Category Archives: Society

A rose by any other name

June 23, 2009 – 6:14 pm

What’s in a name? that which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet…
(Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, 1594)
Or not. I remember when a friend’s husband was employed by a large telco, he was asked to change his Islamic sounding name to “Michael” when taking calls from customers. Being a very easy-going fellow, [...]

By Legal Eagle | Also posted in General, Racism | Tagged , | Comments (61)

Anonymous no more…

June 18, 2009 – 9:02 pm

I can’t believe there is a case called The Author of A Blog v Times Newspapers Limited [2009] EWHC 1358 (QB). But there is.
“The Author of A Blog” cited as the claimant was the pseudonymous author of a blog known as “Night Jack”. He was a police officer whose blog provided an inside view of [...]

By Legal Eagle | Also posted in Blogging, England, Internet, Law, Media, Privacy, Technology | Tagged , , , , | Comments (26)

MONDAY FUNNIES: Selective Termination

June 2, 2009 – 5:57 am

A prominent US abortion doctor has been shot dead at a church in the city of Wichita, Kansas.
Dr George Tiller, one of the few US doctors who performed late-term abortions, had been vilified by anti-abortionists in the US. The gunman fled in a car, but officials say a suspect is now in custody. US Attorney [...]

By DeusExMacintosh | Also posted in Feminism, Funnies, Human/Civil rights, Personal liberty, Politics, Pregnancy, Religion, Terrorism | Tagged , , , | Comments (160)

Predictably enough…

May 31, 2009 – 3:55 pm

President Obama has appointed Sonia Sotomayor to the US Supreme Court to replace David Souter. Predictably enough, elements in the Republican Party have questioned her appointment. The criticisms are not of her gender and ethnicity per se, but of certain comments she made at a talk in 2001 about the gender and ethnicity of judges:
Newt [...]

By Legal Eagle | Also posted in Feminism, Law | Tagged , , , | Comments (13)

Monday Funnies: The Right Dishonourable Members

May 18, 2009 – 9:56 pm

David Cameron has called for a wider crackdown on MP’s allowances as he and Gordon Brown clashed on the issue at prime minister’s questions…
The exchanges came after days of damaging allegations over MPs expenses.
A growing number of MPs from all parties have agreed to pay back thousands of pounds claimed in expenses after reports based [...]

By DeusExMacintosh | Also posted in Education, Funnies, Law, Politics | Tagged , , | Comments (18)

Uncivil rights

April 12, 2009 – 6:00 am

Councils in England and Wales have used controversial spying laws 10,000 times in the past five years, figures obtained by the Liberal Democrats show.
The Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (Ripa) was designed to fight serious crime. But officials have been using it to spy on suspected dog fouling, littering and other minor offences.
The government has [...]

By DeusExMacintosh | Also posted in Art, England, Funnies, Law, Personal liberty, Politics, Privacy | Tagged , | Comments (11)

Queen visits Iraq

April 9, 2009 – 6:00 am

Business Secretary Lord Mandelson is leading the first British business delegation to Iraq in over 20 years.
Representatives from 23 companies are accompanying the business secretary on a one-day trip to Baghdad and Basra. The group will meet Iraqi government ministers to discuss how they can contribute to the economic reconstruction of the country…
Lord Mandelson [...]

By DeusExMacintosh | Also posted in Economics, Funnies, Middle east, Personal liberty, Politics, Religion | Tagged , | Comments (56)

Whiskey Galore

March 29, 2009 – 6:00 am

A lorry carrying whisky has crashed, causing alcohol and fuel to spill onto a road in the Highlands.
Emergency services were called to the scene on the A95 at about 1415 GMT.
Northern Constabulary said diversions were in place through Skye of Curr and the Dulnain Bridge road until the wreck was cleared.
Meanwhile, emergency services said a [...]

By DeusExMacintosh | Also posted in Funnies | Tagged , , | Comments (3)

Thoughts on juries and justice

February 27, 2009 – 8:05 pm

The other day, I was supposed to be doing PhD thesis when I got caught watching the documentary called The Times of Harvey Milk, which featured real archival footage of the various people involved. Once I’d started watching, I couldn’t stop. Of course, Sean Penn has just received an Oscar for his portrayal of Harvey [...]

By Legal Eagle | Also posted in Law, Public Policy | Tagged , , , , , | Comments (14)

Publication with prejudice

February 16, 2009 – 3:50 pm

A man has been arrested and charged with arson causing death of at least 11 people in connection with the Churchill bushfire. Initially, the identity of the accused was subject to a suppression order, but despite this, vigilante groups on Facebook published the accused’s name, address and photograph. A magistrate has lifted the suppression order, [...]

By Legal Eagle | Also posted in Free Speech, Internet, Law, Media | Tagged , , , , | Comments (76)