Month: September 2008

Bizarre, Criminal law, Society

Amazing X-Ray of 15-Year-Old Knife Victim

The English police are seeking some thugs in a horrific stabbing crime near a bus stop. I am not going to try to invent some substantive reason for adding these x-ray images other than to note: THIS KID SURVIVED. A 15-year-old boy tried to stop a robbery in England and was stabbed in the head by the assailants. These are his x-rays in the criminal case. It is an amazing feat of medical science that he pulled through. [WARNING: GRAPHIC IMAGES]

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Bizarre, Politics, Religion, Society

Would You Like to Come Upstairs and See My Fatwa? Pakistani President Sanctioned for Flirting with Sarah Palin

On this SNL video of Tina Faye playing Sarah Palin, she complains about a couple of Pakistani guys “literally embracing her.” It appears that it was more than comic relief. Pakistani cleric Maulana Abdul Ghafar has issued a fatwah against Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari for “unIslamic” flirting with Palin in New York.

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Bizarre, Religion, Society, Torts

Over 200 Killed or Injured in Another Stampede at a Hindu Temple in India

India has experienced yet another stampede at a Hindu temple. Over 25,000 devotees showed up to pass through a steep and narrow pathway to 15th century Chamunda Devi temple. The resulting stampede killed at least 147 and injured at least 55 others. Estimates continue to rise and now some reports put the deaths and injuries above 300.

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Bizarre, Politics, Religion, Society

Obama Denounced by Republican Leader as the Anti-Christ While McCain Faces Allegations that He is the Aztec Demon Itzcoliuhqui

Republican activists appear to be increasingly leaving behind oil, the economy, and the war as campaign issues in favor of a single campaign issue: Obama is the anti-Christ foretold in Revelations. Only recently, James Bramlett sent out an email warning that Satan was behind Obama’s success. Now, Dutchess County Republican Committee Chairwoman Corinne Weber has sent an email warning that Obama may not just be powered by the Anti-Christ, he may be the Anti-Christ himself. [Update: S.C. Mayor agrees that Obama may indeed be the Biblical Beast]
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Bizarre, Society, Torts

The Troutman Found With Dead Cats: New York Landlord Sued for Allegedly Using Cat Carcases to Force Tenants to Leave

Heskel Properties of Manhattan is being sued for a bizarre effort to force tenants out of an apartment building that it recently purchased: it littered the property with dead cats to create a stench at 64 Troutman — a building in Brooklyn. The tenants apparently have rent-controlled apartment and they accuse the new owner of using animal carcases to get them to voluntarily leave the units.

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Bizarre, Criminal law, Society

Officer (Not So) Friendly: Iowa Man Charged with Assault After Hugging Police Officer

On a Saturday afternoon in Iowa City, Iowa, Luke Schreder had a dangerous, felonious idea: he thought that a police officer just “needed a hug.” The officer proceeded to charge him with assault on a peace officer for his spontaneous act of affection.
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Congress, Criminal law, Justice, Politics

Special Prosecutor Appointed to Investigate the U.S. Attorneys Firings

After many months of refusing demands for a special prosecutor, Attorney General Michael Mukasey has finally yielded after the Justice Department’s own Inspector General called for such an appointment. He appointed Nora Dannehy, an experienced career federal prosecutor in Connecticut.

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Criminal law, Justice, Politics

Inspector General’s Report Calls for Appointment of Special Prosecutor

For many months, some of us have been calling for a special prosecutor to handle allegations of criminality in the Bush Administration, particularly with regard to unlawful surveillance, torture, and political firings. Now the Inspector General has called for such an appointment to further investigate the removal of nine U.S. Attorneys — adding pressure to Attorney General Michael Mukasey.

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Bizarre, Religion, Society, Torts

Muslim Forklift Operator Sues English Company For Having to “Handle” Alcohol

Mohammed Ahmed, 32, is suing the English company Tesco because some of the crates that he was forced to lift with his machine contained alcohol, which he insists violates his religious beliefs. The company insists that it tried to accommodate him but that virtually all such jobs involved some interaction with alcohol products.

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Academia, Bizarre, Society

Potty Confusion in Personchester: Gender-Nuetral Toilets Cause Chaos at Manchester University

Jennie Killip, the women’s officer at the students’ union at Manchester University, considered traditional toilet signs to be insulting to transgender students by referring to “Gents” or “Ladies” or “Men” or “Women.” What if you are somewhere in between, she asked. So, the school changed the signs to “Toilets with urinals” and just “Toilets.” The result was chaos as students ran about trying to decide where to go to the bathroom.

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Bizarre, Criminal law, Politics

China Accused of Lies and Cover-up in Massacre

Do you remember that “separatist attack” in Kashgar that the Chinese government and media reported days before the Olympics? Evidence now indicates that the government lied to the world about two separatists killing Chinese paramilitary police. Photographs from tourist now show that it was a fight between paramilitary officers and that the government promptly sought to seize any photographs from tourists across the street. They missed a roll.

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Bizarre, Criminal law, Politics, Society

Texas Jury Acquits Man Who Forced Teens to Kneel in Front of Him and Fatally Shot One in the Back

A Laredo, Texas jury has acquitted a man who was accused of murdering a boy who broke into his home with other teens in search of snacks and sodas in July 2007. Jose Luis Gonzalez, 63, shot Francisco Anguiano, 13, in the back after making him and his three friends kneel in front of him in his trailer after catching him in a break-in. For some, it is an example of the increasing carnage under the so-called Castle Doctrine or make-my-day laws.

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Bizarre, Religion, Society

Atheist Sues Army Over Sectarian Ceremonies

Army Specialist Dustin Chalker is a loyal soldier, a good citizen, and an atheist. It is the last of his characteristics that has caused problems when he is ordered to sit through ceremonies with sectarian religious observations. With the help of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, he has filed suit in a federal district court in Kansas (which is also a party), challenging the practices as a violation of the Establishment Clause of the Constitution.
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