April 5, 2024— To download this issue of our paper, just click on the image at right.
No Cause For Alarm
Eight days ago a criminal defendant, currently out on $200,000 bail, sent a funny video to millions of his social media followers. For the benefit of those who have not seen it, the video shows a huge black “dually” truck, with two wheels on each end of the back axle. The front wheels are secured by special lugnuts sporting long, chrome, gladiator-style spikes, the better to intimidate other drivers and pedestrians. The truck is so big it’s got its own flagpole, carrying a 3 x 5 foot “Thin Blue Line” flag. Black and white, with a single blue stripe, it’s meant to signify support for the police—not the law, but the police. With its non-standard colors, the flag’s mere existence violates the U.S. Flag Code. While some might find the truck itself laughable, the punchline is on the vinyl-wrapped tailgate. Through clever use of the painter’s technique known as trompe l’oile, the tailgate creates the illusion of being invisible, or simply not present. This allows…
