Is Gossip Healthy?

The most satisfying gossip column offers a dollop of drama, conflict and misbehavior, along with a dash of hypocrisy and humor. It views this complicated world through the prism of personality -- and makes things, if temporarily, accessible and comprehensible. It also, and here, arguably, is the socially redeeming part, is the great leveler, demonstrating that the rich and famous have as many foibles as the rest of us. And it shows that we're all in this together as members of a human community, even if it's whispering behind someone's back.

Rags at the check out counter continue to make millions every week.

Made 1st in America

Lynne Stewart Faces Sentencing

Lynne Stewart is a long-time civil rights lawyer. She represented Omar Abdel Rahman, the one-eyed sheik who is serving a life sentence for a plot to blow up New York City landmarks. Stewart, herself, is being sentenced today for "blatantly and repeatedly" violating prison regulations by helping her client communicate with his followers.

Update: Quick update on civil rights lawyer Lynne Stewart. She's been sentenced to 28 months in prison. Prosecutors had wanted 30 years.

Comments: 30 years? 30 YEARS? For What? Did they prove she consciously was plotting against the U.S. Government? If they did, perhaps 30 years is appropriate.

However, if they did not, 30 years is a travesty of justice. 30 years for violating prison regulations. What's next, five years for jaywalking, and ten for littering?

Listen, it is time, past time, for common sense to enter our legal system. This is not about making some stud government prosecutors carreer. This is about a woman's life, and her ability to earn a living.

I hope the judge in this case realizes that a defense attorney often sympathizes so intently with their client, that they can make an error in judgement. She has shown contrition. Fine her. Give her suspended jail time if need be. But please, do not lock her up and throw away the key.

Do the decent thing.

Steve Jobs in Favor of Un-Protected Earbuds

Steve Jobs was asked if he was worried about the new Microsoft Zune player and its social networking. Here is what he said.

Jobs: In a word, no. I've seen the demonstrations on the Internet about how you can find another person using a Zune and give them a song they can play three times. It takes forever. By the time you've gone through all that, the girl's got up and left! You're much better off to take one of your earbuds out and put it in her ear.

That kind of crass, unprotected earbud action, first documented by the SFX Guys, is fast and raw. But the Zune's wireless, sterile, faceless interaction seems like an easier way to play grab ass with a stranger's playlists without the awkward social interaction we use gadgets to get away from in the first place. [And with less chance for picking up ear-borne infections.] Girls are scary, so I just twiddle my thumbs and listen to music instead of talking to them.

What to get laid? Listen to Steve.