The more laws, the less justice

I just read that Erich Priebke died in Rome (from natural causes) on October 11, 2013 at the age of 100.

legale-priebke-salma-sequestrata_82312392-370c-11e3-b877-7a22cb79602e_cougar_imageIn case that you didn’t know who this poor excuse of a man was, Priebke was an SS captain who in 1944 led the mass execution of 335 Italian civilians in the Ardeatine Caves near Rome.

The victims, with their hands tied behind their back, were led to the caves in groups of five and shot individually with a bullet in the head.
Priebke participated in the massacre and personally shot two civilians.
He never denied it and never apologized for it. He said he was just acting under orders and felt no remorse for his actions.

After the war, he escaped to Argentina where he lived freely for 50 years.
In 1996 he was put on trial but with the help of various lawyers, he was found not guilty for the reason of “acting under orders”.

I am dismayed and disgusted that such a man could be allowed to die peacefully in his bed.

50 BC Marcus Tullius Cicero correctly said “The more laws, the less justice.”

Or as somebody else put it:
“Lawyer: a professional advocate hired to bend the law on behalf of a paying client; for this reason considered the most suitable background for entry into politics.”

I am willing to bet that if Hitler were alive today and put on trial, there would be thousands of shysters willing, eager to defend him.

Personally, I have very little faith in what lawyers call “justice”.
Justice is directly proportional to the amount of money stashed in Argentina or in a Swiss numbered account. The more loot you have, the less guilty (thanks to your obliging lawyers) you will appear.

When it comes to war criminals, guilty without any doubt of heinous crimes, justice would be far better served by using the services of discreet hit men.
For a modest fee, and with the same “modus operandi” used by the Nazis at the Ardeatine Caves, these professionals could save taxpayers oodles of money and make sure that none of these evil criminals die of old age.

Since there is still a scandalous number of war criminals at large, this above described method would provide work for hundreds of men and significantly reduce the national debt.
Never mind lengthy trials, waste of public funds and mockery of justice. Let’s just put a few dedicated professionals to work.

In these austere times,  a win-win situation, wouldn’t you say?.

Alain la Foudre

http://youtu.be/pfxB5ut-KTs

Humility

I have never been a “high-five” fan and I have said so repeatedly.

After winning a few minor tournaments some players start believing their own press.
On the field, they prance, they dance, they high-five.
This is rather annoying, even offensive.

It is always good to remember that you might be a big fish in your own little pond, but a rather small fry in somebody else’s lake.

Recently, the Youth and Women’s Championship was held in Montauban (France).
Forty countries (40) sent their top players to compete, and after 3 grueling days the winners emerged.
And for many players, it was a great lesson in humility.
When facing top players your pond becomes amazingly smaller and the other guys’ pond extraordinarily larger.

According to my spies, here are the
Final results of the Women’s World Championship.

In Quarter finals
Canada def. Tunisia: 13/5
France def. Denmark: 13/5
Thailand def. Madagascar: 13/10
Cambodge def. Belgium: 13/4

In Semi finals:
France def. Canada: 13/7
Thailand def. Cambodge: 13/9

In the finals:
Thailand def. France: 13/10

This year the Thai women are the top dogs and I very much doubt that they  “high-fived” each other on the podium.

Regardless of the circumstances, humility is far more appealing than an arrogant display of triumph.

Alain La Foudre

By the way, have you ever noticed the eerie similitude between the high-five and the Nazi salute?

 

Alexander Graham Bell’s grandchild

According to Wikipedia, “the first successful bi-directional transmission of clear speech by Bell and Watson was made on March 10, 1876 when Bell spoke into the device, “Mr. Watson, come here, I want to see you.” and Watson answered.”

***********

phone-women-talkingNot so long ago, no modern young woman would venture into a public place without clutching a pack of cigarettes.
It was a way of looking cool, emancipated, with it.
These nicotine-laden days are mercifully over, but it seems that young females are still unable to go anywhere without clutching something.
And today the “clutchee” of choice is the smartphone.

You cannot go to any public place without spotting females carrying or fondling a smartphone. They seem to equate it with a modern rabbit’s foot, an amulet that will protect them wherever they go.
Luckily unlike the genuine rabbit’s foot, the smartphone doesn’t have to be captured or purchased in a cemetery.
But absolutely, definitely, unquestionably, young women cannot leave home without it.

Phones used to be simple means of communication, but not anymore.
Today you can ask your phone all kinds of questions and they will give you amazingly accurate and personalized answers.

I just asked my phone: Siri, do I look good today?
And Siri answered:
“Simply fabulous Alain. Is it what you wanted to hear?”
How could you ever leave home without such a friend?

You can also say “Siri, take me home” and Siri will obligingly pull out a map and give audible commands to take you back to your lair.

Men are a little different from women when it comes to phones.
They carry a phone all right, but in less obvious ways. They tote the little bugger in a pocket or in holster, not like a crucifix.
But women are definitely quicker on the draw.
Ring, ring… Yes, yes, I am here… Talk to me…

Women are more particular about color coordination than men.
The color of their phone cover has to match the color of their fingernails otherwise the device will be prone to hiccups.
Men are not as particular; a camouflaged cover will do, but they are more likely to have a customized ring.

Technologically speaking though, the next big innovation will be the Google Glass.

Through this amazing wearable computer you will be able to take pictures, record and share video clips, get driving directions, ask all kinds of questions, etc. everything via natural language, hands-free.
This means that across the dinner table, people will seemingly look at you but not pay the slightest attention to what you are saying.
They will be too busy watching something on their head-mounted display.

This won’t really change much in terms of human relations. Your wife won’t still listen to you and you won’t probably hear a word of what she is saying.

As the French have been saying all along « Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose »
The more things change, the more they remain the same!

Alain La Foudre