NEW YORK magazine's Frank Rich on the Bradley Manning verdict.

From http://www.nymag.com

Yesterday, Private Bradley Manning was convicted on multiple counts of violating the Espionage Act (which could result in 136 years of prison) but was found not guilty of the most serious charge against him, "aiding the enemy." What do you make of the verdict?What matters here is not that Manning was found guilty of leaking — which he admitted to and will not get anything like 136 years for — but that he was found not guilty of “aiding the enemy.” That “not guilty” is a good thing, but it doesn’t mitigate the reality that “aiding the enemy” was a bogus and dangerous charge in the first place. The fact that the government would even pursue it is chilling to a free press. Under the prosecution’s Orwellian logic, essentially any classified information given by a whistle-blower to a journalistic outlet (whether WikiLeaks or the Times, which published Manning-WikiLeaks revelations) amounts to treason if “the enemy” can read it. Well, the enemy, whomever it may be at any given moment, can read anything it wants on the Internet, the government can (and does) stamp its every embarrassing action “classified,” and so almost any revelatory investigative reporting on national security (the Pentagon Papers, the Abu Ghraib revelations, you name it) could in principle lead to the death penalty (even if that punishment wasn’t sought in the Manning case). That’s a powerful deterrent, clearly designed to stop whistle-blowers, reporters, and news organizations from taking the risk of uncovering government misbehavior. It’s a particularly devastating blow at a time when investigative journalism is shrinking anyway because of the financial woes of the news business. The Obama administration’s increasingly virulent efforts to shut down hard-hitting journalism — exemplified as well, recently, by the attempt to force Times reporter James Risen to testify in another leak case — is not just outrageous on First Amendment grounds but also makes you wonder what else the White House is hiding. Let’s not forget that high among Manning’s revelations were the cockpits videos chronicling the killing of civilians in an American air strike. What else is there that the Obama administration is so desperate to keep quiet that it will take on leakers with a virulence unmatched by any modern White House?

Post-Mortem on the Bradley Manning verdict.

We are, more and more, a society where unaccountable people can commit unspeakable acts with impunity. They are creating a surveillance state that makes not just dissent, but knowledge itself, more and more dangerous. What we know about this is entirely due to leakers and their outlets. Ignorance is only bliss for the unaccountable.--quote from Dan Gillmor of THE GUARDIAN

Link to his article in its entirety: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/07/30/the-bradley-manning-verdict-is-still-bad-news-for-the-press/

My 30-years-of-Madonna playlist.

In no specific order:
1. BURNING UP
2. HOLIDAY
3. LUCKY STAR
4. BORDERLINE
5. SIDEWALK TALK (Jellybean Benitez w/Madonna)
6. INTO THE GROOVE
7. CRAZY FOR YOU
8. LIVE TO TELL
9. WHERE'S THE PARTY?
10. MATERIAL GIRL
11. DRESS YOU UP
12. PAPA DON'T PREACH
13. CHERISH
14. VOGUE
15. OH FATHER
16. LIKE A PRAYER
17. THERE USED TO BE A PLAYGROUND
18. IN THE CLOSET (Michael Jackson w/Madonna aka Mystery Girl)
19. RESPECT YOURSELF
20. JUSTIFY MY LOVE
21. DEEPER AND DEEPER
22. CAUSING A COMMOTION
23. WHO'S THAT GIRL?
24. HOLLYWOOD
25. LA ISLA BONITA
26. FROZEN
27. RAY OF LIGHT
28. ISAAC
29. HUNG UP
30. LIKE A VIRGIN

New poem: THE LUST SONG OF ANTHONY WEINER

shall I dare
shall I dare

time to step
upon the stairs
to the basement
where the computer
is waiting
waiting just for me and you

in the chatroom
you and I
come and go
talking of POLITICO
when not sending photos
back and forth

someday maybe baby
we'll have Chicago
you can shop the Magnificent Mile
while I plan my campaign for NYC Mayor
in our private condominium for two

let's talk health care
I know it turns you on
and it turns me on
when you're turned on

please don't talk to anyone about this,
especially PEOPLE magazine
Huma believes everything's fine
just like I said in the interview

Bill/Hillary 1992 and Anthony/Huma in 2013.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwXE52e9JFg--Bill and Hillary Clinton on 60 MINUTES

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vmicJ35wWw--excerpt from Anthony Weiner's press conference statement.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBagSsP7RVk--Huma Abedin speaks at husband Anthony Weiner's press conference.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCzdpkokwCQ--full press conference feed as aired on CNN.

Anthony Weiner sexting scandal Part Two: "Carlos Danger" on Twitter.

http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2013/07/anthony-weiner-accused-of-having-more-cybersex.html

Now, a random list of tweets related to Anthony Weiner's "Carlos Danger" alias:
"Carlos Danger"? The jokes were too easy when you were just "Tony Weiner." I can't. I just can't.--Patton Oswalt

"Who is this 'Carlos Danger'? I like the cut of his jib." Geraldo Rivera--Gerard Mulligan
(LATE SHOW WITH DAVID LETTERMAN)

For Halloween this year, I'll be going as Bun E. Carlos Danger. Just need to figure out the appropriate props.--Alan Sepinwall

Anthony Weiner steps to the mike at his inaugural, pauses. "Today...we are ALL Carlos Danger!!" The place goes nuts.--Ken Jennings

If the #RoyalBaby were to be named "Carlos Danger", this would be the greatest news day of all time. #DoItEngland!--Rainn Wilson

Carlos Danger sounds like Archer's nemesis for next season.--Brian Reed

wait, is Carlos Danger the nickname for Anthony's weiner? look what happens when I do actual work all day.--Sarah Jaffe

And finally:
Eliot Spitzer would like to thank Carlos Danger for taking the heat off him for the day.--
Joeanna Sayler

Living Colour - Funny Vibe: A song forever relevant.

New poem: ODE TO JUROR B37

she had her mind made up
nothing would breach
the fortifications
of a lifetime
of just knowing
that neighborhood watchpeople
had oh-so-good intentions
even when ignoring 911 operators
even when engaging in pursuit-with-loaded-gun
even when shooting unarmed teenage boy
who very likely thought
neighborhood watchperson
was someone intent
on robbery or worse
>
and she just knows
that neighborhood watchperson
will do his job better now
never again committing
the regrettable error
of taking a human life