nix v williams (10. 801)

On this day in 1984, the US Supreme Court issued a decision that created a carve-out to the exclusionary rule, a legal remedy and disincentive that bars police and prosecutors from entering evidence obtained from searches and seizures that contravene the right to due process under the law, protection against self-incrimination and the right to counsel (guarantees of the Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Amendments, ruling that there is an exception to this inadmissible corroboration—called metaphorically the “fruit of the poisonous tree” by Justice Felix Frankfurter—in this case a coerced confession, if it could be reasonably determined that the same evidence would be inevitably by authorities in the normal course of investigations. The dissenting opinion argued that while such an exemption was common practice in many jurisdictions, the burden of proof should not be weakened from a “clear and convincing” to a “preponderance.”

6x6 (10. 800)

reagan candy: the Taiwanese term for jelly babies  

treuhand: the privatisation of East Germany and the long reach of its consequences—via Maps Mania

mexico filter: the cinematic colour scheme applied to movie set in the “Global South” evokes corruption and pollution is the tinge of New York City (previously) now—plus lots more from Hyperalleric’s Required Reading—see also  

tag yourself: what your favourite classic rock band says about you—from Nag on the Lake’s Sunday Links  

ekd: hundreds of parishioners attend a Lutheran service in Fürth delivered by an AI—see previously—via Slashdot 

lu xun: the memes telegraphing generational disillusionment in China—see also

8x8 (10. 799)

within the wok’s embrace, the dance begins, as secrets blend with savoury sins: Scott D Seligman asked ChatGPT for a pad thai recipe in the style of Emily Dickinson and got an epic 

dockhands: the latest line from Faith O’Hare is inspired by the workwear of the shipyards of the Cylde

hongmeng project: China’s space agency is placing a ring of telescopes in orbit around the Moon to explore the cosmic Dark Age just after the Big Bang  

take care now: inclusive Pride post by Cracker Barrel provokes conservative fury over the loss of this family-friendly bastion—see previously 

reference material: Ars Technica contributor Benj Edwards purchased a copy of the only encyclopaedia still in print  

supergranulation: Parker probe exploring the Sun offers science clues on the origin of solar wind 

blitz kids: a celebration of the fashion of Gary Kemp and Spandau Ballet—previously here and here

 expandart: B3ta community teaching AI how to think beyond the frame—see previously—via Waxy

unified floating object (10. 798)

From Hyōryū-ki-shu’s “Archives of Castaways” of the late Edo period when the island nation’s isolationist policies and suspicions of foreigners was still prevailing, we learn about the strange, illustrated account of a fishing crew salvaging a mysterious saucer-shaped utsuro-bune (虚舟, a hollow vessel) off the eastern coast of Japan in 1803. 

Bringing this boat ashore for investigation, they discovered strikingly beautiful young woman with red and white hair and speaking no known language inside, clutching a wooden box she refused to release. Pictures show her unusual dress and equipage as well as alien symbols. Speculating on the nature of this visitor and close encounter at the time (an ever since), villagers from Jōshū thought this woman might be a Russian or Bengali princess fleeing an unhappy marriage, guarding either her dowery or husband’s severed head in the box and pragmatically, not wanting to draw unwanted attention from the lord of the prefecture rather than out of fear or xenophobia, and decided to send her back to where she came from in her well but bafflingly provisioned and seaworthy boat. More at the links above.

pocket borough (10. 797)

Faced with a raft of sanctions from the House of Commons and possible suspension for scores of violations against his government‘s own Covid socialization protocols (much like the rank hypocrisy of Trump’s attack on leaks and Hilary Clinton’s private server) for multiple raucous and boozy gatherings, lockdown antics and “Wine Time Fridays,” the outcome of a lengthy investigation into Partygate and his role in the behaviour in flaunting isolation rules, former Prime Minister and sitting MP for the constituency of Uxbridge and South Ruislip Boris Johnson abruptly announced that he will leave Parliament with immediate effect, spurring a byelection in his former suburban London district. Releasing a bitter and recriminating resignation letter which could carry in itself further charges of contempt for its inveighing further attacks against the Privilege Committee, which concluded that he misled Parliament and the people, Johnson accused elements of his own Conservative Party of trying to undermine and reverse the Brexit Referendum and generally of propagating a witch-hunt to force him out.  Timing his leaving just after an honours list was approved by the current Prime Minister (successor once removed), Johnson, highly critical of the direction and split in the Tory party, again floated the idea of an eventual return to politics.

united states of america v. donald j trump and waltine nauta (10. 796)

On International Archives Day, no less, one could not expect better timing.  More developments here from NPR.

doesn’t take much to make me happy (10. 795)

Composed by Maurice White and Earth, Wind & Fire’s Al McKay, the song was released on this day in 1977 as the lead single from The Emotions (originally founded as a gospel ensemble known as the Hutchinson Sunbeams after their manager and principal performer) studio album Rejoice, eventually breaking through to the top of charts in the US as well as Canada and the UK and garnering a Grammy the following year. The R&B classic, certified platinum many times over, is ranked among the best love songs as well as among the best in Girl Groups. Covered and sampled many times over the decades, one corollary to this affirming song using the same beat structure was the equally catchy 1997 composition by B-Rock and the Bizz, “My Baby Daddy.”

9x9 (10. 794)

all star festival: the 1963 charity concert sponsored by the UN for refugee aid with headliners Ella Fitzgerald, Doris Day and Louis Armstrong  

smoke from a distant fire: New York City’s air quality falls to the most hazardous in the world—see also  

progressive punishment: a speeding driver in the Åland region gets a six-figure ticket  

bezold-brücke shift: the Sun shines green  

better living through chemistry: a glossary of manufactured terminology  

wopr: Nicolas Temese creates dioramas of miniature vintage computers—see previously  

espionage act: Trump summoned to the federal courthouse in Miami on charges of illegally retaining classified files  

cop 28: the warming weather cycle of El Niño is upon us  

wall of sound: the logistics of touring that defies credulity