John Tierney has a New York Times article about Richard Paey, sentenced to a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years in prison for drug trafficking. Actually, the prosecutors in the case never proved that he was selling drugs. The law they used simply defines possession of an ounce or more of illegal drugs as trafficking. The police watched him for quite a while, but they … [Read more...] about The War on Drugs Claims Another Victim
The Humiliation Spreads
Looks like the Peoria Police Department has its own page of prostitution-related arrests. Apparently there were complaints, because this one comes with dating advice from the Chief of Police: If your wife is not meeting your needs, try meeting hers. It can do wonders. No wife at home? Try finding a decent woman whom you can love, cherish and respect and then make her … [Read more...] about The Humiliation Spreads
Fear In London?
As I write this, Britain has 40 dead from a series of bombings. The BBC found a note on an Islamist website that claims the attack for al-Qaeda: In the name of God, the merciful, the compassionate, may peace be upon the cheerful one and undaunted fighter, Prophet Muhammad, God's peace be upon him. Well isn't that a nice way to start a message claiming responsibility for a … [Read more...] about Fear In London?
Universal Shield Law, Anyone?
New York Times reporter Judith Miller was sentenced for contempt today for refusing to reveal who told her that Valerie Plame was a CIA operative. Many states have shield laws that allow journalists to protect the identity of their sources, but there's no federal law. Whenever such laws are discussed, one of the main questions is how to define a journalist. In this day of … [Read more...] about Universal Shield Law, Anyone?
Happy Fourth of July!
So there I was, standing out on the sidewalk in front of somebody's house at midnight, holding an umbrella over my camera, which was mounted on a tripod and aimed out over the rooftops toward where some people I don't know were shooting off fireworks. I'd had to drive around to find a place with fireworks and enough trees to block the streetlights without blocking my view of … [Read more...] about Happy Fourth of July!