US juries get verdict wrong in one of six cases: study: "So much for US justice: juries get the verdict wrong in one out of six criminal cases and judges don't do much better, a new study has found.
And when they make those mistakes, both judges and juries are far more likely to send an innocent person to jail than to let a guilty person go free, according to an upcoming study out of Northwestern University. "
---------------------
And so...? What is the conclusion?
Maybe the juries would do better if the rules of evidence were not so silly, designed to enrich trial lawyers and keep the truth from being heard in court.
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Thursday, June 28, 2007
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Posted For Your Information
This is the exact reason why government power must be limited and the extent of government limited. Without the constitutional protections provide by the Bill of Rights, individuals can use the government to promote their own wealth and spite.
The founders of the United States understood this clearly, for more clearly than the modern public-school education illiterates.
Kuwait Detains Teacher
International Schools Review received this letter on June 23, 2007
from an international educator being detained in Kuwait. If you can
help her, or know of someone who can, please act immediately.
________________________________
FROM: Al-Bayan Bilingual School Middle School
Deputy Principal, Kuwait
TO: Whom It May Concern
DATE: June 21, 2007
RE: Detained in Kuwait/In Fear for My Safety
I am a Middle School Vice-Principal at Al-Bayan Bilingual School in
Kuwait. I have been employed in Kuwait for 6 years at the same
school.
One of my primary responsibilities is student discipline. On March 8,
2006, three boys in grade 5 were suspended for fighting. I
interviewed the boys, met with my principal and followed normal procedure. There
is no stigma here regarding suspension. Students spend the day in the
office where they study, are visited by teachers, and are taken to
the canteen, etc. It’s a normal consequence for fighting; all students
are aware of this and the procedure is clearly defined in our Parent
Handbook.
In the afternoon of March 8th, I received a phone call from one of
the boys' fathers, (name deleted) who is a powerful man in Kuwait. He
called to inform me that this situation was "personal," that he is
"friends with the emir" and that he planned to "destroy" me. This
conversation, which last about 9 minutes, was littered with
profanities and threats.
On March 11, 2006, the parents met with me, my principal and our
director, (name deleted), to discuss the suspension. The father
requested that if there was an issue involving his child that I would
call him immediately.
On April 27, 2006, I was requested to write a synopsis of events and
to visit the Ministry of Education to answer questions regarding the
suspension, describe the room in which the boys spent the school day
and provide a copy of our handbook.
In June 2006, the father transferred his children to a different
private school in Kuwait. Also, we received notification from the
Ministry of Education that in-school suspensions were no longer to be
applied; instead, parents must be contacted to take their children
home.
In February 2007, I learned that a case had been filed against me at
the Jabriya Police Department in Kuwait; the charge was "illegal
detainment" of his son on March 8, 2006. I answered questions in my
director’s presence and the Consul from the US Embassy, (name deleted). My lawyer was also present. The police did not suggest that there was any reason for me to be concerned as all of the questions were answered to the apparent satisfaction.
On June 13, 2007, I was at the Kuwait International Airport intending
to fly to Bahrain. I was stopped at immigration where I was informed
that there was a case against me, pending further investigation and
that a travel ban had been placed on me. I had not been informed. My
lawyer had not been informed. This travel ban was placed upon me
15 months after the boy was suspended. The parent said that he would
make this personal and this seems to be what he is intent upon doing.
On Saturday, June 16, 2007, I visited the American Embassy where I
met with the Vice Consul, (name deleted), who informed me that he
sympathized but could do nothing to lift the travel ban. He suggested
that I get an older Kuwaiti man to appeal to Mr. M. I was told
on Wednesday that my file would be transferred to another agency for
review so the ban could be lifted. Five working days later, the
whereabouts of my file are uncertain. I have been told that my file
is in 2 different places; this seems to be a delay tactic. Why? Because
I angered an influential Kuwaiti national who is at the top of the
social register both locally and at the US Embassy?
On I visited the office of a police inspector named (name deleted,)
whose office is in Salmiya. He is a police official who was to
evaluate my file and determine if I could leave or not. He stated
that he didn’t have my file. I visited him on June 17th and 18th. On June
18th, not five minutes after I left his office with my director, the
Business Officer of my school and another school representative, I
called Mr. C, Vice-Consul at the US Embassy to gain his
insight into the situation and to see if any progress had been made
to help me leave. He was completely aware of my visit to Mr. (name deleted)
office and instructed that I not return as it "interfered."
Several Kuwaiti families are aware of my situation but they are not
in a position to help or they don’t want to get involved. They have ALL
said that I should go to my embassy because my embassy can help me.
The fact that the embassy can’t seems shocking to everyone. Many
people also question why this accusation from Mr. M is placed
solely on me - not the school, not the principal, not the director of
school. I feel that I am being used as an example because I am a
single, American woman and he wants to show others that he can do
what he said which is to "destroy" me.
Yesterday, June 20, 2007, I received a paper from Mr. (name deleted)
office in Salmiya which lifted the travel ban. This waiver had been
granted by the Kuwait Minister of the Interior. Not long after the
Minister released me, he reversed his decision at the request of the
(name deleted) family or his representatives. I went to the airport last
night, only to learn that I couldn’t leave.
I am in fear for my safety. If the Embassy can’t help me, then who
can? I contacted the FBI in Riyad, Saudi Arabia yesterday and talked
to (name deleted) who couldn’t give me his last name. He was non-committal
but did suggest that he thought the embassy should be able to get me out.
(name deleted) has informed me that they are "working on it." That
seems a little vague and I am not sure if the US Embassy completely
realizes the level of danger that I feel that I am in. Why does Mr.
M want me in Kuwait during the summer when no one from my
school will be in country to offer their support? To make me feel
vulnerable?
He is well-connect and his friends are supporting his mission to
damage me in any way that he can. What’s next?
I do not feel safe. I am not safe. I need someone from the US to
acknowledge the urgency of my situation and coordinate my release. I
committed no crime. I am simply the victim of "wasta" which roughly
translates into "influence/pressure" at a high level.
For the inside word on International Schools
InternationalSchoolsReview.com
This message was sent from International Schools Review
This is the exact reason why government power must be limited and the extent of government limited. Without the constitutional protections provide by the Bill of Rights, individuals can use the government to promote their own wealth and spite.
The founders of the United States understood this clearly, for more clearly than the modern public-school education illiterates.
Kuwait Detains Teacher
International Schools Review received this letter on June 23, 2007
from an international educator being detained in Kuwait. If you can
help her, or know of someone who can, please act immediately.
________________________________
FROM: Al-Bayan Bilingual School Middle School
Deputy Principal, Kuwait
TO: Whom It May Concern
DATE: June 21, 2007
RE: Detained in Kuwait/In Fear for My Safety
I am a Middle School Vice-Principal at Al-Bayan Bilingual School in
Kuwait. I have been employed in Kuwait for 6 years at the same
school.
One of my primary responsibilities is student discipline. On March 8,
2006, three boys in grade 5 were suspended for fighting. I
interviewed the boys, met with my principal and followed normal procedure. There
is no stigma here regarding suspension. Students spend the day in the
office where they study, are visited by teachers, and are taken to
the canteen, etc. It’s a normal consequence for fighting; all students
are aware of this and the procedure is clearly defined in our Parent
Handbook.
In the afternoon of March 8th, I received a phone call from one of
the boys' fathers, (name deleted) who is a powerful man in Kuwait. He
called to inform me that this situation was "personal," that he is
"friends with the emir" and that he planned to "destroy" me. This
conversation, which last about 9 minutes, was littered with
profanities and threats.
On March 11, 2006, the parents met with me, my principal and our
director, (name deleted), to discuss the suspension. The father
requested that if there was an issue involving his child that I would
call him immediately.
On April 27, 2006, I was requested to write a synopsis of events and
to visit the Ministry of Education to answer questions regarding the
suspension, describe the room in which the boys spent the school day
and provide a copy of our handbook.
In June 2006, the father transferred his children to a different
private school in Kuwait. Also, we received notification from the
Ministry of Education that in-school suspensions were no longer to be
applied; instead, parents must be contacted to take their children
home.
In February 2007, I learned that a case had been filed against me at
the Jabriya Police Department in Kuwait; the charge was "illegal
detainment" of his son on March 8, 2006. I answered questions in my
director’s presence and the Consul from the US Embassy, (name deleted). My lawyer was also present. The police did not suggest that there was any reason for me to be concerned as all of the questions were answered to the apparent satisfaction.
On June 13, 2007, I was at the Kuwait International Airport intending
to fly to Bahrain. I was stopped at immigration where I was informed
that there was a case against me, pending further investigation and
that a travel ban had been placed on me. I had not been informed. My
lawyer had not been informed. This travel ban was placed upon me
15 months after the boy was suspended. The parent said that he would
make this personal and this seems to be what he is intent upon doing.
On Saturday, June 16, 2007, I visited the American Embassy where I
met with the Vice Consul, (name deleted), who informed me that he
sympathized but could do nothing to lift the travel ban. He suggested
that I get an older Kuwaiti man to appeal to Mr. M. I was told
on Wednesday that my file would be transferred to another agency for
review so the ban could be lifted. Five working days later, the
whereabouts of my file are uncertain. I have been told that my file
is in 2 different places; this seems to be a delay tactic. Why? Because
I angered an influential Kuwaiti national who is at the top of the
social register both locally and at the US Embassy?
On I visited the office of a police inspector named (name deleted,)
whose office is in Salmiya. He is a police official who was to
evaluate my file and determine if I could leave or not. He stated
that he didn’t have my file. I visited him on June 17th and 18th. On June
18th, not five minutes after I left his office with my director, the
Business Officer of my school and another school representative, I
called Mr. C, Vice-Consul at the US Embassy to gain his
insight into the situation and to see if any progress had been made
to help me leave. He was completely aware of my visit to Mr. (name deleted)
office and instructed that I not return as it "interfered."
Several Kuwaiti families are aware of my situation but they are not
in a position to help or they don’t want to get involved. They have ALL
said that I should go to my embassy because my embassy can help me.
The fact that the embassy can’t seems shocking to everyone. Many
people also question why this accusation from Mr. M is placed
solely on me - not the school, not the principal, not the director of
school. I feel that I am being used as an example because I am a
single, American woman and he wants to show others that he can do
what he said which is to "destroy" me.
Yesterday, June 20, 2007, I received a paper from Mr. (name deleted)
office in Salmiya which lifted the travel ban. This waiver had been
granted by the Kuwait Minister of the Interior. Not long after the
Minister released me, he reversed his decision at the request of the
(name deleted) family or his representatives. I went to the airport last
night, only to learn that I couldn’t leave.
I am in fear for my safety. If the Embassy can’t help me, then who
can? I contacted the FBI in Riyad, Saudi Arabia yesterday and talked
to (name deleted) who couldn’t give me his last name. He was non-committal
but did suggest that he thought the embassy should be able to get me out.
(name deleted) has informed me that they are "working on it." That
seems a little vague and I am not sure if the US Embassy completely
realizes the level of danger that I feel that I am in. Why does Mr.
M want me in Kuwait during the summer when no one from my
school will be in country to offer their support? To make me feel
vulnerable?
He is well-connect and his friends are supporting his mission to
damage me in any way that he can. What’s next?
I do not feel safe. I am not safe. I need someone from the US to
acknowledge the urgency of my situation and coordinate my release. I
committed no crime. I am simply the victim of "wasta" which roughly
translates into "influence/pressure" at a high level.
For the inside word on International Schools
InternationalSchoolsReview.com
This message was sent from International Schools Review
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Sex Education Has Been Very Successful, Don't You Know?
FOXNews.com - Democrats Aim To Kill Abstinence-Only Program Funding - Politics | Republican Party | Democratic Party | Political Spectrum: " Democrats long skeptical that abstinence-only programs are more effective than 'comprehensive' sex-ed classes are trying to reverse Bush administration policy and kill a key entitlement program for abstinence-only funding set to expire Jun. 30."
------------
It was sometime in 1959, I think. One of the part-time things I did was to report on the news to a small Christian radio station in Southern Oregon. I attended one of the local school board meetings to report on a controversy over sex education materials that were being introduced to one of the school districts. The materials were very explicit for those days, but would appear exceedingly mild by today's [non]standards.
The pro-sexeducationist back then were saying the same thing they say today. "We need more neutral sex-education, in order to avoid unwanted pregnancies and free teens from the "oppression" of their [judgmental] parents." It was said almost as bluntly as that.
There was no Federal Department of Education in those days, very little federal funding of education, so the sex-education struggle was fought at the local and state levels.
Looking back at the last fifty years, I would say that the sex-education programs in the public schools have been highly successful. I think that those who supported the programs were liars then and are liars today. The goal never was to reduce teen pregnancies or diseases. It was to introduce a new morality of complete sexual freedom, homosexuality, and it has succeeded beyond the wildest imaginations of the proponents. They are emboldened to complete their project which has as its goal the elimination of the Christian family and to legalize bestiality and pedophilia, among other things.
I only knew of one girl who quit school because she was pregnant, and none who were pregnant in school. There may have been others, but I did not know of them. It was obvious that sommething needed to be done. I don't know how people like my grandparents managed to have 12-14 children, being so ignorant about sexual things. We highschoolers of the early 1950's were not nearly as sophisticated in sexual matters as modern teenagers; we did not have the benefit of sex education classes, pornography in every store and on the Internet, rampant in movies and television.
Yes, I would say that the sex education programs on all levels have succeeded. Unwanted pregnancies and abortion have been eradicated, sexual diseases eliminated, and young people get along famously with their [non] judgmental parents. Don't they?
FOXNews.com - Democrats Aim To Kill Abstinence-Only Program Funding - Politics | Republican Party | Democratic Party | Political Spectrum: " Democrats long skeptical that abstinence-only programs are more effective than 'comprehensive' sex-ed classes are trying to reverse Bush administration policy and kill a key entitlement program for abstinence-only funding set to expire Jun. 30."
------------
It was sometime in 1959, I think. One of the part-time things I did was to report on the news to a small Christian radio station in Southern Oregon. I attended one of the local school board meetings to report on a controversy over sex education materials that were being introduced to one of the school districts. The materials were very explicit for those days, but would appear exceedingly mild by today's [non]standards.
The pro-sexeducationist back then were saying the same thing they say today. "We need more neutral sex-education, in order to avoid unwanted pregnancies and free teens from the "oppression" of their [judgmental] parents." It was said almost as bluntly as that.
There was no Federal Department of Education in those days, very little federal funding of education, so the sex-education struggle was fought at the local and state levels.
Looking back at the last fifty years, I would say that the sex-education programs in the public schools have been highly successful. I think that those who supported the programs were liars then and are liars today. The goal never was to reduce teen pregnancies or diseases. It was to introduce a new morality of complete sexual freedom, homosexuality, and it has succeeded beyond the wildest imaginations of the proponents. They are emboldened to complete their project which has as its goal the elimination of the Christian family and to legalize bestiality and pedophilia, among other things.
I only knew of one girl who quit school because she was pregnant, and none who were pregnant in school. There may have been others, but I did not know of them. It was obvious that sommething needed to be done. I don't know how people like my grandparents managed to have 12-14 children, being so ignorant about sexual things. We highschoolers of the early 1950's were not nearly as sophisticated in sexual matters as modern teenagers; we did not have the benefit of sex education classes, pornography in every store and on the Internet, rampant in movies and television.
Yes, I would say that the sex education programs on all levels have succeeded. Unwanted pregnancies and abortion have been eradicated, sexual diseases eliminated, and young people get along famously with their [non] judgmental parents. Don't they?
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