Mandela: Senile?

It's sad to see someone such as Mandela go this route. After spending so much of his life in jail while fighting for the rights of his countrymen, you would think he'd have a little more foresight then he demonstrates. To even claim that the U.S. wants a holocaust is beyond the pale. It's an insult to Americans. And even worse, it's an insult to every individual that went through the horrors of the Nazi Holocaust.

He even demonstrates his ignorance of the situation with the misstatement of basic facts:

Mandela said U.S. President George W. Bush covets the oil in Iraq "because Iraq produces 64 percent of the oil in the world. What Bush wants is to get hold of that oil." In fact Iraq contributes to only 5 percent of world oil exports.

59 point error, I say that's a bit more then a gaffe.

He also suggests that the lack of US and British support was because Kofi Annan is black. Give me a break. At this rate he'll start claiming that the United States supported South African apharteid.

Of course, not everyone is against the US on this one.

A Full Weekend

Teresa and I made a trip up to Northern Kentucky/Cincinnati are this weekend. We spent several hours at the Cincinnati Art Museum and then Krohn's Conservatory. A large portion of the Art Museum was shut down due to renovations. However, my favorite parts, the American and Impressionist areas, were open. Teresa pointed out that the painting, The Swing, which was used as the basis of one of the acts in the musical Contact was at the museum. While I enjoyed several paintings at the Museum, I enjoyed the hour we spent at the conservatory.

There's only one problem with going to a conservatory like Krohn's this time of year, most of the flowers are not in bloom (the special exhibit, a few in the "Palm House," and some of the Orchids were in bloom). I did get a few good pictures of the ones that were and I'll be posting them a little later, once I have time to work the images down to size, etc... As we went in the late afternoon, the sun provided a chance for some good pictures that emphasized light and shadow.

After a wonderful afternoon, Teresa and I then took my sister to dinner and went out with some of her friends. We ended up staying the night up there in Samantha's apartment. And to top it off, by time I was about ready to say it was time to head back down here, it was snowing pretty bad. I'm guessing they got about two inches of snow (at least, that's how high it was on the top of my car). So, we ended up waiting for the snow plows to clean the streets. Partially because of the late start getting home, I'm still up finishing up laundry that I need for tomorrow. However, now that the last load is in the dryer, I think it's time for precious sleep.

State of the Media

Nick Denton makes a lengthy comment on how America's newspapers are bloated.

Economist calls for return to original copyright terms

The Economist has called for fourteen-year copyright term with the availability of one extension.

The Joy of Blogging

It’s been snowing tonight. Not a big surprise with the temperatures that we’ve been having (along with the rest of the country). The drive home from church was an interesting one. The road crews were delivering their usually prompt service, as in no service, to most of the area and the roads were covered in snow and ice on the way home. I spent part of the evening with Teresa watching West Wing and drinking Starbuck’s coffee. Made the fun trip home from her place by back roads (translate: a salt truck never visits the street). Because several of the streets didn’t have any cars on them, parked or otherwise, I got to play a little though. (Emergency brakes can be fun!)

Got home to find the porch light turned off. (I know I left it on. Guess I’m going to talk with the roommate again.) Reading for class was dull as usual and I spent a little time watching TV. Caught Dave Chappelle’s new show on Comedy Central. Weird. By far the oddest sketch comedy show I’ve seen in quite some time. The worst was when he played a blind black man that was a white supremacist. The best was his “training video” for new employees of a Kinko’s type store. The sketch demonstrates all the rude behavior that is traditionally found in such a place. But, to say how the show really rates, South Park is a deeper show both on a comedic and intellectual basis. Take that for what you will.

Well, it looks like the snow has stopped for now. It’s also way past the time I intended to go to bed. So much for an early night.

The Return of Sanity

Maybe there are some sane people on the federal bench. U.S. District Court Judge Robert Sweet dismissed a lawsuit against McDonald's that claimed the chain was responsible for children's obesity.

A Republican Congress and Abortion

Glenn Reynolds has an article up at MSNBC discussing that Congress has no ability to legislate on abortion. After listing Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution Glenn states:

That’s it. No mention of abortion anywhere. So where does Congress get the power to regulate abortion? Well, the old answer would have been to call regulation of abortion “regulation of commerce,” since, for a while, it seemed as if “commerce” was anything Congress wanted it to be. But the Supreme Court has made clear in recent decisions that Congress isn’t allowed to expand its commerce powers simply by calling things commerce. Abortion isn’t “commerce among the several states” — and it’s certainly not commerce with foreign nations, or with the Indian tribes. You can stretch the definition of commerce to make it fit, of course, but — as the Supreme Court has made clear — doing that is stretching.

More importantly, that sort of stretching is something that Republicans are supposed to be against. The Republicans ran, after all, as the party that would respect the Framers’ concept of limited government. Under the Framers’ plan, Congress’s powers are not unlimited. As President Bush said on announcing Constitution Week, 2001, we need to honor “the important and enduring constitutional principle of enumerated powers.”

Reynolds, along with Dave Kopel, also wrote a law review article on the topic.

I know there are good arguments against Roe, but they are more against the logic used by the court then on a legislative level. And while I agree with the basic premise of the argument, I question if it can be argued that abortion is a basic violation of due process. I know the argument is probably a weak one as congress would probably still need the commerce clause in order to afford such protection. However, what effect would this argument have on state law? If anyone has done any research on this, let me know.

War Personality Test

Wild Monk has created a War Personality Test. You can see where I score here.

(via American RealPolitik)

Bias

Lileks talks about media bias today in his Daily Bleat.

But let’s leave this increasingly insupportable series of generalizations, and return to the point. Do reporters suppress the nature of ANSWER / ACTION because they don’t want to embarrass the movement? No. Do they secretly admire the ANSWER / ACTION / WWP positions on China, North Korea, and other dictatorships? Of course not. (Cuba is another story.) Are they inclined to wonder who’s behind the rallies? No. NeoNazis, Klansmen, Separatists, Militias, the Promise Keepers - these words make reporters’ antennae quiver. “Communist” does not. It’s an institutional blindspot, and if you doubt it, consider this:

A fashion designer premiers a line of clothes emblazoned with the hammer-and-sickle. The story runs in the variety section; there are quotes from fashionistas about retro iconography, the kitschy appeal of Socialist Realist art, and nostalgia for the stability of a binary, pre-terrorist world. The story would have the tone of a worldly cultured person peering through a monocle at a butterfly whose wings were amusingly deformed.

Now imagine that a fashion designer splatters swastikas all over the Spring Line. Would the items be reviewed with the same bemused detachment?

The hammer and sickle don’t evoke the same reaction in the average journalist as the swastika - and that’s the problem. Bias isn’t a sin, if you ask me. But indifference is.

Lileks, as always, should be read in full. Go read the whole thing.

The Anglosphere Primer

Jim Bennett of the Foriegn Policy Research Institute writes an interesting piece titled An Anglosphere Primer. I've had this link for some time, but wanted to make sure I read the whole thing before posting about it. The basic premise is that the english speaking world has a distinct culture within the broader western culture. For an interesting prediction on how the politcal culture of this portion of society, I suggest taking a look.

What's Mickey Think?

Jesse Walker interviews Mickey Mouse on the Eldred decision over at Reason.

Funny stuff.

Eldred v. Reno

I've been meaning to blog on the decision by the US Supreme Court, but haven't found the time to go through the entire opinion and both dissents. However, I do view this loss to be a bad thing for general public policy and have questions as to the logic I've seen that Ginsburg used in the opinion.

For some places to go to get a good summary and more check out these sites. Larry Lessig, both here and here, or Donna Wentworth at Copyfight.

Like Lessig, I'm also wondering about the remaining five justices and exactly how they came about their decision on this case.

(Note: Some of the comments made by readers on Lessig's site are way off base and border on slander, so take those if you read them with a grain of salt.)

Ginsburg to receive Brandeis Medal

My law school, the Brandeis School of Law at the University of Louisville, is awarding Associate Justice Ruth Ginsburg the Brandeis Medal.

The Brandeis Medal is awarded to individuals whose lives reflect Justice Louis Brandeis' commitment to the ideals of individual liberty, concern for the disadvantaged and public service.

While I won't question that Ginsburg is concerned about the "disadvantaged" and has done work in the public service. However, I do not believe, at least her tenure on the court, reflects "Brandeis' commitment to the ideals of individual liberty." As a member of this court she has often voted against individual liberty in favor of the state or some other entity. Even her most recent opinion in the case of Eldred v. Reno is against basic first amendment considerations.

However, if you look at the past winners of the award, they are almost all solidly left-leaning or at least a right-leaning swing vote. I promise that a Scalia, Thomas, or even a Rehnquist would never receive this award.

Socialists and Cowboys

Dissident Frogman makes a "good" observation:

- Socialists invented the death camps.
- Socialists developed the death camps.
- A bunch of Capitalists "cow-boys" liberated some death camps and wiped out some (National-)Socialists.
- Other Socialists still run death camps.

And guess who's going to take care of the problem again?

Most probably the same bunch of Capitalist "cow-boys" (their sons actually).

God bless them.

(Via InstaPundit)

Problems with "Social Justice"

Thomas Sowell talks about how the envy industry is in hard times.

Although the poor are doing better, the "social justice" crowd is in desperate shape. Irresponsible advocacy groups concoct wild statistics about hunger or homelessness, and some of these numbers are reported seriously in the media -- at least until someone comes along and shoots them down with the facts.

Read the whole thing if you get a chance.

The Peace Movement

Adam G. Mersereau has an article on today's National Review Online discussing the peace movement.

Peace activists may be well intentioned; but at their worst, they are more helpful to America's enemies than to America. The best we can say is that they are clinically naïve. They are as insufferable as a college freshman who believes he and his political-science professor can end poverty if only people would listen. It is as if the peace activists believe they have discovered for the first time those self-evident and thus ancient truths that human life is sacred, and war is tragic. Little do they know that a majority of the Iraqis who stroll past their peace marches in Baghdad support an American invasion. Many would eagerly fight and risk death in an armed revolution if they could obtain the resources and momentum to launch one for themselves.

I don't think that all of the peace activists are well intentioned. I believe some of them are enemies of Western Culture and wish to see it brought into line with their own warped views.

Utopianism is dead in the minds of most people, because as veterans of the 20th century, which was the bloodiest century ever, we cannot deny that "good" and "evil" are entangled within the hearts of men and many of his ideologies, and that peace is little more than a welcome respite between wars. We also know that unless the Saddam Hussein's and Kim Jong-il's of the world are Utopians too, then to champion utopianism in America or Europe is useless. Utopianism is folly; unilateral utopianism is suicidal. But rather than adjust their policy to reflect reality, the peace activists will march in circles, carry their signs, and wait for reality to reflect their policy.

It would be nice if those that believed in a utopian society would start moving into communes and leave the rest of us alone to deal with things in the real world. What amazes me the most is that they're blind to the fact that it's simply because some members of society are willing to fight and die that they're able to share their believes with the world.

Oops

Missed class for the first time this semester yesterday. Fortunately, only one class though as my afternoon class was cancelled. I just want to say, not that everyone alive doesn't already know this, but waking up sick really stinks.

Today turned out to be a rather easy day. I spent most of it in the library working on the laptop. My afternoon class was cancelled again and I had to stick around until an afternoon meeting with one of my professors. I had a nice and relaxing night though. Well, it's time to get some rest for the day tomorrow.

Britian Needs More Guns

Britian's crime rate is soaring and at the current rate of increase (along with the decline in the US) it will surpass the US in all forms of violent crime in the near future. Amazingly, a British woman is saying Britian needs more guns.

(Via InstaPundit)

When UK Fans Die

For some reason I can just see some of my family members in Lexington, KY using this when someone dies.

(Via Andy Goss)

Words of Wisdom

We make war that we may live in peace. - Aristotle

This is cool

174 Newspaper frontpages from 26 countries.

Tax Cuts

Thomas Sowell discusses the popular left phrase of "tax cuts for the rich."

Anti-War Iraqi's?

Nick Cohen tells why the Left betrays the Iraqi people by opposing war.

Empire?

Jim Bennett writes on the logic of empire.

.COM, .NET, & .ORG

As of today you can reach this site via shortdaddy.com, shortdaddy.net, or shortdaddy.org. Hopefully posting will pick back up now that I'm getting into the groove of things at school for the spring semester. The fact that I have my own laptop with me at school everyday will hopefully add to this as well.

One Week Down

It's now been a week since I started back with law school for the spring semester. Classes are going well so far and I'm enjoying them overall. I've really enjoyed the first couple of days of criminal law and civil procedure. I have a new teacher for Civ Pro and his teaching style is much more conducive to my type of thinking. Which means, hopefully, my grade in that class will go up. And since that was my highest grade anyway, it will be an ever better thing if it does. Well, back to studying and my work on things around the house.

How not to launch a PWC

These guys demonstrate a complete lack of intelligence when launching their Personal Water Craft.

(via Dario Landazuri on the Traingle National Listserv)

Back to School

Well, it's time to start classes once again. I've spent the last few days spending a great deal of time preparing for classes for my first week. This has been aided by my recent acquisition of a new laptop. My course schedule this semester is similiar to last, with one change. Legal Research is done and I'm now taking Criminal Law.

My Schedule:

Class	Days	Time	Instr
BASIC LEGAL SKILLS	W	01:00pm-02:15pm	Kosse, S
TORTS II	MT	02:25pm-03:40pm	Jones, J
CONTRACTS II	ThF	10:25am-11:40am	Hall, T
PROPERTY II	WTh	09:00am-10:15am	Smith, L
CIVIL PROCEDURE II	MT	09:00am-10:15am	Cross, J
CRIMINAL LAW	WTh	02:25pm-03:40pm	Giesel, G

The good news about this schedule is that I only had to buy one new book for my classes. Of course, I'm sure I'll get more then that due to study aids, outlines, and other additional books.

Well, back to studying. . .

P.S. - Happy New Year!

Are bats too powerful?

They might be according to Los Angeles' 2nd District Court of Appeals.

"A defendant owes no duty of care to protect a plaintiff against risks inherent in a particular sport voluntarily played by the plaintiff," Justice J. Gary Hastings wrote. "But the defendant owes a duty to participants not to increase the risk of harm over and above that inherent in the sport."

Justices Norman Epstein and Daniel Curry concurred.

The bat in question is an Air Attack 2, a hollow aluminum alloy bat with a pressurized air bladder that greatly increases the speed at which the ball leaves the surface of the bat. The court's ruling, carried to its logical conclusion, could apply to all new equipment -- golf clubs, hockey sticks, tennis rackets and more -- that change the nature of games by increasing the risk of injuries.

To me the assumption of risk doctrine should still apply in this case. The person sueing, Andrew Sanchez, was a pitcher for California State University. He filed suit after suffering head injuries from a line drive hit by a player for USC using an Air Attack 2. This is not something that is out of the ordinary in baseball. The ball was going faster then what it would off of a wooden bat, but that doesn't change the generic scenario.

(via Overlawyered.com)

The Tax System Explained

One of the best explanations I've seen of how taxes in the US really work.

Seperated at Birth?

Kevin McGehee has a photo of two individuals that were possibly seperated at birth.

(Via The Spoons Experience)

Bunning switching committee assignments

In a move that upsets supporters of Fort Knox, Senator Bunning is giving up his seat on the Armed Services Committee for a seat on the Finance Committee. This change will make him the first Kentuckian to be on the committee since the 1960's.

I would hope the worries of the supporters of Fort Knox are over-exagerated. It's an historic base with a name known around the world.