Caseyland

Remember that Iraq war? The Brookings Institute estimates that 115,250 Iraqi civilians were killed in the last ten years.

“An article published … by the Centers for Disease Control [reported] that about 20 people a year are killed by cows in the United States… . In 16 cases, “the animal was deemed to have purposefully struck the victim,” the report states… . All but one victim died from head or chest injuries; the last died after a cow knocked him down and a syringe in his pocket injected him with an antibiotic meant for the cow. In at least one case, the animal attacked from behind.” —The Times.

Listened to this last night - it was incredible. A two-year operation to catch a “terrorist” - except what really happens is so confounding: the US government sends an informant to buy a missile from a suspected crook, and then, frustrated, supplies the crook with said missile to sell to the informant in order to complete their strike. And the one juror who thinks this might be entrapment decides to cave, because she’s trying to close a deal on a house and wants jury duty to end. So full of ironies and interesting conflicts; if only it were fiction. I think they should make a George Clooney movie out of this.

Here, you can look up Section 1233 (it starts on page 424). It’s convoluted, sure, but it’s not forcing anyone to do anything. It’s saying Medicare would cover end-of-life consultations. They’re optional.