Al Jazeera has an article today about the "debate" over Singapore's change two weeks ago in its mandatory death penalty law for drugs and murder. The South China Post reports on Asia's shift against the death penalty.

First, Singapore's change in drug cases is de minimus. It applies only to couriers who agree to become snitches and those who with mental abnormalities.

Couriers who rat out bigger fish can apply for a "certificate of cooperation" from the prosecution. Since most couriers don't know anything about the larger organization, this is just a license to make things up. If the authorities suspect person X of being a big trafficker, and ask a courier to confirm their suspicion, what courier is going to admit "I don't know" when that answer means the gallows.

The mental exemption applies only to those "suffering from such an abnormality of mind that it substantially impaired his mental responsibility for committing the offence".

Second, it's not just life in prison if they avoid the death penalty, but life plus caning -- up to 15 lashes. According to Deputy Prime Minister and Home Affairs Minister Teo Chee Hean: [More..]

Good news for 23 year old Richard O'Dwyer, who is charged with copyright infringement in the U.S. and had been ordered extradited from the UK to face charges. D.O.J. has offered him a "deferred prosecution" agreement, under which he agrees to come to the U.S. voluntarily to enter the agreement and pay a fine, and promises not to violate U.S. copyright laws in the future. He will then return home to the U.K. When the UK court receives the agreement, it will dismiss the extradition proceedings. Assuming he complies, eventually, the charges will be dropped with no plea of guilty required.

Is this how Kim Dotcom's case will end?

A source close to Dotcom said his legal team was studying it closely as it showed US authorities could be softening their previously hard-line approach. [More...]

A funeral was held today at St. Cecilia's Church in New York's Spanish Harlem for Hector "Macho" Camacho, who was shot and killed in Puerto Rico last week. Hundreds lined the streets to pay their respects. He will be buried at St. Raymond's Cemetery in the Bronx.

Hector's mother said the police have three suspects but no charges have been filed as they are still seeking a motive.

There is a rose in Spanish Harlem. R.I.P. Hector.

Hit yesterday with UCLA +9 and Kent +8 (also too Knicks -13.) I have a bushel of winners today (all picks 2 units unless otherwise indicated):

Tulsa -2 over Central Florida, Boise State -8 over Nevada, Baylor +4½ over Oklahoma State, Pittsburgh -7 over South Florida (3 units), Oklahoma -6 over TCU, Cincinnati -5 over UConn and Kansas St -10 over Texas.

BIG 10 CHAMPIONSHIP GAME - Lucas Oil Stadium - Indianapolis, IN - Nebraska -3 over Wisconsin (3 units).

ACC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME - Bank of America Stadium - Charlotte, NC - Florida State -14 over Georgia Tech (4 units).

SEC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME - Georgia Dome - Atlanta, GA -Alabama -7½ over Georgia (4 units.)

2 soccer specials: In the Bundesliga - Dortmund over Bayern Munich (+350) and in La Liga - Real Madrid (-1) over Atletico Madrid.

Open Thread.

TGIF!

In celebration, 2 bonus college football selections! UCLA (+9) over Stanford in the PAC-12 championship and BCS buster Kent State (+8) over Northern Illinois in the MAc championship. 3 units each.

Also too, Knicks (-12) over the Wizards. More tomorrow.

Open Thread.

Apple began selling the new iMac today. I've been staring longingly at it on the apple site for three weeks, waiting for launch day. Now it's here and media reports say supplies won't last: get it while you can.

It's all I want for Xmas. I'm convinced it will make me a happier person and a more dedicated and innovative blogger. So I'm sending out a Holiday fundraising request, because otherwise it's not in the cards for me this year.

If any of you want to send me a few dollars to buy one, or buy it for me, as a year-end show of appreciation or thanks, for personally funding TalkLeft the past 10 years and keeping it going 24/7, a contribution towards my new Mac within the next week would be a perfect way to express it -- and it would be awesome for me. Whether it's a few dollars, $10 or more, I'd truly be elated.

[More....]

The Senate last night approved Sen. Diane Feinstein's Amendment to the NDAA banning military detention of U.S. citizens and green card holders arrested on U.S. soil. It passed 67 to 29. 20 Republicans joined the 46 Democrats in approving the Amendment. The Amendment states:

"An authorization to use military force, a declaration of war, or any similar authority shall not authorize the detention without charge or trial of a citizen or lawful permanent resident of the United States apprehended in the United States, unless an Act of Congress expressly authorizes such detention."

Unfortunately, the Senate also passed the Ayotte Amendment preventing the use of funds to transfer or release detainees from Guantanamo to the U.S. The vote was 51 to 44 in favor of the ban.

The ACLU says Feinstein's Amendment doesn't go far enough. Here's why: [More...]

Dominique Strauss-Kahn may have reached a settlement the civil suit brought by the New York hotel housekeeper.

The U.N. has upgraded Palestine's status to that of "non-member observer state."

The 193-member U.N. body voted 138 to 9 in favor of a resolution that stops well short of conferring independence on the Palestinians, but grants their territory limited privileges as a state, including the right to join international treaty bodies. Forty-one countries abstained

Bradley Manning will be allowed to plead guilty to 7 or 8 charges carrying a possible sentence of 16 years. [More...]

How much trouble can your insta-messaging and texting get you into? Plenty.

Two former stockbrokers, age 34 and 32, who later went to law school together and are now lawyers, were indicted yesterday in the Southern District of New York for insider trading while they were stockbrokers. One is a lawyer in Denver. He was arrested today at his home in Lousiville, CO.

They texted about wanting to avoid jail and not end up like Martha Stewart. The odd thing about the Indictment: The "unindicted co-conspirators" (my translation: cooperators) made $700k. The Colorado lawyer made $2,500.00. (His indicted pal made $130 k.) The unindicted co-conspirator who started spreading the word is from Australia and returned there when he learned of the investigation.

Not only did this young lawyer get indicted for his $2,500. gain, the Southern District of New York is asking he be held without bond. The lawyer made his first appearance in court in Denver today, and according to the docket, he was remanded into custody and detention hearing will be held tomorrow. He's got a good lawyer, and I can't imagine he won't be granted bond, but still, seeking pre-trial detention seems like overkill by the U.S. Attorney's office. [More...]

I'll be in court today. If BTD comes by, and is going to be on the radio, I hope he'll add the details so everyone can listen.

This is an open thread, all topics welcome.

There were two winning tickets in the $579.9 million powerball lottery last night. But check all your numbers anyway:

An additional 8,924,123 players won smaller prizes.

The winning numbers: 5, 16, 22, 23, 29 and Powerball of 6.

Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Mike Lee (R-Utah) today introduced an Amendment to the NDAA that would ban indefinite detention of U.S. citizens.

The language of the amendment assures that no authorization to use military force, war declaration or any similar authority would allow an American apprehended in the United States to be held without charge or trial.

Co-sponsors include Senators Paul (R-Ky.), Coons (D-Del.), Collins (R-Maine), Lautenberg (D-N.J.), Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Kirk (D-Ill.), Tester (D-Mont.), Johnson (D-S.D.), Sanders (I-Vt.), Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Baucus (D-Mont.) and Heller (R-Nev.)

The 668 page NDAA bill for 2013 is S. 3254, available here.