July 15, 2012

SandBoxBlogs: Aspen Daily News "The virtual overthrow of practical obscurity"

Excellent column from the 'Usual Suspect' Dave Danforth today.  Even if it is being pulled from the archives of 2002.

Dave Danforth:
"The truth shall set you free, they say.

So how do you find it?

In Cincinnati, the clerk of the courts figured that all those “public records” — stacks and stacks of paper — should be scanned onto the Internet. The clerk, Jim Cissell, didn’t figure on the reaction.

Among the records available to anyone searching www.courtclerk.org are arrest warrants, dirt-bag dad notes, traffic tickets, divorce proceedings, histories of domestic violence and tax liens. In short, all sorts of dirty laundry.

Inquiring minds wanted to know. One father found out about his son’s traffic ticket. Another citizen reported his social security number stolen because it was listed on a court document. Some papers included drawings of homes — theoretically enabling anyone to figure out where you sleep....."

But what’s the difference between public record gathering dust at the courthouse and one that is electronically available to anyone with a keyboard and web connection?

Plenty, as it turns out. Just because the stuff is “public” doesn’t mean it has to be so easy to get, opponents told the New York Times. Inquiring minds should be forced to break a sweat, the argument goes.

Welcome to the concept of “practical obscurity” — a little-known artifact of law now being dusted off in preparation for what may be dozens of legal fights ahead....."
(Read more?  Click title)

"Unapologetic pursuit and tracking of patterns within news others make since 2010"

SandBoxBlogs: Aspen Daily News "Civil disobedience"

Michael Galvis:
"Editor:

The civil discourse committee wants everyone to be good little proles; lemmings that they can control. Sorry, but I’ll stick with individualism, and treat and give others the same.

“Wouldn’t it be a real drag if we were all the same?” — “I’m Tired,” Savoy Brown....."
(Read original letter?  Click title)



"Unapologetic pursuit and tracking of patterns within news others make since 2010"

SandBoxBlogs: Aspen Daily News "Judge postpones sentencing of local man in cocaine case"

Chad Abraham:
"A federal judge on Wednesday ruled that the personal safety of an Aspen man expected to serve prison time for allegedly leading a cocaine operation here could be jeopardized by his cooperation with federal investigators.

U.S. District Judge Marcia Krieger vacated the August sentencing date of Wayne Reid, 65, and reset it to Nov. 15. The extension will let Reid complete testimony against the remaining defendants in the case, a court filing says, and allow prosecutor Michelle Korver to better evaluate the “full measure” of his assistance to authorities ahead of sentencing.

“The request to continue Mr. Reid’s sentencing, however, is based on other factors, as well,” Korver wrote in her filing. “Most importantly, there are several significant security concerns affecting cooperating defendants when they begin their term of incarceration at a [federal] Bureau of Prisons facility and are then later brought back to the sentencing district to testify....”
(Read more?  Click title)

"Unapologetic pursuit and tracking of patterns within news others make since 2010"

SandBoxBlogs: Aspen Daily News "Ode to a snitch"

Jeremy Madden:
"Rat. Pigeon. Weasel. Blabbermouth. Turncoat. Patsy. Snitch.

No matter what word you use to describe an informant, not one is flattering. The position it holds in our parlance clearly shows the deck of society is stacked against the squealer. Some think that’s the way it should be. But not I. Despite society’s diss against the disseminator of untoward information, I cannot help but say it’s all right to be a snitch....."
(Read more?  Click title)

"Unapologetic pursuit and tracking of patterns within news others make since 2010"