Eugene Volokh thinks we should hunt witches. He contends that the threat is sufficient, given that witches are evil, to justify preemptive strikes, but it seems absurd to impose the death penalty for such offenses as souring a neighbor’s milk or bringing on bad weather. If they are content to confine themselves to petty malice, why move from a law enforcement model to one of total war? Are all witches unlawful combatants or fanatical soldiers of Satan? Surely there would be some witches who sold themselves to darkness out of mere venality or after being deceived by the devil, persons no more dangerous than the average criminal. Buying weapons from the Mafia doesn't make one a Mafiosi, so why should acquiring magic from dark sources permanently align a witch with evil? It is likely, but hardly so certain that the death penalty is justified.
Also, could all members of a coven be charged with conspiracy and held liable for the acts of their fellow witches? The Wharton Rule might change the answer if power can only be invoked by covens with thirteen members.

Waddling Thunder's latest food essay on how to eat well during finals is a must-read (as always) for all who truly love food. Since finals are still over a month away in these parts, I'm a significantly less-harried student, and am currently watching a beef shank, some tomatoes, and some wine muddle along in a covered skillet.

For ITunes users: Curtis at Singing Loudly informs me that you can download a free song from ITunes every day this week. If you crave more music but also insist on doing things on the up and up, take heed.

For Hyde Park residents: The U of C library is having its much-heralded booksale. It starts today (for another 30 minutes), then continues till Saturday when books will be free, with prices dropping each day.

Via Austentatious, I note that the British public's number one choice for a new James Bond is Colin Firth. (Fourth, much more frighteningly, is Jude Law). I'm extremely skeptical. That said, I do think Firth might be able to restore something of Sean Connery's charm to the role, but not, I think, his edge.

Many thanks to Mr. Baude for the kind invitation. I shall try to be as distracting as possible so Jeremy can sneak around the back and let in the rest of the HLS bloggers.

Piling on is irresistible: the Crescat 100 includes The Series of Unfortunate Events and Harry Potter but inexplicably omits the more subversive His Dark Materials series, which is by far the best fantasy for young people published in the last few years. Is there no love for armored bears?

It's melancholy enough realizing that in a little over a month I will be bidding my Alma Mater farewell for who-knows-how-long. But one of the extra kickers of the quarter system is that I will watch all of my friends bid theirs farewell first, as I cling a little desperately here for a few weeks longer. [Commencement is on June 12, my birthday].

Case in point: My friend John Coleman (as Sara Butler reminds me) has now been thrust out upon the wide world, and gave a darn good commencement speech (which will be no surprise to anybody who knows him).