News & Media
Audience participation post: "steal" or "sell"?
By J. DeVoy Certainly many readers have seen this video of a 15-year-old who wants a baby. [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcUvgRi4Y7A&hl=en_US&fs=1&] Many years after its release, it is now the contentious subject of debate on Facebook. At 0:16, she says “If I can’t support it then I guess I’m gonna s[unknown] it.” Is she saying “steal” or “sell”? In the video, you can see her tongue move to the back of her top row of teeth, as if making a “t” sound. Contextually, it makes sense: If she can’t support the child, she’ll steal for it — as would any parent. But here’s
The Dutch try to pare welfare rolls
By J. DeVoy …by pairing needy women with rich men. The catalyst? A state-sponsored makeover to enhance their appearance. The local social service departments are paying for the women to have a make-over in the hope they can hook up with a rich husband to support them, the paper says. If 70 women find a new husband, the council can save €400,000 on welfare payments. The councils are putting €1,400 into each woman to have her hair done and get help with her image. They will also get their wardrobe updated and tips on social skills and presentation. Once the
Banged up Boobies
Irene Ferrari, the owner of Russia’s largest breast implants, is suing a Swiss airline because she said that the “skimpy” business class seating didn’t provide enough room for her ginormous tatas. (source). Honey, if your breast implants are too big to fit in business class, maybe you got them too fuckin big.
Did Perez Hilton violate federal child porn laws?
Perez Hilton is in a little hot water today — it seems that he posted a photograph of Miley Cyrus getting out of a car, Britney Spears style. (source) In other words, no panties. I haven’t seen a full version of the photo, but there are versions online where Miley’s twat is covered by a big black square. Here’s the tricky part — Miley Cyrus is 17 years old. Whoops. This isn’t the first time Hilton has found himself potentially afoul of child porn laws, either. (source) Miley Cyrus is quoted as calling Hilton an “idiot.” (source) However, given that
Colorado Supreme Court strikes down constitutional amendment limiting public employees' speech
By J. DeVoy Some states have enacted laws and even constitutional provisions that affect public sector labor unions’ political speech and participation. In Colorado, for example, the state’s constitution was amended to ban political contributions and their inducement by public unions. Because of a presumption of impropriety between contributions to any campaign and sole source government contracts, contract holders shall contractually agree, for the duration of the contract and for two years thereafter, to cease making, causing to be made, or inducing by any means, a contribution, directly or indirectly, on behalf of the contract holder or on behalf of
FSM Displays His Awesome Might
His blessed sauceliness has declared, “Thou shalt have no other monsters before me.” H/T Jessica K.
Ninth Circuit Hears Critical First Sale Doctrine Case
By Christopher Harbin Once again the record industry is attempting to prop up their failing business model by redefining consumer rights in heinous fashion. This week, the Ninth Circuit heard arguments in a crucial case that may substantially alter first sale rights. For those that aren’t up on their copyright law, the “first sale” doctrine dictates that once a copyright owner sells or gives away a work, the owner of the work may dispose of it as she sees fit. When you buy a book at a store, you may resell the book to another without restriction. If you
The world cup's financial motives
By J. DeVoy South Africa is a nation long plagued by strife and difficulty, and still today it has one of the highest crime rates in the world. The country has had tremendous difficulties preparing for this year’s World Cup in Johannesburg, which almost seems like a cruel joke the Fédérdation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) played on the struggling state. One reason why they may have done it: member nations could profit off the instability. By painting feel-good stories about the importance of the World Cup to South Africa, the true costs of the project have been hidden, as
Women are vocal during sex for his pleasure, not hers
By J. DeVoy A new study shows that female vocalizations – the shrieks and “oh gods” of sex – have little to do with women’s orgasms and everything to do with men’s. The research indicated that female orgasm was most commonly achieved during foreplay, yet the majority of women’s vocalization occurred during intercourse and closest to the male orgasm. The result? These data together clearly demonstrate a dissociation of the timing of women experiencing orgasm and making copulatory vocalizations and indicate that there is at least an element of these responses that are under conscious control, providing women with an opportunity to manipulate
NORML Settles Copyright Case With Righthaven After Rare Strategic Maneuver
Discusses the settlement brokered between RLG client, the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), and Righthaven LLC, a company that sues website operators for copyright infringement. Noting that the litigation would have cost in excess of $10,000, Randazza settled the matter for $2,185. Remarkably, this was done through Rule 68 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, which would have made Righthaven liable for the costs of litigation if the case went to trial and it was awarded a judgment less than the settlement offer. Read more…
Naw, Really?
From the cover of the June 2010 “Vermont Catholic” magazine. Okay, feel free to suggest your captions for the above photo below.
Teen girls using "rhythm method" increase 55%
By J. DeVoy A recent CDC report shows that from 2006-2008, 17% of surveyed teen girls were using the rhythm method of birth control, up from 11% in 2002. For those unfamiliar with this method, there isn’t too much “method” to it – the girl just tries to time her cycle and avoid intercourse when she’s fertile. This tends to be very unreliable in light of cell biology and bodily functions, as sperm can live up to a full week after the act. This leads to some uncomfortable conclusions: The increase in the rhythm method may be part of the
Ashley Madison dating service shows more strength
By J. DeVoy I previously wrote about Ashley Madison‘s growth in Toronto, which alone contributes more than 12,000 women married for less than three years to the site’s total membership. Now it has thrown down an undisclosed sum to sponsor the 2011 AVN Awards Show. The AVN awards show, viewed by more than two million households during its 2010 broadcast on Showtime, is serious business within the adult entertainment industry. Ashley Madison’s unique selling proposition is pairing married men with married women, counting on mutually assured destruction to do the rest. Skeptics attribute its purported growth to “bot” populations –
Reposting Stories Is Like Grand Theft Auto? Really?
Clarifies a copyright infringement analogy found in the Las Vegas Review-Journal that compared infringement to stealing a car. Randazza pointed out that copyright infringement doesn’t steal property so its owner cannot use it, but dilutes the ways in which it can be used for a profit. The Las Vegas Review-Journal, through an entity known as Righthaven LLC, is suing alleged copyright infringers who reposted news stories and demanding maximum damages for this claimed infringement. Beyond the punishment not fitting the putative crime, these lawsuits are strategic litigation against public participation, or SLAPP suits, designed to make the defendant do what
Postscript – we totally were right
By J. DeVoy How To Destroy Angels, Trent Reznor’s new project, released its new album free of digital rights management and cost. The “free” download is available here — but by accepting it, you consent to have band-related e-mail sent to that account. On the revenue side, there’s traditional band merchandise like shirts and posters, and the album will be released on vinyl in the future. The latter strategy seems outdated, but audiophile favorites like Tool and The Brian Jonestown Massacre have been pursuing this resurgent market for several years.
NASA photographs reveal extent of BP oil leak
By J. DeVoy Discussing the environment normally isn’t our schtick, but technology is another matter. NASA’s imaging technology has captured the following images of the growing Gulf spill, helping those not in the region get a sense of the slick’s scope and significance. [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCWW5xt3Hc8&hl=en_US&fs=1&] Of course, that’s just oil visible from the surface. The leak is a mile underwater where intense pressure and cold temperatures create unusual environments for many molecules. British Petroleum’s first attempt to cap the spill failed because gases piped to the gulf floor crystallized into solids, causing unforeseen problems and ultimately thwarting that plan. For the
Blondes having more fun
By J. DeVoy If you were in Riga, Latvia this Memorial Day weekend, you would have seen the 2010 Go Blonde parade. Naturally, (no pun intended) there are photos. H/T: Ferdinand
GooGoo For Gaga Feminism
By Tatiana Von Tauber Lady Gaga is one rockin’ feminist and seemed rather proud of it during her interview with Larry King: “ Some of the things that I wear … lots of the new more original pieces, they’re meant to be kind of a rejection of what people view about women… I am a feminist. I want to change the way people view women…” Ultimately Gaga wants to create new limits for women. She’s not alone. The first and foremost thing to remember when taking up the challenge of creating new limits for women (or oneself) is that it takes balls
Barbecue Heaven
On my flight yesterday, I had the good fortune to meet the world’s leading expert on the art of barbecue cooking, Steven Raichlen. In addition to being a hell of a fascinating guy, he is a hell of a nice guy. (There was only one milk left on the plane, and he gave it up to Natalia — awww).
Hulk Hogan Brings Questionable Right of Publicity Suit
Hulk Hogan a/k/a Terry Bollea thinks that a character in a Cocoa Pebbles commercial (shown below) is too similar to him — and that it misappropriates his image or likeness for a commercial purpose. If that is the case, it is a no-no under Fla. Stat. § 540.08, which protects Floridians from unlawful commercial appropriation of their name or likeness. In Hulk’s corner, the character in the commercial has long blonde hair, a mustache, and is called either “Hulk Boulder” or “Bulk Boulder.” I can’t really tell. In Post’s corner, it seems that the wrestler in the ad has a