Odd Bits 4 - Judicial Edition

I Am SpartiCuss
There was an article in Live Science about a test that concluded that swearing can increase one’s tolerance to pain.

Those are some clinical trials I would like to have seen. I wonder if certain words were more “therapeutic” that others. I’d guess, the more taboo, the more bang for your buck, so to speak.

And I wonder how much the test subjects got paid. It’s a miracle they got anyone to answer their ad.
Wanted: subjects to be tested on pain endurance. Must have potty mouth and be unafraid to use it. Insurance should be up to date.
Judge Not
The confirmation hearings have started up for Judge Sonia Sotomayor, although there has been a lot of hoo-haa going on ever since the nomination. And it’s been coming especially since that speech came to light where she hoped “a wise Latina” would be able to use her experiences to render better decisions than white male judges.

The Republicans flew into a predictable tizzy because of the intimation that a Latina could do anything better than a white male that didn’t involve cleaning their hotel rooms.

“Would she be capable of rendering an unbiased judgement?” they wonder, eyes wide with astonishment.

What they really mean is “Will she continue the Roberts Court’s tradition of finding in favor of white males running billion dollar companies?”

I say they need to take a chill pill. One liberal is going, another is coming in. White males will still be able to enjoy their 5-4 decisions until Justice Kennedy retires. Then you’ll really see the heavy artillery come out.

I say nominate Al Franken.



Assault and LeBatre
President Obama has picked his Surgeon General, one Dr. Regina Benjamin. Dr. Benjamin is a family physician from Alabama, who is nationally known for establishing a rural health clinic in the small shrimping village of Bayou LaBatre LA.

What happened after that, you just can’t make up… It was blown down during Hurricane Katrina, rebuilt, then burned to the ground the day before it was to reopen.

Bubba Blue was unavailable for comment.