I'm trying to figure out why the verdict, this case felt so personal. This is one publicized case out of how many across the nation? There are too many people dying from the stupid behavior of others - both in racially charged situations and not.

it's like Rodney King, in my view. It was so cut and dried. Not really a lot of nuance. RK got a huge ass beating he didn't deserve and it was all on video.

TM was stalked & killed. His killer admitted this several times.

Both Black men, both set upon because they were Black men and use of force was not warranted.

Timelies all!

Yay sara for the re-fi.

And it's on show to not just the entire country, but the world is waiting to see what justice looks like, and unfortunately few people are surprised.

In really important news, I'm trying to decide if I should hold off going completely bald until my Christmas hols, or is it something I can try at work? I could shave my head Friday evening, and I'd have some stubble by Monday morning, it wouldn't be way different from my normal haircut.

Finally the baldblackbeauties tumblr posted a bald woman, so I feel encouraged.

I think the Zimmerman case is a complicated stew of politics and law. TM was stalked and killed, but that's not necessarily illegal under Florida law, which is crazy enough itself.

Gun rights advocates might see the trial as a trial of the ability to defend oneself with a firearm. So that makes them pro-Zimmerman in a way. Plus I think there's an underlying conceit the NRA pushes that there are two groups of people: honest law-abiding citizens who legally purchase and own firearms and outlaws whom gun control can't prevent from getting guns. A guilty verdict would have undermined that conceit, therefore it must be true that Zimmerman was only defending himself, and TM being black makes that all the easier to believe due to racism. So I think that's a reason some might have to be pro-Zimmerman.

I'm sure for some it's a purely racist thing, i.e. TM being black makes him a thug and therefore it's reasonable that Zimmerman was assaulted.

While the jury may have been swayed by the racist image of a black male youth being a thug, Florida's stand your ground law would made conviction very difficult. There was such little evidence of what exactly happened and the bar for the use of lethal force is set so low. How do you decide if Zimmerman felt in danger of his life beyond a reasonable doubt? Not was, but felt? Legally, I don't know much about Florida law, but I got the impression that Zimmerman provoking the situation doesn't play into it.

Racism and Guns. That's a toxic brew.

Gud,

somehow I think the jury would have found a way to convict if the roles were reversed and TM was alive while GZ was dead. That's where I get lost on the strict legal interpretations of GZ's verdict.

I could shave my head Friday evening, and I'd have some stubble by Monday morning, it wouldn't be way different from my normal haircut.

Yeah, that doesn't sound radically different from what you have now.

Popsicle report: coconut water does NOT work. I was trying to buy coconut milk and failed. The good news is, I have some left and also some Coco Lopez, so I will mix them and try again.

Not sure what caused the coconut milk purchase failure. At my grocery store it isn't near the condensed or powdered milk but in the "international" aisle.

I think it's highly likely there would be a different outcome if the races were reverse. Though if this was say white-on-white of equal economic status, I think a guilty verdict would be tough with the law in this case.

I think racism certainly plays into the judgement of whether or not the shooter felt in danger. Then combine that with the Stand Your Ground law that makes everything worse because you've made the situation almost entirely subjective.

Then the whole thing gets even more toxic when you throw gun law in the mix.