The battle described Monday over the use of cameras in the jury room of a Houston-area murder trial rages on. Reas the Houston Chronicle story. As of this morning’s NPR broadcast, this case is now national news. That is highly unfortunate as this bad idea hardly deserves additional attention. One hopes that at least jurors’…
Op-Ed Blog
‘Beauty Queen’ Editor Threatened
Is it Salman Rushdie redux? A Nigerian government official today threatened the life of the newspaper writer who aptly noted ‘Muhammed…might have wanted to marry one of the contestants’. The author of the death threat is a provincial deputy governor. Is it any wonder the best and brightest flee from places like Nigeria to the…
Cameras Don’t Belong in Jury Room
State District Judge Ted Poe is planning to allow cameras in the deliberation room of a capital murder trial. Read the story in the Houston Chronicle. Judge Poe is known for his unconventional approach to jurisprudence and is very popular in his district and in the greater Houston area. However, in this case, he is…
Life and Death in Houston
Watch out for your children in Hockley, Texas. It seems that some people, and here I’m talking about those who persist in owning dangerous dogs, cannot be taught new tricks. What will it take to convice these dim-wits that these animals have no place in human society?Naturally it takes a real tragedy for the obvious…
Beauty Pageant Enrages Muslims
In Nigeria, religously-oriented riots killed over 100 people. The cause? A beauty pageant. What is going on in that country? Put those people to work, give them something to do! Read the story. Of course, there’s more kindling here than just the bathing suit competition. One person figuring prominently in the fighting is Isioma Daniel,…
Victoria’s Secret Exposed
The FCC is being inundated with mail regarding the Victoria’s Secret lingerie show earlier in the week. Read the story. What did people tune in expecting to see?
Court to Veterans: No Promised Medical Care
A federal appeals court agreed with the Defense Department that veterans promised they would get free lifetime health care if they stayed in the service 20 years do not have valid contracts because the assurances were not backed up by law. Read the AP story on Yahoo. What goes through the mind of the bureaucrats…
Islamic Conspiracy Showing Itself
Abu Bakar Ba’asyir, alleged leader of Jemaah Islamiah, a radical Islamic group in Indonesia says the Bali bombing was an American conspiracy to justify and prove this argument that Indonesia was a terrorist cell. “Because of their hatred towards Islam they are pointing their accusation to me,” he says with self-pity.Read the BBC story. Iraqi…
New Zealand Toughens Immigration: Whither the US?
New Zealand will toughen immigration laws in an attempt to keep out “less productive” immigrants. Read the BBC article. The U.S. should do the same, at least on a temporary basis. Persons from countries known to support terrorist should be thoroughly vetted or denied entry. Countries we have solid relationships with, such as Canada, Mexico…
Should We Make Last Call Earlier?
There’s quite a debate in England regarding extending pub hours. Read a nay-sayer’s opinion piece. Perhaps we should consider shortening them here in the old U.S. of A. One can hear the drunken cries of “hic, I know when I’s had ’nuff” even across the digital divide. Want to cut down on drunk-driving? Keep your…