Guardians of the Galaxy: Beautiful Schlock. Get on Up Does Some Justice.
A spaced-out blockbuster and a problematic tribute to the great James Brown.
Culture
The Secret History of the Telephone Network
The public utility model of telecommunications was not as inevitable as it seems today.
Religious Freedom and the Great Faux-Rights Arms Race of 2014: Elizabeth Nolan Brown at The Week
A crop of current religious freedom cases are more predicated on wringing special protections from the state than legit struggles for religious liberty.
France Offering Asylum to Christians Driven from Iraq
They've been told to convert, pay fines, or face death.
Spying on Everybody Threatens a Free Press Says Groups, Common Sense
Human Rights Watch and ACLU put out joint report
Kids or Criminals? Preschool Suspended a 3-Year-Old… Five Times
If there's any good news on this front, it's that the absurdity of many of these stories has prompted something of a backlash.
Historic NYT Editorial: Feds Should Legalize Marijuana Pronto
Way to get with the times, Times.
Government Menu Mandates Are Not Curing Obesity
Obesity rates may be leveling off or even falling.
Are Teachers Underpaid? Let's Find Out
If teachers believe they aren't making what they're worth, let's free them from union constraints and let them find out what the job market has to offer.
Does Mary Poppins Want a Higher Minimum Wage Or Lower Taxes?
Mary Poppins is actually upset that her paycheck is too low after the government takes its cut.
Friday A/V Club: Hollywood Explains These New-Fangled Computer Thingies
For the filmmakers of the '80s, computers were magic and hackers were wizards.
Move Over, Oswald: Salon Says Tea Party Types Killed Kennedy
Wasn't Kennedy murdered by a self-described Marxist?
Magic in the Moonlight: Good Woody. Lucy: Girl Powers.
Colin Firth joins Allen on the Côte d'Azur, and Scarlett Johansson explores several new mental dimensions.
Why Capitalism is Better than Socialism
Even under ideal conditions, socialism would still suck, says Georgetown's Jason Brennan.
Former Bircher No Longer Believes in Vast Communist Conspiracy, Fears Vast Conservative Conspiracy Instead
Jeffrey Rogers Hummel reviews Claire Conner's memoir.
Another Campus Falls to Anti-Smoking Zealotry—Even E-Cigs Are Banned
Some students are irritated about the ban, but who are they to stand athwart history?
Contemporary Democracy Is a Fraud
Once it grows to a certain size, so-called democratic government begins to soften and weaken the people.
