Another reason to do Facebook (Jack Bog's Blog)

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This page contains a single entry from the blog posted on November 13, 2009 1:01 AM. The previous post in this blog was Zoo construction: "a train out of control". The next post in this blog is Next up for a bailout: the FHA. Many more can be found on the main index page or by looking through the archives.

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« Zoo construction: "a train out of control" | Main | Next up for a bailout: the FHA »

Friday, November 13, 2009

Another reason to do Facebook

It provides an air-tight alibi.

Posted at 1:01 AM | Permalink

Comments (11)

I just read a book about protecting innocents from criminal convictions -- not that anyone seems too interested in that. The Facebook thing will get all the attention but what really ought to be the key takehome message is that eyewitness identification usually -- meaning almost always -- isn't. Especially cross-racial.

This jibes with what the Innocence Project people have found -- time and again, the single biggest factor that leads innocent people to prison (or even death row) is a faulty "eyewitness ID." And this is leaving aside all the frame jobs, set ups and out and out police testilying -- just people being well-meaning but dead wrong.

That is one very lucky young man. Because despite all we know about the failures of "identification," courts have very little interest in the subject.

Posted by George Anonymuncule Seldes | November 13, 2009 1:20 AM

This story proves the old adage: "Make an IHOP joke, save a life."

Posted by Jack Bog | November 13, 2009 1:29 AM

This just proves that a competent investigation always brings out the truth.

Posted by Jon | November 13, 2009 6:33 AM

Unless the evidence is suppressed.

Posted by john rettig | November 13, 2009 7:39 AM

The eye witness should receive an all expense paid 12 day stay on Rykers Island for this mis- I.D.

Posted by genop | November 13, 2009 10:56 AM

Or unless the kid didn't happen to make a timely IHOP joke in a format that had an inarguable time stamp on it. Reread the story -- there were many other people corroborating his alibi while he sat in jail. None of that mattered to the cops or the system -- the "ID" by a guy who had presumably never seen him before in a metro area of 20+ million people carried all the weight.

And understand what would have happened to him had he not had a lucky IHOP joke -- he would have been charged so hard that his own lawyer (were he lucky enough to be able to afford one) would have strongly urged him to plead down to some lesser charge because the system is set up to absolutely hammer anyone who forces their case to go to trial, where they would find that the "presumption of innocence" is a joke.

Posted by George Anonymuncule Seldes | November 13, 2009 12:12 PM

It can also provide an "air tight" conviction and home detention.

Me: what are you doing on the computer?
Daughter: my homework!
Me: let's just look at your facebook page.
Daughter: ahh, oops....

Posted by Bad Brad | November 13, 2009 12:32 PM

about alibis? off topic or on time:

Today, until 15:00 talk with Randy Leonard on-air replacing LIARS Larson. 750 AM radio

Maybe for some, here, a chance to SHOUT at Randy on-air ....

Posted by Tenskwatawa | November 13, 2009 12:59 PM

I'll be sure to let my resident teens know, because they certainly don't spend enough time on Facebook as it is.

Posted by Doris | November 13, 2009 1:30 PM

Nooo! don't shout at Randy on-air. He will trace the call and find out who you are and then send his hit squad to your home or business!

Posted by notjustforlooks | November 13, 2009 2:04 PM

Can someone tape the highlights for me? I need to add to my reel of priceless Randy moments, which include his rant on the Chasse murder, clips of his inappropriate cavorting with Mayor Creepy and Storm Large, and a few red-faced blowups during city council meetings. And I can't wait until the soon-to-be ex-wife starts letting go of little tidbits...

Posted by RANZ | November 13, 2009 2:10 PM

In Vino Veritas

Quinta das Amoras, Vinho Tinto 2009
Mauro Molino, Barbera d'Alba 2009
Garda Chiaretto Rose
Columbia Crest, Two Vines Vineyard 10 White
Chateau Ste. Michelle, Pinot Gris, Columbia Valley 2009
L'Hortus, Rose de Saignee 2010
Maculan, Pino & Toi 2008
McKinley Springs, Bombing Range Red 2008
Trader Joe's Pinot Gris 2009
Montes Alpha, Cabernet 2007
Gran Sasso, Sangiovese, Terre di Chieti 2009
Garda, Classico Chiaretto Rose
Beaulieu, Cabernet, Rutherford 1999
Picos del Montgo, Tempranillo 2008
Chateau de Montmirail, Vacqueyras 2008
La Granja 360, Syrah 2009
Montgras, Carmenere Reserva 2009
Lange, Pinot Gris 2009
Columbia Crest, Horse Heaven Hills Cabernet 2008
Kirkland, Pinot Grigio 2010
Trader Joe's Coastal Syrah 2009
Columbia Crest, Horse Heaven Hills Merlot 2008
Trader Joe's Coastal Chardonnay 2009
Vieux Papes Red
Domaine de l'Aujardiere, Chardonnay 2009
Santa Rita, Cabernet, Medalla Real 2007
Penfold's, Koonunga Hill Shiraz Cabernet 2008
Guild, Red, Lot #02 2008
Dievole, Dievolino Sangiovese 2008
Laforet, Burgogne Chardonnay 2009
Columbia Winery, Merlot 2007
Bonterra, Cabernet 2008
Elk Cove, Pinot Gris 2009
Maquis Lien 2006
Scott Paul, Pinot Noir, Le Paulee 2007
Cameron, Chardonnay
B.R. Cohn, Cabernet, Silver Label 2006
Graffigna, Cabernet 2005
Palo Alto, Reserve Red 2008
Menguante, Garnacha 2008
Lange, Pinot Gris 2009
Felsina Berardenga, Vin Santo 1997
Anne Amie, Pinot Gris 2009
McKinley Springs, Bombing Ramge Red 2007
Vieux Papes Red
Dionysius Chardonnay 2009
Haden Fig, Pinot Noir 2009
Vega Montan, Mencia 2008
Chateau la Vernede, Coteaux du Languedoc 2007
Mount Defiance, Hellfire (White) 2008
Root: 1, Cabernet 2008
Columbia Crest, Two Vines Pinot Grigio 2009
Columbia Crest, Two Vines, Vineyard 10 White, 2008
Columbia Crest, Two Vines, Vineyard 10 Rose, 2007
Abacela, Grenache Rose 2009
Avia Cabernet 2004
Lemelson Pinot Noir, Thea's Selection 2007
Chateau de la Roulerie, Rose d'Anjou 2009
Casal Garcia, Vinho Verde Rose
La Ferme Julien, Rose 2008
Cana's Feast, Bricco Red, 2006
Hogue, Genesis Merlot, 2008
Owen Roe, Sharecropper's Cabernet, 2008
Kim Crawford, Unoaked Chardonnay 2008
J. Scott, Pinot Noir 2008
Edmunds St. John, White, Heart of Gold 2008
Columbia Crest, Walter Clore Private Reserve 2006
Stevenot, Cabernet, Sierra Foothills, "Stanford" 2000
Portuga, Vinho Rose 2009
Taylor Fladgate, First Estate Reserve Porto
Franciscan, Cabernet, Napa 2006
Chaparral de Vega Sindoa, Garnacha 2008
Quinta da Aveleda, Vinho Verde 2008
St. Francis, Chardonnay Sonoma 2008
E. Guigal, Cotes du Rhone Blanc, 2007
Edmunds St. John, Bone-Jolly, Gamay Noir 2008
St. Innocent, Pinot Noir 2006
Jigsaw, Pinot Noir 2007
Chateau Ste. Michelle, Merlot, Indian Wells 2007
Charles Shaw, Chardonnay 2008
Edmunds St. John, Bone-Jolly, Gamay Rosé 2009
Cameron, Willamette Valley Chardonnay
Il Valore, Sangiovese, Giovane, Puglia 2008
Duck Pond, Chardonnay, Wahluke Slope 2007
Kim Crawford, Marlborough Pinot Noir 2008
Domaine du Pesquier, Cotes du Rhone 2005
Cantina Zaccagnini, Montepulciano d'Abruzzo 2006
Domaine Matrot, Chardonnay, Bourgogne 2007
David Hill, Oregon Sparkling Wine, Brut
Chandler Reach, Monte Regalo 2006
Elk Cove, Pinot Gris 2008
Kirkland, Columbia Valley Merlot 2008
D'Aragon, Old Vine Garnacha 2008
Columbia Crest, Walter Clore Private Reserve 2005
Pavin & Riley, Merlot 2006
David Hill, Estate Pinot Noir, Barrel Select 2006
Castle Rock, Paso Robles Cabernet 2006
Magnificent, Cabernet, Steak House 2008
Conundrum 2008
Beaulieu, Cabernet, Rutherford 1998
Saint Cosme, Cotes-du-Rhone 2007
La Granja, Tempranillo 360, 2008
Santa Rita, Mendalla Real Cabernet 2006
Columbia Crest, Grand Estates Merlot 2006
Andezon, Cotes-du-Rhone 2007
Collegiata, Montepulciano d'Abruzzo
Troon, Druid's Fluid 2008
La Granja, Tempranillo 2008
Monte Antico, Toscana 2006
Vieux Papes, Blanc de Blancs

The Occasional Book

Niccolò Machiavelli - The Prince
Harper Lee - To Kill a Mockingbird
Emma McLaughlin & Nicola Kraus - The Nanny Diaries
Brian Selznick - The Invention of Hugo Cabret
Sharon Creech - Walk Two Moons
Keith Richards - Life
F. Sionil Jose - Dusk
Natalie Babbitt - Tuck Everlasting
Justin Halpern - S#*t My Dad Says
Mark Herrmann - The Curmudgeon's Guide to Practicing Law
Barry Glassner - The Gospel of Food
Phil Stanford - The Peyton-Allan Files
Jesse Katz - The Opposite Field
Evelyn Waugh - Brideshead Revisited
J.K. Rowling - Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
David Sedaris - Holidays on Ice
Donald Miller - A Million Miles in a Thousand Years
Mitch Albom - Have a Little Faith
C.S. Lewis - The Magician's Nephew
F. Scott Fitzgerald - The Great Gatsby
William Shakespeare - A Midsummer Night's Dream
Ivan Doig - Bucking the Sun
Penda Diakité - I Lost My Tooth in Africa
Grace Lin - The Year of the Rat
Oscar Hijuelos - Mr. Ives' Christmas
Madeline L'Engle - A Wrinkle in Time
Steven Hart - The Last Three Miles
David Sedaris - Me Talk Pretty One Day
Karen Armstrong - The Spiral Staircase
Charles Larson - The Portland Murders
Adrian Wojnarowski - The Miracle of St. Anthony
William H. Colby - Long Goodbye
Steven D. Stark - Meet the Beatles
Phil Stanford - Portland Confidential
Rick Moody - Garden State
Jonathan Schwartz - All in Good Time
David Sedaris - Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim
Anthony Holden - Big Deal
Robert J. Spitzer - The Spirit of Leadership
James McManus - Positively Fifth Street
Jeff Noon - Vurt

Road Work

Miles run year to date: 26
At this date last year: 15
Total run in 2011: 113
In 2010: 125
In 2009: 67
In 2008: 28
In 2007: 113
In 2006: 100
In 2005: 149
In 2004: 204
In 2003: 269