"It is indeed an oddity that the court absent Stevens consists of 6 Catholics and 2 Jews. I have joked in the past that it's a fair offset for the overrepresentation of WASPs in the Congress (and until 2009, the presidency)."
That does seem rather surprising. Perhaps an unusual number of Catholics took to the law in the USA 40-50 years ago? A sort of 'Kennedy effect' we didn't know about?
Not really that surprising. Both Catholicism and Judaism have traditions of legal interpretation (canon law for Catholicism and Talmudic interpretation in Judaism). Protestantism in most of its forms looks to the Bible as the one and only source. You don't have the same tradition of dispute and resolution.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/markmardell/2010/04/obamas_supreme_court_choice_wi.html#P95209647
Monday, April 26, 2010
Interesting comment on the upcoming Supreme Court nomination
Spotted on the BBC Website:
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Celtic vs Rangers at Gillette Stadium
This summer? Could it be true?
I'd imagine there would be a lot more Celtic fans around here, but it would be interesting to see how many Rangers fans come out of the woodwork:
http://boston.com/community/blogs/less_is_more/2010/04/old_firm_to_play_at_gillette.html
I'd imagine there would be a lot more Celtic fans around here, but it would be interesting to see how many Rangers fans come out of the woodwork:
http://boston.com/community/blogs/less_is_more/2010/04/old_firm_to_play_at_gillette.html
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Donald Clarke, Irish Times film critic, asks "Are Americans stupider than Europeans"
He asks the question in jest, of course, regarding the fact that European film names are sometimes changed when they are shown in the US.
I would add the counter-example of the Pauly Shore "classic" Encino Man which was renamed "California Man" in Europe because Europeans may not know the significance of Encino.
Here is the article - the comments are worth reading.
I would add the counter-example of the Pauly Shore "classic" Encino Man which was renamed "California Man" in Europe because Europeans may not know the significance of Encino.
Here is the article - the comments are worth reading.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Irish book of the decade
My vote goes to Netherland by the Cork-born Joseph O'Neill. Many of the other books are quite "worthy", but Netherland has the advantage of being a good read.
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2010/0414/breaking42.html
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2010/0414/breaking42.html
Monday, April 12, 2010
Google Maps places a bank branch right on the Red Line
Quick - where is the TD Bank branch at 579 Boylston Street? Near Copley Square, right?
Bing gets it right:
http://www.bing.com/maps/?v=2&cp=42.350421999999995~-71.07665500000002&lvl=15&sty=r&where1=579%20Boylston%20St%2C%20Boston%2C%20MA%2002116-3601
Google Maps, on the other hand, reckons that this particular TD Bank branch is located right on the Red Line train tracks heading south from South Station, or perhaps it is in the Fenway.
Bing gets it right:
http://www.bing.com/maps/?v=2&cp=42.350421999999995~-71.07665500000002&lvl=15&sty=r&where1=579%20Boylston%20St%2C%20Boston%2C%20MA%2002116-3601
Google Maps, on the other hand, reckons that this particular TD Bank branch is located right on the Red Line train tracks heading south from South Station, or perhaps it is in the Fenway.