While the United States Armed Forces (private mercenaries) are stationed at 737 bases, in 130 nations around the world, defending “all freedom-loving people everywhere in the world,” the first district court of appeals, of michigan, hands down people v. Jones: It is not a violation of the Right to Privacy for statute enforcement agents to conduct a warrantless search of the outside of a home with drug sniffing dogs in order to provoke probable cause to obtain a search warrant.

       NOTES:

• Jeffrey Jones had initially been found not guilty after the trial judge suppressed the evidence of recreational marijuana because drug sniffing dogs had been deployed outside his home without probable cause.  But the court of appeals ordered a second trial with the previously forbidden evidence now admissible.
• This is Double Jeopardy, which is prohibited by the michigan constitution of 1963, article I, section 15.

       [added 7/3/2024] Thanks to Bill Holmes for this entry.

       Chairman Angelo Mozilo, of Countrywide Financial, accidentally replies to an e-message from Daniel Bailey, Jr., a distressed homeowner living in New Hanover County, north carolina, who had requested modified terms on his adjustable-rate mortgage in hopes of keeping his home of 16 years.  Mozilo had intended to forward the e-message to an associate with his comments, “This is unbelievable.  Most of these letters now have the same wording.  Obviously they are being counseled by some other person or by the Internet.  Disgusting.”

       Postscript: A public relations representative for Countrywide issued the following “damage control” statement in response to the public furor that was generated by Mozilo’s response: “Countrywide and Mr. Mozilo regret any misunderstanding caused by his inadvertent response to an e-mail by Mr. Bailey.  Countrywide is actively working to help borrowers, like Mr. Bailey, keep their homes.”

       Question: Is Mozilo’s attitude typical of what the nation’s bankers and status quo (Democratic and Republican) parties secretly think of United states subject/enemy/citizens?

       NOTE: Mozilo’s yearly salary during the 2001-2006 housing bubble was in excess of 9,000,000 “dollars.”

       [restored 7/3/2024]