McCullagh: A Law Unto Himself

by Jim Harper on October 11, 2007 · View Comments

First it was those clown-ass oversized jackie-o glasses. Then it was carrying around a miniature dog, paralyzed with fear (and shame). Now the latest fashion trend is to name a law after yourself.

C|Net star reporter and self-styled “iconoclast” Declan McCullagh has established himself a law – following right on the heels of . . . hmmm, how shall I put this . . . MOI.

McCullagh’s law is:

As the certainty that legislation violates the U.S. Constitution increases, so does the probability of predictions that severe harm or death will come to Americans if the proposal is not swiftly enacted.

Nicely put. Has a Godwin-y quality to it, but is certainly distinct. I like it.

Let’s have it, people. Name your law! But only one a piece!

View Comments Posted in: Miscellaneous

  • I laid claim to "McGath's Law" many years ago, though no one's really noticed:

    Paranoia is a virtue.
  • DH
    I think "Gattuso's Extension of Murphy's Law" was illustrated quite nicely when John Ashcroft was replaced by Alberto Gonzales.


  • I think everyone wants to name a law after themselves, especially if they have a blog to post it to. I posted mine back in February, carving in stone a "law" that I made up years ago, trying to state succinctly why DRM is impossible:


    Click here to read it.


    Quickly stated -- Russell's Law: You cannot encrypt past the intended recipient.

  • The more patriotic-sounding words in a lobbying organization's name, the more corporate welfare they want.
  • James Gattuso
    I like it.

    Re naming my own law, there actually already is one on the books. "Gattuso's Extension of Murphy's Law" holds that nothing is ever so bad that it can't get worse." I have no idea what Gattuso is responsible for it, but it seems valid, in my experience.
blog comments powered by Disqus

Previous post:

Next post: