The unimportant news thread

[ShineyMcShineShine]

Alain Delon's family refuse to put down dog actor wished to be buried with.
Btw, should it be "refuses" in the title？

https://www.theguardian.com/film/article/2024/aug/20/alain-delon-family-refuse-to-put-down-dog-actor-wished-to-be-buried-with

Family is singular, so I say yes, the family refuses.

[Todd]

From JPL: NASA Citizen Scientists Spot Object Moving 1 Million Miles Per Hour

[Todd]

China to launch world's first thorium molten salt nuclear power station in 2025

Here's to hoping Chinese engineers have solved the corrosion issues that plague this technology.  If so, the world could be transformed.  If not . . .

[Todd]

NASA says Boeing's Starliner astronauts will return to Earth on different spacecraft in February

[Florestan]

Alain Delon's family refuse to put down dog actor wished to be buried with.
Btw, should it be "refuses" in the title？

https://www.theguardian.com/film/article/2024/aug/20/alain-delon-family-refuse-to-put-down-dog-actor-wished-to-be-buried-with

Family implies a multitude. OTOH, so does money or series.

@Cato , please help.

Be it as it might, the refuse is morally right.

[Cato]

Family implies a multitude. OTOH, so does money or series.

@Cato , please help.

Be it as it might, the refuse is morally right.

"Family" is a collective singular: One family wants this, but two families want that!

I find things like "The congregation are.." odd, because you can have congregations, flocks, groups, etc.

The congregation is in church, the flock is flying south, the group has decided, etc.

[Florestan]

"Family" is a collective singular: One family wants this, but two families want that!

I find things like "The congregation are.." odd, because you can have congregations, flocks, groups, etc.

The congregation is in church, the flock is flying south, the group has decided, etc.

So which one is correct?

The family refuse

or

The family refuses?

My bet is on refuses.

[Cato]

So which one is correct?

The family refuse

or

The family refuses?

The singular "refuses" is correct!

[DavidW]

So which one is correct?

The family refuse

or

The family refuses?

My bet is on refuses.

Welcome to the family.

[Todd]

Let the Good Times Roll — Toilet Paper Day is August 26

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Hopefully, there will be some justice:  https://www.cnn.com/2024/08/26/travel/men-indicted-rock-formations-lake-mead/index.html

PD

[Todd]

Hopefully, there will be some justice:

What constitutes justice in this case?  Per the article, "[t]he defendants could each face up to 10 years in prison, if convicted, according to a release from the US Attorney's Office, District of Nevada."  That's literally as insane as it is obscene and unjust.  This type of behavior warrants a fine and community service at most, and more properly probation. 

[ShineyMcShineShine]

According to allegations in the indictment and a statement from the US Attorney's Office, on April 7, 2024, the men pushed chunks of ancient rock formations over the edge of a cliff near the Redstone Dunes Trail at the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, causing damage in excess of $1,000.

How did they decide rocks were worth over $1,000?

What constitutes justice in this case? 

Well, that's what the trial will decide, innit?

[Todd]

Well, that's what the trial will decide, innit?

First, it's a question for posters here.  Second, it may not go to trial.  There are still several weeks to reach a plea deal.  Henderson, Nevada yokels vs the DOJ seems like something of an unfair contest.  Over rocks.

[ShineyMcShineShine]

First, it's a question for posters here.  Second, it may not go to trial.  There are still several weeks to reach a plea deal.  Henderson, Nevada yokels vs the DOJ seems like something of an unfair contest.  Over rocks.

It's extremely unlikely they'll get the maximum sentence. More likely a fine and community service. But it would be ironic if the judge sentenced them to several years breaking rocks.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

What constitutes justice in this case?  Per the article, "[t]he defendants could each face up to 10 years in prison, if convicted, according to a release from the US Attorney's Office, District of Nevada."  That's literally as insane as it is obscene and unjust.  This type of behavior warrants a fine and community service at most, and more properly probation.

I don't know and I would be really surprised if it was very long (in terms of prison--if that); however, as the saying goes "Ignorance of the law is no excuse".

PD

[Todd]

It's extremely unlikely they'll get the maximum sentence.

True, but the fact that the feds make it a point to cite the maximum sentence is itself absurd.  It perfectly exemplifies some of what is wrong with the criminal justice prosecutorial system in the US.

I don't know

You're the one who hoped for some justice, which necessarily implies you had an idea of what constitutes justice.  Simple question: should they be imprisoned at all?

[Pohjolas Daughter]

What constitutes justice in this case?  Per the article, "[t]he defendants could each face up to 10 years in prison, if convicted, according to a release from the US Attorney's Office, District of Nevada."  That's literally as insane as it is obscene and unjust.  This type of behavior warrants a fine and community service at most, and more properly probation.

I don't know.  I neither know the laws well nor am I a judge.

Firstly, did you watch the video?  And did you see how (I believe it's one man's daughter) was scared due to what her dad (I believe) was doing?  She looked to be maybe six or seven?

Perhaps he and or his friend need to go to some sort of rehab?  Again, I don't know enough.

I think that maybe part of their sentencing (just an idea) should involve learning about the park and then maybe interacting with visitors and also the people who work there as to why it means so much to so many people.

As an aside, I'm seeing more and more articles (including today) of people vandalizing historical sites (initials X loves Y and other things).  There was a big one (maybe six months ago--not certain exactly) in Rome like this.  What's happened to our society?

PD

[JBS]

I don't know.  I neither know the laws well nor am I a judge.

Firstly, did you watch the video?  And did you see how (I believe it's one man's daughter) was scared due to what her dad (I believe) was doing?  She looked to be maybe six or seven?

Perhaps he and or his friend need to go to some sort of rehab?  Again, I don't know enough.

I think that maybe part of their sentencing (just an idea) should involve learning about the park and then maybe interacting with visitors and also the people who work there as to why it means so much to so many people.

As an aside, I'm seeing more and more articles (including today) of people vandalizing historical sites (initials X loves Y and other things).  There was a big one (maybe six months ago--not certain exactly) in Rome like this.  What's happened to our society?

PD

It's apparently been cleaned up since then, but when as a tourist I was shown the alleged "Juliet's Balcony" in Verona, every wall of the courtyard of which it was a part was covered in romantic graffiti as high as human arms could reach.
But graffiti at important sites has a long history. Witness among others the Varangian who left his runic signature high up in Hagia Sophia.

[Todd]

I don't know.  I neither know the laws well nor am I a judge.

You do not need to be a judge or know the details of the law to know whether you think they should go to jail.  As the DOJ already publicly stated that the maximum sentence is up to ten years, prison time is an option.  So again, do you think they should be imprisoned at all?  Would that be just, since you claim to care about justice?  My interest here is what you believe to be just.

Firstly, did you watch the video?

Yes.  This topic came up before on this thread when it was still fresh.  If memory serves, you posted about it then, too.

Perhaps he and or his friend need to go to some sort of rehab?  Again, I don't know enough.

Rehabilitation for what?  You claim you do not know enough, but then you throw out rehab as an option.  That is contradictory. 

And did you see how (I believe it's one man's daughter) was scared due to what her dad (I believe) was doing?  She looked to be maybe six or seven?

So what?  That has no bearing on the federal case as child endangerment charges, if warranted, would be handled at the state level.  I did not see evidence of child endangerment in the video.

I think that maybe part of their sentencing (just an idea) should involve learning about the park and then maybe interacting with visitors and also the people who work there as to why it means so much to so many people.

To whom does it mean a lot? 

What's happened to our society?

People routinely destroy all signs of other civilizations.  Look at US history as but one example.  People also vandalize and destroy all manner of things all the time, everywhere, and have for longer than recorded history.  Ain't nothing new going on.