Arianna has an update on jailed New York Times journalist Judith Miller. Miller, according to Arianna's source, may be getting ready to talk. Miller may be seeking a "proper release" so she can talk without violating the journalistic principles she went to jail to uphold.

What's this all about? My take: Fitzgerald's grand jury is winding down. He's ready to charge Miller with criminal contempt which is a whole different ball of wax than the civil contempt charge on which she's now doing time. The newly sought waiver, I suspect, as does Arianna, is an excuse. Miller could have sought one before going to jail.

The reason the "proper release" doesn't wash is that Miller has said all along that she doesn't want to comply with the subpoena because once she complies, there's nothing to stop Fitzgerald from asking her about more sources, like he did with Matt Cooper, and then it never ends. But, a waiver from source A, "proper" or personal or unconditonal or whatever you want to call it, doesn't solve this problem. So, it seems like Ms. Miller is trying to make a deal to avoid more time and save as much journalistic face as she can.

Any way you look at it, it's crunch time for Judith Miller.