Time and Relativity

Sitting here at my computer, I keep wondering where this year went.

It was a year of major changes in my life: retirement and a new house foremost among them. Not to mention several major cases that seemed to drag on forever. But despite the press of events, the year just seemed to vanish into thin air.

When you're as young as my granddaughter, when a week is a sizable chunk of your own personal universe, time seems to move at the pace of a glacier. But as you get older, and one day blends into the next, the days all rush by in a blur, and the end of each year leaves you wondering...where did it go?

JEFFREY CAMINSKY, a veteran public prosecutor in Detroit, Michigan, specializes in the appellate practice of criminal law and writes on a wide range of topics. His books include the science fiction adventure novel The Star Dancers, the exciting second volume in the Guardians of Peace-tm series, The Sonnets of William Shakespeare, and the acclaimed Referee’s Survival Guide, a book on soccer officiating. All are published by New Alexandria Press, and are available on Amazon, as well as directly from the publisher.

Barney Fife is Alive and Well, and Working for the TSA

Perhaps it's just me.

Oddly enough, I'm not not at all surprised that the same Travel Gestapo --- until now primarily known for keeping 3-month old infants off planes because they have the same name as a terrorist, and making everyone take off their shoes when the pass through security --- somehow mananged to let Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab pass onto a plane bound for Detroit...and almost blow it up.

Determined to be politically correct, the TSA won't profile passengers, to pay attention to those who may actually pose a threat. Instead they waste everyone's time, including their own, pretending to make everyone safe, rather than taking the steps necessary to ensure it.

Fortunately, this Mad Bomber Wannabe was too inept to cause the damage he intended. For that we have to thank the passengers and crew of the Flight he was on for rising up and stopping him themselves.

I think we could all do with a deep breath, and a bit more common sense.

JEFFREY CAMINSKY, a veteran public prosecutor in Detroit, Michigan, specializes in the appellate practice of criminal law and writes on a wide range of topics. His books include the science fiction adventure novel The Star Dancers, the exciting second volume in the Guardians of Peace-tm series, The Sonnets of William Shakespeare, and the acclaimed Referee’s Survival Guide, a book on soccer officiating. All are published by New Alexandria Press, and are available on Amazon, as well as directly from the publisher.

Global Warming Activists Battle an Inconvenient Blizzard

Coming on the heels of Al "I Invented the Internet...and Global Warming, too Come to Think of It" Gore's two surprise announcements in recent days --- first, that it's several million degrees only a few miles under the earth's surface, which shocked geologists everywhere; and second, that a climate expert is predicting... that there will be no more arctic ice in five years, which came as a complete shock to the scientist Gore cited --- there appears to be an inconvenient blizzard blanketing Denmark.

JEFFREY CAMINSKY, a veteran public prosecutor in Detroit, Michigan, specializes in the appellate practice of criminal law and writes on a wide range of topics. His books include the science fiction adventure novel The Star Dancers, the exciting second volume in the Guardians of Peace-tm series, The Sonnets of William Shakespeare, and the acclaimed Referee’s Survival Guide, a book on soccer officiating. All are published by New Alexandria Press, and are available on Amazon, as well as directly from the publisher.

Musical Disappointments

I missed our first concert over the weekend: my voice was gone, and I seem to have been developing a touch of bronchitis.

I went to the doctor yesterday, and am currently on meds. Already, I feel like I've turned a corner...though I'm not sure it isn't due to the "placebo effect."

Looking back, I think this is only the third or fourth concert I've missed in my entire 50+ years of singing...and only the second missed due to illness. I didn't get a chance to sing my solo...but all in all, I guess I should consider myself lucky to have such a good batting average.

JEFFREY CAMINSKY, a veteran public prosecutor in Detroit, Michigan, specializes in the appellate practice of criminal law and writes on a wide range of topics. His books include the science fiction adventure novel The Star Dancers, the exciting second volume in the Guardians of Peace-tm series, The Sonnets of William Shakespeare, and the acclaimed Referee’s Survival Guide, a book on soccer officiating. All are published by New Alexandria Press, and are available on Amazon, as well as directly from the publisher.

Another Year Older and Deeper in Debt...(with apologies to Tennesee Ernie Ford)

Well, another birthday is here: that's fifty-eight and counting. (Actually, fifty-nine, if you count from the opening bell, but who am I to buck convention).

The past year has been full of surprises: an unexpected retirement; a new house; no vacation (partly due to the press of time from my consulting contract at the office...and partly because of an aging dog that we couldn't leave with anyone else); a broken hand; two new books to publish---and, on top of everything else, a new house with a new mortgage to replace the already-paid for one, and a whole new and totally unexpected set of adventures.

A lesser man would whine and complain about the upheaval and turmoil...and to be honest, that's probably what I'm going to be doing for the next year or so. But there is also much adventure lurking in the shadows of the future. And so that's what I'm choosing to focus on: writing, reading, thinking, traveling...and doing something completely different from what I've been used to all my life.

If nothing else, it won't be boring. If I'm lucky, it will be a turning point in an already-full life, that will take me beyond the comforts that I've know, and into an enriching and exciting future.

And so...my fifty-seventh year proved eventful in many ways.

May the adventure continue....

JEFFREY CAMINSKY, a veteran public prosecutor in Detroit, Michigan, specializes in the appellate practice of criminal law and writes on a wide range of topics. His books include the science fiction adventure novel The Star Dancers, the exciting second volume in the Guardians of Peace-tm series, The Sonnets of William Shakespeare, and the acclaimed Referee’s Survival Guide, a book on soccer officiating. All are published by New Alexandria Press, and are available on Amazon, as well as directly from the publisher.

Closings and Openings

We closed on our new house today.

It's been stressful...but Nonie is quite excited by the notion of moving out into the country---and, to tell the truth, her enthusiasm is infectious. (I, of course, am immune...but as long as the finances stay under control---and we don't let ourselves become slaves to the place---I think it'll be fun, too).

We ended the day by changing the lock on the front door...and coming back to Livonia. We're both sad at the prospect of leaving the house where we raised our children...but excited by the prospect of adventures to come.

Tomorrow's the Day

We close on our new house tomorrow; Nonie and I are both a bit nervous---she about all the work the place will be; me about all the money we'll be spending (since our current house is all paid for)...as well as all the time it will take away from writing.

At the same time, we're both pretty excited. It promises to be a fun and enjoyable shared adventure.

I'm already doing the legal research to sue someone for breach of promise it if turns into a disaster for us.

Stay tuned to this channel for further details.

Trying to Close

Under the heading of "Why Plan Anything, Since Things Neverr Go As Planned"...we now have our real estate experience of 2009 to file away as an exhibit.

We'd planned on closing on Monday...and were getting things ready...when a not-entirely-unpredictable paperwork snafu arose: nobody had actually put Nonie's name on the purchase agreement yet, and this has sent the California Bank that actually owns the property into a tizzy.

Things should be straightened out in relatively short order...and it should still happen early next week. But it would be nice if things actually worked out as expected, every once in a while.

Moving on Out

Another update in the world of real estate: we're sending back the paperwork on our mortgage.

Yet another step toward debt...and the promise of a wonderful house in the country.

The Decline and Fall of Common Sense

In yet another assault on the out-moded notion of common sense, a school district suspended a student for bringing along a cub scout implement a kid was proud of---and eager to share with his friends.

I shudder to think what this country will be like in another decade or two, unless we find a way to shake off our fear of the world...and embrace life, rather than cowering in some corner, so afraid of each passing shadow that we miss the show.

JEFFREY CAMINSKY, a veteran public prosecutor in Detroit, Michigan, specializes in the appellate practice of criminal law and writes on a wide range of topics. His books include the science fiction adventure novel The Star Dancers, the exciting second volume in the Guardians of Peace-tm series, The Sonnets of William Shakespeare, and the acclaimed Referee’s Survival Guide, a book on soccer officiating. All are published by New Alexandria Press, and are available on Amazon, as well as directly from the publisher.

Last Tango in Frankenmuth

Today ended what is probably my last Appellate Specialists Conference...up in Frankenmuth, Michigan.

It's been a yearly tradition for as long as I've been a prosecutor: the state's best and brighest appellate lawyers coming together to share ideas and camaradarie.

And...as had been developing as a tradition...the Wayne County Brain Trust---with the addition now of Dave McCreedy and Lori Palmer, two of the bright younger attorneys who'll be taking our places, along with various spouses and other relatives---got together on our last night for a rousing game of some sort. This year, as often in the past, it was "Catch-phrase," played while bemoaning the fate of the Tigers in the post-season baseball playoffs.

I'll miss it...and may try to stop by at future conferences. But...life does move on. And with a new house and new responsibilities...who knows?

JEFFREY CAMINSKY, a veteran public prosecutor in Detroit, Michigan, specializes in the appellate practice of criminal law and writes on a wide range of topics. His books include the science fiction adventure novel The Star Dancers, the exciting second volume in the Guardians of Peace-tm series, The Sonnets of William Shakespeare, and the acclaimed Referee’s Survival Guide, a book on soccer officiating. All are published by New Alexandria Press, and are available on Amazon, as well as directly from the publisher.

New Beginnings

As recently reported a move may be in the works...to White Lake Michigan.

The Bank appears to be eager to move on a glorious piece of property...and accepted our fire-sale price offering.

Now...the "fun" begins: paperwork, mad scrambles to finish projects at our current house...and worry about taking on debt---and a bigger house---just as most sane people would be scaling back.


JEFFREY CAMINSKY, a veteran public prosecutor in Detroit, Michigan, specializes in the appellate practice of criminal law and writes on a wide range of topics. His books include the science fiction adventure novel The Star Dancers, the exciting second volume in the Guardians of Peace-tm series, The Sonnets of William Shakespeare, and the acclaimed Referee’s Survival Guide, a book on soccer officiating. All are published by New Alexandria Press, and are available on Amazon, as well as directly from the publisher.

Transitions

Yesterday was Olga Agnello's last official day with the Prosector's Office. Unfortunately...due to a broken hand caused by a misadventure on the soccer field...I couldn't be there to see her off.

Olga was a prosecutor for nearly as long as me: she started in the early 1980s, and along with Jan Bartee, Tim Baughman, and myself she quickly established herself as part of the Appellate Brain Trust of the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office.

Over the years her talents, wide-ranging interests, and sense of humor brought a classy touch to the office. And for the last six months, she, Jan, and I have shared an office together...making these last few months together all the more special.

But...life goes on. She'll be travelling and moving on...as will we all, before long. Here's hoping we're able to stay in touch, and keep our friendship alive.

JEFFREY CAMINSKY, a veteran public prosecutor in Detroit, Michigan, specializes in the appellate practice of criminal law and writes on a wide range of topics. His books include the science fiction adventure novel The Star Dancers, the exciting second volume in the Guardians of Peace-tm series, The Sonnets of William Shakespeare, and the acclaimed Referee’s Survival Guide, a book on soccer officiating. All are published by New Alexandria Press, and are available on Amazon, as well as directly from the publisher.

Babysitting in the Nanny State

Helping out a neighbor has always been a hallmark of American life. From barn-raisings to stump-pullings in the day of the frontier, to keeping an eye on the neighborhood kids, we've always put a premium on being helpful and generous with those living close to us.

At least, until now. Now...it seems that it's against the law. At least in the state of Michigan. It seems that our "Nanny State" doesn't like the competition.

A story making the rounds tells the tale of Lisa Synder, a neighborhood mom in suburban Grand Rapids, who was trying to help her neighbors by watching their kids as they wait for the schoolbus. That way, everybody thought, her neighbors could head off for work on time, and her helpfulness could help make everyone feel better about living in such a nice neighborhood. Unfortunately, the State views this as unlicensed "day care"---and has threatened to throw her in jail if she doesn't cease and desist.

Now that the story has hit the airwaves, the politicians are falling over themselves trying to find a way out from under the ridicule. Michigan's beleagured governor, Jennifer Grandholm, has instructed the head of the state's Department of Human Services --- the same agency that threatened the mom with jail --- to "work with the Legislature" to remedy the situation.

This is, of course, a welcome step --- and, given the state's dismal economic state, anything that helps people get to work on time would be applauded by anone with an ounce of sense. Unfortunately, there appears to be no legislation that can require bureaucrats to use common sense...or prevent people wanting to feel important from misusing laws intended to protect people to oppress them, instead.

But...at least in these days of instant communications, we're able to see the pratfalls of the policitians as they try to scamble out from under their own sense of self-importance.

Too bad we can't pass a law to make people think.

JEFFREY CAMINSKY, a veteran public prosecutor in Detroit, Michigan, specializes in the appellate practice of criminal law and writes on a wide range of topics. His books include the science fiction adventure novel The Star Dancers, the exciting second volume in the Guardians of Peace-tm series, The Sonnets of William Shakespeare, and the acclaimed Referee’s Survival Guide, a book on soccer officiating. All are published by New Alexandria Press, and are available on Amazon, as well as directly from the publisher.

Casa Nueva Caminsky???

Well...Nonie and I went ahead and put in an offer on the house we've been looking at in White Lake: 4-1/2 acres, rising to the house on the hill, just outside of Milford.

I'm not completely sure that this is such a wise move. OUr current house is paid for...and the new one could prove to be a money pit. Since it's actually a bigger house, the utility bills will probably be higher. There are lots of repairs needed. I really wanted to spend most of my time reading, and writing, and traveling. And the Universe around Livonia seems so well-ordered and predictable.

But life is largely a shared adventure. And the place really is quite lovely. So, if the bank is desperate enough to take what we think we can afford, we may be moving out into the country.


JEFFREY CAMINSKY, a veteran public prosecutor in Detroit, Michigan, specializes in the appellate practice of criminal law and writes on a wide range of topics. His books include the science fiction adventure novel The Star Dancers, the exciting second volume in the Guardians of Peace-tm series, The Sonnets of William Shakespeare, and the acclaimed Referee’s Survival Guide, a book on soccer officiating. All are published by New Alexandria Press, and are available on Amazon, as well as directly from the publisher.

Voices from the Past

I attended my 40th high school reunion last night...at the lovely Howell spread of Jim Draffen, one of our classmates. His "Rockin D" Ranch was a magnificent venue...and it was one of the nicest reunions we've ever had. It was very touching to see so many faces from the past...see how they've changed, how life has treated them, and how we've all learned so much through the years.

Among the things I leared was that I was one of a handful of kids who actually liked high school. I suspect it may have been because I was so terrified of girls: I had music, and sports, and books, and studies to occupy my mind instead of teenaged angst and the various "coming of age" crises. And, it seems, I was blessed by an unusually gifted set of teachers---experiences which, it seems, not all of my classmates shared.

Too bad we can't all press "reset," take a Mulligan, and have another go. Maybe, just maybe, we'd get it right this time.

JEFFREY CAMINSKY, a veteran public prosecutor in Detroit, Michigan, specializes in the appellate practice of criminal law and writes on a wide range of topics. His books include the science fiction adventure novel The Star Dancers, the exciting second volume in the Guardians of Peace-tm series, The Sonnets of William Shakespeare, and the acclaimed Referee’s Survival Guide, a book on soccer officiating. All are published by New Alexandria Press, and are available on Amazon, as well as directly from the publisher.

The Voice of Forever

Ernie Harwell returned to the ball park to say his goodbyes last night.

For as long as I can remember, he was the voice of the Detroit Tigers. He had just come to town when I began falling in love with the game. I can remember when he was teamed with the also-new George Kell, sharing radio and TV duties together.

Through the years, he was a constant presence...a constant reminder of when I was a young boy...an older boy...a young man...and now, a middle-aged man, with aging parents, who has noticed Time watching over his shoulder every now and then.

There are landmarks to every life: birthdays, vacations, the first day of school...then, before long, graduations, weddings, and eventually funerals. But through it all, a constant presence has been Ernie Harwell, the voice of the Tigers. Now, with cancer racing through his aging body, his voice will soon leave us.

Thanks, Ernie...as you requested, we'll try not to cry when you're gone. Instead, we'll simply try to remember...as we try to feel as young at heart as you always were.

JEFFREY CAMINSKY, a veteran public prosecutor in Detroit, Michigan, specializes in the appellate practice of criminal law and writes on a wide range of topics. His books include the science fiction adventure novel The Star Dancers, the exciting second volume in the Guardians of Peace-tm series, The Sonnets of William Shakespeare, and the acclaimed Referee’s Survival Guide, a book on soccer officiating. All are published by New Alexandria Press, and are available on Amazon, as well as directly from the publisher.

Jeff in the Legal News

A very nice article appeared about me in the local Legal News yesterday.

It was written by Jeanine Matlow, a freelance writer I know, who belongs to my writer's group, the Ridgewriters. Apparently, my story interested her editors enough to have Jeanine do a write-up.

I've been getting calls and congratulations all day. It's nice to be noticed; now, all I have to do is start selling a few more of my books.


JEFFREY CAMINSKY, a veteran public prosecutor in Detroit, Michigan, specializes in the appellate practice of criminal law and writes on a wide range of topics. His books include the science fiction adventure novel The Star Dancers, the exciting second volume in the Guardians of Peace-tm series, The Sonnets of William Shakespeare, and the acclaimed Referee’s Survival Guide, a book on soccer officiating. All are published by New Alexandria Press, and are available on Amazon, as well as directly from the publisher.

Attorney General Opens Torture Probe

n light of Attorney General Holder's decision to align this country with the practice common throughout the world of trying to imprison a new ruler's predecessors, there is no telling where the chips will fall. Onion News Network's panel of experts explores one possible aspect of this new policy.


Is Using A Minotaur To Gore Detainees A Form Of Torture?

Republican leaders have, so far, declined to comment on developments.

Actually, the Democrats haven't commented either...but that's beside the point.


JEFFREY CAMINSKY, a veteran public prosecutor in Detroit, Michigan, specializes in the appellate practice of criminal law and writes on a wide range of topics. His books include the science fiction adventure novel The Star Dancers, the exciting second volume in the Guardians of Peace-tm series, The Sonnets of William Shakespeare, and the acclaimed Referee’s Survival Guide, a book on soccer officiating. All are published by New Alexandria Press, and are available on Amazon, as well as directly from the publisher.

New Horizons in Embarrassing Your Kids

This is the season when a lot of parents are sending their kids off to college. As Onion News shows, this doesn't mean that we can't continue to be a constant source of embarrassment to them. All it takes is Facebook...and a little persistence.


Facebook, Twitter Revolutionizing How Parents Stalk Their College-Aged Kids

Stay tuned for further updates....

JEFFREY CAMINSKY, a veteran public prosecutor in Detroit, Michigan, specializes in the appellate practice of criminal law and writes on a wide range of topics. His books include the science fiction adventure novel The Star Dancers, the exciting second volume in the Guardians of Peace-tm series, The Sonnets of William Shakespeare, and the acclaimed Referee’s Survival Guide, a book on soccer officiating. All are published by New Alexandria Press, and are available on Amazon, as well as directly from the publisher.

Government, Inc?

In his book Prologue to a Farce: Communications and Democracy in America, Mark Lloyd, the Obama Administration's Communications Diversity Czar, proposed funding public radio through a tax on commercial radio stations. Invoking the spirit of Saul Alinsky, an icon of the radical left, Lloyd insisted that the history of communications in this country is a history of control by corporate interests. And Lloyd's proposed use of the tax on commercial radio to fund "regional offices" organized to monitor political advertising and commentary, among other things---is sending chills through the conservative blogosphere.

Most people familiar with the internet know that nobody is in control---and frankly, most of us like it that way. The Government is busy enough making a mess of the things it currently has on its hands without looking for new ways to make a hash of things. And given the current angry, skeptical mood of the country these days, it is doubtful that a proposal of this sort could survive the light of day...though, given the current raft of thousand-page bills that nobody in Congress seems to read these days, I suppose that anything is possible.

It is, of course, entirely possible that the entire frenzy is merely a visceral reaction to hyperbole and overstatement by the other side. Now, faced with the responsibility of governing, Mr. Lloyd will find that it was a lot easier to spout off idealistic rhetoric when he didn't have the responsibility of seeing whether his ideas would actually work.

But as I see it, the real concern is whether the Government will be attempting an "end-around" the First Amendment to muzzle voices that it finds objectionable. The means used would be the tax laws wrapped in the language of "diversity"...either of language or skin color, but the objective will be to bring an end to talk radio.

If the Government is merely trying to "expand" access to the means of communication, then the Obama Administration may well propose a modest subsidy to permit new voices to be heard, and give them a chance to win over an audience, but they will do nothing to interfere with the broadcasters,themselves. If they are trying to "muzzle" speech, then their tactic will likely be taxing or otherwise punishing those who are raising dissenting voices: ie, the conservatives, and particularly the conservative radio talk shows.

Part of the problem is that so many people seem to misperceive the role of the Government, though. The Government does not exist to "protect our rights." It exists to protect our society---from crime, from foreign enemies---and to permit people to liberty to set their own destinies. The Founders cautioned that power is always seeking to advance, and that Liberty is usually seeking nothing more than to be left alone.. As a consequence, institutionalized power --- ie, the Government--- needs to be contained, or it will attempt to swallow liberty.

Government itself is neither good nor bad...but is necessary for liberty to thrive. But viewing Government as a "protector of rights" is dangerous: the rights contained in the Bill of Rights were written down to guard against intrustion by the Government. It was felt that only by setting them down clearly on paper---as the fundamental charter of the land---would we be able to keep Power within safe limits. People are fully capable of protecting their own rights...since "rights," if properly understood, impose limits not on private conduct, but on intrusions by the State (aka, "Big Brother," aka "Big Government). This is distinct from a "mandate," by which the Government attempts to control conduct directly through the use of statutes or other forms of regulations. When "mandates" intrude on "rights"---as if, for instance, the Government imposes a "fairness doctrine" to compel people to subsidize what it defines as a fair mix of viewpoints---problems arise. And when the Government tries using its coercive power to restructure society in a way that most people oppose...then we have tea parties, rowdy town hall meetings, and citizen revolts.

Some suggest that the Government's efforts would not be to restrict free speech, but only to "expand the accessibility" to free speech. But if I own a radio station that the Government takes away because it disapproves of the political content of the opinions I'm airing, how is that not "restricting" my First Amendment rights? And how is that different from the "free speech" rights in Venezuala...or Cuba...or the Ayattola's Iran...or even Soviet Russia?

Mark Lloyd is proposing to increase the broadcast subsidies "to levels commensurate with or above" those of commercial broadcasting. If the People of this country are agree, and want to provide subsidies out of their tax dollars (rather than bail out the banks, or the car companies, or fund Heath Care Reform, or do any of a number of things that the Administration is simultaneously insisting are vitally needed), then so be it. But as I understand it, that is not his proposal: he wants to impose a tax equal to 100% of the operating budget of the commercial radio stations, as the means of "leveling the playing field."

It is, of course, possible that his ideas are not actually intended to drive commercial radio out of business, leaving only government-run stations in operation. It is entirely possible that he is so ignorant of the principles of economics that he does not realize the consequences of what, to him, is merely pretty, idealistic rhetoric. But when I see these sorts of ideas emerging from the shadows, at the same time I also see Washington moving to take over the banks, the auto industry, the health care system, and God-knows what else, I think it's time to slow down the politicians before they do some real damage...and to have a real discussion about what we want this country to be: Government of, by, and for the People; or Government, Inc.

JEFFREY CAMINSKY, a veteran public prosecutor in Detroit, Michigan, specializes in the appellate practice of criminal law and writes on a wide range of topics. His books include the science fiction adventure novel The Star Dancers, the exciting second volume in the Guardians of Peace-tm series, The Sonnets of William Shakespeare, and the acclaimed Referee’s Survival Guide, a book on soccer officiating. All are published by New Alexandria Press, and are available on Amazon, as well as directly from the publisher.

Cash for Refridgerators?

Coming on the heels of the "Cash for Clunkers" program---which saw the Federal Government induce car dealers to give away billions of dollars to induce people to buy this year cars that they were going to buy next year---reports are surfacing that the next installment is already on the drawing boards.

Not content with giving away money to car buyers, Congress appears on the verge of giving away tax dollars to those who may be in the market for new household appliances. And now that the Bailout Bandwagon is fully engaged, there appears to be no end in sight.

Assuming a similar reaction to the "Cash for Refridgerators" program---whereby thousands of consumers rush to take advantage of all this "free money," at least one taxpayer wonders where it will all end. If "Cash for Clunkers" leads inevitably to "Cash for Refridgerators," can "Cash for Trash" be far behind?

Though my wife insists that I'm just looking for an excuse for forgetting to put out the trash cans on Wednesday nights, I'm already starting to stock up. Before long, we should have enough stored up to be able to afford a very nice mansion somewhere on the coast.

The only glitch may be if house prices recover. But from where I'm sitting, the odds of that happening any time soon are pretty remote...and certainly no better than the likelihood that sanity, or fiscal responsibility, will return to Capitol Hill in the near future.

JEFFREY CAMINSKY, a veteran public prosecutor in Detroit, Michigan, specializes in the appellate practice of criminal law and writes on a wide range of topics. His books include the science fiction adventure novel The Star Dancers, the exciting second volume in the Guardians of Peace-tm series, The Sonnets of William Shakespeare, and the acclaimed Referee’s Survival Guide, a book on soccer officiating. All are published by New Alexandria Press, and are available on Amazon, as well as directly from the publisher.

Problems Avoided

Nonie and I have been thinking of moving. Despite a home that's fully paid-for, the thoughts of relocating after retirement were becoming a greater part of our thoughts and conversations since I retired. Usually, those thoughts involve a bit more usable land, and a house with all the living quarters on the main floor. But we'd stumbled across a piece of property a ways outside of town---which had a much bigger house than we thought we'd be buying...and needed a bit of work...but which struck both of us as a place we could really settle into.

Things often have a way of working out for the best. Today, we'd planned on looking at a house, on 4-1/2 tranquil (and foreclosed) acres near Milford. Just before heading out, the realtor called to tell us not to bother: someone else had just made an offer.

Rather than gnashing our teeth over what might have been, I'd rather think of "problems we avoided": house payments on a money pit...and a house that would be keep us toiling from dawn to dusk, far away from friends and family.

JEFFREY CAMINSKY, a veteran public prosecutor in Detroit, Michigan, specializes in the appellate practice of criminal law and writes on a wide range of topics. His books include the science fiction adventure novel The Star Dancers, the exciting second volume in the Guardians of Peace-tm series, The Sonnets of William Shakespeare, and the acclaimed Referee’s Survival Guide, a book on soccer officiating. All are published by New Alexandria Press, and are available on Amazon, as well as directly from the publisher.

How to Avoid Getting Bored on a Shopping Trip

I wish I could take credit for this, but I must confess it came from a friend of mine---one of my soccer buddies, who received it from one of his own friends (who undoubtedly received it from some other source on the Internet). In the interests of journalistic integrity, I feel constrained to protect my source from possible repercussions (mostly from the half of the human race that may not be amused by some of the assumptions underlying the piece...as well from the roving bands of the Politically Correct Thought Patrol that seem to be roaming the country), though if he chooses to reveal himself, he can rightly claim credit (or take the blame) for bringing the matter to my attention.

My contribution, modest as it is, consists merely of editorial revisions, as well as a few words of introduction:

Early in my retirement, it has become readily apparent that there is an aspect of a man's "golden years" that is never mentioned, nor touched upon by any retirement planning seminar that I have ever attended.

I'm talking, of course, about accompanying the wife on a shopping excursion.

Like most men, I find shopping quite boring (aside from the occasional trip to the computer or sporting goods store; trips to the home improvement store are uaually quite tolerable as well, as long as we steer clear of the wallpaper section), and prefer to measure by trips by the minute: quick in, quick out---and if the trip is properly planned, it's usually over in five minutes or less...depending on the line at the check-out.

Unfortunately, my wife, like many women, seems to regard shopping as a recreational event, and prefers to browse endlessly, often with little regard to the time cost of comparing the price at Kroger, for example, with the cost of the same item at WalMart. Saving twenty cents on a can of spaghetti sauce may leave some with a sense of triumph; but factoring in the cost of gas to drive from one place to the other---as well as the man-hours consumed in hunting down both items (quite aside from the driving time from one store to the other...and the mental energy spent in noticing and agonizing over the cost differential)---makes the whole enterprise problemmatic at best. And, considering the opportunity costs (time spent shopping isn't available for other pursuits...such as watching the ball game or napping), the advantages of this form of entertainment seems dubious at best.

Still, there is value in keeping peace in the house. And to this end, there are a number of things we can to to pass the time, and amuse ourselves while the love of our life is busy indulging herself:


How to Avoid Getting Bored on a Shopping Trip:
A Man's Guide to Comparison Shopping
1. Take two dozen boxes of condoms and place them in other people's shopping cars when they aren't looking. (For an added bonus, try to base your selection on either the mischief factor, or the unexpected compliment factor: placing the box in the cart of an 87-year old woman will have a different effect than placing it in the shopping cart of a pompous-looking socialite with a docile husband and moody teenager in tow. The choice between the two will depend on how evil your sense of humor is).

2. Set the alarm clocks in Housewares to go off at 5-minute intervals.

3. Leave a trail of tomato juice on the floor, ending at the women's restroom.

4. Go to the service desk and try to put a bag of M&Ms on layaway.

5. Move the "CAUTION---WET FLOOR" sign to a carpeted area.

6. Set up tents in the camping department of a department store. Tell the passing children of various inattentive shoppers that they can use them if they bring in pillows and blankets from the bedding department. (Score one point for each child who obliges).

7. When a clerk askes if she can help, begin crying and scream: "Why can't you people just leave me alone?" before running off to another part of the store.

8. Go to the hunting department and start looking at various kinds of ammunition. When the clerk offers to help you find something, ask where the antidepressants are.

9. Dart around the store while loudly humming the theme from "Mission Impossible."

10. Hide in a clothing rack; whenever another shopper begins to browse, holler, in a high-pitched voice: "Pick me!! Pick me!!"

11. When an announcement comes over the loudspeaker, assume the fetal position while screaming: "Oh no! The voices! It's those voice again!!!"

12. Go into the fitting room. After three minutes, begin to holler: "Hey! There's no toilet paper in here!"

CAUTION: Listing implies no recommendation or endorsement of any activity listed. Activies listed can pose significant dangers to one's heath, happiness, marital status, continued employment, or criminal record. Participant assumes all risks, dangers, and liabilities from engaging in any activity. Not all options are available in all locations.


JEFFREY CAMINSKY, a veteran public prosecutor in Detroit, Michigan, specializes in the appellate practice of criminal law and writes on a wide range of topics. His books include the science fiction adventure novel The Star Dancers, the exciting second volume in the Guardians of Peace-tm series, The Sonnets of William Shakespeare, and the acclaimed Referee’s Survival Guide, a book on soccer officiating. All are published by New Alexandria Press, and are available on Amazon, as well as directly from the publisher.

Gitmo North

I went on the "Ebling and You" radio show again, to discuss the visit of Federal officials to Michigan's Standish Prison, north of Bay City.

It's always nice to get on the air; I even got to plug my upcoming book, Clouds of Darkness...though I'll be grateful when the book is actually out in print.


JEFFREY CAMINSKY, writes on a wide range of topics. His books are published by New Alexandria Press, and are available on Amazon, as well as directly from the publisher.

Seeing a Story in Print

This month, the Michigan Bar journal published my short story, "Crucible of Justice." It was one of the winners in their 2009 Biennenial Short Story Contest. (Another one of my stories, "Crapshoot," was a winner in their first competition, back in 2007).

It's sometimes hard to describe the feeling you get when you see your work in print. Part pride, part astonishment...a writer is often so busy thinking and polishing and agonizing over minute details that it's sometimes hard simply to sit back and wonder about the human mind, and its capacity to create beauty out of nothing.

Of course, we can also create a lot of ugliness...and a lot of writing is pretty damn ugly.

Just the same, it's nice to get a pat on the back, now and then. And the warm blow inside from seeing one of your "babies" doing well is one of life's pleasures.


JEFFREY CAMINSKY, a veteran public prosecutor in Detroit, Michigan, specializes in the appellate practice of criminal law and writes on a wide range of topics. His books include the science fiction adventure novel The Star Dancers, the exciting second volume in the Guardians of Peace-tm series, The Sonnets of William Shakespeare, and the acclaimed Referee’s Survival Guide, a book on soccer officiating. All are published by New Alexandria Press, and are available on Amazon, as well as directly from the publisher.

Congressional Clunkers

It was supposed to help jump-start the auto industry, as well as help the environment.

The big-budget Car Allowance Rebate System—“CARS” in governmental acronymic; “cash for clunkers” in the vernacular—was a billion-dollar system intended to last through October. Low-mileage but otherwise perfectly operable cars were to be cashiered—literally crushed out of existence—in exchange for a $4,500 rebate. This rebate would be redeemed at car dealerships, and used to encourage customers to buy new cars from an auto industry in such serious trouble that much of it is owned by the Goverment.

It started last week, on July 24th.

Of course, destroying all those perfectly usable cars means that the price for a used car is likely to skyrocket—meaning that people needing to buy a cheap car (such as college kids, or the poor), may well be priced out of the market.

It also means that a lot of cheap used parts that used to be available to fix cars in need of repair won’t be available—driving up the cost of maintenance.

And as far as I know, nobody has studied whether destroying a quarter-million cars and replacing them with brand new ones, built in pollution-emitting factories, results in a net benefit to the environment.

Now, a week later, the program is out of money—possibly leaving dealerships holding the bag for all those now-destroyed cars. That probably won’t be much of a help for any of them. Or, for that matter, for the auto industry...unless all those customers who were rushing for all that free cash actually were new customers who materialized out of thin air, rather than people who just moved their purchase ahead by a few months to try to pick up some of the "free money" that the Government was tossing around.

Maybe it’s just me. But it seems funny that the geniuses in Washington couldn’t anticipate that giving away "free money" wouldn’t result in people making a mad rush to claim it. (Of course, I keep thinking that the money isn't really free: it comes from taxpayers---many of whom would probably rather just keep it in their own pockets. Of course, I'm not looking at it from the lofty perspective of Congress).

And...I guess maybe it is just me. But the fact that a program designed to last four months ran out of money in less than a week doesn’t exactly make me anxious to see just how accurate the cost projections for health care reform turn out to be.

JEFFREY CAMINSKY, a veteran public prosecutor in Detroit, Michigan, specializes in the appellate practice of criminal law and writes on a wide range of topics. His books include the science fiction adventure novel The Star Dancers, the exciting second volume in the Guardians of Peace-tm series, The Sonnets of William Shakespeare, and the acclaimed Referee’s Survival Guide, a book on soccer officiating. All are published by New Alexandria Press, and are available on Amazon, as well as directly from the publisher.

Self-Interest and the Public Good

There is always much talk about the "public good." Unfortunately, those doing the talking are often talking in code...and somehow the code usually involves spending lots of money.

The "public" doesn't just include the poor. It includes all of us...including Wall Street, agri-businesses, tobacco farmers, and everyone else with their hand out, or looking to accept the pork barrel spending of Congress, and willing to "ante up" for the privilege. But while everyone was quick to point to the abuses and failures in the welfare system, few people noticed that exactly the same effect was being produced further up the ladder. It's just a lot more expensive---and, until now, it was largely hidden from view.

If we're dealing with a small group---a family, a tribe, a town---we don't have the same problems. When everyone knows everyone else, there are fewer opportunities to shaft your neighbor, since there is a human face to the person you're cheating, and it's impossible to avoid detection, anyway. Once we move to larger communities, or big countries like the modern United States, then "taking" from someone else becomes an anonymous act. And if you can structure the law in such a way as to make theft of other people's money completely legal, it can become all too tempting to rationalize away any moral dilemmas about doing so. When legalized theft becomes the norm---and, I think, much of what we've seen on Wall Street and Capitol Hill qualifies---then the country is in big trouble. It leads to a sense of entitlement to the fruits of other people's labors, and crossing that threshold is a dangerous step for any country...especially a democracy.

There is nothing wrong with helping the poor, or trying to structure the government in such a way as to assist those in need. But when the system needs saints to work properly---presuming that no one would ever try to claim by right what they haven't really earned, and everyone is honest and honorable in their dealings with others---then it can't work on a large scale. That's why primitive communism can work in a family setting---or perhaps in a religious setting, where people are bound collectively together by a common faith---but it can never work as a basis for a complex society.

Any civilized nation needs to strike a balance between collective action and personal liberty. But there has always been a cycle to the lifespan of any democratic society in the past. And I'm afraid that without some far-sighted and resolute action, of a kind we haven't seen since our Founding and which I don't see on the horizon today, we may be nearing a major turning point...away from liberty, and toward dependence on a beneficent and all-knowing government. Sixty years ago, we called it "Big Brother," and it seemed a chilling portrait of a way of life that could never be; today, I'm not so sure.


JEFFREY CAMINSKY, a veteran public prosecutor in Detroit, Michigan, specializes in the appellate practice of criminal law and writes on a wide range of topics. His books include the science fiction adventure novel The Star Dancers, the exciting second volume in the Guardians of Peace-tm series, The Sonnets of William Shakespeare, and the acclaimed Referee’s Survival Guide, a book on soccer officiating. All are published by New Alexandria Press, and are available on Amazon, as well as directly from the publisher.

The Curse of Interesting Times

America is facing turbulent times and major challenges these days. Facing hostile enemies abroad, and economic and social challenges at home, we are faced---as in the ancient Chinese curse---with the prospect of living in "interesting times."

To be honest...and I hate to say this...but many of our current problems just reflect the reality that our country---or, at the least, the "elites" that define our country for us---has become. When Society started deeming it more important to protect "self-esteem" than to be concerned about accomplishments, I think we entered a very dangerous stretch of history.

Among the critical moments in a democracy is when the public realizes that it can vote itself money from the public treasury. For us, that moment came during the Great Depression, when we first turned to the Government to rescue us from an internal crisis. Over the last 75 years, we've seen the role of government gradually expanding, at the same time that cultural influences were undercutting our traditional notions of personal responsibility. Now, I think we're facing yet another critical moment...and it's not looking pretty.

At heart, I remain a hopeless romantic, and so I'm still not convinced that things will end in disaster. I hope, instead, that the public will recoil from the spectacles we see in Washington and Wall Street...cashier the lot of them...and start anew, having been chastened about being too trusting when it comes to spending public money. But I've also read about the various stages of development in a democracy---from Despotism to Liberty and back again---and we do seem to be a bit more than half-way through the cycle. And just as Rome collapsed as a result of its own excesses (and was promptly overrun by barbarians), I don't think America is immunve from the same fate, if we let ourselves be guided by our greed and passions, rather than our ideals and principles.


JEFFREY CAMINSKY, a veteran public prosecutor in Detroit, Michigan, specializes in the appellate practice of criminal law and writes on a wide range of topics. His books include the science fiction adventure novel The Star Dancers, the exciting second volume in the Guardians of Peace-tm series, The Sonnets of William Shakespeare, and the acclaimed Referee’s Survival Guide, a book on soccer officiating. All are published by New Alexandria Press, and are available on Amazon, as well as directly from the publisher.

Symptoms of the Times

As the American republic was taking shape, the Founders conceived of the primary purpose of Government to be the protection of Liberty. This is why they placed strict limits on the central government, and were highly suspicions of centralized power. They wanted power close to the people, figuring that it would be easier to keep the government within its proper constraints. They also deemed "power" to be the enemy of liberty, and warned that people had to be constantly vigilant to ensure that "tyranny" never took root on American soil. For this reason, the federal government was consigned to duties that were "national" in scope---mostly defense and interstate commerce. Most important issues of public concern---including questions of public safety, welfare, and morality---were deemed the province of state or local government. And it was assumed that the fruits of one's labor belonged to the one who earned it.

Today, many of us seem to view the primary purpose of Government to be providing services to its citizens. The centralized Federal Government has largely taken over most issues of public importance, with the non-elected judiciary assuming an ever-greater voice in settling questions of public policy. And we are standing on the verge of a massive expansion of the Federal Government: having now largely taken over the auto and financial services industries, it is asserting a claim to take over and centralize the health care industry as well. Rather than looking to themselves to solve their problems, raise their families, and set their destiny, more and more people are looking to the Government to provide answers and solutions to whatever seems to be going wrong in society.

This trajectory of events bodes ill for the entire country. It tends to foster ever-greater dependence on the Government. And once the majority comes to view the power to tax as the power and means to redistribute wealth, it's a small step to Big Brother...where the Government controls every aspect of our lives.

Today, the current Health Care proposals seem to be shaping up as critical indicators: if our reforms move us more toward reestablishing the connection between the consumer (ie, the patient) and the provider (ie, the doctor)—moving to restore some semblance of a market, where decisions are made based on individual need and professional judgment—then we may be able to stave off disaster for another few generations...and let them carry the ball when they come of age. If, on the other hand, we move in the direction of centralized control, bureaucratic decision-making, and bean-counters in charge of medical decisions, then we may be seeing the beginning of the end for the American experiment in democracy.

JEFFREY CAMINSKY, a veteran public prosecutor in Detroit, Michigan, specializes in the appellate practice of criminal law and writes on a wide range of topics. His books include the science fiction adventure novel The Star Dancers, the exciting second volume in the Guardians of Peace-tm series, The Sonnets of William Shakespeare, and the acclaimed Referee’s Survival Guide, a book on soccer officiating. All are published by New Alexandria Press, and are available on Amazon, as well as directly from the publisher.

Exceptionalism and American Politics

There is much talk these days about American "exceptionalism"---the notion that America has been, throughout her history, different than other countries. While it's possible to overstate the differences, for more than two centuries this has been true...though, sadly, the differences are becoming harder to see.

The notion of "American exceptionalism" doesn't imply that the Founders were perfect. It merely recognizes that there was something unique about America---or the American experience---that made it different from Europe. It may have been the fact that people had to pull together to survive on the frontier; or the unique blend of Enlightenment thinking, frontier life, traditions of English liberty (such as they were circa 1700), and the chance for a fresh start an ocean away from the problems of the Old World. It's why America offered hope for the rest of the world...and why we often tend to look at things differently than most other countries.

Today, though, it often seems that we're becoming what we rebelled against: power is concentrating, abetted by corporate interests, who have their own reason for wanting a strong central government(it's easier to deal with than strong, innovative, and rising competitors), our politicians are becoming corrupted by it (a notion well known to the Founders...and one of the things that drove them crazy about being governed by England), and in some ways we're starting to become "just another country," rather than remaining true to our core principles, and the things that made us so different.

Of course, principles are often in the eye of the beholder. At the time of the Founding, English law drew distinctions between natural rights (eg, life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness), civil rights (eg, owning property, being able to contract), and political rights (eg, the right to vote, or sit on a jury), and a citizen's standing in the community determined how many of these rights he enjoyed. The Bill of Rights was intended to protect us from encroachments by the Federal Government, by imposing strict limits on Federal power, and up until the Supreme Court effectively rewrote the constitution in the 1960s, we made similar distinctions: while the "natural rights" were deemed part of every American's political heritage, the rest were deemed to be matters under state control. Unfortunately, the same problems that led to the Civil War also led to problems there: the South refused to grant full citizenship to blacks, which caused problems two hundred years ago, and vestiges of those problems remain today. In addition, the modern world presents its own challenges, the leaders we elect aren't always the wisest among us, and the world keeps pushing us along the path of least resistance---ie, the tendency to put problems off until later, and to elect politicians who make the biggest promises. As a result, things are a bit muddled today, as we sort through the proper relationships between state and federal power...and this has presented fertile grounds for mischief for the ambitious.

There are, however, dangers arising from trusting to a strong central government to protect us from strong, centralized corporate power. In the end, their common interest in controlling their environment is likely to make them allies, rather than antagonists...viewing the people more as pesky whiners rather than the people the Government is supposed to serve. And with the corruption rampant in Washington, I don't think we can really trust Congress to look out for our interests: regardless of party, they're mostly out for themselves...and even with the best of intentions, the concentration of power there is too seductive for most of them to resist.

JEFFREY CAMINSKY, a veteran public prosecutor in Detroit, Michigan, specializes in the appellate practice of criminal law and writes on a wide range of topics. His books include the science fiction adventure novel The Star Dancers, the exciting second volume in the Guardians of Peace-tm series, The Sonnets of William Shakespeare, and the acclaimed Referee’s Survival Guide, a book on soccer officiating. All are published by New Alexandria Press, and are available on Amazon, as well as directly from the publisher.

And That's the Way It Was

There are many things we take for granted in this world. And many things that, when they are no longer, makes us feel old, or dated.

Walter Cronkite died yesterday.

He was the voice of the news for most of my earlier years---from when I was a kid, through law school, and on into my early days with the Prosecutor's Office in the 1980s.

He was honest, objective, dripping with integrity...all things that we're sorely lacking in our news media these days. But beyond this, he was a link to our past---to the days of radio and World War II, the Space Program and Edward R. Murrow, to a time when everything seemed possible, and America's greatest days seemed still to come.

We'll miss you, Walter.

JEFFREY CAMINSKY, a veteran public prosecutor in Detroit, Michigan, specializes in the appellate practice of criminal law and writes on a wide range of topics. His books include the science fiction adventure novel The Star Dancers, the exciting second volume in the Guardians of Peace-tm series, The Sonnets of William Shakespeare, and the acclaimed Referee’s Survival Guide, a book on soccer officiating. All are published by New Alexandria Press, and are available on Amazon, as well as directly from the publisher.

Used Car Salesman in Chief

Perhaps it's just me, but I'm getting sick and tired of being pushed into hasty decisions.

Over the past several months it seems that there has been a race to pass legislation through Congress without much thought. Last year, the TARP bailout was raced through in weeks---ostensibly because waiting to give us a chance to think about what we were doing would mean than any action in ridding the country of the "toxic assets" that the TARP funds were to buy up would come too late to stave off the disasters that were looming in the shadows.

Of course, once the bill passed, the Bush Administration got a few better ideas...and we still haven't spent all the money appropriated. Well...not to buy any toxic assets, at least. We still haven't gotten around to that...though that $700 billion dollars sure came in handy for Congress and the new Obama Administration, since they now had a ready source of funds to hand out as they saw fit.

As the new adminstration was about to take office, there was another push---this time for another $787 billion or so---which was passed less than a month after President Obama took office, before anyone in Congress had the chance to read it. Recently, the "Cap and Trade" bill passed the House---with 350 pages or so of amendments added in the wee hours of the morning after Michael Jackson died. That, too, had to pass immediately, before anyone could read it---this time, one presumes, so that the members of the House could attend to more important matters. Like watching the wall-to-wall, 24/7 coverage of the death of Michael Jackson.

Now, amid talk of a few more trillion dollars or so in various bailouts---to prepare the way for the Health Care Reform package that the President insists is needed to save us from imminent bankruptcy---there is a push by Congressional leaders and the Administration to enact the plan...NOW, before it's too late. Today, in the wake of a Congressional Budget Office report confirming what most people instinctively thought---that current health care proposals will cost an awful lot of money---there seems to be a renewed push to get this done in a hurry. The President insists that waiting will result in a catastrophe for this country and future generations...and only quick, bold action can save us.

It strikes me that we've been down this path before. Quite a few times in recent months.

And it's starting to sound more and more like the typical pitch from the local used car salesman---that we need to decide now, because if we stop to think about what we're doing, we'll miss this golden, once-in-a-lifetime chance, and spend the rest of our lives regretting it.

Again...perhaps it's just me. But despite the glowing rhetoric, and the loft notions advanced by the current crop of politicians, it's starting to sound more and more like the high-pressure tactics of the used car lot.

These tactics didn't save the auto industry from disaster.

I doubt that they'll lead the rest of the country to anything but grief, either.


JEFFREY CAMINSKY, a veteran public prosecutor in Detroit, Michigan, specializes in the appellate practice of criminal law and writes on a wide range of topics. His books include the science fiction adventure novel The Star Dancers, the exciting second volume in the Guardians of Peace-tm series, The Sonnets of William Shakespeare, and the acclaimed Referee’s Survival Guide, a book on soccer officiating. All are published by New Alexandria Press, and are available on Amazon, as well as directly from the publisher.

Retirement?

Nominally, I've been retired from my career at the Prosecutor's Office since March 1st.

As a practical matter...I've never had so much work-related stress in my life!

While retirement incentives are all well and good, from the perspective of the employer, there is one major downside: the more successful it is, the better the odds of brooming out everyone who knows what he's doing. In many respects, this is exactly what Wayne County has done: their executive retirement package was so successful it netted them the entire management of our appellate department---which meant that if we all left, there would be nobody to run the department. As a result, we're all back as "consultants"---effectively half-time employees, for the next year or so.

Unfortunately, my assignments haven't kept pace with the times: instead of working to help bring the "next generation" up to speed, I'm engaged in business as usual. And---what is particularly frustrating for me---I can't do the work I'm getting without coming in full time! Rather than backstopping the rest of the department, and working on things that can be accomplished in the two-to-three days per week I should be working, my assignments are long and complex, giving me the option of working half-time and accomplishing nothing, or devoting the time I need to the tasks I have, and blowing through my time in nothing flat.

The department head---Tim Baughman, who's also a personal friend---wants us to stick around until after the first of the year. But I'm already way ahead on the amount of time I've put in...and if the assignments don't change, I'm likely to be done by Thanksgiving.

All in all...it seems that retirement has increased my work-related stress.

JEFFREY CAMINSKY, a veteran public prosecutor in Detroit, Michigan, specializes in the appellate practice of criminal law and writes on a wide range of topics. His books include the science fiction adventure novel The Star Dancers, the exciting second volume in the Guardians of Peace-tm series, The Sonnets of William Shakespeare, and the acclaimed Referee’s Survival Guide, a book on soccer officiating. All are published by New Alexandria Press, and are available on Amazon, as well as directly from the publisher.

Rule of Law at Risk in Chrysler Bailout

It's easy to lose our heads in these perilous economic times. This is especially true since the car companies occupy such a large place in local affairs. Chrysler's bankruptcy is looming large in the public's eye, and here "money interests" are being pounded relentlessly for their supposed greed and intransigence. The Obama Adminstration is pushing a plan that would turn over a large chunk of the Company to the UAW, largely at the expense of secured creditors---including pension plans---who loaned Chrysler money. In the event of a bankruptcy, the Law says that they should be repaid first---with others standing in line, to see if there is anything left over. Lost amid all the clamor surrounding the auto companies and their woes, is the fact that there is a more honorable alternative to stiffing secured creditors in favor of political cronies.

The constitution requires payment of just compensation whenever private property is taken for a public purpose. If the Obama Administration is pushing secured creditors (such as the pension plan bond holders) aside for unsecured stakeholders (like the UAW), the alternative to setting aside the rule of law seems clear: use public money to pay off the secured debt (or, at least as much of the secured debt as they'd get if the Company were liquidated). This would have the effect of actually following the law, while at the same time making clear that it is the Government---and not the private parties involved---who is calling the shots.

JEFFREY CAMINSKY, a veteran public prosecutor in Detroit, Michigan, specializes in the appellate practice of criminal law and writes on a wide range of topics. His books include the science fiction adventure novel The Star Dancers, the exciting second volume in the Guardians of Peace-tm series, The Sonnets of William Shakespeare, and the acclaimed Referee’s Survival Guide, a book on soccer officiating. All are published by New Alexandria Press, and are available on Amazon, as well as directly from the publisher.

Supreme Difficulties: The Appointment of Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court

The big story in the legal profession this week is President Obama's nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court.

Throughout the blogosphere, this is now a ranging controversy over her pending confirmation---which, given the current composition of the U.S. Senate, is assured...assuming that there are no hidden skeletons in her professional closet. Most of these discussions, though, appear to miss the real point. There is, to my mind, a big difference between whether someone "should NOT be confirmed" and whether they "SHOULD be appointed" in the first place: since Obama won the election, his choice should be honored in the absence of a clear reason not to confirm; but whether Sotomayor was the best nominee for the job is an entirely different question.

There's a lot about judges and the judiciary that it will be hard for non-lawyers to understand. To my mind her biggest test to date was Ricci v DeStefano (the New Haven firefighters case), which is, in many ways, a lesson in what is wrong with the American judicial system today.

In a nutshell...she was on a panel that gave very short shrift to the argument of the plaintiff that he was the victim of racial discrimination when the City tossed out the results of a civil service test---which had been designed to be racially neutral---because none of the top-scoring applicants were black. The lower court decision had ruled in favor of the defendants on a motion for "summary judgment"---which means, in layman's terms, that their claim was so lacking in merit that it didn't even warrant a trial (meaning that the judges had to accept all the facts alleged as true). A colleague of hers on the Second Circuit---a liberal judge appointed by Clinton, named Jose Cabreras---was outraged that the court didn't address the issues at the heart of the case, and it was only because HE wrote a dissent to the court's denial of rehearing en banc (before the entire circuit, rather than the three-judge panel assigned to the case) that the case got much press; otherwise, it may well have been buried in the thousands of other summary dismissals that come out of the courts, another unpublished summary dismissal at the trial court level followed by a routine summary affirmance.

To my mind, this suggests one of the following: (1) she is a partisan whose rulings will come from the "empathy" she feels with one side or the other (a possibilty also suggested by her YouTube comments at a seminar a few years ago...talking about federal appeals judges "making policy"); (2) she is intellectually dishonest, and was trying to bury the case by using language usually reserved for dealing with frivolous lawsuits (I've been the beneficiary of that myself often enough to recognize it...though the Michigan Court of Appeals has been better about trying to hide "tough" cases in superficial opinions in the last fifteen years or so); or (3) she can't recognize a "big issue" when it hits her in the head. Any of these would have meant that I wouldn't have appointed her, if I were the president. But none of them is a disqualification from office---nor, sadly enough, uncommon among judges in this day and age.

Having said that...I haven't studied the body of her work well enough to know whether the Ricci case is an aberration, or her usual way of doing business. What I've read suggests that she is usually yeomanlike in her work, and reasonably competent in her legal scholarship. I've also read pieces suggesting that her reasoning and writing isn't very "tight" (ie, well thought out and precisely written), and that her judicial temperament leaves a lot to be desired (ie, she has a reputation for being dismissive and abusive from the bench). I suspect that much of what will be written about her in the coming days will be written with a partisan pen...and I plan to double-check any facts I read, and ignore most of the conclusions (which I usually prefer to draw for myself).

None of what is said below speaks to anything I'd regard as important in a judge: I would expect most judges to rule on both sides of First Amendment, Civil Rights, and other issues...depending on the particular facts and law governing each particular case. And, with due respect for Obama, I don't regard "empathy" as a judicial qualification: if anything, it suggests bias, unless the judge feels "empathy" toward BOTH sides...meaning that he (or she) takes the time to understand the human dimension to the legal controversy, as well as the legal issues (something the Second Circuit didn't seem to show in the Ricci case). For me, assuming a bright mind capable of honest legal scholarship, the key qualifications are judicial temperament (ie, fair-mindedness and respect toward everyone who comes to court...and a recognition that being a judge is a privilege and a public trust, not a means to dole out rulings out of a subjective preference for one side or the other), and humility.

While I have a lot of reservations, I think it's too soon to judge her...and, as I said, the President is the one who gets to make the appointment, and I don't think "perfection" should be the standard.

JEFFREY CAMINSKY, a veteran public prosecutor in Detroit, Michigan, specializes in the appellate practice of criminal law and writes on a wide range of topics. His books include the science fiction adventure novel The Star Dancers, the exciting second volume in the Guardians of Peace-tm series, The Sonnets of William Shakespeare, and the acclaimed Referee’s Survival Guide, a book on soccer officiating. All are published by New Alexandria Press, and are available on Amazon, as well as directly from the publisher.

The 2009 Caminsky Open

I have seen a lot of changes this year: retirement that came from nowhere; a plummeting economy; new books that need marketing---leading to a host of new adventures.

Some things, though, never change: I still can't golf very well; but it's still nice to get together with my dad and brother to try.

We started the 2009 version of the "Caminsky Open" today, with my dad and brother Chris dragging me out at the crack of dawn on a holiday, to play our first round of the season at Livonia's Fox Creek Golf Course. I also got to break in my new set of clubs---a nice set of last-year's clubs that I got at a season-opening discount at one of the local golf stores.

Chris says that the clubs are "can't miss" and "highly forgiving"...though I certainly missed my share today. But I really can't complain: between the "forgiving" clubs, and our generous Caminsky Open Rules---unlimited Mulligans, discretionary adjustments on the lie (eg: if God had really wanted me to hit from there, He wouldn't have put a tree in the way), and penalty strokes optional---I managed an opening round 48 (for nine holes; actually, all three of us shot 48s. We think; Chris forgot to record several of the holes, so we recreated the scores for those holes from memory...which, being imperfect, had a margin of error of a couple strokes per hole).

And thus begins this year's Caminsky open....

JEFFREY CAMINSKY, a veteran public prosecutor in Detroit, Michigan, specializes in the appellate practice of criminal law and writes on a wide range of topics. His books include the science fiction adventure novel The Star Dancers, the exciting second volume in the Guardians of Peace-tm series, The Sonnets of William Shakespeare, and the acclaimed Referee’s Survival Guide, a book on soccer officiating. All are published by New Alexandria Press, and are available on Amazon, as well as directly from the publisher.

The Fannish Frontier

I did a book appearance this weekend. Actually, it was a "book and notecards...well, and posters, too" appearance, at the MediaWest*Con convention in Lansing.

The event highlighted "fandom" from various formats---television, movies, books, and the like---and in various forms. I was the only author set up in the "dealer's room," and felt mildly out of place amid the "fan-zines" and some of the other Fandom Parephernalia, but the group was a friendly one, and I managed to sell quite a lot of stuff---including a half-dozen or so posters, several dozen notecards, and twenty of my books.

The experience was actually rather encouraging. I suspect my books and artwork might do better in a slightly different format---perhaps one more dedicated to space and science (though the floral and landscape cards sold well, and might do quite well at a local art fair). But the results were enough to make me look forward to the next outing, which will probably be at the Farmington Founder's Fair, or some other local arts and crafts show.

The only disappointment was that a friend who'd agreed to help man the table flaked out on me; but that was more than made up for by my wife's pitching in to help for part of the weekend---and my own discovery that I really didn't need the help in the first place.

JEFFREY CAMINSKY, a veteran public prosecutor in Detroit, Michigan, specializes in the appellate practice of criminal law and writes on a wide range of topics. His books include the science fiction adventure novel The Star Dancers, the exciting second volume in the Guardians of Peace-tm series, The Sonnets of William Shakespeare, and the acclaimed Referee’s Survival Guide, a book on soccer officiating. All are published by New Alexandria Press, and are available on Amazon, as well as directly from the publisher.

Sci-Fi Show a Go-Go

Well...we'll see how this science fictioneering goes: I suspect I'm forgetting half of what I should be doing---but at any rate, it should be fun and interesting. I just hope I don't spend the next three days getting a sore fanny, and longing for human company.

Watch this channel for updates.

JEFFREY CAMINSKY, a veteran public prosecutor in Detroit, Michigan, specializes in the appellate practice of criminal law and writes on a wide range of topics. His books include the science fiction adventure novel The Star Dancers, the exciting second volume in the Guardians of Peace-tm series, The Sonnets of William Shakespeare, and the acclaimed Referee’s Survival Guide, a book on soccer officiating. All are published by New Alexandria Press, and are available on Amazon, as well as directly from the publisher.

A Lack of Musical Taste

Let me set the record straight:

I love classical music and enjoy good jazz. I like some Oldies...but my friends have always considered me something of a fuddy-duddy when it comes to music. And, until this season, I rarely watched "American Idol"...figuring that it was (a) a bit hokey, and (b) featured talent that wasn't really worth all the hoopla.

This season, was different.

This season, the show featured a number of very talented unknowns---who were also, it seemed, highly likable.

And this season, the show had a major star in the making, in the person of a well-mannered kid who is a natural performer---and whose performances were, in the main, bold, fresh, and electrifying.

This season belonged to Adam Lambert...at least, until the final vote---when the country gave the "title" to a very nice young man, who was also very talented. But, like the rest of the group, he didn't really belong on the same stage as the runner-up. (And, in what I regard as a telling comment---both on Adam's level of talent, and on the kind of human being that the "winner" is---even Kris Allen, in the aftermath of winning, was (a) shocked, and (b) falling over himself to say that the title really belonged to Adam.

This was a nice group...a very talented group...and an entertaining season.

It's too bad that the Final had to demonstrate a truth that we often forget: the Public, as a whole, suffers from a lack of musical taste.

Other than prejudice (it's reported that Adam was photographed kissing another guy...and his eyeliner suggests an "other-than-mainstream" orientation), it's the only reasonable explanation for choosing the star over the nice guy.

JEFFREY CAMINSKY, a veteran public prosecutor in Detroit, Michigan, specializes in the appellate practice of criminal law and writes on a wide range of topics. His books include the science fiction adventure novel The Star Dancers, the exciting second volume in the Guardians of Peace-tm series, The Sonnets of William Shakespeare, and the acclaimed Referee’s Survival Guide, a book on soccer officiating. All are published by New Alexandria Press, and are available on Amazon, as well as directly from the publisher.

Sci-Fi Convention: MediaWest*Con

Getting ready for the MediaWest*Con sci-fi convention later this week has led me to a couple of conclusions.

First---I'm really terrible at marketing. While writing is fun---and composing posters and note cards from photos and pictures is quite engaging---trying to find "clever" ways to market myself is for the birds. I hate puffing myself up---and it's frightening to face the prospect that, in the end, nobody will care. And that's really all marketing is.

On the other hand, the sci-fi show could be a lot of fun. I've never been to one before---much less participated with a booth---and I think we have a lot of fun and interesting stuff to offer. Besides my books, we have some rather stunning posters of the heavens, and notecards and posters from outer space as well as Planet Earth.

In the end, I'm kind of looking forward to it...though I really wish there were another way.

JEFFREY CAMINSKY, a veteran public prosecutor in Detroit, Michigan, specializes in the appellate practice of criminal law and writes on a wide range of topics. His books include the science fiction adventure novel The Star Dancers, the exciting second volume in the Guardians of Peace-tm series, The Sonnets of William Shakespeare, and the acclaimed Referee’s Survival Guide, a book on soccer officiating. All are published by New Alexandria Press, and are available on Amazon, as well as directly from the publisher.

Bach's B-Minor Mass

The world of music has many classic works, ranging from Beethoven and Brahms to the Beach Boys and the Beatles. A few musical works that stand as monuments to western culture: one of them is the B-Minor mass by Johann Sebastian Bach. It is perhaps the most difficult piece I've ever performed; it is also one of the most stunning.

The Madonna Chorale performed the B-Minor mass today, along with singers from the Archdiosis of Detroit, and younger singers from a local academy. We sang with a small orchestra at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, just north of Downtown Detroit---a church visited by John Paul II on his trip to Detroit, whos chair is on display in a corner of the church.

The performance went well...with a few exceptions: one of the tenors entered early in an exposed section during the last movement---a spot that had caused problems (including problems with this singer) in rehearsals---and owning to the increased sound, and the overlay of the orchestra, I wasn't able to pull us back together, as I often could in rehearsals. But, from what I could tell it wasn't terribly noticable to the audience---and we were able to get more or less back on track by the end of the piece.

One of our singers died last week, just after our first rehearsal at the Cathedral. He was a bass, named Patrick Wright, and he collapsed and died of a heart attack after returning from our first trip to the Cathedral. We dedicated the last song---a version of Dona Nobis Pacem, to his memory.

All in all, quite an exhausting season.


JEFFREY CAMINSKY, a veteran public prosecutor in Detroit, Michigan, specializes in the appellate practice of criminal law and writes on a wide range of topics. His books include the science fiction adventure novel The Star Dancers, the exciting second volume in the Guardians of Peace-tm series, The Sonnets of William Shakespeare, and the acclaimed Referee’s Survival Guide, a book on soccer officiating. All are published by New Alexandria Press, and are available on Amazon, as well as directly from the publisher.

Good bye, Jeanie-O

Today was the funeral luncheon for Jean Harriman, an old family friend.

Jean and her husband, Myles, owned the house next door to my grandparents' cottage on Potter's Lake, near Lapeer, Michigan. Their family, the Phelps family, and ours spent many pleasant summer days there, and over the years the Phelps, Harrimans, and Caminsky families were linked by bonds of friendship, and memories of carefree days when we were all very much younger.

Jean died last week, after a long illness. I drove with my parents to Merrill, Michigan for the luncheon---and was able to see Pam, the Harrimans' daughter, and Libby, their son, along with many of their friends are relatives.

It's sad when old friends pass, especially when the years have flown by and you've all but lost touch.

It's sadder to think that none of us is getting younger, and that our own days will come to an end.

Perhaps saddest of all is realizing that all too often, we get together with old friends only at funerals.

JEFFREY CAMINSKY, a veteran public prosecutor in Detroit, Michigan, specializes in the appellate practice of criminal law and writes on a wide range of topics. His books include the science fiction adventure novel The Star Dancers, the exciting second volume in the Guardians of Peace-tm series, The Sonnets of William Shakespeare, and the acclaimed Referee’s Survival Guide, a book on soccer officiating. All are published by New Alexandria Press, and are available on Amazon, as well as directly from the publisher.

Judging Books by the Cover

Last Saturday, a new singing sensation appeared on the world scene: she's a 47-year old, plain-looking British lady named Susan Boyle, a cheeky spinster who lives alone with her cat.

She appeared on "Britain's Got Talent," the UK's equivalent of American Idol. And she was being laughed at and dismissed by the audience, and the judges...until she opened her voice and began to sing "I Dreamed a Dream," from Les Miserables.

It's not often that a truly magical moment is captured on tape. Most modern television is overly commercial and overblown. But watching the reactions of the crowd and the judges---as their derision turned to cheers---is both touching and inspiring.

JEFFREY CAMINSKY, a veteran public prosecutor in Detroit, Michigan, specializes in the appellate practice of criminal law and writes on a wide range of topics. His books include the science fiction adventure novel The Star Dancers, the exciting second volume in the Guardians of Peace-tm series, The Sonnets of William Shakespeare, and the acclaimed Referee’s Survival Guide, a book on soccer officiating. All are published by New Alexandria Press, and are available on Amazon, as well as directly from the publisher.

Goodbye, Bird

It's yet another sign that Time waits for no one.

Mark "The Bird" Fidrych died yesterday, at his farm in Massachusetts. He died in an accident, while working on his truck.

In 1976, when I was still in law school, The Bird was a sensation in Detroit. In a year when the country was still reeling in the aftermath of Watergate, and an oil crisis and mideast tensions were sending shock waves through the American economy, Fidrych made us feel young and carefree and happy. His mannerisms on the mound belied a gifted athlete---who, however goofy he might be, was deadly serious when it came to pitching.

He was 19-9 that year, and the American League rookie of the year. Two years later, he was washed up---the victim of an injury, and a team hungry for talent that rushed him back into action before he had healed.

Today, the mideast is still a bubbling cauldron; oil is still casting shock waves through the ecomony---and the country is in economic and political turnmoil.

But now, we're no longer young. And The Bird is now gone...another sign that time is relentless. And, sooner or later, it catches up to all of us.

JEFFREY CAMINSKY, a veteran public prosecutor in Detroit, Michigan, specializes in the appellate practice of criminal law and writes on a wide range of topics. His books include the science fiction adventure novel The Star Dancers, the exciting second volume in the Guardians of Peace-tm series, The Sonnets of William Shakespeare, and the acclaimed Referee’s Survival Guide, a book on soccer officiating. All are published by New Alexandria Press, and are available on Amazon, as well as directly from the publisher.