The Verdict's Still Concentrating On The Massacre

Because of the public impact of the Virginia Tech massacre, tonight's entire episode of The Verdict was devoted to it, just as last night's was. Instead of a write-up, I present some interesting opinions from various blogs:

1. Larry E. Ribstein, at "Ideoblog" has a discussion of the same article commented on earlier by Toronto Life blogger Douglas Bell: "Free Agents" by James Surowiecki. It discusses the line between simple, if sometimes deplorable, costs of using agency and criminal fraud. He concludes that the best line to draw between criminal fraud and those costs is the tried-and-true standard of mens rea. (Mr. Surowiecki's article has also been webbed by the Free Market News.)

2. "Yank In London" relays the news that Conrad Black's appeal to keep Ravelston's compensation private had been denied by an Ontario court, with this parting shot added: "Too bad Blackie!"

3. "21st Century Vision" has posted an article by Jackie Ashley of the Guardian, in which she pegs Mr. Black as being under the sway of "displacement." She put "Scooter" Libby in the same category too.

4. Finally, Steve Skurka's The Crime Sheet has a thoughtful report on the trial's progress, which includes speculation about whether or not the prosecution will undertake witness culling. Csr. Skurka is presently watching the trial in the courtroom.