July 2011


Legal Questions Raised by Success of Monkey Photographer

Here's an excellent question (via the Legal Satyricon): if a monkey steals your camera and takes a bunch of pictures with it, who (if anyone) owns the rights to the pictures? After three days of hanging out with some crested…




Lawsuit Demands End to Use of Term “Inmate”

According to the New York Post, a new lawsuit demands that the state stop using the word "inmate" because it is offensive to inmates the imprisoned the involuntarily freedom-challenged. Or, at least, the plaintiff demands that the state stop referring to…


Mark Twain’s Bra Patent

Turns out Samuel Clemens invented more than Tom Sawyer: Actually, although it does look like a bra clasp, which is what this report assumed it was, the Patent and Trademark Office says that Clemens' idea was for a device that could be used to…


This Service Needs to Be Tweaked

I tried out one of those services that analyzes your Twitter feed and tells you things like who "influences" you, who you influence, and so on. I think the algorithm might need a little more work: "Pirates" made at least some sense to me….


Blagojevich’s Mouth Turned Against Him in Retrial, Jurors Say

Quick flashback to Blagojevich I (from a July 2010 post): "Rod Blagojevich yells his innocence as he comes out offederal court Thursday afternoon." (Chicago Sun-Times) I'd like to think that each of the Blagojevich II jurors struck the same pose as he…


Assorted Stupidity #21

How do you hide a mink coat in your underpants for three days? It's not a riddle, I really don't know. I've read this report several times now and I can't visualize how this might have worked. And for that…