Wrong #1: Alabama wants to castrate sex offenders Wrong #2: But they think it would be unconstitutional. So they probably will drop the proposal. However, if they examine the current constitutiona sterilization doctrine (I can't believe we even have that), they'll find they probably could craft a constitutional policy (assuming the Supreme Court doesn't overturn the relevant … [Read more...] about Two Wrongs Make a Right

TMV will be going on the road 7/27 - 8/8. During this time he will (as usual) post using his trusty laptop. On Wednesday and Thursday TMV will be travelling and also somewhat out of pocket. But he WILL post. And our co-bloggers may be doing a bit more than usual. Our posts today may be erratic (versus erotic) but we will be posting today. Our Around The Sphere will likely … [Read more...] about NOTE TO READERS: Weird Posting (Weirder Than Normal)

Has a new twist has emerged in the nomination of John Roberts as Supreme Court Justice? Does it mean there storm clouds on Robert's confirmation horizon? Or maybe a tiny cloud or two? Is this the kind of issue that (a)the vast majority of Americans will care about, (b)will derail his so-far-so-good prospects to sail through confirmation? YOU decide (although we may try to sway … [Read more...] about Does This Pass The “Who Cares? So What” Test?

This story is huge, and it's quite incredible that the media, at least on this side of the pond, have largely ignored it: According to British Defence Secretary John Reid, British forces will be withdrawn from Iraq over the next 12 months. There are currently only 8,500 British troops in Iraq, mostly in the more peaceful south, but Britain is clearly the #2 allied presence … [Read more...] about The coalition of the (no-longer-)willing?

The conventional (media) wisdom continues to shift and solidify on New York Senator Hillary Clinton — that she's continuing an adept and systematic campaign to foster ties with the political center: New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton is cementing her ties to moderate voters, reaching out to centrists that some of her backers argue Clinton never really abandoned. … [Read more...] about Hillary Clinton Continues Her Wedding To The Center

It's obviously too little too late, but Bill Clinton has apologized for not doing enough to stop the genocide in Rwanda. But at least his heart's in the right place and he's now working to alleviate the scourge of AIDS in Africa. Let's just hope we don't have to wait a decade for a Hotel Darfur or a Hotel Bukavu to show us what we could have stopped. … [Read more...] about Clinton and Rwanda

The suicide bombings in London and Egypt this week aren't quite a wake up call to U.S. police officials, who always feared it could happen here. It's someone shaking them and pulling them out of bed: Inside a former Starbucks warehouse, this city's bomb squad headquarters, the police chief and 15 captains and sergeants - accompanied by a robot that can extract explosives from … [Read more...] about U.S. Police Prepare For Suicide Bombings Here

...at Jeff Jarvis' newly redesigned site The Buzz Machine. If you haven't read Jarvis already, you should. With his extensive high-level experience in media writing and management (plus being the creator of People Magazine), Jarvis has a particularly fascinating viewpoint and often takes a long-view of events. But that's not to say that he can't give you a quite decisive take … [Read more...] about Take A Peek…..

Despite the best efforts of the French rail system to deter me (with a 6 hour train ride that was supposed to have lasted less than 3 hours), I have posted my first impressions along with some photos and a brief movie from the final stage of the Tour de France today, at my weblog, Random Fate. I hope to post more impressions of the race and the day surrounding it later, after … [Read more...] about Letters from Europe: Lance Armstrong wins Tour de France number 7

A word of caution. This is for adults only. I recently found a curious story in Der Spiegel, Germany's leading newsmagazine. It has to do with a young Norwegian couple that has taken a new approach, shall we say, to environmentalism, specifically to saving the rainforests. For more on this, see my full post at The Reaction. I link there to this young Norwegian couple's … [Read more...] about Norwegian wood: Eco-porn to save the rainforests

If you got a weird sense of deja vu reading about the London terrorist attacks and the carnage in Egypt it probably was not your imagination: experts also think the seemingly coordinated nature of these attacks indicate Al Qauda is very much in control:The back-to-back nature of the deadly attacks in Egypt and London, as well as similarities in the methods used, suggests that … [Read more...] about Terrorist Attacks Coordinated By You-Know-Who?

If Supreme Court nominee John Roberts was a submitted movie script, he'd be in production by now. And if he opens his mailbox on Monday, it'll probably be crammed with Valentines.... Every day a new tidbit comes in where he wins praise from quarters where you'd either least expect it or expect a cautious sounding statement. This time highly enthusiastic praise — coupled … [Read more...] about John Roberts Continues To Wow ‘Em

No where can you see the dilemmas facing government officials and security officials in the ongoing war against terror clearer than in London where police have apologized for the tragic killing an innocent Brazilian man suspected of being a suicide bomber — but underlined the fact that suspected suicide bombers will be shot in the head. "There is no point in shooting … [Read more...] about British Police: Sorry But Policy Is Shots To Head

Who else would award poor execution, incompetent quality control and substandard practices in medical care with more money than your friend and ours, the governement?In Medicare's upside-down reimbursement system, hospitals and doctors who order unnecessary tests, provide poor care or even injure patients often receive higher payments than those who provide efficient, … [Read more...] about Bad Hospital Practices=More $

In recent years the start of a new televisions season has become more of a time of dread than eagerly anticipate. So few new series really catch on, so many seem cookie-cutter-hack jobs, and so few seem to take dramatic or comedic standards to new levels. But now, heading into this new season, there is a series out there that is generating a ton of great buzz — … [Read more...] about Chris Rock’s TV Pilot Reportedly Rocks

Sometimes, the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) misses the larger point in their quest to preserve fundamental liberties. While their goal is noble, on occasion they are misguided. --- For additional information on the difficulties involved in this balance, see this recent article at The Christian Science Monitor. … [Read more...] about A difficult balance: Civil Liberties and Safety

A controversy is brewing in Great Britain where a man shot by police as a terrorist bombing suspect is now said to have nothing to do with the bombings. The BBC reports:A man shot dead by police hunting the bombers behind Thursday's London attacks was unconnected to the incidents, police have confirmed. A Scotland Yard statement said the shooting was a "tragedy" which was … [Read more...] about Man Shot By Police In London Not Connected To Bombings

This is from reader Jae Grenier of San Angeleo, Texas:If I knew how to post this on your blog, if that's what it's called, I would. Unfortunately, I am a little old lady in ballet flats, who barely manages to find your "moderate voice." However . . . I really do wish you (not to mention everyone else) would stop saying "claims responsibility" or "claims credit" for the … [Read more...] about GUEST VOICE: Reader Says Cut Sugar-Coated Phrases On Terrorism

The bombings of the Tube in London have sparked a tightening of security measures on several mass transit systems in U.S. cities — including random searches of passengers travelling on the New York subways. Ever since 911 (and earlier) experts have warned that the U.S. transportation system was a security Achilles' heel. And since the July 7th bombings of London's … [Read more...] about New York Subway Riders Face Random Searches

Terrorists have attacked Egypt again killing 62 in incidents that involved suicide bombers...and a group tied to Al Qaeda later claimed credit for the operation. This was not the first time Egypt faced an Al Qaeda-related threat. The scene this time: the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheik. The setting: a hotel and coffee shop. The event: Saturday morning normality shattered … [Read more...] about Al Qaeda Group Takes Credit For Egypt Bombing