Silence Makes a Statement: Justice Thomas Reaches a Quirky Anniversay

Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas has set a record by not speaking in oral arguments in the Court for the past five years of his term. Thomas, who frequently can be seen reclining in his oddly- flexible chair, has refrained from questioning attorneys and participating in back-and-forth communication during hearings.

Thomas, 62, has been on the court since 1991 and since that time has cultivated a personality as a reserved yet articulate legal mind that aptly compliments his colleagues, like the rambunctious Justice Antonin Scalia. Justices Sonya Sotomayor and Stephen Breyer, as well as Chief Justice John G. Roberts are usually the more vocal members of the bench. However, Thomas is very much a presence in the written arguments.

According to CNN, Thomas has suggested that the reason for his quiet demeanor in the courtroom is the fact that he has made his decision before the lawyers have finished presenting their cases.

The last time Thomas spoke during oral arguments was February 22nd, 2006 during the case of Holmes v. South Carolina (04-1327) which was eventually decidedly unanimously in favor of death row inmate Bobby Lee Holmes.

Thomas has in the past detailed the adversity he experienced growing up in Georgia. This struggle resurfaced for him when he spoke in 2002 about an appeal against a Virginia law banning cross-burning.

Thomas is a respecte member of the bench and has not said whether or not he intends to break his record anytime soon.

Letters Reveal Former Philadelphia Archbishop Reassigned Abusive Priest

Former Archbishop Rev. Anthony J. Bevilacqua reportedly wrote letters and advised the bishop of Brooklyn, N.Y. to reassign a priest outside of the Brooklyn diocese. The priest, Rev. Roman Ferraro, sexually assaulted two boys in the Diocese of Metuchen, N.J. where he was reassigned to. Ferraro's psychotherapist apparently rebuffed the idea of reassignment to a post involving minors before completely treatment for earlier offenses.

Rev. Anthony Bevilacqua, 87

The Survivors of Those Abused by Priests (SNAP) released the letters Tuesday, which had been gathered form the Brooklyn diocese after a civil suit was filed by a Miami law firm in 2005. According to prosecutor Jessica Arbour, the diocese worked hard to prevent the nearly 1,200 documents from being handed over to the courts, all from Ferraro's personal file.

According to the Inquirer, two grand jury reports issued in 2005 and this year criticized Bevilacqua's handling of abuse cases in his dioceses, citing that the archbishop simply reassigned clergy members in an effort to hide the offenses from the public.

Ferraro has been accused of sexually assaulting minors in the 1970s and in 1986 or 1987. He reportedly realized his attraction to young boys in 1955 when he was only 21 years old. At 76, he is currently serving a life sentence after he was convicted in 2004 for abusing a boy in Massachusetts in the 1970s.

This revelation is in the wake of the suspension of 3 priests in the Philadelphia archdiocese after a report surfaced about abuses committed by such men and possibly 34 others in the 1990s.

Recent years have witnessed a flood of cases brought against the Catholic Church and its inability to effectively handle sexual abuses by members of the clergy. Catholics across Europe erupted in outrage last year when it was reported that Pope Benedict XIV may have know about abuses during his time as a bishop in Germany, but did not remove the accused priests from their posts.

The secrecy of the Vatican has placed it in incredible scrutiny and public opinion has taken a downward turn. What may contribute to the repeating problem is the consistently decreasing numbers of men entering the priesthood. The need for clergy in metropolitan parishes has forced dioceses to relocate priests based on the size of parishes lacking personnel.

It cannot be proven whether Bevilacqua, 87, is directly involved with the abuses by Ferraro, but if such a verdict is determined, it could mean jail time for the remaining years of the retired palate's life.

Apartment Fight Erupts Over Chocolatey Goodness

Hey, I love Thin Mints as much as the next person. They've always been my favorite cookie and the possibly the biggest reason I stayed Girl Scouts for five years. But some women in Florida have taken this love to whole new level of inappropriate behavior.

On Sunday the Naples Sheriff's Department was called about an incident of domestic violence between roommates Hersha Howard and Jasmin Wanke. Howard, 31, allegedly assaulted Wanke early in the morning when she believed the woman had eaten her Thin Mints. Howard reportedly bit Wanke and repeatedly hit her. Once the fight moved outside, Howard started to strike Wanke with a sign until Wanke's husband managed to tackle Howard before police arrived on the scene.


ABC-7 in Naples reported that Howard was charged with Aggravated Battery with a Deadly Weapon and has been booked. In addition to the sign, howard also chased Wanke with a pair of scissors.


No statements have been collected from either woman. They reside at 050 Ambrosia Lane, Apt. #3606. A phone number was not obtained for Howard.


Was she justified? Are Thin Mints such a valuable commodity that they should be guarded at all costs, without concern for personal safety or criminal record? 


That depends, have you ever had a deep-fried Thin Mint? Like having an affair in your mouth. You know its immoral and shameful, but its just so satisfying and intriguing that you can't stop!

Richard Ayoade's Feature Debut with "Submarine"

Up until now, director Richard Ayoade has earned a reputation as staple among the indie world as the go-to guy for your newest music video. He's also recognized for his role as Moss in "The IT Crowd" and a few appearances here and there in Mighty Boosh productions. But now he's entering the cinema big leagues with his first feature film.

"Submarine," executive produced by Ben Stiller, is a film adaptation of the book of the same name by author/poet Joe Dunthorne, who's upbringing in Swansea, Wales inspires the setting for this precocious coming-of-age tale. The story's protagonist Oliver Tate is a fifteen year old lost in the world of puberty and sexual development, desperate to lose his virginity and helplessly observing his parents' uncertain marriage. His interest in a classmate only succeeds to maximize his anxiety by at least ten-fold, while his somewhat isolated observations of the world around him make him question his own normalcy.

Like Ayoade's previous work, "Submarine" is a sharp comedy about those who don't exactly fit anywhere in particular. But the performances by young actors Craig Roberts and Yasmin Paige, as well as Golden Globe-winner Sally Hawkins, promise to move your face to the smiling position.

An original soundtrack from post-punk Poet Laureate Alex Turner of Arctic Monkeys should be reason enough to see the 97-minute movie.

The success of this film could mean widespread attention for Ayoade, who's Michael Jackson-inspired video for Yeah Yeah Yeah's "Heads Will Roll" is arguably the reason the song was sampled in a Super Bowl episode of Glee. He's picked up more momentum with every new project, but still only managed to be a big name in the U.K.

That's not to say his fans would desert him if he did cross the Atlantic...or would they?

But the man has gone from strength to strength. He graduated from the music videos to a full-scale concert documentary with "Arctic Monkeys Live at the Apollo" in 2008, and with the support of Harvey Weinstein, who's to say the future looks dim for such a genuine creative.

Libyan Protests Carry Recent Trend of Arab Uproar

photo courtesy of MSNBC

By Sunday, at least 233 people died across the country, according to Human Rights Watch, after the six-day outbreak by protesters turned violent. Military helicopters were ordered to fire upon protesters on the ground in Tripoli, the capital and second-largest city in the North African country. Colonel Muammar Gaddafi's 42-year regime has lost strength in the nation among ordinary citizens, as well as many government officials and diplomats, many of whom have already resigned over disgust for the military response to protests.

Gaddafi's son Saif al-Islam stressed that if the regime were to fall, Libya would quickly default to a state of civil war, according to the Washington Post. Col. Gaddafi has reportedly fled the capital. European leaders, as well as United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, have warned the dictator to step down and to halt the violence.

The opposition protests began in the east of the country and pro-regime forces were deployed to subvert protesters. The BBC reported that the largest number of casualties have occurred in the city of Benghazi. Eastern regions have reportedly been taken from the hands of military forces, with momentum surging toward Tripoli.

photo courtesy of BBC

People gathered in Green Square, where sightings of helicopters gunning down protesters increased. Internet and phone lines have been down repeatedly, making international communication and social networking impossible. Journalists have been denied access by authorities, and many foreigners have fled the country.

In addition to Libya, Morocco, Yemen, Algeria, Bahrain, and Iran have also seen violent measures by security against anti-government protesters in the last few days. After the visibility of unrest in Egypt and Tunisia, Middle Eastern nations are witnessing a mass upheaval in favor of more democratic political practices and a greater emphasis on individual civil rights.

This article is supported by material from the Washington Post and BBC News.

UV Rays Found to Damage Priceless Painting

Ever wonder why art museums prohibit photography of already-well-known paintings? Scientists in France have discovered a tricky conundrum behind the fading of colors in paintings by Vincent Van Gogh. After a series of invasive observations, researchers at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) in Grenoble have discovered that exposure to UV rays will gradually alter the yellow and brown pigments in paint.

"Bank of the River Seine" on display at the van Gogh Museum, divided in three and artificially coloured to simulate a possible state in 1887 and 2050. photo courtesy of ESRF

ESRF scientists Koen Janssens of Antwerp University in Belgium and chemist Letizia Monico of Perugia University in Italy led a team using "an X-ray beam of microscopic dimensions to reveal a complex chemical reaction taking place in the incredibly thin layer where the paint meets the varnish." The chrome yellow tints, like those used in van Gogh's "Sunflowers," darken over time due to a chromium compound change from Cr(IV) to Cr(III), the latter containing amounts of barium and sulfur. 

"View of the Arles with Irises," 1888. Vincent van Gogh

Two paintings were examined by the team: View of Arles with Irises (1888) and Bank of the Seine (1887). van Gogh began using this combination of colors when he entered the French artistic community in the late 1800s as a part of the Post-Impressionistic movement. According to the BBC, "scientists speculate that van Gogh's technique of blending white and yellow paint might be the cause of the darkening of his yellow paint."

Paint samples were taken from historic tubes. ESRF artificially aged the samples under a UV lamp, but only paint from one tube showed noticeable brownish tones after 3 weeks.

Experts speculate that the reason not many works from the period experience the same chemical reaction is because chrome yellow paint is toxic, and therefore artists began switching their materials in the early twentieth century.

Sources:

"Van Gogh Paintings 'Degraded by UV-Driven Reaction.'" BBC News

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-12453610

"X-Rays Show Why Van Gogh Paintings Lose Their Shine." European Synchrotron Radiation Facility

http://www.esrf.eu/news/general/van-gogh/van-gogh-paintings-lose-shine/

"Degradation Process of Lead Chromate in Paintings by Vincent van Gogh Studied by Means of Synchrotron X-ray Spectromicroscopy and Related Methods. 2. Original Paint Layer Samples." Analytical Chemistry

http://www.esrf.eu/news/general/van-gogh/van-gogh-paintings-lose-shine/

 

House Trumps New Provisions to Patriot Act

Today, the House of Representatives failed to extend three provisions of the Patriot act and Intelligence Reform Bill after a 277-148 vote failed to gain a two-thirds majority, according to CNN.com. Such extensions would have lasted until December 8th. The provisions will now expire on February 28th as planned.


Section 206 provides for "roving wiretap surveillance" without the need for a court order for every change of location, phone, or computer being monitored. Section 215 allows the Federal Bureau of Investigations to seek court approval to  "issue orders granting the government access to any intangible items in foreign intelligence, international terrorism and clandestine intelligence cases." Finally, Section 6001 of the bill "closes a loophole" that gives terrorists working independently of organizations to avoid surveillance form the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. This has been called a "lone wolf provision."


It is uncertain that progress will be made on the bill before the expiration date. "We are now under a time crunch," said Rep.F. James Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.), author of the original act, to the Los Angeles Times. Sensenbrenner noted the coming federal holidays and short number of working days let in the month.


The bill, originally introduced to the House in 2001 after the attacks on September 11th, has generated debate on the intrusions of the privacy of suspected terrorists or persons of interest to federal investigations. Supporters have claimed the bill has prevented numerous attempted attacks while opponents argue that access to personal records should not be allowed without a court order. 


Many of the twenty-six Republicans who opposed the bill are new members of Congress. Some have said they would agree to revisit the issue after more discussion and committee time has been devote to the debated provisions.

Memoir or Parenting Guide?: Amy Chua's New Book Charges Debate

 No parent likes taking advice from others about how to raise their children. That much is certain. Even more certain is a parent's idea of what is "normal" or "good" behavior from their child. If you go to Amy Chua's house, you better not say a peep!

The Yale law professor recently released her book, Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother, which has garnered mass criticism from readers and television talking heads for its account of the strict practices used by Chinese parents, including Chua's own immigrant parents. Chua has stressed that the book is intended to be a humorous memoir, not an instruction manual, about her somewhat failed attempts to mimic such parenting styles with her own daughters.

This miscommunication is not completely unreasonable. In the book, Chua explains that her daughters Sophia and Louisa, now 18 and 15, respectively, were forbidden to both attend and hold sleepovers, participate in school plays, and receive any grade less than an A, among a myriad of other enforcements. Reading an excerpt from the book in which Chua tells how she threatened to give her daughter's doll house to the Salvation Army if she didn't master a difficult piano piece, it's easy to see the potential concern. As a disclaimer, the book jacket says "This is a story about a mother, two daughters, and two dogs. This was supposed to be a story of how Chinese parents are better than raising kids than Western ones. But instead, it's about a biter clash of cultures, a fleeting taste of glory, and how I was humbled by a thirteen year old." But as Stephen Colbert astutely noted, the jacket comes off.

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
Amy Chua
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But Chua has repeatedly defended her methods, while pointing out the "deadpan" humor in them, which no one but her seems to really find laughable. To be fair, what do you expect from a junior law professor at Yale? She must not understand the meaning of the word very well.

Two major quarrels people have expressed with the book are Chua's obsession with perfection, and the apparent cultural superiority Chua gives to Chinese parenting styles. She insists that no matter one's race or gender, anyone "can be a Chinese mother." Many believe that Chua only encourages the cultural dominance by the Chinese in an effort to become the prevailing economic and academic superpower in the world, a title we are embarrassed to admit we desire as well. Chua says that the values she herself was raised on, such as work ethic and refusal to settle for second place, are no less American than Coke and Snickers. And this is true. But what people then become concerned about is her level of severity in teaching her daughters how to achieve.

It must be noted that both Sophia and Louisa, affectionately called Lulu, are both A students and the winners of numerous musical awards. Where Westerners and Easterners differ is on matters of importance. Chua says that Westerners may coddle their children and raise them to feel entitled to success, whereas the Chinese believe that everything is earned and the best way to prepare them for the world is to not make anything easy. But what is more important for a person, individualism and recognition of personal strengths, or exceeding the competition and trying to be the best at something which may not even interest you to begin with? This is where Chua experienced rebellion. Her daughter, I'm unsure with one, desired to play tennis instead of the violin. Her mother conceded, but not without struggle.

What must clearly be distinguished are the years-old contrasts between the child-parent relationships of Westerners and the Chinese. Chua describes how Chinese children are forever indebted to their parents and therefore must live lives of pride and repayment to the parents. Chua's husband Jed once pointed out to her that children do not choose to be brought into the world. He said that for this reason, children owe their parents nothing.

This factors into the common tradition of respect for one's elders. I have never been to China, but I would think that the suggestion to stick Grandma in a nursing home because no one wants her to live with them would be unheard of. The exchange is different for Easterners. The American principle of independence has evolved from its origins as a political coup to a modern sense of single-mindedness. Americans love their independence and love to have complete control over their lives. Everyone lives for his or her self, and no one else has the right to say otherwise.

Maybe this is ungrateful? Maybe this is simply the natural progression after industrialization? Whatever the case, Sophia and Louisa have not expressed any contempt or resentment or their mother, and have made her proud.

Eastern Service Workers Association Work to Get the City Through the Winter

Last weekend, the Eastern Service Workers Association conducted their annual Tamale Benefit to support their Winter Survival Campaign. From Thursday to Saturday volunteers made and delivered fresh Mexican tamales at Calvary United Methodist Church in West Philadelphia.

The benefit is a new way for the organization to better reach out to the Latino community in the city. Scheduling also coincided with Super Bowl Sunday to take advantage of the parties all around the city. Chicken and vegetarian tamales were available to order in dozens and half dozens.

All food was donated from a produce market and from volunteers. Hundreds of each tamale were made, with orders being delivered all around West and South Philly.

The organization dedicates its efforts to getting benefits to its members, low-income workers who need assistance with utility bills, medical care, food, legal advice, and clothes. Operating from their South Street office, they've been advocating for service workers for over thirty years. After weeks of snow and below freezing temperatures, ESWA understands better than anyone the importance of heat and working electricity when you flip a switch.

"It's criminal that anyone should be evicted in this weather," says the branch's director Frida. ESWA members have been evicted, had gas shut off unexpectedly, and been diagnosed with fatal medical conditions. All of which are problems the organization has personally addressed, either directly with companies, or at local counsel meetings to speak on behalf of members.

The group prefers to spread by word of mouth, either by canvassing in low-income neighborhoods, or on college campuses like Temple University, where volunteer coordinator Bernard often visits as a guest speaker in classes. "We don't want people to feel isolated. We Want that personal contact. That's why we don't have a website."

Clashes Between Protesters Grow Increasingly Violent

photo courtesy of CBS News

Supporters and opponents of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak have begun confronting each other in Cairo as the nine-day revolt by the city's residents takes a deadly turn. Today, 3 have died, including a teenager, and another astounding 600 have now been injured since stones and "petrol bombs" have moved through the crowds. CNN's Anderson Cooper and his camera crew, ABC's Christiane Amanpour, and a CBS crew, as wells as multiple foreign journalists have been charged by protesters and either been physically beaten or had camera equipment taken.

According to BBC News, the supporters of Mubarak arrived in Tahrir Square today in organized groups, some in buses, and descended upon anti-government protesters. Chants like "We won't go" ring throughout the city.

The level of violence has risen dramatically since pro-regime activists have taken to the streets, and police have resumed more aggressive tactics to attempt pushing people back.

Gunfire and flames have erupted into the evening and early morning, and no one is certain what the next few days will bring in casualties and destruction to public property.

Under pressure form his countrymen, as well as the statements made by foreign governments urging him to relinquish power, Mubarak announced yesterday he would decline running in the next presidential election. However, he has stated he will complete his term, staying in office for the next 8 months. This has upset many Egyptians, and President Obama has also urged Mubarak to bring the date of political transition forward.

photo courtesy of breakingnewsdir.com

Protests began last week when Egyptians demanded Mubarak resign after three decades in office and allow for free democratic elections. Mubarak initially refused to step down and the government shut down internet access for days to deter protesters. Regardless, people continued to gather in Tahrir square and demand a new government.

People initially began mobilizing with the help of social networking cites, and grassroots organizers brought many out to Tehrir Square last week. Unlike the protests in Tunisia a few weeks ago, Cairo's events are thanks to a large variety of citizens and unrest is expected to grow as long as Mubarak refuses to remove himself from office.

The effects of the chaos have also begun to radiate outside the country. In Washington, Amnesty International gathered in front of the Egyptian embassy, asking Mubarak to step down.

Key factors like a tradition of political monopoly and fraudulent elections, mass unemployment, and opposition from a Muslim majority, have contributed to the protests. However, many fear this could have a effect on other populations, specifically in the United States.

White Stripes officially announce split! Wear red and white in mourning.

1997-2011

We aren't sad. We aren't angry. We aren't frustrated, annoyed, or worried.

Instead, we are thankful for the decade of music and inspiration the pair gave us. Before these troubled souls, no one would guess that so few people could make such a powerful sound.Feel however you want about them, but I think it impossible to believe Jack and Meg to be anything but memorable. 

But then again, Detroit has that effect on musicians.