Category: Uncategorized

Despite the fact that I think most mobile devices are practically indestructible when used normally–instead of wrecked in some ridiculous fit of rage–things still do break, especially over time. iPhones in particular, the favorite of college students (it would appear), are often being broken because, well…college, most likely.
And instead of having mommy and daddy hash out another $800 for an iPhone, or for themselves being unable to hash out $800, they’ll often pay some enterprising fellow student a small fee to do the repairs (and of course all of this could happen at work, no college or college students required, …read more

In the past two years, we have witnessed a sea of change in the attitude of Americans toward cannabis. Colorado made history by becoming the first state to completely decriminalize possession and use of the plant, with Washington and other states soon following.
Medical cannabis use is now legal in 23 states, and others will soon be joining that list. Polls find that a solid majority of Americans support cannabis legalization, especially for medicinal use. The Free Thought Project has reported on many incredible ways that cannabis is being used to treat a variety of ailments. Its effectiveness at reducing or …read more

Liberty Union Party polled over 5% of the vote in November 2014 for two Vermont statewide offices, Treasurer and Secretary of State. However, under a new law passed in 2014, SB 86, that vote showing isn’t enough for it to qualify for its own primary. SB 86 (which didn’t take effect until after the 2014 election) says a party doesn’t qualify for a primary, even if it did get 5% of the vote for a statewide office in the last election, unless it also has town committees in any 30 towns.
Liberty Union has been unable to organize in …read more

McAlester, OK – Oklahoma judge Matthew Sheets dismissed three felony child sexual abuse charges against a retired police officer accused of molesting a 3-year-old girl, seemingly ignoring forensic evidence showing that a sexual assault had occurred, as well as evidence of the cop burning the child’s clothing after the alleged attack.
When the girl’s father objected to the manner in which his child was being treated while being questioned by the court, Judge Sheets threw him in jail for a year.
According to a report by Photography is Not A Crime:
Pittsburg County Special District Judge Matthew Sheets dismissed the felony child sex …read more

Last week the Iowa Supreme Court agreed to hear Griffin v Brandstad, to settle which ex-felons are permitted to register to vote. The plaintiff had been convicted of a low-level drug possession crime. Long after she was free, she voted, and was then charged with a felony for voting illegally. The lower court ruled against her. See this story. …read more

Ever since I started my tech podcast, Sovryn Tech, I’ve had people ask me over the years if I would be willing to do business or personal cyber security consulting for them. I consider myself to be very fortunate that my reputation from Sovryn Tech, and my seemingly “prophetic” statements (as an atheist, I hate the term, but listeners have used it to describe what I say, so who am I to argue?) have given people the confidence in my knowledge on matters of cyber security and technology in general to where they wish to have me onboard with them …read more

On February 9, California Assemblymember Rocky Chavez, a Republican, dropped out of the U.S. Senate race. See this report. This is probably because California’s top-two system injures major parties that have multiple candidates in the primary. With only two well-known Democrats running, and three or four Republicans in the same race, the top-two system would probably result in only two Democrats on the general election ballot. The two Democrats would place first and second, shutting out all the Republicans.
There are still three Republicans running, despite the withdrawal of Chavez: Duf Sundheim, Tom Del Beccaro, and …read more

On February 9, the plaintiffs in Harris v McCrory filed this twenty-page response in U.S. District Court, setting forth reasons why last week’s redistricting decision should not be stayed. The brief is quite forceful in blaming the state for the fact that the primary election is too close in time to allow for new U.S. House districts. The brief points out that late last year, the legislature moved the congressional primary from May to March, knowing at the time that the U.S. House districts might need to be redrawn. Thanks to Rick Hasen for the link. …read more

Ocoee, FL — A Florida man and his family are lucky to be alive after his house came under gunfire by police in the early morning hours on Saturday — but it was all a terrifying mistake.
According to the man, who asked to remain anonymous, he awoke around 1 am to pounding on his front door; but when he asked who was on the other side, no one responded.
Afraid his home was about to be burglarized, local ABC affiliate WFTV reported, the man retrieved his gun.
A bright light shone through the front door when he returned, and someone outside …read more

DeesIllustration.com
The first study to look at the effects of a Taser shock on the human brain has produced unsettling results that will have major implications for police encounters. People are often questioned and/or read their Miranda rights just after being Tased, but researchers found that receiving 50,000 volts of electricity can cause a state of short-term cognitive impairment comparable to dementia.
Tasers have become the tool of choice for law enforcement “less than lethal weapons,” with two million citizens being subjected to the devices. They can indeed be lethal, however, as 47 Americans died after being Tased last year. Tasers do …read more