Sliding criminal justice

Jury-less criminal trials http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8453318.stm
and acquitted defendants paying some of their court fees.
I feel another rant brewing, though no time for it now.

Oh, academia is screwed too

Russell Group warning article
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The comments on this Times Eureka blog entry clarifying that Nutty did not breach government guidelines are of interest for a number of reasons, not least for a really clear example of the tendency of public commentators to assume that all expertise is relative and their assumptions about science and what makes sense are as valid as the considered ( Read more... )

( Places I'd like to try )

According to Reprieve: "By its own admission, the US government is currently detaining at least 26,000 people without trial in secret prisons, and information suggests up to 80,000 have been 'through the system' since 2001. The US government must show a commitment to rights and basic humanity by immediately revealing who these people are, where ( Read more... )

This (long) NYT article is a must read.

Where the US presidential candidates stand (which glosses over the fact that McCain is a hawk): Every remaining Republican candidate wants to overturn Roe vs. Wade
 [Later edit: Romney out, so I feel a bit relieved, except that I want the Republican nomination campaign to drag out so they can't steal a march on the Democrats with Presidential ( Read more... )

Rice apologises for contractor Blackwater USA (the company has another division called Blackwater Worldwide and has since been renamed Xe) employees shooting civilians but simultaneously tries to ensure their continued operation in the Iraq - the US Army without the accountability.


( Read more... )

Extinctions are likely to have significant effect on the environment. Who'da thunk it?

April 2007 - the warmest in Britain since records began in 1659. And we've just discovered 'electrosmog' (formerly noted later edit but a dubious phenomenon). How nice.
( Climate change science and reactions )

( Iran and Afghanistan )

( Islamic States )