The issue then boils down to whether the Zimmerman jurors can separate his defense attorney’s deliberate muddle of the facts and trashing of Martin and see that there’s absolutely no credible proof that marijuana use in and of itself induces violent behavior in anyone. There is not a scintilla of evidence that Martin was inherently aggressive and violence prone. The prosecution’s job is to make sure that they see this. 

Fed up, cities from Cocoa Beach, Florida and Lynwood, Illinois to Boston, New York, Shreveport, and other communities around Louisiana are telling saggers to pull their pants up or face fines, community service and even prison time. The terms of the laws vary – some ban showing any underwear at all, some ban pants below the waist, some measure the number of inches that may show before violating the law. And the legal basis for the prohibitions aren’t clear, usually couched in terms of “obscenity” or “indecency."

California ranked just ahead of Texas, which finished in 42nd place. New Hampshire, Vermont, and Massachusetts earned the highest rankings, while Nevada, Mississippi, and New Mexico ranked lowest. The report, released by the Annie E. Casey Foundation in partnership with Children Now, determined rankings by taking into account the state’s performance in 16 areas, including graduation rates, parental unemployment rates, and the percentage of children who are uninsured. California placed 41st in 2012 as well. 

Although clearly not barred from providing testimony in the Trayvon Martin case, it seems that many in the public sought to hold Rachel Jeantel to the same “racialized” standard. While the ridicule and mockery cut across racial lines, it is hard to believe that critics would shower such harsh treatment on a white witness of similar speech and disposition. While her language and demeanor may not have been palatable to some, neither should impugn either her credibility or integrity as a witness. 

The Supreme Court dealt a blow to the Voting Rights Act last week, only two weeks after ruling that an Arizona law requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote is unconstitutional. The Court’s decision last Tuesday and the idea underpinning it – that voter suppression of ethnic minority and poor voters is no longer an issue that warrants the same federal protections as it once did – sits at odds with their ruling on the Arizona voter ID law.

But what if, in the name of security, you were willing to give up more rights, not just at the airport, but everywhere else? What if the whole country were to slowly become a kind of mega-airport, a place where you had to watch your language and restrict your communication activities, all under the watchful, electronic eye of Uncle Sam? That is increasingly becoming the scenario in America today, as the story of Edward Snowden versus the National Security Agency unfolds.

The giant has awoken,” Paiva added, citing the continued unrest in her home country. That giant represents the millions of Brazilians who feel increasingly left behind by the country’s recent economic success. The protests that began June 17 have since swept across the country, with crowds of up to one million swarming streets in Sao Paulo, Rio and other cities. The latest involved a crowd of some 5,000 in the northeastern city of Fortaleza, where protestors clashed with police during a Confederations Cup soccer match. 

Nelson Mandela is almost 95. He has been in and out of hospitals three times this year. Newsrooms around the world have probably gotten his obituary ready more than once. His health has gone up and down, each “recovery” a little slower than the previous one. The man's body is tired. Reports say he has not opened his eyes in days and is largely unresponsive. It's not surprising that South Africans are praying for his recovery. But perhaps a final gesture of gratitude to the man who is indisputably the Father of the Nation is to pray for his peaceful death. 

With a memorable tagline, a vast media presence, and an identifiable brand name and logo (a suit without a head, and if ever in public—a Guy Fawkes mask), Anonymous was named in 2012 one of Time’s 100 Most Influential People. Its method of procedure involves “trolling”, or bullying, Web page defacement, threatening emails, leaking confidential information, and a plethora of other tactics that stem from one objective—to battle what it deems unjust or evil through unity and elaborate pranks. 

Rowhani’s intent for reform, his popularity and the widespread desire for change in Iran provide the new leader with a unique opportunity to contribute positively to the Syrian crisis and to Iran’s relations with the West. And despite doubts about the limited power of Iran’s president – the office is subordinate to that of the nation’s Spiritual Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei -- several analysts argue Khamenei may be less able to control a popularly elected figure like Rowhani.