Part 9, “Wikipedia? Yes, Wikipedia.” (For earlier parts of this series, please click this link: Witch-Hunting a Blogger in Whitewater, Wisconsin.) From the public records, with the date and sender deleted by the City of Whitewater — Someone writes to complain about a link that I have in Wikipedia. As I’ll show, it’s someone who…
Libertarians
City, Libertarians, Public Records 1
Witch-Hinting a Blogger in Whitewater, Wisconsin: Part 8
by JOHN ADAMS •
Part 8, “Watching People at a Celebration.” (For earlier parts of this series, please click this link: Witch-Hunting a Blogger in Whitewater, Wisconsin.) From the public records, in November 2007 — Many people worked hard, and contributed time, effort, and funding to rebuild Whitewater’s Stone Stable. It was a proud moment for our city. I…
City, Libertarians, Public Records 1
Witch-Hunting a Blogger in Whitewater, Wisconsin: Part 7
by JOHN ADAMS •
Part 7, “Chief Coan’s Researcher.” (For earlier parts of this series, please click this link: Witch-Hunting a Blogger in Whitewater, Wisconsin.) From the public records, in September 2007 and November 2007 — I’m not sure if Whitewater Police Detective Tina Winger ever found the intelligence she promised to find about a lawful political commentator, but…
City, Libertarians, Public Records 1
Witch-Hunting a Blogger in Whitewater, Wisconsin: Part 6
by JOHN ADAMS •
Part 6, “Asking About Former Residents.” (For earlier parts of this series, please click this link: Witch-Hunting a Blogger in Whitewater, Wisconsin.) From the public records, in September 2007: If you once lived in Whitewater, but moved to a nearby town, that doesn’t mean that you’re free from Chief Coan’s suspicious gaze. In this exchange,…
City, Libertarians, Public Records 1
Witch-Hunting a Blogger in Whitewater, Wisconsin: Part 5
by JOHN ADAMS •
Part 5, “Running Plates on Citizen Photographers.” (For earlier parts of this series, please click this link: Witch-Hunting a Blogger in Whitewater, Wisconsin.) From the public records, in September 2007, our Director of Public Works, Dean Fischer, asks Chief Coan to run the license plate number of an elderly man who had been taking pictures…
City, Libertarians, Public Records 1
Witch-Hunting a Blogger in Whitewater, Wisconsin: Part 4
by JOHN ADAMS •
Part 4, “The List of Suspects.” (For earlier parts of this series, please click this link: Witch-Hunting a Blogger in Whitewater, Wisconsin.) Later in August, a private citizen writes to our City Clerk, Michele Smith, and lets Smith know that the citizen’s husband is not John Adams. (Of course not — I’m John Adams!) It’s…
City, Libertarians, Public Records 1
Witch-Hunting a Blogger in Whitewater, Wisconsin: Part 3
by JOHN ADAMS •
Part 3, “The Sergeant’s Intelligence Operation.” (For earlier parts of this series, please click this link: Witch-Hunting a Blogger in Whitewater, Wisconsin.) From the public records, in early August 2007, Police Detective Sergeant Tina Winger learns (from a University of Wisconsin-Whitewater police officer named Pieper) about FREE WHITEWATER, and alerts Chief Coan. Coan replies to…
City, Libertarians, Public Records 1
Witch-Hunting a Blogger in Whitewater, Wisconsin: Part 2
by JOHN ADAMS •
Part 2, “The Police Chief Recruits a Computer Sleuth.” (For earlier parts of this series, please click this link: Witch-Hunting a Blogger in Whitewater, Wisconsin.) The police chief of Whitewater, Wisconsin is James R. Coan. He’s variously called Jim, James, or simply, Chief. I have been critical of certain practices of his, and he hasn’t…
City, Libertarians, Public Records 1
Witch-Hunting a Blogger in Whitewater, Wisconsin: Introduction
by JOHN ADAMS •
Summary. This is the true account of a pseudonymous blogger from Whitewater, Wisconsin who became the target of public officials’ months-long witch-hunt, to learn his identity using public resources, on public time. I am that blogger. My name is John Adams, and I am the pseudonymous author of FREE WHITEWATER, a local website with commentary…
City, Libertarians, Public Records 1
Beginning Monday, 3/3/08: Witch-Hunting a Blogger in Whitewater, Wisconsin
by JOHN ADAMS •
Good morning. Beginning Monday, March 3rd, I will offer the true account of a pseudonymous blogger from Whitewater, Wisconsin who became the target of public officials’ months-long witch-hunt, to learn his identity using public resources, on public time. I am that blogger. My name is John Adams, and I am the pseudonymous author of FREE…
City, Libertarians, Public Records 1
Public Records Requests 2008-1, A and B
by JOHN ADAMS •
A few weeks ago, I submitted a public records request to the City of Whitewater. Some have asked me how my request has fared. Yesterday, the City of Whitewater sent a response to my request. The response included a fair amount of email, but perhaps not all that I requested. I will review the documents,…
Libertarians
The Citizen’s Life
by JOHN ADAMS •
Longtime readers know that I am from a libertarian background (affectionately called being ‘in the movement,’ in such families). I am the fortunate inheritor of a proud tradition. Some have asked me my thoughts on free expression in the face of hostility or opposition, and I’ll offer my perspective. First and foremost, officials in most…
City, Libertarians, Public Records 1
The Public Records Law
by JOHN ADAMS •
Libertarians, Uncategorized
Blogging: Once and Future American Tradition
by JOHN ADAMS •
Many years ago, Bernard Bailyn wrote a masterwork on the intellectual atmosphere of pre-revolutionary America entitled, Ideological Origins of the American Revolution. That book was the winner of both the Pulitzer and Bancroft prizes. In that work, and in other studies since, Bailyn shows the power and use of pamphlets — often anonymous or pseudonymous…