Monthly Archives: September 2007

Ladies & Gentlemen – The Nation’s First Radioactive Deanship

Posted on September 12, 2007 by Michael Froomkin

The rumors that have been flying around the internet all day appear to be true: Chemerinsky says UC Irvine rescinds offer to become law school dean. Why would a startup school treat a major Cosntitutional scholar like this? It seems that, notwithstanding his 20 year publication record, they discovered this week that he's a — wait for it — liberal. Apparently a major donor freaked or something.

Not only is this sort of behavior unheard of, unprincipled, but it's also very stupid. Who would take the job now, after this display of political interference and intolerance?

But meanwhile, hey Erwin, we need a Dean here next year!

Posted in Law School | 6 Comments

Rev. Yearwood Talks About His Arrest

Posted on September 12, 2007 by Michael Froomkin

Rev. Yearwood talks about his arrest. He certainly has a way of sounding very reasonable. It would be nice to hear the other side, if there is one. Have the Capitol Police (or the Speaker and Majority Leader's Offices to whom I believe they report?) said anything about the incident?

Posted in Civil Liberties | 4 Comments

Political Dysfunction on a Cosmic Scale

Posted on September 12, 2007 by Michael Froomkin

alicublog writes:

It is worth noting that today's session was mainly about a plan for withdrawal from an occupation which is disapproved by citizens of the occupying country as well as those of the occupied country. But neither the Democratic leadership nor the Republican Administration perceive a political benefit to themselves from a quick exit. So they talk about timetables and drawdown and leave it to their operatives to spin the analysis to their advantage.

I found my way there because Kevin Drum says it's one of the funniest blogs and I wanted a laugh.

Myself, I think you need a pretty bleak sense of humor to find this funny.

Posted in Iraq | 2 Comments

Every Law School Needs One of These

Posted on September 12, 2007 by Michael Froomkin

Via Boing Boing comes news of a Voice-stress ice-cream dispenser that increases portions for the miserable:

Demitrios Kargotis unveiled his Mr Whippy machine at the Ars Technica festival in Linz. It's a self-serve frozen custard machine that doles out portion sizes based on the amount of misery it detects in a voice-stress analysis. The sadder you are, the more ice-cream you get.

I think every law school should have one of these!

Posted in Law School | 1 Comment

Violence at the Iraq War Hearing

Posted on September 11, 2007 by Michael Froomkin

This has all the markings of a very strange story: Rev. Lennox Yearwood Arrested at Petraeus Hearing.

I hope we get to hear more about what exactly happened; certainly the first, perhaps one-sided, report is disturbing; on the other hand, the video is less clear-cut — after being singled out for some reason and denied admission after waiting in line (could it really be for wearing a button that said “I love the people of Iraq?”) did Rev. Yearwood really lunge for the door saying “I will not be arrested”? And even so, does that justify breaking his leg?

Rev. Yearwood is the same person who recently won a stay or delay in his case against the Air Force which had tried to honorably (not dishonorably) discharge him as a chaplain; according to his supporters, his offense was preaching against the war. And indeed, when he got an opportunity to preach at Andrews Air Force Base, “the message that I preached was 'Who Would Jesus Bomb?'”—not the best way to be popular on the base, I'd imagine.

I spent some time trying to find out if there's a Senate rule about what you can wear to a committee hearing, and whether buttons are prohibited. Couldn't find anything. Links to facts most welcomed.

Posted in Civil Liberties | 3 Comments

Numerology Fans Take Note

Posted on September 11, 2007 by Michael Froomkin

The ultimate pointless rating.

This site is certified 36% EVIL by the Gematriculator

Posted in Discourse.net | 3 Comments