Is There a ‘Rational’ Punishment for My Rapist?
Although the death sentence seemed wholly appropriate, I still considered how I would feel if a judge gave my rapist a less severe punishment: a natural life sentence — a life sentence with no chance for parole without a successful appeal. In the article, she uses her experience teaching philosophy to inmates to argue for the irrationality of natural life sentences. And this is not irrational: There are many carefully considered reasons one might want a natural life sentence for perpetrators of egregious and irrevocable harm. I desire a death or natural life sentence for my rapist because that is what seems appropriate given the amount of damage he wrought in my life. After plenty of rational consideration, I cannot imagine any personal transformation that would make me think he deserves anything less than a permanent punishment.
Source:New York Times
October 23, 2017 08:48 UTC
As Mattis Arrives in Philippines, Mop-Up in Marawi Is Declared Over
Mr. Mattis told reporters before his arrival on Monday that the Philippines had delivered a “very necessary message to the terrorists” in Marawi. Mr. Mattis and the other defense chiefs were expected to discuss Islamist militancy and other issues affecting the region, including North Korea’s nuclear pursuits and territorial disputes in the South China Sea. The fighting was set off on May 23, when the Philippine military moved to arrest Mr. Hapilon and was surprised by a huge rebel force that had stockpiled large numbers of weapons. President Rodrigo Duterte said last week that Marawi had been “liberated,” though officials later clarified that there were still fighters in the city. Mr. Lorenzana said the military had crushed the “most serious attempt to export violent extremism and radicalism” to the southern Philippines.
Source:New York Times
October 23, 2017 08:48 UTC
How to Keep the Lights On After a Hurricane
Inverters that can separate solar systems from the main grid can be installed, automatically or manually, and allow the solar systems to continue operating even though the grid is down. In fact, Florida Power and Light lobbied the Legislature hard this year to restrict their customers from access to home-based solar systems when the grid goes down. With those storms behind us, we must work to rebuild stronger, fuel-free, stormproof power systems based on decentralized and resilient renewables like solar. Millions of efficient light bulbs, fans, rice cookers, pressure cookers, refrigerators, air-conditioners and pumps were sold nationwide, reducing power usage. Cuba lets these local plants or microgrids disconnect from the island’s grid during storms or blackouts and generate their own electricity for local needs.
Source:New York Times
October 23, 2017 08:48 UTC
How Mao Molded Communism to Create a New China
Communist cells had been organized in Shanghai, Beijing and other cities, and in mid-1921, the first congress of the Chinese Communist Party was held. Mao would be the monkey king to lead that destruction. Mao truly became the monkey king by starting the Cultural Revolution in 1966 to dispel the “miasmal mist” of Soviet-style “revisionism” from the C.C.P. The 19th Communist Party Congress currently underway will confirm that Mr. Xi is top tiger, the most powerful ruler since Mao. But Mr. Xi will have to ensure that his alternate persona as monkey king does not loom too large.
Source:New York Times
October 23, 2017 08:48 UTC
Why Type A people often struggle with weight loss programs
These qualities also mean they can get frustrated with mainstream diets and workout programs when they don't work. The problem is that weight loss programs have a one-size-fits-all structure to appeal to the masses. However, if you've got a Type A personality and you're committed to a weight loss program, these workouts may seem non-negotiable! A break is needed, and it can be too taxing on the body to follow a regimented workout plan every single day. The benefits of having a Type A personality include finding security in the structure and rigidity of diet and workout programs, but this personality type also needs to allow room for flexibility and changes.
Source:CNN
October 23, 2017 07:41 UTC
David Letterman receives Mark Twain Prize
Story highlights Friends pay tribute to David Letterman, who received Mark Twain PrizeLetterman signed off late-night TV in 2015Washington (CNN) David Letterman, the longest-serving host in US late-night television, was awarded the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor on Sunday. Speakers at the ceremony included Jimmy Kimmel, Michelle Obama (via video), Sen. Al Franken, bandleader of Letterman's former show Paul Schaffer and last year's Twain Prize honoree, Bill Murray. Letterman ended his late-night television career in May 2015 , after spending more than three decades on late-night television on NBC and CBS. You went out for a pack of cigarettes and left us to live with an abusive orange stepfather." Kimmel, host of "Jimmy Kimmel Live," also spoke about receiving a box of neckties from Letterman.
Source:CNN
October 23, 2017 07:18 UTC
Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl's sentencing hearing to begin Monday
And depending on the outcome of his sentencing hearing this week, he could spend the rest of his life behind bars. During a hearing last week, Bergdahl told the judge, Army Col. Jeffery R. Nance, that he was trying to reach the base from where he was dispatched. "I left my observation post on my own," Bergdahl told the judge last week. But the Army general who led the investigation into Bergdahl's actions in Afghanistan testified that jail time for him would be "inappropriate." Trump: Bergdahl 'should be shot'During the 2016 presidential campaign, Donald Trump said Bergdahl "should be shot" for walking off his post.
Source:CNN
October 23, 2017 07:18 UTC
Finally, a degree in marijuana: But it’s not for stoners or slackers.
Northern Michigan University is the first known university in the U.S. to offer a four-year degree in the study of marijuana. Students enrolled in the Medicinal Plant Chemistry program will take classes in science, finance and marketing. The program, Medicinal Plant Chemistry, is the first program to offer a 4-year undergraduate degree focusing on marijuana, according to Brandon Canfield, the associate professor of chemistry who started the program. Instead, his required courses include tough subjects such as organic chemistry, plant physiology, botany, accounting, genetics, physical geography and financial management. Alex Roth, 19, is enrolled in Northern Michigan University’s Medicinal Plant Chemistry program.
Source:Washington Post
October 23, 2017 06:33 UTC
Why Trump's Korean war talk should be taken seriously
(CNN) Washington elites have long regarded war with North Korea as all but unthinkable. Former CIA Director John Brennan last week put the risk of US war with North Korea at least at one-in-five. JUST WATCHED Expert: Trump should avoid 'bumbling into war' in Korean DMZ Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH Expert: Trump should avoid 'bumbling into war' in Korean DMZ 05:48What about China? Washington's position — that Trump will never accept North Korea having a nuclear weapon that could reach the United States -- is entrenched. That's why the war talk in Washington should be taken seriously.
Source:CNN
October 23, 2017 06:00 UTC
David Letterman Earns Mark Twain Prize for Late-Night High Jinks
During his 33 years as a late-night host, Mr. Letterman was known for being at once breezy and detached, a contrast that made him a towering figure to the comedians who delivered tributes on Sunday. Mr. Letterman’s longtime sidekick as a late-night host, the musician Paul Shaffer, joked in his tribute about Mr. Letterman’s signature mix of warmth and reserve. Michelle Obama appeared by video to toast Mr. Letterman’s intellect, saying, “The thing about the best comedians is that they aren’t just funny. Something else Mr. Letterman has groomed in his post-television life: a beard that has become a token of his new life. “Because of this award,” Mr. Letterman said at the end of the show, “I am now the most humorous person in the world.”
Source:New York Times
October 23, 2017 06:00 UTC
Chinese Banks in Need of a Stiff Quality Check
Chinese bank stocks have been on a tear this year, with many now trading close to their book values—a sign that investors trust their financial reports more than they have in some time. With leading Chinese banks due to start reporting their latest earnings this week, it’s time for a more realistic assessment. China’s banks have been vital forces behind the explosive growth of credit across the economy, with corporate debt now estimated at around 250% of GDP. They have played a critical role in the rise of shadow banking...
Source:Wall Street Journal
October 23, 2017 05:41 UTC
Postcards from Europe; Part 3: Paris and Back to London
Paris is best known for its timeless beauty, celebration of life, and incomparable cultural offerings, but it is also home to a dynamic legal tech community. Next came an evening with the Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC) Europe. The ACC lawyers operate as business partners with legal expertise, not simply as lawyers addressing legal problems. Back to London and The Legal Geek ConferenceThe Legal Geek Conference was held on Brick Lane, a gritty East-end London venue far removed from the buttoned-down, English public school world of ‘The City,’ London’s financial center and home to its elite law firms. Legal Geek did a great job ensuring that the retail and corporate market segments were both well represented.
Source:Forbes
October 23, 2017 05:37 UTC
There's only one conclusion on the Rohingya in Myanmar: It's genocide
Story highlights More than 600,000 Rohingya refugees have fled Myanmar for BangladeshThe exodus has been building for years and should be recognized as genocide, Ibrahim saysDr. Azeem Ibrahim is a senior fellow at the Center for Global Policy and author of "The Rohingyas: Inside Myanmar's Hidden Genocide" (Hurst & Oxford University Press)(CNN) The Rohingya crisis in Myanmar is now widely described as ethnic cleansing. And now, it seems, we can no longer avoid the conclusion we have all been dreading. But the final peak of violence is in all historical cases merely the visible tip of the iceberg. The frenzied killing was not something that just occurred to the Hutus one day in April 1994. It was the logical conclusion of a campaign of dehumanization and paranoia which lasted for years.
Source:CNN
October 23, 2017 05:26 UTC
Jambalaya suspected cause in Louisiana food poisoning outbreak
Jambalaya sold at a fundraiser in Caldwell Parish in northern Louisiana on October 16 is the suspected cause of the illnesses, according to the Louisiana Department of Health. "The fundraiser was supported by many local businesses throughout the community that purchased plates of jambalaya," the department said in a statement Thursday. "Health officials believe that at least 300 people were served the suspect jambalaya and are anticipating there will be more reports of illness in the next several days, the department said. "One death has occurred and an autopsy is occurring to determine if the death was caused by this illness or other causes." Jambalaya is a stew-like dish of Louisiana origin, made with meat, chicken, sausage, vegetables, rice and often seafood.
Source:CNN
October 23, 2017 05:26 UTC
The Blockchain of Food
Raja, their CEO, has compiled and written with his team, the following perspective and analysis on how to initiate, gain adoption and run a “Blockchain of Food” in the food supply chain. The Blockchain of Food provides a Web-of-Trust system that allows the participants to evaluate and validate assertions made about our food. The Blockchain of Food also provides a lexicon and ontology for describing attributes of our food as it moves through the supply chain. Theme 4 - Partial supply chain adoptionThe Blockchain of Food does not expect adoption by all participants in a supply chain. Example: In this very simple example, a local farmer and restaurant owner are connected with one another on the Blockchain of Food; however, the trucking company is not a member of the Blockchain of Food.
Source:Forbes
October 23, 2017 05:18 UTC