On Saturday, the international squad here at FtB will be providing diverse perspectives on judicial systems and government. It turns out it’s useful having a number of non-Americans around.
I’m hoping to make it, but no promises right now. I just got zapped with X-rays, and tomorrow I probably will get an MRI, and who knows what’s wrong with me. I could get needles, I could get knives, maybe it’ll be a load of addictive narcotics.
Most other democratic countries have a de-politised justice system. The idea of a politically appointed judge who refers to an 18-century judge in a crucial contemporary issue is a sign of a bad system.
The “knife” route is scary and long and hurts and I hope you are able to avoid it. But if the MRI/X-ray shows a bulging disc, please take it seriously.
I’m a lurker, so I realize this is going to be Internet Rando #4,650,092’s opinion as far as you are concerned. But let me serve as a horrible warning – I listened to the people who told me over and over “you don’t want back surgery, you need to do anything other than back surgery!” and guess who now has permanent nerve damage from not getting back surgery until after the discs ruptured.
PZ, you made a horrible choice to be a bipedal quadruped, but despite that, you seem to have produced some excellent sprogs and even some promising grand-sprogs, so I wish you another half-century of healthy life. I am an atheist, so my wish is certainly useless, but it is heartfelt, nonetheless.
I got back surgery done at the end of April (still in some recovery). My back hasn’t felt this good in years! I had two bulging discs. The surgery I got was not fusing the spine but instead having the discs shaved down a bit so they’re no longer pushing against the spinal cord. Went through a lot of pain the past 1 1/2+ years until my insurance finally covered some of the much needed MRI.
Try this book: The Mckenzie Method (https://www.amazon.com/Treat-Your-Back-Robin-McKenzie/dp/0987650408). It won’t remove the pain but it helps lessen it until you get something more permanent done.
@1 The real problem is that American judges are either appointed or else elected in noncompetitive elections, which means that they’re basically political appointees anyway. It costs money to get on a ballot. AOC had to do a LOT of fundraising to get elected, don’t kid yourself.
But were you bitten by a radioactive spider, PZ? Clearly that is the solution to all problems, as Sony is at some pains to show us. Next time, take one of the collectibles with you into the X-ray room, hope for the best.
Unfortunately, none of the options are really great. Chiro has mostly helped me, in a limited way, but it sure won’t help a bulging disc if that’s where the problem lies. “Limited” = “manageable” not “cured”.
Hope things work out for you.
Thinking of you PZ, good luck.
@ birgerjohansson
Are there any other OECD countries that elect judges and the equivalent of US sheriffs?
jrkrideau@ 7
I believe the tories want to make the appointment of chief constables akin to that of US sheriffs. And they have started privatizing the organisations that keeps an eye on prisoners in parole. Because everything must be like in USA.
@ 8 birgerjohansson
“I believe the Tories want to make the appointment of chief constables akin to that of US sheriffs.”
Unless we have a dialect difference here and I am missing something I think most US sheriffs actually run in a competitive election. There is no “appointment”.
The Tories want Labour vs Conservative candidates running for chief constable? With a few SNP candidates tossed in?
It would mean that the elected chief constable would not be a servant of the Crown. I would expect this would violate Royal Prerogative and cause a constitutional crisis but IANAL.