A man who was jailed and almost convicted of "possession of extreme pornography" (a video he had failed to delete fully) is campaigning to change that law.

This "extreme pornography" law needs to be repealed, not just reformed. Various kinds of animals, including cats, dogs, gorillas, and dolphins, sometimes enjoy and even ask for sexual activities with humans. To prohibit the act, or images of it, is sheer authoritarian prudery. Necrophilia can't hurt the person who died (nothing can), so there is no reason to prohibit the act, let alone images of it.

However, the fundamental point is that prohibiting the possession of a copy of something — no matter what it is — is tyranny and puts everyone in danger.

President Maduro promises to reform the country's thugs after some were accused of killing a politician.

The head of a Venezuelan government agency told me a decade ago that the thugs made a practice of arresting people on false charges to get ransom, and even heads of agencies were not safe.

Chavez did not cause this — it was happening before he became president. He did not, however, take strong action to stop it.

Six Arab countries join PISSI in endorsing the execution of anyone that ceases to be a Muslim.

Nurse Kaci Hickox, who does not have an Ebola infection as far as medicine can tell, says she will sue if the state of Maine tries to impose a quarantine on her.

The early stages of global heating: less maple syrup, fewer cherries … chocolate too expensive.

Corn production is dropping as a permanent thing, but occasionally there is a wheat harvest failure due to extreme weather. This will get more frequent too; in 30 years it may happen all the time.