I live in Norway now, one of the most progressive countries (justice system focuses on rehabilitation not punishment, for example). Sexual offenders came up in conversation with a friend, and I showed him the map of my old neighborhood in the US which shows where sex offenders live, complete with name and offense(s). He was horrified. "How can these people ever hope to get better when they will be stigmatized for the rest of their lives?" he asked. I agree. Don't you? And yet, as a parent, I want to know... don't you?

Tricky. Tricky.

This is great, most people don't believe me when I tell them that jurors are allowed to vote anyway they please without regard to what the judge or prosecutors tell them.

I agree that Obama's policies are no question better for the poor. It just strikes me that that happens via rhetoric that mostly talks about the benefits to the middle class. Policy is less often pursued "in the name of" helping the poor.

On your second point, I commented elsewhere on here today that there is only one issue, and that is campaign finance reform. It is the underlying issue that affects every single issue people on both sides of the aisle care about.

I commented elsewhere on here today that there is only one issue, and that is campaign finance reform. It is the underlying issue that affects every single issue people on both sides of the aisle care about

Everybody is screwed as long as we continue to call legal constructions invented for the purpose of generating wealth 'people'.

They are mistaking correlation for causation. Apple stock always rises before the product release than dips down after the big announcement. Is just a question of how much.

A more likely cause that Forbes is missing is Apple's inability to meet demand. The iPhone 5 is back ordered three to four weeks, and has been for a couple weeks. Even with their mastery of the global supply chain, they can't come close to meeting demand. That translates to fewer sales and lower profits for speculators of Apple stock.

I think it's the height of silliness to think that poorly received reviews on their map app (that anybody not reading tech news probably didn't hear, -like my sister, uncle, and father, who all have new iPhones or the newest version of the OS) shaved 30 billion off the value of Apple's stock. This is a classic case of eager analysts over estimating Apple sales combined with supply constraints IMO. But nowadays who really knows why the market does what it does for any stock. It isn't human beings that are doing the buying and selling...

Raw milk yuck. But if you want it, I think you should have it. Please turn your head away when you puke though.

What? Why? Have you ever had any?

When I was a kid, we'd go to the market in the outskirts of the city in the morning. By the time we bought it, it was usually still warm.

Quite honestly, I don't see anything wrong with raw milk as long as it's fresh and the cow lives in "proper" conditions. It strikes me as odd that something that seemingly "normal" is downright illegal here in the States.

It would be a good thing if everyone had a slice of the earth that they cared deeply about. I have one. I guess that most people, at least in the US, don't have an appreciation for what it means to feel a connection to the land, to an actual physical space. I feel bad for those that don't.

We live in a world of virtual concerns, but a real one encompasses it.

Re: the first part about agriculture and the changes it has wrought, a more pessimistic perspective: http://www.hubski.com/pub?id=1852

October surprise bitches.