2014

Judge Skeptical of Joe Francis’s Explanation

My guess would be that the headline above would apply to pretty much any explanation Joe Francis has ever given a judge, and probably to any explanation he's ever given, period. In this case it applies to the explanation he…


Brain Scientist Waves Gun Around at Airport

Look, I think airport-security concerns are way overblown, I generally support the right to bear arms, and I'm also a big fan of brain scientists. But that does not mean I think it's okay for a brain scientist to wave…




Hey, I’m Appearing on FOX

I will appear for a few minutes tonight (Thursday) on the John Stossel show to talk about some ridiculous laws. The show was taped last week and is on tonight at 9 pm Eastern (and various other times depending on…


U.S. Patent App. No. 20140159444: Airline Passenger Torture Device

The application calls it "Seating Device Comprising a Forward-Foldable Backrest," but I like my name better. The inventor describes the alleged motivation thusly (my annotations below): [T]o increase the number of cabin seats [and thus profit], the space allotted to…



After Bar Fight, Cubs Are Fed Up with Unofficial Mascot

The Sun-Times reports today that the Chicago Cubs are suing five people who have allegedly been posing as a Cubs mascot near Wrigley Field, engaging in "mascot-like activities" and trying to charge people for photos. They take turns doing this—I didn't…



TSA Employees Still Unsure About District of Columbia

This happened in February ("I Don't Think We Accept These," Says TSA Agent, Peering at D.C. License") and apparently it just happened again: When {Justin Gray, WFTV News] handed the man his driver's license the agent demanded to see Gray's…