Psalm 46: Read what President Obama Recited

 President Obama read from the Psalms as part of the ten year commemoration of 9-11 this week: holy scripture to Jew, Muslim, and Christian alike.  Here it is from my Bible (I took out the numbering for easier reading, it's just in there for organizational purposes).

Psalm 46 (Eastern Standard Version)(listen to it online)

Title: God Is Our Fortress  

Directions: To the choirmaster. Of the Sons of Korah. According to Alamoth.1 A Song. 

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah 

There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns. The nations rage, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts. The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah 

Come, behold the works of the Lord, how he has brought desolations on the earth. He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear; the burns the chariots with fire. “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”  The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

Read the Juror Questionaire in Dr. Conrad Murray Criminal Trial Re Death of Michael Jackson

Looks like we've got another case where there may be so much media coverage that the danger of a trial by media exists. Celebrity sites are following this one, and misinformation is being provided (for example, there is no charge in this criminal trial of the civil tort of gross negligence). 

Whether or not Dr. Conrad Murray committed a crime in the death of Michael Jackson is going to trial over in California this month, and right now the parties and the judge are involved in the jury selection process.

Like the Casey Anthony trial earlier this year, state prosecutors will have the burden of establishing beyond a reasonable doubt; here, the key issue is whether or not the doctor is criminally responsible for the death of Michael Jackson.   Dr. Murray is charged under California state law with involuntary manslaughter and he could face 4 years in prison and the loss of his medical license if convicted.  (Read the complaint in full online here.) 

For more information on the crime of "involuntary manslaughter" as it will be given to the jury in the formal jury instructions, go here for details and also consider the following:

However, evidence of imperfect self-defense may support a finding of involuntary manslaughter, where the evidence demonstrates the absence of (as opposed to the negation of) the elements of malice. (People v. Blakeley (2000) 23 Cal.4th 82, 91 [96 Cal.Rptr.2d 451, 999 P.2d 675] [discussing dissenting opinion of Mosk, J.].) In such a situation, the court should also instruct the jury in involuntary manslaughter.

Given the outcome of the Anthony case, and the scrutiny that those jurors still undergo today both in the international media and from the American public at large, it's no surprise that the California case has focused upon who jury selection -- however, this questionnaire is considered by many to be unusually piercing in its investigation into the individuals that will take on the role of juror.  Don't expect to see this kind of thing the next time that you're called for jury duty. 

Who would have created this questionnaire?  It would be approved by the judge after conferring with the prosecution and defense.  They, in turn, will probably have conferred with their jury selection consultants on the issues to be addressed in the questioning.   It's 30 pages long and filled with lots and lots of interesting queries (read it here): 

Click on Image for Full Text

Great Overview of the Foreclosure Fraud Mess by Florida Atty General's Office

A detailed spreadsheet that gives a great overview of how all this foreclosure fraud mess happened, with concrete examples, was prepared by June M. Clarkson, Theresa B. Edwards, and Rene D. Harrod of the Economic Crimes Division of the Office of the Florida Attorney General.  It's being used in court cases in other states, successfully, in foreclosure fraud lawsuits. 

This visual report, “Unfair, Deceptive, and Unconscionable Acts in Foreclosure Cases,” is easy enough to follow even without any accompanying discussion and I particularly like it for the screenshots it provides of the actual documents involved.  For example, you can see how there were so many different handwriting signatures for "Linda Green," because they give you screenshots of several of them.

It's really quite impressive, and all the more interesting given that two of these assistant attorneys general were later fired from their jobs.  Of course, there's talk that these firings were politically motivated and right now, there's an investigation into their being let go.

Meanwhile, here's their report for you to consider for yourself:

Click on the image to review the full document.

Documentary to Watch -Overdose: The Next Financial Crisis

This documentary is around 45 minutes long, and it's unsettling. However, I think it's worth your time to watch.