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Wednesday, Nov 30, 2005
Darwin's Armadillo
Newsweek has an article about Darwin. It's pretty breezy, as one would expect in a news-lite environment. But it was a good read. One interesting bit of trivia: Darwin enjoyed armadillo roasted in its own shell.
Mmmm ... roasted 'dillo.
Torture, What Torture?
Amy Goodman had an excellent program this morning. She had two segments about the role of torture in the criminal justice system.
One segment was an interview with a Canadian, William Sampson, falsely accused of car bombing some Brits. Sampson was convicted and sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia based on a confession extracted under torture. He and eight westerners similary charged were released in a hostage swap deal with Saudi citizens that were held in Gitmo.
The interview was vivid, credible and horrifying. Sampson, understandably, has become passionate about the cause of human rights
The other segment was about an American convicted in Virginia based on a confession extracted under torture. Abu Ali was tortured while under arrest in Saudi Arabia. His statements made while in Saudi custody were considered admissible in U.S. federal court.
So there we have it. The U.S. government believes torture is an appropriate tool during deposition.
I have no opinion of Ali's participation in the alleged conspiracy. I do have an opinion of the use of foreign torture in the criminal justice system. The fourth, fifth, sixth and eighth amendments each provide a clear basis for rejecting this brave new policy.
But perhaps we need a new amendment just to be crystal clear:
In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to be free from torture or coercion.
Cut & Paste Design
Adam Felber weighs in on a weighty question of our times.
Long way to go ...
for a dirty pun.
Dances with Trolls
For those who enjoy watching me struggle to break logic and facts into tiny little bite-sized pieces for people accustomed to a non-reality-based diet, you might enjoy this exchange.
3.14159265359
I'm basking in the satisfaction of having completed a quartet of apple pies. From scratch, as usual. This is a satisfaction that certain people will never know.
Technology WatchTM
ADHDTV
Turkey
I walked into the kitchen at work while the potluck was being set up. Folks were wondering out loud who would carve the turkey. Actually, turkeys. So I volunteered.
I still hadn't gotten through an avalanche of email this morning, but I couldn't let the turkeys just sit there when I've got the mad skillz.
"Carving the turkey" is a misnomer. Sure, there's some carving of the breast meat, but mostly it's "disassembly of the turkey." I tried to be dainty at first, using a not-sharp-enough knife, a little plastic fork, and a pair of tongs. But as I got to the dark meat of the first turkey, I was up to my elbows in turkey juice. Ain't no way to get that back meat without getting in there with your hands.
The meal is done. My mail box is still calling me. My hands, despite a couple washings, still smell of roasted turkey. And I feel like taking a nice snooze.
Missing Elements of Debate
Via TPM, E.J. Dionne mentions the electioneering that went into the blank check authorization to invade Iraq.
Monday, Nov 14, 2005
Jarhead
Just saw Jarhead. I'm interested in finding out how it parallels a buddy's experience. He also served as a sniper in the Marines. And he deployed for Gulf War 1.
There was just a bit of politics in the flick, when one Marine groused that Saddam got his weapons from the US. I hope this line causes more than a few Republicans to check out the history behind this statement of fact.
Anti-jingo-mentarianism
Linse's Law
George W. Bush: The Whining Coward Tour
Bush is a coward. He won't take responsibility for his own decisions, preferring to blame others for his mistakes. He won't face criticism for those decisinons, preferring to hide behind human shields.
This cowardice is encapsulated in this one phrase ...
More disgusting than the shirking is hiding behind human shields. Bush tries to deflect criticism of his lies and his incompetence to the troops. Let's be very clear, Bush and his adminsistration lied us into war with Iraq, and conducted the war incompetently based on their fantasies of how the invasion of Iraq would turn out. This criticism is not a reflection on the troops, and any attempt to cast it in that light is cowardice. This criticism is based on demonstrable fact, and is not based on a cynical attempt to change history. Bush is afraid of the truth, because he's a coward.
Another Unpatriotic Wingnut
Date: Fri, 11 Nov 2005 18:40:13 -0800 To: oreilly@foxnews.com From: mark@xxxxxxx.xxx Subject: Bombing San Francisco Bill, You say you think SF is unworthy of protection. You think it's okay for al Qaeda to bomb Coit Tower. Perhaps it's okay with you if they go big and take out the Golden Gate Bridge. Are you an idiot or a traitor? By the way, please don't visit California. We have more than enough nut jobs here already, and don't need the likes of you. Asshole. -Mark
transcript
Update: Terrorist Sympathizer
Friday, Nov 11, 2005
Lame Duck in Chief
Bush's speech so pissed me off that I wanted to immediately write a retort. Atrios covered one of my main issues, so I'll let it be for now.
Putting the "Special" in Special Election
As of this reporting, "fuck no" out in front. Updates here.
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State Ballot Measures 60.3% ( 10649 of 17657 ) precincts reporting as of Nov 8, 2005 at 11:23 pm
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