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As the pulverized Swarovski crystal sands runs through Paris Hilton's Hourglass of Freedom, members of her support network (consisting of various family members, sycophantic hangers-on, and exotic pets lacking the brain capacity to know any better) continue to bang the drum loudly on behalf of the persecuted heiress. Sister Nicky Hilton, while accompanying Paris to one of those glamorous Hollywood parties feting the introduction of a new text messaging device, was good enough to comment to People on the travesty of justice that is Paris's jail sentence:

"I think she should definitely be punished, but going to jail for a traffic violation is pretty absurd," Hilton, 23, told PEOPLE Thursday at the BlackBerry Curve launch party in Los Angeles, which she attended with Paris.

Though a source told PEOPLE Paris is dreading jail time, the 26-year-old heiress wasn't showing it. Wearing a flirty pink dress, Paris was giddy and giggly as she chatted with her sister and a female pal. (She declined to speak to PEOPLE, saying: "I'm not doing interviews.")

A longtime Paris friend says the laughter is her way of coping. "She's the eternal optimist," the pal - who spoke with Paris at the party - told PEOPLE. "She's been through so much, but that's always her disposition.

It's precisely that plucky attitude that will carry Paris through this latest stumbling block in her life's journey, for the gutsy socialite possesses the enviable ability to find the silver lining in even the greatest moments of adversity. To her, the glass—or, to extend the metaphor, the CD clearance bin, the bottle of Valtrex, or her very soul—is never half empty. It's half full.