Category: Uncategorized

Professor Steven J. Brams has this letter to the editor in the September 28, 2015 New York Times. It advocates that presidential primaries should use approval voting. …read more

The San Jose Mercury-News has this article about California’s top-two primary, although the article covers additional topics. The article says the top-two system in California has helped well-funded business interests in the legislature. …read more

You read the title right, the 2013 Nexus 7 will be getting full Google versions–and AOSP versions available–of Android 6.0 (Marshmallow) on October 5th, 2015.
At the Dark Android Project, this is exciting news as the 2013 Nexus 7 is the base tablet that I recommend to everyone if they want to inexpensively (or even if they want to be “expensive” about it) create a Dark Android device. And to know that it is being updated still with the latest Android release–and will receive it likely sooner than must any other device–is reassuring. And also, don’t ignore that the AOSP version …read more

According to this news story, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf says he supports SB 495, the bill pending in the legislature to ease ballot access for minor parties and independent candidates. Thanks to Larry Otter for the link. …read more

Boston MA – On January 13th, a man’s common household error set forth a chain of events that would lead to him being unwittingly thrust into a confrontation with the Police State.
The man in question, who asked only to be identified by his first name Michael, was enjoying a quiet evening at home when he accidentally broke a glass. In doing so, he suffered an injury to his hand and went to the hospital to seek medical attention.
While Michael was waiting at the hospital, he received a call from his fiancee that the police were at his home and wanted …read more

According to this CNN story, the likely new Speaker of the House, Kevin McCarthy, is expected to be more confrontational and partisan that outgoing speaker John Boehner.
McCarthy is from California, which has been using a top-two system starting in 2011. The big business interests who most strongly support California’s top-two system always seem to have sincerely believed that a top-two system produces more moderate politicians. If McCarthy behaves as CNN predicts, that will be one more data point that primary systems do not affect the kind of politicians who get elected, or their behavior. Thanks to PoliticalWire …read more

Elmore, AL — Three correctional officers lost their jobs after a video surfaced revealing one of the guards beating a handcuffed prisoner on his knees while the other two guards did nothing to stop or report the abuse. Although guards at Elmore Correctional Facility have a history of beating handcuffed prisoners, the Department of Corrections (DOC) decided to fire two of the guards and allowed the third to resign.
On December 11, 2014, Sgt. Juanice Cole escorted a handcuffed prisoner into the office of her shift commander, Lt. Edmond Cooper. After ordering her prisoner to kneel, Sgt. Cole waited until both …read more

For the last year or so I’ve been using a (now) popular messaging app called: Telegram. I’ve been a fan of it for a few reasons mentioned by Brian Sovryn. …