News & Media
Legal Education Reform that I can Stand Behind
Back in 2007, before it was all cool and shit to do so, I wrote “What is Wrong With Legal Education?” Looking back on it, I think that it somewhat missed the mark. One of the worst things about legal education is the fact that any moron can walk into a shit law school, get a guaranteed student loan, and start racking up debt. The system essentially is a government-sponsored indentured servitude program, which allows law schools to churn out a product that would never be able to survive if market forces were allowed to act on it. Professor Howard
World of Warcraft promulgates epic 7th Circuit opinion
In an opinion so bizarre it is only fitting to be released on Leap Day (February 29), the Seventh Circuit ruled on the appeal in U.S. v. Lucas today. The order is available here, and the case originated from the Western District of Wisconsin. In the appeal, Lucas argues that the district court committed errors that resulted in a too-long sentence. The Seventh Circuit disagreed. Like most disputes, the one between Lucas and his victim, a minor known only as “CG,” arose over money: Lucas became acquainted with CG while playing an online video game, World of Warcraft. While playing
Proposals to fix Copyright
Public Knowledge proposes some ideas for how to fix copyright. (source) Curb abuses of DMCA takedown notices. The best part of this is is that they propose broadening the penalties for bogus takedowns. I think this is a pretty good idea, as I have seen my share of DMCA takedown requests that targeted clearly fair use or were used to simply take down material that the requester did not like (for example, alleged defamation). I think it goes a little too far in seeking to penalize parties who use automated scripts to send takedown requests. While I appreciate that such
Floriduh county adds sex offender restrictions. It should matter to you.
In Florida, registered sex offenders can not live within 1,000 feet of a school, church, day care center, or a park. Florida municipalities set up even more restrictions. See Wernick, In Accordance with a Public Outcry: Zoning Out Sex Offenders Through Residence Restrictions in Florida, 58 Fla. L. Rev. 1147, 1163-1164 (2006). In Miami, despite its density, prohibits sex offenders from living within 2,500 feet of such places. As a result, in some places like Miami, they set up a shanty town under a bridge because they could not find anywhere else in Miami where it was legal for them
Artist alleges mural drove aesthetics of music video
Artist Maya Hayuk of Brooklyn filed a complaint against RCA Records and Sony Music alleging that several aspects of her mural “Sunshine” were incorporated into the music video for “I Only Wanna Give It To You” by Elle Varner. In her complaint, Hayuk states that she her career includes more than 75 group an solo gallery shows, installations, and murals throughout the U.S. and several countries. Her work has been licensed for use on several different goods, and she normally commands “premium fees and royalties” for their use in commercial settings. According to the complaint, Hayuk originally created the mural
Stephen Hawking likes strip clubs
Apparently likes strip clubs. (source) I suppose it is news because those of us who like strip clubs are, on average, more intelligent than those who hate them. Lets face it, your average dipshit holding a bible, or your average feminist-who-hates-her-father isn’t going to be all that bright. So, us pervs like to think that there’s a connection between high intelligence and high sex drive / sex interest. So yay, Stephen Hawking and I have at least one thing in common.
Twitter announces country-specific censorship policy
Twitter announced that it will begin censoring tweets specific to individual country’s freedom of expression policies. While before, the only way Twitter was able to censor tweets was globally, the social networking site now says it can tailor its censorship of tweets to users from specific countries. Twitter claims it has not yet used its powers of censorship, but that if it does, it “will attempt to let the user know” and “will clearly mark when the content has been withheld.” In its announcement, Twitter offered the examples of the France and German ban on pro-Nazi content. Thus far, Twitter
New Laws Pertaining to Airline Travel
1. Surprise Reclining Banned: Before you recline your seat, turn around and ASK the person behind you. At the very least, even if they’re a jerk about it, they’ll have time to move their laptop. Punishment for violations – it is perfectly acceptable to kick their seat for the entire flight. 2. If you have checked baggage, sit the fuck down when the plane lands. You can’t leave the airport until your bags come to the carousel. You will be standing at a carousel for at least 20 minutes waiting for your luggage. Let the people who only brought carry-ons
Muslim judge in Pennsylvania limits 1st Amendment
From Charles Platt A judge in Pennsylvania who just happens to be of muslim faith informed a plaintiff that the 1st Amendment doesn’t necessarily give you the right to “p people off.” The plaintiff had worn a “Zombie Mohammed” costume in a public parade in Mechanicsburg, thus enraging a muslim observer who ran forward and tried to choke the man until police intervened. Charges of harassment, filed against the muslim for trying to choke the demonstrator, were dismissed by the muslim judge. Details here.
Be Afraid. Be Very Afraid.
“America is suffering a pandemic of harm from pornography. A wealth of research is now available demonstrating that pornography causes profound brain changes in both children and adults, resulting in widespread negative consequences. Addiction to pornography is now common for adults and even for some children. The average age of first exposure to hard-core, Internet pornography is now 11. Pornography is toxic to marriages and relationships. It contributes to misogyny and violence against women. It is a contributing factor to prostitution and sex trafficking.” -2012 GOP Presidential Candidate Rick Santorum. Source. Given that Mr. Santorum is visiting my fair
Max Bretos Owes No Apology
As the world seems to be aware, the New York Knicks have a new star player named Jeremy Lin. Not since Patrick Ewing, my fellow Hoya, joined the team have I seen such excitement over a Knickerbocker. [Full disclosure: I grew up in NY and I am a Knicks fan.] Over the weekend, an ESPN writer used the phrase “chink in the armor” for a headline, and Max Bretos used the phrase in a broadcast, both about Jeremy Lin. It turns out that Jeremy Lin is Asian, and some found this offensive . The headline writer was fired and Bretos
UMassAmherst: Alumni Spotlight
UMass Amherst recently featured alumnus Marc Randazza in the journalism school’s alumni spotlight. Randazza says of the journalism school: “Every bit of my success I got because of that program.” Read More…
Naked People- Ewwwww!
Those who live or spend a good amount of time in the Valley of the Sun will notice that, like all states, Arizona has its share of religious wackos and crazy leftists. I have friends in this state from the very far “cling to your bible and gun” right to “dear god wipe off that patchouli oil, you effing hippie” left. Arizona, in the past year or so, has gotten kind of a bad rap for its political landscape. And, while I’ll be the first to admit that sometimes my fellow Arizonans are a bit…crazy…this reputation is, at least in
It's Not Over Yet.
I, for one, am elated that the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals found Prop 8 Unconstitutional. Source . However, I would be remiss if I didn’t at least bring up the one thing Prop 8 supporters have going for them- Prop 8 was passed by the voters. And that is a very good, very important point. Whenever the judicial branch overturns the will of the people, we all have an obligation to think twice about the rationale behind it. Even when our knee jerk reaction is to celebrate, take a moment for a sanity check because things may not always
Copyright lawsuit targets owners of non-secure wireless networks
In a recent filing, Liberty Media Holdings asserts that leaving a wireless network connection unsecured is a form of negligence. The issue has not yet been addressed in court. Attorney Marc Randazza states in the article: “You should know better than to leave your home wireless open.” Read More…
Georgia Supreme Court Helps Legitimize Assisted Suicide
By J. DeVoy While illegal in 39 states, assisted suicide in not illegal in Georgia. The state attempted to create the illusion that the practice was illegal, however, by outlawing public advertisement of assisted suicide services through OCGA § 16-5-5(b). The statute did not forbid all offers to provide assisted suicide services, but only those publicly advertised. Today, the Georgia Supreme Court struck down the law as an impermissible content-based restriction on free speech. Final Exit Network, Inc. v. Georgia, Case No. S11A1960 (Ga. Feb. 6, 2012). Applying both the Georgia Constitution and the U.S. Constitution, the Georgia Supreme Court subjected §
Yes! Yes! YES!! Could an L.A. condom law push pornsters out of SoCal and drive some naughty business our way?
Las Vegas CityLife reports on the LA condom law ordinance and its impact on the Las Vegas economy. Attorney Marc Randazza said the benefits to Las Vegas would go beyond the film world: They’ve not only rented buildings that were otherwise laying empty … They’ve hired dozens of local people.
Marc Randazza: First Amendment attorney
Las Vegas CityLife features a Q&A with attorney Marc Randazza, who was recently sworn in to the Nevada State Bar. In the article, Randazza says: I think we all need to remember that the First Amendment is there for speech that we don’t like. Otherwise, who needs it?