News & Media
Is a third creative commons-licensed Nine Inch Nails album forthcoming?
By J. DeVoy Something’s happening at the official Nine Inch Nails website. In the past, such pictures portended the release of Ghosts I-IV and The Slip (available for free download). Both of those albums were released under a creative commons license, a move praised by Harvard Law professor Lawrence Lessig. The band’s move to creative commons licensing and self-distribution isn’t
Short, cool video on black holes
By J. DeVoy [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYKyt3C0oT4&hl=en_US&fs=1&] Around age four, I had great anxiety about black holes and their ability to destroy the planet. Some parents have to convince their children that they won’t be eaten by monsters; mine had to constantly reassure me that I, along with the rest of the world, wouldn’t be torn apart on an atomic level and sucked
Who will look after the dog when God comes for us?
There are an estimated 20-40 million cult members whose beliefs have come into conflict with their love of their pets. This cult is commonly known as “christianity.” Some cult members believe that their leader is a guy who lives in space (sort of like Xenu) and that on the day of “rapture,” he is going to come and pick them
Quick, someone reanimate Ayn Rand!
By J. DeVoy In a delightful smackdown of self-righteous and ignorant Americans who think they have a “right” to everything, including not being inconvenienced, American and Continental airlines will cancel flights rather than abide by new Federal regulations limiting the time flyers can spend sitting on a tarmac. Under the new regulations, airlines can be fined in excess of $27,000
Florida proposes tax credit only for "traditional values"
By J. DeVoy Florida’s Republican representatives have added a provision in a $75 million bill, intended to attract entertainment business to the state, which would deny a tax credit to television shows not considered “family friendly.” Shows that feature “cross-generational appeal” and forego smoking, profanity, nudity, sex and obscenity, will receive a tax credit equal to 5% of production costs,
There is apparently only one Lindsay
Lindsay Lohan has filed suit against eTrade for using the name “Lindsay” in its Superbowl ad. (source) Apparently, Lohan’s position is that eTrade used the name “Lindsay” to trade off her name and likeness. The complaint is here, and a perfunctory review of it leads me to the conclusion that it is a piece of shit. Of course, in addition
Is Porn good or bad for society?
Kate Harding doesn’t care. She doesn’t want to take it away, even if it is bad. She does, however, demand evidence for any claims to the contrary. (source)
Don't shave your pubes and drive
Don’t shave your pubes while driving. Megan Mariah Barnes, 37, learned this lesson the hard way. Florida Highway Patrol troopers say a two-vehicle crash Tuesday at Mile Marker 21 on Cudjoe Key was caused by a 37-year-old woman driver who was shaving her bikini area while her ex-husband took the wheel from the passenger seat. “She said she was meeting
Westboro Baptist Church gets its day in front of the Supreme Court
Cert. granted in Snyder v. Phelps. Regular readers already know that I reluctantly side with Westboro on this one.
Has anyone seen Bill Ogletree's coat?
If you’ve seen it, please contact me so that we can arrange to have it delivered to him. That way we can help Continental Airlines, the City of Houston, and a restaurant at the Houston airport avoid a costly lawsuit. You see, Bill is an attorney and he lost his coat. If he doesn’t get it back, some-fuckin-body gonna get
A Blogospheric Get Well Card
Many of you may be familiar with Professor Michael Froomkin of the University of Miami. Apparently he needed emergency open-heart surgery, but is recovering well. Agree with him or not (I usually do not) you must respect his intellect, ethics, and intellectual honesty. I am not sure that I know how to bestow higher praise than that on an academic.
ANTI SLAPP MONTH: My SLAPP experience
By J. DeVoy Although SLAPP suits are uncommon events, they influence real-world, extradjudicial interactions between different entities – especially in disputes. Groups and individuals can leverage tacit threats, insinuations and asymmetries of power to silence their opposition without ever going to the courthouse. Similarly, just as the broad effects of SLAPP suits have trickled down to apply outside of litigation,
Sunstein calls for "cognitive infiltration" of dissident groups
Cass Sunstein, drunk with his little thimbleful of power he got by being given a job in the Obama administration is really letting his statist colors show through. Sunstein takes a page out of the Bush administration’s playbook and suggests that the government should engage in “cognitive infiltration” of disfavored political groups. (source) Cass Sunstein, a Harvard law professor, co-wrote
ANTI SLAPP MONTH: More on the Citizen Participation Act
By J. DeVoy The Public Participation Project (PPP) weighs in on the importance of the Citizen Participation Act, which Marc previously discussed. In the midst of an ongoing war in Afghanistan and malaise over gossamer healthcare reform, PPP notes how a preoccupied Congress and public may overlook this important issue. With so much happening these days: Afghanistan, Guantanamo, Health Care, Jobs,
Awesomeness — OK Go – This Too Shall Pass
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qybUFnY7Y8w] H/T: Immigrant Song
Volokh on Reason.TV
If I were president, hands down, this cat would be my first choice if a Supreme Court seat opened up. I don’t agree with him on all issues (far from it) but he’s principled, intelligent, and consistent. [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1FtYjTKkXI]
"Vajazzle" is exactly what it sounds like
By J. DeVoy Ferdinand Bardamu of In Mala Fide is launching an internet campaign to lay claim on a new word: Vajazzle. Vajazzle və-ˈja-zəl (verb): the process of adorning a vagina with shiny crystals. So, a cross of the iconic 1970s direct order product, the BeDazzler…. …and a female reproductive organ. Got it. Don’t shoot the messengers, either. Blame Jennifer Love
ANTI SLAPP MONTH: Blogger gets SLAPPed for passing on government warnings
By J. DeVoy At Elliott.org, the story of a travel insurance company’s SLAPP suit against the blog’s writer, Christopher Elliott, rises from the murk and into daylight. In March of 2009, Elliott reported that Florida regulators had warned three travel insurance agencies, all of which were offering policies from bankrupt Prime Travel Protection Services, that their conduct may violate state
ANTI SLAPP MONTH: Write your Congressman NOW in support of Federal Anti-SLAPP legisation
By J. DeVoy As Marc noted, Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN) has introduced The Citizen Participation Act, the first Federal anti-SLAPP legislation, to Congress. Like any bill, this one needs your help. Yes, you, the internet user whose free speech, financial security and family’s well being are at stake if you find yourself in the crosshairs of such a lawsuit. We
