This is a case of a really brave duck and a really really restrained dog.
Archive for January, 2010
CBS Refuses to Air Gay Dating Commercial During Superbowl
Published 1, January 31, 2010 Bizarre , Constitutional Law , Media , Society 59 CommentsCBS has rejected a Super Bowl ad submitted by ManCrunch.com, a gay dating site that shows two male football fans making out. The network said that the commercial violated its standards and sources suggested it was just a ploy to get publicity. ManCrunch has called the move discriminatory and pointed to controversial commercials that have run in the past.
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Long Arm of the Law: Video Captures Police Beating Tasered Suspect
Published 1, January 31, 2010 Bizarre , Criminal law , International , Society 7 CommentsThis video of Winnipeg police officers repeatedly beating Cody Bousquet during an arrest on February 27, 2009. Bousquet reportedly had been tasered by the officers. One of the officers Const. Ryan Law was previously arrested for aggravated assault for kicking a suspect in the stomach in an interrogation room. He is the nephew of the Chief of Police.
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Please Stare at This Light: Rip Torn Arrested For Breaking Into Bank
Published 1, January 31, 2010 Bizarre , Criminal law , Media , Society 8 Comments
In Salisbury, Connecticut, actor Elmore “Rip” Torn, 78, has been arrested for breaking into a bank and carrying a firearm while intoxicated. He was found inside of the Litchfield Bancorp with a loaded gun. He appears to have had everything but the one thing he needed from MIB: his neuralyzer.
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Who Dat Say Dey Gonna Sue Dem Fans? Political and Legal Fight Brewing Over “Who Dat” Tee-Shirts
Published 1, January 31, 2010 Bizarre , Politics , Society , Torts 8 Comments
A federal court may have to decide who owns the “who dat” phrase in footnote. The NFL, which has a reputation of claiming a wide array of trademark rights against fans, has sent letters to various companies and fans telling them not to use the phrase “who dat” in combination with the Saints’ fleur-de-lis logo. It has led to Louisiana Sen. David Vitter (fresh from his prostitution scandal) to cry foul and demand that “who dat” belongs to the people. In the meantime, two fans have claimed ownership to the phrase since 1966.
Psst, Looking For Some Really Good Sh-t? Arizona Police Find Almost 800 Pounds of Pot in Septic Tank
Published 1, January 30, 2010 Bizarre , Criminal law , Society 36 Comments
Next time you are asked that question from a pot dealer, you may want to ask if he is speaking figuratively or literally. Police in Tucson, Arizona stopped a truck with a septic tank filled with human waste . . . and 743 pounds of pot.
Philadelphia Father Accused of Setting Puppy on Fire for Nipping at Kids
Published 1, January 30, 2010 Bizarre , Environment , Society 8 Comments
John Fleet, 33, was allegedly upset by a pit bull puppy when it nipped at his kids. That is understandable. His reaction was not. He allegedly rubbed alcohol on the puppy (not the one shown) and set it on fire in front of the kids.
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O’Keefe Goes Public With Defense on Landrieu Controversy
Published 1, January 30, 2010 Bizarre , Courts , Criminal law , Lawyering , Media , Society 306 Comments
Conservative filmmaker James O’Keefe has gone public with what is likely to be his defense at trial to the felony charge that he entered federal property with “false pretenses for the purpose of committing a felony.”
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Iranian Cleric Calls for Execution of More Protesters As Sanctioned By God
Published 1, January 30, 2010 Constitutional Law , Criminal law , International , Lawyering , Politics , Religion , Society 6 Comments
Leading Iranian Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati used his Friday prayer sermon to celebrate the recent executions of protesters and to call for more executions as the will of God. Jannati explained that the Koran (Qur’an) expressly allows rulers to execute critics.
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Meteorite Sets Off Firestorm of Litigation in Lorton
Published 1, January 30, 2010 Academics , Bizarre , Society 37 Comments
There is a fascinating property dispute brewing in Virginia. Dr. Marc Gallini and Frank Ciampi almost became galactic fodder when a meteorite came crashing into Examining Room No. 2 at their Williamsburg Square Family Practice. They decided to give the meteorite to the Smithsonian for a $5000 payment of “appreciation.” Now, the landlord Deniz Mutlu and his family have reportedly notified the Smithsonian that the meteorite is theirs, His brother and fellow landlord, Erol Mutlu, wrote to the museum that they would come to retrieve it by the end of the day.
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A Nose for Crime: London Police Arrest Man For Blowing Nose at Traffic Light
Published 1, January 30, 2010 Bizarre , Criminal law , International , Politics , Society 12 Comments
We have another curiosity out of London where police arrested Michael Mancini, 39, for blowing his nose in his van while it was stopped at a traffic light. The police officer insisted that he was not in control of his vehicle.
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Obama Reportedly Orders Justice Department to Consider Alternative Sites for Terror Trial
Published 1, January 29, 2010 Bizarre , Criminal law , Lawyering , Media , Politics , Society 36 Comments
Attorney General Eric Holder suffered an embarrassing setback yesterday when the White House ordered the Justice Department to find another location for the trial of the 9/11 suspects. If true, this would be a troubling intervention of the White House into a pending criminal case and seems to follow political pressure on the venue for the trial.
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Obama Avoids Pork Issue in State of the Union
Published 1, January 29, 2010 Bizarre , Congress , Politics , Society 21 Comments
For those who wanted President Barack Obama to address the issue of pork in the State of the Union, the speech of Argentina’s President Cristina Fernandez this week shows just how much Obama is withholding from the public. Fernandez not only praised the benefits of eating pork but encouraged that a little pork in your diet can spice up your love life. What do we get? A discussion of market recovery and jobs initiatives.
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Not-So-Happy Meal: Colorado Man Tells Children To Bite Officers at McDonald’s
Published 1, January 29, 2010 Bizarre , Criminal law , Society 1 Comment
Joshua Alger, 28, in Colorado Springs, Colorado is a few fries short of a Happy Meal. Not only did an intoxicated Alger allegedly pass out in a McDonald’s play area, but he encouraged his two children to bite the arresting officers.
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Oregon Police Officer Pepper Sprays Burning Man
Published 1, January 29, 2010 Bizarre , Criminal law , Society 19 Comments
When Daniel Shaull, 26, was spotted by a Portland officer after he burst into flames, the officer grabbed what she thought was a fire extinguisher and ran to put him out. Instead she succeeded in pepper spraying Shaull, who died later of his injuries.
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Author J.D. Salinger has died at 91. The author of “The Catcher in the Rye” died on Wednesday in his New Hampshire home.
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Van Steals Porsche to Go to Court on Stolen Lexus
Published 1, January 29, 2010 Bizarre , Criminal law , Society 4 Comments
Tony Van, 37, a hairstylist from San Francisco, is allegedly someone who likes to arrive in style. When he appeared in court to face charges of stealing a Porsche, Van allegedly decided to arrive in a stolen Lexus — leading to another arrest and charge.
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Virginia School Pulls Diary of Anne Frank From Shelves After Objection to Sexual Explicit Reference
Published 1, January 29, 2010 Academics , Bizarre , Politics , Society 40 Comments
The Culpepper County Public Schools has become the latest addition to the dubious list of schools banning Anne Frank’s ‘Diary of a Young Girl.” The move to pull the books from all of the shelves in the county reportedly came after one parent found a passage to be sexually explicit.
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Filmmaker O’Keefe Tweets on Pending Charges
Published 1, January 28, 2010 Bizarre , Courts , Criminal law , Media , Politics , Society 320 Comments
It appears that conservative filmmaker James O’Keefe is continuing to comment on his case. Raw Story and other sites are reporting that O’Keefe tweeted shortly around midnight last night that “Govt official concedes no attempt to wiretap.” In the meantime, it appears that the stunt in New Orleans may have been an effort to cut off the telephones or film their operation as opposed to wiretapping calls. I discussed this story on Hardball and Rachel Maddow.
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Justice Alito Shown Shaking His Head and Mouthing “Not True” in Response to State of the Union Address
Published 1, January 28, 2010 Congress , Constitutional Law , Courts , Justice , Media , Politics , Society 178 Comments
In a breach of protocol, Associate Justice Sam Alito was filmed during the State of the Union address last night shaking his head and mouthing “not true” in response to the President’s criticism of the Citizens United ruling on corporate campaign finance limits. Ironically, Rep. Joe Wilson promised to restrain himself during this speech and not scream “you lie” again during the President’s speech. For a justice, this breach (shown below) is no less remarkable. It is, in a word, injudicious.
Teacher Resigns After Sending Home 5-Year-Old Special Needs Student With Bag of Human Feces
Published 1, January 28, 2010 Academics , Bizarre , Society 30 Comments
Elementary school teacher Sue Graham in Yakima, Washington has resigned after being reprimanded for sending a bag of human feces home with a five-year-old student from her special education class. She sent home the feces with a sticky note reading “This little turd was found on the floor in my room.” Her husband, Ron Graham, also resigned.
Dork Hunters: English Police Use Anti-Terror Laws To Detain Film Crew of Children’s Program
Published 1, January 28, 2010 Bizarre , Criminal law , International , Media , Society 9 Comments
The hosts and film crew from ITV show Toonattik were shooting a scene for “Dork Hunters” when they were detained by police in London under the Terrorism Act. They were wearing utility belts with “spangly” hairdryers and hairbrushes and flak jackets.
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Punxsutawney PETA: Animal Rights Organization Wants Town To Use Robotic Groundhog
Published 1, January 28, 2010 Bizarre , Environment , Politics , Society 21 Comments
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) wants Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania to free its famous groundhog and use a robotic animal to stop what it views as cruelty to Phil. In response, the town insists that Phil lives a better life than most children in Pennsylvania — which raises some serious questions about the lives of kids in that state that live below the standards of a large caged rodent.
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I’m Loving It: Dutch Court Rules Against McDonald’s For Firing Employee Over Slice of Cheese
Published 1, January 27, 2010 Bizarre , International , Society , Torts 61 Comments
A Dutch court has ruled against McDonald’s and found that the company was wrong to fire an employee who simply gave a colleague an extra piece cheese on her hamburger. She had paid for a hamburger and McDonald’s viewed the gesture as a violation of company policy against gifts.
Botox Terrorists: Black Market Botox Raising Concerns With Terrorism Experts
Published 1, January 27, 2010 Bizarre , Criminal law , International , Society 13 Comments
Authorities appear to be on the look out for youthful-looking terrorists with a notable absence of winkles. The burgeoning black market Botox market is raising concerns of how one of its active ingredients might be used by bio-terrorists.
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Running on Empty: AWOL Soldier Arrested After Stolen Humvee Runs Out of Gas
Published 1, January 27, 2010 Bizarre , Criminal law , Military , Society 8 Comments
A soldier has learned in a very personal way the perils of gas guzzlers. Private Sean Johnson reportedly decided to go AWOL and grabbed a Humvee to make his escape. He was arrested down the road with an out-of-gas Humvee as eco-friendly AWOL soldiers zoomed by in their Minis.
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Head Haitian Voodoo Priest Objects To Scientologists and Others Proselytizing Through Aid Activities
Published 1, January 27, 2010 Bizarre , International , Politics , Religion , Society 14 Comments
We have been following the arrival of Scientologists and Evangelicals in Haiti to spread their faith with needed aid to survivors. Now, Haiti’s top Voodoo priest is objecting to the use of the aid efforts to spread the off-island faiths.
Chavez: U.S. Caused Haiti Earthquake With “Tectonic Weapon”
Published 1, January 27, 2010 Academics , Bizarre , International , Politics , Society 15 Comments
A Spanish newspaper claims that Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has accused the United States of causing the earthquake in Haiti by a U.S. “tectonic weapons test” that is being called “The Earthquake Weapon.”
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D’oh! Man Arrested For Possession of Pornographic Images of The Simpson Children
Published 1, January 27, 2010 Bizarre , Criminal law , International , Media , Politics , Society 23 Comments
Police in Ipswich, Australia have arrested Kurt James Milner, 28, for possession of pornographic images of . . . Marge Simpson and the Powerpuff Girls. We have previously discussed the controversy over whether cartoon or computer generated images can be pornography. This case will answer that question in Australia.
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Pimped Out: Filmmaker James O’Keefe and Son of U.S. Attorney Arrested in Possible Effort to Bug Office of Sen. Mary Landrieu
Published 1, January 26, 2010 Bizarre , Criminal law , Politics , Society 63 CommentsIn what must be great news for ACORN, the filmmaker that was responsible for the recent controversy has been arrested in a bizarre effort to bug the offices of U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu. Filmmaker James O’Keefe (shown left) was reportedly arrested with other individuals in the Hale Boggs Federal Building in downtown New Orleans. Also arrested were Joseph Basel, 24, Stan Dai , 24, and Robert Flanagan, 24. Notably, Flanagan is the son of the Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Louisiana. I discussed the story on the Countdown segment below. O’Keefe previously dressed as a pimp to implicate Acorn in a videotaped interview.
California District Attorney Boycotts Judge Who Ruled For Defendant
Published 1, January 26, 2010 Constitutional Law , Criminal law , Politics , Society 12 Comments
Recently, we saw how San Diego District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis ordered a boycott of a judge who is deemed too protective over defendant rights, here. Now the ABA Journal is reporting below that another prosecutor has followed suit with her own boycott of a judge in Santa Clara. District Attorney Dolores Carr confirmed that she is boycotting Superior Court Judge Andrea Bryan after the judge ruled for a criminal defendant. It is a dangerous trend that should result in a prompt rebukes from the bar as an attack on the very foundation of an independent judiciary.
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Collared: Catholic Priest Arrested Shoplifting Butter and a Sofa Cover
Published 1, January 26, 2010 Bizarre , Criminal law , Religion , Society 22 Comments
In West City, Illinois, police were a bit surprised when they arrested a shoplifter at Wal-Mart. It was not the fact that he had curiously chosen butter and a sofa cover (or the stolen computer power pack they found later). It was the fact that Steven Poole is the Rev. Steven Poole of St. Andrew’s Catholic Church in Christopher and St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Sesser, Illinois.
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A Secret Public Bailout? Administration Officials Reportedly Agreed To Keep AIG Bailout Plan Secret Through National Security Protections
Published 1, January 26, 2010 Bizarre , Politics , Society 7 Comments
According to the article below, administration officials sought to use national security protections to withhold the details of the details of the American International Group bailout. It is only the latest example of how the government uses such protections to conceal information to avoid embarrassment or public review.
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China Leads World in Research Growth
Published 1, January 26, 2010 Academics , International , Politics , Society 3 Comments
While we continue to pour hundreds of billions of dollars into Iraq and Afghanistan, China is now leading the world in research growth. The recent report on Chinese investment in new science is startling in comparison to our own illogical policies of raising our debt limits to fund these foreign operations while states sell off public lands and cut back on school budgets, here.
How Do You Spell Absurd? School District Quarantines All Copies of Merrian Webster Dictionary
Published 1, January 26, 2010 Academics , Bizarre , Constitutional Law , Society 29 Comments
The good people of Menifee Union School District have taken a stand against indecency. Across the district in every school library Merriam Webster’s 10th edition dictionary has been locked away because one parent complained that it contained a definition of “oral sex.”
The Stark Truth: A Step-By-Step Guide on How You Die From Hypothermia
Published 1, January 25, 2010 Academics , Bizarre , Environment , Society 44 Comments
I saw this article on Reddit and found it so well-written and informative I could not put it down. It is how you die (or possibly survive) from hypothermia. It is written by Peter Stark, a contributor to Outside and author of Driving to Greenland.
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Times: Patients Dying From Over Exposure in Radiation Therapy
Published 1, January 25, 2010 Bizarre , Media , Society , Torts 10 Comments
The New York Times has a disturbing article on how negligence in the use of radiology machines has led to fatal radiation overdoses. It is astonishing since most people assume that these machines are calibrated to avoid such operator error.
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Does The President Have A Telediction?
Published 1, January 25, 2010 Bizarre , Politics , Society 34 CommentsA recent picture of President Barack Obama speaking to elementary students with his ubiquitous teleprompter raises the question of whether it is time for an intervention to deal with his “Telediction”
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S.C. Lt. Governor Bauer Compares Poor People to Stray Cats
Published 1, January 25, 2010 Bizarre , Politics , Society 211 Comments
South Carolina Republican Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer is being ridiculed for a recent speech where he appears to compare poor people to stray cats and connect having “ample food supply” to increasing welfare demand.
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The Offal Truth: The U.S. Lifts Its Ban on Haggis Importation After 21 Years
Published 1, January 25, 2010 Bizarre , International , Politics , Religion , Society 27 Comments
Robert Burns called it “great chieftan o’ the puddin-race” but the United States government just called it contraband for decades. Now, first being banned from importation, the Scots have been given a green light to send waves of haggis to our shores. After 21 years, one of the last great prohibitions has fallen and now Americans will be able to experience the stomach curling, soul-crushing dish known simply as “the Haggis.”
Fair fa’ your honest, sonsie face,
Great chieftain o’ the puddin-race!
Aboon them a’ ye tak your place,
Painch, tripe, or thairm:
Weel are ye wordy of a grace
As lang’s my arm.
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Head of the Family: Islamic Radio Station Founder Claims Wife Dominated Him Before He Beheaded Her
Published 1, January 25, 2010 Bizarre , Criminal law , Media , Religion , Society 4 Comments
Muzzammil Hassan, the founder of an Islam-oriented television station, has fired his attorney and hired a new attorney who promised a “revolutionary defense” for the beheading of Hassan’s late wife. It appears to be a type of spousal abuse syndrome claim.
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Vast Wasteland: Chavez Shutdown Last Major Critical Television Station
Published 1, January 25, 2010 Constitutional Law , International , Media , Politics , Society 6 CommentsVenezuela president Hugo Chavez continued his assault on free speech and the free press with the closing of Radio Caracas Television (RCTV), the last major television channel offering criticism of his regime. Previously, his government kicked the station off free television channels. RCTV then continued to criticize his policies on cable. Now it has been barred from any broadcast.
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I was just lying on the couch and then he just seemed to disappear?
Desperate Haitians Given Scientology Lessons and Solar-Powered Bibles
Published 1, January 24, 2010 Bizarre , International , Politics , Religion , Society 29 Comments
Relief has arrived in Haiti this week in the form of planes of Scientologists who will help Haitians heal spiritually and Evangelical Christians bringing solar-powered bibles.
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New York Men Jailed for Five Days After Being Caught in Possession of Coconut Candy
Published 1, January 24, 2010 Criminal law , Society , Torts 9 Comments
While in Pittsburgh a teen is claiming that he was beaten by officers who were suspicious of a Mountain Dew in his pocket (here), Cesar Rodriguez and Jose Pena claim that they were not only arrested but jailed for days for what turned out to be candy mistaken as crack.
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Get Horizontal: Pittsburgh Police Beat and Arrest Teenager Only To Find That Mysterious Object Was Bottle of Mountain Dew
Published 1, January 24, 2010 Bizarre , Criminal law , Society , Torts 20 Comments
Pittsburgh authorities are investigating a case where an 18-year-old student, Jordan Miles, was struck repeatedly by undercover officers who saw a large object in his clothing. It turned out to be a Mountain Dew (“Get Vertical”).
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China: Missing Reformer Lawyer “Is Where He Should Be” After Alleged Torture By Government
Published 1, January 24, 2010 Criminal law , International , Justice , Lawyering , Politics , Society 12 CommentsSupporters of reformer and lawyer Gao Zhisheng have been trying to confirm rumors that he died after being tortured by the government. In a chilling response, Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu stated that Gao is “where he should be.”
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Video: New York Police Officers Beat Handcuffed Suspect
Published 1, January 23, 2010 Bizarre , Criminal law , Politics , Society 60 CommentsNew York authorities have suspended two police officers and are considering criminal charges after this video showed them assaulting a handcuffed man, Jonathan Baez, 28. The video shows Officer John Cicero, 28, hitting Baez. Officer William Green, 26, is also seen hitting and kicking Baez.
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Christie’s Pulls Human Skull and Crossbones From Auction
Published 1, January 23, 2010 Bizarre , Religion , Society 8 Comments
Christie’s has pulled a human skull and crossbones from auction over a rivaling claim for the body parts — valued at $20,000. The parts were reportedly used by Yale’s secret Order of Skull and Bones (with members like George W. Bush).
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Geter Done: Georgia Mother Arrested After Forcing Son To Kill Hamster With Hammer As Punishment for Bad Grades
Published 1, January 23, 2010 Uncategorized 22 Comments
Police in Georgia have arrested Lynn Middlebrooks Geter who is charged with forcing her 12-year-old son to kill his pet hamster with a hammer as a punishment for bad grades (the boy’s bad grades not the hamster’s). “Killing pet with hammer” appears to be farther down on after “no television” and “no sleepovers.” Way down on the list.
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