William Gibson reflects on “25 Years of Digital Vandalism.”
Author Archive | Jonathan H. Adler
Reflections on the REINS Act Hearing
On Monday, I testified before the House Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Courts, Commercial and Administrative Law on the REINS Act. The other witnesses were former Rep. David McIntosh and Sally Katzen, who headed the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs in the Clinton Administration. Rep. McIntosh and I expressed support for the REINS […]
Mukasey on Holder
Jennifer Rubin, author of the Washington Post‘s new “Right Turn” blog, interviews former Attorney General Michael Mukasey about his views of current AG Eric Holder in the Weekly Standard.
Are Our Students Educated?
Are students learning anything in college? The research of NYU sociologist suggests that, at least for a sizable portion of undergraduates, the answer is “no.” Here are reports on Arum’s work from McClatchy and USA Today. As characterized in these stories, Arum’s research finds that a large proportion of undergraduate students are not learning to […]
Regulations from the Executive In Need of Scrutiny
Tomorrow afternoon (back willing) I will be in Washington, D.C. to testify before the House Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Courts, Commercial and Administrative Law on the Regulations from the Executive In Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act. This bill would require congressional approval before new “major” regulations — those regulations expected to cost in excess of $100 million per […]
Superfast Solicitations
I was in a car accident last Thursday night. While I was waiting at a light on a highway offramp, a driver plowed into the car behind me, causing it to slam into the back of my car, and so on. It was not the worst accident in the world — my car was still […]
President Obama Calls for Regulatory Review
In an op-ed in today’s WSJ, President Barack Obama (yes, you read that right — President Obama has an op-ed in the WSJ) announces he is issuing a new Executive Order governing regulatory review. This order requires that federal agencies ensure that regulations protect our safety, health and environment while promoting economic growth. And it […]
Hamilton County Election Snafu Creates Legal Chaos
I don’t envy the Hamilton County Board of Elections. This morning they have a hearing before Judge Susan Dlott of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio at which they are to explain why they should not be held in contempt of court for failing to follow a court order. Last week, Judge […]
Reading Generously
Reading critically is an important skill. So is “reading generously,” as my colleague Jessie Hill explains.
Does the “Speech and Debate Clause” Shield Congress?
Today’s Washington Post has an interesting article detailing Justice Department concerns that the Constitution’s Speech and Debate Clause has frustrated investigations into Congressional wrongdoing. The clause provides, in relevant part, that members of Congress: shall in all Cases, except Treason, Felony and Breach of the Peace, be privileged from Arrest during their Attendance at the […]
Salon Sanitizes the Record
By Jonathan H. Adler on January 17, 2011 4:32 pm in Junk Science and Quackspertise, Politicizing Science
Salon has withdrawn a 2005 article by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (aka “America’s Most Irresponsible Public Figure®“) alleging a link between vaccines and autism. The article, co-published with Rolling Stone, had an “explosive premise,” according to Salon‘s editors. Too bad it was scientifically bogus and completely irresponsible. Salon was forced to publish several corrections to the article, […]
Supreme Court Comedy Revisited
In 2005, Boston University’s Jay Wexler examined joke-telling by Supreme Court justices during oral argument. (See also here.) Today’s Washington Post reports on a follow up study by Ryan Malphurs analyzing and categoring the justices’ use of humor. In particular, Malphurs finds that few jokes are aimed at the advocates or their arguments. More often […]
Drink and Ride
A Montana Department of Transportation public safety video advises viewers, “If you plan to drink, plan to have a friend get you home.” This being Montana, the “friend” in the video is a horse, raising the question whether it is legal to drink and ride. Apparently it is. Montana law only prohibits operating a vehicle […]
The Red Army vs. “Animal Hockey”
Thirty-five years ago the Soviet Red Army hockey team concluded a series of exhibition games against NHL teams playing the Philadelphia Flyers. It was a legendary confrontation. The Stanley Cup champion Flyers (aka the “Broad Street Bullies”) had upended the sport with their aggressive, physical play. It was a style the Red Army did not […]
Vaccine-Autism Study an “Elaborate Fraud”
Last year, The Lancet withdrew a controversial study that had purported to find a link between autism and childhood vaccination because “several findings” of the paper were “incorrect.” The study, by Wakefield, et al., was the only study published in a respected medical journal reporting a potential link and was routinely cited by those claiming […]