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• NABU relied on cable systems that did not support bi-directional connections that were essential to the network NABU was developing (NABU stands for Natural Access to Bi-directional Utilities). Quantum/AOL used telephone lines, which are bi-directional.
• NABU was heavily subsidized by the Canadian government. Quantum/AOL was a privately owned company that went public in 1992. If government involvement equaled success, NABU should have succeeded and Quantum/AOL should have failed.
That Wheeler overlooks all of that and sees the sole reason for his company’s failure and AOL’s success as the presence or absence of government regulation says more about his worldview than it does of the proper province of government. Rather than take responsibility for the failure of his company and learn a lesson that could be applied to future endeavors, he chooses to blame the free market for his failure. Now he is simply attempting to apply that broken worldview and failed logic to the greatest innovation man has ever known. It’s as if he wants to destroy the Internet for everyone because he couldn’t succeed in business with it. If you can’t join them, beat them.
That worldview is really at the heart of the whole Net Neutrality debate. Do we as a people believe in a free market, or do we believe that only government can do what none of us can do? How we answer that question will decide the fate of liberty for generations to come. In the digital age, there is no distinction between digital liberty and any other liberty. If we allow government to take over the Internet, we will lose the greatest tool for liberty we have ever known. End of story.
We accept assembly-line justice for the poor. But we shouldn’t.
Donna Lieberman is executive director of the New York Civil Liberties Union.
In “Making a Murderer,” Steven Avery says, “Poor people lose all the time.” Compared with many poor people in New York state’s criminal justice system, Avery had it easy.
The money that he received from a previous settlement allowed him to hire top-flight attorneys to pursue his quest for freedom. However, most poor people must rely on the government to provide a public defender — and if their state fails to provide competent lawyers, they don’t stand a chance in court, innocent of not.
The U.S. Supreme Court acknowledged 50 years ago in the landmark Gideon v. Wainwright decision what it called an “obvious truth” — that most people don’t know enough about the law to adequately defend themselves. A lawyer is a necessity in criminal court. And for those without the means to hire one, defense services must be provided by the state.
In New York state, where I have worked to advocate for constitutional rights, a poor person is often just another one of hundreds of cases on the docket of an overworked and underpaid public defense attorney.
Donald Telfair, one of our clients, didn’t even meet his public defense attorney until he was standing in front of the prosecutor and judge in a Suffolk County courtroom. He had been violently attacked by a group of men, but instead of taking his report, the police charged him with robbery. His attorney didn’t have time to learn his side of the story and why he wasn’t a flight risk prior to court. Still in his hospital gown, with one eye swollen and his jaw wired shut, Donald’s bail hearing was a one-sided affair. Bail was set beyond his means, and he was kept in jail until his case was resolved.
The majority of people locked up in local city and county jails are like Telfair: presumed innocent but nonetheless punished with months and even years of incarceration while awaiting trial. Unable to work or pay rent, they lose their jobs, homes and families. For Telfair, after spending months in jail, a plea bargain for one and a half to three years in prison seemed like the only way to get his life back.
But sometimes the accused lose their lives. In 2010, Kalief Browder maintained that he was innocent of stealing a backpack when, at the age of 16, he was sent to New York’s notorious Rikers Island to await trial. His mother could not afford the $3,000 bail, and his case was delayed over and over. By the time the district attorney admitted that the government had no case, Browder had been locked up for 1,000 days, nearly 800 in solitary confinement. Scarred and traumatized, he hanged himself last summer after his release.
As many as 450,000 people locked up in the United States have not been convicted of anything. They are incarcerated because they are awaiting trial and are not eligible for or cannot afford bail.
How’s that for presumption of innocence?
For a good defense attorney, setting a reasonable bail is just one step of the process. In an era when criminal cases rely on complex DNA and other forensic evidence, an adequate defense may require the use of investigators and experts. Without these resources, which were critical in building his defense against the murder charge, Avery might never have been exonerated the first time he was sent to prison.
In our 2014 report examining the state of criminal justice in five New York counties, we found that in one county, public defense attorneys consulted expert witnesses in only 22 of 14,000 cases and used investigators in only 50 cases. To make matters worse, that same county spent 35 times as much money on investigators for the district attorney than it did on investigators for public defense.
But there doesn’t have to be a two-tiered system. We don’t have to accept as normal assembly-line justice for the poor. In 2014, the New York Civil Liberties Union settled Hurrell-Harring v. New York, our class-action legal challenge to New York’s woefully inadequate — and unconstitutional — public defense system. We won state funding and oversight for the five counties named in the lawsuit. Now, a bipartisan bill is up before the state legislature to extend public defense reform to the whole state. The bill would guarantee a lawyer for every defendant at his or her first court appearance, where bail is set and pleas are often taken. It would limit caseloads so lawyers have time to do their jobs and provide professional standards and oversight.
America’s fascination with “Making a Murderer” shows how much we care about justice. It’s also a reminder that when a person stands accused of a crime without a competent lawyer, there can be no justice.
The last time the Vikings had a Central Florida product on the roster, things turned out pretty well.
Quarterback Daunte Culpepper led the team to the NFC Championship Game in his second season in 2000. Now another Golden Knight gets a chance to make his presence felt, only this time it’s a rookie.
The Vikings signed cornerback Mike Hughes, their first-round draft pick, Thursday.
The signing comes only days before the rookies and quarterbacks are set to report to training camp Tuesday. All eight of the Vikings’ rookies are now under contract.
Hughes, the 30th overall pick, spent part of minicamp working in the slot to gain even more experience, and that could continue into training camp.
With the depth the Vikings have at the position, coach Mike Zimmer isn’t forced to give Hughes significant playing time right away.
Hughes, 5-10 and 189 pounds, played only one season at UCF after transferring there from a junior college, but made a big impact on special teams and at corner. He returned two kickoffs for touchdowns, plus had both a punt return TD and an interception return for a score. He finished the year with four interceptions.
The Vikings’ secondary returns starting cornerbacks Xavier Rhodes and Trae Waynes, as well as Mackensie Alexander and Terence Newman. They also signed undrafted free agent Holton Hill from Texas. Veteran Marcus Sherels will fight for a roster spot as a return man. Prospect Horace Richardson is also in the mix. They kept six corners on the roster last season.
In a less enlightened age, NHL teams expected their prospects to come to training camp and figure things out on their own.
“Be ready to play,” former Ducks forward Todd Marchant said simply, recalling the prevailing philosophy when he was drafted by the Rangers in 1993.
Boy, have things changed. For young players who represent a franchise’s future, summer school is now expected.
NHL teams’ development camps have become a standard part of the summer only in the last decade or so. Draftees, minor leaguers and free agents from junior and college teams assemble for four or five days of teaching, and bonding, as well as a reminder that the big club is monitoring their progress.
The Kings and Ducks held their camps last week, and while most of the participants played junior or college hockey last season, there were a few with ECHL and AHL experience, plus two — Ducks forwards Giovanni Fiore and Troy Terry — who have had brief stints in the NHL. Most are expected to return to Major Junior or NCAA programs next season.
“A lot of these guys, it’s the first time we’ve actually met ‘em,” the Kings’ Emerson said. “It’s great to get to put a face to the name and get to know the kid individually. In our department, one of our most important things is to develop relationships with these kids.
Both clubs lean heavily on former players in the development process. Emerson and Glen Murray — who recently became director of player development when Emerson was promoted to the player personnel role— are augmented by ex-Kings Mike Donnelly, Sean O’Donnell and Jarret Stoll. Marchant, a member of the Ducks’ 2007 Stanley Cup champions, is Anaheim’s player development director; the captain of that team, Scott Niedermayer, is in charge of off-ice player development and was providing on-ice instruction last week.
The teams’ AHL coaches, Ontario’s Mike Stothers and San Diego’s Dallas Eakins, participate in the summer sessions as well.
It is primarily about instruction rather than evaluation. But the players know they’re being watched.
“You’re trying to make an impression on the management and the coaches, and every day is an opportunity,” said Kings’ prospect Jaret Anderson-Dolan, a second-round pick in 2017 who played most of the season at Spokane in the WHL but spent five games with Ontario at the end of the season.
But it’s safe to say a player can make a greater impression by listening, learning and applying those lessons.
“We’re teaching hockey concepts: How to defend a two-on-one, proper stick position, supporting your partner, taking pucks off the boards, working on faceoffs,” Marchant said. “When I go see them play (during the season with their respective clubs), I’m looking for those things — do they retain that stuff we’ve been teaching them over the four or five days that we have them?
The summertime camp can be a launching pad for a player on the cusp of the NHL. That’s the hope of Kings forward prospect Gabe Vilardi, their No. 1 pick in 2017 who missed last year’s camp as well as the first half of the 2017-18 season because of a back injury, but scored 22 goals in 32 regular-season games and added 11 in 11 playoff games for Kingston of the OHL.
Such professionalism is what the youngsters are being taught this week, both on-ice instruction and off-ice guidance and even extending to proper conditioning and fitness habits.
The players who have been in camp before can be a valuable resource.
“A great example is Max Jones,” said Eakins of the Ducks’ 2016 first-round pick.
Jones, who joined San Diego for the 2017 AHL playoffs at the end of his junior season, had an injury-marred season in 2017-18. But he’s a big, rugged left wing who can score, with 22 goals in 40 games last season between regular season and playoffs.
This year, the younger players asked him questions.
There’s a bonding dimension here, too. The brief time in camp reinforces the concept that, whether they’ve signed an entry level contract or not, these players are now part of a professional organization.
They come away identifying as Kings or Ducks, and they’ll maintain communication with their fellow campers as they go back to their individual teams, with the motivation of a common goal.
The team will be meeting with voters throughout the state to discuss the 2018 Legislative Session.
AUSTIN, Minn.-The Minnesota's legislative session has ended but that hasn't stopped some voters from voicing their concerns. The Minnesota Chamber of Commerce kicked off its state wide policy tour today. The team will go to towns across the state to discuss how this year's session went.
KIMT spoke to one Austin resident who wasn't too pleased with the outcome this year's session.
Sandy Forstner is the executive director of the Austin Chamber of Commerce. He tells us that the Governor vetoed tax cuts that would have helped out business in Austin.
“I think in many ways it was very disappointing,” Said Forstner.
Click here, for Chamber of Commerce Tour.
The Northern Power-house economy is bigger than that of Norway or Poland, according to a report published to coincide with the MADE Festival in Sheffield today.
It is home to more than one million private sector businesses which generate 19 per cent of the country’s income.
The figures are in Spotlight, a report by the British Business Bank on the £400m Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund, which is being launched early next year.
Chief executive Keith Morgan was speaking at the Crucible Theatre this morning , at the start of the MADE Festival for entrepreneurs.
He said: “The fund is an exceptionally important programme for the Bank. Working with the 10 LEPs in the North of England, we are bringing together a range of funding sources to help small businesses achieve their growth ambitions, revitalise local economies and create jobs.
“I am proud to be launching this spotlight report in the month that we mark our second anniversary.
The £400m fund aims to help smaller businesses close the North-South funding gap.
It will use cash from the European Regional Development Fund and £50m from the bank.
Today’s report also identifies ‘challenges’ within the North, including productivity, which is below the national average. And only seven per cent of equity investments in SMEs by value went to the North last year.
Northern Powerhouse Minister Andrew Percy said: “We are committed to building a Northern Powerhouse which helps the great cities and towns of the North pool their strengths to take on the world.
Says the State Department spent $630,000 to get 2 million Facebook "Likes."
"About 95 percent of (Ohio’s) electricity comes from burning coal."
"47 - New provisions ObamaCare charges the IRS with implementing, according to the Government Accountability Office."
A Clevelander by any other name?
"Six out of 10 of the highest unemployment rates are also in so-called right to work states."
Because a Top 10 can't capture all the exaggerations.
By Angie Drobnic Holan. Published on Wednesday, September 25th, 2013 at 10:20 a.m.
By Angie Drobnic Holan. Published on Tuesday, September 24th, 2013 at 2:25 p.m.
We've fact-checked several claims recently that have received our worst rating -- Pants on Fire! Here's a quick rundown of the inaccuracies on topics from abortion to the federal income tax.
By Angie Drobnic Holan. Published on Monday, July 1st, 2013 at 10:45 a.m.
PolitiFact Ohio discovered an erroneous statement when we were asked to check a claim on Cuyahoga County Executive Ed FitzGerald's gubernatorial campaign website. It turned out to be a mistake that was quickly corrected, but it led to further confusion about a similar statement FitzGerald made in a speech. We try to clear things up.
By Tom Feran. Published on Friday, June 28th, 2013 at 6:00 a.m.
Is it a myth that protection orders work? PolitiFact Ohio was interested. We found several studies that suggest protection orders can be effective in deterring further violence, but we also found there are pitfalls in trying to prove whether they provide actual protection. So we’re reporting our findings here, but not making a ruling on the Truth-O-Meter.
By Tom Feran. Published on Thursday, May 30th, 2013 at 4:37 p.m.
Observers decrying a decline in the quality of political discourse used to cite 30-second sound bites as a symptom or cause. Thirty seconds is practically a filibuster now. The typical statement in broadcast news stories today is closer to nine seconds. Just enough time to recite a talking point. Just enough words to fill a 140-character Tweet. Long enough to grab our interest, to enlighten, mislead or enrage. Enough to make PolitiFact Ohio say "Really?" PolitiFact Ohio is celebrating two years of checking these sound bites, and looking forward to more.
By Tom Feran. Published on Sunday, July 29th, 2012 at 11:57 a.m.
The Brantford Over-35 Outdoor Soccer League is currently accepting registrations for the 2019 season with an added discount.
Those signing up before Jan. 20 will save $10. A regular registration session will be held on Feb. 24.
Visit www.brantfordover35.com for more information.
As played by the fiery, redheaded Betsy Kruse Craig in Pear Theatre’s current production of Henrik Ibsen’s “Hedda Gabler,” it’s almost possible to feel sorry for the woman. Almost.
But then she gives her comrade, her compatriot, her former lover, Eilert Lovburg, one of her shiny silver pistols to shoot himself with and tells him to make it “a beautiful act” and, well, any sympathy for her goes right out the door.
The role of Hedda Gabler has been a magnet for actresses for many years (much the way Hamlet is for actors). And although Ibsen created a number of stellar female characters, it’s likely none is more complex, more perversely twisted and more enthralling than Hedda.
Working with veteran director and actor Dale Albright, Craig, who is the Pear’s artistic director, clearly found the central truths in Hedda’s pathetic life in an adaptation by former Pear Theatre founder Diane Tasca. And, though the entire cast is exceptional, Craig hits all the right notes in making her Hedda (who many call Ibsen’s anti-heroine) memorable.
Equally excellent is Ron Talbot as the calculating, powerful and dashing Judge Brack. Talbot allows his characterization to unfold gradually, starting out as Hedda’s friend, albeit one who wants to become what he terms part of a “triangular friendship” with Hedda and her husband. He easily recognizes that Hedda is already bored stiff and doesn’t love her new husband, George Tesman (a steadfast portrayal by Troy Johnson), a fussy, oblivious history researcher who Hedda married in haste.
In fact, that’s a puzzle piece that doesn’t really get answered by Ibsen. Hedda’s beloved father, General Gabler, had some financial reversals before his death, and although there’s a quick mention of Hedda having many male admirers, it’s surprising she chose George. She likely thought of the tedious Tesman as a “safe” choice, but now she only sees a long life of boredom, hemmed in by both the conventions of her time as well as by the suffocating walls of a house she never wanted.
So can you blame her if she wants to add a little excitement to her life by messing with the lives of the people with whom she comes in contact?
Even before she comes on stage, it’s clear that Hedda is used to getting her way, which doesn’t sit well with the put-upon maid Berta (a petulant take on the role by Gretta Stimson). And though George’s sweet aunt Julia tries her mightiest to show her welcoming love for his new wife, Hedda wants none of it. Celia Maurice, as Julia, fleshes out this role though she has very little time to do so.
Of course Lovborg has been a part of Hedda’s life long before she commands him to kill himself beautifully (which he botches up, of course). Long-time Pear collaborator Michael Champlin does a decent job of exhibiting Lovborg’s dueling sides – the reformed and talented writer who might be a rival for the professorship Tesman covets, as well as the debauched, drunken side who unknowingly throws his entire life aside when he loses the manuscript to his new “futuristic” book.
But Champlin doesn’t always find the subtlety that would make his characterization more three dimensional.
Ditto Damaris Divito who plays Thea, a sweet, unsophisticated woman who nursed Lovborg back to health in the countryside and, in the process, fell in love with him and both encouraged and enabled him to write his new book. Divito has more success in some scenes than in others, but the love she has for Lovborg shines through. That’s unfortunate for Thea because it gives the conniving Hedda more opportunities to ruin other people’s lives.
One nit with this adaptation: There are about 10 or more references to the fact that Hedda is pregnant – from Julia, Tesman and others, and all are thrown off by Hedda as quickly as they are mentioned. Obviously this is just one more nail, so to speak, in Hedda’s earthly coffin, but still it feels a trifle heavy-handed.
Ting Na Wang has creatively turned the elongated Pear stage space into an exceptionally adaptable living area for the Tesmans. The audience sits on each side of the stage configuration, which means furniture must work from both sides as well as actors must regularly move so they can be seen from either side.
There’s a wood-burning fireplace at one end continuing on with a couch area and then a writing desk with a chair on each side. The other end is equally as flexible: A long black tufted seat and chair are on an elevated platform, followed by opaque panes of glass from floor to ceiling and finally a door that goes to another room.
Melissa Sanchez’s costumes are appropriate for any era, and the dynamic red outfit with tights and high heels that Hedda wears in Act 2 is a stand out. Rachael Bratt’s sound and Valerie Clear’s lighting are reliable.
Obviously “Hedda Gabler” is not a play for children, but Pear Theatre’s production is a solid one and well worth seeing.
When: Thursday-Saturday,7:30 p.m.; Sunday, 2 p.m.
Tickets: $35; discounts for seniors and students; 650-254-1148 or www.thepear.org.