ThinSkull Blog

‘Right to spank’ law called public health threat

AB — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 18:54:24 +0000

CBC News The Criminal Code’s justification for physical punishment of children such as spanking should be removed, Canadian researchers say. Monday’s issue of the Canadian Medical Association Journal includes a paper reviewing how the understanding of the effects of physical…

Egypt ‘to try foreign NGO staff’

AB — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 18:52:50 +0000

BBC News Egypt says it is to put on trial 43 people – including Americans and other foreigners – over the funding of non-governmental organisations. Egypt’s ruling military council has accused foreign groups of funding street protests against them. It…

Federal food safety surveillance program stalled

Alex — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 21:01:55 +0000

Steve Brown remembers what he calls the fateful day more than three years ago when he had “the fateful sandwich.” Initially, he was OK — and then the headaches started. “It felt like somebody was inside with their feet up…

Brian Stewart: America’s ‘prison nation,’ must we follow suit?

AB — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 21:24:22 +0000

CBC News For over a quarter century the U.S. political system has dodged and weaved its way around one of the great scandals of our times — the mass incarceration of millions of its citizens. But in all the theatrics…

Hackers breach FBI-UK police call

AB — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 21:22:29 +0000

BBC News Hacking network Anonymous has released a recording of a conference call between the FBI and UK police in which they discuss efforts against hackers. The call, said to have taken place last month, covers the tracking of Anonymous…

Ontario child porn bust snares 60

AB — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:59:47 +0000

CBC News Police in Ontario are expected to release details Thursday morning of what could be the largest child pornography bust ever in Canada. According to Ontario Provincial Police spokesman Sgt. Pierre Chamberlain, police will release “results of a provincial-wide…

Washington votes for gay marriage

AB — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:55:47 +0000

BBC News Washington is on track to become the seventh US state to allow same-sex marriage after a vote by lawmakers. A bill permitting gay and lesbian couples to wed was approved by 28 votes to 21 in the north-western…

The Health Care Debate: A Basic Understanding

Michael MacIsaac — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 21:01:35 +0000

For anyone who has been following the battle develop over the funding of health care over recent months, there seems to be some confusion. I have brought up the topic to some colleagues outside of the law school setting, and…

Death penalty debate sparked by Tory senator

AB — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 17:56:22 +0000

CBC News Conservative Senator Pierre-Hugues Boisvenu said Wednesday he’s against the death penalty, but not opposed to convicted murderers having ropes in their cells to kill themselves. His comments, made to reporters ahead of the Conservative caucus meeting, prompted immediate…

US lawmakers request information on new Google privacy policy

AB — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 17:55:00 +0000

The Jurist US Representative Edward Markey (D-MA) [official website; press release] and seven other lawmakers Thursday sent a letter to Google CEO Larry Page containing 11 questions regarding consumer privacy rights as affected by Google’s new privacy policies. The letter states that the privacy policy and Google’s consolidated…