Doug Levy's Explorations & Observations

I’ll set politics aside and give New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie some credit for taking part in this parody video with Newark Mayor and Superhero Cory Booker.

Horrifying, extensive, convincing evidence of something many of us have feared for years: the execution of an innocent person. Now, a Columbia University law professor and his students report on their 8-year investigation into Texas’ conviction on murder charges and its Dec. 7, 1989, execution of 26-year-old Carlos DeLuna.

In addition to Andrew Cohen’s report on the investigation linked from this blog post’s headline, you can read all of the details at the Columbia Law School’s website at thewrongcarlos.net or the news release at http://www.law.columbia.edu/media_inquiries/news_events/2012/may2012/the-wrong-carlos.

Perhaps the most disturbing part of the entire story is how authorities in Texas handled the prosecution of this case and how they seemingly ignored even strong warning signals that there may have been a mistake.

Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia has said that if there has been a case of an innocent person executed in the United States, then those of us who oppose capital punishment should be shouting the innocents’ name from the rooftops.

It’s time to start shouting.

Posted 1 day ago

3 notes

death penalty, execution, Scalia, Texas, justice, errors, murder, conviction, pro-life, lethal injection, law school, Columbia University,

Get the facts about Obama’s energy policies: The Koch brothers recently launched a $6-million attack ad against the Obama administration about U.S. energy policy which quickly received a “Pants on Fire” rating from PolitiFact. Here’s a video from the Obama administration that sets the record straight. Please share.

Thanks to http://www.upworthy.com/this-is-how-you-kill-an-attack-ad for posting this for me to see in the first place.

Posted 1 week ago

1 note

politics, energy, environment, solar, wind, cars, electric vehicles, Finland, China, California, jobs, facts, lies, Koch, Politifact, Obama,

Text Messages May Get More Parents to Vaccinate Kids Against Flu | Columbia University Medical Center @CUMCMedNews

Posted 3 weeks ago

Heart Transplants for Older Patients - NYTimes.com

Posted 3 weeks ago

cardiac transplants Cheney Columbia survival aging ethics,

'Shocking' News About Nutella Nutrition; Lawsuit - AARP Bulletin

I may be a lawyer, but lawsuits like this make my head hurt. The tone of this AARP Bulletin blog post seems about right to me.

And, in case anyone wondered, I’ve always kept Nutella in the “treat” category and used it sparingly. That makes it so much more special when I do splurge. It’s definitely not for breakfast!

Posted 4 weeks ago

Please join me and help feed the hungry via City Harvest

On my way to a sushi restaurant to celebrate my birthday this year, a sweet, older man stopped me and asked me for directions. He showed me a paper that had the address of a shelter on it. He was lost, hungry, and so calm and polite — and needy. All he wanted was a roof over his head and some food, and he wasn’t asking me for a handout, only directions.

I decided right then that I would donate at least twice what I was spending on sushi last night to City Harvest. Thinking more, I want to do more than that. So here’s what I’m doing:

I will give a monthly amount to City Harvest so that I give at least $1,000 during this calendar year. I have signed up for an automated payment so that making these donations will be effortless.
Because this means so much to me, I am inviting my friends to join and make donations of any amount to help feed the hungry.
To encourage everyone to join this effort and share our blessings, I will match donations via this page on a 1-to-1 basis, up to $1,500.

Posted 1 month ago

NYT: Marriott Hotel's Free Wi-Fi Comes With Hidden Extras

Outrageous attempt to impose additional ads on websites viewed by guests at this hotel. Glad to see the practice revealed - and hope it will stop soon.

http://mobile.nytimes.com/article?a=935920&f=24

Posted 1 month ago

Join ColiseumArts for a WaHi movie night - Monday, April 9 @lecheilenyc

The neighborhood folks who are trying to save the historic Coliseum movie theater at the corner of 181st and Broadway are having a fun event Monday at Le Cheile pub (181st and Cabrini.) Here’s the info from the group’s Facebook page:

While we’re working to “Save the Coliseum,” let’s not stop watching movies together! Thanks to the good folks at Le Cheile, Monday, April 9, is ColiseumArts movie night! Join us for popcorn, Popeye cartoons and 1968’s “Coogan’s Bluff” starring Clint Eastwood and featuring our very own Fort Tryon Park (with scenes filmed at The Cloisters)! Limited seating, so first come, first served, okay? See you there!

For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/groups/ColiseumArts/.

Posted 1 month ago

history, architecture, New York City, movies, Clint Eastwood, Washington Heights, Washington Heights, Washington Heights, Washington Heights,

Trayvon Martin George Zimmerman 911 call analysis: Two forensic experts say it's not George Zimmerman crying out for help - Orlando Sentinel

This does not come as any surprise. Zimmerman was the assailant. Trayvon Martin was his victim. No reason for Zimmerman to have been the one crying for help. What a tragedy - and travesty.

Posted 1 month ago

Trayvon Martin gun violence,