Editors’ Picks for Feb 16
Why the Court Might Swing Left (Even with a Republican Pick), Russian Research’s Attempt to Remove the Firewall Blocking Access to Scientific Knowledge, Britain Disallows Boycotts of Israeli Goods, and More Picks
PICKS are stories from many sources, selected by our editors or recommended by our readers because they are important, surprising, troubling, enlightening, inspiring, or amusing. They appear on our site and in our daily newsletter. Please send suggested articles, videos, podcasts, etc. to picks@whowhatwhy.org.
Nominating and Confirming Supreme Court Justices in Election Years (Gerry)
Ignore the hype. Here are the facts about this time-honored tradition.
Where the Supreme Court Might Go on Campaign Finance & Other Issues (Russ)
Juan Cole predicts leftward, even if the pick is left to anyone but Cruz.
Another Point of View: Mumia Abu-Jamal on Antonin Scalia (Russ)
From Prison Radio — you don’t often get this sort of perspective.
Does Scientific Knowledge Want to be Free? (Gerry)
A researcher in Russia has set up a website that bypasses all paywalls which restrict access to scientific papers. She’s being sued for millions of dollars. But she claims it’s the big scientific publishers who are doing something “illegal.”
Does Marco Rubio Plan an Invasion of Canada? (Klaus)
Florida Sen. Marco Rubio’s new campaign ad “Morning in America” begins with a shot of a skyline and a narrator exclaiming: “It’s morning again in America.” The only problem is that the campaign used footage of Vancouver and a boat that can be seen flies the Canadian flag.
Britain to Ban Boycotts on Israeli Goods (Trevin)
This after a handful of recent boycotts that angered Israeli authorities.
Charlie Daniels’ Open Letter to America’s ‘Enemies’ (Trevin)
The legendary singer songwriter has come a long way since his first hit, a song called “Uneasy Rider” which pit him in an argument against right-wing rednecks. He’s gone from supporting Jimmy Carter’s presidential bid, to criticizing Obama for not going to war with Syria in his new open letter. He writes that he prays every day to “Almighty God” that we choose the right leader so we can “begin the long process of rebuilding the World’s greatest military.”
