Lawyer-Wearing-Yarmulka

Is the death penalty unconstitutional?  The NY Times thinks so.  

I understand if you argue that a particular method is unconstitutional, or the application of it for some crimes may be.

But completely unconstitutional?  

I’d like to refer the editors of the Times to the Fifth Amendment of the Constitution-   “No persona shall be…deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law”, as well as the 14th Amendment-  “nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law”.

It seems pretty clear the government can deprive you of your life, as long as due process is followed.  

Here we go again! Gas prices go up, and everyone in Congress forgets Economics 101. Low supply plus high demand leads to higher prices. Unless you've got proof that the oil companies are conspiring to keep gas off the markets, stop threatening them, and figure out ways to reduce demand and increase supply.

I found myself munching on maztah this Shabbos, and pretty much ignoring the freshly baked challah on the table. Is this normal?

When the story broke that Israel was considering releasing Marwan Barghouti in exchange for Jonathan Pollard, my first thought was - how would Pollard feel if his freedom came at the cost of releasing a terrorist who had Jewish blood on his hands.

Well, it seems that Pollard isn't willing to go along with such deal. He'd rather sit in jail.

But then again, it's not like it's his call.

Once again, in the fine French tradition of cowardice, Chirac and De Villepin have waved the white flag!

So the youth of France will continue to have their beloved job security in lieu of actual jobs.

Looks like it's even worse in the Holy Land.

There were two articles today in the NY Times, both dealing with Chasidim.  Both articles, especially the one dealing with last night's riot were a chillul hashem.  (No, DB, I'm not accusing the Times of anti-Semitism)  

Why is it when Chasidim get angry a riot or some sort of scuffle always breaks out?  There's no excuse for that kind of behavior, even if the police did treat a 75 year old man poorly.  You don't burn bonfires in the street and you certainly don't set a police car ablaze.  Jews aren't supposed to be hooligans.  

As for the Satmars- maybe other Rebbes will finally learn from this sad situation and clearly designate who you want to be Rebbe after you're gone.  Or better yet, follow what Vito Corleone did and step aside and allow your son to take over the family business while you're still alive.  

Funniest moment for me in law school so far:

In Constitutional Law today the class was on pornography and Congressional attempts to regulate it on the internet.  During the discussion, the professor suggested that there may be attempts to “zone” pornographic websites behind a specific domain suffix like .xxx- which would probably be Constitutional as the Supreme Court has upheld physical zoning of adult-oriented business.

The professor then asked, “Who would be in charge of deciding which sites have to use .xxx”?  I raised my hand and said ICANN (the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers; there the ones who basically control the internet)

Everyone in class started laughing like crazy.  At first I didn’t understand.  Then it quickly hit me- all 125 of them though I said “I can”, as in I can be the one to decide which porn sites should be placed behind .xxx.  I turned beet-red.  I sputtered, “…that’s not what I meant!  I was referring to ICANN!  Not I can!”  The professor quickly said, “I know what you’re taking about, but I don’t think your classmates do”.  

Ouch.  

This job posting came this week from my school.

SPRING RECRUITMENT OPPORTUNITY - MTA New York City Transit

Attention 1L and 2L students. The Metro Transit Authority is now
recruiting students for the 2006 summer session of the MTA New York City
Transit's Internship Program. The pre-qualification interview period for
students who are interested in an internship is scheduled for April 18
through April 20 from 12:00 noon to 3:00 pm; and April 23, 26 and 28 from
10:00 am to 3:00 pm. Interns will gain experience in torts, workers'
compensation, legal research and analysis and labor disputes resolution.

Students should bring the following information to the pre-qualification
interviews:

-The Referral Form and completed information sheet (available in the

Office of Career Services)

-Original social security card

-Official letter from the Registrar's Office verifying your enrollment in

school

-Current registration for the Spring 2006 semester with schedule of classes

-At least seven copies of your resume

-A passport size photo to be used on the temporary MetroCard pass which

you will receive as an intern

-Updated transcript stamped by the Registrar's Office

-Documents of residency

Prior to attending the pre-qualification interview session, interested
students must obtain a copy of the position announcement, summer referral
form and information sheet from ******* in the **** *** ****** ***** will not be admitted to the interview session without this document. On the day of the pre-qualification interviews, students should report to MTA New York City Transit, 180
Livingston Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201. All students must bring a copy of
the position announcement to the interview session, as they will be asked
to show this announcement and a current photo ID when they arrive at the
MTA offices.

All that's missing is a blood and urine sample and perhaps a complete DNA profile. If five people apply for this job, I'd be really, really shocked.