Activist. Vegan. Cyclist. Parent. (Almost) Criminal defense attorney.

Finally.

I'm halfway through law school.

Who needs a drink?

Green Scare

December 7, 2005, 7 people were arrested in various parts of the country as a part of the FBI's Operation Backfire. The next month 11 people would be implicated in a 65 count, 84 page indictment. The indictment alleges 18 arsons in several states over a period of 5 years.

During the press conference on January 20, 2006, the Justice Department stated the arrests and subpoenas were the result of a coordinated nation wide effort targeting activists in the US under new domestic terror legislation. However, the word "terrorism" is not mentioned once in the 84 page indictment.

What we are seeing is the government attempting to quash dissent or activism--a Green Scare--similar to the Red Scare of the 50's where the government targeted individuals for being communists with little to no evidence of wrongdoing. The FBI has called the Eco-Rights Movement (the Environmental Liberation Front and the Animal Liberation Front) the number one domestic terror threat.

It is important to keep in mind that none of the indictments are for terrorism, or for any type of injury to a person or for threatening violence against people.

A year ago today one of the original arrestees, Bill Rodgers, killed himself in his jail cell.

To my friends and supporters to help them make sense of all these events that have happened so quickly:

Certain human cultures have been waging war against the Earth for millennia. I chose to fight on the side of bears, mountain lions, skunks, bats, saguaros, cliff rose and all things wild. I am just the most recent casualty in that war. But tonight I have made a jail break -- I am returning home, to the Earth, to the place of my origins.

Bill, 12/21/05 (the winter solstice)

The larger problem with this whole situation is that the government has done an incredible job of framing activism as "extremism." In doing so, the government has successfully convinced liberals to write off these activists as criminals. At a time when solidarity is most important, the state has fragmented those who should be sticking together.

If you disagree with the tactics, fine. But don't buy the corporate media's portrayal of every incident. These are caring people, who don't want to hurt anyone, but believe so strongly in protecting the voiceless that they take direct action. For the time being, dissent is still reasonably legal, and when they get everyone agreeing that certain people should be silenced, it's not long before we are all silenced.

First they came for the Jews
and I did not speak out
because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for the Communists
and I did not speak out
because I was not a Communist.
Then they came for the trade unionists
and I did not speak out
because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for me
and there was no one left
to speak out for me.

Pastor Martin Niemöller

For more information:

Wikipedia - William C. Rodgers
Wikipedia - Green Scare
Wikipedia - Operation Backfire
Portland Indymedia - Bill Rodgers found dead
Portland Indymedia - Green Scare Coverage
Portland Indymedia - FBI Informants
Greenisthenewred.com
GreenScare.org
Catalyst Info Shop Bill Rodgers Memorial

79423 (part III)

Lubbock - Unabashedly boring since 1890 (click image for larger)

Well, at least that's what the t-shirt says. (Thanks to The Ramblings of a Lubbock [Woman], and southplainstees for the pic.)

I have an exam tomorrow. Then I have to wrap things up, try to relax for a couple of days, and finally get to leave for Lubbock on Sunday.

First I couldn't wait to get out. Then I didn't really want to go back. Now, I can't wait to visit.

Mac, I guess you were right.

Update: Just got a text from my dad, looks like the tree is up.

My Evidence final...

ate my lunch...

knocked me down...

kicked dirt in my face...

then made fun of my clothes.

Just one more.

Exam - (Almost) LiveBlogging

Waiting for the exam to begin, Professor Evidence is giving instructions and acknowledging what behaviors are okay and which aren't.

If you have to go to the restroom, I see no problem with taking the question with you. If you want to get a cup of coffee--fine. Don't be seen in the library with the exam. If you're a smoker--now's not the time to quit.

Uh-oh.

Jack Bog's Blog

It's Buck-A-Hit Day at Jack Bog's Blog. Go on over and make Professor Bogdanski give a dollar to charity. Thanks.

The end of the year means...

My top 10 books for 2006 are, in no particular order:

• You Can't Be Neutral On a Moving Train: A Personal History of Our Times by Howard Zinn On patriotism:

"I tried to explain that my love was for the country, for the people, not for whatever government happened to be in power. To believe in democracy was to believe in the principles of the Declaration of Independence--that government is an artificial creation, established by the people to defend the equal right of everyone to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. I interpreted 'everyone' to include men, women, and children all over the world, who have a right to life not taken away by their own government or by ours."

• Fugitive Days by Bill Ayers

"How will you live your life so that it doesn't make a mockery of your values?"

• Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan

               An incredibly detailed yet accesible deconstruction of our diet. The omnivore's dilemma happens when we as omnivores realize that simply because we can eat something doesn't mean that we should.

• Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln's Killer by James L. Swanson

               A masterfully executed narrative of the chase for Lincoln's killer. I'm sure this story has been told a thousand times by as many authors. But never in a way that makes it truly come to life. It's so rare that history is written in such a way. If we could get some people to write the history of social movements like this...

• My Friend Leonard by James Frey

                Yes, I know. But regardless of making it all up, the guy can write. My dad likes to tell great stories about his life. Some of them have lessons, some of them are just funny. No one thinks twice about whether or not they're true, because there's no malice behind adding a detail here or there. When does it become literary license and when does it become a huge lie that we have to go on Oprah for which the people deserve an answer. Let's put some perspective here okay? Did James Frey have a friend named Leonard? Maybe not. Do I really care? No, it's a great story. Did Iraq have weapons of mass destruction and ties to Al-Qaeda? No. Do I really care? Damn, right. We're approaching 3,000 U.S. troops (not counting civilians or even Iraqis) dead. Why isn't anyone going on Oprah to answer her questions?

• A Midewife's Tale: The Life of Martha Ballard, Based on Her Diary, 1785-1812 by Laurel Thatcher Ulrich

                Seriously, this is probably one of the best books I've ever read. Not only did it give incredibly interesting insight into the life and work of a midwife, but it gave so much interesting information about the personal lives of women that is largely invisible in history books--particularly the almost completely invisible economy of the home or the economy of women.

• How It All Vegan! by Tanya Barnard and Sarah Kramer

                Probably the best "starter" vegan cookbook on the market. It has recipes for so many things. Everything I've tried has been easy and delicious. There are even recipes for normal household goods that aren't vegan, but that you might not even think twice about.

• Evasion by Anonymous

               A friend of mine gave this book to me not too long ago, and it's been incredibly difficult to put down for finals. What would it feel like to refuse to participate in the capitalist structure, and live life off of the excesses of that structure--vading the law, wage-slavery, the paradigm?

• Will Shortz's Greatest Hits by Will Shortz

                Sometimes you have to take breaks from studying.

• Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim by David Sedaris

                From Powell's Website:

One of these days I'll find the time to construct an actual review of Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim, but until I do let these words stand as my pledge: You will not regret purchasing this book. Further: You're unlikely to find more pure pleasure in anything you read this year. Dress Your Family is Sedaris's best book yet. Dave, Powells.com

These are the ones I can think of that made an impression this year. Unfortunately, law school has made my extra cirricular reading less than intellectual. It's barely a couple of steps from romance novels (not judging, I'm just saying). For instance right now my brain is full of relevancy and hearsay issues--and their exceptions, you can't forget the effin' exceptions.

Exam Time

Seeing how this is exam time and all, my question is this. You receive the following email in your inbox. Is this actionable, or must there be actual harm?

Dear UT Dallas Alumni,

I regret to inform you that approximately 6,000 students, faculty, staff, and alumni at the University of Texas at Dallas as well as other individuals potentially have had sensitive information exposed by a computer network intrusion.

The personally identifiable information that may have been exposed includes names, addresses, Social Security numbers, email addresses and telephone numbers.

There is no indication that the information has been disclosed, disseminated or used to anyone's detriment at this time. However, the University does not seek to minimize concerns raised by this intrusion, and in the best interests of those potentially affected seeks to notify anyone whose information may have been disclosed.

The individuals whose information is known to be involved at this time include:

•      In the Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science, students, faculty, and alumni as well as applicants for admission dating back as far back as 1993.

•      All staff and faculty of the University who were employed from January 1999 through August 2005.

The potential disclosure of data was discovered Sunday, December 10, by The University of Texas at Dallas information resources staff. The University of Texas at Dallas is responding aggressively to defend the integrity of the system and to assess the level of the threat to information contained on the system. Most but not all of the networked computing resources on campus have been assessed. Investigation is ongoing and updated information will be issued via email and the University homepage.

Every effort will be made to contact those individuals whose information could have been exposed.

A press release on this incident has been issued in an effort to contact as many affected individuals as possible.  The press release is available at http://www.utdallas.edu/news/archive/2006/network-intrusion.html.

Again, the University is actively working to notify individuals who may have been affected, and we deeply regret that the data in our network were potentially exposed by a deliberate attack through the Internet.

Thank you.

David E. Daniel
President
The University of Texas at Dallas

Exams, Papers and Briefs, oh my!

In the Lewis and Clark Law School World, the reading period started on Thursday. Naturally, for the next two weeks I will be caffeinated and sustaining off of junk food. However, I have decided that for this finals season I will reject that reality. I mean, I'll be all over the coffee and sweets, let's not get crazy... I'm just saying, I refuse to have finals dictate my life to such a degree that I eat poorly.

That being said, I've been house/dog sitting for a friend this week. They have a great one-bedroom house, with a huge(!) kitchen that you cannot help but use. So Thursday, I made Oatmeal Chocolate Chip cookies. Yesterday I made a homemade pesto to put over linguine, made my own croutons and baked brownies for dessert--of course everything was vegan, and mostly organic.

Now, I've got some good treats to last me into the next few days, and I'm totally refreshed for the actual crunch time of finals. I have 3 exams over the next 2 weeks, and a paper due on January 8.

Right now I'm studying at the Red & Black, debating on how much longer I have to read Evidence before I deserve a beer.

The Red & Black is a worker owned collective. Most (if not all) of the food is vegan. They serve great coffee, and great beer. From the website:

The Red and Black is dedicated to providing delicious wholesome foods at the lowest price possible. We use organic, local, and seasonal ingredients whenever possible. We strive to provide a community space that is safe and welcoming to all. We hope this space is used for local voices to bring awareness and education on the issues facing us today. We work to be an example of ethical, non-hierarchical business. We are worker run and worker owned. This space and our community are always growing and changing. We evolve based on the energy, enthusiasm, and direction of our fellow workers and our neighborhood in accordance with our ideals.

"How will you live your life so that it doesn't make a mockery of your values?" --Bill Ayers

Not Guilty.

On October 5, 2006, there was a march to protest the Bush Administration. It began at noon and wound through downtown Portland. There were several people arrested including a guy directly in front of me and Matt. We were legal observing and watched as the police who were blocking the street moved aside to allow several other officers to move into the crowd, fire rubber bullets and bean bags at us in order to arrest a man standing on the sidewalk.

He was later charged with failing to obey a police order, and resisting arrest.

What we saw directly contradicted the charges, and his trial was set for yesterday and today. Matt, Wedge and I testified to the fact that the defendant complied with every police order we heard, and did not see him resist in any way. He simply couldn't do it. The police who arrested him were much larger than him, and restrained him in a way that amounted to slamming him against a window, pulling his beard and hair, and kneeing him in the leg/groin/abdomen. Matt's video showing this was shown to the jury.

He was acquitted of all charges.

If you watch the following video you will see several important things:

1. the defendant's arrest (00:36)
2. Matt with a neon green hat and video camera (00:38), and
3. a woman kicked by a police officer for no reason (00:47).