Posts Made By: Maurice Clark

Hi all,

The USA frequently touts itself around the world as a place of religious freedom, and in many respects this is true. However there are many religious laws in the USA that do restrict religious freedom. Take for example Sunday laws. Every state apart from Alaska has them and they restrist a whole range of activities from the sale of alcohol, to business activities, to work, to recreation.

46 states restrict the sale of alcohol on Sunday. Over 20 states restrict some form of business and 22 prohibit legal proceedures. 17 restrict the car sales and 14 forbid horse racing.

The punishment for violating a Sunday law includes fines, loss of business licence, or imprisonment. (eg Oklahoma) In Geogria, you are guilty of a misdemeanor if you fire a gun anywhere on a Sunday. (Don't shoot at that person who breaks into your house on a Sunday!)

What do these laws have to do with freedom of religion? Well, many states (eg Minnesota, New York, Nebraska, New Hampshire) openly state that these laws are to uphold "the Sabbath". In other words, because a portion of the population considers Sunday to be a sacred day, everyone must follow their dictates.

The USA supreme court has ruled that state Sunday laws are constitutional and do not impose a burden on those others. Also many state courts have ruled that it is "appropriate" to impose Sunday restrictions for the purpose of promoting public health, safely, and morals.

However I fail to see how stopping someone from buying a car on a Sunday promotes public health. Of if I want to see a movie on a Sunday, why must I be limited as to what I can watch and when? In the past farmers have been jailed for harvesting on a Sunday. This is not religious freedom. This is one religious group imposing their beliefs on the rest of society through the use of the law. In some states you could even be arrested for going fishing on a Sunday.

While at the moment, these laws are poorly enforced, the fact that they exist at all is a worry, especially with the continued rise of religious fundamentalism. Something to think about.

Regards,

Maurice

It's once again time to review the winners of the annual Stella awards.

The Stella's are named after 81-year-old Stella Liebeck who spilled coffee on herself and successfully sued McDonalds. That case inspired the Stella Awards for the most frivolous successful lawsuits in the United States.

Unfortunately the most recent lawsuit implicating McDonalds, the teens who allege that eating at McDonalds has made them fat, was filed after the 2002 award voting was closed. This suit will top the 2003 awards list without question.

With juries like these who needs enemies!!????

Maurice

5th place (Tied)

Kathleen Robertson of Austin Texas was awarded $780,000 by a jury of her peers after breaking her ankle tripping over a toddler who was running inside a furniture store. The owners of the store were understandably surprised at the verdict, considering the misbehaving toddler was Ms. Robertson's Son.

5th place (Tied)
19-year-old Carl Truman of Los Angeles won $74,000 and medical expenses when his neighbor ran over his hand with a Honda Accord. Mr. Truman apparently did not notice there was someone at the wheel of the car when he was trying to steal the hubcaps.

5th place (Tied)
Terrence Dickson of Bristol Pennsylvania was leaving a house he had just finished robbing by way of the garage door. He was not able to get the garage door to go up since the automatic door opener was malfunctioning. He could not reenter the house because the door connecting the house and garage locked when he pulled it shut. The family was on vacation and Mr. Dickson found himself locked in the garage for 8 days. He subsisted on a case of Pepsi he found and a large bag of dry dog food. He sued the homeowner's insurance claiming the situation caused him undue mental anguish. The Jury agreed to the tune of $500,000.

4th Place
Jerry Williams of Little Rock Arkansas was awarded $14,500 and medical expenses after being bitten on the buttocks by his next door neighbor's Beagle dog. The Beagle was on a chain in its owner's fenced yard. The award was less than sought because the jury felt the dog might have been a little provoked at the time as Mr. Williams, who had climbed over the fence into the yard, was shooting it repeatedly with a pellet gun.

3rd place
A Philadelphia restaurant was ordered to pay Amber Carson of Lancaster Pennsylvania $113,500 after she slipped on a soft drink and broke her coccyx (tailbone). The beverage was on the floor because Ms. Carson had thrown it at her boyfriend 30 seconds earlier during an argument.

Hi all,

This is something to laugh at at first, however if you think about it a little, it actually comes a little closer to the truth than you might like to think.

Cheers,

Maurice

Last month, a worldwide survey was conducted by the UN.
The only question asked was:
"Would you please give your honest opinion about the solutions to the food shortage in the rest of the world?"

The survey was, not surprisingly, a huge failure. Because:
In Africa they didn't know what "food" meant.
In Eastern Europe they didn't know what "honest" meant.
In Western Europe they didn't know what "shortage" meant.
In China they didn't know what "opinion" meant.
In the Middle East they didn't know what "solution" meant.
In South America they didn't know what "please" meant.
And,
In the USA they didn't know what "the rest of the world" meant.

Found this today.

Cheers,

Maurice

After his death, Osama bin Laden went to heaven. There he was greeted by George Washington, who proceeded to slap him across the face and yell at him, "How dare you try to destroy the nation I helped conceive!"

Patrick Henry approached and punched Osama in the nose and shouted,"You wanted to end our liberties but you failed."

James Madison entered, kicked Osama in the groin and said, "This is why I allowed our government to provide for the common defense!"

Thomas Jefferson came in and proceeded to beat Osama many times with a long cane and said, "It was evil men like you that provided me the inspiration to pen the Declaration of Independence!".

These beatings and thrashings continued as John Rudolph, James Monroe and 66 other early Americans came in and unleashed their anger on the Muslim terrorist leader.

As Osama lay bleeding and writhing in unbearable pain an Angel appeared. Bin Laden wept in pain and said to the Angel, "This is not what you promised me."

The Angel replied, "I told you there would be 72 Virginians
waiting for you in heaven. What did you think I said?"

Hi all,

JPL has just released the latest image of Saturn from the Cassini mission. It can be found at: http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/index.cfm

Still some way to go yet, but by the time it goes into orbit at the beginning of July, I expect the pictures to be stunning.

Cheers,

Maurice

Hi everyone,

I have been following this 6-part series with some interest and felt others might find it interesting also. Wheather you agree with what is written or not, A'Marters in the US might still find it interesting how others view the US.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/3521691.stm

On another point, it was interesting to hear the Democrat candidates debating about more US protectionism yesterday, and then on the news today, a report that the EU is starting retaliatory tarrifs on US exports due to the heavy subsidies already paid to US farmers and businesses.

Interesting days ahead!

Cheers,

Maurice

Hi all,

Just something to lighten up this forum!

Regards,

Maurice

"Outside of the killings, Washington has one of the lowest crime rates in the country," --Mayor Marion Barry, Washington, DC.

"That lowdown scoundrel deserves to be kicked to death by a jackass, and I'm just the one to do it," --A congressional candidate in Texas.

"I'm not going to have some reporters pawing through our papers. We are the president." --Hillary Clinton commenting on the release of subpoenaed documents.

"It isn't pollution that's harming the environment. It's the impurities in our air and water that are doing it." --Al Gore, Vice President

"I love California. I practically grew up in Phoenix." --Dan Quayle

" It's no exaggeration to say that the undecideds could go one way or another" --George Bush, US President

"I was provided with additional input that was radically different from the truth. I assisted in furthering that version." --Colonel Oliver North, from his Iran-Contra testimony.

"We've got to pause and ask ourselves: How much clean air do we need?" --Lee Iacocca

"If we don't succeed, we run the risk of failure." --Bill Clinton, President

"We are ready for an unforeseen event that may or may not occur." --Al Gore, VP

"Your food stamps will be stopped effective March 1992 because we received notice that you passed away. May God bless you. You may reapply if there is a change in your circumstances." --Department of Social Services, Greenville, South Carolina

"Traditionally, most of Australia's imports come from overseas." --Keppel Enderbery

Hi all,

My wife was sent this link for photographs of aurora taken from Iceland. The pictures are fantastic. Just click on the "thumbnails" link to se them all at once.

Enjoy,

Maurice

http://www.iww.is/art/shs/

Hi all,

I was searching for some cartoons on relativity and came across this site, entitled "A Ridiculously Short History of Time".

It is great.

Cheers,

Maurice

http://www.12am.com/arshot.htm

I received this message a few minutes ago.

Maurice

[The below message is forwarded from Dr. Mario Motta.]

Dear members, staff, and friends of the AAVSO. It is my very sad duty to inform you all that Dr. Janet Mattei died at 4:20 PM today 3/22/04 at the Peter Bent Brigham Hospital after a long battle with Acute Myelogenous Leukemia. In typical Janet fashion she fought a heroic battle with this deadly disease for the past 7 months, but in the past few weeks it overcame her. Last Tuesday she asked that I inform her friends worldwide when this time came for her. Last evening she slipped into a coma, and passed away just minutes ago.

The AAVSO has lost a strong leader who has guided our organization to greatness. The world of astronomy has lost a patron of her field. Amateur astronomers the world over have lost a mentor who bridged the world of amateurs and professionals. I, along with many others the world over who knew her well, have lost a dear friend who will be deeply missed.

Information about services will be forthcoming soon.

Mario Motta, MD