Crime & Federalism

Fascinating story. 

Part I.  The Los Angeles Times publishes an article criticizing my research of the David Motari video: 

It was a despicable and even shameful act, but the reaction was no better. Before any of the facts were established -- the Marine's identity, for instance, or whether the video was some kind of hoax -- the cyber mob had its torches lighted, and the auto-da-fé had begun. Barely a day after the video surfaced, a Marine's reputation was in tatters, his life threatened and his family terrorized.

Part 2.  The Los Angeles Times publishes an article accusing Sean "Puff Daddy" Combs of being involved in Tupac Shakur's 1994 assault:

In 1994, Tupac Shakur was ambushed, beaten and shot at the Quad Recording Studios in New York. He insisted that friends of Sean 'Diddy' Combs were behind it. New information supports him.

Part 3.  The Los Angeles Times never seemed to establish any facts before publishing its Tupac story.

Epilogue.  David Motari was indeed the Marine depicted in the video.  His own sister confirmed it.  But Puff Daddy had nothing to do with Tupac's assault.   The world wonders: Who should be lecturing whom?

I have a business plan to do some tech consulting and web design.  The only thing keeping me from jumping is self-doubt.  Then I learn how ignorant most people are about stuff I consider hilariously basic.  People pay "consultants" to tell them this stuff? 

I need more self-confidence!

David Motar, the Marine who seems to be killing a puppy in a YouTube video, is still under investigation. 

We must keep the heat on.  Everyone wants this story to go away.  Our letters, e-mails, and phone calls will keep this case going.

Incidentally, here is a recent story showing how most Marines treat animals - kindly.

Pretty interesting stuff.

       JACKSONVILLE, Ore. -- A pair of hoax ads on Craigslist cost an Oregon        man much of what he owned.

The ads popped up Saturday afternoon, saying the owner of a Jacksonville home was forced to leave the area suddenly and his belongings, including a horse, were free for the taking, said Jackson County sheriff's Detective Sgt. Colin Fagan.

The rest of the story is here.

Here's the frivolous lawsuit of the day, filed on behalf of prison inmates who don't like the taste of their food.  There are lots of things about prison conditions that should disturb every civilized human being.  That some food doesn't taste so good is not one of those conditions.

Here, incidentally, is the quote of the day:

"[Prison loaf] is commonplace in other states as a way of providing nutrition in a mechanism that dissuades inmates from throwing feces, urine, trays and silverware," said Vermont Corrections Commissioner Rob Hofmann.

Some people really should be kept separated from society.

What do you think about this:

The FBI has recently adopted a novel investigative technique: posting hyperlinks that purport to be illegal videos of minors having sex, and then raiding the homes of anyone willing to click on them.

Undercover FBI agents used this hyperlink-enticement technique, which directed Internet users to a clandestine government server, to stage armed raids of homes in Pennsylvania, New York, and Nevada last year. The supposed video files actually were gibberish and contained no illegal images.

The full story is here.

Quick: Someone call the American Center for Law and Justice.  A religious leader has been prosecuted because, during a sermon, he told his congregation that they were doomed to eternal damnation if they did not give money to the poor and tithe to the church.  Details here.

This is genius.