Toad Tuesday

I went to the movie last weekend.

THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL recounts the adventures of Gustave H, a legendary concierge at a famous European hotel between the wars, and Zero Moustafa, the lobby boy who becomes his most trusted friend. The story involves the theft and recovery of a priceless Renaissance painting and the battle for an enormous family fortune -- all against the back-drop of a suddenly and dramatically changing Continent.



I have not gotten to a movie for several months.  I had the problem with my health and frankly there were were not many movies that I felt like watching.  I did want to watch The Grand Budapest Hotel and I really wanted to get this but it was not playing in Ames.  Then an opportunity  I went to Des Moines and saw it at the Fleur Cinema. I it was out loud funny and I had a grand time.  

I will see this again sometime. I may wait until I see it on Netflix or I may even purchase it as I think it worth seeing again and again,  

Memo to John Yoo

From Mother Jones.

Law Professor John Yoo Apparently Unaware of Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure

Yoo stated:

"Apparently the FBI interrogated the younger Tsarnaev for 16 hours," wrote torture memo author John Yoo at National Review. "And then, for reasons that are still unknown, the government read him his rights."

To Professor John Yoo
RE: Your Abysmal Ignorance

Immediately following the ratification of our Constitution it was amended to protect the rights of the citizens.  Several of those amendments seem to address your ignorance (I put some others there just to refresh your memory.) 
A short session with the Google will provide you with the following information:
Fourth Amendment – Protection from unreasonable search and seizure.

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

• Fifth Amendment – due process, double jeopardy, self-incrimination, eminent domain.

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.

• Sixth Amendment – Trial by jury and rights of the accused; Confrontation Clause, speedy trial, public trial, right to counsel

In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence.

• Seventh Amendment – Civil trial by jury.

In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise re-examined in any court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.

• Eighth Amendment – Prohibition of excessive bail and cruel and unusual punishment.

Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

• Ninth Amendment – Protection of rights not specifically enumerated in the Constitution.

The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

And the rights must be read to him or information obtained may not be used - 

The concept of "Miranda rights" was enshrined in U.S. law following the 1966 Miranda v. Arizona Supreme Court decision, which found that the Fifth and Sixth Amendment rights ofErnesto Arturo Miranda had been violated during his arrest and trial for domestic violence. (Miranda was subsequently retried and convicted.)

The Supreme Court did not specify the exact wording to use when informing a suspect of his/her rights. However, the Court did create a set of guidelines that must be followed. The ruling states:

...The person in custody must, prior to interrogation, be clearly informed that he/she has the right to remain silent, and that anything the person says will be used against that person in court; the person must be clearly informed that he/she has the right to consult with an attorneyand to have that attorney present during questioning, and that, if he/she is indigent, an attorney will be provided at no cost to represent him/her.

It is not rocket science to understand this nor does it take a law professor to explain it.  Perhaps as an attorney and professor at the prestigious University of California Berkeley School of Law you should apply for and undertake a basic course in Constitutional law.   But then you never did seem to understand things since you said that it was alright to torture prisoners. Perhaps you need to move to a country that accepts that sort of thing.

In America citizens have rights.  I don't plan to give up any of them voluntarily and neither should anyone.

Meme

Blogfriend Spo has these questions up on his Blog. I don't usually answer these but this one looked like fun. So here goes.

Life.… is jolly good fun !  (fill in the blank)

  Tea, wine, or champagne? 

Wine would be the first choice, then tea...but I must admit to drinking more coffee than those choices.

 How left handed are you? 

I use it for typing the asdf side of the keyboard and scratching the left buttock.

The loudest item of clothing I have …………..

I have a red shirt which I can wear with a Jerry Garcia red tie so I suppose that is pretty "loud"  At least it speaks to me.

 The Best Friend: who is s/he? 

I have to answer truthfully.  Since reading your "Friends" post I have to say that I am my own best friend.  However there are a number of others including Su and John who I could count on always. And of course I did not include family in this.

 I’d rather eat rats in Tewkesbury than……

Brussels sprouts, salamander legs, toenail clippings,grubs (although I hear they are tasty) actually almost anything but if I did have to eat them I would do it at the Old Plough pub on Barton Street where I am sure there would be some good ale to wash them down. 

How many of these have you done?:

1. Been to an opera

Yes, Operas and operettas and I will even include the Met Operas at the movie theater as I am pretty good at projecting myself into one of those theater seats. And of course there are the Public Radio Opera Broadcasts that I used to be able to listen to on Saturdays until my Public Radio Station went all talk.

2. Read a novel by Dickens

Not sure if this counts but I have read "A Christmas Carol" to my various classes at least 20 times. (I do a pretty mean Scrooge) 

3. Drank Bourbon

By all means. Bourbon (Iowa Bourbon is the best followed closely by Booker's Bourbon) Scotch, Vodka, Brandy, Etc. are also on my list of beverages  (although currently I am undergoing a year long hiatus from all alcohol)

4. Been to Key West

Nope,  Furthest south in Florida is the area around Orlando.  I really don't want to drive across that bridge.

5. Visited The Stratford Festival of Canada

Nope.. It is in Canada.. Thunder Bay (when it was known as Ft William) and Vancouver is the extent of my Canadian experience.

6. Spiders give you the heebie-jeebies.

Nope. Spiders are my friends, they eat mosquitoes.

7. Been to Michigan

Yes, visited cousins who lived in Pontiac and most recently went to a Masonic meeting in Troy.  Lovely state with lots of lighthouses.

8. Rolled down a grass hill.

Many many times.  When we lived North of Ames we had a couple of hills that were perfect for rolling down.  Of course there were others I rolled down which were quite by accident..stepping in holes with weak ankles will do that to you.

9. Ate Synder Pretzels

Pretzels are not on my list of preferred eats unless they are covered in white chocolate...I believe I have eaten Snyder Pretzels and when I looked for the illustration I discovered there are several I should like to try.

10. Used the word ‘rubbish” in the past 30 days.

I have thrown out lots of "rubbish" in the past 30 days but never referred to it as such.  I usually call it s**t.

11. Worn a bow tie

Only the clip on variety with a Tuxedo.  I am sure that you are referring to another type.  I don't wear them because of the following statement I once read in a David Sedaris book “It was my friend Frank, a writer in San Francisco, who finally set me straight. When asked about my new look he put down his fork and stared at me for a few moments. "A bow tie announces to the world you can no longer get an erection.” 

12. Have a set of Viking horns

Click here Viking Helmut

Since there were no such things it would be impossible for me to have a set. - From Wikipedia  -  Apart from two or three representations of (ritual) helmets – with protrusions that may be either stylised ravens, snakes or horns -no depiction of Viking Age warriors' helmets, and no preserved helmet, has horns. In fact, the formal close-quarters style of Viking combat (either in shield walls or aboard "ship islands") would have made horned helmets cumbersome and hazardous to the warrior's own side.

My First Album

Nain
If you just sit there

Wiki + Quotations + Flickr = Album

Thats this fun simple Meme in a nutshell. I've borrowed it from Fran who got it from Rob who got it from Willow over at Life at Willow Manor and I guess anyone who likes the idea is welcome to give it a go and even make it a blog post.

It's random, fun, easy and entertaining.

Here are the instructions:

1. BAND NAME: Go to "wikipedia." Hit "random article" or click http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Random
The first random wikipedia article you get is the name of your band.

2. ALBUM TITLE: Go to "Random quotations"or click http://www.quotationspage.com/random.php3
The last four or five words of the very last quote of the page is the title of your first album.

3. COVER ART: Go to flickr, click "explore the last seven days" or click http://www.flickr.com/explore/interesting/7days
The third picture, no matter what it is, will be your album cover.

Have some fun, give it a go!

Page 56

Found this on Ruth's Blog.
Rules:

* Grab the book nearest you. Right now.
* Turn to page 56.
* Find the fifth sentence.
* Post that sentence along with these instructions on your blog (or facebook wall).
* Don't dig for your favorite book, the coolest, the most intellectual. Use the CLOSEST.

"And you can join us ----- if you dare," said Remus.

The book is Roma by Steven Saylor. I have read most (if not all) of his books about ancient Rome and this is an excellent read. I have a fascination with Rome and what it means to us culturally. I see parallels between the ancient Romans and the United States. And I worry.

Anyone who wants to play is tagged.

MEME

I got this from Randy B. I think it is called a Meme
Anyway it is a lazy way to do a Blog Post for today. I am off to the Renaissance Faire this afternoon.

"Life is a coin. You can spend it anyway you wish, but you can only spend it once."

Just TWO things If you open it, you have to do it. Then, send it Back to the person who sent it to you and the rest of your friends!

Two names you go by:
Jay / Jay Cole
Two things you are wearing right now:
Bathrobe/deodorant
Two things you would want or have in a relationship
Honesty and Affection
Two things you like to do:
Read and Blog
Two things you want very badly at the moment:
I don't want anything "badly" but I'd take a pot load of money.
Two things you did last night:
Ate at Cafe' Northwest (Porterhouse) and watched TV
Two things you ate today:
Yogurt and Coffee
Who you last talked to:
Bailey and Jon
Two things you are doing tomorrow:
Eastern Star Home Board and go for a drive
Two longest car rides:
Los Angeles, CA (via San Francisco) and Orlando, FL
Two favorite holidays:
I no longer like holidays
Two favorite beverages:
Iced Tea (Green) and Coffee
Two jobs you have held
Sales (at Younkers) Teacher
Two movies I would watch over and over:
Knight Rider and The Princess Bride
Two places I have lived:
Ames, Iowa and Cedar Rapids, IA
Two of my favorite foods:
Pizza and Steak
Two places I'd rather be right now:
Mediterranean on a Cruise or Chicago
Two people I think will respond:
No one since I am only sending it back to Randy.
Now, here's what you're supposed to do... And please do not spoil the fun.
Hit forward, or copy and paste, delete my answers and type in your answers.
Then send this to a whole bunch of people you know INCLUDING the person
who sent it to you.
The theory is that you will learn a lot of little known facts about
those whom you know.