tuesday, they overturned his conviction. The majority reasoning is quite convincing as to why Bagdasarian’s comments were protected free speech.
Continue reading ‘Free Speech Win For Man Who Allegedly Threatened Obama’
You have probably seen such videos before, but this remains a thing of beauty.
Continue reading ‘Man and Dog: Nature’s Perfect Duet’
Submitted by Gene Howington, Guest Blogger
How would you feel if you asked your cell phone company for an itemized bill and their response was to tell you that you needed a subpoena? A Pennsylvania woman, Bernice Keebler, can tell you exactly how she felt because that is the response Verizon gave her when she asked for an itemized bill. Bernice Keebler, without the benefit of counsel, decided to take the matter to the courts.
Does the Anti-Abortion Movement Hate Women’s Sexuality?
Published 1, July 16, 2011 Constitutional Law , Politics , Religion , Society , Uncategorized 159 Comments
Submitted by: Mike Spindell, guest blogger
The abortion issue is not solely about a women’s right to choose, it is about the hatred and fear of women’s sexuality. There is a subtext to this movement, shown plainly by the actions of many Anti-Abortion supporters, that goes way beyond the issue of whether abortion is murder. This is not asserting my opinion as to the validity of either side in the Anti-Abortion debate. It is not to stir up a debate for or against abortion. I’ve commented here enough for people to know where I stand on the issue. What has bothered me for a long time on this issue has been whether it is just about being for or against a women’s right to choose? If it is only about the right of choice, then I could at least accept that those who would deny it have sufficient beliefs to justify their actions, without there being another unspoken agenda. Indeed, the original initiator of the anti-abortion issue was the Roman Catholic Church.
Continue reading ‘Does the Anti-Abortion Movement Hate Women’s Sexuality?’
What Makes A Good Law, What Makes A Bad Law?
Published 1, July 16, 2011 Justice , Society , Uncategorized 2,109 CommentsSubmitted by Gene Howington, Guest Blogger
In 1780, John Adams succinctly defined the principle of the Rule of Law in the Massachusetts Constitution by seeking to establish “a government of laws and not of men”. This reflects the democratic principles enshrined in the Constitution’s preamble: “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.” The very foundation of our legal system says that the law should work for us all, not just a select few.
This raises the question of what is a good law that serves the majority of society and what is a bad law that doesn’t serve the majority of society?
Continue reading ‘What Makes A Good Law, What Makes A Bad Law?’
“Go the F**k to Sleep”: Destined to Become a Bestselling Book?
Published 1, July 10, 2011 Uncategorized 60 Comments
Submitted by Elaine Magliaro, Guest Blogger
Several weeks ago, I read some interesting news about a “not yet published” picture book titled Go the F**k to Sleep. The book had begun climbing Amazon’s best-seller list on the strength of preorders that people had placed. According to an article in The New York Times, neither the book’s author Adam Mansbach nor his publisher could account for the “phenomenon.” Galleys of the book had not been distributed. The only people to have seen the work were, purportedly, “a handful of booksellers who received a PDF via e-mail.”
Continue reading ‘“Go the F**k to Sleep”: Destined to Become a Bestselling Book?’
-Submitted by David Drumm (Nal), Guest Blogger
This morning we have The Rolling Stones in glorious STEREO!
How About A Little Something For The Effort Corporate America?
Published 1, July 3, 2011 Uncategorized 25 Comments
Submitted by Lawrence Rafferty, Guest Blogger
No matter which side of the political fence you sit on, it seems undeniable that corporations are reaping large profits at the expense of workers and Americans. In the past, we have discussed the issue of Corporate America paying little or no taxes here on Prof. Turley’s blog. It seems that the corporate “hits” just keep on coming. If you thought that Corporations are sitting on large amounts of cash and not using it to expand jobs or wages here in America, a recent study by Northeastern University just confirmed your hunch. Continue reading ‘How About A Little Something For The Effort Corporate America?’
“Mike Spindell, guest blogger”
Three years ago, the story of missing toddler Cayley Anthony became a media sensation. This was a story with all the elements of human drama. It had a pretty, young mother who appeared to be partying while her cute toddler went missing for 31 days. At the end of the 31 days, after having repeatedly lied to the grandparents about her child’s whereabouts the mother, Casey, admitted to her parents, Cindy and George that she didn’t know where the child was. She told them her mysterious “Nanny”, named “Zanny” had purportedly fled with the child for parts unknown. The Police were called and a media circus began.
The devoted Grandparents went on TV pleading for information about their missing child and setting up their own search “headquarters”. The daughters’ interviews with Police became increasingly bizarre as she lied incessantly about what had happened and even took them to her workplace, where after a period she admitted hadn’t worked there for two years. Phone pictures and videos surfaced of her inappropriately partying during the 31 days her child was missing. Photo’s and home videos of this cute child incessantly appeared on the TV in the vain hope that someone would recognize her. It was “the stuff that dreams are made of” for media people hawking their product. After months of searching and continual reportage the decomposed skeleton of the child was found in a wood, down the block from the Anthony’s home. Police had already arrested the mother, first for lying to them, obstruction of justice, Neglect. She made bail was arrested again on bad check charges, bailed and finally arrested for Felony Murder in October 2008. Check here for all the summary details without the emotion: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_Caylee_Anthony .
The “Departed” Returns to Boston: A Sordid Tale of Mobster Whitey Bulger & the FBI
Published 1, June 26, 2011 Criminal law , Justice , Uncategorized 23 Comments
Submitted by Elaine Magliaro, Guest Blogger
I’ve lived in the Boston area all my life. I, therefore, have read a lot of news stories about the Bulger brothers—Billy, a once powerful politician, and Whitey, the
fugitive mobster who had been “evading” capture by the FBI since 1995. Both my husband and I were astonished when we heard the news that Whitey Bulger had finally been arrested by the FBI in Santa Monica, California, a few days ago. We have doubted for a long time that the FBI seriously wanted to find Whitey. After all, agents at the Bureau had once looked the other way when the mob boss committed serious crimes–including murder–while he was serving as an informant for them.
Martha Stewart Exploding: Stewart Sued Over Exploding Patio Table
Published 1, June 23, 2011 Uncategorized 23 Comments
Martha Stewart’s line of glass top patio table are attractive, tasteful, and apparently explosive. In Colorado, Nancy Passarella and her family were celebrating Father’s Day when they say that the table suddenly exploded — sending glass flying everywhere.
Continue reading ‘Martha Stewart Exploding: Stewart Sued Over Exploding Patio Table’
We’ll Search For You When Its Cooler: Texas Manhunt Called Off Due To Heat
Published 1, June 17, 2011 Bizarre , Criminal law , Uncategorized 144 Comments
Residents in Houston are a bit concerned when Harris County police decided to call off a manhunt of an escaped prisoner because of the heat. The man was arrested for possession and suspected of robbery. However, he was able to get out of his handcuffs during transport and escaped. The police started the manhunt but then called it off because it was just to darn hot.
Continue reading ‘We’ll Search For You When Its Cooler: Texas Manhunt Called Off Due To Heat’
Chinese Butcher Sentenced For Using Industrial Nitrates in Meat — And Killing At Least One Customer
Published 1, June 13, 2011 Uncategorized 7 Comments
China has released the details of the latest food scandal case. Gao Yanjun wanted his meat to look fresh when it wasn’t so he added industrial nitrate used in fertilizer. It produced better color and texture . . . and at least one death. The pig intestine meat cost only 5 yuan or 75 cents and, of course, your life.
Continue reading ‘Chinese Butcher Sentenced For Using Industrial Nitrates in Meat — And Killing At Least One Customer’
Maternal In-Stink: Woman Steals Foul Ball from Little Girl
Published 1, June 11, 2011 Bizarre , Society , Things That Tick Me Off , Uncategorized 11 CommentsSubmitted by Mark Esposito, Guest Blogger
Here's How A Real Adult Handles a Foul Ball
All’s fair in love, war, and now baseball. As the video below shows, notions like being kind to children at ball games is now passe.’ Gone are the days when the fan would be happy with making a great catch of a foul ball and then flipping the ball to a starry-eyed kid to make his day. Nope, here the unidentified sweetie grabs the ball from the little girl’s hand and then celebrates her big win over an apparent six-year-old. Brava!
The crowd wasn’t so impressed. They booed for five minutes.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6locBvdMJtw&feature=player_embedded
Source: SF Gate
~Mark Esposito, Guest Blogger
Report: Libya To Cost $750 Million in 2011
Published 1, June 10, 2011 International , Military , Politics , Uncategorized 32 CommentsWhile Congress and the White House are rolling back on environmental protections and social programs, it will spend an estimated $750 million in 2011 on Libya.
Continue reading ‘Report: Libya To Cost $750 Million in 2011′
English Man Sentenced For Hanging Ham Around Mosque and Stuffing Shoes of Muslims with Ham
Published 1, June 8, 2011 Uncategorized 13 Comments
My any measure, Jamie Knowlson, 30, is a thoroughly horrible person. Knowlson has been arrested for entering a mosque and draping hand railings with ham and stuffing ham into the shoes of people praying. He was caught on CCTV hurling insults at the Muslims when they confronted him over such a hateful act.
Continue reading ‘English Man Sentenced For Hanging Ham Around Mosque and Stuffing Shoes of Muslims with Ham’
The Bells Are Ringing: Sarah Palin and the Revised Story of Paul Revere’s Ride
Published 1, June 4, 2011 Media , Politics , Uncategorized 831 Comments
Submitted by Elaine Magliaro, Guest Blogger
I’m sure most Americans are aware that former Alaska governor Sarah Palin has been on a bus tour along the east coast of the United States. What is the purpose of her tour?
Only Palin knows for sure. She did, however, provide people with her reason for taking this tour of historical places on her Sarah PAC website.
It’s interesting when (for the 100th time) reporters shout out, “Why are you traveling to historical sites? What are you trying to accomplish?” I repeat my answer, “It’s so important for Americans to learn about our past so we can clearly see our way forward in challenging times; so, we’re bringing attention to our great nation’s foundation.” When that answer isn’t what the reporters want to hear, we’ve asked them if they’ve ever visited these sites like the National Archives, Gettysburg, etc. When they confirm that they haven’t, it’s good to say, “Well, there you go. You’ll learn a lot about America today.” (They usually don’t want to hear that either!)
Continue reading ‘The Bells Are Ringing: Sarah Palin and the Revised Story of Paul Revere’s Ride’
Things were going so well until he tried to climb on his car . . .
Continue reading ‘How Not To Pass A Sobriety Test’
Did the “Deviant” Behavior of the 1960s & 1970s in the US Lead to an Increase in Catholic Clergy Sex Abuse of Children?
Published 1, May 29, 2011 Religion , Society , Uncategorized 54 Comments
Submitted by Elaine Magliaro, Guest Blogger
Recently, the findings of a controversial five-year study into the sexual abuse crisis in the Catholic Church were released. The study, commissioned by the nation’s Roman Catholic bishops, was conducted by researchers at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice at the City University of New York. The study concluded that homosexual priests were no more likely to be abusers than heterosexual priests. It also found that celibacy was not to blame for the sexual abuse of children. Authors of the study wrote: “The most significant conclusion drawn from this data is that no single psychological, developmental, or behavioral characteristic differentiated priests who abused minors from those who did not.’’
Karen Terry, PhD., John Jay’s principal investigator for the report, claimed that the bulk of the cases occurred decades ago. Terry said: “The increased frequency of abuse in the 1960s and 1970s was consistent with the patterns of increased deviance of society during that time.” She added that “social influences intersected with vulnerabilities of individual priests whose preparation for a life of celibacy was inadequate at that time.” The poor training of priests combined with social isolation, job stress, and few support systems were also said to have been contributing factors to clergy sex abuse of children.
Submitted by Mark Esposito, Guest Blogger
In an advertisement on Craig’s List sure to test the boundaries of commercial free speech, a rural property owner has offered a house for sale or rent. Nothing unusual there. What makes it interesting is that the North Bend Washington property is touted for its marijuana growing propensities: ”Green house is set up for specially growing Marijuana growing, flowers, veggies,” the ad read. “With the legal 45 plants at a time, you can easily grow over $125,000 in crop per summer and take the winters off or grow indoors during the winter.”
Continue reading ’4 Bedrooms, 3.5 Baths … Marijuana Greenhouse’
Don’t We Owe our Military Women the Same Protections as the Men?
Published 1, May 28, 2011 Uncategorized 37 Comments
Respectfully submitted by Lawrence Rafferty,(rafflaw), Guest Blogger
In the past we have discussed the ongoing war on Women that is being waged by the Right, but this latest example is a tough one to swallow. When military women are raped while in the service, it turns out that military health insurance does not cover abortions, even when the servicewoman has been raped. I discovered this sad fact when I was reading the ACLU Blog. Jessica Kenyon joined the Army in 2005 and while on duty she was raped by a fellow member of the Army and made the mistake of not reporting it. Continue reading ‘Don’t We Owe our Military Women the Same Protections as the Men?’
Notice: Interruption of Service This Weekend For The End of Times
Published 1, May 20, 2011 Uncategorized 115 Comments
As many people are aware, the world will end on May 21, 2011 which is likely to cause an interruption in service on the Turley blog. Fortunately, your host will be going to his annual weekend at Shrine Mont with other families. I expect our weekend bloggers to remain at their posts through the rapture while I await the rapture on a mountain top in Virginia in a pure and sanctified state. I remind everyone that during the end of the world we will maintain the policy of civility and decorum on the blog. Profanity and uncontrolled screaming are strongly discouraged. There is also a chance that anonymity will be lost in the post-rapture judgment on any trolls.
Continue reading ‘Notice: Interruption of Service This Weekend For The End of Times’
Submitted by Elaine Magliaro, Guest Blogger
Nearly three decades ago—when my daughter Sara was just three years old—I received a Mother’s Day gift that I will never forget. It wasn’t a piece of expensive jewelry, a gift certificate to a designer boutique, or a weekend at a beauty spa. No…it was a nondescript ceramic mug selected by my young daughter when her “daddy” took her shopping to buy me something special for that special Sunday.
Torture is still Torture, and it is Still Illegal.
Published 1, May 7, 2011 Uncategorized 96 Comments
Submitted by Lawrence Rafferty,(rafflaw), Guest Blogger
This entire week the torture enthusiasts have been back on all of the news channels exclaiming their happiness that their “enhanced interrogation techniques” worked. Of course, they are talking about waterboarding and other methods of torture. Why are Michael Mukasey, John Yoo and other members of the George W. Bush administration once again declaring that torture is good policy and that it was successful in helping to get Osama Bin Laden? Continue reading ‘Torture is still Torture, and it is Still Illegal.’
-Submitted by David Drumm (Nal), Guest Blogger
If you were disappointed that the Beatles box set had I’ll Get You in mono, we present, for your extra dimensional listening enjoyment, The Beatles in glorious STEREO!
Law Student Takes Parents To Court To Force Them To Resume Paying His Allowance
Published 1, April 28, 2011 Academics , Environment , Uncategorized 17 Comments
Having just given my final torts exam last night, this story caught my eye. In Madrid, a 25-year-old Spanish man from Andalusia sued his parents after they stopped giving him allowance money and demanded the resumption of $588 a month.
Continue reading ‘Law Student Takes Parents To Court To Force Them To Resume Paying His Allowance’
By Mike Appleton (Guest Blogger)
In 1773 the British East India Company was broke. In an effort to prevent bankruptcy, and the resulting loss of the crown’s investment, the British government eliminated all taxes on domestic tea sales and granted the company a monopoly on tea shipments to the American colonies. In December of that year radicals boarded ships in Boston harbor and threw $75,000.00 worth of tea overboard. The first Tea Party was a violent reaction to monopolistic economic power protected by government.
Continue reading ‘Why the Tea Party is Dangerous’
Let America Be America Again!: The Politician and The Poet—Rick Santorum vs. Langston Hughes
Published 1, April 16, 2011 Politics , Uncategorized 27 Comments
Submitted by Elaine Magliaro, Guest Blogger
Poets know how to say things best–and the best poets know how to pack a punch with their words, which are often quoted. As Samuel Taylor Coleridge once said: “I wish our clever young poets would remember my homely definitions of
prose and poetry; that is, prose,—words in their best order; poetry,—the best words in their best order.”
When speaking, politicians don’t always use the best words. They tend toward uttering their “talking points” and “staying on message.” They are often caught off guard when someone asks them an unexpected question that they aren’t prepared to answer. Rick Santorum found himself in an awkward position recently. Santorum was speaking at an “ECON-101″ Town Hall meeting-style event Thursday sponsored by the Center for Civic Engagement at New England College in New Hampshire when he was tripped up by a student who asked him if he knew that his campaign slogan “Fighting to make America America again,” was borrowed from the “pro-union poem by the gay poet Langston Hughes.”
California Judge Arrested For Alleged Domestic Abuse
Published 1, April 12, 2011 Uncategorized 7 Comments
Solano County Superior Court Judge Robert S. Bowers was arrested yesterday in Vallejo on suspicion of domestic violence — a charge that he denies. The Vallejo Police Department said that his wife has a minor but visible injury to support her claim.
Continue reading ‘California Judge Arrested For Alleged Domestic Abuse’
Fracking USA: A Post about the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, Governor Tom Corbett, C. Alan Walker, the Marcellus Shale, Polluted Drinking Water, and the Movie Gasland
Published 1, April 10, 2011 Environment , Uncategorized 125 Comments
Submitted by Elaine Magliaro, Guest Blogger
Republican governors in Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, New Jersey, and Florida have been getting a lot of media and press attention lately because of their proposals for drastic budget cuts, big tax breaks for corporations, or for their attacks on public sector workers and their unions. One newly elected Republic governor who has remained pretty much under the radar is Tom Corbett of Pennsylvania. A few weeks ago, a story about Corbett at ProPublica caught my attention. I thought it was a story worth investigating.
Last December, Governor Corbett announced his very first political appointee—a man named C. Alan Walker. Walker, an energy executive, was chosen to head the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development. What’s particularly interesting about this appointment is that Corbett also gave Walker supreme authority over environmental permitting in the state of Pennsylvania.
FED UP!: A Post about Ben Bernanke, Senator Bernie Sanders, and the Bailout…with a Song Parody
Published 1, April 9, 2011 Uncategorized 66 Comments
Submitted by Elaine Magliaro, Guest Blogger
Fed Lifts Veil of Secrecy (December 1, 2010)
“Almost two years ago I asked Chairman Bernanke to tell the American people which financial institutions and 
corporations received trillions of dollars as part of the Wall Street bailout. He refused. Today, as a result of an audit-the-Fed provision I put into the financial reform bill, we finally learn the truth – and it is astounding.”
— Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), author of Fed disclosure provision
Lifting the Veil of Fed Secrecy
Boehner Hoax? Sites Claim Boehner Stated American Kids Too “Poor and Lazy” To Protest
Published 1, April 5, 2011 Uncategorized 69 Comments
Speaker of the House John Boehner is being widely quoted as explaining that the United States does not have to fear protests by citizens for better government because many are too “poor and lazy” to act. This seems pretty unbelievable and a likely hoax. If so, it is a remarkably vicious act.
Muslims Protest Burning of Quran By Florida Preacher By Killing 20 People
Published 1, April 4, 2011 Uncategorized 114 Comments
Qur'an (Koran)
Continue reading ‘Muslims Protest Burning of Quran By Florida Preacher By Killing 20 People’
Adoption Nightmare for Guatemalan Mother
Published 1, April 3, 2011 Constitutional Law , Courts , International , Justice , Lawyering , Society , Uncategorized 19 Comments
Submitted by Lawrence Rafferty, (rafflaw), Guest Blogger
A couple of months ago, my daughter recommended that I take a look at an adoption case that was just ruled on by the Missouri Supreme Court. I did not have a chance to look at in-depth until recently and it is both interesting and heart wrenching. It involves a Guatemalan immigrant mother whose baby was born in the United States while she was in the country illegally and the baby was adopted while the mother was in prison. Thankfully, the Missouri Supreme court ordered a new adoption hearing which could still be another hurdle for the biological mother, but she now has a chance at regaining custody of her son. Missouri Supreme Court Continue reading ‘Adoption Nightmare for Guatemalan Mother’
Taking the Bite Out of Crime: Oregon Court Rules Teeth Are Not Dangerous Weapons
Published 1, March 28, 2011 Uncategorized 8 Comments
There is an interesting ruling out of Oregon where the Court of Appeals ruled that teeth cannot be treated as a dangerous weapon for the purposes of establishing a basis for first-degree assault conviction of Scott Russell Kuperus II. It is a clear case of prosecutorial over-charging and a trial judge who failed in protecting against such abusive claims.
Continue reading ‘Taking the Bite Out of Crime: Oregon Court Rules Teeth Are Not Dangerous Weapons’
A Sunday Jack & Rudy Post…Including a Guilty Dog Video
Published 1, March 27, 2011 Animals , Uncategorized 21 Comments 
Submitted by Elaine Magliaro, Guest Blogger
Rudy: Hey, Jack, did you hear about that naughty dog named Denver who ate a whole bag of cat treats while his owner was out of the house? Well, his owner figured out who the culprit was and gave him a timeout in the kennel. Maybe Mom and Dad should do the same thing to you when you empty my food dish!
Jack: Aw…you don’t mean that, do you, buddy? We Labs are active dogs. We need continual sustenance so we can maintain our high energy level.
Rudy: Energy smenergy! I’d like you to stay the heck away from my cat food!
Jack: Rudy, little bro, I may feed from your food dish—but I’d NEVER eat a whole bag of your kitty treats! Trust me.
Continue reading ‘A Sunday Jack & Rudy Post…Including a Guilty Dog Video’
Submitted By Lawrence Rafferty, (rafflaw), Guest Blogger
When someone mentions the United States Chamber of Commerce to me, I automatically think of the recent claims that were made that the Chamber solicited campaign donations from foreign corporations during the last election cycle. “A ThinkProgress investigation has found that the Chamber funds its political attack campaign out of its general account, which solicits foreign funding. And while the Chamber will likely assert it has internal controls, foreign money is fungible, permitting the Chamber to run its unprecedented attack campaign. According to legal experts consulted by ThinkProgress, the Chamber is likely skirting longstanding campaign finance law that bans the involvement of foreign corporations in American elections.” Think Progress While that may be an atrocious and possibly illegal funding of domestic elections with foreign money, I am not currently interested in that “activity” of our friends at the Chamber of Commerce. Something else caught my eye! Continue reading ‘The United Chamber of Hacking?’
Venezuela’s President Hugo Chavez appears to have run out of Earth-based disasters to blame on capitalism. Chavez’s latest unhinged rant concerns Mars, which he has suggested had a thriving civilization that was wiped out by Martian capitalists.
Continue reading ‘Hugo Chavez Takes On Martian Capitalists’
A Jack & Rudy Post: Dog Gone Wild on Saint Patty’s Day!
Published 1, March 20, 2011 Animals , Uncategorized 16 CommentsSubmitted by Elaine Magliaro, Guest Blogger
Here’s a picture of my older brother Jack Murphy. It was taken on Saint Patrick’s Day.
Jack is a real party animal. He especially likes to party hearty on the day in March when we commemorate the patron saint of the Emerald Isle. My older sibling likes to dress in green, don his shamrock shades, and go wild! And I mean—WILD!
Continue reading ‘A Jack & Rudy Post: Dog Gone Wild on Saint Patty’s Day!’
Let Them Eat…iPads!: William Dudley Antoinette Visits Queens
Published 1, March 19, 2011 Uncategorized 16 Comments
Submitted by Elaine Magliaro, Guest Blogger
William Dudley, the President of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, recen
tly visited Queens where he got a “street-corner” education on the cost of living. Evidently, the Federal Reserve has been trying to sell its monetary policy to average folks—who aren’t exactly buying into to its talking points.
Dudley, a former chief economist for Goldman Sachs, gave a speech in Queens in which he spoke about the economy’s progress and the Fed’s successes. When the question and answer period rolled around, people in the audience wanted to know why the prices for food and gas were rising. As noted in a Wall Street Journal article—“the Fed doesn’t think food and gas prices matter to its policy calculations because they aren’t part of “core” inflation.”
Continue reading ‘Let Them Eat…iPads!: William Dudley Antoinette Visits Queens’
8.9 Earthquake Hits Japan Followed by Tsunami — U.S. Cities Issued Tsunami Warning
Published 1, March 11, 2011 Uncategorized 24 Comments
Japan was hit today with its most powerful earthquake in 100 years — followed by a series of aftershocks and a massive tsunami. (Here is a video)
Continue reading ’8.9 Earthquake Hits Japan Followed by Tsunami — U.S. Cities Issued Tsunami Warning’
Birkhead Threatens Legal Action Against Anna Nicole Smith Opera
Published 1, February 21, 2011 International , Media , Society , Torts , Uncategorized 9 Comments
Larry Birkhead, the father of Anna Nicole Smith’s only surviving child Dannielynn (and therefore the heir to her large estate), is threatening legal action against the Royal Opera House over its opera “Anna Nicole.” Birkhead is insisting that the portrayal of Smith is not flattering or respectful — leading to some interesting questions of how (even if Anna Nicole were living) such an opera would defame a former stripper and reality television star who courted controversy in her life.
Continue reading ‘Birkhead Threatens Legal Action Against Anna Nicole Smith Opera’
Scott Walker: A Fiscally Responsible Governor or a Politician Who Is Playing Favorites?
Published 1, February 20, 2011 Uncategorized 595 Comments
Submitted by Elaine Magliaro, Guest Blogger
There’s been a lot going on in Wisconsin in the past week. I hope most Americans are aware of the reason why so many Wisconsinites have converged on the state capital to hold demonstrations.
Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, a Republican, claims that the state is in financial trouble. He’s asking teachers, plow drivers, janitors, nurses, garbage collectors, and other public sector workers to contribute more to their pensions and to pay a larger amount of their health premiums. It appears many of those workers are willing to negotiate with the governor and to consider having more money taken out of their paychecks for their pensions and health insurance. What those employees are not willing to do is relinquish their right to collective bargaining.
Chicago Woman Accused of Fatally Hitting Man After Driving While Updating Her Facebook Account
Published 1, February 18, 2011 Uncategorized 24 Comments
A wrongful death lawsuit in Chicago has alleged another case of distracted driving . . . this time involving a driver, Araceli Beas, who is accused of updating her Facebook account on her cellphone just before she hit and killed pedestrian Raymond Veloz.
Continue reading ‘Chicago Woman Accused of Fatally Hitting Man After Driving While Updating Her Facebook Account’
Former Prosecutor Required To Register As Sex Offender
Published 1, February 16, 2011 Bizarre , Criminal law , Uncategorized 7 Comments
Former Franklin County District Attorney John Pilati has added another ignoble precedent to his record. Pilati has just completed a sentence for civil rights violations involving prisoners. Since these allegations include fondling men as they provided urinary drug tests, he must now register as a sex offender according to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit in the decision below.
Continue reading ‘Former Prosecutor Required To Register As Sex Offender’
Fouling the Green: Tiger Woods Fined For Spitting
Published 1, February 14, 2011 Uncategorized 16 Comments
I was struck this morning by a quote from Ewen Murray, a commentator for Britain’s Sky Sports, that he saw Tiger Woods commit “one of the ugliest things you will ever see on a golf course.” While I do not golf, I had to find out what transgression Woods committed with images of those past call girls dancing in my imagination. It turns out that it was not some Splendor in the Grass but spitting. Woods has been charged and fined for spitting on the green at the Dubai Desert Classic.
Continue reading ‘Fouling the Green: Tiger Woods Fined For Spitting’
Congressman Dennis Kucinich Requests Visit with Bradley Manning
Published 1, February 6, 2011 Uncategorized 41 Comments
Submitted by Elaine Magliaro, Guest Blogger
Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH), a member of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, has made a request to see Bradley Manning, the soldier who is suspected of leaking classified documents to Julian Assange and Wikileaks. In a 
letter that he recently sent to Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, Kucinich voiced his concerns about the army’s treatment of Manning and the effects of solitary confinement on prisoners. Kucinich requested a visit with the soldier at the Marine Corps base in Quantico, Virginia.
Continue reading ‘Congressman Dennis Kucinich Requests Visit with Bradley Manning’
Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell…DON’T Pay!: On Dan Choi, Gays, and the Military
Published 1, February 5, 2011 Justice , Military , Uncategorized 35 CommentsSubmitted by Elaine Magliaro, Guest Blogger
Since the implementation of the U. S. Military’s Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy in 1993, more than 14,000 gay and lesbian soldiers have been discharged from service. According to the GAO, of those discharged, more than 750 were mission-critical service members and more than 320 had skills in Arabic, Farsi, and Korean languages. Yet, while
gays and lesbians with special knowledge and skills were being discharged from the military, the army increased its number of waivers for recruits. According to a 2007 article in the New York Times, military waivers increased 65% from 2003 to 2006. During those years, the Army accepted more applicants who were high school dropouts and applicants who obtained low scores on aptitude tests. The Army also increased its number of “moral waivers” for individuals with criminal pasts. The “sharpest increase” in waivers was for applicants who were guilty of serious misdemeanors—including burglary, robbery, vehicular homicide, and aggravated assault.
Continue reading ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell…DON’T Pay!: On Dan Choi, Gays, and the Military’
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