The Pooh Pit
- Thread starter poohcarrot
- Start date
poohcarrot said:
So J-I*b, as the resident US expert on the US, what's your take on this story, then?
Is it an attack on US freedom of speech? Is the US now prosecuting thought crime?
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/ap ... ree-speech
Is it an attack on US freedom of speech? Is the US now prosecuting thought crime?
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/ap ... ree-speech
Personally, I do to think the case against this case is much, much weaker than the case against the Hutaree, who had the illegal guns and were clearly crazy right-wing nut jobs bent on crazy white wing militia nonsense. In Boston, such nut jobs would have been prosecuted. But in the rest of the country, where owning guns is a god-given right and being rapidly anti-government is considered normal, it's hard to make charges exist, particularly with the kind of right wing nut job Bush-appointed judges out there.
I haven't been blowed to follow the case really, but last i heard he wasn't charged with anything. and we only have his word for what happened. if they didn't hide behind that stupid florida law and there was a formal investigation thing would be different.
I don't like NBC editing the 911 call to make it look like this was a racial thing though.
and anyway, if you really want to talk crap about the way things are here, this, to me anyway, is more telling
http://www.g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/7 ... e-console/
key word programs is one thing, actually hacking into your console to have a look around is completely different.
I don't like NBC editing the 911 call to make it look like this was a racial thing though.
and anyway, if you really want to talk crap about the way things are here, this, to me anyway, is more telling
http://www.g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/7 ... e-console/
key word programs is one thing, actually hacking into your console to have a look around is completely different.
He's been charged with second degree murder.
That spying on your games is a bit spooky.
Anyhoos, onward and upward. :dance:
I mentioned a couple of months back that a massive git shopping mall was soon opening 15 minutes from where I live.
Tomorrow is the opening day, so armed with 70 quid and a camera, I'm going scouting. :dance:
That spying on your games is a bit spooky.
Anyhoos, onward and upward. :dance:
I mentioned a couple of months back that a massive git shopping mall was soon opening 15 minutes from where I live.
Tomorrow is the opening day, so armed with 70 quid and a camera, I'm going scouting. :dance:
Even if the kid did attack him (which I don't think he did) it's still Zimmerman's fault, he incited the entire thing. The situation was engineered by him and him alone. Martin just wanted to get an iced tea and a bag of skittles and was confronted by an aggressive armed nutbag.
All the evidence points towards Zimmerman violently confronting Martin, Martin fighting off Zimmerman and then Zimmerman shooting Martin.
That Zimmerman wasn't arrested and charged with murder immediately is despicable and I hope he rots in jail for the rest of his life.
All the evidence points towards Zimmerman violently confronting Martin, Martin fighting off Zimmerman and then Zimmerman shooting Martin.
That Zimmerman wasn't arrested and charged with murder immediately is despicable and I hope he rots in jail for the rest of his life.
[quote="stripy_tie]Even if the kid did attack him (which I don't think he did) it's still Zimmerman's fault, he incited the entire thing. The situation was engineered by him and him alone. Martin just wanted to get an iced tea and a bag of skittles and was confronted by an aggressive armed nutbag.
All the evidence points towards Zimmerman violently confronting Martin, Martin fighting off Zimmerman and then Zimmerman shooting Martin.
[/quote]
Actually, beyond the fact that Zimmerman pursued Martin, there's no clear evidence of anything at this point. No one (other than ZImmerman) really knows what actually went on when Zimmerman confronted Martin. A couple of witnesses claimed they saw a fight, but how close they were to the action and whether they're telling the truth is up to question. At this point, the amount of evidence released to the public certainly would not be enough to convict Zimmerman of second degree murder. The whole case hinges on whether Martin attacked Zimmerman or not. If Martin did, Zimmerman might get away with the 'self defense' defense, particularly in a place like Florida, which has one of the highest concentrations of crazy vigilantes and crazy criminals in the country.
Agreed that he should have been arrested immediately, when there was a chance to interrogate him and gather evidence. With this much time passing Zimmerman has had time to make up his alibi and bribe people to 'lie" as witnesses for him. But, again, until a clear, evidence-based picture of what really happened emerges, it is premature to assume that he is guilty of murder at this point.
All the evidence points towards Zimmerman violently confronting Martin, Martin fighting off Zimmerman and then Zimmerman shooting Martin.
[/quote]
Actually, beyond the fact that Zimmerman pursued Martin, there's no clear evidence of anything at this point. No one (other than ZImmerman) really knows what actually went on when Zimmerman confronted Martin. A couple of witnesses claimed they saw a fight, but how close they were to the action and whether they're telling the truth is up to question. At this point, the amount of evidence released to the public certainly would not be enough to convict Zimmerman of second degree murder. The whole case hinges on whether Martin attacked Zimmerman or not. If Martin did, Zimmerman might get away with the 'self defense' defense, particularly in a place like Florida, which has one of the highest concentrations of crazy vigilantes and crazy criminals in the country.
Agreed that he should have been arrested immediately, when there was a chance to interrogate him and gather evidence. With this much time passing Zimmerman has had time to make up his alibi and bribe people to 'lie" as witnesses for him. But, again, until a clear, evidence-based picture of what really happened emerges, it is premature to assume that he is guilty of murder at this point.
That's what I don't get, how can Zimmerman still claim self-defence when he was the one who created the whole situation in the first place?. If he hadn't been following Martin and gone on to confront Martin despite being told not to none of this would have ever happened.
Why can shooting an unarmed man you approached be claimed as self defence?
Why can shooting an unarmed man you approached be claimed as self defence?
A 171 shop outlet park opened today. :dance:
From my house to the outlet park took exactly 12 minutes and 48 seconds.
Big crowds waiting for it to open.
There were loads of TV crews there. They even interviewed me (in Japanese)! I think I blew my big TV chance though.
"Where are you from?"
"Sodegaura"
"How long did it take to get here?"
"12 minutes."
"Where are you from?"
"England"
"Will any of your friends come here because it's convenient for Haneda airport?"
"Maybe. It's a little far."
Good old Chiba-kun was at the opening ceremony (Mad Collector knows what I mean) and there were Taiko drums and a brass band playing "Sugar baby love" (Rubettes! )
Here's inside the mall.
And here's my 70 quid's worth of swag;
Shirt, cap, socks, shorts, salt-and-vinegar Pringles and some Thai deep fried crab meat curry called Poo Pad Pon curry.
From my house to the outlet park took exactly 12 minutes and 48 seconds.
Big crowds waiting for it to open.
There were loads of TV crews there. They even interviewed me (in Japanese)!
I think I blew my big TV chance though. "Where are you from?"
"Sodegaura"
"How long did it take to get here?"
"12 minutes."
"Where are you from?"
"England"
"Will any of your friends come here because it's convenient for Haneda airport?"
"Maybe. It's a little far."
Good old Chiba-kun was at the opening ceremony (Mad Collector knows what I mean) and there were Taiko drums and a brass band playing "Sugar baby love" (Rubettes!
)
Here's inside the mall.
And here's my 70 quid's worth of swag;
Shirt, cap, socks, shorts, salt-and-vinegar Pringles and some Thai deep fried crab meat curry called Poo Pad Pon curry.
That's the crux of the whole thing. Following someone who you think is suspicious is not a crime. Defending yourself with lethal force when you're begin attacked is not a crime (in Florida, at least). Everything that happened up to the point of the physical confrontation between Martin and ZImmerman is irrelevant. The whole case will hinge on the question of: 1) Who threw the first punch? and 2) During the confrontation, was Martin beating ZImmerman to a point where ZImmerman felt that he needed to use lethal force to save his life?
This is the million dollar question, and the actual evidence is, at best of Roshomon-level reliability.
This is the million dollar question, and the actual evidence is, at best of Roshomon-level reliability.
raptornx01 said:
Well, you've certainly acclimated to the culture
Of the 70+ students I have, approx 50 are wimmin aged 18+. Most of them will go to this outlet in the next couple of weeks. I've already been. It's topical and I have a good story to tell them about it. This means my lessons for the next week will be taken up with chatting about the outlet and showing them photos. So for spending a couple of hours waiting and shopping for some summer work clothes, means my students will all think I'm hip and trendy and it'll save me time planning lessons.
poohcarrot said:
You and mC are completely failing to realise the full significance of my visit. :dance:
Of the 70+ students I have, approx 50 are wimmin aged 18+. Most of them will go to this outlet in the next couple of weeks. I've already been. It's topical and I have a good story to tell them about it. This means my lessons for the next week will be taken up with chatting about the outlet and showing them photos. So for spending a couple of hours waiting and shopping for some summer work clothes, means my students will all think I'm hip and trendy and it'll save me time planning lessons.
Of the 70+ students I have, approx 50 are wimmin aged 18+. Most of them will go to this outlet in the next couple of weeks. I've already been. It's topical and I have a good story to tell them about it. This means my lessons for the next week will be taken up with chatting about the outlet and showing them photos. So for spending a couple of hours waiting and shopping for some summer work clothes, means my students will all think I'm hip and trendy and it'll save me time planning lessons.
