Quick Hits

A few interesting bits and pieces from there and there:

• Yesterday's New York Times had a lengthy article about the upcoming "final cut" of the classic sci-fi flick Blade Runner. This version, assembled by director Ridley Scott from reworked existing footage and some previously lost scenes cut from the original, this will (allegedly) by the definitive version, as Scott always intended it to be. As such, he confidently proclaims "Yes, [Deckard]’s a replicant. He was always a replicant." I will have to have one!

• Then today's New York Times has an interesting article on odd (to our ears) African names. They work like this - many African cultures traditionally give children names to convey a specific meaning. In their native tongues, they sound foreign enough to be "normal." Anglicanlized, however, you get names like Godknows, Knowledge, and even Hatred. Which is, well, odd, regardless of where one comes from, according to some folks quoted in the article.

• Finally, S. COTUS over at Appellate Law & Practice takes a crack and fashioning some questions for the new and improved citizenship test. My favorites:

  3. What percentage of Americans should be in jail?
  4. Which kinds of pornography are not protected by the First Amendment? Draw pictures if necessary.
  13. Imagine that you are a prosecutor. What is the easiest way to increase a sentence without having to prove facts to a jury?
  15. Which major political party has the blessing of god?

  With questions like that, there are no good answers.