prior probability

How much would it cost you to procure a complete set of English-language Wikipedia articles in book form? An art gallery in New York City is sponsoring an exhibition titled From Aaaaa! to ZZZap!, featuring work from the Print Wikipedia series by Michael Mandiberg. The Wikipedia exhibit, however, doesn’t actually feature a complete, physical copy of Wikipedia. Instead, according to the gallery’s description of the work, it “draws attention to the sheer size of the encyclopedia’s content and the impossibility of rendering Wikipedia as a material object in fixed form.” (Notice that the word “impossibility” in the previous sentence is really a substitute for “costly.”) But, in theory, how much would a complete copy of Wikipedia cost you? Below the fold is an excerpt by James Vincent, writing for The Verge: Continue reading →

Anna M. Phillips, a writer for the Tampa Bay Times (warning: the Tampa Bay Times website at the previous link has an annoying video ad that starts automatically when you click on the link), is reporting that a county judge will allow former professional wrestler “Hulk Hogan” to sport a bandana in the courtroom during his invasion-of-privacy trial against the website Gawker, which is scheduled to go to trial next week. In addition, the judge ruled that the Hulkster must be called by his geeky real name, Terry Gene Bollea, during the trial proceedings: Continue reading →

Roger Goodell, the unpopular Commissioner of the NFL, recently heard Tom Brady’s appeal in the now-infamous “Deflategate” or “Ballghazi” case. As things stand now, the Commissioner has only two options: (i) reduce Tom Brady’s four-game suspension, or (ii) do nothing (let Brady’s four-game suspension stand as is). Why doesn’t Mr Goodell have a third option: (iii) increase Brady’s suspension by n number of games? If this third option were available in pro sports, maybe fewer players would appeal their suspensions. As things stand now, there is no downside to a player appealing an adverse decision by his sports league …

Let’s get real … The stars & bars are no more inclusive than ISIS’s black flag is.Credit for “Wonder Bree”: Rebecca Cohen (via tumblr).

Overall, how great is the Supreme Court in protecting our rights? On balance, does the Court create more rights than it taketh away? For our part, we concur with the excellent David Post (via The Volokh Conspiracy) that “a Supreme Court that has the power to strike down state laws prohibiting marriage between persons of the same sex is also (and necessarily) a Supreme Court that has the power to, say, strike down state laws allowing marriages between persons of the same sex …” In other words: judicial power is a double-edged sword. A court presumptuous enough to create new rights is also powerful enough to take away our rights. Continue reading →