Category: Bizarre

Bizarre, Free Speech, Politics

Susanna Gibson Alleges that Critics Committed a “Sex Crime” In Exposing Her Alleged Streaming of Sex Acts

The bizarre story of Susanna Gibson and her running as a candidate for the House of Delegates has occupied much of the conversations around Virginia, where I live.  The Democratic nominee was exposed recently by the Washington Post in streaming sex acts on a site called Chaturbate for money. The tips, she reportedly pledged, would go to a “good cause.” Leading Democrats have rallied around Gibson as had the group Emily’s List. I had little interest in the story until Gibson, 40, alleged that the disclosure of her online solicitations is an actual “sex crime” and a violation of her privacy. Continue reading “Susanna Gibson Alleges that Critics Committed a “Sex Crime” In Exposing Her Alleged Streaming of Sex Acts” →

Academia, Bizarre

“A 3.22 Threat”: Six-Year-Old Suspended for Using Finger Gun in Game of Cops and Robbers

J.B. may be the ultimate example of the National Rifle Association’s (NRA) pledge to give up their gun when it is pried from their cold, dead hands. In the case of six-year-old J.B., his gun is his hand.  J.B. this week became the latest child to be suspended for pointing a finger gun. In this case, the adults at the Bagley Elementary School in Jefferson County, Alabama believed that a finger gun violated their zero tolerance policy. We have previously discussed the lunacy of the zero tolerance policies under which teachers discipline children by exercising zero thought or judgment.

Continue reading ““A 3.22 Threat”: Six-Year-Old Suspended for Using Finger Gun in Game of Cops and Robbers” →

Bizarre, Columns, Politics, Torts

Hunter Plays Hamlet on the Delaware: New Filings in the Laptop Litigation Take a Shakespearean Twist

 

To paraphrase Hamlet, there is “something rotten” in the state of Delaware. Filings in the Delaware Supreme Court this week were made public in the litigation involving Mac Isaac, the owner of the computer repair shop where Hunter Biden abandoned his now infamous laptop. Miranda Devine at the New York Post has a detailed story on the new evidence. It appears that Hunter Biden is terribly embarrassed by a laptop that may not be his and pictures that may not show him. I previously wrote how his countersuit against Isaac would go forward on this bizarre basis in claiming privacy harm. Well, Hunter’s performance has proven positively Shakespearean as he tries to maintain these conflicted legal and factual claims. Continue reading “Hunter Plays Hamlet on the Delaware: New Filings in the Laptop Litigation Take a Shakespearean Twist” →

Bizarre, Criminal law

California Police Arrest “The Sniffer,” But What Will Be the Charge?

There is a bizarre case out of California where Calese Carron Crowder was arrested after crouching down behind women and appearing to “sniff” them from behind at a Burbank Barnes & Noble store. Putting aside the bizarre fetish, the criminal charges in the case present equally novel elements. Continue reading “California Police Arrest “The Sniffer,” But What Will Be the Charge?” →

Bizarre, Politics

“Because he was Daring me”: Rhode Island Senator Sentenced for Keying Car with Anti-Biden Sticker

Rhode Island state senator was ordered to pay restitution after he keyed a SUV with an anti-Biden sticker and then lied to police. While the sentence is fairly standard, it seems a tad light in this particular case. Sen. Joshua Miller lied to police and holds a position of public trust. The expungement of the crime is particularly unfortunate given the role of a leading politician in politically motivated property destruction.

Continue reading ““Because he was Daring me”: Rhode Island Senator Sentenced for Keying Car with Anti-Biden Sticker” →

Academia, Animals, Bizarre, Criminal law

Penn State Professor Arrested for Alleged Sex Crimes with Dog

We often follow academics in the criminal justice system, but few are likely to be as memorable as Penn State Professor Themis Matsoukas, 64.  The Penn State chemical engineering professor was arrested in a parking lot near Rothrock State Forest for allegedly having sex with a collie. He later told police  “I do it to blow off steam.”  What is notable (beyond the obvious) is the overlap and lack of severity of the charges.

Continue reading “Penn State Professor Arrested for Alleged Sex Crimes with Dog” →

Bizarre, Politics

Cat 5 Politics: NC Gov. Cooper Declares “State of Emergency” Over Approaching Democratic System

North Carolina is now officially in a “state of emergency.” After the announcement by North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper (D), citizens may be justifiably confused on whether they should move inland.  The cause is not a developing storm over the Atlantic, but an approaching democratic vote in Raleigh. Legislators are preparing to override his veto to allow greater school choice under the state voucher system, so Cooper declared that override to be akin to a Cat 5 hurricane.  Cooper wants citizens to move politically, not physically.

Continue reading “Cat 5 Politics: NC Gov. Cooper Declares “State of Emergency” Over Approaching Democratic System” →

Bizarre, Politics, Society

“I Don’t Have Any Words”: Trans Activist Simply Screams Into Mike at San Francisco Board Meeting

I recently wrote a column about how “American politics has become a matter of simple amplification.” This week, Lia McGeever vividly made this point at the San Francisco Board of Advisers by choosing to simply scream into a mike as her statement on a recent case. The Board has nothing to do with the case, but McGeever wanted the cathartic moment. Nothing says the age of rage as much as a primal scream session in a public board meeting. Continue reading ““I Don’t Have Any Words”: Trans Activist Simply Screams Into Mike at San Francisco Board Meeting” →

Bizarre, Torts

Mooving Violation: Family Hit By Flying Cow in North Carolina

Teaching torts, it is easy to develop a sense of the macabre. Torts involves every possible thing that can happen to people from finding a toe in chewing tobacco (Pillars) to being killed by a flying coffin at an amusement park (Chueng). Since I was a law student, I have also noted bizarre “flying body” cases of torts. This week a former student named Ben sent a personal account of a truly bizarre run-in with an airborne cow. Fortunately, the family was unharmed in the incident. The same cannot be said for the cow.

Continue reading “Mooving Violation: Family Hit By Flying Cow in North Carolina” →

Bizarre, Free Speech, Society

“You’re Done, Over, Out of the Art Club”: Activists Go Full Dementor Over HBO Max’s Harry Potter Series

We have been discussing the unrelenting campaign against British author J.K. Rowling, who has raised concerns as a feminist over the impact of transgender policies and laws. She has been denounced as a TERF (trans exclusionary radical feminist) and even the reading of her famous book series is now considered unacceptable by many. This unhinged response includes cancel campaigns against bars that even briefly show the Harry Potter game. Now, activists are denouncing HBO Max for a new series on Harry Potter in which Rowling will understandably be the executive producer. Continue reading ““You’re Done, Over, Out of the Art Club”: Activists Go Full Dementor Over HBO Max’s Harry Potter Series” →

Academia, Bizarre

Kitchen Bull Connors: Professor Denounces Cleanliness as Sexist and Racist

Continue reading “Kitchen Bull Connors: Professor Denounces Cleanliness as Sexist and Racist” →

Academia, Bizarre, Free Speech

Stanford Advises Students That They Can Seek Support from the DEI Dean Who Supported Their Denial of Free Speech
In what may constitute the most tone deaf response to an academic scandal in history, Stanford University is advising conservative students involved with the recently cancelled Federalist Society event that they can “reach out” to various resources, including DEI Dean Tirien Steinbach who helped shutdown the event. It is akin to the Oscars telling Chris Rock that Will Smith is available as an emotional support coach. You know what is emotionally therapeutic for those denied free speech? Free speech.

Bizarre, Media

And Then They Came For “The”: Associated Press Warns Use of the Article Can Be “Dehumanizing”

The Associated Press has announced that the article “the” should be avoided in many circumstances because it is “dehumanizing.” It warns writers to avoid saying offensive things like “the French”. It does not seem that we can even just add an x like Latinx. It is not a gender thing so “thx” will not suffice. It is now an article of faith to stop using the article “the” in referencing groups.  It is reminiscent of Winston Churchill who was chastised for ending a sentence with a preposition. He responded by showing the artificiality of avoiding an ending preposition: “This is the type of arrant pedantry up with which I will not put.”

Continue reading “And Then They Came For “The”: Associated Press Warns Use of the Article Can Be “Dehumanizing”” →

Academia, Bizarre, International

“Tragedy … Might be Triggering”: British Universities Add Warnings for Greek and Shakespearean Plays

The problem with universities overwhelmingly controlled by faculty on the left is that there are few to offer a dose of reality or rationality. Left to their own devices, some faculty seem to search for new ways to demonstrate woke priorities. British universities have long been ridiculed for policies controlling speech or symbols. Now, The Telegraph is reporting that British universities are adding trigger warnings to Greek and Shakespearean tragedies to protect students from being triggered by tragedy. Indeed, there are now warnings on other classics for everything from “ableism” to “depictions of rural life.”

Continue reading ““Tragedy … Might be Triggering”: British Universities Add Warnings for Greek and Shakespearean Plays” →

Bizarre, Congress

“Enjoying It Too Much”: Democrats Overplay a Simple Adjournment Vote and Elect Kevin McCarthy

For those of us who have worked in and around Congress for years, last night’s final election of a speaker in the early hours of Saturday was nothing short of an extended Nascar race, particularly if you come to watch the cars crash. The evening had everything from gallows humor to a virtual wrestling match on the floor.

It finished as unpredictably as it began. Kevin McCarthy fell just one vote short of winning as tempers boiled over and the GOP sought an adjournment until Monday. The Democrats then overplayed their hand by gratuitously seeking to prolong the pain by opposing the motion. Then something unexpected happened…

Continue reading ““Enjoying It Too Much”: Democrats Overplay a Simple Adjournment Vote and Elect Kevin McCarthy” →

Res ipsa loquitur – The thing itself speaks