[WARNING: This post is part of an April Fools Day prank. The Arizona bill is real, but the bill by Senator Lieberman is completely fictional. Eric Turkewitz was the ring leader for this event, and he has the wrap-up. The short version is that no one bit who should have known better.] This weekend we're seeing a one-two-punch against freedom of speech -- at least as it exists on … [Read more...] about A One-Two-Punch Against Free Speech
Mega Millions Breakeven?
For those interested in the numbers, the Mega Millions jackpot stands at $540 million. That's the estimated nominal value of the annuity payout over 25 years (26 payments, the first one is immediate and the rest are at the end of the year). That annunity is calculated based on the current cash prize pool of $389 million. If you won that cash prize, the federal government's … [Read more...] about Mega Millions Breakeven?
Krugman’s Silly Stand
Paul Krugman has a strange take on the Stand Your Ground law: Florida's now-infamous Stand Your Ground law, which lets you shoot someone you consider threatening without facing arrest, let alone prosecution, sounds crazy -- and it is. Florida's Stand Your Ground law may or may not be crazy -- the devil is in the details -- but Krugman's description of it misses by a mile. The … [Read more...] about Krugman’s Silly Stand
Take Off the Hoodie!
I'm sure you've all heard that Geraldo Rivera has diagnosed the problem in the Trevon Martin shoooting: He wore a hoodie! Geraldo's case is, well, not entirely insane. People do react to the symbols you wear. Ask any ex-hippie from the '60's if he was harassed about his long hair. That's not an entirely crazy response to long hair either: Hippies wore long hair as a statement, … [Read more...] about Take Off the Hoodie!
And Now Some News From the Alabama Judicial Races
Imagine how awesome it must be to live in Alabama, where voters get to choose their next Chief Justice on the Alabama Supreme Court. On the one hand, there's the Republican candidate, Roy Moore. He had the job before, at least until a few years ago when he was kicked off the bench. He's the judge who insisted on having a copy of the Ten Commandments displayed in his … [Read more...] about And Now Some News From the Alabama Judicial Races