News & Media
Brandeis on Liberty
“Experience should teach us to be most on guard to protect liberty when the Government’s purposes are beneficent. Men born to freedom are naturally alert to repel invasion of their liberty by evil-minded rulers. The greatest dangers to liberty lurk in insidious encroachment by men of zeal, well-meaning but without understanding.” —United States v. Olmstead, 277 U.S. 438, 479 (1925)
I, Ass Hat – the story of John Yoo
Jose Padilla is suing John Yoo — you know the guy… the one who says that the President is above any law and that torture is just fine (that’s Yoo, not Padilla). Padilla’s suit might have merit… then again, it might not. I don’t care. I have enough axes to grind without running over ground that has enough hooves carving
Screw U.S. News
Here is a hell of a news flash: U.S. News doesn’t consider quality of teaching, practical skills training or faculty-student relations, while bar passage rate and placement have low importance in the U.S. News rankings. (source) I am so tired of seeing law schools chase the U.S. News rankings. They mean nothing in terms of quality of education, yet they
18-1 and nobody can take that from us…. 19-0 is a sad dream
Ok, I can finally talk about it… perhaps that will help me get over it. At the Superbowl, I had a great time hanging out with some Giants fans before the game. It was a pretty good crowd, and everyone got along. The only people with whom I exchanged an unkind word were two Pats fans who walked in wearing
Door to Door Atheists
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sV-a1vmZ6y8]
Thank the Gods… Romney Bows Out
Best news I have heard all week. Now if only Obama could strike his knockout punch and send neo-con Hillary back where she belongs. I have no idea where that is, but it sure as hell isn’t the White House. Huckabee on the other hand… I must admit that there is a part of me that is rooting for him.
Photographing the Police – Carlos Miller Blog
Back in July I wrote about Mary Jean, the activist who fought the Massachusetts State Police when they tried to force her to stop publishing a video that depicted police misconduct. Unfortunately, this case was not unusual. Law enforcement usually says “if you aren’t doing anything wrong, you shouldn’t worry about being observed/videotaped/wiretapped/searched.” Until it is law enforcement that finds
There is Nothing Wrong with FUCK
I’ve been fighting formally for more than two years, and informally in every other blog posting, that there is nothing immoral or scandalous about the word fuck. See, e.g, The Fuck Brief. Well here is proof. Watch this. If you laugh, I win.
Can the Police Search Your iPhone or Blackberry?
Adam Gershowitz, a professor at the South Texas College of Law explores this in his recent article, The iPhone Meets the Fourth Amendment and so does the Northern District of Georgia in United States v. Carroll, 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 7485 (N.D. Ga. 2008).
"God Hates Fags" Case Update
I earlier blogged on the “God Hates Fags” case here: Soldier Funeral Protests and Why I Reluctantly Side With Westboro Baptist Church. The judge in that case reduced the award yesterday: In a 52-page decision, U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett affirmed the jury’s verdict in favor of the father of Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder. Albert Snyder successfully sued the
Euphemism of the Day – "Unusual Hobby"
The Montgomery Advertiser reports that a local Baptist pastor has died while “enjoying [an] unusual hobby.” Rev. Gary M. Aldridge, senior pastor at Thorington Road Baptist Church was found dead in his home “under unusual circumstances.” Aldridge died of asphyxiation, according to a preliminary report from the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences. The police went on to state that Aldridge
David Lynch iPhone Commercial
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKiIroiCvZ0]
The Lord Works in Mysterious Ways
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUJ4es4cYIU]
NYPD Blue Update
An update to my post, FCC Commish Tate — Asshat of the Week (which has, itself been updated) here is the scene that got ABC a $1.4 million fine. [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17_FWxtVapw] Commissioner Deborah Taylor Tate’s separate opinion in the FCC ruling (and what got her the asshat award). “Our action today should serve as a reminder to all broadcasters that Congress
Abercrombie Obscenity Flap
Virginia is not my least favorite state. It doesn’t even make the top five. Imagine that, home of Liberty University, Jerry Falwell, and Regent University and it… hmmm, okay, it makes the top five – especially after last week’s Abercrombie flap. Before we get into talking about that, lets take a look at the Virginia state flag: See that? That
Jeb Corliss Lawsuit Update
A few days ago, I posted about Jeb Corliss, the man who attempted to BASE jump from the Empire State Building, and his lawsuit against the building’s management. I have found a video of the incident and it has tilted my opinion just a bit.
Who doesn't love Yale sluts?
The Yale Daily News reports: Members of the Yale Women’s Center board threatened to initiate legal action Sunday after discovering a photograph posted on Facebook.com depicting 12 Yale students affiliated with the Zeta Psi fraternity posing in front of the Center with a sign reading “We Love Yale Sluts.” 12 frat boys stood in front of a building with a
Lap Dances for the Greatest Generation!
Sarasota Herald Tribune reports: TALLAHASSEE — Going to a topless bar or paying for a personal escort service could help nursing home residents afford haircuts or movie tickets if lawmakers agree to an unusual new sales tax. A proposed law, House Bill 751, would create a sales tax on “adult entertainment services” to provide nursing home residents and others more
Gene Nichol – First Amendment Bad Ass
Update: I have decided to begin giving occasional “First Amendment Bad Ass” awards to counterbalance the Ass Hat awards. Mr. Nichol is hereby (retroactively) named as the first FABA. AVN Reports: College of William & Mary president Gene Nichol announced to students Monday that they will be allowed to host the Sex Workers’ Art Show on campus next month, according
Just when you thought that Kansas was nutty
Just when you thought that Kansas was the nuttiest fruitcake in the Union, along comes Ohio with its new sex offender registration law. Now, a conviction for pandering obscenity is considered to be a “Tier 1” offense requiring that an adult remain on the registered sex offender rolls for 15 years. See Ohio Rev. Code, Chap. 2907.32; Ohio Rev. Code,
