Archive for February, 2010

HUMANS DID THIS TO ME

This should be covered as an international crime and subject to an Interpol warrant.
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When Nature Attacks: Media Asks Whether Earthquakes Are Evidence of “Nature Out of Control”

In the wake of the Chilean earthquake, major media has speculated (as in this MSNBC story) where “Nature [is] out of control.” It is the type of drivel that drives scientists batty.
Continue reading ‘When Nature Attacks: Media Asks Whether Earthquakes Are Evidence of “Nature Out of Control”’

Italian Court Convicts Three Google Executives For The Posting of a School Beating Video

We have been following the growing threat to free speech in the West through blasphemy and hate crime prosecutions, here. Now, Italian prosecutors in Milan have criminally charged four Google employees after a video was posted by students showing the bullying of an autistic child in late 2006.

Continue reading ‘Italian Court Convicts Three Google Executives For The Posting of a School Beating Video’

The Ultimate Motion to Sever: Arizona Court to Decide Who Gets Head of Dead Woman

When Mary Robbins, 71, passed away on February 9th, she left a $50,000 annuity and her head. Her relatives and a cryogenic company are now fighting over who gets the cash and head in probate. Hopefully, none of the lawyers are working on a one-third contingency arrangement.
Continue reading ‘The Ultimate Motion to Sever: Arizona Court to Decide Who Gets Head of Dead Woman’

Hoax: Pat Robertson Did Not Attribute Chilean Earthquake to God’s Punishment for The Mistreatment of Augusto Pinochet

Various sites are reporting that TV evangelist Pat Robertson is again holding forth on seismic retribution. Robertson was quoted as saying “God is even angrier with them than he is with the people of Haiti” — which would explain the greater seismological magnitude in the 8.8 earthquake. The reason: what Chileans did to poor General Augusto Pinochet. Update: our earlier stated suspicions were confirmed and the author admits that the story was untrue.
Continue reading ‘Hoax: Pat Robertson Did Not Attribute Chilean Earthquake to God’s Punishment for The Mistreatment of Augusto Pinochet’

Send in the Clowns: Tampa Police Arrest Teen For Wearing Clown Mask in Public

Police in Tampa, Florida appear to have clown issues from their youth. Matthew David Lopez, 18, was arrested for wearing a clown mask in public. (The picture is some other clown).
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Stout Family Values: Georgia Voters Replace Politician In Sex Scandal With Another Family Values Candidate Who Allegedly Had Affair With Mother-in-Law

When Glenn Richardson stepped down as speaker of the Georgia House in a sex scandal with a lobbyist, it was widely denounced as another politician who ran on “family-values” while living la vida loca. Voters of Paulding Country, however, quickly replaced him with another Republican running on family values, Rep. Daniel Stout. Stout, however, may be a bit too close to family: he was divorced in 10 years ago after his wife accused him of having an affair with her mother while she was pregnant with his child.

Continue reading ‘Stout Family Values: Georgia Voters Replace Politician In Sex Scandal With Another Family Values Candidate Who Allegedly Had Affair With Mother-in-Law’

We Apologize But Have No Regrets: Danish Newspaper Reaches Agreement With Muslim Groups Over Mohammed Cartoons

Danish daily Politiken has issued a perfectly bizarre apology for reproducing the controversial cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed in 2008. The newspaper reached an agreement with eight Muslim organizations to apologize without expressing regret.
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Yelp Accused of Extortion in Trading Positive Review for Advertising Money

Yelp, a site that allows customers to write reviews of businesses, is the subject of an interesting lawsuit that alleges that the San Francisco company engages in secret quid pro quos with businesses under which it removes negative reviews in exchange for advertising.
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San Diego Man Charged With Choking Puppy

David Hale Warner, 50, is facing charges that he choked his Labrador retriever puppy named Coco after the dog bit his girlfriend. Coco later died.
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Question of the Day: What Book Does A Naked Man Check Out of the Library?

Ypsilanti police are looking for a naked man who first exposed himself in the Ypsilanti District Library. The librarian had assisted the man in locating a book and then turned around to find him naked — he then fled with the book. The problem with the police report is that it fails to mention the book title. Perhaps we can help. As forewarning to future librarians, what books is a naked man most likely to check out from a library?

Continue reading ‘Question of the Day: What Book Does A Naked Man Check Out of the Library?’

Sharpton Pushes For Federal Prosecution After Brooklyn Jury Acquits in Mineo Case

Clyde Haberman at the New York Times has an interesting column on the general shift away from bringing civil rights charges when state juries fail to convict in cases on the state level. Al Sharpton is calling on the Obama Administration to try police officers again in the case of Michael Mineo after a Brooklyn jury acquitted three police officers.

Continue reading ‘Sharpton Pushes For Federal Prosecution After Brooklyn Jury Acquits in Mineo Case’

Saudi Cleric Defends Marriage of Nine-Year-Old Girls and Blasts Human Rights Treaties as the Work of Atheists and Fornicators

Leading Saudi cleric Muhammad Musa Al-Sharif defended the practice of marrying nine-year-old girls as sanctioned by the prophet Mohammad in his own marriage to a nine-year-old girl, Aisha. In a truly signature moment, Al-Sharif insisted that not only does a girl become a woman at nine but when Islamic law refers to a certain issue – we don’t need human rights.

Continue reading ‘Saudi Cleric Defends Marriage of Nine-Year-Old Girls and Blasts Human Rights Treaties as the Work of Atheists and Fornicators’

Archeologists Discover 74,000-Year-Old Tools in India

In a remarkable find, archeologists have discovered tools buried by a Toba volcanic eruption 74,000 years ago in Northern India. Of course, where scientists see evidence of humans in the 15,000 years before earlier estimates, creationists see a pile of old tools and a gross miscalculation since the Earth is only 5000 years old.

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Woman Sentenced to One to Three Years in Jail — After Sending Innocent Man to Prison for Four Years

Biurny Peguero Gonzalez allegedly was embarrassed when her friends were berating her for ditching them at a bar. Instead of claiming some urgent call or just telling the truth that she got into a guy’s car, she elected to cry rape. She stuck to her story through a trial and through years of incarceration of William McCaffrey for a rape that he did not commit. She has now been sentenced to three years for perjury — less than the four years that McCaffrey spent in prison.
Continue reading ‘Woman Sentenced to One to Three Years in Jail — After Sending Innocent Man to Prison for Four Years’

Rangel To Be Admonished For Violating House Rules on Free Trips

Rep. Charles Rangel, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, has been found guilty of violating ethics rules in accepting Caribbean trips from a corporation. In a classic move, the House ethics office has decided not to find violations by four other members of the Congressional Black Caucus who also took the free trip in 2007 and 2008 because they were unaware that it was paid for by the corporation. How about the idea of not going on paid trips at all? I have long argued for a complete ban on such travel, here. The other four members were Bennie Thompson of Mississippi, who is chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee; Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick of Michigan; Donald M. Payne of New Jersey; and Delegate Donna Christensen of the Virgin Islands.
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Dutch (Re)Treat: Bobsled Driver Refuses to Race on Canadian Course

Dutch bobsledder Edwin van Calker and this four-man team pulled out of the Olympic competition after the driver said that he was terrified of using the track. It is a major slap at the Canadian designers who have been criticized since the death of Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili on the luge track.
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Question of the Day: What is Scarier Than One of The World’s Largest Shark Tanks?

Question: what is the only thing scarier than one of the world’s largest indoor shark tanks? Answer: one of the world’s largest indoor shark tanks with a crack.
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Zombies! The Undead Return to the Streets of Minneapolis

Zombies are free to again walk the streets of Minneapolis due to another zombie-friendly decision from the federal courts. The federal court of appeals ruled that a group of protesters dressed as zombies could sue the police department and individual officers for wrongful arrest in a 2-1 decision. The dissenting Judge Colloton immediately had his brains sucked out after being pursued by rampaging zombies.
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United States Unveils $1 Billion London Embassy Plans

The United States has unveiled the design of its new $1 billion high-security embassy in London. It is an impressive design by Kieran Timberlake, the Philadelphia architect despite its hefty price (a record for an embassy). Timberlake won a competition of dozens of architects, here.

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Maryland Teacher Orders Student Escorted From Classroom By Police After Refusal to Say the Pledge of Allegiance

A Montgomery County Middle School teacher had a 13-year-old girl escorted from the classroom after she refused to say the Pledge of Allegiance in clear violation of federal law.
Continue reading ‘Maryland Teacher Orders Student Escorted From Classroom By Police After Refusal to Say the Pledge of Allegiance’

Israeli City Establishes Program to Locate and “Treat” Israeli Girls Who Date or Marry Arab Men

250px-Laughing_couple660px-flag_of_israelsvg1We previously read about bands of men roaming the streets of Jerusalem and other cities to break up mixed couples of Israeli women and Arab men, here. Now, there is a report that one city has created a formal program to locate such women and “treat” them outside of Tel Aviv.
Continue reading ‘Israeli City Establishes Program to Locate and “Treat” Israeli Girls Who Date or Marry Arab Men’

Separate But Lethal: Leading Saudi Cleric Calls For The Killing of People Who Oppose The Segregation of The Sexes

Prominent Saudi cleric Shaikh Abdul-Rahman al-Barrak has issued a fatwa calling for “Modernisers” who object to the strict segregation of men and women in the Kingdom to be killed in the name of Islam.
Continue reading ‘Separate But Lethal: Leading Saudi Cleric Calls For The Killing of People Who Oppose The Segregation of The Sexes’

Killer Whale Kills Trainer At SeaWorld

SeaWorld animal trainer Dawn Brancheau, 40, was killed Wednesday at SeaWorld Orlando during a show by Tillikum, a whale involved in two other deaths. While police say Brancheau slipped, onlookers insist that the whale knocked or grabbed her. One onlooker on the video below stated that the whale appeared to be acting strange in the prior show before the incident.
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Dubai Identifies 15 More Suspects in Assassination of Mahmoud al-Mabhouh

Dubai has released the names of new suspects in the alleged Israeli hit on Mahmoud al-Mabhouh.
They identified 15 new suspects including six new British names, as well as the names of three more Irish passport-holders, three French and three Australian. That brings the total to 26 suspects.

The six Britons were named as Philip Carr, Gabriella Barney, Stephen Drake, Mark Sklar, Daniel Schnur and Roy Cannon.

Police also confirmed that the credit cards were all issued by MetaBank of the United States. They believe that head of the team was using a fake French passport under the name Peter Elvinger, and used a credit card issued by DZ Bank of Frankfurt.

For the full story, click here

The Shameful Sixty-Eight: CIA Papers Reveal 68 Members Knew of Torture Program

Ever wondered how many members it would take to be told about torture before anyone went public or cried foul? Well, we now know it is somewhere above 68. The CIA has revealed that at least 68 U.S. lawmakers between 2001 and 2007 were briefed on torture. That obviously included many Democrats who later worked to avoid investigating torture and have been relatively silent as the Obama Administration has blocked any prosecution for torture or war crimes.
Continue reading ‘The Shameful Sixty-Eight: CIA Papers Reveal 68 Members Knew of Torture Program’

Writer Appeals Defamation Ruling For Commentary Criticizing Chiropractic Treatment for Certain Ailments

There is an interesting libel case out of England that once again shows what I believe is the fundamental flaw in the system’s treatment of defamation cases. Simon Singh is being sued by the British Chiropractic Association (BCA) for his criticism of their profession in what would be treated as non-defamatory opinion in the United States. England has a extremely broad interpretation of defamation that chills speech and allows major corporations and associations to pursue critics with threats of financial ruin.
Continue reading ‘Writer Appeals Defamation Ruling For Commentary Criticizing Chiropractic Treatment for Certain Ailments’

Dr. Rank: Kentucky Psychiatrist Held in Stabbing of Woman

In Kentucky, Dr. Douglas Rank, 51, is being held in the stabbing of a woman, Misty Luke, 32. The psychiatrist is charged with first degree assault.

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Improper Lane Change: Olympic Skater Loses Second Gold Medal After Coach Directs Him To Wrong Lane

It is a moment that may top the fall of the French skier in the first five seconds of her Olympic run, here. Top speed skater Sven Kramer lost his second gold medal after winning the 10,000m after his coach mistakingly sent him into the wrong lane — resulting in his disqualification.
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Hounding Baset Apologizes to Bulldog: Squash Player Under Fire for Scene on Squash Court

Baset Chaudhry of the Trinity Squash team has apologized for screaming in the face of Yale opponent Kenneth Chan. Trinity beat the Bulldogs in the finals, but the win was spoiled by Chaudry’s taunting of at the end.

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Another D.C. Metro Driver Caught Texting While Driving

A website called unsuchdcmetro has released pictures of another D.C. metro driver texting while operating a vehicle. The pictures were taken by a passenger on a crowded bus.
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Silver Medalist Gets Gold Filling: Defective Olympic Medals Cause German Luge Athlete to Receive Emergency Dental Care

I have long argued that torts professors should be assigned to the U.S. Olympic team Now, a German athlete has been injured by the fact that Olympic medals omit the warning that “biting into this medal may cause dental injury.” The victim, David Moeller was the unwitting victim when he bit into his silver medal in the luge only to break his front tooth.

Continue reading ‘Silver Medalist Gets Gold Filling: Defective Olympic Medals Cause German Luge Athlete to Receive Emergency Dental Care’

Surgeon Mistakingly Removes Infant’s Bladder But Insists She DId Not Commit Misconduct Warranting Serious Discipline

An English surgeon who mistakenly removed a baby’s bladder in an operation is fighting to keep her license. Pierina Kapur, 43, a consultant pediatric surgeon, insists that her surgical performance was “inadequate” but that she did not engage in misconduct that should result in serious discipline. In the meantime, the baby will need a catheter for the rest of her life.
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How Not To Throw A Smoke Grenade

This is one video that is unlikely to make the German training films.

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Harvard Fellow Accused of Calling For West to End “Pro-Natal Subsidies” to Palestinians to Reduce Their Birthrate

There is an interesting controversy that has erupted over a recent speech by Martin Kramer, a fellow at Harvard University’s Weatherhead Center for International Affairs. Critics at Electronic Intifada denounced Kramer’s speech as a call for genocide when he called for the West to end support for Palestinian clinics and hospital for “pro-natal” care.

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Church Secures Exemption from Proposed Arizona Law To Eliminate Statute of Limitations for Child Abuse

Arizona State lawmakers in the Senate approved a measure to get rid of the statute of limitation for victims of child abuse to file lawsuits. However, this lifetime right to sue has one notable exception: for the church and school districts. If you are suing the Church for its failure to act to stop a pedophile, you still only have two years.
Continue reading ‘Church Secures Exemption from Proposed Arizona Law To Eliminate Statute of Limitations for Child Abuse’

Virginia Legislator Attributes Birth Defects To God’s Punishment for Women Who Have Had Abortion

Prince William Del. Bob Marshall, R-13th, has offered his own rather dark explanation for birth defects and child disabilities: divine retribution for women who have had abortions. Marshall told a crowd that the Bible says that the first born is a gift to God, resulting in “special punishment” for those who have abortions.

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Almost 90 Percent of People Believe the Government Is Broken

We have yet another poll showing virtually unanimous dissatisfaction with our political system. A CNN poll shows an impressive 86 percent who say that the government is broken. What is fascinating is how the two parties are now moving to join the chorus — to control the debate and prevent serious reforms.

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Felonious Verses: Louisville Man Charged With Threatening The President In a Poem

An alleged neo-Nazi in Louisville is pushing the constitutional envelope with a poem that resulted in a criminal charge as a threat to kill the President. Johnny Logan Spencer Jr. is charged with threatening the life of the President with his poem that refers to killing a black president but not Obama by name.
Continue reading ‘Felonious Verses: Louisville Man Charged With Threatening The President In a Poem’

Video: Bus Driver Crashes While Texting

We have previously seen stories (here) on bus drivers texting while driving. Now, we have a video of a driver, Adrian Perez, who crashes while texting.

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Saudi Arabia to Allow Women To Argue Limited Cases and Execute Minor Legal Procedures

While we often follow the painful stories of mistreatment and discrimination against women in Saudi Arabia, there is a story today that shows some progress. The Kingdom is about to release a law that would allow women to argue limited cases in court and even perform some simple legal procedures without a male guardian.

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Dog Walker: Maryland Man Arrested for Dognapping Scooby and Scrappy

According to Montgomery County Police, Najie Walker, 21, is the worst kidnapper in the world. Walker is accused of kidnapping a poodle named Scrappy and a golden retriever named Scooby and then holding them for ransom.

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Bloggers: Start Your Week With Care

Warning: how you begin this week could dictate how you end it. French skier Marion Rolland secured a tragic but memorable moment in history this week by crashing after only five seconds in the downhill competition. That is why the blog wants to be sure that all of our bloggers start out right. Remember the steps: wake, sign on to blog, brush, review blog, shower, add at least one comment on blog, eat, have rigorous exchange on blog . . .

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Honey, Why Is The Peanut Butter Runny?

Rex had a secret talent that his owners were unaware of until one fateful night . . .

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Newspaper: British Passports Were Copied By Airport Official in Tel Aviv For Hit in Dubai

The Sunday Telegraph has published a report that the false passports used in the assassination of Mahmoud al Mabhouh in Dubai were copied by airport officials from the originals in Tel Aviv. The allegation would add evidence of a government plan to steal the identities of the British citizens living in Israel.
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Getting Hyer: Mayor Arrested for Selling Pot

Olympia Mayor Pro Tem and incoming Thurston County Treasurer Joe Hyer was arrested this week for allegedly selling pot on the side. Hyer, 37, was arrested after a two-month investigation that involved both undercover agents and an informant.
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Russian Dancers Accused of Cultural Insult and Disrespect Over Outfits

Olympic skater outfits continue to trigger protests. First there was the controversy over U.S. figure skater Johnny Weir’s wearing real fur as part of his outfit, here. Now aboriginal advocates in Australia are protesting the costumes of Russian ice dancers Oksana Domnina and Maksim Shabalin. While I thought Weir’s costume was the ugliest that I had seen, that was before I saw the Russian costumes. I am not sure if it is a case of “cultural offense” but it is certainly offensive to the eye. The costume is shown in the linked articles below.
Continue reading ‘Russian Dancers Accused of Cultural Insult and Disrespect Over Outfits’

Dolphin May Possess Cure For Diabetes

While dolphins continue to be slaughtered in Japan (here and here), those same humans may have their lives saved by a new discovery that dolphins can turn on and off diabetes. Scientists believe that humans may have once had this ability and that dolphins could lead to a breakthrough treatment for humans.
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Britain Denies Report That It Knew of Use of False British Passports in Dubai Assassination

Britain has denied the story in the Daily Mail that British officials knew about the use of false British passports (and reportedly stolen identities) for the hit on Mahmoud al-Mabhouh in Dubai (here).
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Pennsylvania School Accused of Equipping Computer with Surveillance Devices and Spying on Students At Home

A Pennsylvania school is accused of a remarkably abusive intrusion into the lives of its students. Papers in Blake J Robbins v Lower Merion School District (PA) et al, state that the laptops given to high-school students were equipped with webcams that can be covertly activated by the schools’ administrators. The lawsuit claims that officials not only activated the surveillance capability but disciplined young Robbins for “improper behavior in his home.” The Vice Principal reportedly used a photo taken by the webcam as evidence.

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Poll: One-Third of Texans Believe Men Once Co-Existed With Dinosaurs and Over One-Third Believe That Man Was Created by God 10,000 Years Ago Without Evolution

A University of Texas and Texas Tribune poll has found that roughly one in three Texans believe that humans and dinosaurs walked the Earth at the same time and more than half reject the theory of evolution. According to the poll, 38 percent agreed with the statement “God created human beings pretty much in their present form about 10,000 years ago.”
Continue reading ‘Poll: One-Third of Texans Believe Men Once Co-Existed With Dinosaurs and Over One-Third Believe That Man Was Created by God 10,000 Years Ago Without Evolution’

Palin: Tea Party Members Must Pick Between The Two Major Parties

If you wanted further evidence of the self-perpetuating work of the duopoly, Sarah Palin (after wooing the Tea Party) has told Tea Party members that they have no choice but to side with one of the two major political parties — presumably the Republicans.
Continue reading ‘Palin: Tea Party Members Must Pick Between The Two Major Parties’

Amy Bishop’s Lawyer Expresses Regret For Calling His Client “A Wacko”

The defense lawyer for professor Amy Bishop has been under fire from lawyers for surprising statements made shortly after his appointment to represent her. Roy Miller told the press that Bishop was a “wacko” — a statement that he now says “went overboard.”

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Justice Department Declines Punishment for Bush Officials for “Poor Judgment”

The Obama Administration continued the tradition of the “Friday night dump” by just releasing the Justice Department report on former Justice officials John Yoo, Jay Bybee and Steven Bradbury. The report is linked below. The Justice Department confirmed that the investigation originally found professional misconduct by Yoo and Bybee, but an unnamed high-ranking official at the Office of Professional Responsibility overruled the finding to avoid any professional action against them. I discussed the story on this segment of Countdown.

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Daily Mail: Israeli Agents Says Britain Knew of Use of British Passports in Dubai Hit

The Daily Mail has run with an explosive story after public protestations from British officials over the use of false British passports (and reportedly stolen identities) for the hit on Mahmoud al-Mabhouh in Dubai (here). The question now is whether Parliament has the courage to order an investigation in whether the British government not only acquiesced to the operation but then actively misled the public by pretending to be outraged.

Continue reading ‘Daily Mail: Israeli Agents Says Britain Knew of Use of British Passports in Dubai Hit’

Reading, Writing, and Righteousness: Kentucky Set to Pass Bill Allowing Bible To Be Taught Public Schools

The Kentucky Senate is poised to pass a bill allowing the Bible to be taught in public schools. Sen. David Boswell (D-Owensboro) modeled the bill on a Texas measure.
Continue reading ‘Reading, Writing, and Righteousness: Kentucky Set to Pass Bill Allowing Bible To Be Taught Public Schools’

Olympic Wipeout: Gold Medalist Asks Reporter If She Is “Stupid” After Being Asked Who He Is and What He Just Won

Occasionally, the Olympic performances will result not in preservation of a moment of perfection but a wipeout. On this occasion, it was not a downhill skier but an NBC reporter who asked Gold Medalist Sven Kramer who he was, what country he was from, and what he just won. He responded with “Are you stupid?”

Continue reading ‘Olympic Wipeout: Gold Medalist Asks Reporter If She Is “Stupid” After Being Asked Who He Is and What He Just Won’

Wash, Rinse, Repeat Offender: Buffalo Man Sought in Shampoo Theft

Daniel Wolf, 40, is a Buffalo man who is in need of hair products. He was captured on video allegedly stealing seven bottles of Head and Shoulders shampoo from a Rite Aid store.

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Interpol Publishes Pictures of Eleven Dubai Suspects While Britain and France Demand Answers From Israel

Interpol has posted wanted pictures of the eleven suspects in the assassination of Hamas member Mahmoud al-Mabhouh in the Dubai hotel on January 19, 2010. In what could be a serious problem for Israel, both Britain and France are demanding answers on the use of fake passports and stolen identities in the plot while Dubai continues its criminal investigation. This is occurring at the same time that Israel is resisting an international investigation into possible war crimes in its campaign in Gaza, here.

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Dios Mío: Leading Soccer Player To Be Punished for Blasphemy

Juventus‘ goalie, Gigi Buffon, is facing punishment for saying “Dio” or “God” after a critical play went poorly. You cannot use the Lord’s name in vain in Italy where officials have used replay tapes to determine if he said “Dio” or, as he now claims, “Zio” or “uncle.”

Continue reading ‘Dios Mío: Leading Soccer Player To Be Punished for Blasphemy’

Malaysia Canes Three Women For Illicit Sex Under Sharia Sentences

Malaysia has continued its application of Sharia law with the caning of three Muslim women for having illicit sex. This follows the earlier sentence of a woman to caning for drinking a beer in public under Islamic law, here.

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Hello Dalai: Obama Meets With Tibetian Leader Over Chinese Objections

While Obama has been criticized for saying that Tibet is part of China (here), he showed a refreshing degree of independence from China by meeting with the Dalai Lama. In the past, China has been able to pressure leaders (including past presidents) to avoid such meetings). Recently, South Africa even barred the Dalai Lama from an international peace conference, here.

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Duke Lacrosse Team Accuser Crystal Gale Mangum Charged With Attempted Murder

Crystal Gale Mangum, 33, has been charged with attempted murder and arson. Mangum was the stripper who falsely accused members of the Duke lacrosse team.

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Banning the Buck: South Carolina Representative Introduces Bill To Mandate Gold and Silver Coins As Official Legal Tender

South Carolina Rep. Mike Pitts (R.) wants to ban the buck. He has introduced legislation to require the use of gold and silver coins as the legal tender of the state as opposed to federal currency. For those passing through the state, you may want to wait before you exchange your dollars for bags of gold and silver coins.

Continue reading ‘Banning the Buck: South Carolina Representative Introduces Bill To Mandate Gold and Silver Coins As Official Legal Tender’

Only One-Third of Americans Polled Want Incumbents Returned to Congress

A new poll shows just how dissatisfied voters are with both parties: only a third of voters want their incumbents returned to Congress. The question is whether voters are ready to change the system — rather than just change the members.
Continue reading ‘Only One-Third of Americans Polled Want Incumbents Returned to Congress’

While Some Ask Why, The Atlanta Police Ask Why Not: Police Arrest Woman For Asking “Why?”

Atlanta police appear to be fans of Alfred Lord Tennyson: “Ours is not to reason why Ours is but to do and die”. When four women planning a funeral were ordered by an Atlanta police officer to move, one asked “why?” Minnie Carey, then 61, was arrested, cuffed, and thrown into jail.
Continue reading ‘While Some Ask Why, The Atlanta Police Ask Why Not: Police Arrest Woman For Asking “Why?”’

Omertà: Vatican Ordered Secrecy in Abuse Cases

The Observer has published an article detailing a confidential Vatican document from the 1960s that instructed Catholic bishops around the world to cover up cases of sexual abuse or face discipline — including expulsion from the church. The document in Latin bears the seal of Pope John XXIII. It reads like a Vatican-version of Omertà.
Continue reading ‘Omertà: Vatican Ordered Secrecy in Abuse Cases’

London Police Investigate Saudi Prince in Murder of Servant

London police are investigating an unnamed Saudi prince in the murder of one of his servants. A 32-year-old Saudi national was found dead from strangulation and severe head injuries at the posh five-star Landmark Hotel in Marylebone, Central London.
Continue reading ‘London Police Investigate Saudi Prince in Murder of Servant’

Video: Man Arrested For Lighting Cigarette on Olympic Torch

I just saw this video on Reddit of a guy who sees an Olympic torch and sees not a symbol of international cooperation and competition but a lighter for his cigarette. Next time he should do what other people do and use an AK-47, here.
Continue reading ‘Video: Man Arrested For Lighting Cigarette on Olympic Torch’

TV Personality Ray Gosling Arrested After Confessing To Killing Lover On Television

Television presenter Ray Gosling has been arrested on suspicion of murder after the BBC ran a segment where the 70-year-old confessed to smothering his lover who was suffering from AIDS. He starts the segment by saying that he wanted to reveal his secret: “I killed someone.”

Continue reading ‘TV Personality Ray Gosling Arrested After Confessing To Killing Lover On Television’

Gibbs Refuses to Answer Torture Question in Public

With Dick Cheney boasting on national television of his support for waterboarding and torture (here), the Obama White House is continuing its policy of ignoring the credible claims of war crimes to avoid the politically difficult decision to prosecute Bush, Cheney and others for the U.S. torture program. This was evident this week when White House spokesman Robert Gibbs refused to answer a basic question on the torture of a recently captured Taliban leader– offering only to discuss the matter off the record.

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Harrisburg Mayor in Showdown With Controller Over Gag Order

Harrisburg, Pa. Mayor Linda Thompson and Harrisburg City Controller Dan Miller are in a remarkable confrontation that could virtually shutdown the city. Thompson issued an order to city workers that bar them from speaking directly to the city controller’s office, city council members and the media. Miller responded by giving her an ultimatum: rescind the gag order or he will rescind his payroll signature stamp.

Continue reading ‘Harrisburg Mayor in Showdown With Controller Over Gag Order’

Guns-O-Plenty: Virginia Passes 20 Gun Bills

The Virginia legislature passed a flurry of bills stripping away limitations on gun possession in the state. After intense lobbying from the National Rifle Association and over $1 million in NRA campaign contributions, the lawmakers passed 20 gun bills expanding possession and ownership rights in the state.

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Kentucky Judge Declares Permits (like Hell) Are Real

Senior Judge Geoffrey P. Morris has ordered the removal of two billboards proclaiming “hell is real” in Kentucky after finding that they have stood without a permit for five years.

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Sink the Bismarck: British Brewer Releases a 41 Percent Beer

A Scottish brewery has achieved the dubious record of the beer with the highest level of alcohol — a response to a German brewery that produced a 40 percent beer. BrewDog returned fire with a 41 percent beer named “Sink the Bismarck.”

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Crossing the Jordan: Father Faces Jail for Baptism of Daughter

Joseph Reyes may be unique in the annals of criminal law: he is facing potential jail time for baptizing his daughter. His ex-wife Rebecca Reyes is Jewish and was awarded custody of the girl. The mother is raising her in the Jewish faith. Hon. Edward R. Jordan has issued an order barring Reyes from “exposing his daughter to any other religion than the Jewish religion. …” Now Reyes faces the ultimate baptism under fire.

Continue reading ‘Crossing the Jordan: Father Faces Jail for Baptism of Daughter’

Close Enough For Police Work? Denver Police Arrest Mother on Way to Pick Up Daughter At School — Despite the Fact that She Looks Nothing Like Suspect

Christina FourHorn is suing the Denver police department in a bizarre mistaken identity case that led to her jailing — and an alleged refusal of police to listen to repeated efforts to show that they had the wrong person. It is only the latest in such mistaken identity arrest cases.
Continue reading ‘Close Enough For Police Work? Denver Police Arrest Mother on Way to Pick Up Daughter At School — Despite the Fact that She Looks Nothing Like Suspect’

Prosecutor Refuses to Charge Police Officer Who Allegedly Commits Hit-and-Run, Lies About Accident, and Then Defends His Actions As “Impaired By Alcohol”

Redondo Beach City Prosecutor Brenda Wells is receiving considerable heat over her decision not to charge Torrance Police Sgt. Michael Mastick, who was involved in an off-duty hit-and-run collision. He admitted that he fled the scene because “judgment was impaired by alcohol.” A novel defense to be sure but it seems to have worked.
Continue reading ‘Prosecutor Refuses to Charge Police Officer Who Allegedly Commits Hit-and-Run, Lies About Accident, and Then Defends His Actions As “Impaired By Alcohol”’

Anderson Cooper Sued Over Fall At NYC Home

If falling ratings were not enough, CNN’s Anderson Cooper now has to deal with falling interior designers. He is being sued by an interior designer, Killian O’Brien, who fell at the site of his new home — an old Manhattan firehouse that is being converted. She fell 17 feet through the hole that once held the station’s fire pole.
Continue reading ‘Anderson Cooper Sued Over Fall At NYC Home’

I Watanabe Drug Tested: Snowboarder Offers Curious Description of Olympic Experience

Somebody drug test this man. U.S. snowboarder Graham Watanabe was asked what it was like to compete in his second Winter Olympics. He responded it was like “Pegasus mating with a unicorn and the creature that they birth I somehow tame it and ride it to the sky and clouds and sunshine and rainbows.”

Continue reading ‘I Watanabe Drug Tested: Snowboarder Offers Curious Description of Olympic Experience’

Father Faces 10 Years After Altercation With Pennsylvania Officers at Scene of Son’s Car Crash

We have another case of officers arresting a distraught family members at the scene of an accident. This one involves James Rourke of Doylesburg, Pa., who had rushed to the scene after he learned that his 19-year-old son Freddy was in a serious car accident with a friend and still trapped in the car. The photos from the scene are horrific. If he thought things could not get much worse, Rourke was wrong. The arrival of two officers lmer Hertzog and James Erme would result in Rourke’s arrest and charges with a maximum penalty of ten years in prison.

Continue reading ‘Father Faces 10 Years After Altercation With Pennsylvania Officers at Scene of Son’s Car Crash’

Ready to Weir: Fur Flies At Olympics Over Outfit of U.S. Figure Skater

U.S. figure skater Johnny Weir is the subject of an international outcry over his insistence on wearing real animal fur in his figure skating outfit — despite his prior promise to yield to demands that he use faux fur.
Continue reading ‘Ready to Weir: Fur Flies At Olympics Over Outfit of U.S. Figure Skater’

Cheney: “I Was a Big Supporter of Waterboarding”

Former Vice President Dick Cheney came out this weekend in an interview with ABC’s Jonathan Karl to proclaim “I was a big supporter of waterboarding.” It is an astonishing public admission since waterboarding is not just illegal but a war crime. It is akin to the Vice President saying that he supported bank robbery or murder-for-hire as a public policy.
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Utah Legislator Proposes To Deal With Budget Shortfall By Eliminating The 12th Grade

While the Obama Administration and Congress continue to spend hundreds of billions of dollars in Iraq and Afghanistan, legislators continue to dismantle our public services, parks, and educational programs due to budget shortfalls. In Utah, state Sen. Chris Buttars proposed one way of dealing with a budget shortfall: just eliminate the 12th grade. It is not clear why legislators have decided to keep public education at all. If we simply eliminate education, we can send children directly into military training or to work for foreign companies from countries that are expanding their research and educational budgets at the same rate of our decline.
Continue reading ‘Utah Legislator Proposes To Deal With Budget Shortfall By Eliminating The 12th Grade’

Scientists Find “Switch” That Releases Cancer Cells Throughout the Body

In a remarkable discovery with transformative implications for humans, researchers have discovered and detailed the process by which a protein serves as the switch for releasing cancer cells throughout a body from an original cancer site. The protein called disabled-2 (Dab2) is critical to many of the most common and deadly forms of cancer, including breast and colon cancer.

Continue reading ‘Scientists Find “Switch” That Releases Cancer Cells Throughout the Body’

A Mesa in Arizona: Judge Finds Basis for Contempt Sanction Against Arpaio

Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio is fighting with another judge and this one seems ready to hold him in contempt in Mesa, Arizona. While Arpaio routinely disregards and even investigates local judges who oppose his controversial policies or actions, here, he picked the wrong fight with a federal judge this time. U.S. district judge Murray Snow has formally found grounds for sanctioning Arpaio for the acknowledged destruction of records in a lawsuit involving racial profiling.
Continue reading ‘A Mesa in Arizona: Judge Finds Basis for Contempt Sanction Against Arpaio’

Boise Police Officers Taser Man on Buttocks, Threaten to Rape Him With Taser, and Then Claim No Fault in Modest Settlement

We previously followed the case of Gerald Amidon, who sued the Boise police department for allegedly threatening to sodomize him with a taser and using excessive force in his arrest, including tasering him on the buttocks. He has now settled for only $150,000 and, despite a highly disturbing tape of the incident, the police department is able to claim no fault as part of the settlement.
Continue reading ‘Boise Police Officers Taser Man on Buttocks, Threaten to Rape Him With Taser, and Then Claim No Fault in Modest Settlement’

The Right Chemistry: Loving Doctor Isolates Physiological Causes for Love

Ever wondered why your heart raced at the first sight of your wife or husband. Dr. Loving has the answer. Dr. Timothy Loving explains that it is literally having the right chemistry. To be accurate, chemists generally send Valentines reading “Baby, You Make My Adrenaline and Epinephrine Soar.” Above is an appropriate Valentine for chemists.
Continue reading ‘The Right Chemistry: Loving Doctor Isolates Physiological Causes for Love’

Lab Love: Science Publish Findings on the Dynamics of Entanglements

This picture could be the most moving Valentine that scientists could send each other on this special day. Scientists have finally shown how entanglement works, the quantum process in which two objects share the same existence.

Continue reading ‘Lab Love: Science Publish Findings on the Dynamics of Entanglements’

Sex Tape Leads Abbas To Fire Top Aide and Call for an Investigation

Palestinian officials are largely supporting Rafiq Husseini, a former Palestinian intelligence officer and top aide to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who is embroiled in a sex-for-favors scandal. However, Abbas has now dismissed his aide and called for an investigation after he was allegedly captured in an embarrassing video, here.

Continue reading ‘Sex Tape Leads Abbas To Fire Top Aide and Call for an Investigation’

School Confiscates Valentine Cards After Head Teacher Finds Kids Are Not Emotionally Mature Enough to Handle The Tradition

Head Teacher Peter Turner at Ashcombe Primary School in England announced that all Valentine cards would be confiscated because children are not emotionally mature enough to deal with the tradition.

Continue reading ‘School Confiscates Valentine Cards After Head Teacher Finds Kids Are Not Emotionally Mature Enough to Handle The Tradition’

Meet Clifford Garrison: The Alleged “Honeymoon Bandit”

According to police, Clifford Garrison is simply irresistible to women. Known as “The Honeymoon Bandit,” Garrison allegedly woos women and then runs away with their money. It is the wooing part that leaves me a bit confused.
Continue reading ‘Meet Clifford Garrison: The Alleged “Honeymoon Bandit”’

HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY!!!

Happy Valentine’s Day to everyone on the blog.
Continue reading ‘HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY!!!’

Obama Administration Seeks To Strip Cellphone Users of Privacy Protections

The Obama Administration is appealing a ruling in favor of privacy before the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit — seeking to allow it to track people by their cellphones and arguing that there is no privacy expectations to prevent tracking without probable cause. It is another example of Obama’s continued assault on civil liberties — and the failure of liberals to call him to account for such policies.
Continue reading ‘Obama Administration Seeks To Strip Cellphone Users of Privacy Protections’

Wedding Crashers: Kenya Arrests Couple and Guests At Same-Sex Marriage While Protesters Call For The Suspects To Be Burned Alive

Kenyan police showed the world what state-sponsored homophobia looks like this week when police raided a same-sex wedding and arrested all suspected homosexuals.
Continue reading ‘Wedding Crashers: Kenya Arrests Couple and Guests At Same-Sex Marriage While Protesters Call For The Suspects To Be Burned Alive’

Bank of America Forecloses Again On The Wrong House

Bank of America appears to foreclose on homes with the level of care of a random drive-by shooting. We previously followed the foreclosure of a series of wrong homes (here) while denying any liability for such errors. Now, we can add the names of Charlie and Maria Cardoso, a Massachusetts couple foreclosed despite the fact that even a Bank of America agent was telling the company that it had the wrong house in Spring Hill, Florida.
Continue reading ‘Bank of America Forecloses Again On The Wrong House’

U.S. Curling Association Raises Money With “Hurry Hard” Condoms

With the start of the Winter Olympics, one new accessory is being marketed by Kodiak Technology Group CEO Daniel Field to raise money for both the U.S. Curling Association and Monterey County AIDS Prevention. Now you can buy “Hurry Hard” condoms — named after the encouraging call of curling teams to sweep faster. Even more remarkable is a story revealing that 100,000 condoms have been supplied to athletes at the 2010 games — under any standard that would be an Olympic performance.
Continue reading ‘U.S. Curling Association Raises Money With “Hurry Hard” Condoms’

Professor Arrested for Murders at University of Alabama

The academic community is shocked by the news that not only were three faculty members murdered at the University of Alabama but that the suspect is a fellow academic. Amy Bishop, a biology professor, is facing murder charges in the shooting deaths of three faculty members and will be charged with the wounding of three other employees Friday.

Continue reading ‘Professor Arrested for Murders at University of Alabama’

Reid Blasts ABA Over Nevadan Nominee

Majority Leader Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., blasted the American Bar Association over its mixed evaluation of Gloria Navarro, his nominee to the United States District Court. Reid, who has previously relied on ABA ratings in opposing or supporting nominees, told the ABA to “get a new life.”
Continue reading ‘Reid Blasts ABA Over Nevadan Nominee’

Bad Pitch: Weight-Loss Pitchman Trudeau Held In Criminal Contempt

United States District Judge Robert Gettleman in Chicago has held infomercial pitchman Kevin Trudeau in contempt after Trudeau encouraged fans to write and call his chambers. The result was clogging the court’s email and phone system. Trudeau is the author of “The Weight Loss Cure ‘They’ Don’t Want You to Know About.”

Continue reading ‘Bad Pitch: Weight-Loss Pitchman Trudeau Held In Criminal Contempt’

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