Federal Judge Rules Against N.S.A. Phone Data Program →

Ruled against, but what I'm hearing is that it's only "possibly" unconstitutional.

In fact, Benjamin Wittes, over on the Lawfare Blog, finds the opinion rather odd:

For one thing, it’s focused on a constitutional matter on which the 215 program is—at least under current doctrine—on pretty solid ground. And it ignores, because of the judge’s Administrative Procedures Act ruling, the issue on which the 215 program stands on far shakier ground: that is, the statutory question of whether the program is, in fact, authorized by Section 215 of the Patriot Act.

And here's a nice summary (with links to others' opinions).

Parental Leave 20 Years After FMLA →

The letter seems to have missed the spirit of the law. Several things stand out, but one caught my eye: while women continue to temporarily leave the work force more than men (for various reasons), continuing wage discrimination means they can afford to less so than men. It's still a story of socioeconomic "necessity" that they do so.

Mandela and the Question of Violence →

I particularly like the quotes from Malcolm X and King. The weak may have to endure what they must, but don't be surprised when they punch you in the nose. And don't forget any "great" country's roots.

Causality and Policy Outcomes: The Case of Presidents and Economic Growth →

A headline correlation. This paper will make the rounds for awhile. But something of a side note may eclipse it:

Their bottom line? The residual difference in economic growth observed between Republican and Democrat presidents is a "mystery." What BW13 may have actually rediscovered is that we don't know where economic growth actually comes from. Solving that riddle will require going beyond simple statistics.

Science is hard.