Nobody goes out of their way to help people anymore because they’re afraid of getting sued for their good deed, or in the case of Dennis Flemming, getting thrown into prison.

Dennis Flemming, 61, held a thief who had broken into his New Hampshire home at gunpoint until the police arrived on the scene. When the police arrived they arrested both the thief and Mr. Flemming who now faces a sentence roughly equal to that of the burglar. The state wants to put Flemming away for about 7 years on a “reckless conduct” charge.

The alleged “reckless conduct” consisted of firing a bullet into the ground to show the thief that he was not going to let him get away. Says Flemming:

“I didn’t think I could handle this guy physically, so I fired into the ground.  I didn’t know it was illegal [to fire into the ground], but I had to make that guy realize I was serious.

It’s upsetting that homeowners can’t defend themselves and protect their neighbors in this manner. It will be interesting to follow this case through to the end and see if justice is served.  See full story here.

Bob Boilen and his co-hosts shared their favorite songs of 2011 recently on NPR’s “All Songs Considered.”

I often appreciate the music on this program and I sometimes even like the commentary, although much of the time it lacks the “analysis” that a lawyer would expect. A professional music critic should find better ways of describing a song than by saying, “it just takes me to this certain place . . . “

What bothered me most about the 2011 “favorites” episode is one of the guest commentators, Stephen Thompson, really wanted to pick Rihanna’s “We Found Love” but selected a different song under duress. Apparently Bob Boilen told him to pick something different. IMHO the credibility of this program, or its hosts, or its producers, would have been enhanced if they had just gone with this pick. Yes, Rihanna is more mainstream and most of her fans are probably under 18, but that shouldn’t matter, right?  A good song is a good song.  I just feel like the All Songs Considered crew are a little more concerned about picking the obscure, hipster musicians’ work than with picking really good songs.

Maybe I was also annoyed because I just really like “We Found Love.” I can’t believe I’m defending Rihanna. That’s a little embarrassing.  Ok, I think I understand now.

Chinese artist Ai Weiwei gave in and paid what the tax authorities were demanding before he moves forward with his appeal. He wired the $1.3 million guarantee to the government to protect his wife and business associates from the potential threat of police action. He probably made the right move. Who knows what might have happened in a country where, in the words of Weiwei, “those in power have the right to do anything and their power faces no restrictions.”