French firefighters are not joking
Picture of the Day
French firefighters are not joking
Reader Comments
What type of owl is that? It's ears are too long (it seems) to be a Whitish-phase Great Horned Owl.
An Eagle Owl?
RC
An Eagle Owl?
RC
If you wish to see the most cat-looking owl you've ever seen, check out this! [Link]
(Above & this are re Quantum Quirks today. It seems an Eagle Owl which we don't have in the USA.
R.C.
(Above & this are re Quantum Quirks today. It seems an Eagle Owl which we don't have in the USA.
R.C.
I heartily agree with Rowan Cocoan that the "Quote of the Day" needs its own comments section.
Truth fears no trial.It sounds like it should be true but I can't imagine Julian Assange agreeing with it.
That quote is certainly not true. Everyone should fear a trial, even if the truth is on their side.
First of all, our current so-called "justice system" has made certain that the deck is stacked in favor of the gov't to the greatest extent possible. This is further amplified when the gov't has essentially unlimited resources to conduct a prosecution, while, in comparison, the defendant has very limited means to conduct the defense. Even if acquitted, the defendant generally loses a large fraction of his wealth due to legal costs.
And second, trials are no longer a means of evaluating facts as presented by two sides, they are contests to determine which side has been able to engage the best glib showman for a lawyer.
First of all, our current so-called "justice system" has made certain that the deck is stacked in favor of the gov't to the greatest extent possible. This is further amplified when the gov't has essentially unlimited resources to conduct a prosecution, while, in comparison, the defendant has very limited means to conduct the defense. Even if acquitted, the defendant generally loses a large fraction of his wealth due to legal costs.
And second, trials are no longer a means of evaluating facts as presented by two sides, they are contests to determine which side has been able to engage the best glib showman for a lawyer.
Shalmaneser & Sottreader:
SR: I almost wrote what you did. SM you are not using the original definition of trial, and its implicit goals of fairness and truth seeking.
You have applied a 'modern'/denigrated* definition of 'trial as conducted these days' (e.g., the no-trial holds for life at Gitmo; or even the supposed 'pretrial' procedures for JA, et al. ad inf.
Thus, IMO, this is merely semantics arisen by SM's incorrect usage of 'trial' as meaning the reality of the current, corrupted supposed 'truth seeking' process. I believe the phrase was an old one from when true 'justice' still sought true 'truth' through a true 'trial'.
R.C.
*not the word I'm looking for. Haven't had coffee yet.
RC
SR: I almost wrote what you did. SM you are not using the original definition of trial, and its implicit goals of fairness and truth seeking.
You have applied a 'modern'/denigrated* definition of 'trial as conducted these days' (e.g., the no-trial holds for life at Gitmo; or even the supposed 'pretrial' procedures for JA, et al. ad inf.
Thus, IMO, this is merely semantics arisen by SM's incorrect usage of 'trial' as meaning the reality of the current, corrupted supposed 'truth seeking' process. I believe the phrase was an old one from when true 'justice' still sought true 'truth' through a true 'trial'.
R.C.
*not the word I'm looking for. Haven't had coffee yet.
RC
Rowan Cocoan I would be happy to debate your assertion of "incorrect usage." ;>
The current gulf that separates the de facto & de jure interpretations of the word "trial" was the point I was attempting to make.
And I may only be one cup ahead of you... but were you looking for "debilitated" instead of "denigrated?"
The current gulf that separates the de facto & de jure interpretations of the word "trial" was the point I was attempting to make.
And I may only be one cup ahead of you... but were you looking for "debilitated" instead of "denigrated?"
Shalmaneser Thank you. I dare say if you'd used the adjective 'de facto' we'd have had none of this (nevertheless pleasant) discussion.
"debilitated" instead of "denigrated" Close but still not it. 'Enfeebled, debilitated, enervated? There is a perfect word there.
RC
"debilitated" instead of "denigrated" Close but still not it. 'Enfeebled, debilitated, enervated? There is a perfect word there.
RC
LEO's used to be alone in that category; nowadays, if you dial 911 for a fire, heart attack, EMS, the Cops WILL ALWAYS BE THERE FIRST.
R.C.