Funny what we don't hear...

Japan's lifting its ban on US beef which had been in place for the last two years, since mad cow was discovered here in December 2003. Interesting how the BBC says "The ban was a huge blow for the US, which counted Japan as its most lucrative export market," and yet this was the first I heard of it. Wouldn't it be a kicker if that's what stimulates our economy back up?

Parallels

People are heavily protesting the impending death of Tookie Williams, notorious killer and founder of the Crips gang in L.A. The argument goes that either he was framed (unlikely) in the deaths for which he is on death row, or that he is a reformed man. He was actually nominated for two Nobel Prizes - Peace, for his work to prevent children from joining gangs and for coming up with protocols for police to deal with gangs which the police still use, and Literature, for his children's books. Republicans/conservatives are traditionally in favor of the death penalty, while Democrats/liberals are against it. I am moderately against Tookie's death, but only mildly against the death penalty overall. Interestingly to me, Islamic nations are more likely to permit the death penalty than the average, while first-world nations are more likely to prohibit it.[1] International trends, UN recommendations, and the sheer expense of the court system are what lean me slightly against capital punishment in the US.

Even more interestingly, Tookie's case parallels that of Terri Schiavo - it was the many denied appeals in both cases that made the connection for me. And when it comes to right-to-die, Democrats/liberals are for, while Republicans/conservatives are against, the exact opposite of before. Worldwide, more liberal, modern, first-world countries are more likely to allow assisted suicide and prevent capital punishment. I moderately support the concept of right-to-die, though I revoke my support when the individual is unable to give informed consent (minors, intoxicated, developmentally disabled). I am uncertain in the case of individuals with chronic depression or other "mental handicaps" - suffering from chronic depression strikes me as even worse in some ways than suffering from say, cerebral palsy, but then again, you could argue that people with depression are legally insane and unable to give informed consent. Strangely, I get the impression that those of my friends who generally support a right to die are against it in the case of people with depression. But anyways, I'd be for a wait period, say a year, much like there's supposed to be a wait period to purchase handguns. And this is all in theory. Who knows how hypcritical I'd end up being if it were someone I knew.

Today is Resource Day

To take a page out of sclerotic_rings' book, here's a neato resource for you: free address labels from the United Spinal Association. Their purpose is to encourage people to donate to the group, associated with the Eastern Paralyzed Veterans Association.

On the one hand, I feel slightly guilty for mooching off of them while not donating in return (though I do donate to other groups), but on the other hand it must be a successful business model or they would've stopped. Maybe by telling others I up their chances to get an actual donor. :-P

The batch I got last year was around 30 address labels, 10 Christmas, 10 holidays, 10 year-round, and were shiny. I've used around 35 of them. This year's designs appear to be old-timey Christmas and winter themed.