TomSlick
TomSlick's JournalThe leaked draft opinion does prove one thing. SCOTUS is just another political body.
Putting aside for the moment that released draft strongly suggests that a majority of the Court is prepared to overturn Roe, the draft opinion would not have been released without the OK from a justice - no mere law clerk would take such a step on their own. The only explanation I have is that some member(s) of the Court is hoping to use public opinion to effect the final decision.
My personal opinion - unencumbered by evidence - is that one of the conservative judges is trying to stiffen the resolve of the majority.
The citadel has fallen. Stare decisis is dead. SCOTUS is just another political body in black robes and life tenure.
Infant formula shortage.
My son and daughter-in-law are having trouble finding infant formula.
I know there is none to be found in the local stores and it cannot be ordered on line.
My internet searching reveals a nationwide shortage caused by - wait for it - supply chain issues. I am unclear what is to be done if we cannot feed our infants.
I've had enough of the Infiniti ad with the kid orchestra butchering "Sprach Zarathustra."
Not only is it painful to hear but it is insulting to student musicians.
No kid's orchestra director would make the attempt. Kids that age should be performing "Bill Grogan's Goat." The message seems to be that student musicians are really bad. I was unlikely to ever buy an Infiniti, I'm not into conspicuous consumption, but there is no risk now.
Never again say "never again."
The Russians have long since destroyed any possible legitimate military target in Ukrainian cities. At this point, the Russians are shelling cities that have been reduced to rubble. The only reason to bounce rubble is to kill civilians. Any suggestion that the Russian shelling is merely indiscriminate and not intentionally targeting civilians is now untenable. The Russian target is not the Ukrainian army, it is the civilian population.
This conclusion leads to a question: Is there a line short of the border of a NATO country which the Russians may not cross in their war crimes or NATO will respond with force? Is Russia free to use chemical or biological weapons in Ukraine? Can Russian use tactical weapons or enhanced radiation (neutron) bombs in Ukraine without a response from NATO? Is Russia free to depopulate Ukraine by any means?
Is there anything short of crossing a NATO border that will result in a NATO military response? If not, the world should never again say "never again."
It's a damned good thing I'm not in charge.
I understand that national policy should not be made based on emotions but I'm past being dispassionate.
Putin is an international criminal. He committed a crime against peace by his invasion of a non-threatening neighbor. He has committed numerous war crimes by targeting civilians. He is engaging in genocide against the Ukrainian people. But targeting a maternity hospital is simply a bridge too far. Dispassionate decision making be damned. Something has to be done to preserve international law.
If I was in charge, I would give the Russian military an ultimatum to withdraw from Ukraine within 24 hours or the US will intervene in Ukraine to prevent additional war crimes. That intervention could include attacks on any Russian military units in Ukraine and artillery units in Russia that fire on Ukraine.
It's a damned good thing I'm not in charge.
I heard the first crack in the US obligation under Article V of the NATO treaty.
Lawrence O'Donnell and Eugene Robinson were discussing the return of the Cold War and how nuclear powers simply cannot get into a shooting war with each other lest it escalate to a nuclear exchange.
The discussion was about why NATO cannot impose a no-fly zone in Ukraine. However, this will be the argument for why the US must not honor its NATO obligations when Russian invades the Baltic States or Poland.
If Putin is not stopped in Ukraine, he will attack a NATO member. The US must decide soon where the red line is drawn. Is an attack on Latvia crossing the line? How about attacking Poland or Germany?
Free Band Arrangement of the Ukrainian National Anthem.
If your college, high school, or community band wants to play the Ukrainian National Anthem, there is a free pdf of US Army band arrangement.
[link:https://www.acbands.org/ukraine-anthem|
I'm starting tomorrow I'm bugging the director of my community band to play this in our next concert.
TomSlick
Trombone hack
The twins are both home!
Mac was released from the NICU this afternoon. Mom, Dad, and grandmother claim to be able to tell them apart. I’m skeptical.
The tension level is way down. Two more beautiful baby girls the world has never seen.
At-home covid tests.
I got "the word" that the local health department had at-home covid tests to give away and managed to score three boxes with two tests each. I have ordered the tests from the federal government site but these from the health department will be good to have until the federal ones arrive.
There was no public announcement - I just heard the tests were available.
It might be worthwhile to call your local health department and ask.
I need any medics out there to talk me off the ledge.
My newborn granddaughter has been in the NICU for a week. She was placed in the NICU due to early breathing concerns.
She's off O2. She's eating more and weighs more than her twin sister at home. (The pediatrician tells us the child at home is thriving.) The NICU docs will not (or at least have not) talked to the parents in days. The nurses (the only people with whom the parents can speak) keep providing different metrics for her release. The parents are convinced she is being held in the NICU until her calculated due date - in two more weeks. (It's probably a good thing that her G-Dad can't get through the door due to Covid restrictions.)
At some point, laying in an NICU bed instead of being held by her parents and grandparents - especially her G-Dad - has to be bad for her development.
I get it, my degree is in law and not medicine and obviously don't know what I'm talking about. Someone out there who does know, please tell me that everything is fine.
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Gender: MaleHometown: Arkansas
Home country: USA
Current location: Arkansas, USA
Member since: Mon May 15, 2017, 09:46 PM
Number of posts: 11,096
