Happy New Year’s Eve to all of our blog family.
Archive for December, 2009
HAPPY NEW YEAR’S EVE!
Published 1, December 31, 2009 Academics , Bizarre , Congress , Constitutional Law , Courts , Criminal law , Environment , International , Justice , Lawyering , Media , Military , Politics , Religion , Society , Supreme Court 19 CommentsVOTE NOW: HOURS TO GO TO THE CLOSING OF THE ABA POLLS!
Published 1, December 31, 2009 Academics , Bizarre , Columns , Congress , Constitutional Law , Courts , Criminal law , Environment , International , Justice , Lawyering , Media , Military , Politics , Religion , Society , Supreme Court , Things That Tick Me Off , Torts 27 Comments
The final day is here in the galactic struggle for blog dominance. This afternoon, voting will end and, while the vote count has now been hidden by the ABA, we cannot give up our righteous battle.
Continue reading ‘VOTE NOW: HOURS TO GO TO THE CLOSING OF THE ABA POLLS!’
China Executes Mentally Disturbed Briton
Published 1, December 31, 2009 Bizarre , Criminal law , International , Media , Politics , Society 11 Comments
Despite international calls for mercy, China executed Akmal Shaikh, a mentally disturbed British citizen, for possession of 4 kilograms (8.8 pounds) of heroin at the Urumqi Airport in September 2007.
Continue reading ‘China Executes Mentally Disturbed Briton’
Bad Bet: Vultures Face Extinction in South Africa As Gamblers Smoke Their Brains
Published 1, December 31, 2009 Bizarre , Environment , International , Religion , Society 12 Comments
Vultures are disappearing in South Africa. This is not because of pollution or global warming or development. Vultures are disappearing because gamblers are literally smoking their brains. That’s right. Smoking their brains.
Continue reading ‘Bad Bet: Vultures Face Extinction in South Africa As Gamblers Smoke Their Brains’
.708 Proof: Woman in South Dakota Sets Record in Blood Alcohol Test
Published 1, December 31, 2009 Bizarre , Criminal law , Society 9 Comments
Marguerite Engle, 45, has clearly left her mark on the world. The South Dakota police have recorded Engle as having the highest ever blood-alcohol level of .708 percent in the state’s history.
Continue reading ‘.708 Proof: Woman in South Dakota Sets Record in Blood Alcohol Test’
Fighting For Pork: Obama Breaks Promise on Wasteful Spending in Defense Bill
Published 1, December 31, 2009 Congress , Politics , Society 44 Comments
In August, President Obama proclaimed that he would not tolerate pork in the defense budget by declaring “If a project doesn’t support our troops, we will not fund it.” He is being accused again of a substantial gap between his rhetoric and the reality of his politics. He just signed the 2010 Defense Appropriations Bill with an estimated $4.2 billion in pork contained in 1,720 earmarks.
Continue reading ‘Fighting For Pork: Obama Breaks Promise on Wasteful Spending in Defense Bill’
California Man Kills Woman’s Dog and Then Runs Naked Through San Clemente
Published 1, December 31, 2009 Bizarre , Criminal law , Society 6 Comments
First the story. Bayron Reyes Lopez, 26, ran up to a woman, grabbed her mini shnauzer and beat it and choked it to death. He then ran naked to a tennis court and poured hot water on himself. Here what is fascinating. The story barely made the Los Angeles Times — just another random dog-killing, naked crazed man in the City of Angels.
Continue reading ‘California Man Kills Woman’s Dog and Then Runs Naked Through San Clemente’
Drunken Florida Man Arrested After Calling Police for Ride to Bar
Published 1, December 30, 2009 Bizarre , Criminal law , Society 4 Comments
Gregory J. Oras, 37, may want to find a designated driver . . . other than the 911 operator. After calling the police for a ride, he ended up tasered and arrested.
Continue reading ‘Drunken Florida Man Arrested After Calling Police for Ride to Bar’
Separate But Unequal: Ahmadinejad Moves for Segregation of Sexes Throughout Iranian Society
Published 1, December 30, 2009 Bizarre , Constitutional Law , International , Politics , Religion , Society 22 Comments
As his security forces continue to beat and kill pro-democracy protesters in the streets, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has stepped up a plan to strictly segregate the sexes throughout Iranian society in business and public buildings. It is part of his continued radical Muslim agenda with the hard-right religious leaders that support his regime.
Fifty-Nine-Year-Old Man Looking For Hard-Right Woman With Good Demographics and Vicious Disposition
Published 1, December 30, 2009 Bizarre , Politics , Society 21 Comments
Looking for the perfect arch-conservative with a frisky and fun side? Well, ladies, you are in luck: Karl Rove is now available for dating.
Continue reading ‘Fifty-Nine-Year-Old Man Looking For Hard-Right Woman With Good Demographics and Vicious Disposition’
Honor Killing: Father and Brother in Germany Kill Woman After Learning That She Is Not a Virgin
Published 1, December 30, 2009 Bizarre , Criminal law , Religion , Society 19 Comments
We have yet another “honor killing.” In Germany, a Kurdish man, 50, was sentenced to ordering the murder of his own daughter after learning that the 20-year-old woman named Gulsum Semin was no longer a virgin. He reportedly preferred a dead daughter and convinced his son to murder his own sister.
Continue reading ‘Honor Killing: Father and Brother in Germany Kill Woman After Learning That She Is Not a Virgin’
Bad Bunny: Former Playboy Model of the Year Convicted of Beating Fellow Hostess with Toilet and Then Has Meltdown in Courtroom
Published 1, December 30, 2009 Bizarre , Criminal law , International , Society 11 Comments
Louise Glover, a former Playboy Model of the Year, has added a novel category for assault: AWT (assault with a toilet). She has been convicted of assaulting DJ Maxine Hardcastle in a restroom of a club where they both work.
Stimulus Backhand: Public Gets Served After City Spends Stimulus Money on New Tennis Courts
Published 1, December 30, 2009 Bizarre , Politics , Society 13 Comments
Critics have long maintained that much of the stimulus package in Congress was a thinly veiled opportunity for members to spend wildly on pet projects in their states without fear of debt ceilings or backlash. Montana appears almost eager to prove the critics right. Bozeman City, Montana spent a chunk of its stimulus money to install new tennis courts in a park. They did not even use local contractors but went out of state for the work.
Illinois GOP Senate Candidate Calls Out Rep. Kirk For Alleged Homosexuality
Published 1, December 29, 2009 Bizarre , Media , Politics , Society 48 Comments
The Senate race is already heating up in Illinois after GOP primary candidate Andy Martin (left) ran a negative ad accusing Rep. Mark Kirk (R-IL) of being gay.
Continue reading ‘Illinois GOP Senate Candidate Calls Out Rep. Kirk For Alleged Homosexuality’
Fugitive U.S. Doctor Found Living in Tent 6000 Feet Up in the Italian Alps
Published 1, December 29, 2009 Bizarre , Criminal law , Society , Torts 19 Comments
International fugitive and former millionaire nose doctor, Mark Weinberger was captured while living in a tent at 6000 feet up in the Italian Alps. Weinberger tried to take his own life with a small knife that he hid in his underwear.
Continue reading ‘Fugitive U.S. Doctor Found Living in Tent 6000 Feet Up in the Italian Alps’
Four Arrested in Christmas “Lynching”
Published 1, December 29, 2009 Bizarre , Criminal law , Politics , Society 14 Comments
Four men have been arrested in a bizarre Christmas day “lynching” in Indian Land, South Carolina. The victim was Ronnie Gene Wallace, 42, shown to the left.
Continue reading ‘Four Arrested in Christmas “Lynching”’
Chinese Student Freezes to Death After Being Forced to Stay Outside by Teacher Who Went Out Drinking
Published 1, December 29, 2009 Academics , Bizarre , International , Society , Uncategorized 7 Comments
Yang Guangsheng, principal of Wujing Junior Middle School in Linqu county of Shandong province, and Wang Dongping, vice-principal, were suspended after Student Zhang Jixin, 14, was found dead after freezing to death. He was told to stand outside in the cold all night by a teacher as punishment. The teacher went out drinking and forgot about the student.
Continue reading ‘Chinese Student Freezes to Death After Being Forced to Stay Outside by Teacher Who Went Out Drinking’
Parking in Pink: Extra Wide Parking Places Are Offered to Women in China
Published 1, December 29, 2009 Bizarre , International , Politics , Society 6 Comments
China appears to be following the trend in other countries to offer women wider parking spaces. We saw this controversial practice emerge in countries like South Korea. Now, a shopping center in Hebei province will offer the same widened spaces for female drivers.
Continue reading ‘Parking in Pink: Extra Wide Parking Places Are Offered to Women in China’
Minnesota Man Racks Up 20th DUI Offense
Published 1, December 29, 2009 Bizarre , Criminal law , Society 2 Comments
Paul D. Garay, 55, has racked up his 20th drunken-driving offense but will not face a felony charge for the DUI arrest on Christmas Eve.
Continue reading ‘Minnesota Man Racks Up 20th DUI Offense’
Balloon Boy’s Parents Sentenced to Total of 110 Days in Jail
Published 1, December 28, 2009 Bizarre , Criminal law , Society 20 Comments
Balloon Boy’s parents Richard and Mayumi Heene have been sentenced for this hoax. Larimer County, Colo. Judge Stephen Schapanski sentenced the couple to a total of 110 days in jail and eight years probation. He also prohibited the couple from making any money off the balloon boy fiasco during that time.
Continue reading ‘Balloon Boy’s Parents Sentenced to Total of 110 Days in Jail’
Whistleblower Cop Charged in Russia After Blog Appeal to Putin
Published 1, December 28, 2009 Bizarre , Criminal law , International , Media , Politics , Society 4 Comments
We have another blogger being prosecuted for embarrassing a government. The Russian prosecutors have charged former police major Alexei Dymovsky who achieved international acclaim with his video blogs accusing colleagues of corruption and forcing witnesses to accuse innocent people. He appealed to Prime Minister Vladimir Putin to do something. He did, it appears. Dymovsky has been charged with abuse of office.
Continue reading ‘Whistleblower Cop Charged in Russia After Blog Appeal to Putin’
There are some heros who go unheralded. You have seen Bicycle Man. Now there is Parking Man.
Continue reading ‘Parking Man To The Rescue’
Dead Man Walking: Coroner Stops Autopsy Have Found Man Alive
Published 1, December 28, 2009 Bizarre , International , Society , Torts 8 Comments
The medical examiner in Caracas, Venezuela faced an odd situation this week when the man they were cutting began to bleed — an indication that he was very much alive. Carlos Camejo, 33, was declared dead after a highway accident and taken to the morgue. They were wrong.
Continue reading ‘Dead Man Walking: Coroner Stops Autopsy Have Found Man Alive’
High School Officials Allegedly Cuts Science Program Because It Primarily Benefits White Students
Published 1, December 28, 2009 Academics , Bizarre , Politics , Society 81 Comments
Berkeley High School is in the midst of a difficult debate over the elimination of science labs and five science teachers to shift resources to help struggling students. Some have objected that the science courses primarily help white students and should be reduced to add greater “equity” for struggling and minority students.
Continue reading ‘High School Officials Allegedly Cuts Science Program Because It Primarily Benefits White Students’
Was Baucus Drunk on Senate Floor or Are Conservatives Seeing This Video Through Beer Goggles?
Published 1, December 28, 2009 Bizarre , Politics , Society 18 CommentsConservative bloggers are running this video and accusing Senator Max Baucus, Finance Chairman, of being drunk on the Senate floor during the health care debate (and accusing the media of ignoring the story, here). This has triggered a hilarious debate over whether Baucus was drunk. What do you think?
FLOG THE BLOG: FOUR DAYS LEFT FOR BLOG IMMORTALITY
Published 1, December 27, 2009 Academics , Bizarre , Congress , Constitutional Law , Courts , Criminal law , Environment , International , Military , Politics , Religion , Society , Supreme Court , Things That Tick Me Off , Torts 10 Comments We are now four days short of the finish line in the ABA top blog competition. While the vote count has now been hidden by the ABA, we must learn to fight blindfolded and trust our senses, Little Grasshoppers.
Continue reading ‘FLOG THE BLOG: FOUR DAYS LEFT FOR BLOG IMMORTALITY’
As a special gift to Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels, I wanted to show that his denouncing of atheism was not ignored. He clearly touched this creature.
Continue reading ‘THE PIOUS PRAIRIE DOG’
Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels Accuses Atheism as Cause of Holocaust and Other Great Crimes Against Humanity
Published 1, December 27, 2009 Bizarre , Media , Politics , Religion , Society 36 Comments
The global campaign against the scourge of secularism continues. As we previously saw how the Chief Rabbi and the former prime minister of England attacked secularism as the threat to Western Civilization. Now, Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels is adding his voice to this chorus — singling out atheists as responsible for the greatest crimes of the last century.
Continue reading ‘Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels Accuses Atheism as Cause of Holocaust and Other Great Crimes Against Humanity’
Putting the Bad Into Hyderbad: 86-Year-Old Governor Resigns After Sex Tape With Three Women
Published 1, December 27, 2009 Bizarre , International , Politics , Society 8 Comments
In Hyderabad, India, Narain Dutt Tiwari knows exactly how Carrie Prejean feels. A sex tape has surfaced showing Tiwari in bed with three women. The difference is that he is 86 and the governor of a southern Indian state and a leader in the Congress party. He resigned after it surfaced that he was pressing the flesh with the wrong types of constituents.
Continue reading ‘Putting the Bad Into Hyderbad: 86-Year-Old Governor Resigns After Sex Tape With Three Women’
I just saw this video of Minister Kerney Thomas who basically preaches that being full of faith is a lot like eating really really hot Mexican food.
Continue reading ‘The Scream of Faith’
Peppermint Pusher: Ten-Year-Old Girl Suspended From School For Bringing Peppermint Oil To School
Published 1, December 27, 2009 Academics , Bizarre , Politics , Society 24 Comments
School officials have suspended a 10-year-old girl in New York for bringing peppermint oil to the John Mandracchia-Sawmill Intermediate School and giving drops to her fifth grade friends to flavor their water. The Commack School District insists that the oil “is an unregulated over-the-counter drug.”
The Wheels of Justice: Chinese Man Fights Thieves With Bicycle
Published 1, December 27, 2009 Bizarre , Criminal law , International , Society 3 Comments A Chinese man is being celebrated as a hero after stopping thieves by throwing his bike at them.
Continue reading ‘The Wheels of Justice: Chinese Man Fights Thieves With Bicycle’
Maru’s Moments — In Slow Motion
Published 1, December 26, 2009 Bizarre , Environment , International 7 CommentsThis guy really loves this cat. I have to admit that the jumping in slow motion is pretty cool.
Continue reading ‘Maru’s Moments — In Slow Motion’
Perhaps this is why they do not spell out Sports Utility Vehicle and just let owners get by with SUV.
Continue reading ‘SUV-CHALLENGED’
Four Irish Bishops Resign in Wake of Abuse Report
Published 1, December 26, 2009 Bizarre , Criminal law , International , Politics , Religion , Society 8 Comments
The Irish are running low on Catholic bishops after two more bishops resigned on Christmas Eve in the wake of a report on the cover-up of sexual abuse. Two bishops previously resigned. Bishops Eamonn Walsh and Raymond Field offered their resignations to Pope Benedict on December 24th.
Continue reading ‘Four Irish Bishops Resign in Wake of Abuse Report’
Ok, I admit I find this really cool despite the promise of a host of injuries. This guy mounted a camera on his RC plane and filmed as his kids tried to shoot it down with fireworks.
Continue reading ‘Into the Air Junior Birdman . . .’
China Set To Execute Mentally Ill British Man for Drug Smuggling
Published 1, December 26, 2009 Bizarre , Criminal law , International , Politics , Society 9 CommentsChina is moving forward with the execution of a mentally ill British man for trafficking drugs. The British government has been protesting the treatment of Akmal Shaikh, whose family insists that he was duped into going to China by promises of becoming a singer and star. A Chinese gang used him to smuggle drugs.
Continue reading ‘China Set To Execute Mentally Ill British Man for Drug Smuggling’
Merry Christmas from India
Published 1, December 26, 2009 Bizarre , International , Religion , Society 7 CommentsThis one seems to have escaped us . . .
China Sentences Human Rights Leader to 11 Years in Jail For Drafting Pro-Democracy Paper
Published 1, December 26, 2009 Constitutional Law , Courts , Criminal law , Environment , International , Politics , Society 9 Comments
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has insisted that the Obama Administration will not fight with China over human rights and instead seek a “more practical” approach that emphasizes trade issues, here. Yesterday, China showed the world that it doesn’t feel any pressure to allow free speech or basic rights to its citizens. It sentenced leading human rights advocate Liu Xiaobo to 11 years in prison for calling for the rule of law and democracy in China.
Continue reading ‘China Sentences Human Rights Leader to 11 Years in Jail For Drafting Pro-Democracy Paper’
Justice Delayed and Denied: Police Chief Receives Only 6 Months and $20 for Assault of 14-Year-Old Girl
Published 1, December 26, 2009 Bizarre , Constitutional Law , Courts , Criminal law , International , Lawyering , Society 1 Comment
There is a horrible case out of India where a former senior police officer has been able to openly flaunt and manipulate the legal system after molesting a 14-year-old girl. SPS Rathore allegedly used his authority to harass the family of Ruchika Girhotra and obstruct the investigation into the assault of the promising tennis player. Now, the outrage has grown after Rathore was given a mere six months sentence and told to pay 1,000 rupees ($20). Ruckika was not in the court room when Rathore reportedly laughed at the sentence. She committed suicide after years of harassment by the police.
MERRY CHRISTMAS
Published 1, December 25, 2009 Academics , Bizarre , Congress , Constitutional Law , Courts , Criminal law , Environment , International , Media , Military , Politics , Religion , Society , Supreme Court , Testimony , Things That Tick Me Off , Torts 38 Comments
Best wishes to everyone celebrating Christmas and Hanukkah. To paraphrase Tiny Tim, “And God bless us, everyone . . . even Legal Satyricon.” Continue reading ‘MERRY CHRISTMAS’
Woman Knocks Down the Pope At Christmas Mass
Published 1, December 25, 2009 Bizarre , Criminal law , Media , Politics , Religion , Society 27 Comments
I thought that I could get through this day without an actual Christmas tort worth noting. However, an astonishing breach of security occurred Thursday night in the Vatican. Somehow a mentally unstable woman was able to jump the barriers in St. Peter’s Basilica and knock down Pope Benedict XVI as he walked down the main aisle to begin Christmas Eve Mass at the Vatican.
Continue reading ‘Woman Knocks Down the Pope At Christmas Mass’
Santa Spotted In Micronesia
Published 1, December 24, 2009 Bizarre , Environment , International , Politics , Religion , Society 49 Comments
The good people of Norad are tracking the jolly fat man and spotted him in Micronesia, here.
Continue reading ‘Santa Spotted In Micronesia’
Blasphemy Blog: Egyptian Court Upholds Four-Year Sentence of Blogger for Criticizing Islam
Published 1, December 24, 2009 Constitutional Law , Criminal law , International , Politics , Religion , Society 7 Comments
An Egyptian court has affirmed the four-year jail sentence imposed on blogger Abdel Kareem Nabil Suleiman for posting writings critical of Islam and the government. The sentencing comes after the Obama Administration caved into pressure from Egypt to support a resolution that recognizes the basis for such blasphemy prosecutions, here.
Man on a White Horse: Idaho Gubernatorial Candidate Rex Rammell Holds Closed Meetings with LDS Elders on the “White Horse” Prophecy
Published 1, December 24, 2009 Bizarre , Media , Politics , Religion , Society 26 Comments
Rex Rammell may be running for Idaho’s governorship, but he is clearly preparing for (or at least thinking of) something more grand. The Mormon candidate will be holding closed door meetings with elders from the Church of the Latter Day Saints (LDS) on the rather apocalyptic predictions by Joseph Smith called the “White Horse” prophesy that leads to Mormons saving the nation by taking over the government.
Continue reading ‘Man on a White Horse: Idaho Gubernatorial Candidate Rex Rammell Holds Closed Meetings with LDS Elders on the “White Horse” Prophecy’
PETA Publishes Photos of Elephant Abuse Taken By Late Trainer
Published 1, December 24, 2009 Environment , Media , Politics , Society 4 Comments
PETA has released photos taken by a former elephant trainer with the circus of a baby elephant being taught to perform — and hit with sharp metal hooks when it fails to do so. The photos were reportedly taken by trainer who died recently and wanted them published.
Continue reading ‘PETA Publishes Photos of Elephant Abuse Taken By Late Trainer’
No School Left Behind: Taliban Blows Up School for Girls in Pakistan
Published 1, December 24, 2009 Bizarre , International , Religion , Society 3 Comments
The Taliban gave the world another example of why its educational programs are so low cost and effective. In the Khyber District of Pakistan the Taliban blew up a girls’ school. This was a moderate response for the organization, which is known to throw acid in the faces of girls trying to go to school.
Continue reading ‘No School Left Behind: Taliban Blows Up School for Girls in Pakistan’
Police Enter Backyards of Citizens Without Permission or Notice in Exercise and Shoot Man’s Dog When It Attacks
Published 1, December 24, 2009 Bizarre , Criminal law , International , Society , Torts 3 Comments
In Chilliwack, B.C., the Mounties are facing heavy criticism after they decided to use the backyards of citizens for an exercise without either notice or permission. Fendi, a six-year-old pit bull, was not happy when armed men and tracking dogs appeared around his yard. When he attacked one of the police dogs, the Mounties shot him — leaving his owner Brian Hackner with a great deal of questions and one dead dog.
A Place to Hang His Hat: Man Walks Into Diner With Knife Stuck in His Chest
Published 1, December 23, 2009 Uncategorized 24 Comments
A man walks into a diner with a knife stuck in his chest and orders coffee . . .
No, this is not a lead up for a joke.
Continue reading ‘A Place to Hang His Hat: Man Walks Into Diner With Knife Stuck in His Chest’
Vampire Jailed for Threatening to Torture and Kill Judge and His Family
Published 1, December 23, 2009 Bizarre , Criminal law , Politics , Religion , Society 17 Comments
Jonathan Sharkey, 44, was once a proud vampire who ran for president and other public offices while leading the Vampyre Nation. Now, he has been arrested for allegedly threatening to torture and kill Judge David Certo.
Continue reading ‘Vampire Jailed for Threatening to Torture and Kill Judge and His Family’
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