Court allows mother to collect dead son’s sperm

This story just disturbed me, in a number of ways.

The story in a nutshell: Nik Evans died after a bar fight (he fell and hit his head).  His mother wants to carry out his wish of having children someday (according to her, he wanted three kids).  So before he’s taken off life support, she wanted to collect some of his sperm to carry out this wish.  Judge Guy Herman says yes.

This is a horrible story, and the mother is rightly grieving.  But keeping her son’s sperm so she can “keep a piece of him” isn’t the way to honor him.

There’s a bioethics expert from the University of Texas who says Texas state law gives parents control over a child’s body, but sperm isn’t clearly called out.  The problem here is that Evans wasn’t a child – he was 21, an adult for at least three years.  At want point do a parent’s right to the body of a child end?  Not having read the Texas law, I don’t know, and the article doesn’t mention it.

As an adoptive father and a supporter of zero population growth, I’m really disturbed that there are people out there collecting sperm from dead people to make more human beings.  We have plenty as it is - roughly 6.7 billion right now and counting – and we can’t keep them all fed and housed and clothed.  We don’t need more.

Texas judge allows collection of dead son's sperm

Its The Christians Who Practise Intolerance (from The Herald )

Well thought out and remarkably understated (for those who know my style).  Too short IMHO, but good nonetheless.

Its The Christians Who Practise Intolerance (from The Herald )

BBC NEWS | Entertainment | Reality TV star Jade Goody dies

I didn't know this person, and don't watch even the US version of the show, so I've no real connection to this, but was struck by the comment by PM Gordon Brown.  Yes, the leader of the government of Britain made a comment on the death of a participant of a “reality” TV program.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown said he was "deeply saddened" by the news and described Goody as "a courageous woman both in life and death".

Really, WTF is wrong with Britain?  Can anyone imagine Obama making a public statement if the Flavor of the Week on some US “reality” show died?  Why does Brown think an official public statement is required?  Is the voting public in Britain so out of touch with reality that this is acceptable?  Is the cult of personality and manufactured celebrity so powerful that it's perverting your government as well your society?

On the other hand, maybe this is a good thing - at least your bias for personality against reality is easier to see than it is in the States...

Seriously people, turn off your fucking televisions.

BBC NEWS | Entertainment | Reality TV star Jade Goody dies

Anger Over AIG Depletes Obama's Capital - CBS News

This has got me a little bent – populist “mobs” of people are in arms about this, and even Congressional leaders are asking tough questions.

Let’s do the math people – according to the article, AIG has recieved 170 billion (that $175,000,000,000) in government bailout money.

They then paid 165 million (that’s $165,000,000) in bonuses to top performers.

That represents 0.1 percent (or one dollar for every thousand) of government bailout money.  One tenth of one percent is what we’re up in arms about.

It just goes to show how much math education in this country needs to improve.

As for the Representatives and Senators asking where Treasury Secretrary Tim Geithner was when this was happening, I have one thing to say:  I fervently hope he was overseeing the distribution of the other 99.9% of the money, because I’m fairly certain none our legislators were.

Anger Over AIG Depletes Obama's Capital - CBS News

John Yoo Torture Memo | Salon

This is good stuff here.  I’m in the process of reading Yoo’s memos (one from October 23, 2001, and one from 2003), and if what the Salon story reports is true, this man needs to be in front a Congressional investigative panel for his role in the Bush administration’s war against the U.S. Constitution.

I’d say we need to include Bush as well, but I don’t think he’s smart enough to understand the charges and aid in his own defense. (Yes, it’s an ad hominem attack, but it’s funny)

UPDATE: Reading the 2001 memo, he quotes a lot of Alexander Hamilton.  I’ve been reading Hamilton’s Curse by Thomas Dilorenzo, and it seems to me that Hamilton wasn’t a great supporter of American liberty.

He also argues that Article 2 of the Constitution grants the President with the power to deal with national threats and direct the use of Armed Forces against terrorists.  I don’t see that in my copy of the Constitution – the President is the Commander and Chief, sure, but the power to wage war is granted to the the legislature.

More later as I read more…

John Yoo Torture Memo | Salon

Back with some disgust

It’s been a while since I posted, but I felt compelled.

I heard on the radio that Bernie Madoff was planning on pleading guilty to his charges on Thursday, and that he faced 150 years behind bars.

And that disgusted and appalled me.

Why, you ask?  Simple – because cops like Gregg Junnier, Jason Smith, and Arthur Tesler are only facing 21 years.  Combined.

And because people like Ryan Frederick are in jail for ten years for daring to defy other cops.

And because Cory Maye is in jail for life for the same self-defense as Ryan Frederick.

Simply put, I think it’s disgusting that Madoff may get more jail time for stealing money than three cops get for shooting an elderly woman.