News & Media
Don't lie down drunk near your car
by Charles Platt In West Virginia, you can lose your license for a year even if there’s no proof that you were driving, or there’s a possibility that you might have done all your drinking after driving. Being near your car while drunk is enough. “The decision came in the case of Eric R. Cain who was found lying passed out on in front of his car on Route 19 by Marion County Sheriff’s Deputy Todd Cole at around 2:30am on June 2, 2007. The car had been safely parked and there was no key in the ignition. Cole arrested
The decline of Western Civilization, as told by YouTube
By J. DeVoy [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2IHnWY-i6Y&hl=en_US&fs=1&] Stop one on our tour of the forthcoming dark age: Fundamentalist muslims attack Lars Vilks during a presentation on free speech at a Swedish university. Vilks was behind the 2007 cartoon depictions of Muhammad, and the film he intended to show continued this theme. What wasn’t shown in the video is the attempted arson of Vilks’s home on May 15, 2010. Some would argue that Vilks should have been more sensitive, or chose his forum more intelligently. Surely he anticipated the reaction his art would provoke. In a society that values free speech, though, the mere
In Yo Face!
To all those that doubted me when I proclaimed that Apple had a whole lot to do with the fuzz busting down a Gizmodo editor’s door, I humbly submit to you this link.
School's out forever
By J. DeVoy On May 8, 2010, Chris Harbin graduated from the University of Michigan Law School. Today, I’ll take my walk across the stage as well. Neither event was as interesting or cool as this commencement, though.
Cressbeckler
I will be on this guy’s show this evening.* [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jlJdsX181QU] *Joking
NFL Harshes on 420 Football League's Trademark Mellow
The 420 Football League is an interesting concept. A bunch of stoners got together and made a sport out of smoking dope. You snap the ball by taking a toke, and you advance the ball one yard for each second that you can hold the hit. (source) The NFL is not amused, and they sent a cease and desist letter to the 420 League. I’d say that the NFL probably has a decent dilution argument. On the other hand, the 420 league has a good parody defense. Of course, it would be a lot cheaper and easier to just change
Unhinged tinfoil hat lawsuit of the day
By J. DeVoy When the first paragraph of your civil complaint alleges this… …Plaintiffs allege the financial and banking system imposed on them by the Federal Reserve Banking System is a violation of their Constitutional and Human Rights. That the banking system practiced by the New York Federal Reserve Bank, owned and controlled by the Defendant Wall Street Banks [Ed.’s note – includes Citigroup, Citi bank, Wells Fargo, JP Morgan but *not* Goldman], is the most sinful and evil PONZI scheme man is capable of devising. It will permit them to control the financial and political systems in the New
Free speech and "societal costs"
by Charles Platt I assume you legally qualified guys have seen this quote: “Whether a given category of speech enjoys First Amendment protection depends upon a categorical balancing of the value of the speech against its societal costs.” This of course is from a certain Ms. Kagan who seems upwardly mobile right now. Of course she said this while arguing a case on behalf of the US Government, and thus was merely doing her best to concoct an argument based in part on precedent. But still.
"Gotcha!"
Flori-duh State Senator, Mike Bennett (R) was (gasp!) “caught watching porn” during a senate session. (source) And the pile on begins… the story even made today’s news in Sweden. While I enjoy watching Republicans fall from grace over sex scandals, this one is a non-issue. First off, the image was hardly “pornographic.” Second, the image was on his screen for a brief moment. Third, which of you have never screwed off while at work, whether it is looking at a racy photo or checking on how your fantasy baseball team is doing? Bennett isn’t my favorite legislator, but his record
Virginia Attorney General Wishes to be a Laugingstock – We Oblige Him
The Virginia State Seal displays the Roman Goddess Virtus with one breast exposed. We pointed that out with our irony rod in this post. Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli decided that the image of an illustrated classical goddess with a nipple showing was too much for his staffers. He had new lapel pins created for his staff, and in those pins he has revised Virtus to be more modest.
Same old story
Sleazy company hires scumbag attorney to file SLAPP suit. Moron judge gives an unconstitutional injunction. Okay, not the entire same old story… because Public Citizen jumped in and did a Chuck Norris roundhouse kick to the sleaze and the scumbag.
This is what a terrorist looks like
I previously wrote that Alan Grayson was unfit to serve in congress. Perhaps Flori-duh is just not fit to be in the United States — because this dipshit is the alternative to Grayson. [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umTITWQuXwY] H/T Popehat Oh, hey, so umm.. how does this guy fit into this equation?
Would mass suicide affect student loan practices?
By J. DeVoy Earlier this week, 60 Minutes tackled the hard issue of strategic mortgage default. In these situations, people capable of paying their mortgages despite being badly upside-down on their homes – owing far more than they’re worth – simply walk away from them. While government loan modification programs are available to those who have lost jobs and suffered other economic hardship, creditors are refusing to offer interest or principal reductions to people who are capable of paying their mortgages. So far, this latter group has been unable to cause any change in public or private policy on loan
Now i am really not voting for this piece of shit again
Obama to nominate Kagan to Supreme Court. I hate to admit it, but of the past five justices nominated, the best of the bunch was Harriet Miers.
Anti-Seizure Precautions
by Charles Platt Recently I was talking to a criminal attorney who handles a lot of drug cases. I asked him this question: In the state of Arizona, how much cash can I carry without worrying that the police may take it away from me? I often drive on Interstate 40, which is regarded as a “drug running corridor.” Anyone who is pulled over for speeding may have his car inspected for residues by a drug-sniffing dog, and if the dog has a cold that day, or just happens to be in a bad mood and feels like barking for
Alternative paths really do await new law grads
By J. DeVoy In the next two weeks, ABA-accredited law schools will spew forth graduate more than 40,000 newly minted J.D.’s from their doors. While some are puzzled about how to pursue a legal career, others have realized they do not want one. Still some, the most rational and mercenary of the bunch, are open to the right non-law opportunity. Often, the transition from law school to a non-legal career is difficult. Employers, who have a distorted view of lawyers’ financial upside, can’t believe anyone would forego the riches of law to work for them. Rightly, others may view recent
Mom and Masturbation
By Tatiana von Tauber Mom and masturbation. Now those two words that don’t work for me together only that I’m a mom and I – well, you know, make time for myself. Here’s a fun little article from the Onion about moms and the lacking time they have to do what seems rather easy in the shower for men. Self-attention is one reason I choose to work part-time. If there’s no self-lovin’ for mom don’t think things will get taken care of by dad alone. Happy Mother’s Day and dads, take the kids out of the house. Really. It’s what moms want.
Everybody has a price
By J. DeVoy Including Mr. T. [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HrVWyj-XcbQ&hl=en_US&fs=1&] How did this man go from battering fools on The A-Team to hawking the Flavorwave Oven? And why is he such a whiner about pizza crust and cooking grease?