UConn James

Determining what is "cruel and unusual" is, like obscenity, a subjective value. The BoR does not say what is cruel and unusual. It does not say that solitary confinement, a B&W teevee, family visits behind plexiglass and the ability to write letters, and being given access to paint and art supplies is cruel and unusual. It doesn't say human contact is an inalienable right. Your opinion that Terrible Tommy's living conditions define "cruel and unusual" is your opinion. And you know what they say about opinions. So, we're left to figure this out on our own as the times change. Both as punishments change and as criminals change. We'll see how the courts decide. I sure wouldn't care to take the odds on your side. Can't say that I'm surprised with your typical uber-liberal mumbo-jumbo of taking away means of self-defense, hoping everyone will play nice, setting up scenarios that don't work in the real world, tie one hand behind the backs of people who play by the rules, and then letting everyone go at it a free-for-all. And feeling great that the people who risk their lives have a nice benefits package, just so you can feel better pretending that unicorns fart rainbows. I'm only comforted by the fact that most of the brainless morons you'd vote for could see the arguments for keeping this guy away from other inmates and minimizing contact that he has with prison staff. My father always taught me to never have a battle of wits with an unarmed person, so this will likely be the last post to which I respond to you in this thread.

Would putting him into the GP not be "cruel and unusual" punishment for all of the other prisoners / this guy's potential bunk-mate? Maybe they should install Internet in his cell and let him play Second Life. I mean, there's LOADS of people who're un-incarcerated that spend 23 hours a day doing that, and it's not deemed cruel or unusual.

Again, we're talking about degrees. "Normal" prison confinement can "cause" insanity. I'd say the cat's already out of the bag for anyone for whom this kind of thing is necessary. When this guy is in a socially-interactive environment, he kills. Pure and simple. I don't imagine the warden likes having to do it, from a moral or budgetary standpoint. But he's got a duty to protect other inmates and prison workers. I fully expect that if this 'Terrible Tommy' were released into a lower level of confinement and he kills again, the victim's family will sue and collect millions. It's Catch-22. Aren't you the defender of collective bargaining rights, in this case wrt safety regulations? How're you going to tell prison guards that guys like this who have such a history of attacking or killing guards have to go in the GP and be treated like any other prisoner. That's like making them play Russian roulette every time they're around this guy.

Is that a universal standard? Obviously, no, or we couldn't have jails. Cruel and unusual relative to what? Relative to all people who've killed other inmates and prison guards and are beyond maximum security risk. It became a necessary punishment based on his own actions. The article gives examples of others with similar records of killing other inmates and/or prison guards who have been and are held in solitary for such long times. So, it's not unusual relative to this classification of killer. And still, he is allowed to see family (through plexiglass, but that's not unusual either), write letters, and has a teevee in his cell. It's not like it's complete sensory deprivation.

What about Haiti? 'Course, it happened during humanitarian/crisis relief but with some of the stuff that went on, it had a few of the hallmarks.

+1 That's not very often these days, though.

I think Chuck Lorre hit a little too close to the truth that Charlie is "dead inside."

You won't get a real answer even after the draft. They've gotta be poker players. Giving anybody a hint at the strategy affects what they'll do in cap-casualty or waiver pickups, possible trades and even into next year's draft.

A great cover of Leonard Cohen. If you've been divorced.... BC has an amazing voice. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBjeaz6qyt4&feature=related Sting's "(We'll Walk in) Fields of Gold" --- the Eva Cassidy version especially --- always gets me. The extended title is carved on my dog's headstone where we buried him on the woodlot.

For a slightly less mumbo-jumbo synopsis, here's an article from CNN. Guy doesn't have the best of histories. Uses the argument that he's had "good behavior" for the last 19 years.... yet, that probably has something to do with being locked up as he is. What happens if/when he's let out in the GP, as he's advocating for? Prison guards aren't there to be human pinatas for the inmates. No matter how carefully a prison is run, someone who wants to create mayhem and murder and has nothing to lose, just has to wait for the right opportunity. Like a rabid dog held at the pound, there may be times when he looks like a perfectly normal mutt --- but make no mistake, he's still rabid. I don't like the theory of such confinement either. But when theory hits reality, sometimes nasty-ass decisions need to be made.

Announced on SpoilerTV a few minutes ago... Two and a Half Men is finished for the season.

Yeah, that Ray Allen guy is such a non-factor! And Paul Pierce, what a schmoe! Not that I actually watch the NBA until the finals.

Probably fairly rudimentary, but yes. Link Link 2

Quoted for accuracy: So, in successive posts, you give a single example and say everything's BS and that union dues are/should be voluntary... and then you whine that the big, bad Wisconsin governor wants to make union dues voluntary? Which is it?

Like the Democrats who are living it up in the Heritage Suites in Harvard, Illinois, those qualities aren't mutually exclusive.

Not to mention that the primary dates have been moved back to where they were before the '08 election. Everyone was in such a mad rush to declare early and (and there were plenty, no doubt, who were seeking to marginalize Dubya) what did it do? Created an artificially long election season that tired everyone out, and drained a lot of resources. Pawlenty might declare in the next month. Word has it that Romney is probably going to wait until April (some are saying, 15 April itself --- tax filing day) to declare. Starting a campaign means spending a lot of money on staff and offices, and spending that money this far out probably doesn't help. What they're doing currently --- writing op-eds, book tours, building up their "war chests" and the like --- is the natural course of it these days. Huckabee is rumored to be on the fence still, but more likely to run if Romney runs. Huckabee just seems to have a sore spot there. Personally, I thought Huckabee would have the decency to stay out since a string of convicted rapists/murderers that he gave FULL PARDONS to (on the advice of his preacher friends who said these inmates had 'found Jesus') as governor were released and went on to .... surprise, surprise.... rape and murder again. Including one guy who killed 4 Arkansas police officers last year. Just on this alone, I don't want Huckabee anywhere NEAR the presidency. If Willie Horton was reason enough not to elect Michael Dukakis, then Maurice Clemmons should keep Huckabee out of the White House.

Pop! [sound of balloon deflating]

You're attributing more intelligence to the average Somali pirate than is owed. The great part of it is, the American taxpayer now gets to spend $30M trying these cretins in American courts, then, if convicted, feeding and housing them for a while, and then when their sentences are up, I have absolutely no doubt they'll be allowed to stay here. Whereupon they can apply for free federal housing, food stamps, and Social Security.

I was warmed up to Natalie last night. That's a nice yellow bikini.... I was a little worried when she lost their lead in the immunity challenge. But, then again, her part with opening the locks was a matter of pure luck. Matt was totally blind-sided last night. Looks like the orange tribe is content to ride on Rob's coat-tails. Flubber-t*ts used her idol last night, so unless Phil goes totally wacko (this is entirely possible!) she's next on Rob's hit list. But the most important development of the night happened in the other camp, as the hairy farmer guy found the idol even before Russell spent a lot of capital denying that he stole the clue. With HFG having the idol and if the others find out Russell tried to screw them, I think they may pick off the biggest target first. And I think they may lose immunity on purpose just to do it. The next-week teaser featured one of Russell's girls saying 'this is going to be the biggest blind-side in the history of Survivor!' Just wondering what that means --- if that group of three is so cocky when they don't even have the idol, or if Russell's girls are going to blindside him. The latter would be totally awesome. Just waiting to see what the parameters are for Redemption Island. Several of them have said they might actually prefer to be there, but I really think they're talking out of their *s. They have no idea what it's going to be. Your situation might come more into play especially as it gets further along in the game. Imagine, after a merge, it's still in play and Rob forms an alliance to send Russell there, then elects to go there himself to knock Russell out, then only has to go against the weaker players the others send packing. As I wrote upthread, it's been a long time since I watched more than one episode per season when nothing else was on. It may be cast-contingent, but I think it's now in the guilty pleasure category. Same goes for Amazing Race.

I'll demur. But do inform the board if/when this airs. How about the hydrogen fuel cell? No, really. It was invented in 1839.

NYT: Indiana Democrat copy Wisconsin legislators for Union Vote Best part is, these 'tards probably think these tactics are actually going to win them votes. They all would make great Monty Python knights: "RUN AWAY!! RUN AWAY!!!"

I don't mean to be nosy (OK, I do) but is this connected to CC's new Civil War-era project? Still at BR?

And what galls me is that they say it as if appliance repairmen, ditch diggers, department store cashiers, and airplane pilots don't "serve the public."

Let's hope so. I don't care what other people do with their lives, but that doesn't mean that I want to see the equivalent of the Pixyland guything guy on my teevee screen every week. Tho, I was sorry to hear that his father died earlier this year.... It's true, as the girl said, that when you're facing something unpleasant, you get through it by thinking about the people you love and that you're doing it for them. That basically sums up the whole of the human existence when you think about it.

I'd have to say... the Bunkers. "Arrrchhiiiiieee!!!"