A couple of people have commented that no one should be able to be photographed at a school without permission, and that it’s the newspaper’s job to get such permission before shooting. With all due respect, that’s not true.
Did I mention I’m upset about Oregon’s new hands-free cell phone law? Here’s another reason I’m upset.
So here’s the situation: You’re notified (for the sixth time, mind you, but we’ll leave that out of the discussion) you must report for jury duty.
Here is the case they present:
The defendant has been accused of Criminal Trespass II, the act of entering or remaining, unlawfully, somewhere he’s not supposed to be. He is innocent until proven guilty and the burden of proof is on the city to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that he is guilty.
Happy birthday, United States! In true patriotic spirit, I will be spending the day working in defense of the First Amendment. In the meantime, here’s my annual fireworks rant, reprinted from July 2008, detailing this particular self-evident truth: that all men are created equal and are endowed by their Creator with the unalienable right to blow their fingers off if they so choose. Ignition!
Far be it from me to disagree with the good folks at the Oregon Legislature, but I am not a fan of the new hand-held cell phone ban.
(Feel free to pause in your reading long enough to call your favorite local feed & seed for sale prices on tar, feathers and Jennifer-sized scarecrows to burn in effigy. I’ll wait.)
