Just One Thing
I think this is the biggest story in the country and while I'm sure it will get some coverage I doubt it will get the coverage I think it deserves:
Judge overturns Adnan Syed 1999 murder conviction in death of Hae Min Lee (baltimoresun.com)
This is one of my deep personal convictions, if you'll pardon the pun, and it's a change from my view of 10 or 20 years ago: The criminal justice system is too untrustworthy to tolerate a death penalty.
If Adnan Syed had been tried in a state that had the death penalty, he may well already have been executed even though there were other suspects known to the prosecution and not disclosed to the defense at the time of the trial, and even though the prosecution used unreliable cell phone data at trial.
More here: 'Serial' case: Prosecutors move to vacate Syed's conviction | AP News
Now I don't know to a metaphysical certainty that Mr. Syed is not guilty. But I do know that he cannot possibly be "guilty beyond a reasonable doubt." I suspect that prosecutors will decline to try him again. They absolutely should. I have to say that it's frustrating to hear the family of the victim, who of course are discomfited or distressed by the sudden ripping away of whatever "closure" they might have had, claim that they're still confident that Syed is the perpetrator. An objective and honest person cannot be confident in that. However, I understand that the situation might make it impossible for her family to be objective.
Still, we do not try cases on TV or in the hearts of bereaved family members. And it's clear that there was prosecutorial failure, and that's putting it kindly, in this case.
I reiterate: If this man had been convicted in a different state, the government might already have killed him.
This (the execution of a person who should not have been convicted) is not an outcome we can tolerate in a civilized society.
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Today's Guests
Jon Caldara is president of the libertarian Independence Institute. He'll join us to offer us an invitation to II's "Not-so-libertarian Block Party, honoring Gov Jared Polis." Jared has been invited though I suspect he won't show up. The party is on Thursday, September 29 at 5 PM at Mile High Station, 2027 W Colfax Ave in Denver.
Get your tickets here:The Not - So - Libertarian Block Party, Honoring Gov. Jared Polis Tickets, Thu, Sep 29, 2022 at 5:00 PM
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Sean Carroll is the kind of guy who unintentionally reminds me of how little I know, but I always love learning that from him because he's just so freakin' interesting. I'll just quote from his bio:
I'm the Homewood Professor of Natural Philosophy -- in effect, a joint appointment between physics and philosophy -- at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, and fractal faculty at the Santa Fe Institute. Most of my career has been spent doing research on cosmology, field theory, and gravitation, looking at topics such as dark matter and dark energy, modified gravity, topological defects, extra dimensions, and violations of fundamental symmetries. These days my focus has shifted to more foundational questions, both in quantum mechanics (origin of probability, emergence of space and time) and statistical mechanics (entropy and the arrow of time, emergence and causation, dynamics of complexity), bringing a more philosophical dimension to my work.
Sean's newest book is The Biggest Ideas in the Universe: Vol. 1: SPACE, TIME, AND MOTION
More about Sean here: Sean Carroll – Preposterous Universe
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Admiral James Stavridis is the former NATO Supreme Allied Commander. He's a best-selling author in both fiction and non-fiction, with his books having been translated into 20 different languages. In 2004, he was promoted directly from 1-star (rear admiral, lower half) to 3-star (vice admiral). Usually I mention a particular award, medal or ribbon that Jim was awarded by the US or a foreign nation, but this time I'd like to mention that he won the Battenberg Cup - Wikipedia while commanding the destroyer USS Barry.
Other Stuff
Today's Videos
What's the big deal? This is EXACTLY how my two little dogs fight!
Gosh I appreciate someone who follows instructions