Ebola Quarantine

Ebola Quarantine - Is this a common sense health precaution to benefit the community (common good) or an unreasonable restriction on the individual liberties (and reputation) of a nurse who has sacrificed to help fight the crisis in Africa?

Here is an update from NBC news:

Can the police search your cell phone without a warrant?

That is the question the Supreme Court is hearing today. A report from National Public Radio.

Abortion Rights vs. Freedom of Speech at the Supreme Court

The Supreme Court yesterday heard arguments in a case involving both abortion rights and free speech rights in the state of Massachusetts.  Here is a report on the arguments at the Court on PBS:


A discussion with legal representatives from both sides followed up the story:

Nelson Mandela dead at 95

Sad news just released, former President Nelson Mandela, who worked to dismantle the racist apartheid system in South Africa has died after a long battle with ill health.  Here is a video looking back at his life and accomplishments from the New York Times:

Obama Addresses Problems with Launch of Healthcare Exchanges

News Conference - October 21, 2013

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Middle School Shooting in Nevada

Junior-High Teacher killed:

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The Budget Shutdown is over, but the problems may come back very soon.  From CNN Money, here are four reasons the deal is not that good.

Malala's Story Comes to the U.S.

Breaking News

Why the big fight over the filibuster in the Senate?

A good explainer by the Christian Science Monitor can answer your questions here.

Racism in Italian Politics

The Italian people recently elected, for the first time, a minister to Italy's Parliament whose parents were immigrants from Africa.  Cecilia Kyenge, however has been subject to a lot of verbal abuse, exposing racist attitudes in Italy.

Today comes news that a high ranking member of Italy's Northern League party, compared her appearance to that of an "orangutan".

Full story from the BBC here.

More Surveillance Decisions Being Conducted Without Public's Knowledge

Yet another report surfaced in the media today spelling out the extent to which the FISA (Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act) Court, at the request of the National Security Agency, has expanded the reasons the government may use to access private communications without a search warrant. 

I wonder why there isn't more outrage at, what seems to me, our government running afoul of the Fourth Amendment's provision requiring a warrant for government searches and seizures in to our persons, papers, homes, and effects.

The story was posted by the New York Times and can be read here.

Suspects in Boston Marathon Bombing Identified

One died in a police shootout and the other is still at large. The story from the New York Times.

A timeline of the showdown with police  is on USA Today.  They also have posted a videocast describing the events overnight.

Comments from a few classmates here.  A relative spoke to the media and called for the suspect to turn himself.

The hunt for the terrorists responsible for tragedy in Boston

The FBI has released pictures of two suspects and are asking the public to help in the search for these men.  A report from NBC News:

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And a report on the reaction in Boston to the release of the images:

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Reaction to Failure of Gun Reform Bill in Senate

President Obama and others were angered and frustrated by the failure of the Senate to pass a bill to reform gun laws.  A report from NBC News:

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Growing up in North Korea

From CNN:

Secretary of State John Kerry in China

Given the current anxiety over North Korea - a nation China has propped up for over sixty years - John Kerry's trip to China is a very important one for U.S. diplomatic strategy.

China is considered to be the only nation that has much influence over North Korea's government in Pyonyang, and they have shown some willingness to get tough with North Korea in recent months.  However, future cooperation with China over North Korea is by no means assured, and Secretary Kerry is there this week to try to strengthen that cooperation.

From CNN:

North Korea News

From NBC News:

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Nine Facts about Kim Jung-un

Slide Show:  Kiim Jung-un

More Evidence that Income Inequality is Harming the Overall Economy

Income Inequality May Take Toll on Growth

Romney Tries to Limit Damage from Leaked Video

From NBC Nightly News:

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NDAA's Indefinate Detention Provision Blocked by Judge

The National Defense Authorization Act was a great disappointment to civil libertarians.  However, they must take heart in this news:

Judge Rules Against Law on Indefinite Detention

From the NY Times article:

...the debate over the balance between national security and civil liberties is still unfolding 11 years after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11.

In the detention case, Judge Katherine B. Forrest of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York issued a permanent injunction barring the government from relying on the defense authorization law to hold people in indefinite military detention on suspicion that they “substantially supported” Al Qaeda or its allies — at least if they had no connection to the Sept. 11 attacks.

The United States has been detaining terrorism suspects indefinitely since 2001, relying on an authorization by Congress to use military force against perpetrators of the Sept. 11 attacks and those who helped them. Last year, Congress decided to create a federal statute that codified authority for such detentions.

I hope the Federal Courts continue to uphold constitutional principles as Judge Forrest has done in this case.