What Constitutes Torture?

The legal definition of torture has always been a topic of great debate. In recent years, the definition has evolved to become more specific, appeasing the human rights groups, but not too specific for the government to use its discretion in certain situations.

In 1984, the United Nations Convention Against Torture defines torture as "any act by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental, is intentionally inflicted on a person for such purposes as obtaining from him or a third person information or a confession, punishing him for an act he or a third person has committed or is suspected of having committed, or intimidating or coercing hi or a third person for any reason based on discrimination of any kind, when such pain or suffering is inflicted by or at the instigation of or with the consent or acquiescence of a public official or other person acting in an official capacity.

The United States Justice Department previous definition of torture was defined as "organ failure, impairment of bodily function, or even death" constitute torture punishable by law. However, this definition was too broad and gave the government a lot of wiggle room to interrogate suspects within the realm of the law. The new definition as defined by Section 2340A of Title 18, United States Code, is very similar to the one written out at the '84 United Nations Convention Against Torture.

ZetaTalk

A group of aliens known as the Zetas have prophesized the end of the world to be between May and June of 2003. According to their theory, Planet X will sweep through the universe and attack Earth. This attack will cause "violent winds, firestorms from the sky, and gigantic tidal waves." In addition, it will also cause the Earth to stop spinning for several days. After all of this chaos, the ice caps will melt and the world will become one giant ocean and all live will now be underwater. The Zetas have been nice enough to warn us of this catastrophic disaster as they have been keeping contact with humans, most notably Nancy Lieder, founder of the ZetaTalk Website, for some time now. The ZetaTalk website now defends there claim to an end of the world by saying it was part of their "white lie."

http://www.zetatalk.com/

The Black Shuck

On the coast of Anglia in England roams a huge black beast, similar to that of a large dog, named the Black Shuck or Old Shuck. This carnivorous "hellhound" is said to have enormous glowing red eyes and long shaggy black hair. The legend of Black Shuck dates back to the Vikings where where he was seen roaming the Anglian countryside. An appearance by Black Shuck proves ill to the beholder, though just seeing him does not mean death.

The most famous siting of Black Shuck was on August 4, 1577 at the church of Bungay in Scuffolk. The dog burst through the back door of the church killing a man and his son. Upon leaving, Black Shuck left burn marks from his red eyes on the back door, which can still be seen today. Reverend Abraham Fleming (1577) gives his account of that day:

"This black dog, or the divel in such a linenesse (God hee knoweth al who worketh all,) runing all along down the body of the church with great swiftnesse, and incredible haste, among the people, in a visible fourm and shape, passed between two persons, as they were kneeling uppon their knees, and occupied in prayer as it seemed, wrung the necks of them bothe at one instant clene backward, in somuch that even at a mome[n]t where they kneeled, they stra[n]gely dyed."


http://www.norfolkcoast.co.uk/myths/ml_blackshuck.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Shuck