Quick hits

Posted on March 10, 2008 by Pete

The British have a camera that can detect objects concealed under clothes. (Also here.) Using the characteristic frequencies of low-level electromagnetic radiation emitted by all objects, such a camera can detect weapons, distinguish flour from cocaine, and pinpoint explosives. Britain is already one of the most surveilled countries in the world. Quis custodes ipsos custodiet?
China is doing to cats what Stalin did to the Cossacks. In their most recent action to make their country presentable for the Olympics, the Chinese have started Death Camps for Kitties™ in an effort to “clean” their streets of unwanted felines. Dubious claims about the contributions of the cat population to outbreaks of SARS have led many owners to abandon their cats in the streets. I am not the world’s biggest cat fan (being a dog person, myself), but I do enjoy the companionship of a friendly tabby or calico and I despise animal cruelty. Once again, China shows their fitness to join the ranks of First World countries.
The Vatican has once again usurped the authority of the Almighty by declaring new sins. Two areas, including pollution and bioethics, were the focus of an interview with the number two man in the Catholic church. I suppose it’s debatable about the first being classified as a sin. It is a biblical truth that man should be a good steward of the Earth, but it is also noted that man is the master of the birds, beasts, etc. Willfully destroying the environment is evil. Manipulating the environment for mankind’s use and purpose is not. I won’t even talk about bioethics, since in this regard, I typically break with most conservatives and people that visit the site like to hear me rant about conservative topics.
The ESA launched their “Space Truck” yesterday for a rendezvous with the International Space Station. Despite a propulsion flaw, engineers are confident that it will make its scheduled docking after the shuttle Endeavor unloads its cargo.
I’m speechless about this one: A former USA Today reporter who covered the 2001 anthrax scare is being fined for contempt because of her refusal to reveal a confidential source. I don’t really want to get into a discussion about whether she should or should not have revealed her source. What I do want to express outrage and surprise over is the fact that the judge has ruled that she has to pay the exorbitant (outlandish, unfair, and completely uncalled-for) contempt fines out of her own pocket. The judge’s injunction specifically prohibits USA Today from paying her fines, even though she was employed by them at the time the story was written. Granted, I’m not a lawyer, but that seems a little ridiculous to me.

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