What's in the news?

[Oniya]

Just misread the following words, in an article about the budding Trump/Obama "Tapgate":

"Obama, through a spokesperson, denied (---)"

as:

Obama, through a Shakespearean deceit



Yeah, it was this one. Kellyanne Conway brushes off questions about how they know that Obama wiretapped them by saying you can use any kind of electronic gadget to do it - in another version of the same talk, she mentioned microwave ovens. 

Good thing she didn't say toasters.  There would have been Battlestar Galactica jokes by the thousands.  (For non-fans, 'toaster' is a slang term for the sentient machines called Cylons.  In the more recent series, Cylons were practically indistinguishable from normal humans, and would use this fact to infiltrate secure areas.)

[ShadowFox89]

Good thing she didn't say toasters.  There would have been Battlestar Galactica jokes by the thousands.  (For non-fans, 'toaster' is a slang term for the sentient machines called Cylons.  In the more recent series, Cylons were practically indistinguishable from normal humans, and would use this fact to infiltrate secure areas.)

Rule of thumb is, anyone hot is actually a cylon.

[Tamhansen]

In funnier news. The Scottish government has just announced indyref 2. Yes a second referendum on the independence of Scotland.

[Oniya]

In funnier news. The Scottish government has just announced indyref 2. Yes a second referendum on the independence of Scotland.

I'd heard that was being batted around when the whole Brexit thing was going down.

[Kythia]

I'd heard that was being batted around when the whole Brexit thing was going down.

Not actually convinced it's going to happen, tbh.  The mandate for it is pretty weak (and I think the lgoic behind it is pretty weak as well, but thats a side issue) and the EU have been explicit that Scotland wouldn't be grandfathered in to the EU and would have to apply as a new country.  I suspect it's a tactic from the SNP to have more sway at the table.

[HairyHeretic]

IIRC Scotland voted something like 2:1 to stay in the EU, so seeing this doesn't surprise me.

[Kythia]

However, the majority of scots don't want a second referendum

[Oniya]

Not actually convinced it's going to happen, tbh.  The mandate for it is pretty weak (and I think the lgoic behind it is pretty weak as well, but thats a side issue) and the EU have been explicit that Scotland wouldn't be grandfathered in to the EU and would have to apply as a new country.  I suspect it's a tactic from the SNP to have more sway at the table.

Y'all are a bit more in touch with UK politics than I am - but regardless of the logic or chance of success, I'm not surprised that it got announced.

[Cassandra LeMay]

Whats the point though if he's already got two life sentences

Leaving aside philosophical questions what law and punishment is (or should) be all about, in some countries public prosecutors/state attorneys/whatevertheyarecalled have no choice. Sometimes they are required by law to investigate and prosecute serious crimes. Without such a rule, a presecutor could essentially decide the guilt or punishment of someone, instead of that decision being made by a court of law, deciding that someone had been punished enough already. But that would put the power to pass a sentence into the hands of those who are tasked with investigating crime, breaking down the principle of a division of powers.

[Missy]

Leaving aside philosophical questions what law and punishment is (or should) be all about, in some countries public prosecutors/state attorneys/whatevertheyarecalled have no choice. Sometimes they are required by law to investigate and prosecute serious crimes. Without such a rule, a presecutor could essentially decide the guilt or punishment of someone, instead of that decision being made by a court of law, deciding that someone had been punished enough already. But that would put the power to pass a sentence into the hands of those who are tasked with investigating crime, breaking down the principle of a division of powers.

Well  third life sentence in like being a billionaire in a different context, any more money is just cash on the pile. In case my line of reasoning was unclear.

[Oniya]

In some cases, the sentence is dictated by statute - the important thing is 'Person X has been found guilty of the murder of Person Y'.  Without that, the murder of Person Y is still an 'open case'.

[Beguile's Mistress]

According to the prosecutor of the man who assaulted and nearly killed me any additional convictions and sentences can work as insurance toward keeping a criminal in prison should an appeal of any sort on his behalf become successful and lead to an overturned conviction or retrial for some reason.  The District or States Attorney will just keep going as long as they can find things to charge the criminal with and prosecute them for.

[Missy]

Makes more sense, yeah.

[Anteros]

LGBT activist ‘kidnapped and raped by angry Donald Trump supporter’: http://www.gaytimes.co.uk/news/65448/lgbt-activist-kidnapped-raped-angry-donald-trump-supporter/

Most Media Outlets Aren't Reporting on the Disappearance of Black and Latinx D.C. Teens: http://www.teenvogue.com/story/most-media-outlets-arent-reporting-on-the-disappearance-of-black-and-latinx-dc-teens?mbid=social_twitter

Shannon Hurd Got a Life Sentence for Stealing $14. Then He Died in Prison from Untreated Cancer: https://theintercept.com/2017/03/14/shannon-hurd-got-a-life-sentence-for-stealing-14-then-he-died-in-prison-from-untreated-cancer/

Goalie Bruno Gets New Deal With Club After Serving 7 Years For Having His Mistress Eliza Samudio Killed & Fed to Dogs: http://blacksportsonline.com/home/2017/03/goalie-bruno-gets-new-deal-with-club-after-serving-7-years-for-having-his-mistress-eliza-samudio-killed-fed-to-dogs/

François Fillon, French Presidential Candidate, Is Charged With Embezzlement: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/14/world/europe/france-franois-fillon-charged.html?src=twr&smid=tw-nytimes&smtyp=cur&_r=0

[Lustful Bride]

Two UN and 4 Congo officials kidnaped in the Congo, kidnappers have made no demands yet and their location is unknown.

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/congo-says-american-swedish-officials-with-un-kidnapped/ar-AAogzNt?ocid=HPCOMMDHP15

[gaggedLouise]

Two top division Norwegian teams, Storhamar and Sparta Sarpsborg, have played the longest ever regular ice hockey match anywhere, clocking 217 minutes of playing time after, get it, eight extension periods.  The final result was 2-1, and the goalkeepers, one of whom was a Swede, were rated the best players of the game. 

"Everybody's bone tired" the coaches commented afterwards.

[Anteros]

Black N.J. teen killed in vicious hit-and-run — and white driver with long criminal record gets probation: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/king-black-teen-killed-hit-run-white-driver-probation-article-1.2997956

[Lustful Bride]

Judge Approves Settlement against Remington Rifles.

http://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/judge-approves-landmark-remington-rifle-settlement/ar-AAolZSC?li=BBnb4R7&ocid=HPCOMMDHP15

As a gun supporter I approve of this as well. I don't want a gun to explode in my hand or fire when I am not even pulling the trigger. Especially when these weapons are being given to soldiers and police, faulty equipment in their hands can be the difference between life and death for a civilian.

[Lustful Bride]

Philanthropist who beat cancer twice dies in car accident :(

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/after-battling-cancer-twice-%e2%80%98miss-jo%e2%80%99-dies-in-wreck/ar-AAomoBi?li=BBnb4R7&ocid=HPCOMMDHP15

[Sara Nilsson]

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-39287656

Hawaii judge has blocked Trumps new travel ban hours before it takes effect. :)

http://www.astronomy.com/news/2017/03/supernova-ngc-5643

There’s a supernova occurring right now in NGC 5643 :) Well 55 million years ago but.. right now as far as we can see... eh.. you know what I mean.

[Trigon]

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-39287656

Hawaii judge has blocked Trumps new travel ban hours before it takes effect. :)

What a surprise! Who couldn't have seen that one coming 

http://www.astronomy.com/news/2017/03/supernova-ngc-5643

There’s a supernova occurring right now in NGC 5643 :) Well 55 million years ago but.. right now as far as we can see... eh.. you know what I mean.

Yes, second one this decade it seems too!

[Trigon]

Ah yes, so it looks like a former CIA director has a scapegoat for the Vault 7 Wikileaks documents; the Millennials: http://www.rawstory.com/2017/03/former-cia-director-blames-millennials-for-wikileaks-dump-because-they-dont-understand-loyalty/

[Trigon]

The results from the Dutch elections are in; the far-right party led by Geert Wilders has been resoundly defeated: https://mobile.nytimes.com/2017/03/15/world/europe/geert-wilders-netherlands-far-right-vote.html?referer=https://mobile.nytimes.com/2017/03/16/briefing/geert-wilders-donald-trump-fed.html?_r=0&referer=https://www.google.com/

Hopefully that's a good sign that the far-right will be halted in continental Europe...

[Blythe]

http://www.koco.com/article/moore-police-recommend-3-prostitution-related-charges-against-sen-ralph-shortey/9135664

One of Oklahoma's senator's has been charged three felonies related to prostitution and soliciting an underage teen.  Ugh, I hate my state.

[gaggedLouise]

Not really hot news yet, but a very interesting review in Guardian of how things wil play out when Queen Elizabeth dies - the routines and communications of the news crews and the court, the ritual pomp from her death to the state funeral, and the transition to the reign of King Charles. Quite long, but worth reading.