evolution

Now, the French government has admitted it. Read the full story here, and read my original post on the subject here.

The French minister says that the Ivorian crowds were often armed with guns and machetes. The video linked to in my original posts showed no evidence of that, although it was filmed by an Ivorian in the crowd.

Well, duh: Legislators consider death penalty changes (Lawrence Journal-World).

TOPEKA — State legislators met today to consider changes to Kansas law that are designed to protect from the death penalty people with severe mental disabilities who commit murder.

“Kansas should not put people with significant cognitive disabilities to death,” Rocky Nichols, executive director of the Kansas Advocacy and Protective Services, said. “Life in prison without parole is enough,” he said.

A House-Senate Judiciary Committee is considering how the death penalty law considers defendants who say they are mentally retarded.

Kansas law exempts the mentally retarded from the death penalty, but how and when the law determines if a person is mentally retarded during a capital-murder trial are in question.

A 2002 U.S. Supreme Court decision that declared that executing a mentally retarded person was unconstitutionally cruel and inhuman.

The House-Senate committee will make a recommendation on the state law for the full Legislature that meets in January.

As I’ve said before, I’d be perfectly happy not executing anyone. But, I’m glad we can all get together on not executing mentally-disabled people.

Kansas voters turned out on 11.02 in record numbers. 1.2 million voted out of 1.6 million registered voters, a turnout of 75%.

Read this refutation of a socialist screed by smug and condescending author Thomas Frank.

Thanksgiving was certainly exciting. Present for dinner were Mom, Pat, Grandma, Grandpa, and Michael (evolution’s counter-terrorism expert, whose family will meet on Sunday). Pat was at the kitchen counter carving the turkey, and Mom was setting all the side dishes on the table — mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, Waldorf salad, dressing, and green bean casserole (you know, with the french-fried onions on top). This was the first family dinner at this table — Mom and Pat had just bought it after having eyeballed similar oak tables for years.

The rest of us were seated at the table, waiting for Grandma to say the customary prayer of thanks. Pat had just poured the last glass of white Zinfandel, and Mom was about to set the last dish on the table.

Then, a great crash!, and before any of us knew what the hell had happened, the table had collapsed into our laps! Thanks to the lightning-fast reflexes of Grandpa (who is 71, having survived a mild stroke two years ago) and Michael, no food hit the deck. The drinks, including a whole bottle of wine, were a total loss — but miraculously, no dishes were broken and no one — including my wheelchair-bound grandmother — was injured. Michael and I quickly dug the old table (which was to go in my kitchen) out, and set it up. We quickly set the table while Grandpa, a retired machine-shop employee, determined the cause of the collapse. We got the table reloaded, Mom said the prayer (which was accompanied by several snickers from the rest of us), and we enjoyed the dinner, which was excellent as always.

This morning, the person that sold us the table received a quite persnickety phone call from Mom.

I hope you’ve all enjoyed your Thanksgiving, wherever you may be.

The fittest of recent blog work:

• Caribpundit on efforts to build lasting democracy in Haiti.
• Wizbang picks up on a Missouri story — well, a Missouri embarrassment — that I missed until today.
• Instapundit on corruption at the UN, particularly by Kofi Annan — and a great suggestion for his replacement.
• Joe Gandelman on Al-Jazeera.
• A two-fisted suggestion from Jeff Jarvis for TV news and TV news anchors, in the light of Dan Rather’s “retirement” announcement.
• LGF points out just what “peaceful purposes” the Iranians have in mind for their nuclear “power”.

Transcript of an actual conversation that occured at my mother’s house, after hearing several strange noises emanate from the speakers of my mother’s wireless-endowed laptop, which she was using from her spot in the recliner:

Me: What are you doing?
Mom: I’m IMing Neil, and shopping.
Me: Ooh, it’s “IMing” now. You’re a black turtleneck and a latte away from being part of my generation.
Mom: … (famous glare levelled at me)
Pat (my stepdad): (quietly snickers)

LGF has located some broadcasts from Swiss TV that shine some more light on the apparent French massacre of Ivory Coast civilians.

You can read my original post on the subject here.

I’ll be heading home to Lawrence tomorrow night to enjoy my extended Thanksgiving break. I’ll be able to write then, so keep coming back.

I want to have some lighter fare on this site for a few days to celebrate. Expect some different things, plus a Thanksgiving edition of top of the food chain.

Read one military man’s thoughts on what will happen the next time a nuclear weapon is used in an attack. (This one’s for evolution’s old friend and terrorism-preparedness expert Michael.)