Tag Archives: law and disorder

Waco: A Survivor’s Story

Posted on July 8, 2020 by smellincoffee

A Place Called Waco: A Survivor’s Story © 1999 David Thibodeau 381 pages On April 19th, 1993, the arrogance of power was made obvious when scores of people were killed in a outstandingly incompetent, if not deliberately malicious, attempt to … Continue reading →

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Ruby Ridge

Posted on June 17, 2020 by smellincoffee

Every Knee Shall Bow / Ruby Ridge: The Truth and Tragedy of the Randy Weaver Family © 1995, 2002  Jess Walter 416 pages “[….] people ought not to be murdered by their own government.” The inherent brutality of the police … Continue reading →

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You Have the Right to Remain Innocent

Posted on December 23, 2016 by smellincoffee

You Have the Right to Remain Innocent © 2016 James Duane 152 pages “One of the Fifth amendment’s basic functions is to protect innocent men who otherwise might be ensnared by ambiguous circumstances.” (Ohio v. Reiner) “People are inherently honest, … Continue reading →

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Data and Goliath

Posted on January 20, 2016 by smellincoffee

Data and Goliath: The Hidden Battles to Collect Your Data and Control Your World© 2015 Bruce Schneier400 pages, including 160 pgs of citations. You’re being watched — all the time, no matter where you go or what you do. Not … Continue reading →

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Rogue Lawyer

Posted on December 26, 2015 by smellincoffee

Rogue Lawyer© 2015 John Grisham344 pages (“Wait for 2016”, I said.  What can I say?) Rogue Lawyer ranks with The Appeal as one of John Grisham’s most cynical and bitter pieces of fiction. Its lead character, Sebastian Rudd, is vaguely reminiscent of … Continue reading →

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Last Call

Posted on July 1, 2015 by smellincoffee

Last Call: the Rise and Fall of Prohibition © 2010 Daniel Okrent 480 pages “Law and order should not ruin the lives of law-abidin’ people! Like that stupid law of Prohibition they had in the old days. Gangsters had to go … Continue reading →

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The Ashes of Waco

Posted on June 12, 2015 by smellincoffee

The Ashes of Waco: An Investigation© 1995 Dick Reavis320 pages What happened at Waco?  Dick Reavis had an itch to find out, and since no one else at his alternative newspaper was curious, he volunteered as man on the ground … Continue reading →

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Why Waco?

Posted on June 5, 2015 by smellincoffee

Why Waco? Cults and the Battle for Religious Freedom in America © 1997 James Tabor 254 pages, including text of David Koresh’s manifesto on the “Seven Seals”     In February 1995, Federal forces arrived outside a large home owned … Continue reading →

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Rise of the Warrior Cop

Posted on May 30, 2015 by smellincoffee

Rise of the Warrior Cop: the Militarization of America’s Police Forces © 2013 Radney Balko 400 pages A man’s home is his castle…but now the cops have bettering rams.. Among the sins of George the III, according to the Declaration … Continue reading →

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