Tag: written by Mayorbob
G'Day Mate And Welcome To Our Sex Party.
MayorBob.
Posted to Politics on Wed Nov 19, 2008 at 04:11:34 PM EST (promoted by DEMachina). RSS.
A political movement with a twist is about to happen in Australia. In keeping with the style of a nation of plain-speakers, a political party with a name certain to draw attention, if not votes, will launch on November 20th.
(5 comments, 290 words in story) Full Story
Are The Brits About To Impose The Tyranny Of The Tots?
MayorBob.
Posted to Politics on Tue Nov 18, 2008 at 07:06:12 AM EST (promoted by port1080). RSS.
The Labor government in Britain is committed to achieving "world class skills" in the UK by 2020 and they believe this begins in the schools. Thus, both the House of Commons and the House of Lords are in the final process of drafting a piece of legislation which will play a key role in achieving that stated goal. A central piece of the proposed legislation is aimed at giving school kids a greater voice in their schools. But some critics say, rather than giving them a greater voice, the bill's net effect would be to "lunatics taking over the asylum."
(17 comments, 583 words in story) Full Story
A Tree Grows Or Dies On Brooklyn.
MayorBob.
Posted to Etcetera on Mon Nov 17, 2008 at 12:44:45 PM EST (promoted by DEMachina). RSS.
I figure with a web site name like treesandthings, we should be able to get some discussion going on this issue. The issue being which is more important -- community development or the environment? That's essentially what's at stake out in Seattle. There is a neighborhood there that is looking forward to what some see as much-needed development. There is also a tree, an exceptional tree (pdf doc) if you will, which stands threatened by the perceived much-needed development. The issue is should the tree remain standing or should the changing face of the neighborhood not include the tree?
(5 comments, 483 words in story) Full Story
Is Eleven Years Old Too Young To Be Tagged A Felon For Life?
MayorBob.
Posted to Legal on Mon Nov 17, 2008 at 06:35:13 AM EST (promoted by port1080). RSS.
Semaj Booker's actions have been described as "outrageous." The 11-year-old Tacoma kid from a troubled home had been involved in a car theft and two successful attempts to smuggle himself aboard plane flights to Texas. Then he tried to sneak aboard another flight out of Sea-Tac airport and a judge warned him, if he didn't begin taking a step in the right direction, there would be consequences. This week, Booker learned what those consequences would be - at least one of his "outrageous" actions is now officially a felony, a charge which might stick with him the rest of his life.
(20 comments, 442 words in story) Full Story
Nobody Was Looking For Him.
MayorBob.
Posted to Legal on Fri Nov 14, 2008 at 12:41:58 PM EST (promoted by port1080). RSS.
You can file this one under Stupid Lawsuits or Fight for Consumer Justice. Believe it or not, there lives and breathes a person who responded to an email who learned the sender wasn't being truthful. So mortified at being lied to by email (not to mention loss of money) Anthony Michaels of San Diego is taking the sender to court for successfully duping him.
(3 comments, 438 words in story) Full Story
Why Is Henry Paulson Wearing A Suit With Question Marks All Over It?
MayorBob.
Posted to Politics on Fri Nov 14, 2008 at 06:52:43 AM EST (promoted by port1080). RSS.
You know, if you closed your eyes you could mistake the nation's Treasury Secretary for the man who loudly proclaims "THE GOVERNMENT'S GIVING AWAY MONEY!" Because since Secretary Paulson informed the nation that the (US)$700 billion bailout would not be used for its original, stated purpose - buying up troubled assets and mortgages - and would now be directed in other directions, Washington has become quite Leskoesque.
(6 comments, 333 words in story) Full Story
In Texas, Habeas Corpus Means We Hold The Prisoner Until We Say So.
MayorBob.
Posted to Legal on Thu Nov 13, 2008 at 09:51:21 AM EST (promoted by port1080). RSS.
Raul Meza's life is not what you might call a success story. Starting out as a violent criminal at the age of 15 and sexually molesting and murdering an eight-year-old girl along the way, Meza is not a particularly sympathetic character. But, for all of the 48-year-old Meza's transgressions, he says he's done all the prison time required by the law and he wants a bit of freedom. The state of Texas disagrees and has held him past his parole date at a minimum security prison in Travis County, Texas since 2002. They say they'll be glad to release him once he finds a job and a place to stay. Meza claims the terms the state has placed on him essentially means he'll never get released. Meza is in court this week trying to get a federal judge to do what Texas state authorities are unwilling to do.
(4 comments, 678 words in story) Full Story
The Brain Is Dead But The Heart Still Beats -- Is It Death Yet?
MayorBob.
Posted to Legal on Tue Nov 11, 2008 at 12:27:34 PM EST (promoted by port1080). RSS.
The outlook for 12-year-old Motl Brody was always fairly grim. Diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor earlier this year, his parents took him to a hospital in Washington, DC for what was seemingly a long shot operation. As it turned out, it was just that as the surgery to save him put him in a coma. The doctors say there's nothing more that can be done for him medically. Brody's parents disagree, saying their religious beliefs dictate as long as Motl's heart keeps beating, he's alive. Both sides are hopelessly deadlocked and they now turn to a court to decide whether Motl is dead or alive.
(11 comments, 599 words in story) Full Story
No More Mr. Nice Gay.
MayorBob.
Posted to Politics on Mon Nov 10, 2008 at 12:23:15 PM EST (promoted by port1080). RSS.
The reaction to the passage of California ballot Proposition 8 has become loud and heated. The measure which passed by a margin of 52% to 48% of the more than 10 million votes cast, invalidated the state's recently established gay marriage rights. For now, it's back to the courts for leaders in the fight to legalize gay marriage in the state. For those not in a leadership position, it's become time to take to the streets and get loud and abrasive.
(115 comments, 520 words in story) Full Story
Obama - The Economy Is Job One.
MayorBob.
Posted to Politics on Mon Nov 10, 2008 at 07:16:29 AM EST (promoted by port1080). RSS.
Recognizing that the economic crisis that played such a huge part in his resounding victory over John McCain, President Elect Barack Obama lost no time. He quickly assembled members of his economic advisory team. Then he marched out to a set of microphones and let the rest of us in on what he considers to be his primary task -- trying to fix the American economy.
(12 comments, 559 words in story) Full Story
Weed Wacking In The First Degree
MayorBob.
Posted to Diary on Fri Nov 07, 2008 at 05:29:28 PM EST. RSS.
A man's home is his castle, so the saying goes. And when you pay extra for a nice view from your back window, it's grating to have that view blocked, no matter what the reason. At least that's the way Larry Plooster of Fort Lupton, Colorado felt about things. The cure for the visual impediment was simple, according to Plooster - just a decent bit of grounds keeping. It would have been nice had the neighbors done the decent thing and clipped the offending weeds. But they didn't. So Plooster took the matter into his own hands and clipped the weeds himself. Bad move, because now unless cooler heads prevail, Plooster could go to jail over clipping what everyone agrees were weeds.
(3 comments, 456 words in story) Full Story
The Biggest Loser
MayorBob.
Posted to Politics on Fri Nov 07, 2008 at 01:17:38 PM EST (promoted by port1080). RSS.
Let's look past the obvious. I mean even John McCain and Sarah Palin and the rest of the Republican Party deserves a break at this point. No, this story is about another loser, but you can jump in with your nominations for loserdom. First and foremost from Tuesday's blow-out is US Senator Joseph Lieberman (D - CT).
(10 comments, 534 words in story) Full Story
