SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 11:55 P.M. ET:

PUNISHING A HOAX – FROM THE ALBANY TIMES UNION:   ALBANY — The former University at Albany students who were convicted of falsely reporting a hate crime on a CDTA bus last year avoided jail time Friday, and instead received a sentence of probation, community service and a fine.  The possibility of jail time for Ariel Agudio and Asha Burwell loomed large over Friday's sentencing in Albany County Court, where spectators and supporters of the women packed a standing room-only gallery. The Albany County Probation Department had recommended a split sentence for the women — time in jail followed by time on probation.  But Roger McDonough, the acting justice who presided over the eight-day trial in April and offered stern words for the women Friday, instead imposed a sentence of three years' probation, 200 hours of community service and a $1,000 fine.  "There have been significant consequences already for what has happened, but I don't think there's any benefit in sentencing you to a jail term — no benefit for society and no benefit for you," he said.  This was a major hoax that sucked in a university.  Jail time was appropriate, but at least the perps got community service and a fine.  Many reports of hate crimes are probably accurate, but there has been a spate of false charges in the last few years as well.  Some people feel a false report is just so much fun.

GO FOR IT, SARAH – FROM LAW NEWZ:  Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin says she’s talking to attorneys because of an inaccurate New York Times editorial. If it ever came to it, does she have a viable libel claim against the outlet?  This all started with a Wednesday article, where the Editorial Board tried to unpack the shooting that left four victims injured, including a Republican Congressman, Rep. Steve Scalise of Louisiana. The piece tried to examine how incendiary political speech and easy access to guns may have facilitated the incident–shooter James Hodgkinson seemed to be a supporter of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont), and reportedly posted anti-Trump messages to social media.  The Editorial Board unintentionally walked into some dicey territory, however. They drew a parallel between the recent shooting and the 2011 attack on Democratic Rep. Gabby Giffords, which also left six dead and more injured. In doing so, the board said there was a “clear” link between the actions of shooter Jared Lee Loughner and speech by Palin’s political action committee. Commenters, many conservative, did not respond kindly.  Read the whole piece.  It's fascinating.  It's very hard for a public figure to sue a newspaper for libel, as a wide berth is given in law to those who report and interpret the news.  But this charge was so outrageous that a jury might just decide that The Times was guilty.  Stay tuned.

BEN AND JERRY, SOCIAL JUSTICE WARRIORS OR HYPOCRITES? – FROM AP:  MONTPELIER, Vt. -- Scores of dairy farm workers and activists marched Saturday on a Ben & Jerry's factory to push for better pay and living conditions on farms that provide milk for the ice cream maker that takes pride in its social activism.  Protesters said Ben & Jerry's agreed two years ago to participate in the so-called Milk with Dignity program, but the company and worker representatives have yet to reach an agreement.  "We can't wait any more. We are going to pressure them and see what happens," said Victor Diaz, a Mexican immigrant now working on a farm in Vergennes.   I always knew there was something suspicious about cherry garcia.  It tastes like...hypocrisy. 

June 17, 2017