Latest Column Freedom of the press needed more than ever Fifty years ago this week, the Supreme Court handed down one of its most celebrated defenses of the free press in The New York Times v. Sullivan. In its unanimous decision, the court referred to growing threats against the news media and the need to limit liability to allow them to perform their unique constitutional function. Land of the sorta, kinda free In 1964, the United States was viewed as the world’s leading protector of press freedom. New York Times v. Freezing out the most important journalism The Supreme Court saw civil liability as creating a chilling effect on reporters, resulting in self-censorship that is just as stifling as direct censorship. “The imminence and enormity of (the) threat” to press freedom the court warned of in 1964 pales in comparison with today’s threats. Criminal liability and surveillance If that seems perfectly Nixonian, it is actually perfectly Obamian. Freedom of the press vs. freedom of speech March 3, 2014
Lessig Blog, v2 On Tuesday, Berkeley City Council adopted unanimously an ordinance inspired by Councilman Max Anderson, and which I and Robert Post helped craft. I was very happy to bat cleanup in an effort that has been underway for years. But there’s some serious misunderstanding about the ordinance and its purpose. No doubt many of the people fighting for the ordinance have a firm belief that non-ionizing radiation presents a significant and underappreciated health risk. Those people believe this for different reasons. These are all people who believe there is a risk that is not yet acknowledged. I am not a scientist. Indeed, as I said in the opening of my testimony, and as Councilmembers Anderson and Kriss Worthington said in their testimony, this ordinance is not about that scientific debate. Because in fact, there are existing safety recommendations for cellphone use. Those safety recommendations advise consumers not to carry their cell phone against their body. This is a very minimal requirement.
Mind Hacks Brain Pickings Homosexuality & The Bible: It Doesn't Say What You Think it Does Okay, so I've finally made my way to the obligatory commentary on what the Bible actually says about homosexuality. Aside from abortion, there really isn't any other topic that's quite so exquisitely divisive between religious Fundamentalists and their more liberal and/or secular counterparts. And - maintaining the never-ending trend of people squabbling over the meaning of ancient and oft misunderstood religious texts - the Bible is (big surprise) at the heart and soul of the issue. According to Christians, the Bible openly and explicitly condemns homosexuality as a sin, the punishment of which is an eternity in hell. Is this assertion valid, this claim justified? The first thing we're going to do is actually read the passages in Scripture that Christians maintain support their view, if for no other reason than Christians have a long-standing bad habit of "remembering" certain details from the Bible that aren't actually there. (1) Neither of these verses say anything about women.
Luke 17:34 and Pray to be Gay Day I don't know how I missed this before, but I did. Luke 17:34, that is. I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left. And since Jesus clearly said that only a small minority would be saved, Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. the best way to improve your chances of being saved, if you are a man, is to go to bed with another man. (50% is better than a virtually zero chance.) Or to spend you time grinding with other women, if you're a woman, as Jesus said in Luke 17:35. Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left. But what if you're not blessed enough to be gay? Watch Thunderf00t's video for all the details.
War Tard: Phase II: Why the US wants to attack Iran Looks like the US is playing musical chairs with its carrier groups in the Gulf of Oman. The USS Stennis Carrier Group moved to the Indian Ocean last week so the US could transit another carrier, the Abraham Lincoln, through the Straits of Hormuz just to remind the Iranians how screwed they'd be if the shooting starts. The carrier was escorted by the cruiser USS Cape St. George, two destroyers, the Royal Navy anti sub frigate HMS Argyll and even the French got an invite and sent along their own La Motte-Picquet anti sub frigate to fill out the international nature of the party. Grab popcorn but don't microwave it just yet. I still say this war is way too scary to enter a shooting phase but that's only because I want to believe Western leaders are not insane. Truth is, nothing is going to stop that nuke. Even if the US and Israel do conduct air strikes on Iran's 15 nuke sites, they still can't physically damage an idea. The interesting player here in all this is China.
KOMIKERO DOT COM Dean's World — Defending the liberal tradition in history, science, and philosophy. To Touch The Hem of Bill Johnson’s Garment… | Unsaved Loved Ones Man, I’ve been reading back through a lot of my old posts and I totally forgot I was supposed to do one where I spoofed the annoying restaurant photo takers by taking photos of the dumps I take AFTER eating an exquisite meal and posting THOSE along with the review. I’ll be back in DC starting next weekend, and you know how I roll when it comes to the dining….so this may happen, I “shit” you not! Get it? I’m a card. I have been getting a LOT of new traffic here on the blog due to all of the buzz about the 16 people who WERE NOT RESURRECTED FROM THE DEAD IN BRAZIL. I wish more of you would chime in with some pearls of wisdom about your beloved millionaire faith healer/coward, but it is good to know SOMEBODY is reading…I know the right tags to include for the Google searching and have added them accordingly. So for the benefit of anyone who has favorited this blog and is praying for my salvation, or just whomever….WELCOME….but here is how this shit works: So this thing goes deep.
Stuff White Christians Like Miscellaneous Ramblings of an Old Man: The Overlords Have you ever noticed that in general people do not advance in government and commerce, etc. because they are virtuous? Often not even because they are the most skilled or talented at their craft. Again, in general and yes there are exceptions, the worst of us are advanced. The ones who are willing to compromise their principals, the ones who are "in it for the money", the ones who will ... follow orders, etc.. Children are usually taught that virtue, honesty, hard work, etc. are the way up. Many centuries ago shaman who had an understanding of things astronomical told the masses, "On day 'x' I will blot the sun from the sky". Such things as that were the beginnings of ... priesthoods, royalty, etc. ... Here is an interesting article about some of these folks.
A Collection of Odd.: Hitting A Brick Wall... Auto Bail Out The Windshield Hitting A Brick Wall... Auto Bail Out The Windshield I was told that the safest place in a car is in the passengers seat during an accident. Well, not in this crazy ride we call the economy. We just went head first into a brick wall when it looked like nothing but open road to put the pedal to the metal. Not even being in the passenger seat could help you in this case. I'm torn between being happy about failure of self-destructive horrible corporations but sad about the massive amounts of job loss. The problem here is that folks are willing to break eggs for omelets. Senator, the only way the US can stay a first world country is if everyone buys fuel-inefficient SUVs with multiple DVD players. While I'm sure that doesn't make a great argument as to why they should get a bail out, I'm still confused why this one got shot down when the banking industry bail out went through with flying colors. When it's all said and done, why is this bad? So what happens now?