Author: nick
The recent rapid advance in the capabilities of artificial intelligence (AI) applications I think qualifies as a disruptive technology. The term “disruptive technology” was popularized in 1997 by Clayton M. Christensen. To summarize, a disruptive technology is “an innovation that fundamentally alters the way industries operate, businesses function, or consumers behave, often rendering existing technologies, products, or services obsolete.” AI is potentially so powerful, and changing so quickly, that it is challenging to optimally regulate it. We are caught in a classic dilemma – we do not want to hamper our own competitiveness in a critical new technology, but we…
To listen to Gov. Gavin Newsom, California is still the nation’s economic leader. In his April 9 news release, he crows, “California continues to outperform every other state.” Rosy reports from politicians are not an accurate barometer of real conditions. According to the latest Bureau of Economic Analysis data, California’s economy expanded 5% in 2025. This was the 15th fastest rate in the country – not the fastest, as Newsom crows. It was faster than Texas (4.9%) but slower than Florida (6.3%). Still, 15th is a top-third growth performance, not bad. But California’s longer-term growth comparisons are less favorable. Relative…
From last week’s decision by Judge Virginia Kendall (N.D. Ill.) in Obi v. Cook County: The Court strikes Plaintiff’s motion [to alter or amend the judgment dismissing her complaint] for violating Local Rule 7.1 and sanctions her $5,000 for violating Rule 11. Plaintiff’s motion is 10.5 pages single-spaced and her core argument runs six straight pages in a single paragraph. 10.5 single-spaced pages is 21 pages double-spaced. Plaintiff’s reply briefs are 23 pages single-spaced (46 pages double-spaced) and 13 pages single-spaced (26 pages double-spaced). Plaintiff never sought leave to file such voluminous papers. The lack of table of contents is…
President Donald Trump said he is willing to take weapons that NATO had bought for Ukraine and send them to the Middle East for the war against Iran. During a cabinet meeting on Thursday, President Donald Trump was asked about a Washington Post report that weapons that were scheduled to be sent to Ukraine were redirected. He explained the US frequently takes that action. Reporter: Is the U.S. diverting some munitions that were meant for Ukraine to the Middle East? Trump: We do that all the time. We have a lot of munitions. Sometimes we take from one and use…
House for sale, Williams, California. Photo: Jeffrey St. Clair. With so much going on, I managed to miss the release of data on existing home sales for March. According to the National Association of Realtors, it was down by 3.3 percent from February and 1.0 percent from March of last year. Sales were down in all four major regions, but the drop was sharpest in the Northeast with a 8.5 percent month-over-month drop and 12.2 percent year-over-year. Interestingly, the West, which is largely California, is doing best. The one-month decline was just 1.3 percent, and sales were up 1.3 percent…
Trump vs. Pope Leo: Catholics Warn of Serious Juncture Source link
My coauthors Cassandra Robertson, Zoe Robinson, and I just published an article entitled “Can Speech Policy Protect Public Health?” in the Utah Law Review. Here is the abstract: Government speech shapes public health outcomes, yet political incentives often lead officials to either remain silent about emerging threats or subordinate scientific evidence to partisan goals. This Article examines how three factors interact to influence public health: the constitutional status of health-related speech, the political economy of public health policymaking, and the modern information environment. Drawing on insights from public choice theory, we demonstrate how misaligned incentives lead political actors to avoid communicating about…
Gaslighting the public into supporting the slaughter of innocents is a tale as old as the state itself. If we don’t abandon the cult of personality, history is about to violently repeat itself. While millions of people across the country gathered with their families to celebrate a day historically dedicated to the Prince of Peace, the commander-in-chief of the American empire was busy on Truth Social, outlining his next mass casualty event. In a completely unhinged Easter Sunday ultimatum, Donald Trump promised the people of Iran a “Power Plant Day” and a “Bridge Day,” threatening to reduce the country to…
D.C. Carjackings: A Tale of Two Administrations Source link
Company execs joked about their customers, privately saying they were Source link