That is the simplest statement of the Nuremberg defense in German – “An order is an order.” Normally it is presented in the more elaborate form “I was just following orders” as a defense against prosecution.

Comrade Misfit has a post up, “Patrolman, Go Beat That Defenseless Old Woman to Death!”, that concerns the latest scandal in the NYPD, primarily dealing with fixing tickets, and has a picture of a protest by members of the patrolman’s union with signs that read “Just Following Orders”.

Fixing tickets is a Class A Misdemeanor in New York under Official Misconduct [Article 195.00 NYSPL]. Cops are paid to prevent crimes, not commit them. If someone in a white shirt told you to jump off the Brooklyn Bridge, would you do it?

The defense didn’t work for the German General Staff, and it won’t work for NYPD officers.

I’m Not Evil

It’s only the black cats that are evil… well, and the fluffy white cats who hang around with evil geniuses… OK, so some people are nervous about calicos… I guess Ted means you have to include the tuxedo cats… but no one thinks brown and beige tabbies are evil.

[Editor: Ted is found at Poor Mouth , and he is proud to be listed with evil cats everywhere. Despite appearances Excise is more of a klutz that evil… I mean: is that face evil? Really? You think so?

Now a supporter of the removal of the protestors: St Paul’s Dean Graeme Knowles resigns over protests

The dean of St Paul’s Cathedral in London has resigned, saying his position had become untenable.

The Very Rev Graeme Knowles said the past fortnight had been a testing time.

It follows weeks of protests outside the cathedral by anti-capitalist protesters, which led to the building being closed for several days.

The news comes as the City of London authorities ordered protesters outside St Paul’s to remove their tents and equipment within 48 hours.

Dean Knowles said he was stepping down “with great sadness”.

I assume that ‘Highway’ has a somewhat different meaning in Britain, probably going back to the original when it was any passage raised above the muck that was a feature of the life of the Middle Ages.

It is a bit of stretch to call the multi-nationals and 1% ‘capitalists’, plutocrats is closer to reality.

The BBC reports that MF Global files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection

US brokerage firm MF Global has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection after revealing £4bn of eurozone debt exposure.

The US brokerage, which has 2,000 staff worldwide including 600 in London, is said to be planning to sell its assets to rival Interactive Brokers Group.
…

Jon Corzine, who took over as chief executive of MF Global last year, made big bets on sovereign bonds issued by European countries, it is claimed.
…

MF Global’s roots go back nearly 230 years to a sugar brokerage on the banks of the River Thames in London.

They lost big bets made by a new CEO and they were a very old established firm. That’s the quick read.

This is being reported because it could be the first ‘rock’ of the coming avalanche caused by greed and austerity, but the mention of the sugar trade of 230 years ago should have reminded those that stayed awake in history class of the Atlantic Triangular Slave Trade, sugar being a major element of that system.

Even more interesting is the CEO. Yes, it is the same Jon Corzine who was a CEO of Goldman-Sachs before becoming a Senator and then governor of New Jersey. He was such a wonderful governor, that the voters elected Chris Christy to replace him. A dyed through the hide cerulean cur of a Democrat, who showed people where Zero wants to take the entire country. The 1% enjoy the thrill of gambling, but they do it with other people’s money.

Update: according to Duncan’s quoted article it would seem to have been ‘other people’s money’.

Whether you celebrate Celtic New Year’s Eve [Samhain], the evening before All Saints Day [Halloween], or the posting of Martin Luther’s Ninety-Five Theses in 1517 [Reformation Day], have a happy one.

Wikipedia does its normally thorough job of covering all of the bases on the holidays that share October 31^st.

My remembrances of Halloween

These “harvest festivals” aren’t fooling anyone.