Florida Death Penalty Procedure Invalidated

According to the U.S. Supreme Court (which would be the only opinion that counts in such matters), Florida's death penalty sentencing scheme is illegal. In Florida, the jury makes a recommendation but the judge makes the final decision. Whoops.

Miami Herald article on the decision

Starting back up

I'm starting a new job, it's a new year and the election cycle for our new president is heating up. Seems like a good time to crank up the old blog.

You cannot succeed on your own!

The Prez doesn't think that someone can be successful in business without government intervention. In fact, he thinks it isn't at all due to hard work, but rather to government intervention. I quote, "If you've got a business--you didn't build that. Somebody else made that happen." Oh really! There are a lot of people that big to differ. I know this might come as a shock to the Prez, but people can and do succeed without government handouts.


I guess when you have only worked as a community organizer, law school professor and politician, the business world is a very strange and abstract place. Source below:


http://www.washingtontimes.com/blog/watercooler/2012/jul/15/picketvideo-obama-if-youve-got-business-you-didnt-/

The .gov is using your money to push food stamps on non-citizens

http://dailycaller.com/2012/07/12/usda-uses-spanish-soap-operas-to-push-food-stamp-participation-among-non-citizens-citizens/

Despite the fact that our country continues to face obscene budget deficits, the .gov thinks it is important to spend your money advertising food stamps to non-citizens. I find it completely absurd that this doesn't have more people outraged. Am I missing something?

BTW: This is more corporate welfare on behalf of agricultural corporations in part.

50 Shades of Grey

So, apparently, a lot of women have deep-rooted emotional/psychological problems. I mean, why else would a novel about sexualized physical abuse be so popular. I think that a desire to be violently objectified by men stems from a dysfunctional childhood relationship with one's father. Think: a little too much use of the old leather belt. In the alternative, it could be an absentee (physically or emotionally) dad. Sexual abuse will do it too. Well, that's enough playing Freud for me today. Discuss amongst yourselves.

BTW: Dr. Drew agrees with me that this is an unhealthy fascination.

New blog name

I've changed the title of my blog to reflect an expanded repertoire. Enjoy.

Stock Markets Scream Along

It is an awesome time to be in equities. The S&P 500 just closed above 1400 and the Dow is solidly above 13,000. Interest rates on bonds are finally starting to tick upward and almost all the economic news has been good.

If I had a significant stake in precious metals or long term bond funds, I would be really nervous about right now. BTW, there is still plenty of room to buy in on some really solid companies at great prices. It looks like the U.S. economy is finally starting to improve.

Of course, major macroeconomic hiccups could cause a setback (Spanish default, major Chinese slowdown, etc.)