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Slashback: Justice, Settlement, Cosmos 213

Posted by timothy from the sad-to-depart-sweet-fair-seattle dept.
Slashback tonight with updates on the Supreme Court's take on takings, money available for unlucky DeskStar disk drive owners, Parliament's Jedi, and more. Read on for the details.

"It is important, likewise, that the habits of thinking in a free country should inspire caution in those entrusted with its administration ..." zarathud writes "Logan Darrow Clements has begun the application process to build a hotel on land owned by Supreme Court Justice David H. Souter. This could be allowed under Eminent Domain after the controversial 5-4 Kelo vs. New London ruling which Souter voted for. Justice Souter's home currently occupies the land. The planned hotel, to be called 'The Lost Liberty Hotel,' will include a public exhibit on the loss of American Freedom. 'This is not a prank,' said Clements, 'The Towne of Weare has five people on the Board of Selectmen. If three of them vote to use the power of eminent domain to take this land from Mr. Souter we can begin our hotel development.'"

Call everyone Sir, just to be safe. Yesterday we posted an item about the first self-proclaimed Jedi in Parliament; here are two updates to the already-updated story. Americans (like me!) may still be baffled by the complications of the honorifics involved.

Stefan Magdalinski writes "If you want to link to the actual speech, then can I suggest you use our volunteer-run, open source, reimplementation of parliament's awful website?"

And reader Russell Dewhurst writes "All MPs (Members of Parliament) are called the Hon. Member for X... If the MP for Copeland were a Privy Councillor he would be the _Rt_ Hon (Right Honourable) Member for Copeland. So the original article was correct, and the correction was wrong, I'm afraid!"

Thanks to everyone who's weighed in on this.

MozNews interviews Daniel Glazman, NVu Lead Dev bluephone writes "Now that NVu 1.0 has been officially released, we at MozillaNews asked Daniel Glazman to take some time to give us another interview to book-end our first interview with him, early in NVu's development. He was gracious as always, and fast! Read the interview for unavoidable laws, plans for the future of NVu and Daniel, and even news about his company's upcoming release."

Tom Clancy, eat my shorts. hydraa16 writes "The Cosmos 1 Solar Sail failed to reach orbit. This video shows its loading in a Russian Delta III Submarine, and its launch in the cold Barents Sea!"

If you accidentally blew up your DeskStar, the Empire will repay you. hardreset writes "Remember the day when the IBM 75GXP was the hot new drive? Then ... do you remember the day(s) it bit the dust? If you still have the serial number(s), you may be eligible for a $100/drive settlement from IBM. The settlement page is over here, claim form is here, and the Inquirer article is here. For those of you wearing tinfoil hats, you don't have to send in your drive. For those of you who work for IBM or live overseas, don't bother. If you're hoarding these drives, it might be a good payday!"

You'd have to pay me a lot to listen to the results. Kethinov writes "Because Trent Reznor's release of The Hand That Feeds was a spectacular success, he's decided to release more free musical source material for remixing and listening delight. The new release is another track off his new album With Teeth entitled Only. Interestingly, now he's offering multiple formats for the material instead of just Apple's Garageband format. So now non Apple users too can join the fun."

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Slashback: Justice, Settlement, Cosmos More

Slashback: Justice, Settlement, Cosmos

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  • Great news on Nvu (Score:3, Insightful)

    by Sv-Manowar ( 772313 ) on Thursday June 30, 2005 @07:02PM (#12955928) Homepage Journal
    Its great to see Nvu (the Mozilla XHTML/HTML editor project) coming of age. A free XHTML able WYSIWYG editor is a tool many starting out building webpages could find useful, and begin to bring standards compliant design & creation in from the ground up, not just for professionals and those who choose to learn how to hand code clean and compliant code. I can only see this as a good step forward for compliant markup.

    • WebQuark? (Score:3, Interesting)

      by Doc Ruby ( 173196 )
      I just saw a demo of a WYSIWYG, drag & drop Web page editor, where you drag around page elements: real text (with associated styler/editor) sections, images, video windows, all scaleable/positionable/stylabe. HTML is seen/touched only on demand, not to layout. It's written in JavaScript, .NET and connects live to a SQLServer backend for its library, including saved pages. It all runs in an unmodified Internet Explorer, without ActiveX, Java or other client-installed SW. They say the update for FireFox i

      • Re:WebQuark? (Score:4, Interesting)

        by dmaxwell ( 43234 ) on Thursday June 30, 2005 @07:30PM (#12956133)
        Does it generate clean HTML or will web devs have to clean up after this tool as well?

        • Re:WebQuark? (Score:4, Informative)

          by jarich ( 733129 ) on Thursday June 30, 2005 @07:43PM (#12956218) Homepage Journal
          Does it generate clean HTML or will web devs have to clean up after this tool as well?

          I'm no HTML guru but it looks clean to me.

          I've pulled it down and installed it for myself and my wife. It's not perfect but very decent. It's better than FrontPage which is saying quite a bit.

          It has an annoying habit when you edit the raw HTML though... every time you save (CTRL-S), it switches to preview mode... quite annoying as I have a habit of saving after every line.

          The link editor doesn't let you specify the target for the new link so you have to add it by hand...

          But those are the only two complaints I have. Other than that, I think Nvu is the best HTML editor I've used.

          • "The link editor doesn't let you specify the target for the new link so you have to add it by hand..."

            The "target" attribute is deprecated in Strict DTDs, and should not be used.
            • The "target" attribute is deprecated in Strict DTDs, and should not be used.

              What should I be using instead? Like I said, I'm not an HTML guru...

              • Re:WebQuark? (Score:3, Informative)

                by Sheriff Fatman ( 602092 ) *

                Stick with target, but use the XHTML Frameset DTD [w3.org] instead.

              • Don't use it.

                If I want the bloody link in a new window I'll right click and choose 'open in a new window' thanks.
              • Thats simple enough:

                <a href="http://foo.com" onclick="window.open(this.href); return false;">

                window.open(this.href) opens a new browser window with the link's URL, and return false prevents the link from also loading in the parent window.

                No javascript? No problem! It will load just like a regular link will.

                You can use this to work around agressive popup blockers, or situations where the page takes awhil e to load, and blocker's like mozilla's are agressive while the page is loading.

          • Two other things:

            When you change to "view source" mode, all of a sudden you lose your tabs in the tabbed pane (e.g. if you had multiple documents open, the tabs just disappear).

            Also, the tabs on the bottom are very... "weird". When selected, a tab doesn't just "come to the front", it inverts upside down as if the selection process "flipped" the tab. That certainly is not in keeping with any other interface, or indeed the real world equivalent of the tab metaphor.

          • Re:WebQuark? (Score:3, Informative)

            by Shaper_pmp ( 825142 )
            "It's better than FrontPage which is saying quite a bit."

            Really? I dunno if Frontpage has improved beyond recognition over the last couple of years, but last time I looked at it the phrase "better then Frontpage" said nothing at all . ;-)

            "The link editor doesn't let you specify the target for the new link so you have to add it by hand..."

            The TARGET attribute of links has been deprecated according to XHTML 1.0 Strict - this is part of an effort to separate content, presentation and behaviour.

            Instead

          • It's better than FrontPage which is saying quite a bit.

            No, actually, that's saying very little. About as little as you can say and still have opened your mouth, I'm afraid.

          • It has an annoying habit when you edit the raw HTML though... every time you save (CTRL-S), it switches to preview mode...

            That's my biggest gripe too. Apart from that it makes clean, neat HTML IMO.

            J.

        • The HTML looked pretty clean. But I tried only simple layouts. What would you suggest I try with it, when I test it again, that's hard for simple "HTML AI" to generate as simple code?
      • Care to name this magical editor?

  • Bummer (Score:3, Informative)

    by Pivot ( 4465 ) on Thursday June 30, 2005 @07:03PM (#12955934)
    As always, people overseas don't get any compensation for crappy products...

    I have two of these lying that has failed and one sitting in this computer which I am keeping a really close eye on...
    • My school's had two 60GXPs fail. Unfortunately, this class action only covers the 75GXP...
    • My new Palm Tungsten E2 lists the warranty as 90 days but if you are in the EU it is 2 years. What gives?

      • Re:Not Always (Score:3, Informative)

        by numark ( 577503 )
        The European Union requires that all consumer goods sold within the Union have at least a 2 year warranty on them. The US has much less strict standards (often none at all), and therefore companies can get away with offering short warranties.
    • You should be able to get $50 just for the serial number on eBay or craigslist.
      • You should be able to get $50 just for the serial number on eBay or craigslist.

        I second that recommendation.
        Either that, or hook up with a stateside friend and use his name and address. It is possible that IBM can tell the drive was sold overseas, but it is at least as possible that they will be too disorganized to even check.
      • If you read the form, or the http://www.ibmdeskstar75gxplitigation.com/faqs.as p [ibmdesksta...gation.com]">FAQ, you'll see that only drives that were officially reported by last February as having failed are elligable for the $100 payment. It's too late to report a dead drive (which sucks for those of us who have them but didn't bother to report them earlier). Otherwise, all you get is 25 CDRs or a 15% coupon for future IBM purchases.

        Not only does the drive have to be in the database of previously reported failed drives, bu

    • Send me the serials? ;)

      Seriously. You're just as intitled to the $200 for your 2 drives as anyone else, why not just get help from someone in the US to get your cash or, if you're more ethical than that, send the serials to someone who isn't? :)

      • Seriously. You're just as intitled to the $200 for your 2 drives as anyone else,

        Seriously, no, you're not. Only class members are entitled. You must meet several conditions to join the class.

        why not just get help from someone in the US to get your cash or,

        Because you won't be able to meet the requirements. That's why.

        if you're more ethical than that, send the serials to someone who isn't? :)

        Even if your accomplice is unethical enough to create a fraudlent invoice showing the drive was purch

  • Lost Liberty Hotel? (Score:5, Interesting)

    by Locke2005 ( 849178 ) on Thursday June 30, 2005 @07:04PM (#12955944)
    Damn! Where do I invest? Sure sounds like poetic justice to me!

    • Re:Lost Liberty Hotel? (Score:4, Funny)

      by SpaceLifeForm ( 228190 ) on Thursday June 30, 2005 @07:27PM (#12956113)
      And the "The Lost Liberty Hotel" will feature the "Just Desserts Café".

    • If you follow the link, there's info at the bottom of the page. http://www.freenation.tv/hotellostliberty2.html [freenation.tv]

      I particularly like the "Just Desserts Cafe."
    • I've already signed the pledge. Can't wait to spend a week there!
    • Damn! Where do I invest? Sure sounds like poetic justice to me!

      But to a judge it will sound like reprisal for a court decision you did not like.
      Courts are not in the business of dispensing poetic justice.

  • I love America! (Score:5, Insightful)

    by Romancer ( 19668 ) <`moc.roodshtaed' `ta' `recnamor'> on Thursday June 30, 2005 @07:06PM (#12955960) Journal
    Hell yeah, build a hotel on his land, this is america and those in power should be held to at least the same level as those they enforce the law upon!

    • Re:I love America! (Score:5, Informative)

      by Romancer ( 19668 ) <`moc.roodshtaed' `ta' `recnamor'> on Thursday June 30, 2005 @07:12PM (#12955999) Journal
      E-mail in support of the economic benifits, please do some research and present as good an argument as possible in your e-mails.

      Board of Selectmen for the towne of Weare:

      Laura Buono, Chair Person
      lbuono@weare.nh.gov

      Leon Methot, Vice-Chair
      lmethot@weare.nh.gov

      Heleen Kurk
      hkurk@weare.nh.gov

      Joseph Fiala
      jfiala@weare.nh.gov

      Donna Osborne
      dosborne@weare.nh.gov

      • Dear Board Of Selectmen,

        I don't live there (not that I want to). I don't pay taxes there (not that I would). I have no idea who you people are (neither does your constituents). I'm sure your area needs a new hotel (so does every other boondock in America). I'm sure taking the Supreme Court Justice's farmhouse wouldn't be a problem (he did approve that dandy decision). Yes, a brand new hotel is much better than a Wal-Mart (he might put dog poop on your table and set it on fire). It's a small price to be a
        • How about:

          I will come visit and spend tourist dollars and create an influx of cash to your towne. Isn't that in the best interest of the people?
          • Actually, I don't think any town would welcome the /. community. It's bad enough that servers get slashdotted, I don't think the towns would appreciate being slashdotted by people. It'll be like the motorcycle clubs visiting Hollister [hollisterrally.com].
            • Imagine if they have free T1 access in the rooms, Lan parties at night, electronic expos, and 24hr Dew and Nacho room service. The /. crowd would never leave the hotel. all the taxes generated would be great, not to mention how many local computer stores would get giant sales boosts because of forgotten equipment or emergency upgrades.

      • Re:I love America! (Score:5, Informative)

        by Xyrus ( 755017 ) on Thursday June 30, 2005 @08:48PM (#12956652) Journal
        Ironically enough, this is a smart economic move. Weare's beach is a fairly popular place in the summer, and few can forget the famous bike week.

        My guess is Souter really isn't making much use of that land, and having a new hotel would increase tourism to the area. This would increase jobs and encourage growth as well.

        There's also several nearby ski-resorts, so the place could be popular in winter as well (I've only been there in the warmer months so I don't know).

        What applies to one applies to all.

        ~X~
        • Your thinking of the wrong Weare.

          Weare, NH is a small town near Henniker, NH in the western part of the state.

          Weirs Beach is a popular tourist attraction, but it is near Lake Winnipesaukee in the eastern part of the state.

      • Re:I love America! (Score:3, Insightful)

        by StikyPad ( 445176 )
        Right.. because I'm sure New Hampshirians (Hampshirites? Hampshirees?) just love getting letters from outsiders who want to tell them how to run their government, and this doesn't have the possibility to backfire [guardian.co.uk] at all.

        If you don't live in the town of Weare, these people aren't your representatives, and by trying to influence their decisions based on what you feel is right goes against everything a republic is supposed to be.

        I fully hope the land is reclaimed, but I'm sure the people who live there are
    • The story at boston.com [boston.com] has more details and the city planners have so far said they will give due consideration.
    • I was OK with the idea until I read that they were going to include a copy of Atlas Shrugged in place of a Gideon's Bible. It kind of takes it to a juvenile level. Just leave the bible out, please, and I'll bring my own reading material. On second thought, make it an OpenGL Superbible and I'll go for it.

  • As a supporter of Fair Use... (Score:3, Interesting)

    by Anonymous Coward on Thursday June 30, 2005 @07:07PM (#12955967)
    ...I strongly believe the government should instigate a policy of Eminent Domain on Intellectual Property, not just Real Property.

    It would work like this: once a work reached a critical mass of popularity, the government would sieze it, pay the creator a reasonable sum, and make the work freely available for downloading and sharing.

    In this way, never again would a citizen of this great nation be subject to the stigma of not having seen/heard the latest hot movie/tv show/song. It would also encourage creativity with uses like mashups, re-edits, funny overdubs, etc.

    Support Fair Use!

  • deskstar (Score:2, Informative)

    by songofthephoenix ( 858004 )
    Remember the day when the IBM 75GXP was the hot new drive? Then ... do you remember the day(s) it bit the dust? If you still have the serial number(s), you may be eligible for a $100/drive settlement from IBM.

    A quick search on ebay reveals some of these drives going nice and cheap.

    • Sadly, it's not that simple. From the FAQ on the settlement:


      Q. What kind of documentation is necessary to establish whether my hard disk drive is covered by the Settlement?

      A. The documentation must demonstrate your purchase of the 75GXP hard disk drive from an authorized seller. Invoices, receipts or purchase agreements, in combination with the credit / debit card statements, are the best form of documentation. The validity of information and/or documentation demonstrating your purchase of a 75GXP will

  • Selectmen? Elect 'em! (Score:5, Informative)

    by Tackhead ( 54550 ) on Thursday June 30, 2005 @07:12PM (#12955995)
    > 'The Towne of Weare has five people on the Board of Selectmen. If three of them vote to use the power of eminent domain to take this land from Mr. Souter we can begin our hotel development.

    Your town may vary, but in many towns, the Board of Selectmen is elected. And if you didn't know that, neither do 99% of your fellow citizens.

    What this means is that if three of them (or even if all five of 'em) don't vote to use the power of eminent domain (either because they think the planned redevelopment is a crock, or because they just don't care for Objectivists), it's entirely up to the citizens of Weare can choose whether or not their Selectmen are (or are not) worthy of re-election in a year or two.

    I don't live in Weare. None of my business either way. But the Just Desserts Cafe sure sounds like a nice place for a bite to eat, should I be passing through the neighborhood.

    • ...it's entirely up to the citizens of Weare can choose whether or not their Selectmen are (or are not) worthy of re-election in a year or two.

      This Kelo decision has made me so made I've made a pledge about it. I'm partly mad at the SCOTUS, partly mad at myself for not being awake sooner, but mostly mad at the petty tyrants inhabiting our local city governments.

      I will no longer vote for any incumbent candidate, whether it be dog catcher or president or anyone in between. Ever again. I've been burned and
      • I will no longer vote for any incumbent candidate, whether it be dog catcher or president or anyone in between. Ever again. I've been burned and I've learned my lesson.

        I can't believe I just read this -how stupid are you? Assuming you have a choice between candidates (in practice, for most posts, you have two choices, though you may disagree on that) it would be stupid to vote against the better choice simply because s/he is an incumbent!
        • I have to disagree. Most of the reason we are in this mess is that we have "politician" both a socio-economic class, and a career path. Both are wrong. You can't have a "good old boy" network passing out building contracts to the highest bidder like they were papal indulgences, without incumbents embedded in the system.

          From my point of view, we aren't electing public officials to be lords and rulers over us, we're electing to be our representatives. But they can't represent us if they are not us! I want sc
          • I want school teachers and shopkeepers and electricians and truck drivers on the city council, not politicians

            The problem is how to break the loggerhead.

            Term limits seem to be the only way that would be effective, but it's impossible to get that passed by incumbents.

            Back in the good-old days we could have a referendum in each state requiring the Senators to impose such a rule but the 17th Amendment really screwed that up.

            So the best we can hope for is to elect new legislators and have them pledge to en
      • That's pretty much how I've voted for years now. However, not all incumbents are corrupt, so I'll at least try to think of something they've done that I've liked first, that isn't totally outweighed by something really bad I can remember them doing.

        Of course, I can count on one hand the number that have passed that test.

  • Make it a chain... of 5 (Score:5, Funny)

    by iamwahoo2 ( 594922 ) on Thursday June 30, 2005 @07:13PM (#12956003)
    Would be even better if they made a chain of hotels with locations in five cities.
    • That's how I was about to phrase my comment, but you beat me. :p

      New London should also elect new committee which would then sieze the homes of the former one. >:)

    • Would be even better if they made a chain of hotels with locations in five cities.

      That would be incredibly dumb considering that this decision didn't do anything other than reaffirm previous rulings; no new eminent domain powers were granted.

      I don't see why this Court is taking so MUCH flak for upholding something that the Court has upheld on numerous occasions in the past, and I don't see why people think using eminent domain to take private property and transfer it to another private owner is anythi

      • because the whole idea behind property is that you get to decide when you should or should not sell it. It BELONGS to you regardless of how many corrupt ruling have happened in the past.

        If it takes new laws to keep this from happening anymore, then so be it. But for most of us who understand what the words "property" and "ownership" mean, we do not see it as necessary.

        That is what this whole dispute boils down to and why 4 of the justices did not support the decision. It is a difference of opinion on wha

        • [quote]because the whole idea behind property is that you get to decide when you should or should not sell it.[/quote]

          I don't know what country you're in, but that's never been true in the US. Even before the 16th Amendment, real property (e.g. land) was something you had to pay yearly to keep, as it still is. And nobody sane doesn't agree with eminent domain in some cases (e.g if needed to put in a water treatment plant for the town)--and at the very least you'd have to admit that refusing something lik
      • "it is not beyond the power of Congress..."

        Congress had nothing to do with this, it happened at a local level.
        • [quote]Congress had nothing to do with this, it happened at a local level[/quote]

          Right, but there's no additional Constitutional restriction on local governments with respect to eminent domain. The only reason it was Congress in this case was because the seizure was in DC (which Congress governs); similar seizures happened in actual states at the behest of local governments.

  • Cosmos 1 and failure (Score:5, Interesting)

    by FleaPlus ( 6935 ) on Thursday June 30, 2005 @07:24PM (#12956081) Journal
    Glenn Reynolds (i.e. the Instapundit) recently wrote a piece for Tech Central Station on the failure of the Planetary Society's Cosmos 1, which I thought was quite well-said. Here's a quote:

    http://techcentralstation.com/062905J.html [techcentralstation.com]

    Some might accuse [Planetary Society directory] Friedman of putting a Pollyannaish spin on things, but I'd say he's learned the most important lesson of all: It's hard to accomplish much if you're afraid to fail.

    The history of success in all sorts of endeavors -- including the early days of space travel, when we were making rapid progress -- is a history of repeated failures. I don't think it's a coincidence that when the failure rate declined, so did our rate of progress. You learn from failure, and you learn from trying lots of different things. Unfortunately, fear of failure -- like fear in general -- is contagious. But fortunately, so is bravery. When people act unafraid of failure, other people may pick up on the message.

    The Planetary Society's mission was, really, a failure: It was supposed to test solar sails, and it never got the chance. But, simply by happening, and by having the Planetary Society emerge with its head bloody, but unbowed, it accomplished something useful by opening up (metaphorical) space for others to try risky but low-cost approaches without worrying too much about the fallout. And that's good.

    Because, as I've noted before, when you're not afraid of failure you can try lots of different things and figure out what works best. If you're afraid of failing, on the other hand, you build huge, process-laden, documentation-heavy, behemoths that -- in a way -- are already failures before they ever start because they're too hard to change and improve, and because they don't generate enough useful knowledge to allow further progress. (See, e.g., the Space Shuttle program).

    The Planetary Society's launch, despite Lou Friedman's views, failed. But the approach it embodied is the only approach that's likely to achieve substantial success in the long run. And that's a kind of success in itself. Let's hope that we'll see more of this sort of thing in the future.

  • Take That Farmhouse... (Score:3, Funny)

    by __aaclcg7560 ( 824291 ) on Thursday June 30, 2005 @07:33PM (#12956161)
    If the Supreme Court Justice's farmhouse can be taken to build a hotel, it won't be long before the Earth is replaced with a Galatic Freeway.

  • Maybe this is a victory of sorts? (Score:4, Interesting)

    by otter42 ( 190544 ) on Thursday June 30, 2005 @07:34PM (#12956165) Homepage Journal
    I had the idea that we should found a small community and then declare copyrighted works public domain. Now of course you couldn't do that for everything, since major corps like Disney would shit lawyers on you, but you could declare eminent domain on all copyrighted works over 20 years-old. if anyone complains, you "reinstate" their copyright. For a fee.

    The economic claim is not only simple, but real. Imagine now you can scan and digitally print those old photos of your grandparents, you can archive old books and movie, and you can adapt and derive with impunity. That's one magnificent cottage industry just waiting to be formed.

    So maybe this USC decision will actually have a silver lining. Without doing anything quite so ridculous and doomed to failure as traing to seize a Supreme Court justice's house.
    • I wish I had mod points. I'm not sure your idea would work exactly as stated, but I bet someone could come up with something along very similar lines with respect to copyright that would.

      Civil disobedience!
    • Nice hack, but alas it won't work. Not for long anyway. Federal copyright and patent law pre-empts state and local law, and I suspect that Congress would pass a law preventing this sort of taking in a heart-beat.

      I also suspect that you would only be able to take such property from individuals or corporations residing within your jurisdiction.

  • Impeach the surpream court (Score:5, Insightful)

    by bluGill ( 862 ) on Thursday June 30, 2005 @08:35PM (#12956580)

    Many people do not realize that supream court justices can be impeached.

    Section. 2.

    Clause 5: The House of Representatives shall chuse their Speaker and other Officers; and shall have the sole Power of Impeachment.

    Section. 3

    Clause 6: The Senate shall have the sole Power to try all Impeachments. When sitting for that Purpose, they shall be on Oath or Affirmation. When the President of the United States is tried, the Chief Justice shall preside: And no Person shall be convicted without the Concurrence of two thirds of the Members present.
    Clause 7: Judgment in Cases of Impeachment shall not extend further than to removal from Office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any Office of honor, Trust or Profit under the United States: but the Party convicted shall nevertheless be liable and subject to Indictment, Trial, Judgment and Punishment, according to Law.

    Section. 1.

    The judicial Power of the United States, shall be vested in one supreme Court, and in such inferior Courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish. The Judges, both of the supreme and inferior Courts, shall hold their Offices during good Behaviour, and shall, at stated Times, receive for their Services, a Compensation, which shall not be diminished during their Continuance in Office.

    Amendment V

    No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

    Since clearly those 5 justices cannot read, congress has a duty to remove them from their office. I know many of you don't like the idea of Bush choosing 5 justices (perhaps more, there are rumors of retirement), but that is better than letting these 5 sit on then court. Write your congressmen and make it so.

    Actually they don't need to be removed from office, just a reminder that the constitution governs this land may be enough.

    • A lot of people don't realize that the famous "Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" quote is supposed to read:

      Locke wrote that under the law of nature, every man has "a power not only to preserve his property -- that is, his life, liberty and estate, against the injuries and attempts of other men, but to judge of and punish the breaches of that law in others."

      Guess who the founding fathers used as their main source of inspiration?

      Did you answer Locke? Good.
      Apparently the Supreme Court forgot about

    • Re:Impeach the surpream court (Score:4, Insightful)

      by (H)elix1 ( 231155 ) <slashdot.helix@nOSPaM.gmail.com> on Thursday June 30, 2005 @10:09PM (#12957179) Homepage Journal
      nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

      You know, I would love to think I could interpret that to mean exactly like it sounds, but after seeing how

      "To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries;"

      is implemented, I'm not hopeful...
    • I know many of you don't like the idea of Bush choosing 5 justices (perhaps more, there are rumors of retirement), but that is better than letting these 5 sit on then court. Write your congressmen and make it so.

      I guess you're not familiar with the phrase "choose your battles?" Trying to unseat justices when you know they'd be replaced with people you're more likely to disagree with is just shooting yourself in the foot.

      Change for change's sake is a fool's creed.

      Also you're not Picard, and I'm not you
    • I agree with the dislike of the ruling (as I am now in a sticky spot myself), but I'll bite on the logic of impeachment since you took the time to dig up some references.

      It is true that supreme court justices can be impeached, but the grounds for impeachment being "high crimes and misdomenors", not "unconstitutional opinions".

      From the Regency School of Law, article by Steven Fitschen:

      One of the most intriguing aspects of the history of impeachment in America is that no judge has ever been impeached

      • Intersting article. It however seems to contradict what you are saying. An unconstitutional option is in fact reason to impeach a judge - that is the only power we have to check the judicial branch, other than a constitutional amendment. Since the original amendment is clear, further amendments will not help as the judges will continue to ignore the public use part.

        This article has sought to show that the current movement to impeach federal judges for tyrannical behavior is on firm footing.

    • that needed to be highlighted. Let's try this again:

      Amendment V

      No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be

  • I still can't figure out what all this right honourable MR. MP sir business, and its correctness or incorrectness, has to do with Jedi. Am I missing the datum, or has eevryone neglected the point of the article in favor of niggling peripheral details?
    • It's from a previous article (obviously, as this is a slashback). Summary: Britain is passing a law protecting religious beliefs against slander or sth. like that; this MP is saying (right or wrong) that if that's the case, he's gonna call himself a Jedi, and anyone who mocks him for it could be in trouble under this law. At least, that's how I understand it.

      IANAL, or an MP, or a UKer.
  • http://maps.google.com/maps?q=34+Cilley+Hill+Road , +weare+nh&spn=0.040688,0.081050&t=k&hl=en [google.com]
    I can't imagine a nicer place to stay in New Hampshire... That looks like a perfect place for a hotel to me, being so close to both Everett Lake and Clough State Park.

    I wonder if crow would be on the menu at the Just Desserts Cafe?
  • Congress is fighting back against the Supreme Court decision too: House Votes To Undercut High Court On Property [washingtonpost.com]. If the bill passes, then it's not likely that the town will approve the museum/hotel in protest.
  • IBM will end up paying out maybe less then 5 claims. And here's why:

    Q. What if I no longer have a receipt or any other supporting documentation?

    A. You must produce a receipt or other supporting documentation evidencing the purchase of an eligible 75GXP hard disk drive, or you will not receive any Settlement Benefits.

    Well let's see. I bought my deskstar in 2000, let me grab my file for that year... Ah yes, it's here under D, next to the receipt for that donut I bought.

    Seriously I will be impre

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