Author Archives: Michael Froomkin

Treason at Least Has Profit or Principle

Posted on May 17, 2006 by Michael Froomkin

It is a given that the inventiveness of our nation’s enemies surpasses human imagination. Even so, could anyone ever have imagined they’d come up with something as fiendish as this?

Posted in Politics: The Party of Sleaze | Comments Off on Treason at Least Has Profit or Principle

Miami: We’re #1

Posted on May 17, 2006 by Michael Froomkin

Miami is #1. No, not basketball. Miami Motorists Rated Rudest:

Stressed Miami drivers speed, tailgate and cut off other drivers so frequently that the city earned the title of worst road rage in a survey released Tuesday.

It’s true that Miami roads are populated by dangerous maniacs. But their behavior isn’t always simple rudeness because, as Dave Barry once explained, “Miami is a place where everyone drives according to the rules of his home country.”

That said, I will admit that it’s pretty surprising how many parents dropping off their kids at school in the morning can’t be bothered to pull over, but just stop their (large) SUVs in the middle of the small side street. Then have a little chat with someone. And how many Mercedes I’ve seen this week alone parked on the line to take two spaces in a crowded parking lot.

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Serendipity, At a Price

Posted on May 17, 2006 by Michael Froomkin

Just yesterday, yes less than 24 hours ago, I was reading the news feed from a group blog and desperately wishing I had one of these so I could filter out the most obnoxious of the group.

And today, via Boing Boing, comes a link to FeedRinse, a service that “that filters the RSS feeds you subscribe to, hiding items that match keywords or authors you don’t want to see.” Yes!

Only trouble is, the free version is very limited; otherwise you have to pay.

But surely an open source version can’t be that far away? (Oh, please someone build this into FeedOnFeed Redux, please.)

Posted in Internet | Comments Off on Serendipity, At a Price

The Origins of the Yellow Legal Pad

Posted on May 17, 2006 by Michael Froomkin

Legal Affairs recounts the origins of the legal pad.

Personally, while very devoted to yellow yellow pads up through law school, I discovered that I really preferred white pads some time early in law practice. I think they are easier to read.

Posted in Law: Practice | 3 Comments

Daily Show Outdoes Itself

Posted on May 16, 2006 by Michael Froomkin

This Daily Show clip about the NSA’s eavesdropping program, has to be one of the best I’ve ever seen (ignore the bit about soccer in the first minute and 20 seconds, which goes on about a minute too long).

Don’t miss the cameo by Gen. Hayden at about the two minute mark.

Posted in Civil Liberties | Comments Off on Daily Show Outdoes Itself

The Guns of June

Posted on May 16, 2006 by Michael Froomkin

In a week where we learn of a systematic effort to spy on journalists (who’s next, Howard Dean?) via Patriot Act-authorized National Security Letters which bypass all judicial process, it does not pay to dismiss any potential act of military madness too quickly as tinfoil.

So, although the source is not the most reliable, I bring you US military, intelligence officials raise concern about possible preparations for Iran strike, RAW STORY’s allegation that the US is moving two air craft carriers into range in order to be able to bomb Iran. (For an alternate view that the bombing could be carried out from land bases, see US spells out plan to bomb Iran in the UK Herald.)

Posted in Politics: Tinfoil | Comments Off on The Guns of June