Dunkin’ Donuts has pulled an ad featuring Rachael Ray after Fox commentator Michelle Malkin objected that a scarf that she was wearing resembled a keffiyeh, a traditional headdress worn by Arab men. It appears that even clothing resembling Arab clothing is viewed as an outrageous play for terrorists seeking donuts with their coffee. With the withdrawal of the ad, it is hoped that Homeland Security will lower the risk level to taupe. The company insists that no insult was intended and insists that its stores are safe for customers to come and enjoy “old-fashion donuts” and that bastion of American strength, the Apple Fritter.
Continue reading “Frittering Away Our Freedoms: Dunkin’ Donut Caves to Conservative Pressure and Withdrawals Rachael Ray Ad”
Month: May 2008
Writer Matt Taibbi has a hilarious account of going undercover to the camp of former John McCain supporter Rev. John Hagee. One highlight is requiring the faithful to throw up “demons” that range from “incest” to “hand-writing analysis.”
Continue reading “Puking for Jesus — Writer Details Hagee’s Spiritual Camp”
Harvard Law School professor Charles R. Nesson saw the arrest of Richard E. Cusick and R. Keith Stroup as an opportunity to challenge the Massachusetts ban on marijuana — insisting that the law did not even meet the minimal “rational basis” test and seeking jury nullification. Instead, his clients were not even given an evidentiary hearing, found guilty quickly by the jury, and sentenced to time served.
Continue reading “Legal Defense Goes Up in Smoke: Harvard Professor Challenges Pot Laws Seeking Jury Nullification — and Loses”
It is enough to make Tony Soprano and the guys at the BaDa Bing! weep. Patsy Hamaker, a stripper at The Furnace in Birmingham, is suing the strip club over a car accident: claiming that she was pushed to drink with clients to raise revenue and that her employer should have stopped her from driving given her intoxication. Continue reading “Stripper Sues Club After Alcohol-Related Accident”
The North Coast Women’s Care Medical Group treated Guadalupe Benitez, of Oceanside, with fertility drugs for roughly a year. However, when they learned that she was a lesbian, they refused on religious grounds to inseminate her. Now, just on the heels of its historic same-sex marriage ruling, the California Supreme Court has taken the case.
Continue reading “California Supreme Court Takes Historic Lawsuit by Lesbian Against Fertility Clinic”
French skydiver Michel Fournier had everything in place todya for his much-touted attempt to break the world record for a parachute jump height. The only small problem is that his balloon left without him: bidding farewell to both the bid and over $200,000. The video is below.
Continue reading “Helmet — Check; Boots — Check, Balloon . . . Sacré Bleu!”
In Southern California, Kieffe and Sons do not want non-Christians and civil libertarians to drive Hondas — or at least anything other than their Fords. The dealership has added a standard package of prejudice to its car sales with the ad below denouncing those who oppose prayer in school and intermingling of church and state — full religious intolerance is standard with each car but specific sectarian hatred is optional with some models. Continue reading “No Hybrids Wanted: Ford Dealer Tells Non-Religious Citizens and Civil Libertarians to Get Lost”
Pennsylvania Chief Justice Ronald Castille has threatened sanctions against the League of Women Voters and disciplinary measures against its attorney, Paul Rossi, for being judicial misconduct charges related to his predecessor. The League has alleged that former Chief Justice Ralph Cappy had “secret negotiations” with legislative leaders in 2005 before the Court upheld the 2004 slots law and the Legislature passed a controversial pay-raise for judges. It is not clear what is more outrageous: the original allegations or Castille’s use of his office to threaten litigants and lawyers seeking a hearing. This is particularly troubling when Castille himself is implicated in the allegations. Continue reading “Pennsylvania Chief Justice Threatens Parties and Lawyers for Filing Action Alleging Judicial Misconduct”
The parents of Staff Sgt. Ryan Maseth are fighting to preserve their lawsuit against military contractor KBR, which is seeking to dismiss their wrongful death lawsuit. Maseth was one of a number of soldiers who died of electrocution in showers maintained by KBR. Rep. Jason Altmire is calling for an investigation, but he is only half right. Altmire and his colleagues should be holding hearings on the elimination of the Feres Doctrice, barring soldiers from suing the military in such cases. Continue reading “Pittsburgh Family Sues Over Electrocution Death of Soldier in Iraq”
A new judge is under scrutiny over improper her relationship and conduct. Ana Gardiner, the chief criminal judge for the 17th Judicial Circuit, is accused of having a romantic relationship with defense attorney John Cotrone and also discussing pending murder cases over dinner with prosecutors — including laughing about the evidence, jurors, and capital charges.
Continue reading “Florida Judge Ana Gardiner Accused of Improper Relationship and Conduct”
On this Memorial Day, I looked with great anticipation to the completion of the Pentagon memorial. After all, it has taken years and $22 million dollars (with a $10 million endowment) to complete. The first pictures were released below and I must say that I positively hate the design.
Continue reading “Ok, I Hate It. There I Said It: Pentagon Memorial Takes Shape”
To the relief of many, the Mars Phoenix landed on Mars without incident. NASA has released the pictures below taken on the Red Planet’s arctic plains. This was the conclusion of a 296-day voyage and years of planning.
Continue reading “First Pictures From the Mars Phoenix Project”
The American Red Cross could have at least served coffee and donuts this week to the legal team of Johnson & Johnson: a court all but vanquished the claims of the company that the Red Cross had violated its trademarked use of the iconic red cross on white background. Judge Jed Rakoff of the United States district court said that Congress gave the charity the right to use the Greek cross and that it could therefore sell the right to use it to competitors.
Continue reading “Court Rules In Favor of Red Cross in Lawsuit with Johnson & Johnson”
This week, we have seen another golden oldie from the Saudi legal system. Nour Miyati was severely abused by her employer who had tied up the Indonesian maid for a month and refused her food and basic necessities as punishment. Ms Miyati, 25, ultimately needed hospitalization and, after gangrene set in, they had to amputate her fingers and toes. While insisting that Islamic law protected servants, the Saudi courts just overturned the conviction of the couple responsible, including the wife who had admitted the abuse. Their punishment? $640.
Continue reading “Saudi Court Overturns Conviction of Employer Who Admitted Torturing Maid — Resulting in Amputation of Fingers and Toes”
In Port St. Lucie, the family of nine-year-old Alex Barton are exploring a lawsuit against teacher Wendy Portillo and the school district of his humiliation in front of his class. Alex is in the process of being diagnosed with autism, but Portillo still reportedly punished him by making him stand in front of the class as students were invited to list the things that they hate about him — then led a vote to throw him out of class. This apparently comes from the Lord of the Flies school of teaching.
Continue reading “Teacher Accused of Public Humiliation of Five-Year-Old Autistic Child”