Two Vietnams

What!?!?

State Supreme Court Rules on Private Emails

I strongly disagree with this ruling. 

The state Supreme Court ruled Friday that Wisconsin government employees personal emails are private, even if they are sent from a work computer. The ruling came as a result of a case where five Wisconsin Rapids school teachers were ordered to turn over their private email messages. A lower court ruled that the order was just, however, this latest development by the Supreme Court overturns that.

Anything that takes place on a government computer is a public record subject to open records laws except for the limited exceptions already defined (HR info, etc.).  It’s no different than everything that takes place on my work computer is subject to inspection by my boss.  In this case, the citizens are the bosses and have every right to see what’s taking place on their office computers. 

Furthermore, who, exactly, gets to decide what’s private?  The person who wrote the email?  Some faceless administrator?  Is their any way to dispute such a classification?  Not only is this a bad ruling, it’s an impossible policy to implement.

Jolly’s Folly

I’ll never understand these guys who have the world at their feet and choose to throw it away. 

The National Football League suspended defensive end Johnny Jolly on Friday, indefinitely and without pay, for violating the league’s substance abuse policy.

The suspension will last at least through the 2010 season. Jolly is eligible to apply for reinstatement after Super Bowl XLV.

Ted Thompson, the team’s general manager, issued a statement:

“Johnny is a good player that loves everything about the game of football. We appreciate the contributions he has made to the Packers the past four seasons. His focus and priorities now lie elsewhere – our thoughts are with him during this difficult personal time.”

Hard of Hearing

lol

Budget time is coming in this city. After seeing our government officials approve a low-income housing project that the vast majority of taxpayers in this city do not want, I propose we include enough money in the budget to buy hearing aids for the mayor, four aldermen, the city administrator and the community development director. In my opinion, it would be a good investment in the future of this city.

   Terry Vrana, West Bend