I will never forgive my pro gun friends for not tipping me off to this fantastic clip. You must have seen it. I've been a William Shatner fan for 40 years. (H/T Uncommonsqualor)
Monday, February 9, 2009
The Michael Phelps Saga
Bruce Mirken, writing for Alternet, posted an article the other day entitled, Kellogg's Wimps Out Over Phelps's Bong Hit: What Century Are They Living in? A number of others whom I read and respect have expressed similar opinions, foremost among them is Daisy.
I wasn't going to write any more about this because we covered it pretty well when we did discuss it, but I just wanted to add my voice to those who say Kelloggs made a mistake here.
From the Alternet piece:
I believe this was Daisy's point also. Alcohol is far more damaging, yet acceptable. Can anyone explain that to me? Do the people espousing these hysterical attitudes about pot, not agree with that? When I was a kid, people used to say "pot leads to heroin." Do people still believe that?
What's your opinion? Was Kellogg's within their rights to drop Michael over this? Will it help them to have done so?
Please leave a comment.
I wasn't going to write any more about this because we covered it pretty well when we did discuss it, but I just wanted to add my voice to those who say Kelloggs made a mistake here.
From the Alternet piece:
Are they kidding? In 2004, Phelps pleaded guilty to drunken driving, but apparently that offense -- just as illegal, and which actually could have resulted in someone being hurt or killed -- was not an issue for Kellogg's.
Let's get real here. If Phelps had been photographed hoisting a Budweiser, no one would have said a word. But there is simply no question that if one wants to relax with a mood-altering substance, marijuana is far safer than alcohol.
I believe this was Daisy's point also. Alcohol is far more damaging, yet acceptable. Can anyone explain that to me? Do the people espousing these hysterical attitudes about pot, not agree with that? When I was a kid, people used to say "pot leads to heroin." Do people still believe that?
What's your opinion? Was Kellogg's within their rights to drop Michael over this? Will it help them to have done so?
Please leave a comment.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
18-Year-Old Sentenced to 30 Years
The Miami Herald reports on the stiff sentence handed down in the "dirt-biker" murder.
What happened took place in 2006, when the shooter was 15 and the victim 14. Giovanny Mayoral, a Cuban American boy, rode his dirt-bike motorcycle too close to the armed black youth. In what I suppose was an attempt to avenge the act of disrespect, Ladson opened fire, hitting the younger boy in the back as he rode away.
An unspeakable tragedy it was, which made me think about the youthful offenders. There must be a time when they can still be reached, when the right person or circumstances can help them to choose a better path. Perhaps on sentencing day it was too late for the 18-year-old Ladson. He'd already spent two and a half years in jail awaiting this day when all he could do is silently glare at the victim's family.
The other idea that came to mind is the inevitability of this kind of violence repeating itself over and over again. One of the best depictions of it I've seen was on The Wire. Black kids growing up in the projects can too easily be seduced by the lifestyle. In the first season we saw the characters D'Angelo and Wallace try to come to terms with the violence in their lives, only one of them succeeding. I found it quite touching and ample reason for us to seek rehabilitation rather than punishment. What's your opinion? Is the availability of guns a factor? Is the easy access to guns by these young gangsters the price we pay for preserving the 2nd Amendment? Or is there no connection at all?
Please leave a comment.
On his way to prison for manslaughter, Joshua Ladson barely looked up.
He slouched in a Miami-Dade courtroom jury box Friday, glaring at the bereaved. Through their tears and applause, Ladson never winced. When given a chance to speak, he said nothing.
What happened took place in 2006, when the shooter was 15 and the victim 14. Giovanny Mayoral, a Cuban American boy, rode his dirt-bike motorcycle too close to the armed black youth. In what I suppose was an attempt to avenge the act of disrespect, Ladson opened fire, hitting the younger boy in the back as he rode away.
An unspeakable tragedy it was, which made me think about the youthful offenders. There must be a time when they can still be reached, when the right person or circumstances can help them to choose a better path. Perhaps on sentencing day it was too late for the 18-year-old Ladson. He'd already spent two and a half years in jail awaiting this day when all he could do is silently glare at the victim's family.
The other idea that came to mind is the inevitability of this kind of violence repeating itself over and over again. One of the best depictions of it I've seen was on The Wire. Black kids growing up in the projects can too easily be seduced by the lifestyle. In the first season we saw the characters D'Angelo and Wallace try to come to terms with the violence in their lives, only one of them succeeding. I found it quite touching and ample reason for us to seek rehabilitation rather than punishment. What's your opinion? Is the availability of guns a factor? Is the easy access to guns by these young gangsters the price we pay for preserving the 2nd Amendment? Or is there no connection at all?
Please leave a comment.
Buffalo Springfield Drummer Dewey Martin Dies
The Huffington Post published the obituary of Dewey Martin, who died of natural causes at his Van Nuys home. (via Crooks and Liars)
Not only was the group Buffalo Springfield important to me and most of us who were paying attention to the music scene in the late 60s, but the founding members of the group went on to do musical things that had repercussions for decades, some of which continue even today.Martin was found dead Sunday by a roommate in his Van Nuys apartment, longtime friend Lisa Lenes said. She said Martin had health problems in recent years and she believed he died of natural causes.
Martin, along with Young, Stills, singer-songwriter-guitarist Richie Furay and bassist Bruce Palmer, formed Buffalo Springfield in Los Angeles in 1966 and quickly became one of the hottest live acts on the West Coast, helped in part by the grinning, blond Martin.
The band broke up in 1968 amid tension between Young and Stills, but several members went on to even greater success and Buffalo Springfield's stature grew over the years, with Young often expressing regret they didn't stay together longer.
Young has had a highly successful solo career and also joined with Stills in Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. Furay formed Poco, another early country rock band. Jim Messina, who replaced Palmer on bass, teamed with Kenny Loggins and had several hits as Loggins and Messina.
Martin continued performing under various incarnations of the band. He and Palmer toured as Buffalo Springfield Revisited in the mid-1980s, and for a time in the 1990s he played shows as Buffalo Springfield Again. (Palmer died in 2004.)
Rest in Peace James Whitmore
I know I'm a few days late on this, but when I saw this video on Urantian Sojourn I couldn't help but want to post it. From a great flick it is.
DNA Testing Exonerates Dead Man
CNN reports on this interesting story. A Texas district court judge Friday reversed the conviction of a man who died in prison nearly a decade ago, almost two decades into a prison sentence for a rape, as it turns out, he did not commit.
One thing that came out in the process, was that Ms. Mallin, surely traumatized by the experience, identified Cole as her attacker. She felt sure he was the rapist. After that, Texas justice took over, effectively railroading the young man for a crime he hadn't committed. The prosecutors and everyone else involved overlooked the little fact that Cole had asthma and Mallin testified that the attacker smoked continually.
I call that railroading and I call that Texas justice, although to be fair, it's surely happens in places other than the great state of Texas.
In this entire ugly case, I feel it's the prosecutors and judges and lax defense attorneys that are most at fault. Mallin's making a bad ID, for me is totally excusable given the circumstances. But, the officers of the court who failed to achieve any semblance of justice, should answer for this.
What's your opinion? Is it wrong when prosecutors approach their work as if it were a numbers game with so little concern for the truth? Or is that another misreading on my part, being a bleeding-heart liberal who always takes the part of the criminal? In this case, I hasten to point out, Cole was not a criminal.
What do you think about the anger expressed by the victim? We often talk about the closure that victims and the family members seek. It seems this case illustrates how elusive that closure can be even when one's attackers receive severe sentences. Do you think it's the same in Capital cases? After the execution, do the family members achieve that famous peace of mind and closure? I think not. I think the kinds of wounds people sustain at the hands of these violent offenders in most cases can never be healed. What do you think?
What happened was, the real rapist, Jerry Johnson, who was serving a life sentence for other sex crimes, decided to confess. He wrote a letter to Cole, not knowing that he had already died. When it arrived at the Cole family home, the complicated process of reversing the conviction began.Timothy Cole was convicted and sentenced to 25 years in prison for the 1985 rape of 20-year-old Michele Mallin. He maintained his innocence, but it was not confirmed by DNA until years after his 1999 death, when another inmate confessed to the rape.
In the courtroom of Judge Charlie Baird Friday afternoon, Mallin, now 44, faced Jerry Johnson, the man who confessed to the rape.
"What you did to me, you had no right to do," she told him angrily, according to Austin's KXAN. "You've got no right to do that to any woman. I am the one with the power now, buddy."
One thing that came out in the process, was that Ms. Mallin, surely traumatized by the experience, identified Cole as her attacker. She felt sure he was the rapist. After that, Texas justice took over, effectively railroading the young man for a crime he hadn't committed. The prosecutors and everyone else involved overlooked the little fact that Cole had asthma and Mallin testified that the attacker smoked continually.
I call that railroading and I call that Texas justice, although to be fair, it's surely happens in places other than the great state of Texas.
In this entire ugly case, I feel it's the prosecutors and judges and lax defense attorneys that are most at fault. Mallin's making a bad ID, for me is totally excusable given the circumstances. But, the officers of the court who failed to achieve any semblance of justice, should answer for this.
What's your opinion? Is it wrong when prosecutors approach their work as if it were a numbers game with so little concern for the truth? Or is that another misreading on my part, being a bleeding-heart liberal who always takes the part of the criminal? In this case, I hasten to point out, Cole was not a criminal.
What do you think about the anger expressed by the victim? We often talk about the closure that victims and the family members seek. It seems this case illustrates how elusive that closure can be even when one's attackers receive severe sentences. Do you think it's the same in Capital cases? After the execution, do the family members achieve that famous peace of mind and closure? I think not. I think the kinds of wounds people sustain at the hands of these violent offenders in most cases can never be healed. What do you think?
Woman Arrested in 40-Year-Old Murder Case
The Denver News (via CNN) reports on a fascinating case.
According to the few details released in the Denver article, it all happened in 1968. Young Tina was shooting pool, things went bad for some reason, she took out a .22 and shot Schlatter in the chest. He then took the gun from her fired a few times, missing we presume, and then died. She got away.
An interesting element is that the shooter was female. This makes it a rather rare murder case, but combined with the fact that she made another life for herself for 40 years, it's a truly amazing story.
The most fascinating part of the story is the comments section. They seem to be about 10 to 1 in favor of throwing the book at her. Only one person said clearly that after 40 years she should be left alone. What's your opinion? Should there be a stature of limitations on murder like there is on other crimes? Isn't one of the main ideas to prevent future recurrences of the bad act? In a case like this, how would that work?
Just for fun, did anyone else see this connection? It made me wonder if the whole story were a joke. If you don't know what I'm talking about, the answer is at 45 seconds into the video.
A 65-year-old woman wanted in 40-year-old slaying at a Denver bar was arrested Friday in Dayton, Ohio, where police say she had been living under an alias.
Tina Louise Lester was arrested at her home on suspicion of first-degree murder,Denver police spokeswoman Sharon Avendano said. Lester is accused of fatally shooting 36-year-old Ronald E. Schlatter in 1968.
According to the few details released in the Denver article, it all happened in 1968. Young Tina was shooting pool, things went bad for some reason, she took out a .22 and shot Schlatter in the chest. He then took the gun from her fired a few times, missing we presume, and then died. She got away.
Avendano said "good police work" and the use of new technologies led to Lester's arrest.I don't know, does that sound like good police work to you? I think there's more to it than Officer Avendano is telling, which is fair enough.
"A determined police officer followed up on the case and was able to find her," she said. "How that was, I don't know exactly."
An interesting element is that the shooter was female. This makes it a rather rare murder case, but combined with the fact that she made another life for herself for 40 years, it's a truly amazing story.
The most fascinating part of the story is the comments section. They seem to be about 10 to 1 in favor of throwing the book at her. Only one person said clearly that after 40 years she should be left alone. What's your opinion? Should there be a stature of limitations on murder like there is on other crimes? Isn't one of the main ideas to prevent future recurrences of the bad act? In a case like this, how would that work?
Just for fun, did anyone else see this connection? It made me wonder if the whole story were a joke. If you don't know what I'm talking about, the answer is at 45 seconds into the video.
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