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The numbers '172' can be found on the back of the U.S. $5 dollar bill in the bushes at the base of the Lincoln Memorial.
Just My Opinion:
Defamation of character, also known as libel(written) or slander(spoken), needs to be re-challenged in the courts by public figures. Gossip magazines reporting on celebrities and public figures get away with printing outright lies because of a special exception in the law.
Under United States law, libel generally requires five key elements. The plaintiff must prove that the information was published, the plaintiff was directly or indirectly identified, the remarks were defamatory towards the plaintiff's reputation, the published information is false, and that the defendant is at fault.Â
The big one there for a private citizen is to prove the information is false; if he cannot do that, he has no case. In the United States, the courts will almost always accept "truth" as an absolute defense.
Such is not the case for public figures. And here's the kicker. Even a schoolteacher is held out to be a public figure by the courts.Â
Public figure doctrine (absence of malice)
Special rules apply in the case of statements made in the press concerning public figures, which can be used as a defense.
A series of court rulings led by New York Times Co. v. Sullivan, 376 U.S. 254 (1964) established that for a public official (or other legitimate public figure) to win a libel case, the statement must have been published knowing it to be false or with reckless disregard to its truth, (also known as actual malice).[17]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defamation
Because it is next to impossible to prove that someone knew a statement to be false or that he published it with "actual malice," magazines get away with printing outright lies, particularly about celebrities and politicians.
There have been cases of suits brought by celebrities that they have won or settled out of court. Several years ago Carol Burnett brought suit against The National Enquirer and was awarded a million dollars after the magazine printed that she was an alcoholic.Â
English law does not afford the exception that American law does in the case of celebrities and/or public figures. So, if a story is printed in both American and GB papers, the public figure may choose to bring suit against the paper in GB to discredit it.
Such is the case with Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie whose attorneys filed suit this morning in London on their behalf for a story that appeared in News of The World, a London tabloid.
The paper reported a couple of weeks ago that the couple had separated and had drawn up an agreement with a Los Angeles law firm spelling out the terms of their separation with regard to their children and their finances. The paper even named the law firm.
American gossip magazines immediately picked up the story and ran it as well. Without the "public figure" exception, the Jolie-Pitt twosome could have sued every magazine that ran the story.Â
As it is, they are only suing the London paper. The law firm in LA issued a statement this morning, by the way, that they have not met with the couple.
Why should a person just because he is a celebrity be denied the same First Amendment rights of a private citizen? Â
They were last seen in public together Sunday at the Super Bowl with their son Maddox laughing, talking, and having their picture taken by fans.Â
The couple have a home in New Orleans and Pitt has worked tirelessly in the rebuilding of the city.
And that' s my 'two cents' worth' on THAT subject'!
Today In History:
Today is Tuesday, Feb. 9, the 40th day of 2010. There are 325 days left in the year.
Today's Highlight in History:
On Feb. 9, 1960, Adolph Coors Co. chairman Adolph Coors III, 44, was shot to death during a botched kidnapping attempt while on his way to the family brewery in Golden, Colo. (Coors' body wasn't found for seven months; the man who killed him, Joseph Corbett Jr., served 19 years in prison. Corbett committed suicide in Aug. 2009.)
On this date:
In 1773, the ninth president of the United States, William Henry Harrison, was born in Charles City County, Va.
In 1825, the House of Representatives elected John Quincy Adams president after no candidate received a majority of electoral votes.
In 1861, Jefferson Davis was elected the provisional president of the Confederate States of America.
In 1870, the U.S. Weather Bureau was established.
In 1942, daylight-saving "War Time" went into effect in the United States, with clocks turned one hour forward.
In 1943, the World War II battle of Guadalcanal in the southwest Pacific ended with an Allied victory over Japanese forces.
In 1950, in a speech in Wheeling, W.Va., Sen. Joseph McCarthy (R-Wis.) charged the State Department was riddled with Communists.
In 1971, the crew of Apollo 14 returned to Earth after man's third landing on the moon.
In 1984, Soviet leader Yuri V. Andropov died at age 69, less than 15 months after succeeding Leonid Brezhnev; he was succeeded by Konstantin U. Chernenko (chehr-NYEN'-koh).
In 2002, Britain's Princess Margaret, the high-spirited and unconventional sister of Queen Elizabeth II, died in London at age 71.
Ten years ago:
Hackers stepped up their "denial of service" attacks on popular Internet sites, zeroing in on such targets as ETrade and ZDNet, inconveniencing millions of Web users and unnerving Wall Street.
Boeing Co. engineers and technical workers began a 40-day strike.
Five years ago:
Hewlett-Packard chief executive Carly Fiorina was forced out by board members, ending her nearly six-year reign.
A new postage stamp honoring President Ronald Reagan was issued in ceremonies across the country.
One year ago:
President Barack Obama used his first news conference since taking office to urgently pressure lawmakers to approve a massive economic recovery bill.
All-Star third baseman Alex Rodriguez admitted to taking performance-enhancing drugs, telling ESPN he had used steroids while with the Texas Rangers for three years.
 Lindsey Vonn won the downhill for her second gold at the World Championships in Val D'isere, France, becoming the second American woman (after Andrea Mead Lawrence) to win two golds at a worlds.
Playwright Robert Anderson ("Tea and Sympathy") died in New York at age 91.
Today's Birthdays:
 Actress Kathryn Grayson is 88.
 Television journalist Roger Mudd is 82.
 Actress Janet Suzman is 71.
 Actress-politician Sheila James Kuehl (kyool) ("The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis") is 69.
Singer-songwriter Carole King is 68.
Actor Joe Pesci is 67.
Singer Barbara Lewis is 67.
Author Alice Walker is 66.
Actress Mia Farrow is 65.
Sen. Jim Webb (D-Va.) is 64.
Singer Joe Ely is 63.
Actress Judith Light is 61.
Rhythm-and-blues musician Dennis "DT" Thomas (Kool & the Gang) is 59.
Actor Charles Shaughnessy is 55.
Today's Funny:
A pastor's wife was expecting a baby, so he stood before the congregation and asked for a raise. After much discussion, they passed a rule that whenever the preacher's family expanded, so would his paycheck.
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After 6 children, this started to get expensive and the congregation decided to hold another meeting to discuss the preacher's expanding salary. A great deal of yelling and inner bickering ensued, as to how much the clergyman's additional children were costing the church, and how much more it could potentially cost.
After listening to them for about an hour, the pastor rose from his chair and spoke, 'Children are a gift from God, and we will take as many gifts as He gives us'.
Silence fell on the congregation.
In the back pew, a little old lady struggled to stand, and finally said in her frail voice, 'Rain is also a gift from God, but when we get too much of it, we wear rubbers.'
News From Soonerland:
Aside from the fact that it is COLD AND WINDY, there's not much to report from the Sooner State today. Most of us dodged a bullet yesterday when it snowed all day but the temperature stayed above freezing, so it melted as it hit.
More snow showers due on Thursday; I know that'Â s just what the Midwest and the East want to hear, since our storms seem to be becoming your mega storms the next day.
Valentine's Day is just a few days away. Don't forget to remember your special people, including the grandchildren. They love to get mail.Â
I have very fond memories of Valentine's Day and the day after it. It would be sweet if I got some mail this year as well. Here's hoping.
More from Soonerland another time.
