A Stitch in Haste

Two quick updates.

ITEM: The little critter that, had I a spare $700,000 lying around, would have been forever known as "Roark's Monkey," shall alas be named something else --

The right to name a new species of monkey sold Thursday for $650,000 in an online auction, with the funds going to protect the Bolivian habitat where the species lives, the Web site that handled the sale said.

The winning bidder, who outbid Ellen DeGeneres, chose to remain anonymous for now, said Kelly Fiore, director of business development for the New York-based auction venue, Charity Folks. There was no immediate information on what the winner planned to name the species, but an announcement might be made later, Fiore said.
...
The proceeds of the auction were to be given to Bolivia's park service to help protect Madidi and the many animals that live there. The conservation society said it was overjoyed.

MY TAKE: Same as in my previous post. The best way to save the environment is to buy it.

ITEM: Remember the two developmentally challenged boys who were dragged out of their school in handcuffs for "violent crayon drawings"? Well, perhaps they can have a playdate with this unfortunate kid --

Police arrested an 8-year-old boy who allegedly had a violent outburst in school, head-butting his teacher and kicking an assistant principal, when he was told he couldn't go outside to play with other students.

The 4-foot pupil was led away from Rawls Byrd Elementary School in handcuffs Tuesday and charged with disorderly conduct and assault and battery.

"It's not something that happens every day," Maj. Stan Stout said of what could be the department's youngest arrest ever. Stout said the chair-tossing, desk-turning outburst occurred after a teacher, and later the assistant principal, attempted to stop the boy from joining his classmates.

The child was later released to his parents.

MY TAKE: My bookie is taking bets -- how long before we start seeing reports of eight-year olds being tasered in school by teachers and cops? Maybe some of that Roper v. Simmons wisdom nonsense whatever, about "how young is too young?", will trickle down to handcuff rules for minors.

I don't care how "violent" an eight-year old is -- after the incident is over there is no need to "perp walk" him out of a school. Suspend him, expel him, even arrest him after the fact if the prosecutor (not the police) deems it appropriate. But handcuffs? Eight-year olds? Just plain wrong. "Lost enforcement" strikes again.

UPDATE: Freeman wins the bet by reminding us that there have already been at least two incidents of police tasering a child:

[Miami] Police have acknowledged using a stun gun to immobilize a 12-year-old girl just weeks after an officer jolted a first-grader with 50,000 volts.

Police Director Bobby Parker defended the decision to use a Taser on the 6-year-old boy last month because he was threatening to injure himself with a shard of glass. But Parker said Friday that he could not defend the decision to shock the fleeing girl, who was skipping school and apparently was drunk.
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The first incident had already exposed the department to criticism for its use of Tasers. The 6-year-old boy was shocked Oct. 20 in the principal's office at Kelsey Pharr Elementary School. Principal Maria Mason called 911 after the child broke a picture frame in her office and waved a piece of glass, holding a security guard back. The boy had cut himself under his eye and on his hand when officers arrived.

I might -- might -- give a pass for tasering a kid cutting himself with glass, but now we have to ask: When it comes to non-lethal weapons, will "less injury" be offset by "greater abuse"? See also this Amnesty International press release.