Blogging in Berkeley. Notes on news, politics, law, and technology in the US and China. [This blog is inactive. I am now staying busy and having a great time at UVA Law.]
Wednesday, April 27, 2005
NYU Dean on Scalia Incident
"The dean of NYU's School of Law defended himself at a Town Hall meeting yesterday against complaints that an e-mail he sent out to the law school community criticizing the recent protest against Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia was discriminatory and an attempt to silence opposition to the associate justice's visit.
'The balance struck in my message is one I still feel to be correct,' Revesz said.
In an e-mail sent out on April 15, Revesz described law student Eric Berndt's question to Scalia during a Q-and-A session, 'Do you sodomize your wife?' as being 'immature and inappropriate.' " ¶ 4/27/2005 11:02:00 AM
Washington Square News:
"The dean of NYU's School of Law defended himself at a Town Hall meeting yesterday against complaints that an e-mail he sent out to the law school community criticizing the recent protest against Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia was discriminatory and an attempt to silence opposition to the associate justice's visit.
'The balance struck in my message is one I still feel to be correct,' Revesz said.
In an e-mail sent out on April 15, Revesz described law student Eric Berndt's question to Scalia during a Q-and-A session, 'Do you sodomize your wife?' as being 'immature and inappropriate.' " ¶ 4/27/2005 11:02:00 AM
Family Entertainment and Copyright Act
"The bill, passed on Tuesday by the House, proposes up to 3 years in prison for anyone who electronically distributes a movie that hasn't been released on video or DVD, or songs or software that haven't been released to the public.
Experts said the bill focuses on expanding the types of activities covered under copyright law rather than increasing the penalties. Current law provides for up to 5 years and up to $250,000 in fines for copyright infringement.
The bill, which awaits the president's signature, also calls for up to 3 years' imprisonment for anyone who illegally distributes a copyrighted work for profit, distributes pirated material worth more than $1,000 or videotapes movies in theaters. Subsequent offenses carry up to 10 years in prison for copyright infringement of pre-release movies for financial gain." ¶ 4/27/2005 10:41:00 AM
Newsday.com: House bill calls for up to 3 years in prison for illegally distributing unreleased movies, songs:
"The bill, passed on Tuesday by the House, proposes up to 3 years in prison for anyone who electronically distributes a movie that hasn't been released on video or DVD, or songs or software that haven't been released to the public.
Experts said the bill focuses on expanding the types of activities covered under copyright law rather than increasing the penalties. Current law provides for up to 5 years and up to $250,000 in fines for copyright infringement.
The bill, which awaits the president's signature, also calls for up to 3 years' imprisonment for anyone who illegally distributes a copyrighted work for profit, distributes pirated material worth more than $1,000 or videotapes movies in theaters. Subsequent offenses carry up to 10 years in prison for copyright infringement of pre-release movies for financial gain." ¶ 4/27/2005 10:41:00 AM
Sunday, April 24, 2005
Supreme Court and "International Law"
"Earlier this week, House Majority Leader Tom DeLay singled out Justice Anthony Kennedy's work as 'incredibly outrageous' and 'activist,' citing his majority opinion in the death penalty case in particular because the Reagan appointee uses international law and 'does his own research on the Internet.'
Three of the justices -- Scalia, Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist and Clarence Thomas -- have said foreign law has no relevance. Scalia has been increasingly critical of the practice in recent months, pointing to decisions in recent years to decriminalize gay sex and ban the execution of the mentally retarded.
'I don't agree it's much ado about nothing,' Scalia said in response to O'Connor. Regarding the death penalty case, he said the majority led by Kennedy 'contradicted the view of the majority of the states.'
'I don't see how international law is relevant. I don't know what a South Africa court will tell you about American law,' he said. " ¶ 4/24/2005 09:09:00 PM
law.com - Article:
"Earlier this week, House Majority Leader Tom DeLay singled out Justice Anthony Kennedy's work as 'incredibly outrageous' and 'activist,' citing his majority opinion in the death penalty case in particular because the Reagan appointee uses international law and 'does his own research on the Internet.'
Three of the justices -- Scalia, Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist and Clarence Thomas -- have said foreign law has no relevance. Scalia has been increasingly critical of the practice in recent months, pointing to decisions in recent years to decriminalize gay sex and ban the execution of the mentally retarded.
'I don't agree it's much ado about nothing,' Scalia said in response to O'Connor. Regarding the death penalty case, he said the majority led by Kennedy 'contradicted the view of the majority of the states.'
'I don't see how international law is relevant. I don't know what a South Africa court will tell you about American law,' he said. " ¶ 4/24/2005 09:09:00 PM
Skydiver Struck by Plane
Albert Wing III hit the airplane that he jumped from Saturday morning, police Cmdr. Randel Henderson said. Police said the victim had opened his parachute when he struck the left wing at about 600 feet. His legs were severed at the knees, but he managed to land near an airport.
Wing was taken to a hospital, where he later died, Henderson said. The plane landed safely. DeLand is about 40 miles north of Orlando." ¶ 4/24/2005 09:18:00 AM
My Way News: "DELAND, Fla. (AP) - A man who was skydiving in central Florida struck the wing of a plane as he descended over an airport, losing both his legs in the accident. The man later died, officials said.
Albert Wing III hit the airplane that he jumped from Saturday morning, police Cmdr. Randel Henderson said. Police said the victim had opened his parachute when he struck the left wing at about 600 feet. His legs were severed at the knees, but he managed to land near an airport.
Wing was taken to a hospital, where he later died, Henderson said. The plane landed safely. DeLand is about 40 miles north of Orlando." ¶ 4/24/2005 09:18:00 AM
Friday, April 22, 2005
Political Twins
"Castro said today that his identical twin brother, San Antonio State Representative Joaquin Castro, took his spot on the San Antonio City Council barge during the Texas Cavaliers River Parade Monday night so he could attend another event.
'He was standing in the River Parade, because I had to host a neighborhood leaders meeting in District Seven,' Castro told 1200 WOAI's Rosalinda Montero." ¶ 4/22/2005 08:47:00 AM
WOAI: SAN ANTONIO//NEWS:
"Castro said today that his identical twin brother, San Antonio State Representative Joaquin Castro, took his spot on the San Antonio City Council barge during the Texas Cavaliers River Parade Monday night so he could attend another event.
'He was standing in the River Parade, because I had to host a neighborhood leaders meeting in District Seven,' Castro told 1200 WOAI's Rosalinda Montero." ¶ 4/22/2005 08:47:00 AM
Thursday, April 21, 2005
Sunday, April 17, 2005
U.S.-China Space Debris Collide in Orbit
U.S.-China Space Debris Collide in Orbit:
"In a unique case of space bumper cars, two pieces of rocket hardware have collided high above Earth. The orbital run-in involved a 31-year-old U.S. rocket body and a fragment from a more recently launched Chinese rocket stage.
The collision occurred on January 17 of this year, with the incident happening some 550 miles (885 kilometers) above Earth. That area of low Earth orbit (LEO) has an above-average satellite population density. The American and Chinese space hardware cruised through space in similar orbits at the time of the rear-ender." ¶ 4/17/2005 05:37:00 AM
The first Sino-US space collision...expect more to come.
U.S.-China Space Debris Collide in Orbit:
"In a unique case of space bumper cars, two pieces of rocket hardware have collided high above Earth. The orbital run-in involved a 31-year-old U.S. rocket body and a fragment from a more recently launched Chinese rocket stage.
The collision occurred on January 17 of this year, with the incident happening some 550 miles (885 kilometers) above Earth. That area of low Earth orbit (LEO) has an above-average satellite population density. The American and Chinese space hardware cruised through space in similar orbits at the time of the rear-ender." ¶ 4/17/2005 05:37:00 AM
Tuesday, April 12, 2005
China's Internet censors allow racist/sexist Condi posts
Chinese Internet sites recently attacked Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice using racist language, according to Hong Kong press reports.
The South China Morning Post reported that while the Beijing government closely monitors Chinese Internet sites, there are no limits on statements deemed politically correct in the communist country.
Beijing has sought to portray the Chinese as victims of racism, and Chinese officials regularly denounce the United States as racist.
However, numerous Chinese web sites heaped venom on Rice following her recent state visit, focusing on her race, sex and nationality. ¶ 4/12/2005 11:54:00 AM
World Tribune.com -- China's Internet censors allow racist/sexist Condi posts:
Chinese Internet sites recently attacked Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice using racist language, according to Hong Kong press reports.
The South China Morning Post reported that while the Beijing government closely monitors Chinese Internet sites, there are no limits on statements deemed politically correct in the communist country.
Beijing has sought to portray the Chinese as victims of racism, and Chinese officials regularly denounce the United States as racist.
However, numerous Chinese web sites heaped venom on Rice following her recent state visit, focusing on her race, sex and nationality. ¶ 4/12/2005 11:54:00 AM
Tuesday, April 05, 2005
Actors in the Insurgency Are Reluctant TV Stars
"Many of the suspects are former policemen who claim they were coerced into joining the insurgency by threats against their families. Though many claim to have attacked U.S. forces, the interviews focus on their atrocities against Iraqis and payments they allegedly received from Syrian and Saudi paymasters." ¶ 4/05/2005 01:13:00 PM
Actors in the Insurgency Are Reluctant TV Stars (washingtonpost.com):
"Many of the suspects are former policemen who claim they were coerced into joining the insurgency by threats against their families. Though many claim to have attacked U.S. forces, the interviews focus on their atrocities against Iraqis and payments they allegedly received from Syrian and Saudi paymasters." ¶ 4/05/2005 01:13:00 PM
