So, to the best of my recollection (now I sound like a lawyer) it had to do with the Holocaust, and whether it was unique in the annals of human atrocities, or simply one of many.

I am more convinced than ever that we are all dysfunctional to some degree, and so are our families; death tends to exaggerate whatever level of dysfunction there is, and in families with the worst dysfunction, it can get pretty bad.  

The debate about global warming has reached ridiculous proportions and is full of micro-thin half-truths and misunderstandings. I am a scientist who was on the carbon gravy train, understands the evidence, was once an alarmist, but am now a skeptic. Watching this issue unfold has been amusing but, lately, worrying. This issue is tearing society apart, making fools out of our politicians.

AFP - US meteorologists warned Thursday it would be a mistake to blame climate change for a seeming increase in tornadoes in the wake of deadly storms that have ripped through the US south.

snip

It's having to do with better (weather tracking) technology, more population, the fact that the population is better educated and more aware. So we're seeing them more often," Dixon said

1.  Please be mindful of the wind direction, and try to smoke downwind of others, if possible.

2.  The world is not your ashtray: please don't use sidewalks, lawns, gutters or streets as places to get rid of your butts.

3.  Please don't turn office building doorways into tunnels of smoke that others must make their way through to get in and out; some of us aren't so much bothered by breathing your secondhand smoke, as we are by ending up smelling like an ashtray.

4.  If you're walking and smoking, try to be aware of who and what is around you - especially if you are in an area with kids and strollers: a lit cigarette carried at hip-level is also being carried at eye- and face-level of little children.

If he was looking out for smokers, as he claims, all the blood money he raises in taxes on the smokers would go to helping them quit.

Off topic but I used Allen Carr's method, "The easy way to stop smoking".

Made a lot of sense and the small compilation from it that I bought at Borders Books was a great source of comfort.

Some very helpful free videos at http://ffn.yuku.com/topic/12886/Video-guide-for-those-just-starting-their-quits#.Tdwsz0dmCUk

There shouldn't be any place for this sort of malign jury pool influence in our system where we loudly and often pat ourselves on the back for allegedly adhering to the notion of presumed innocence.  Clearly the defendant's rights are being violated as he has no legal recourse to challenge the p.w. as he is being put in a very unflattering light that makes him look guilty.

Didn't think about this:

In New York City, at least, the perp walk is a transportation imperative (as well as an opportunity for the police to demonstrate that a prisoner was not interrogated too aggressively).