sorry not much writing recently. i've been busy with things, depressed as hell about politics (i miss habeas corpus, about which more below), and my uncle was just diagnosed with cancer and likely won't make christmas. i'm not hide in bed and cry depressed, but kind of logy and apathetic.

anyhow. habeas corpus; the right to obtain one of several common law writs issued to bring a party before a court or judge as a protection against illegal imprisonment.

The End of the US as a Civilized Nation:

...the recently passed Military Commissions Act removes the United States from the ranks of civilized nations. It codifies racial and political discrimination, legalizes kidnapping and torture of those the government deems its political enemies, and eliminates habeas corpus--the ancient precept that prevents the police from arresting and holding you without cause--a basic protection common to all (other) modern legal systems, and one that dates to the Magna Carta.