Category: Bizarre

Bizarre, Criminal law, Politics

THE RESURRECTION OF GENERAL DAVID PETRAEUS

DCIA_David_PetraeusWe have long discussed the sweetheart deal given General David Petraeus, who violated core professional and national security rules only only to avoid any jail time. It is part of what I have called our Animal Farm system where some people are more equal than others. Now Petraeus is under consideration for the positions of Secretary of State. It is an ironic twist since his predecessor in such a position was accused of recklessly compromising national security — the very allegations raised with regard to Petraeus.

Continue reading “THE RESURRECTION OF GENERAL DAVID PETRAEUS” →

Academia, Bizarre, Media, Politics, Society

GW Student Groups Denounce Campus Security Protection As “Act of Violence”

150px-GWUlogoGeorge Washington (where I teach at the law school) has become the focus of national attention due to a letter sent out by a collection of student groups that declared the security supplied by campus police to be an “act of violence” because police are viewed as supporting President-elect Donald Trump. It is an absurd and insulting position — part of a tirade by the groups calling for everything from providing sanctuary to undocumented immigrants to breaking down patriarchy, Islamophobia, and a myriad of other social ills.  The deep sense of community and societal concerns reflected in the letter is a good thing and something that this university has always fostered.  However, the gratuitous slap at our campus police is neither productive nor warranted.

Continue reading “GW Student Groups Denounce Campus Security Protection As “Act of Violence”” →

Animals, Bizarre, Criminal law, Environment

Georgian Man Allegedly Grabs Hammerhead Shark, Repeatedly Punches It, Takes Picture Of Child On It, and Leaves It To Die . . . But Is Only Charged With Misdemeanor

We have previously discussed outrageous acts by people passing around dolphins or other sea creatures for selfies — only to kill the animals (here and here and here). The latest alleged moron is Granger Ray Wooten, 21, who is accused of beaching a hammerhead shark, repeatedly punching it, and then taking photos of it.

Continue reading “Georgian Man Allegedly Grabs Hammerhead Shark, Repeatedly Punches It, Takes Picture Of Child On It, and Leaves It To Die . . . But Is Only Charged With Misdemeanor” →

Bizarre, Criminal law, International, Media, Religion, Society

Beauty in the Eye Of The Abuser: Morocco Television Shows Women How To Cover Up Bruises From Domestic Violence

screen-shot-2016-11-27-at-12-31-45-pmThe beating of women in Islamic countries remains a serious concern, particularly after Islamic clerics advised men how to beat their spouses in Islamically correct ways (here and here and here). With the rise of Islamic parties in Morocco, women are particularly concerned. This concern was magnified recently with the airing of a state television program on how women can use makeup to cover bruises left by domestic violence.

Continue reading “Beauty in the Eye Of The Abuser: Morocco Television Shows Women How To Cover Up Bruises From Domestic Violence” →

Bizarre, Society

Trump Supporter On Flight Yells Profanities At Passengers . . . Delta Allows Man To Take The Flight Anyway [UPDATED]

3ab98d4400000578-0-image-a-81_1480006785312Ok, what is wrong with this picture? A video taken by passenger Emma Baum shows an obnoxious man yelling support for Donald Trump on her flight and calling other passengers “Hillary bitches.” Delta proceeds to take the man off the plane but then returns the man to his seat and allows him to take the flight. Come again? A passenger yells profanities and abuses other passengers and Delta still reportedly allows him to take that flight with those passengers? Update: Delta has now banned the man from Delta flights for life.

Continue reading “Trump Supporter On Flight Yells Profanities At Passengers . . . Delta Allows Man To Take The Flight Anyway [UPDATED]” →

Bizarre, Criminal law, International, Politics, Religion, Society

Saudi Sharia Court Orders Two Women Flogged For Over Bad Language on Social Media

125px-Coat_of_arms_of_Saudi_Arabia.svgnicubunu_open_mouthWe have yet another example of the barbaric application of Islamic Sharia law — a medieval system that is used in many Muslim nations to impose Islamic values on citizens. The latest example comes from Saudi Arabia where two women were sentenced by a Sharia “judge” to 20 lashes after having been found guilty of using bad language over WhatsApp.

Continue reading “Saudi Sharia Court Orders Two Women Flogged For Over Bad Language on Social Media” →

Bizarre, Society

TURKEY TORTS (2016)

stock-graphics-vintage-thanksgiving-postcard-00305-1In celebration of Thanksgiving, I give you our annual Turkey Torts of civil and criminal cases that add liability to libations on this special day (with past cases at the bottom). Many criminal defense attorneys and torts attorneys give special thanks for a holiday that can involve copious amounts of alcohol, strained family relations, over-the-hill amateur football players, “Black Friday” sale stampedes, and novice cooks. The result is a horn of plenty for litigators. Have a happy and safe Thanksgiving!

Continue reading “TURKEY TORTS (2016)” →

Academia, Bizarre, Free Speech

America Theme For College Party Declared “Alienating, Divisive, and Harmful”

unknown-1School officials at Loyola University Maryland pressured student government leaders to drop the “America” theme for their senior class party as “very alienating, divisive and harmful” and against the university’s “core values.” The party was to be one of four celebrations for graduating seniors and the theme was selected by the students themselves but then declared as inappropriate and offensive by university officials.

Continue reading “America Theme For College Party Declared “Alienating, Divisive, and Harmful”” →

Bizarre, Criminal law

Bowling Green State University Student Charged After Falsely Claiming To Have Been Assaulted By Three White Trump Supporters

unknownBowling Green State University has been the scene of protests and outrage after student Eleesha Long claimed to have been attacked by three white men wearing Trump T-shirts the day after the election. It now appears to have been a hoax, though it is not the first false assault case tied to the Trump election.
Continue reading “Bowling Green State University Student Charged After Falsely Claiming To Have Been Assaulted By Three White Trump Supporters” →

Bizarre, Media, Politics, Society

Pelosi’s House Rival Denounced As Sexist For Opposing “The Most Accomplished Woman in Congress”

220px-nancy_pelosiWe have previously discussed how Democrats have rallied around their leaders despite the failure to secure the White House or the Senate. Democratic leaders engineered the primary selection of Hillary Clinton despite polls showing that voters did not want an establishment figure and had deep seated misgivings about Clinton’s honestly and integrity. One of those leaders who has been most criticized over the years has been Nancy Pelosi. Nevertheless, many Democratic members have rallied to her side while younger members are calling for new leadership. Rep. Tim Ryan stepped forward to challenge Pelosi but he is now being denounced as sexist for even daring to challenge Pelosi after years of Democratic losses.

Continue reading “Pelosi’s House Rival Denounced As Sexist For Opposing “The Most Accomplished Woman in Congress”” →

Bizarre, Free Speech, International, Media, Politics, Society

Conservative Celebrity Yiannopoulos Now Barred From Speaking At His Grammar School

milo_yiannopoulos_journalist_broadcaster_and_entrepreneur-1441_8961808556_cropped200px-langton_lion-svg We have followed the actions of various universities and colleges to bar conservative speech either by declaring their positions as hate speech or claiming a campus security risk. One of the targets of this content-based censorship has been conservative British commentator Milo Yiannopoulos. Now, Yiannopoulos, 32, has been barred from speaking at his own former grammar school in the United Kingdom: Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys in Canterbury.

Continue reading “Conservative Celebrity Yiannopoulos Now Barred From Speaking At His Grammar School” →

Bizarre, Criminal law

Woman Falsely Claims That She Was Raped And Police Refused To File Crime Report

unknown-1A woman went to Facebook and made a claim that led to an intensive police investigation in Washington: She claimed to have been raped but that the Kirkland Police Department refused to even file a report. People were outraged and the police launched in investigation only to locate the woman who admitted that she made the whole thing up. Her defense? She was “distraught over the recent election.” Police have not filed any charges and have withheld the identity of the woman. Some may find it curious that, while she had no hesitation in defaming police officers and their department with a false allegation, her own identity will be protected.

Continue reading “Woman Falsely Claims That She Was Raped And Police Refused To File Crime Report” →

Bizarre, Criminal law, Religion, Society

Turkey Advances Bill That Would Allow Rapists To Avoid Charges If They Marry Their Victims

We have seen the erosion of civil liberties with the rise of the Islamic parties in Turkey under the autocratic rule of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Like many Muslim countries, Turkey has a long and troubling history of child brides and arranged marriages. Recently, the Turkish Constitutional Court annulled a provision that punishes all sexual acts against children under the age of 15 as “sexual abuse.” Now, a bill which would allow men accused of raping underage girls to be cleared if they marry the girl has been preliminarily backed by Turkish MPs. Notably, the bill would pardon men only if they had sex without “force or threat” and if they married the victim. However, that would legitimate child marriage.

Continue reading “Turkey Advances Bill That Would Allow Rapists To Avoid Charges If They Marry Their Victims” →

Bizarre, Free Speech, International

French Parents Fight To Give Infant The Name of Notorious Terrorist

mohammed_merahWe have previously discussed how some European countries limit the names that can be given to chidren, including some with approved lists of names. We have seen such controversies arise in this country with children, for example, named after Adolph Hitler. However, this generally remains a protected right of parents in the United States. The latest case comes out of France where a court will decide whether a Muslim family can use the name of Mohamed Merah, an Islamic radical who killed seven people in 2012.

Continue reading “French Parents Fight To Give Infant The Name of Notorious Terrorist” →