Three strikes lawI have one of my answers
February 7, 2010
Three strikes law
I have one of my answers on the three strikes law if professor Greg Newbold is correct.
An offender who committed two assaults and a murder – in that order – would be locked up for life, because the maximum sentence for murder was life imprisonment.But the new law would mean that someone who committed murder and then two assaults would only serve the maximum penalty for assault, a sentence length that varies depending on the attack and not a life sentence.
If you’re doing life without parole, why wouldn’t you kill a prison officer? What’s to stop you? What would you lose by killing a prison officer?”
If this is correct, the message for criminals is this: Make sure you do your worst crimes first. The message for prison guards is this: be wary of those who do their crimes in the other order.
The Herald has also said that this law is backed up by empirical evidence from the US which found that homicide rates increased in cities with “three strikes” laws when compared with those without such laws. Yet in some of these states, these “strikes” are for minor offences, like shoplifting, quite different to what is being proposed here.
Three strikes is back
Simon Power is the Minister of Justice and is fronting the sentencing and Parole reform bill. Today, three Ministers – Rodney Hide, John Key and Judith Collins – announced that the government had reached agreement on a three-strikes policy that will ensure the worst repeat criminals receive the maximum allowable sentence.
So why didn’t Simon Power contribute to making that announcement, given that this agreement is going to be incorporated into his bill?
The three strikes aspect to the bill means repeat serious offenders get the maximum allowable sentence, meaning more people will be behind bars for longer. I`m not sure what exactly counts as a strike, in terms of sentencing – what if your third strike was an historic crime done before your first strike? What if your second strike was overturned and your are in jail for your third strike -does your sentence get reduced, or do you get compensation? I’m not allowed to have a say on that at select committee as I didn’t do a submission to the initial bill.
The two Ministers of the Maori Party are unhappy and have introduced a new term that should get wide usage: “hide-bound”. The party says the proposed ‘three strikes legislation shows the government is hide-bound by political rhetoric on crime and punishment that has no factual basis.
The problem with the process of these changes is that only the people who have made submissions to the select committee on this bill will be given the opportunity to make submissions on this new aspect of the bill, a limited subset of “the public” as stated in the government’s media release.
Given that National’s confidence and supply agreement with Act meant that Acts “three strikes ” policy was to get a fair hearing at select committee, perhaps these latest proposals should have been in the original bill before submissions were called for.
The select committee is due to report in March.
BBC Panorama – The hunt for healthy food for children
February 6, 2010
BBC Panorama – The hunt for healthy food for children
BBC News – Panorama – The hunt for healthy food for children
Tremendous expose of children’s food and tricks currently being used to dupe parents.
Cow & Gates excuse for the high sugar in their follow on milk was a study that showed high protein children’s diets lead to obesity.
However what the study actually reveals is that too much meat and dairy can lead to obesity and certainly NOT that sugar is better than fat and protein!
The study from the Research Institute of Child Nutrition revealed
The ages of 12 months and 5-6 y were identified as critical ages at which higher total and animal, but not vegetable, protein intakes were positively related to later body fatness.
BBC Panorama – The hunt for healthy food for children
February 4, 2010
BBC Panorama – The hunt for healthy food for children
BBC News – Panorama – The hunt for healthy food for children
Tremendous expose of children’s food and tricks currently being used to dupe parents.
Cow & Gates excuse for the high sugar in their follow on milk was a study that showed high protein children’s diets lead to obesity.
However what the study actually reveals is that too much meat and dairy can lead to obesity and certainly NOT that sugar is better than fat and protein!
The study from the Research Institute of Child Nutrition revealed
The ages of 12 months and 5-6 y were identified as critical ages at which higher total and animal, but not vegetable, protein intakes were positively related to later body fatness.
Free Weight Loss and Health Advice
Free weight loss and optimal health advice at Olympia, London on Sunday 24th January.
Leading UK weight loss expertYvonne Bishop-Weston will be explaining her no diet, no calorie counting approach to weight loss and optimal health at Olympia in London this Sunday afternoon at 2pm
Discover her secrets to sustainable weight loss and optimal health
Archdeacon falls for the fourth timeGee, its like
February 3, 2010
Archdeacon falls for the fourth time
Gee, its like Stations of the Cross on drugs.
Auckland Anglican Archdeacon Glynn Cardy, who erected that notorious billboard in Auckland, with the assistance of Saatchi and Saatchi, has changed his story for the fourth time. Just to recap:
Story one: The billboard was erected to inspire people to talk about the Christmas story.
Story two: It was erected to provoke conversation about spiritual matters by lampooning the literal Christian conception story.
Story three: It was set up to oppose fundamentalist beliefs that the virgin birth never really happened.
Story four: it is now about opposing what Cardy calls fundamental beliefs, that the fundamentalists don’t actually believe. In other words he is criticising beliefs that don’t actually exist in Christendom. Cardy wanted to question the belief that a male God sent down sperm so a child would be born. But Christians don’t believe that any sperm was actually sent down. So all of a sudden its not a spiritual matter.
Furthermore, Cardy reported the attack on the billboard the the police, saying they’d press charges if he was caught. A person was arrested for the second attack but was not charged as Cardy didn’t want to press charges.
Glynn Cardy is a class A dickhead for failing to keep his story straight. And given the company he keeps, and the fact he has admitted to a higher belief in Santa on the sleigh than the God of the bible, it’s no wonder he can’t keep his story straight.
Obama takes on GOP, pitches small-business lending – Seattle Times
February 3, 2010
Obama takes on GOP, pitches small-business lending – Seattle Times
 FOXNews (blog) |
Obama takes on GOP, pitches small-business lending
Seattle Times President Obama hit the road again Tuesday to promote the new job-creation program he described as his No. 1 priority, but he refused to… By PETER BAKER PABLO MARTINEZ MONSIVAIS / AP President Obama listens to a question Tuesday at a stop in Nashua, … Obama takes jobs pitch to NH New US bank plan offers lending incentive -Geithner The I's Have It: Obama Hits 45 I's in Nashua, NH |
Democrats Change Health-Care Tack – Wall Street Journal
 Reuters |
Democrats Change Health-Care Tack
Wall Street Journal With their sweeping health-care bill on hold, House Democrats plan to revive a sliver of the legislation as soon as next week that would repeal an antitrust exemption for insurance companies. … Rangel: Lawmakers Writing Compromise Health Bill Colorado Democratic delegation in dilemma on how to proceed on health care Stalking, texting bills alive |
Accusations of political extortion hit California gubernatorial race – MiamiHerald.com
February 2, 2010
Accusations of political extortion hit California gubernatorial race – MiamiHerald.com
 Modesto Bee |
Accusations of political extortion hit California gubernatorial race
MiamiHerald.com The so-far snooze-inducing GOP gubernatorial primary race heated up Monday, with charges of political extortion leveled at one candidate and questions of mental stability raised about the other. … Foes spend big to gun for Brown Bullying Complaint in California Primary Whitman leads spending race in Calif. gov campaign |
Md. stands to gain despite Obama budget cuts – Baltimore Sun
 CBC.ca |
Md. stands to gain despite Obama budget cuts
Baltimore Sun WASHINGTON — – President Barack Obama wants to end the nation's troubled program to return astronauts to the moon, but NASA officials indicated Monday that any change was unlikely to mean cutbacks at the Goddard … NASA funding plan takes a broader view Dark Cloud Over NASA Budget Has Silver Lining Private spaceflight goes public |
Md. stands to gain despite Obama budget cuts – Baltimore Sun
February 2, 2010
Md. stands to gain despite Obama budget cuts – Baltimore Sun
CBC.ca |
Md. stands to gain despite Obama budget cuts
Baltimore Sun WASHINGTON — – President Barack Obama wants to end the nation's troubled program to return astronauts to the moon, but NASA officials indicated Monday that any change was unlikely to mean cutbacks at the Goddard … NASA funding plan takes a broader view Dark Cloud Over NASA Budget Has Silver Lining Private spaceflight goes public |
China to Sanction US Companies That Sell Arms to Taiwan – Voice of America
 The Hindu |
China to Sanction US Companies That Sell Arms to Taiwan
Voice of America The Chinese government indicated Tuesday it is still angry over a nearly $6.5 billion US arms sale to Taiwan that was announced in Washington Friday. Photo: AP China has warned of serious repercussions for relations with the United States after the … China may sanction arms-selling US companies with multifold options Boeing says too early to speculate on China sanctions China's threat to sanction US firms in arms sale could backfire |
Cloudy with light snow later in the day and evening – Times Herald-Record
 Ukrainian News Agency |
Cloudy with light snow later in the day and evening
Times Herald-Record Expect a cloudy Tuesday. A chance of light snow this afternoon. Highs in the lower 30s. Light and variable winds…becoming south around 5 mph this afternoon. Chance of snow 40 percent. Tonight: Light snow likely. Snow accumulation around an inch. … TODAY'S WEATHER: Groundhog sees his shadow Fog early; cloudy, high of 37 later today, NWS predicts Highs in the 30s expected |
Obama’s Home State Holds First Primary Election of 2010 – ABC News
 Seattle Post Intelligencer |
Obama's Home State Holds First Primary Election of 2010
ABC News Illinois is holding the first-in-the-nation 2010 primary elections today, testing whether the voter unrest which helped elect Republican Scott Brown in Massachusetts reaches all the way to President Obama's home state. … Dems, Republicans look to mix up Ill. delegation Nation's 1st primary sets stage for Ill. showdown Republicans, Democrats target Obama Senate seat |
Obama’s Budget Pushes Clean Technologies, Cuts Fossil Fuel Incentives – New York Times
February 1, 2010
Obama’s Budget Pushes Clean Technologies, Cuts Fossil Fuel Incentives – New York Times
 CBC.ca |
Obama's Budget Pushes Clean Technologies, Cuts Fossil Fuel Incentives
New York Times President Obama's $3.834 trillion budget, to be released today, proposes to inject billions more dollars in clean energy research while slashing federal fossil fuel subsidies, according to White House officials. … Deficit predicted to shrink slightly over next 10 years Analysts View: 2010 budget deficit to hit new record Obama Unveils $3.83T Budget With Massive Deficits |
Obama’s 2011 Budget Kills Any Hopes of NASA Returning to the Moon by 2020 – DailyTech
 DailyTech |
Obama's 2011 Budget Kills Any Hopes of NASA Returning to the Moon by 2020
DailyTech Last week, DailyTech reported that the Obama administration was thinking long and hard about going with some of the recommendations of the Augustine Panel with regards to funding NASA. Two of the recommendations that the administration was reported to … Obama's $3.83 trillion budget hits twofold in Houston Obama to scrap funding for Nasa's American moon base mission Barack Obama to drop Nasa moon mission in budget cutbacks |
China attacks US ‘Cold War’ mentality over Taiwan arms sales – Telegraph.co.uk
 The Guardian |
China attacks US 'Cold War' mentality over Taiwan arms sales
Telegraph.co.uk China has accused the United States of 'rude and unreasonable Cold War thinking' over its decision to sell £4 billion worth of arms to Taiwan. By Peter Foster in Beijing The rhetoric in a series of venemous editorials in the government-controlled media … Chinese media accuses US of 'cold war thinking' over Taiwan arms deal Arms Deal Cools US-China Ties China fumes at latest US arms sales to Taiwan |
Buttons
January 31, 2010
Meet Buttons, the newest curling mascot (photo by Anil Mungal, click to zoom in). Buttons was unveiled as The Dominion Curling Club Championship sprang into gear yesterday, and here he/she (?) is with L’Equipe Québéc, aka Team Quebec.
There are 28 teams here representing, for the first time ever, all 14 provinces and territories, including Nunavut… whose ladies team is a remarkable 2-1 early in the competition.
The action runs through Sunday at Toronto’s St. George’s Golf and Country Club. Fans can also follow online through The Dominion curling website which features the Canadian Curling Association’s live scoring system, Curlcast.
There’s another photo on our Twitter page (actually a Twitpic image) as well as more stuff on:
• Curler slays demons and turns his life around, now off to Olympic Games
• Regina to host 2011 Ford World Men’s Curling Championship
• Glenn Howard returns to Brantford today and thru the weekend
• Olympic curlers set to invade Kelowna, BC
• Wheelchair and vision-impaired curling workshops to PEI
… and more!
Obama to End NASA Constellation Program – FOXNews
January 29, 2010
Obama to End NASA Constellation Program – FOXNews
 Aljazeera.net |
Obama to End NASA Constellation Program
FOXNews On the eve of the fullest moon of the year, NASA scientists were told they won't be able to visit any longer. In his new budget, President Obama plans to eliminate the space program's manned moon missions. Apollo 12 Commander Charles Conrad Jr. … White House killing NASA's moon mission, reports say Rebel Engineers Sit With NASA to Chart Future of Manned Space Battle brewing over Obama's NASA plan |
Community Bankers to Obama on TARP: Thanks, but no Thanks – ABC News
 CBS News |
Community Bankers to Obama on TARP: Thanks, but no Thanks
ABC News New York — A key element of President Obama's efforts to create new jobs for the American economy is a proposal to redirect $30 billion in Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) funds to community banks, which would then lend the money to … The I's Have It: Obama Uses 'I' 43 Times in Baltimore How Obama's Hiring Tax Credit Could Work — And Why It Might Not Obama unveils $33 billion tax credit to boost jobs |
Bin Laden condemns US for climate change – UPI.com
 CBC.ca |
Bin Laden condemns US for climate change
UPI.com DOHA, Qatar, Jan. 29 (UPI) — Al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden condemned the United States and other nations, saying Friday in a new audio tape they are responsible for global warming. Bin Laden criticized former President George W. Bush for rejecting … Brand X Files: Osama Bin Laden goes 'green.' Soros warns gold is 'ultimate … Bin Laden blasts US for climate change, calls for boycott of US goods Osama bin Laden lends unwelcome support in the fight against climate change |
Randy E. Barnett: Obama Owes the High Court an Apology – Wall Street Journal
 Boston Globe |
Randy E. Barnett: Obama Owes the High Court an Apology
Wall Street Journal "Last week, the Supreme Court reversed a century of law to open the floodgates for special interests—including foreign corporations—to spend without limit in our elections. Well I don't think American elections should be bankrolled … Justice Alito's State of the Union Dissent Alito openly disagrees with president's criticism of court Alito takes offense to public scolding |
