I hate when you read through an entire series and the explanation behind a fictional world makes no sense. :/

A friend who owns a tour company here in South Africa has had several American groups cancel a trip to SA because of Ebola. Actually, an Indian tour group too. London is closer to the affected countries than we are. Sigh.

From what other commenters have said, voluntary intoxication is not a defence in the US. Interestingly, it actually is where i live (South Africa): if you were too drunk to know what you were doing/form an intention to commit a crine then it can be a defence. But it is quite a contentious area of the law. Also it…

The prosecution is a brilliant team. Unfortunately, given that one of the witnesses is dead and the other is a liar, there wasn't enough evidence to prove that the killing was intentional.

I'm not completely clear on the US law. But fetuses aren't legally defined as people (anyone, correct me on this if I'm off base). So an abortion provider wouldn't be charged with murder for abortion. At least where I live. If a fetus isn't a legal person, how on earth could it have an attorney representing them? It's…

HOGWARTS

I think you've conflated recklessness with negligence. Recklessness is when you in fact foresee a risk and proceed anyway. It is part of legal intention/ dolus eventualis. If OP had been found to have been reckless (the term being used legally) he would have been found guilty of murder. In fact the judge (no jury)…

An MRA following Godwin's Law. I can't even with this.

Multiple postponements are normal during a trial in SA; one of them was over a month long because OP was referred for psychiatric observation. All of the charges will be dealt with at once, but Judge Masipa has to read her full judgement. Given the amount of evidence led, the judgment is pretty long. The verdict on…

It happens surprisingly often, actually. Not just in Brazil.

A friend of mine will be working with an international cruise liner company. In addition to her full medical checkup (which certified that she is completely healthy), she had to provide a Pap smear result or proof of virginity. That was how it was phrased. She is 22.

I hate to be this commenter, but it's the University of Portsmouth.

Africa isn't a country.

The joke is, it's GRRM. You will literally never find out.

I vomited in my mouth.

Johannesburg area, South Africa. :)

YES! :) You probably get people saying to you: "but you're so wonderful with (niece/nephew)! You'd be such a great mom!" Like, yes, I am wonderful with my nephew. BECAUSE I am not his mother, so I can give him back when the nappy needs changing or he's having a massive irrational tantrum. There's no pressure on me.

I believe she did indeed train herself to speak like that to be more marketable in the US. We're from the same area, and I don't think her original Benoni accent would have been well received in Hollywood! Also, I've noticed myself that younger Afrikaans speakers often pick up a slight American accent (like the…

Do you work in Pawnee, Indiana?

Like M&Ms... But 1000 times BETTER than M&Ms.