Radley Balko tells us about yet another RIAA masterstroke: [The] RIAA is suing a young transplant patient in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Nineteen-year-old Ciara Sauro has pancreatitis and because she needs an islet cell transplant, she's hospitalized every week, a situation resulting in a huge accumulation of medical bills. Now, "Because she didn't defend herself against a … [Read more...] about RIAA Strikes Again
The Cinderella Affidavit v.s. Barry Cooper
You know what would be interesting? If someone---perhaps in response to accusations that a group of cops was framing innocent people---spent months setting up a fake drug house to attract police suspicion. Then, after the police raided the place and found no drugs of any kind, asked to see the sworn search affidavit, so they could check it for accuracy against their own heavily … [Read more...] about The Cinderella Affidavit v.s. Barry Cooper
Should We Bail Out the Auto Industry?
A parable: A few days ago, I was mugged by a white guy who stole about $300 from me. Then just yesterday, a black guy tried to mug me, but I got away. Am I a racist for not letting the black guy mug me? Some people say that since we bailed out the fatcat investment bankers, it's unfair not to bailout the labor-intensive Detroit auto industry. I disagree. It's not about … [Read more...] about Should We Bail Out the Auto Industry?
The Prison-Industrial Complex
Many people find economics depressing because the economic model of human behavior assumes all people are rational maximizers of their own interests. Seen in the worst light, Homo Economicus is selfish and callous, grimly pursuing his own interests while happliy sacrificing the welfare of all others.I find people depressing because the economic model is so often … [Read more...] about The Prison-Industrial Complex
“An honorable place to work”
Media mogul Ted Turner, being interviewed by Tom Brokaw: MR. BROKAW: You met Vladimir Putin when he was just an aide to the mayor of St. Petersburg. ...most people see not in his eyes a soulful person, but the eyes--three letters, as someone has put it: KGB. That he is... MR. TURNER: Well, he had that background. But you know, we have an FBI and, and, and, and, and we're … [Read more...] about “An honorable place to work”