Outside the Beltway

A true pioneer passed away today.

As far as the law is concerned, your social media accounts aren’t private at all.

Virginia has been offering ID cards to military veterans to make it easier to prove that they’re military veterans for months now.

One would think that people who have decided that commenting on a political blog under their own name isn’t worth the risk of blowback would feel a certain sympathy for a scientist-astronaut who values her privacy deciding not to tell the world she was gay.

Andrew Sullivan believes Sally Ride “had a chance to expand people’s horizons and young lesbians’ hope and self-esteem, and she chose not to.”

The Koch brothers will spend more money in this election cycle than the entire McCain campaign did in 2008.

Opponents of the Supreme Court’s decision in Citizens United continue to miss the point of what the case was really about.

We’ve reached the point where public figures coming out of the closet is barely news anymore, and that’s a good thing.

From one Nobel Peace Prize winner to another.

Should it be anyone’s business if you vote?

The United States may have slowed down Iran’s nuclear program without firing a shot–not counting the one at our own foot.

Cave quid dicis, quando, et cui.

A surprisingly short sentence in a case that caused a nationwide sensation.

The private office is quickly becoming a relic, despite the loss of morale and productivity that comes from open floorplans.

Marriage has always been an evolving institution.

The Founders would never have thought to do more than count people in the Census!

Some blogger wants to pay someone to get Barack Obama’s college transcripts. It’s time for this silliness to end.

Another potential scandal in New Orleans.

It would be nice if policies were assessed in terms of costs and benefits.

Legendary musician Levon Helm is dying.

There are advantages to cash that electronic transactions cannot replicate.

The US Supreme Court ruled today that police can strip search anyone they decide to arrest for anything for any reason.

Like it or not, what you do online will be of interest to someone looking to hire you.

Good Journalism?

Dharun Ravi was convicted of bias intimidation toward Tyler Clementi. It’s not at all clear that he should have been.

There is no Republican savior out there.

E-mail forward raises serious questions about judge’s judgment .

A story from September 2010 reminds us that rushing to judgment is never a good idea.

The Supreme Court issued a somewhat muddled ruling on GPS tracking today.

Should journalists report things they happen to overhear in a public place?

Some questions for opponents of the Supreme Court’s decision in Citizens United.

There’s no law requiring Presidential candidates to release their tax returns. Should they be expected to do it anyway?

Apparently, people who work for the government are surfing the World Wide Web.

Do the Republican candidates believe that American citizens have a right to privacy? Someone should ask them.

Can the government force a criminal defendant to reveal a computer password? A Federal case in Denver is dealing with that question right now.

Domestic dispute or criminal act?

Greg Halman, an outfielder for the Seattle Mariners baseball team, was stabbed to death in his native Holland. His brother is the chief suspect.

A story from Herman Cain’s past is on the front page of Politico tonight.

The Feds fired Monster and now USAJobs is a disaster

In Louisiana, that cash in your pocket is now worthless if you want to buy used goods.

California’s Governor has vetoed a bill that would have reversed a very misguided decision by that state’s Supreme Court.