Oct

30

Stimulating the Local Economy with My Stomach

October 30, 2009 | Leave a Comment

At every downturn in the economic cycle, consumers look to save money by cutting back on expenses. I include myself in this group of penny pinchers but I believe I have formed a habit that will outlast any recession. This summer I began to do my weekly shopping at the local farmers market three blocks [...]

Oct

26

Copyright Infringement: Worse Than Murder?

October 26, 2009 | 1 Comment

I am a criminal. I have years of experience with a certain criminal activity. I started in high school on advice from a friend, and pretty soon I found a group of similarly-inclined friends to roll with and we ratcheted up our involvement some more. I learned new techniques in college and avoided the crackdowns [...]

Oct

26

Lies Cannot Drive Out Lies; Only the Truth Can do That

October 26, 2009 | Leave a Comment

About a month ago Congressman Alan Grayson (a Democrat from the Florida 8th) stood on the floor of the House of Representatives and described the Republican’s idea of health care as “‘Don’t get sick, and if you do get sick, die quickly.” While it would take a stretch of the imagination to say that more [...]

Oct

25

Google: Changing Laws Around the World

October 25, 2009 | Leave a Comment

As both sides of the Google books controversy try to work on a revised settlement before the new November 9th deadline, the effects continue to ripple across the globe: on Monday, the European Commission announced plans to work on revising copyright law in the EU. Citing the need to compete on the digital frontier, Commissioner [...]

Oct

21

What’s Height Got to Do with It?

October 21, 2009 | Leave a Comment

Anyone who has taken the time to stroll around the arms and armor section of an art museum or who has carefully studied the size of a bed in a historical home easily comes to the same conclusion: the average person was a lot shorter in the past than he is now! A suit of [...]

Oct

16

“Kill Me, or Else You are a Murderer.” - Kafka’s Last Words

October 16, 2009 | Leave a Comment

Although it has been a crime punishable by up to fourteen years in prison to assist in the suicide of another in England since the passing of the 1961 Suicide Act, it is no secret that violators of the law often go unpunished - even when their role in the suicide is public knowledge.  But, [...]

Oct

15

Pity the Soda Tax

October 15, 2009 | Leave a Comment

Amid the general wrack and roil of the debate over healthcare, a dozen smaller dramas have played out.  The one I’ll be writing about today seems all but finished, and it proceeded along the rote lines of a typical legislative tragedy.  To wit; a good idea is put forward, high-minded politicians dutifully offer it guarded [...]

Oct

7

Lethal Injection: The New Frontline Against the Death Penalty

October 7, 2009 | Leave a Comment

Over the years many different strategies of challenging the constitutionality of the Death Penalty have made their way through the courts. The latest line of attack is focused on lethal injection. Last year, in April, 2008 the Supreme Court came down firmly on the side of upholding lethal injection. In Baze v. Rees the [...]

Oct

7

If You Were the Judge…

October 7, 2009 | Leave a Comment

Warning: this entry contains graphic and disturbing content of a horrific crime.  Reader’s discretion is advised.
On April 13, 2007, a 23 year old graduate student attending Columbia University School of Journalism headed back to her apartment building in Hamilton Heights, a neighborhood located in Harlem, Manhattan.  She was subsequently followed to her apartment by an [...]