I recently came across this video, and it really is quite astounding. I am not sure if this is the first person to create a 3-D video rendering of Picasso's work, but I think others should try.
11.27.2009
11.21.2009
11.19.2009
11.10.2009
Its a Hard Knock Life Without Parole
Several years ago I signed an affidavit with the state of New Jersey stating that if I am ever the victim of a crime carrying the death penalty as a possible sentence, that I do not wish the state to seek such penalty. I believe that as the victim, I have that right for the state to seek the justice that I deem appropriate. Not my mother or father, or brothers or sister, just me. Hopefully I never get whacked, and this never matters in the future. You aren't going to read about the death penalty here but still I feel what happened yesterday is pretty relevant.
What does matter is the case heard before the Supreme Court yesterday, asking whether or not it is constitutional to send minors to prison for life with out parole for non-homicide crimes. (Luckily for our civilization, in Roper v Simmons, the 2005 the Supreme Court ruling that struck down the death penalty for people committing capital offenses under the aged of 18.) The lawyers for the two defendants, who were 16 and 13 at the time they committed their crimes argued that "The sentence is unequivocal and cruel because it rejects any hope that the adolescent can change"
Now I have not read the full arguments but I do not believe that the attorneys are arguing that their clients deserved to be released at any certain age, and this sits pretty well with me. What doesn't sit well with me is this:
"There are 111 inmates serving sentences of life without parole who
committed their nonhomicide crimes when they were younger than
18, of which 77 are in Florida prisons. There are 73 13- or 14-year-old
inmates serving such sentences"
However it begs the question of how do you rehabilitate a 13 year old kid who's made a couple of mistakes by throwing him in prison to hang out with other criminals? Does it matter if people are sentenced to life in prison at the age of 13, or spend their entire life in and out of the correctional system because, lets face it, with out present system, "corrections" is a complete misnomer.
I really do think that most children who are in a spot and hang out with the wrong crowd and get caught up in criminal activities can be completely rehabilitated and become productive and upstanding members of society. I also think that no one in the corrections system really cares. Life with out parole or any other sentence will probably mean the same thing the way the system works right now. We need to fix the system to have any hope of rehabilitating any criminals.
What does matter is the case heard before the Supreme Court yesterday, asking whether or not it is constitutional to send minors to prison for life with out parole for non-homicide crimes. (Luckily for our civilization, in Roper v Simmons, the 2005 the Supreme Court ruling that struck down the death penalty for people committing capital offenses under the aged of 18.) The lawyers for the two defendants, who were 16 and 13 at the time they committed their crimes argued that "The sentence is unequivocal and cruel because it rejects any hope that the adolescent can change"
Now I have not read the full arguments but I do not believe that the attorneys are arguing that their clients deserved to be released at any certain age, and this sits pretty well with me. What doesn't sit well with me is this:
"There are 111 inmates serving sentences of life without parole who
committed their nonhomicide crimes when they were younger than
18, of which 77 are in Florida prisons. There are 73 13- or 14-year-old
inmates serving such sentences"
However it begs the question of how do you rehabilitate a 13 year old kid who's made a couple of mistakes by throwing him in prison to hang out with other criminals? Does it matter if people are sentenced to life in prison at the age of 13, or spend their entire life in and out of the correctional system because, lets face it, with out present system, "corrections" is a complete misnomer.
I really do think that most children who are in a spot and hang out with the wrong crowd and get caught up in criminal activities can be completely rehabilitated and become productive and upstanding members of society. I also think that no one in the corrections system really cares. Life with out parole or any other sentence will probably mean the same thing the way the system works right now. We need to fix the system to have any hope of rehabilitating any criminals.
11.05.2009
10.26.2009
And.....We're Back!
Wow, what a hiatus that was. I don't know but there was just something going on and I couldn't bring myself to blog. How unusual, especially for those who know me well, ME not having anything to say? No way, Jose'.
So first things first. The Yankees won their 40th Pennant last night. It was so fitting it seems to have Mo getting the 6 out save with a monster strike out. I am happy that it was a spectacular series played between the Angels and the Yanks. I knew we would be triumphant, but the Angles are pretty much Yankee killers. Now we face off against the Phillies, the No. 1 and No. 2 most powerful offenses in the game. I'd like to see Joba and Hughes come out of their mini-slumps, and I would also like to never see Demaso Marte ever again. I love the entire core of this team, and I know that after we win Number 27 the 2009 New York Yankees will be one of the greatest teams ever assembled.
I have definitely fallen behind with the Day Zero Project. Although the list is not as slight as I have updated, I do need to speed up to stay on pace and accomplish my goals. It is a lot harder now that I am about 5 months into the project (out of 33, or 1001 days from May 15, 2009).
Right, I nearly forgot. I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you and that I love all of my friends and family out there who wished me a happy birthday. I didn't really do anything special (the newly traditional family-goes-out-for-dinner was great though, my first time eating at Mad Mex). I know all it takes today is a quick click on the key board and the birthday wishes are done, but still, I do appreciate all of my friend out there. It is good to hear from you and to know that you all are live and well.
Jared has been riding my butt about getting a post up, but I don't think he understands the fact that I was just totally wordless. Complete constipation of thought.
Well, I'm back. (Let's hope)
Oh yeah, and for you Canadian Bank customers, nothing happened with your account, its just me again.
Cheers.
So first things first. The Yankees won their 40th Pennant last night. It was so fitting it seems to have Mo getting the 6 out save with a monster strike out. I am happy that it was a spectacular series played between the Angels and the Yanks. I knew we would be triumphant, but the Angles are pretty much Yankee killers. Now we face off against the Phillies, the No. 1 and No. 2 most powerful offenses in the game. I'd like to see Joba and Hughes come out of their mini-slumps, and I would also like to never see Demaso Marte ever again. I love the entire core of this team, and I know that after we win Number 27 the 2009 New York Yankees will be one of the greatest teams ever assembled.
I have definitely fallen behind with the Day Zero Project. Although the list is not as slight as I have updated, I do need to speed up to stay on pace and accomplish my goals. It is a lot harder now that I am about 5 months into the project (out of 33, or 1001 days from May 15, 2009).
Right, I nearly forgot. I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you and that I love all of my friends and family out there who wished me a happy birthday. I didn't really do anything special (the newly traditional family-goes-out-for-dinner was great though, my first time eating at Mad Mex). I know all it takes today is a quick click on the key board and the birthday wishes are done, but still, I do appreciate all of my friend out there. It is good to hear from you and to know that you all are live and well.
Jared has been riding my butt about getting a post up, but I don't think he understands the fact that I was just totally wordless. Complete constipation of thought.
Well, I'm back. (Let's hope)
Oh yeah, and for you Canadian Bank customers, nothing happened with your account, its just me again.
Cheers.
10.14.2009
What is happening to me?
I have bloggers block! There is something going on and I can't seem to muster up anything interesting or fun to talk about. Not that anything I write here is interesting or fun anyway. But for some reason NOTHING is coming to me! I will get a Yankees update soon, before the game Friday. And hopefully by then I will have some other great stuff to publish to the entire world, especially those Canadians who think this is their bank.
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