laws
Viewing Child Porn Online Officially A-OK in New York State
Caity Weaver · 05/09/12 08:52PMDutch Court Continues to Ruin Everything, Upholds Law Preventing Sale of Cannabis to Tourists
Louis Peitzman · 04/29/12 04:30PMIt's not news that the Netherlands has decided to limit legal marijuana consumption to residents, but man, a lot of us were hoping that wouldn't stick. Alas, Dutch court has ruled to uphold the law. Here's what this means for you, anyone who isn't Dutch: you can't fly to Amsterdam to get stoned in one of the city's legendary "coffee shops."
Courageous Judge Stands Up for Little Tobacco
Caity Weaver · 03/01/12 12:09AM10 Amazing Things You Didn't Know About Leap Day
Max Read · 02/29/12 01:12PMMaryland On Track to Approve Gay Marriage
Caity Weaver · 02/23/12 09:29PMNew NYC Homeless Policy Rejected (For Now)
Caity Weaver · 02/21/12 08:48PMIs North Korea Punishing People Who Didn't Mourn Hard Enough?
Max Read · 01/12/12 11:15AMRemember this disturbing video of North Koreans sobbing over Kim Jong-il's death? Shocking to think this, I know, but those people mayyyyy not have been entirely genuine in their mourning. Because, you know, the government reportedly sends people who don't weep or mourn publicly to labor-training camps.
20 Things You Should Know About the Bill That Could Ruin America
Lauri Apple · 12/05/11 12:30PMLast week the U.S. Senate passed 93-7 a version of the National Defense Authorization Act that includes provisions giving the military the right to detain you forever and without charge if they think you're some kind of terrorist. Consider it an early holiday present! There is no exchange policy, sorry.
Selling Fake Maple Syrup Could Soon Be a Federal Felony
Adrian Chen · 10/25/11 05:08PM'Liberal Extremist' Court Says Alabama Can't Track Students' Immigration Info
Max Read · 10/15/11 10:09AMAll Alabama wants to do is stop the Mexicans from coming to its state and taking "the jobs nobody wants to do," by forcing visible minorities to carry proof of legal immigration status on them at all times, and also tracking the immigration status of schoolchildren (who are literally stealing education), but will the "liberal extremists" of the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals let them? Noooo!
Today Is the Last Day to Have Sex with an Animal in Florida—Legally
Maureen O'Connor · 09/30/11 03:38PMToday is the last day that you can legally fuck an animal in Florida. At the stroke of midnight on October 1st, the Sunshine State's new anti-bestiality law goes into effect, forbidding "sexual contact" and "sexual conduct" with "animals." (So it might be illegal to have sex with other humans, too. Molds and fungi, however, are fair game.) Floridians: How do you plan to spend these precious final hours of legal bestiality?
Angry Birds Theme Park Opens Illegally In China
Leah Beckmann · 09/16/11 06:02PMAngry Birds enthusiasts, gather ‘round. Your dream of entering a larger than life, Angry Birds-themed world is now a reality. A theme park based on the popular cellphone videogame has opened in Changsta, a city in China's Hunan province. Now, I have never played the game in my life, but I know that there are many crazed fans out there for whom this is excellent news. Congrats, you guys, and finally!
Gabby Giffords Returns to Washington to Vote for Debt Ceiling Bill
Max Read · 08/01/11 06:09PMRep. Gabrielle Giffords returned to the House of Representatives on Monday, receiving a standing ovation and enthusiastically greeting her colleagues after casting her vote (her first since being shot in January) for the debt ceiling bill, which passed 269-161.
Missouri Protects Kids From Dangerous Internet Teachers
Adrian Chen · 08/01/11 12:18PMSan Francisco Hippies Lose Grip on Penis Protection Vote
Jeff Neumann · 07/28/11 06:11AMThe peen protecting crusaders who brought you the anti-Semitic Aryan comic book hero "Foreskin Man" are on the verge of losing their hard-fought campaign to get an anti-circumcision bill on the city's November ballot, after San Francisco Superior Court Judge Loretta Giorgi yesterday said the proposal was "expressly preempted" by state law. From the San Francisco Chronicle's Heather Knight:
Texting While Walking Is Now a Crime in Philadelphia
Max Read · 07/18/11 06:20PMThe Fight Against Child Pornography Will Destroy Your Privacy
Adrian Chen · 07/12/11 11:17AMCalifornia Wants to Force Children to Learn about Gays
Max Read · 07/05/11 10:12PMThe California Assembly has passed a bill that would require textbooks and history classes in schools to "include the contributions of gays, lesbians and transgender Americans." According to the bill's supporters, such a requirement would reduce the instance of anti-gay bullying, as well as paint a more accurate picture of American history; according to the bill's opponents, this bill will literally force every child to be homosexual forever, risking their places in heaven. The bill now goes to Gov. Jerry Brown's desk for either a signature or veto; Brown "has taken no public position." [LAT, image via AP]
San Francisco May Ban Goldfish
Max Read · 06/16/11 11:35PMFresh off an unsuccessful attempt to make circumcision illegal, San Francisco has turned elsewhere for its next attempted ban: Goldfish. The Animal Control and Welfare Commission would like to ban the sale of pets in the city, even goldfish. The proposed ban seems destined to fail a vote of the Board of Supervisors (just like the ACWC's recommendation to mix birth control with birdseed to reduce the pigeon population), but we appreciate that it was put forward in the first place, because "Isn't San Francisco Wacky, Man?" stories written by non-San Franciscans are among our favorites. [SFC]