Thank you! Thank you so much!

The Closer. Three full seasons.

'Nuff said.

If you stay up till 4am, you get to hear explosions

I heard something thunderish at 4am today, and then again shortly thereafter. I scoured to local news sites, but saw nothing, and given the weather, thought maybe weird thunder? But in fact: Massive fire at Toronto propane depot forces thousands to flee (CBC News)

If the condo I'm cat-sitting at didn't face east, I'd probably have figured it out. Still, freaky.

Avena/Medellín Update

(Via International Law Reporter)

José Ernesto Medellín (the subject of International Court of Justice Cases) is scheduled to be executed today at 6pm in Texas. In the flurry of briefs surrounding Medellín petition for writ of certiorari, the state of Texas made the following concession:

[S]ome defendants currently incarcerated in Texas and subject to Avena may not have received "review and reconsideration" of their claims of prejudice under the Vienna Convention on the merits. Accordingly, and as an act of comity, if any such individual should seek review in a future federal habeas proceeding, the State of Texas will not only not refrain from objecting, but will join the defense in asking the reviewing court to address the claim of prejudice on the merits, as courts have done for Medellín.

While their willingness to abide by international law and presidential recommendation is a positive change, the bargaining strategy they seem to be employing here is perplexing. "We promise we won't illegally execute anyone else, if you just let us execute this guy."

For more information:

• Medellín: Opposition of Texas to Medellín's Supreme Court Filings (International Law Reporter)
• Medellín v. Texas (Wikipedia)
• Avena and Other Mexican Nationals (Mexico v. United States of America) (ICJ)
• Request for Interpretation of the Judgment of 31 March 2004 in the Case concerning Avena and Other Mexican Nationals (Mexico v. United States of America) (Mexico v. United States of America) (ICJ)
• Avena Take Two (Law Is Cool)

Quotable DEXTER

"There's something strange and disarming about looking at a homicide scene in the daylight of Miami. It makes the most grotesque killings look staged, like you're in a new and daring section of Disney World: Dahmerland!" -- S01E01 "Dexter"

"Needless to say I have some unusual habits, yet all these socially acceptable people can't wait to pick up hammers and smash their food to bits. Normal people are so hostile."-- S01E01 "Dexter"

"The only real question I have is why in a building full of cops, all supposedly with a keen insight to the human soul, is Doakes the only one who gets the creeps from me?" -- S01E01 "Dexter"

"The problem with eating and driving, which I love to do, is not being able to employ the 10-2 hand position on the wheel. It's a matter of public safety. But there's always a sacrifice." -- S01E01 "Dexter"

"I can kill a man, dismember his body, and be home in time for Letterman. But knowing what to say when my girlfriend's feeling insecure ... I'm totally lost" -- S01E02 "Crocodile"

“Her husband’s a crack head and her boyfriend's a serial killer ... it’s kind of hard not to take that personally.” -- Season 1

 

Deb: The Bay Harbor Butcher is one of our own.
Lundy: We keep this to ourselves for now. Just the three of us.
Angel: Well I'm gonna go tell it to a bottle of scotch.

-- Season 2