Justice for All?

We'll see. Major test ahead for Obama's Justice Department and the Supreme Court:

Two former US security contractors may sue former Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld for his role in their alleged torture in Iraq, a court has ruled.

US citizens Donald Vance and Nathan Ertel said they were held for months by US troops under harsh conditions.

They said they were detained in retaliation for efforts to reveal illegal activities by their employer.

A federal appeals court on Monday ruled that former Pentagon chief Donald Rumsfeld had no immunity in the case.

"Plaintiffs have alleged sufficient facts to show that Secretary Rumsfeld personally established the relevant policies that caused the alleged violations of their constitutional rights during detention," the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals, based in Chicago, ruled in a 2-1 decision on Monday that upheld a decision by a lower US district court.

BBC Coverage

Third night of riots in London ...

And the picture PM David Cameron gets in the papers is this one, on holiday in Tuscany with the wife. Having a Dubya moment there, David.

Street Music Guy

First afternoon at home after 16 days on the road and 20 hours on planes to get here, I've been on a grocery run, and I'm thinking about a post-lunch nap .... then some guy with an amp shows up on my bridge!

I was ready to be a little NIMBY until I listened for a while and ... actually he didn't suck.

Historic Sydney Homes

Gorgeous old Sydney houses, maintained beautifully ... not cheap.

 

That is all refurnished luxury apartments!

The long hop

That's a long way on one tank of gas.

Home at last

7-1/2 hour flight from Sydney to Singapore ... 90 minute layover ... 11-1/2 hour flight to Amsterdam (777's all the way, yay Boeing), so it took most of a day and I was suffering sniffles and a cough the whole way, but I'm back in Europe!  Great trip in 3 great cities (Auckland, Sydney and Melbourne).  Here's a link to the big ol' gallery of pictures from the trip:

ANZAC 2011 

Done in Sydney

Had a couple great days of work here and a great day outdoors with Gary and Ina last Sunday enjoying sunny high-60's weather.  Love Sydney.