When President Obama met with House Republican leaders he noted that Rep. Paul Ryan, the ranking Republican on the House Budget Committee, had put forward a “serious proposal” for controlling federal spending and balancing the federal budget. Rep. Ryan has also supported an alternative approach to health care reform, the “Patients Choice Act.” Unlike some […]
Archive | 2010
Still More IPCC Errors
British news organizations are now combing through the IPCC reports, finding more errors and material sourced to non-peer-reviewed material, including student papers and reports by advocacy organizations. Most of these errors continue to relate to the more policy-oriented aspects of the IPCC reports — practical consequences of climate change and potential policy responses. This is […]
Sunday Song Lyric
The Who — or what’s left of them — will perform during halftime at the Super Bowl today. They’re easily one of the greatest rock bands of all time. Among the songs they will reportedly play is “Baba O’Riley,” a classic track from their classic album, Who’s Next. Here’s how the song begins: Out here […]
The “Demon Sheep” Video
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yo7HiQRM7BA[/youtube]I’m at an academic conference at Stanford Law School this weekend and have had my attention drawn to the latest internet sensation: The “Demon Sheep” Video. The video was produced for Carly Fiorina’s Republican Senate campaign. It is a 3 and 1/2 minute “attack ad” against Tom Campbell, a respected former Stanford law professor and congressman. […]
Suspending a Jail Sentence Because the Defendant Is (Supposedly) Devoutly Religious
The Times (London) reports: The Judicial Complaints Office is to look into a complaint by the National Secular Society that [Cherie] Blair, [the wife of former Prime Minister Tony Blair, who is a part-time judge] suspended a six-month jail sentence passed on Shamso Miah on the ground that he was devout. Miah was convicted at […]
Podcast of my Debate on Kelo and Post-Kelo Eminent Domain Reform with Saul Levmore
By Ilya Somin on February 6, 2010 7:57 pm in Eminent Domain, Kelo, Post-Kelo Reform, Property Rights
In response to popular demand, The University of Chicago Federalist Society has posted a podcast of my recent debate on Kelo and post-Kelo eminent domain reform with former U of Chicago Law School Dean Saul Levmore. Current UC Dean Michael Schill moderated. The podcast is available here. A good time was had by all, and […]
An Excellent Comment on Comment Moderation
As a general rule, I avoid aggressive monitoring of comments. Megan McArdle explains my reasoning well in describing her own similar policy: As y’all know, I exercise a pretty light hand on the comments section. That’s a tough choice. I could probably have a more civil comments section if I were more willing to delete […]
Debating Ayn Rand’s Philosophy
Cato Unbound has recently completed an interesting debate between several scholars on the strengths and weaknesses of Ayn Rand’s philosophy. All of the contributions are worth reading for those interested in the subject. But I agree most with University of Colorado political philosopher Michael Huemer: What is the best way to defend freedom intellectually? Is […]
Saturdays with Stendhal 5
In honor of the DC snowstorm – it is still coming down! – this passage from On Love, Book 2, Chapter 50, Love in the United States: In the Winter, which as in Russia is the festive season of the country, young people of both sexes drive about night and day over the snow in […]
A Snow Removal Expert Comments on Snow Removal Costs
Jim N., in the comments to my post below on snow removal – sometimes it’s good for us academics to hear from a real-world expert, so thanks for commenting: As a non-lawyer, non-academic, snow removal company owner I am relishing this opportunity to be the “expert” for the first time ever on VC! Snow removal […]
“Electronically Transmitted Text” Isn’t “Visual Representation” or “Handwritten or Printed Material”
So holds the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court in Commonwealth v. Zubiel. The case involved a sting aimed at catching pedophiles. Zubiel approached a supposed 13-year-old online (actually an adult deputy sheriff), and engaged in sexually themed conversations with her. This was apparently likely a prelude to his trying to have sex with her, but he […]
Should Libertarians Learn to “Love Government”?
Libertarian policy analysts William Eggers and John O’Leary recently published a provocative article entitled ““Five Reasons Why Libertarians Shouldn’t Hate Government.” The article generated good responses by Bryan Caplan (here and here), and my fiancee. Tyler Cowen and Will Wilkinson have defended Eggers and O’Leary. Eggers and O’Leary make some good points. On balance, however, […]
Part of Geert Wilders Trial in the Netherlands Closed to the Public
Could any of our readers who are familiar with Dutch law speak about this development: [T]hree Islam experts proposed by [Dutch MP Geert] Wilders [in his defence against charges of discrimination and inciting hatred] will be heard behind closed doors, the judges said on Wednesday afternoon. They include American Syrian psychiatrist Wafa Sultan who believes […]
Snow Removal Not Cheap
Maryland highway officials said they have spent about $50 million so far clearing and treating roads this winter. That’s almost twice the $26 million that had been budgeted. The Virginia Department of Transportation said it already spent the $79 million budgeted for statewide snow removal and was tapping into emergency maintenance funds. Once that $25 […]
Senate Set to Confirm Schroeder
It looks as if the Senate will finally confirm Duke Law School professor Christopher Schroeder to head the Office of Legal Policy in the Department of Justice. The Senate Judiciary Committee approved his nomination for the second time yesterday with substantial Republican support. The Committee vote was 16-3, and both Senators Sessions and Hatch voiced […]