40 YEARS IN PRISON FOR A POP-UP???

This is astonishing to me -- that in a time where almost EVERYONE you speak to, from the 3 year old in the grocery store to your 97 year old grandmother -- is at least semi-literate in computer-ease, and knows that this crap can find its way on to your computer without you ever having to "search it out" -- that there is a court in this country that is actually thinking about putting Julie Amero in prison for 40 years for a pornographic pop-up ad that appeared on her monitor during a class.

Are you freekin' kidding me? How in the world can this be happening to this poor woman!?

There are things you can do to help if you'd like (more on that towards the end) -- but if you would just like to read more you can do so here, here, here, and here.

Admittedly, I have not read ALL the articles about this case yet -- but it looks to me so far that this woman is getting a bum rap! Sounds like there are a bunch of computer illiterate people sitting on the jury here! There is another great piece here by Nancy Willard, M.S., J.D.

You can also use the power of e-mail. The State's Attorney responsible for supervision of David Smith, the prosecutor in the Amero case, is Michael L. Regan. You might want to write him and strongly urge he help Smith file a motion to vacate the conviction. An e-mail to the Chief State's Attorneys of Connecticut Kevin T. Kane and Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell can't hurt, either. If you write, however tempting, try not to go on a rant. Use your computing expertise -- and a civil argument -- and you'll likely get better results. (I hope it was ok that I borrowed this paragraph from Steve Bass's site, (Steve, if you by any strange chance happen to see this and have a problem with my using this, please let me know and I will remove it immediately).

Julie, if you happen to come across this site, I wish you all the luck in the world! I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers and hope that the powers that be come to their senses and realize that this WAS NOT YOUR FAULT and come sentencing day you are set free -- where you belong!!!