In Mexico, on the road between Merida and Campeche, you pass a large prison (filled with people from Mexico City, they say). Lining the highway are a dozen or so stores selling hammocks and other labor-intensive hand-crafted good. They’re made by prisoners. Why don’t we have this?
New York City store owner and would be robbery victim shoots all 4 bad guys, killing two. The Daily Newshas the best coverage: The furious employee who had been pistol-whipped ran out of the store and leaned over the mortally wounded Footmon, cursing at him, witnesses said. The worker went back into the store and dragged Morgan’s body onto the…
I’m off to Chicago for my 20th high-school reunion. Should be fun!
Still haven’t bought my book? It ain’t like my blog pays the rent. Actually my book doesn’t either, but I still want it to sell. The paperback edition of Cop in the Hood is out and in stock! Better yet, ask your local bookstore (and have them stock it). At only $11.43 (from Amazon.com), even the cheapest of bastards can…
In comments, Jack left a great link to this piece by Ruth Wisse, another Harvard professor. It is her “letter” to Skip Gates. Bold and very well written. Dear Skip, My first thought on hearing of your arrest was for your welfare, so I was relieved to learn that the case against you had been dropped and you were off…
An article of mine, “Angels in Blue: The Virtues of Foot Patrol,” is being published in The American Interestmagazine. They’ve given me permission to spread the article around. But you have to buy the magazine to read all the other articles (seems only fair). The article is adopted from a new chapter in the paperback edition of my book, Cop…
This just in over the transom: Went to Loveland Festival in Sloterpark yesterday and a great time was had by all except [name removed] who was found by security to have two pills [of ecstasy] on him. Without saying a word, the security guy brought him to cops who took him to the station. After 90 minutes of waiting (no…
I’m back from my whirlwind tour of southern Mexico. Yucatan, Chiapas, Campache, Tabasco, for two weeks, I ate and drank everything in sight with no ill effects. Then on my first night in Baltimore I get sick. It put me off my game slightly today at the crab feast. But I still had a good time. Plus I won $50…
Bob Herbert, a very good columnist has a powerful op-ed attacking the police sergeant and defending Gates’ behavior. It is worth a read even if–especially if–you don’t agree with it. By saying that Herbert is a good columnist doesn’t mean I agree with everything or even most of what he says. But whatever Herbert has to say, he says it…
I’m in the same place for two nights for the first time in a week. So I have a little more time to write and check email and the like. I’m always amazed how different things are in Mexico from what most Americans think things are like. Maybe things are worse up in border towns in the north. Or some…