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2005 July 27 — Why Now?
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Common Sense


CNN has a cheeky headline writer for: Cherie warns on anti-terror laws.

Responding to some reports of reaction to the London bombing: “Cherie Booth QC warned the government against an overly authoritarian reaction which would ‘cheapen our right to call ourselves a civilized nation.'”

Ms. Booth’s husband, Tony Blair, is a British politician, while she is a noted human rights attorney, who made her comments at an international conference in Malaysia.

…she said: “Nothing I say here could possibly be construed as making light of those horrible acts of violence or of the responsibility imposed on the UK and other governments to keep the public safe, or of the difficult and dangerous task performed by the police and intelligence services.”

But she added: “At the same time it is all too easy for us to respond to such terror in a way which undermines commitment to our most deeply held values and convictions and which cheapens our right to call ourselves a civilized nation.”

I find the use of her first name alone to be odd: she isn’t a rock star.

According to her bio:

Booth became a barrister in 1976 and Queen’s Counsel in 1995. In 1999 she was appointed a Recorder (a permanent part-time judge) in the County Court and Crown Court. She is Chancellor of Liverpool John Moores University, and Governor of the London School of Economics and the Open University. She is a founding member of Matrix Chambers, London, from which she continues to practice as a barrister.

When you throw in the fact that she is married to the British Prime Minister, she certainly deserves some common courtesy.


July 27, 2005   Comments Off on Common Sense

Shame Them


CNN has this on their front page: Pregnant Philadelphia mother of one missing.

The Philadelphia Citizens Crime Commission, with the help of a Philadelphia blogger, have launched a reward fund for information leading to Latoyia Figueroa, a 24-year-old pregnant mother of one who has been missing since July 18. The Philadelphia Citizens Crime Commission, with the help of a Philadelphia blogger, have launched a reward fund for information leading to Latoyia Figueroa, a 24-year-old pregnant mother of one who has been missing since July 18.

Richard “Cranium” of All Spin Zone, a Philly blogger is staying on the story and helping to raise a reward fund.

In addition to fund raising he has also been promoting an e-mail campaign and asking people to mention this case on their blogs. It appears he has had some success in raising the profile of this case, which is good news, but there are a lot of missing people that no one, other than their family and friends, ever hears about.


July 27, 2005   Comments Off on Shame Them