Author: jonathanturley

Academia, Constitutional Law, Courts, Supreme Court

Ninth Circuit Appeals Court Rules In Favor Of Teacher Who Criticized Creationism

-Submitted by David Drumm (Nal), Guest Blogger

We have previously discussed the case of Dr. James Corbett, a history teacher at Capistrano Valley high school, who was sued over comments he made when he referred to creationism as “superstitious nonsense.” A three-judge panel for The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit unanimously ruled that the district court’s judgement on the constitutionality of Corbett’s statements be vacated. The appeals court affirmed the district court’s finding that Corbett was entitled to qualified immunity.

Continue reading “Ninth Circuit Appeals Court Rules In Favor Of Teacher Who Criticized Creationism” →

Academia, Science, Society

Have Todd Rider And MIT Banned The Common Cold?

Submitted by Mark Esposito, Guest Blogger

Before the early part of the twentieth century most methods of treating infection were based on medical folklore. It’s true that in the nineteenth century Pasteur and Koch had observed and isolated various bacteria and postulated their connection to disease and some vaccines had been developed, but, by and large, medical researchers had failed to take up the challenge of curing bacterial infections. It wasn’t until the 1930’s with Alexander Fleming’s discovery of penicillin that antibiotics were developed which attacked bacterial infections directly. This mass alleviation of disease and suffering has been hailed as one of the greatest developments in medicine.

Continue reading “Have Todd Rider And MIT Banned The Common Cold?” →

Science

The Fastest Shoelace Knot

-Submitted by David Drumm (Nal), Guest Blogger

I used to do the “wrap-it-around-the-tree” knot but I’ve started doing the Ian knot. Over a lifetime, it’s estimated to save you 4 days of time. Although, with my late start, I don’t expect to realize that much time savings.

Columns, Media, Politics, Society, Things That Tick Me Off

Jobless in Georgia

Submitted by: Mike Spindell, guest blogger

 While we the privileged, who have time for such things, argue about law, politics, and society from our individual perspectives, we can easily forget that the results of these arguments affect real people in their lives. In the present American discourse, curt slogans and political bombast rule the airwaves and the Internet. The consequences of arguments won and lost are often subsumed by the anger of the debate itself. I personally feel a great empathy for those people ground down by the decisions and actions of those with financial power who have influence on executive and legislative power. The result of this empathy is anger at what I see is the blindness of our corporate and political leaders towards the lives of average people and the deafness of those same leaders to the cries for help all around them. Continue reading “Jobless in Georgia” →

Courts, Media

Are There Any Wieners When Two Top Dogs Take Beef To Court?

-Submitted by David Drumm (Nal), Guest Blogger

Sara Lee Corp., maker of Ball Park franks, and Kraft Foods Inc., maker of Oscar Mayer wieners, are in a Chicago federal court. Sara Lee sued Kraft Foods over the latter’s claim that their hot dogs won a national taste test and are “100% pure beef.” Kraft Foods countersued over Sara Lee’s claim of an “all beef” hot dog and misrepresenting of a culinary award as “America’s best” hot dog.

Continue reading “Are There Any Wieners When Two Top Dogs Take Beef To Court?” →

Media, Society

The King Is Out; Guacamole Is In!

Submitted by Mark Esposito, Guest Blogger

The creepy, plastic, perpetually grinning Burger King mascot is no more according to spokesperson, Miguel Piedra. “We are food-centric, and we want to appeal to a broader audience,” he added. First appearing in print ads in 1955, the King will be dethroned this month but may appear in another form, accoridng to the spokesman.

 A restaurant concentrating on food quality? What a concept.

Continue reading “The King Is Out; Guacamole Is In!” →

Bizarre, Politics

Obamas Take Separate Planes So First Lady Can Get A Few More Hours of Vacation in Martha’s Vineyard?

While I do not recall a great deal of grumbling from conservatives about George Bush’s long vacations, I have to agree with the criticism of the First Family taking two separate planes to their vacation on Martha’s Vineyard — apparently to give the First Lady a few hours head start on the vacation. At a time of tremendous economic sacrifice, it seems pretty insensitive to take separate planes and motorcades at a cost of an estimated $100,000.
Continue reading “Obamas Take Separate Planes So First Lady Can Get A Few More Hours of Vacation in Martha’s Vineyard?” →

Academia, Bizarre, Politics, Religion, Science

Rick Perry: Earth “Pretty Old” and Evolution “Got Some Gaps”

Gov. Rick Perry was asked directly about his view on creationism and the religious dogma regarding the age of the Earth. His response was truly Bushesque, saying that the Earth is “pretty old” and evolution “got some gaps.” He wants both evolution and creationism taught side by side as equal “theories” in public schools.
Continue reading “Rick Perry: Earth “Pretty Old” and Evolution “Got Some Gaps”” →

Bizarre, Criminal law

Jury Awards Chicago Family $300,000 For Abusive Police Raid Leading To Shooting Of Family Dog

The family of Thomas Russell III has been awarded $300,000 by a federal jury this week for an abusive raid that led to the police shooting the family dog. We have been following a long line of cases where family dogs are shot by police.

Continue reading “Jury Awards Chicago Family $300,000 For Abusive Police Raid Leading To Shooting Of Family Dog” →

Bizarre, Criminal law, Military, Politics

Auditors Conclude That $6.6 Billion Simply Disappeared From Planes Filled With Cash To Iraq

For years, the media has reported billions of dollars stolen or missing in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Karzai family in particular has been singled out in allegations of such pilfering as well as an array of other crimes such as drug dealing. Now, auditors have found that $6.6 billion has simply disappeared — cash sent by the plane load to Iraq.
Continue reading “Auditors Conclude That $6.6 Billion Simply Disappeared From Planes Filled With Cash To Iraq” →

Bizarre, Criminal law, International, Politics, Religion

Spanish Police Attack Young People On Street In Preparation For Arrival Of Pope

Judging from this video, the Spanish have retained a Francoesque approach to dealing with the public and the concept of free assembly. The attacks on these young people appear entirely unprovoked. The police are preparing for the arrival of the Pope.
Continue reading “Spanish Police Attack Young People On Street In Preparation For Arrival Of Pope” →

Politics, Society

Reach Out And Touch Someone: AT&T Purchases Hundreds of Books By Gov. Rick Perry To Hand Out Free To State Legislators

While it has been generally panned as superficial and little more than expanded soundbites, Gov. Rick Perry’s Fed Up! Our Fight to Save America From Washington clearly has one big fan: AT&T. AT&T purchased hundreds of the books to hand out free.
Continue reading “Reach Out And Touch Someone: AT&T Purchases Hundreds of Books By Gov. Rick Perry To Hand Out Free To State Legislators” →

Criminal law, International

Citibank Accused Of Killing Indonesian Man in Harsh Interrogation

The death of Irzen Octa in interrogation in Jakarta has raised an outcry internationally. What is a bit surprising is that his interrogators were not Indonesian police but Citibank employees. The company who proclaims “your Citi never sleeps” appears to harshly interrogated the man for hours in a tiny room over just $5,700 on his Citibank credit card.

Continue reading “Citibank Accused Of Killing Indonesian Man in Harsh Interrogation” →

Constitutional Law, Courts, Politics, Society

“Casket Cartel” Takes Monks To Court

Louisiana regulators have decided to appeal a ruling in favor of casket-making monks that found a state law unconstitutional in giving funeral directors exclusive rights to sell caskets. The law has been criticized as a case of a powerful lobby getting politicians to snuff out their competition. Louisiana legislators caved into demands for the protective measures, but Judge Stanwood R. Duval, of the U.S. District Court in New Orleans found that the legislation did not even satisfy the low rational basis test. The regulators are now appealing to the Fifth Circuit.

Continue reading ““Casket Cartel” Takes Monks To Court” →

Bizarre, Criminal law, International

Actor Gérard Depardieu Forces Flight To Return To Terminal After Urinating In Aisle

It is getting to the point that you have to wear waders on flights these days. We just saw a recent case of Robert “Sandy” Vietze, 18, (a member of the U.S. Olympic ski Team) peeing on the leg of an 11-year-old girl. Now, famed actor Gerard Depardieu forced a plane to return to the airport after he relieved himself in the middle of the plane aisle in first class. The actor from Green Card and such masterpieces as Cyrano de Bergerac appears not to have been charged in contrast with other cases.

Continue reading “Actor Gérard Depardieu Forces Flight To Return To Terminal After Urinating In Aisle” →