More on the George Zimmerman trial
I know that the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that someone in the situation George Zimmerman is in, can be tried again for civil rights violations. It happened in the Rodney King beating case. It happened in the Arthur MacDuffie murder case. But let's look at our Bill of Rights again for a moment. Just one of the ten amendments therein:
"N]or shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb..."
Part of the Fifth Amendment. Yes, I know that the "separate sovereigns doctrine" allows the federal and state governments to try one person or persons twice for the same act. I understand it. I think there are cases where it is appropriate. I'm just not sure this is one of them.
However, it is appropriate for the U.S. Department of Justice to re-open the investigation into this matter that was halted once the state trial began. If that investigation finds that there is a case to be made, it should be made.
I am just afraid that the pressure to bring about another trial may result in a bad decision being made. We can think what we want about the guilt or innocence of George Zimmerman, but if another trial is to take place; what matters is what can be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. Another trial where a weak case is brought to court that results in a second acquittal will make what is already a bad situation much, much worse.
All of those who are saying "he should have shot him in the arm or somewhere else that wasn't life-threatening" and those who are saying "they teach you to shoot for the center mass and he'd have known this being a cop wannabe"...folks, it was a contact wound. The autopsy report estimates the distance from which the shot was fired to be between one and eighteen inches. At that distance there isn't much room to choose where you're going to shoot someone. And if there was a physical struggle going on for the gun (we will never know for certain), George Zimmerman had no control over where he was aiming.
* * *
Other things I'm pondering:
Can we now talk about limiting the possession of guns to inside of one's home, with exceptions for law enforcement, security personnel who are properly trained and certificated, the military, and hunting? CCW permits should be limited to those who are truly in danger because of their occupation.
What do you "take" from a hotel room? I'll admit that I will take the shampoo and other consumable stuff that they would toss anyway after I check out. But a recent study shows that some people take lamps, robes and even the bedding. When I read this I thought about "Beverly Hills Cop" and Eddie Murphy stealing all the robes he could from the hotel where he stayed.
If you were driving to a friend's house and you found yourself at their street, but there's a traffic island and a sign that says "no right turn" at the intersection, would you go around the island and ignore the sign? Or would you go around the block and enter their street from the other side? I saw someone going around an island like that today. I'd never do that. Not because I'm such a law-abiding citizen, but because if I did it, that would be the one time a cop was there to cite me.
Are cops doing their best to write traffic citations as a source of revenue, ensure public safety or some other reason? I think it's revenue first, safety second and to have something to do when they're not busy with higher priority activities.
Will film critics get over themselves (me included) when it comes to lowbrow humor in comedies that are clearly well-received by their audiences? With all of its flaws, "Grown Ups 2" drew big crowds and is a real money-maker. Even with an $80 million budget, opening weekend box office of $42.5 million means it is going to be profitable. If people want to pay to see stupid, Hollywood is going to give them stupid.
* * *
Severance pay for L.A. County employees is supposed to be limited to situations where the employee is fired. But in today's L.A. Times there is an article saying the county spent over $400,000 in severance pay to four executives who retired or resigned. Since they weren't terminated, should they have gotten that money?
No. The contracts they signed do state they are entitled to severance pay. But only if the county is the one who terminates the employer/employee relationship. All four of these executives chose to leave. Maybe they decided to do so before the county got around to firing them, but that's not the point. The point is that once again, the management of L.A. County, particularly Chief Executive William Fujioka, is being profligate with the taxpayer's money.
While we're on the subject, is working for L.A. County so bad that they have to offer department heads a guarantee of six months of severance pay in case they are fired? 90 days would be more than enough.
* * *
I'm a big fan of the Travel Channel's Adam Richman. He was the host of Man versus Food, Man Versus Food Nation and then America's Best Sandwich (which I didn't like quite as much).
I watched him take on some amazing food challenges. He tried and failed to eat a seven pound breakfast burrito. He tried and failed to eat a 12 egg omelet with over a pound of hash browns, but in another challenge ate a similarly sized omelet and portion of hash browns, along with two big biscuits. He's eaten some incredibly spicy foods, although he couldn't handle chicken wings made with ghost chilis (only a few mortals can eat that stuff).
Now he has a new show premiering on the Travel Channel. "Fandemonium" starts tonight. It appears to be about Adam visiting major sporting events and partaking of the tailgate eats created by the fans. I'll be watching.
Oh, and I highly recommend his book, "America the Edible: A Hungry History from Sea to Shining Sea" which I really enjoyed reading during my lengthy hospitalization. He will also host a cooking game show on NBC next season called "Food Fighters."
* * *
This Date in History:
On this date in 1223, Louis VIII becomes King of France.
On this date in 1789, citizens of Paris storm the Bastile.
On this date in 1798, the Sedition Act becomes law in the U.S.
On this date in 1881, Pat Garrett shoots and kills Billy the Kid (the Kid was only 22 years old).
On this date in 1933, the Nazi program in eugenics begins.
On this date in 1943, the George Washington Carver National Monument becomes the first official U.S. monument in honor of an African-American.
On this date in 1950, North Korean forces begin the Battle of Taejon.
On this date in 1960, Jane Goodall arrives at the Gombe Stream Reserve to begin her study of chimpanzees in the wild.
On this date in 1969, the U.S. officially withdraws bills in the denominations of $500, $1,000, $5,000 and $10,000 from circulation (less than 400 of the $10,000 bills are known to exist today).
On this date in 1976, capital punishment is abolished in Canada.
On this date in 2000, a very powerful solar flare causes a geomagnetic storm on Earth.
Famous Folk Born On This Date:
Gustav Klimt
Alexander Volkov
Happy Chandler
William Hanna
Woody Guthrie
Gerald R. Ford
Ingmar Bergman
Dale Robertson
Harry Dean Stanton
Polly Bergen
Rosie Grier
Jerry Rubin
Tommy Mottola
Eric Laneuville
Joel Silver
Bebe Buell
Jane Lynch
Jackie Earle Haley
Matthew Fox
Patrick J. Kennedy
Robin Ventura
Nina Siemaszko
Movie quotes for today come from 2012's "Three Stooges" since Jane Lynch was in it:
Mother Superior: Like Moses in the desert, I believe the Lord will guide them. Because they're pure of heart.
Sister Mary-Mengele: And dim of wit.
#2
Larry: Why isn't she in a hospital?
Mother Superior: Well...
Sister Mary-Mengele: I'll tell you why. Because we don't have any medical insurance.
Larry: Well, you should get some. Just call that little green alligator guy.
#3
Moe: Hiya, Snook. I got you a present.
Snooki: Really?
Moe: Yeah. Go on, open it.
[Snooki opens the box and Moe pokes her in the eye]
Snooki: Ow!
"N]or shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb..."
Part of the Fifth Amendment. Yes, I know that the "separate sovereigns doctrine" allows the federal and state governments to try one person or persons twice for the same act. I understand it. I think there are cases where it is appropriate. I'm just not sure this is one of them.
However, it is appropriate for the U.S. Department of Justice to re-open the investigation into this matter that was halted once the state trial began. If that investigation finds that there is a case to be made, it should be made.
I am just afraid that the pressure to bring about another trial may result in a bad decision being made. We can think what we want about the guilt or innocence of George Zimmerman, but if another trial is to take place; what matters is what can be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. Another trial where a weak case is brought to court that results in a second acquittal will make what is already a bad situation much, much worse.
All of those who are saying "he should have shot him in the arm or somewhere else that wasn't life-threatening" and those who are saying "they teach you to shoot for the center mass and he'd have known this being a cop wannabe"...folks, it was a contact wound. The autopsy report estimates the distance from which the shot was fired to be between one and eighteen inches. At that distance there isn't much room to choose where you're going to shoot someone. And if there was a physical struggle going on for the gun (we will never know for certain), George Zimmerman had no control over where he was aiming.
* * *
Other things I'm pondering:
Can we now talk about limiting the possession of guns to inside of one's home, with exceptions for law enforcement, security personnel who are properly trained and certificated, the military, and hunting? CCW permits should be limited to those who are truly in danger because of their occupation.
What do you "take" from a hotel room? I'll admit that I will take the shampoo and other consumable stuff that they would toss anyway after I check out. But a recent study shows that some people take lamps, robes and even the bedding. When I read this I thought about "Beverly Hills Cop" and Eddie Murphy stealing all the robes he could from the hotel where he stayed.
If you were driving to a friend's house and you found yourself at their street, but there's a traffic island and a sign that says "no right turn" at the intersection, would you go around the island and ignore the sign? Or would you go around the block and enter their street from the other side? I saw someone going around an island like that today. I'd never do that. Not because I'm such a law-abiding citizen, but because if I did it, that would be the one time a cop was there to cite me.
Are cops doing their best to write traffic citations as a source of revenue, ensure public safety or some other reason? I think it's revenue first, safety second and to have something to do when they're not busy with higher priority activities.
Will film critics get over themselves (me included) when it comes to lowbrow humor in comedies that are clearly well-received by their audiences? With all of its flaws, "Grown Ups 2" drew big crowds and is a real money-maker. Even with an $80 million budget, opening weekend box office of $42.5 million means it is going to be profitable. If people want to pay to see stupid, Hollywood is going to give them stupid.
* * *
Severance pay for L.A. County employees is supposed to be limited to situations where the employee is fired. But in today's L.A. Times there is an article saying the county spent over $400,000 in severance pay to four executives who retired or resigned. Since they weren't terminated, should they have gotten that money?
No. The contracts they signed do state they are entitled to severance pay. But only if the county is the one who terminates the employer/employee relationship. All four of these executives chose to leave. Maybe they decided to do so before the county got around to firing them, but that's not the point. The point is that once again, the management of L.A. County, particularly Chief Executive William Fujioka, is being profligate with the taxpayer's money.
While we're on the subject, is working for L.A. County so bad that they have to offer department heads a guarantee of six months of severance pay in case they are fired? 90 days would be more than enough.
* * *
I'm a big fan of the Travel Channel's Adam Richman. He was the host of Man versus Food, Man Versus Food Nation and then America's Best Sandwich (which I didn't like quite as much).
I watched him take on some amazing food challenges. He tried and failed to eat a seven pound breakfast burrito. He tried and failed to eat a 12 egg omelet with over a pound of hash browns, but in another challenge ate a similarly sized omelet and portion of hash browns, along with two big biscuits. He's eaten some incredibly spicy foods, although he couldn't handle chicken wings made with ghost chilis (only a few mortals can eat that stuff).
Now he has a new show premiering on the Travel Channel. "Fandemonium" starts tonight. It appears to be about Adam visiting major sporting events and partaking of the tailgate eats created by the fans. I'll be watching.
Oh, and I highly recommend his book, "America the Edible: A Hungry History from Sea to Shining Sea" which I really enjoyed reading during my lengthy hospitalization. He will also host a cooking game show on NBC next season called "Food Fighters."
* * *
This Date in History:
On this date in 1223, Louis VIII becomes King of France.
On this date in 1789, citizens of Paris storm the Bastile.
On this date in 1798, the Sedition Act becomes law in the U.S.
On this date in 1881, Pat Garrett shoots and kills Billy the Kid (the Kid was only 22 years old).
On this date in 1933, the Nazi program in eugenics begins.
On this date in 1943, the George Washington Carver National Monument becomes the first official U.S. monument in honor of an African-American.
On this date in 1950, North Korean forces begin the Battle of Taejon.
On this date in 1960, Jane Goodall arrives at the Gombe Stream Reserve to begin her study of chimpanzees in the wild.
On this date in 1969, the U.S. officially withdraws bills in the denominations of $500, $1,000, $5,000 and $10,000 from circulation (less than 400 of the $10,000 bills are known to exist today).
On this date in 1976, capital punishment is abolished in Canada.
On this date in 2000, a very powerful solar flare causes a geomagnetic storm on Earth.
Famous Folk Born On This Date:
Gustav Klimt
Alexander Volkov
Happy Chandler
William Hanna
Woody Guthrie
Gerald R. Ford
Ingmar Bergman
Dale Robertson
Harry Dean Stanton
Polly Bergen
Rosie Grier
Jerry Rubin
Tommy Mottola
Eric Laneuville
Joel Silver
Bebe Buell
Jane Lynch
Jackie Earle Haley
Matthew Fox
Patrick J. Kennedy
Robin Ventura
Nina Siemaszko
Movie quotes for today come from 2012's "Three Stooges" since Jane Lynch was in it:
Mother Superior: Like Moses in the desert, I believe the Lord will guide them. Because they're pure of heart.
Sister Mary-Mengele: And dim of wit.
#2
Larry: Why isn't she in a hospital?
Mother Superior: Well...
Sister Mary-Mengele: I'll tell you why. Because we don't have any medical insurance.
Larry: Well, you should get some. Just call that little green alligator guy.
#3
Moe: Hiya, Snook. I got you a present.
Snooki: Really?
Moe: Yeah. Go on, open it.
[Snooki opens the box and Moe pokes her in the eye]
Snooki: Ow!
posted by me at 3:47 PM
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