In today's (6/7/95) Michigan Daily, there is a very short article by Josh White covers Baker's appeal. Due to its extreme brevity, I quote it here in full:
The appeal has been under review for more than a week, but Baker's lawyer said there is nothing unusual about the process.
"We expected to hear a decision last week, but there are no rules for a proceeding like this," said Douglas Mullkoff, Baker's attorney. "We are awaiting the decision and hope that he is released."
U.S. Attorney Ken Chadwell and Mullkoff will meet in Detroit today for a scheduling hearing before Federal Judge Avern Cohn at 4 p.m. The trial is currently slated to start Monday, April 3.
Mullkoff said yesterday that "a motion to dismiss the case is in the works."
In a letter to the Michigan Daily, Baker's mother said Jake's 21st birthday is Thursday and she hopes "he won't have to spend it in jail."
Baker to Watson:
"See, Watson, my friend, this is why I write those stories -- to rid myself of the overwhelming anger I feel.
"So give me your best shot. I've received so many supporting e-mails your position seems to be in the minority. And even if you win this one, there'll be another to replace me.
"Can you fight the world. Because that's what you're doing. Freedom is slowly sprining (sic) from long years of darkness. Your slavery is a dark blight on the soul of mankind. Perhaps I shed no light, but I burn away your evil.
"I have already won."
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"My stories are harmless diversions. I have never hurt anybody, and never plan on hurting anybody.
"...I have remained honest to you people, simply to express the fact that I would never do the things in my stories. I leave myself open to attacks such as these, which is perhaps not the best thing, but I believe it is proper."
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"You, on the other hand, are trying at the least to ruin my reputation, and at most, get me expelled from the school's net system. Although I don't care about the former, and am not at the least worried about the latter, I would express great dissaproval (sic) of your actions. It is people like you who make others use anon(ymous) adresses (sic), something I find distasteful and would never do."
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"'And the dark lord grew very angry at the Buddha. All the beautiful women turned into the most vicious fiends of hell. They launched a thousand arrows at him. But the Buddha simply kneeled down, and let his fingers brush the ground. He said, 'this place is mine.' The limbs of the Tree of Life reached down to protect the Buddha, and when the arrows came near, they turned into flowers of worship, and landed gently at the Buddha's feet."
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"What you are advocating is called censorship. People like you have burned Alexandria; destroyed great works of art in Hitler Germany. A person like you shot Martin Luther King Jr. Silencing a voice is never right, and although I do not claim there exist (sic) any grand philosophical revalations (sic) in my stories, I am angered that you would jeperdize (sic) my college career in the name of censorship.
"The great spirit judges you only by what you do, not what you think or by what is done to you. I have done nothing -- my soul is clean. You have filthied yours with the vilest of crimes -- the crime of censorship."
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Watson said he was for free speech, but said Baker's story went beyond what should be allowed on the internet.
"I was merely concerned about a person who would pass off as 'erotica' a story about rape, mutilation and snuff," said Watson in an e-mail message to the Daily.
Watson's e-mail address appeared on documents entered into evidence at Baker's detention hearing.
Incomplete information on the Baker case and relevant links, including my prior informational postings on the subject and the (anonomized) story in question may be found on the WWW at:
http://krusty.eecs.umich.edu/people/pjswan/Baker/Jake_Baker.html
If you know of other relevant WWW sites, please notify me and I will add links to the page.
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| Peter J. Swanson | pjswan@engin.umich.edu |
| PhD Candidate | controls specialist |
| Electrical Engineering:Systems | impact, chaotic motion, |
| University of Michigan | vibratory part orientation |