Month: March 2009

Frankfurter Frenzy: Near Riot Breaks Out At The Shawarma King After Non-Kosher Hot Dog Is Found On Premises

300px-nci_visuals_food_hot_dogIn New York, the popular Shawarma King deli was turned upside down after someone spotted what appeared to be a non-Kosher hot dog being prepared in the kitchen. Chaos ensued as Jewish patrons surrounded the staff. In the video below, a deli worker fends off a group of around 100 irate patrons with an electric knife. Notably, this type of accident has led to litigation, as discussed below.

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Court: United States Offered to Release Detainee If He Would Not Reveal His Own Torture

200px-flag_of_the_united_statessvgEngland flagTwo British High Court judges have released a very disturbing decision that finds that ormer detainee Binyam Mohamed was offered his freedom by the United States in exchange for his promise not to reveal his own torture at Guantanamo Bay. Equally disturbing is the statement from the English government that it cannot release proof of the torture because of objections from the United States government. If the Obama Administration is continuing this position, it is not only blocking prosecution of war crimes but the release of evidence of such war crimes to other nations. I discussed this and other developments on this segment of Rachel Maddow’s show.
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South Africa Bars Dalai Lama From International Peace Conference

200px-tenzin_gyatzo_foto_1In an incredible act, the South African government has barred the Dalai Lama from an International Peace Conference — knuckling under to pressure from China. The very people that once fought efforts to silence Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu are now silencing a Noble Prize winner and international voice of peace because they do not want to insult China.

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Don’t Feed The Local Citylife: Man Arrested for Feeding Homeless in Orlando

jesus_feeds_5000Eric Montanez faces a curious criminal charge in Orlando, Florida: feeding hungry people. The good people of Orlando, Florida have decided to join other cities in making it a crime to feed poor and hungry people caught up in this recession. Even at Yellowstone you are simply asked not to feed the bears, but in Orlando feeding the hungry will get you arrested. There was a guy in the New Testament that did such things and look where that got us.

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Scruffy’s Revenge: New York City Teen Faces 25 Years in Cat Burning

amd_scruffy_catAngelo Monderoy, 18, and Matthew Cooper, 17, are looking at serious time for the horrific act of burning a cat named Scruffy with lighter fluid. The potential twenty-five year sentence is a rarity since most such cases fall under relatively light criminal penalties, but the property counts appear to have magnified the sentence.
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Saudi Clerics Call For Women To Be Banned From Television and Newspapers

150px-muslim_woman_in_yemenLike many ministers and politicians in the United States, Saudi Arabian clerics are up in arms over the immorality of television. They’re objections go beyond the usual smut described by Sen. Joe Lieberman and others. They want the new information minister to take all women and music banned from the television. They also want pictures banned of women in magazines.
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Oklahoma Legislature Investigates University’s Hosting of Speech by Evolution Advocate

225px-dawkins_at_ut_austin_2Oklahoma flagIt appears that Oklahoma legislators are continuing their attempted crackdown on University of Oklahoma for the outrage of allowing evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins of Oxford University speak to its students. After proposing two resolutions denouncing the scheduled appearance, legislators are now demanding answers about the funding and communications with Dawkins. It appears that the legislators would like the school to pull speakers from the renown Institute of Creation Science than that glorified correspondence school, Oxford University.
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Drop A Drachma And Be Saved: Smith College Constructs Ancient Coin-Operated Holy Water Dispenser

hsc18a1Long before the blessed holy clothes and apocalyptic tapes, it appears that religious organizations found a way to fleece the faithful. Smith College has reconstructed a coin-operated holy water dispenser designed by the Greek inventor Heron.
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Malaysian Bar Charged With Misuse of the Word “Allah”

125px-flag_of_malaysiasvgRecently, we followed the crackdown on a Catholic newspaper by the Malaysian Islamic religious council and government over its use of “Allah.” Now, the council is pursuing the Malaysian Bar for using the word on its website in two online polls on whether any particular race has exclusive rights to the word.
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Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch Leads to Evacuation in London

172521_knighA street in East London was evacuated after workers from the Water company found what they believed was a grenade after moving a fire hydrant cover. It turned out to be a replica of the “Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch” from the the 1975 film Monty Python And The Holy Grail. Unfortunately, the street has been free of killer rabbits for years, but with the removal of the golden device, residents may soon be looking for a replacement.
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Former Naval Academy Professor Charged With Raping 12-Year-Old Girl While Teaching At Annapolis

45650225-18145318Among the academics making the news this week is former Naval Academy professor Patrick Harrison, 66. It is not the type of publicity a professor craves. He is charged with raping a 12-year-old girl while teaching at the Academy. What is interesting about this case is that the alleged victim took 15 years to come forward with the claims.

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Rule Against PETAtuities: Ingrid Newkirk Bequeths Body Parts For Macabre Testamentary Gifts

200px-ingrid_newkirk_by_david_shankboneOk, there is the rule against perpetuities, but I cannot find a rule against petatuities. PETA President Ingrid Newkirk has released her will that includes giving her body to PETA for the suggested purpose of people eating her flesh and making leather goods from her skin.

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