Social Chat

I read this ARTICLE yesterday about a conference at Stillman College in Alabama on the topic of the “N” word. I must admit this seems quite intriguing. Apparently the conference is hoping to educate younger people to the history of the word and engage in a debate regarding whether or not it’s ok to use derivatives of the word in everyday speech. I’d be interested in reading results from the conference creators, especially if they were surveying the audience about the use of the word as well as other derivatives. What do you think? Should society condone the use of words very similar (the article uses the example of “nigga” instead of nigger)?

So, I’m sitting in Caribou Coffee Shop in Lake Geneva watching people drive their cars and trucks onto Geneva Lake. That could be a blog in itself. There is also a plane landing on Geneva Lake giving people rides (yes, the full-size airplane is landing on the ice and picking people up).

Anyway, the CIA is back in the news regarding their alleged participation in extraordinary renditions. Apparently, the agency kidnapped an alleged terrorist (or at least terrorist sympathizer) from Italy some time ago. Anyway, a judge has ordered several individuals (all who are either military or CIA) to stand trial in the kidnapping of this individual. Click HERE to read this article.

What’s going on with “Big Brother”? I’m beginning to get a bit paranoid while walking down the street (look out for the black SUV or van with the men in black). So now we’ve got allegedly 39 individuals who’ve been formally charged with kidnapping or at least conspiracy to kidnap. One has to wonder if our govt has always been doing this (and not been called on it) or if this is a new form of strategery. What do you think?

I found this ARTICLE and thought it might provoke some interesting comments. The article focuses on a the worlds oldest newspaper ceasing its paper publication beginning this past January.

I must admit I’ve never been much of a newspaper reader (I don’t like getting all the ink on my hands). I do read alot of news on the Internet, however. So what do you think? Is this a disaster? Do you think we need newspapers? If not, what about books (ebooks are becoming popular too). Let me know what you think.

I first heard this story last week on NPR (yes, I listen to NPR). I found this article on the topic and thought I’d blog about it. It sounds like a story out of a Tom Clancey Novel, but it’s actually a true story that is unfolding and involves our blessed USA.

The article involves the topic of extraordinary rendition, which is a procedure devised by the USA that involves the kidnapping of suspects allegedly involved in terrorism or supporting of such groups to countries other than the United States for imprisonment and interrogation (& more importantly torture). Suspects are taken to other countries to avoid US laws prescribing to such cumbersome things as due process and laws prohibiting torture. All this occurs while the USA has treaty agreements with many of the same countries against torture and the like.

So what do you think? Should our country be hopping around the globe snatching alleged terrorists? If so, under what conditions? Additionally, if we are to snatch people off the street, could we at least have the guts to bring them to the USA? Of course I guess that’s the only way we can “rationalize” torture or indefinite detainment. What do you think?

I found this article that focuses on a recent US Supreme Court Case regarding the sentencing of criminal offenders. Click HERE to check it out. I’ll blog about it more this week. Check it out and give me your thoughts.

Hello there! If you’ve arrived here trying to find Paul’s blog then you’ve come to the right place. I’ll be putting something up between now and Saturday so stay tuned…

This will be the final blog for this semester. I’ve enjoyed reading your input on these interesting stories. I found this article on CNN and found it pretty unbelievable to say the least.

Ok, so the kid has got some obvious discipline problems, but come one, arrested for opening his present early? Mom, you need to get a grip!

Wow, glad my mom had more patience with me!

I’ve been following the recent shooting of three individuals in NYC by five NY police officers. Click HERE to read the latest info from CNN. I initially thought “Holy Crap, these cops must have been on meth or something!” However, having read a bit about the alleged situation, I find it rather interesting.

The 3 individuals (two are still alive) were leaving the cabaret and being followed by an uncover police officer. Apparently, the driver hit the uncover officer with his vehicle (attempted murder of a police officer) and then hit a police minivan with 4 other plain clothes officers who had just driven onto the scene. If this is true, I can definitely understand why the officers were using deadly force (both hitting the minivan and police officer may have presented a use of deadly force against the police officers). However, I’d be interested in knowing if the minivan was a marked police car as well as if it had its sirens going (this goes to whether or not the 3 men knew the minivan was a police vehicle).

Apparently, the uncover officer had heard the men were armed (he probably radioed the others telling them the men were armed). I also have to wonder why the gentlemen attempted to flee the scene (of course it could have something to do with the 50 or so bullets flying in and around their car).

No matter what, I wonder how many bullets are too many for 3 unarmed men. The report says one police officer fired 31 bullets (unloading over two clips in his 9mm). I’m sure the story will unfold in several weeks; however, what do you think?

So it’s Monday night and I’m chillin in the Bay. I saw this article on CNN and thought it might spark some interesting comments. It’s about an 80+ year old man that was sentenced to probation and ordered to pay over $100,000.00 for running killing 10 and wounding 70 others when his car ran thru a farmer’s market in CA.

The gentleman has major physical issues that would have cost prison administrators much time and money so the judge decided to place him on probation. He could have rec’d 18 years. So, was this the right sentence?

Today we went to the Racine Correctional Institution (RCI) in Racine, WI. Fifty-eight students road the big yellow buses with me over to Racine (we were styling).

The tour of RCI was really cool. We were really allowed alot of access during the tour, much more than I thought we’d receive. The cell blocks were sort of a combination of pod and linear style; however, there were no cameras in the individual cells, which was a bit interesting.

All of the groups mingled amongst the inmates, which was really interesting and the educational programs offered at RCI were pretty substantial. At the end, we had a question and answer time with several of the employees. All in all, it was a really cool experience.

I’d be remiss if I forgot to mention the correctional officers, metal detectors, and brown paper bags at the front entrance.

What did you think? What was most interesting to you?