Monthly Archives: October 2004

of course it leaks

In the basement of the Alameda County courthouse, where I’ve been working, there’s a sign announcing that it’s a felony to bring in weapons including knives longer than four inches. Must be an old sign; nowadays I imagine they’d seize … Continue reading

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oh goody, an obscure question of common law

(This item was written in October but somehow never got out of “draft” status.) Constructive Trusts and Restitution After Theft: Rasmusen discusses a legal quandary. It hits me that this item calls for a law category not under politics. I’m … Continue reading

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are they trying to be killfiled?

I’m the gatekeeper for two small mailing-lists. For months now, nearly all the spam submitted to those lists comes from addresses of the form word21word@hotmail.com — e.g. in the latest batch chance21sunbird, church21lorraine, cougars21molly1, pedro21bridge. Why?

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movies rented recently

Witness for the Prosecution (1957), from a story by Agatha Christie, is of course clever; though the byplay of the convalescent barrister and his nurse is a bit tiresome. South Pacific (1958). I thought I’d enjoy it more. The plot … Continue reading

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a party for every taste

For my sins I’m doing data entry at, of all places, the Registrar of Voters for Alameda County — and missing Knuth’s talk on Friday! The software, by the way, is from a subsidiary of Diebold. I thought you might … Continue reading

Posted in politics | 2 Comments

Daleks with badges

Next time my dearest friend asks me to deliver something to a Feral office, I must remember to say no. I had my state-issued annotated portrait in my pocket, and was resolved not to bother the Marshal at the gate … Continue reading

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never enough

Saturday I bought yet another historical atlas: Muir’s (1927/52). I learn to my surprise that southern British Columbia was once called New Caledonia, and northern Manitoba (before 1912) was New South Wales. Why isn’t there a New North Wales or, … Continue reading

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