Category Archives: Free speech, censorship, copyright law, etc.

Prop 8 Proponents Have Standing To Defend It In Court

NPR Report The Full Decision I think this is the right decision. I’m in favor of full legal equality for all citizens. I don’t believe that there is a legitimate state interest in restricting marriage rights to heterosexual couples. I … Continue reading

Posted in Free speech, censorship, copyright law, etc., Homophobic zaniness/more LGBTQ issues, Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Trans and Queer issues | 23 Comments

We Should Have The Right To Record On-Duty Police

It’s not often I agree with Glenn Reynolds, but his editorial about the recent trend of police harassing and arresting citizens for recording the police as they publicly perform their duties is spot-on. The most outrageous example may be Tiawanda … Continue reading

Posted in crossposted on TADA, Free speech, censorship, copyright law, etc., Prisons and Justice and Police | 2 Comments

King & Spalding’s Decision to Renege On Defending DOMA

Former Bush Solicitor General Paul Clement, a partner at the law firm King and Spalding, was contracted by the House of Representatives to defend DOMA (the Defense of Marriage Act) in court. A few days later, K&S dropped the case. … Continue reading

Posted in crossposted on TADA, Free speech, censorship, copyright law, etc., In the news, Same-Sex Marriage | 49 Comments

The Republican Party in Wisconsin Appears to be Using the Freedom of Information Act to Intimidate Professor William Cronon, a Historian at the University of Wisconsin

You really need to read the blog posts–there are several; start here–that Professor William Cronon of the University of Wisconsin has written on his blog, Scholar as Citizen, about what has happened since he published a post called Who’s Really … Continue reading

Posted in Education, Elections and politics, Free speech, censorship, copyright law, etc., Organizations, Media, Online Stuff | 1 Comment

Northwestern University Class Has Live Sex Demo For Those Who Stayed After

Northwestern University Class Has Live Sex Demo For Those Who Stayed After. Bailey said that while he regretted allowing the Feb. 21 sex toy demonstration he also does not believe those who were offended made a good case for why … Continue reading

Posted in crossposted on TADA, Free speech, censorship, copyright law, etc., In the news, Sex | 41 Comments

On Apple's Decision to Refuse the "Manhattan Declaration" App

[Crossposted at Family Scholars, Alas, and TADA.] From The Washington Post: After receiving thousands of complaints, Apple has quietly axed an iPhone app that linked to a conservative Christian manifesto called the Manhattan Declaration, issued a year ago and signed … Continue reading

Posted in crossposted on TADA, Free speech, censorship, copyright law, etc., In the news, Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Trans and Queer issues | 15 Comments

The High Cost of Copyright On Jazz History. And A Rant About Barnaby.

(Crossposted on “Alas” and on “TADA”) David Post writes: The National Jazz Museum (who knew there was such a thing?) has apparently acquired a true treasure trove of early jazz recordings. The collection — nearly 1,000 discs! — was recorded … Continue reading

Posted in Cartooning & comics, crossposted on TADA, Free speech, censorship, copyright law, etc. | 14 Comments

Mosque Quotes: Mayor Bloomberg and Iman Feisal Abdul Rauf

I express my heartfelt appreciation for the gestures of goodwill and support from our Jewish friends and colleagues. Your support is a reflection of the great history of mutual cooperation and understanding that Jewish and Muslim civilizations have shared in … Continue reading

Posted in crossposted on TADA, Free speech, censorship, copyright law, etc., In the news | 21 Comments

I Have No Idea If Ken Howell Should Have Been Fired Or Not

[Crossposted on “Alas” and on “TADA.”] An adjunct professor who taught courses on Catholicism at the University of Illinois has lost his teaching job there, and he claims it is a violation of his academic freedom. Kenneth Howell was told … Continue reading

Posted in crossposted on TADA, Education, Free speech, censorship, copyright law, etc., Homophobic zaniness/more LGBTQ issues, In the news | 108 Comments

The Jake Baker Case

Richard’s story in this post reminds me of is the Jake Baker case, in which a male student posted an explicit fantasy about raping and murdering a female classmate, and posted the story on Usenet, signing his own name. The … Continue reading

Posted in Free speech, censorship, copyright law, etc., Rape, intimate violence, & related issues | 16 Comments