A declaration of human rights

Decades after the recognition of civil rights irrespective of race, religion and gender, the United Nations has come out with a compact affirming the right of those of varying ability to be included in society and to control their own destiny.
On May 3, 2008 the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities [...]

No room at the inn

One would think that prosecuting the notorious premeditated murder of 4 people and the aggravated sexual assault of a young teenager would be of the highest priority to the federal court in Paducah, Kentucky. You’d think so, but you’d be wrong.
The trial of Former Pvt. Steven D. Green, scheduled to begin April [...]

All your citizens are belong to us

Why bother with inconvenient diplomacy and annoying delays when you can just scoop up a foreign citizen off the streets in own country, stuff him in an airplane, and deliver him to a court in the United States? No muss, no fuss, no petty details of extradition treaties, not even with established allies like [...]

They’re getting desperate

I just took a phone message for Tony. It’s “imperative” that he contact the Army, who can be reached 24 hours a day at an 800 number, immediately. Immediately, the caller repeated. It’s “imperative” that they speak with him now.
What bullshit.
The intent of this call, and this phrasing, was to [...]

“Modern music is as dangerous as cocaine.”

If I were a conspiracy theorist, this news item would have me convinced that the Thought Police have taken over customs inspection. On September 19, Chris Walla, the guitarist and producer for Seattle indie rock band Death Cab for Cutie, ran up against a deadline for delivering the master tracks of his upcoming solo [...]

Ready Orr not

When is the replacement of Eric Keroack a depressing thing? When the newly appointed acting head of federal family planning programs at the Department of Health and Human Services is Susan Orr, an outspoken critic of contraception. Her fine credentials for the job include serving as senior director for marriage and family care [...]

Pots and kettles, part 3

In an interview with ABC News, Secretary of State of Condoleezza Rice expressed concern about Russia’s increasing military assertiveness.
I’m sure Anatoliy Eduardovich Serdyulov says the same about the US.

More pots and kettles

“Contractors” is such a neutral word. When I first heard it in relation to Iraq, I conjured up pictures of construction and oil rig workers, laboring to restore infrastructure in a battle torn country. I never once pictured them carrying guns. How deluded I was.
During the initial phases of the war in [...]

Pots and kettles

Condolezza Rice is concerned that Valdimir Putin has amassed too much power. I’m sure Sergey Borisovich Ivanov says the same about Bush.

Armed and dangerous

Is underwear a weapon? Only in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.
Last month Lori Plato of Bonners Ferry showed up at the federal courthouse for a hearing where she was stopped at the security checkpoint. When she beeped, the guard asked if she was wearing an underwire bra. She was. But rather [...]

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