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IT’S A DAY of rest, and you may be in the mood for a quiet corner and a comfy chair. We’ve hand-picked the week’s best reads for you to savour. 1. Why are teenagers joining ISIS?
Teenagers from western countries are joining ISIS at a rate of knots. But what drives kids who have only ever known western values to go Syria and Iraq and take up arms? The New Yorker’s Ben Taub met one of the teens to find out. 43 minutes, 8,774 words
2. An Oral History of Kevin Garnett, the Player Who Changed the NBA
If you’re anyway aware of basketball, you will know who Kevin Garnett is. However, his indelible impact on the sport is somewhat lost on this side of the pond. Here, Bleacher Report have a massive oral history of the man’s career, from high school phenom to NBA MVP to NBA champion. Part 1: Reading time: 32 minutes, 6,420 words Part 2: Reading time: 30 minutes, 6,082 words
3. How this psychologist treats soldiers who can’t let go of what they did at war
Regardless of your feelings on the rights and wrongs of war, the fact remains that it is hell for those involved. For American soldiers, coming home can be just as hard. Here’s how they’re treated, from Vox.com 7 minutes, 26 seconds, 1,488 words
Days before he was due to release a damning report on the Argentine government, Alberto Nisman was found dead. Was it murder or suicide? BBC’s Wyre Davies investigated. 14 minutes, 27 seconds, 2,890 words
There was no one to protect Marco Flores, and, just 9 when it started, he couldn’t protect himself. But then one day he realised that others he loved were in danger, and that it was up to him — up to him to end it.
25 minutes, 48 seconds, 5,163 words
6. What’s it like to edit The Guardian?
Since 1821, there have been just 10 editors of The Guardian newspaper. For the last 20, the man in that job was Alan Rusbridger. On Friday, he left the job. His leaving was marked by this 4,100-word editorial.
20 minutes, 47 seconds, 4,157 words
…AND A CLASSIC FROM THE ARCHIVES… Eric Moskowitz talks to the man whose carjacking ordeal was different from all others. He recalls the night that the suspected Boston bombers, Tamerlan and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, jumped in his car and told him to drive. (The Boston Globe)
Just proves a properly resourced force is an effective force. We’re years behind other countries in so many aspects.
@Dilly Dong: They are the Forensic Lab figures. UK got Thu type of database over 15yrs ago, our Garda got it last year.
@Dilly Dong: if you don’t trust the Gardaí that’s your call, but the FSI is a completely separate organisation.
@Gnik: I think everybody should give a DNA profile to the database when born or when you become a resident in Ireland…guarantee you there would be an increase in crime detection. Then we just need a judiciary to hand out the PROPER sentences to keep the repeat criminals off our streets. Before the civil liberties bleeding hearts respond….my only comment is if you are a law abiding citizen this will make your life safer.
@Gnik: they could use it to work out who stole the money.
@Mary Murphy: whilst personally I agree, those who are sceptical would worry that your DNA could be abused and you could be placed at scenes you were never at. Only need to look at some of the scandals in America to see one bad cop, can abuse that type of DNA
brilliant
@David Peate: yeah fantastic! Only about 20 years behind the rest of the civilised world, my house was burgled 3 years ago and the durtbyrds left behind a dirty needle, Garda had no interest cos no data base was available
@john barnes: at least they have it now. But don’t let that stop you from having a good old moan
@Darren Tully: who is moaning? I’m just pointing out what is being presented as a good news story could also be seen as a national embarrassment on how behind the times and under resourced our police force is
Suspended sentences for all.
First good news from the criminal justice system in years
It’s hard to believe that we are only coming to the conclusion the DNA is the way forward, you gotta love the 1980′s
We should have a national DNA database, details recorded at birth or when person move to Ireland. With obvious restrictions placed on access to it. Such would be a serious deterrent to criminals
“Never doubted the benefits that would result from my pioneering Database Act”
Alan Shatter is one mega pain in the asre.
@Brian MacCarthaigh: But he did see the legislation through the Oireachtas and made sure it was properly funded when other Ministers had talked about it for years. If it is fair to criticise when you think a Minister is in the wrong surely it is fair to give credit when they are in the right? He is in the right on this one as he consistently drove and championed the legislation and the funding for the database at a time of public expenditure cutbacks.
Crazy that this wasnt in place to begin with, next up is connecting them across the EU and the world.
“a sample was submitted from a suspect who had been detained for a traffic offence”
Does this mean the guards are collecting DNA for people committing traffic offences? Does anyone else think this is wrong?
@Sean Claffey: No I dont. It helped them catch a rapist. If you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to worry about.
@Paul P O’Sullivan: “If you have nothing to hide you, you have nothing to worry about”… So why not just have mandatory DNA samples taken from everyone? While we’re at it, give the government access to everyone’s online accounts, phone records, email….
@Sean Claffey: If you commit a crime rhat requires court your DNA should be taken.
@Paul P O’Sullivan: only after conviction.
Perhaps the man wasn’t guilty of a traffic offence.
@Sean Claffey: Keeping in mind that some traffic offences are incidents like dangerous driving and dangerous driving causing death or injury I don’t believe that to be disproportionate at all. In the UK it’s very simple; you’re arrested on suspicion of an (any) offence and you get sampled, end off…
Solved != Convictions
Just think if they had of created their database when Britain brought theirs online 20yrs ago how those stats would read now..
@The Viking: did u have to post that while I was still typing my comment?
I was never a big fan of Alan Shatter. The UK introduced a DNA on April 10 1995. It takes us 20 years to get our act together. It’s nothing to get excited about. Great idea to follow the UKs lead 20 years later the tweet should read.
@Sean: The database should have been introduced earlier but Shatter was the one who got it done and who made sure it was funded when everything else was being cut back. It is fair to credit him.
Semen everywhere!!!
@Bar Bar Drinks: Next time, use a sock.
@Matty kinevan:
An empty Tayto bag is more effective than a sock. Cautionary note: don’t use empty salt ‘n vinegar bags
@Nick Allen: More of a Spicy Monster Munch man myself
@Nick Allen: You’re a kinky man Nick Allen
20 years too late
have your say