We have been discussing the concerns over free speech on our campuses, including the question of equal treatment given social postings by faculty in their private time. Douglas Muir, an adjunct professor at the University of Virginia’s Engineering School, has become the focus of these concerns after he took a leave of absence after he was criticized for calling Black Lives Matter as the biggest racist organization since the Ku Klux Klan. It was clearly an inflammatory statement and understandably viewed by many as insulting and ill-informed. However, there remain free speech concerns over when such statements have resulted in disciplinary actions for academics.
Category: Bizarre
There is an interesting ruling out of Illinois this week. Juan Rivera served 20 years for a 1992 murder that he did not commit. While in prison, he married Melissa Sanders-Rivera. The marriage in 2000 lasted 14 years. However, he divorced his wife in 2014 — two years after his release. After his award of $20 million for his long incarceration, Melissa Sanders-Rivera moved to get her share of the money as his former spouse. The Illinois Court of Appeals ruled that the wife could claim award as marital property.
The election of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte constitutes the lowest point for the struggling Filipino democratic system. Duterte has used profanities against President Obama, the United States Ambassador to the Philippines, Pope Frances, the United Nations and others who have questioned his blood-soaked reign as president. Recently, he even compared himself to Hitler in not only refusing to stop his extrajudicial killings of alleged criminals but saying that he was prepared like Hitler to murder millions. This budding tyrant has declared that the very concept of human rights is the “anti-thesis of government.” Finally, Duterte has pledged to end military training exercises with the United States, break away from the close alliance with the United States, and rely more on China and Russia. He has even been taunting the CIA to try to oust him. For those already familiar with our checkered history of supporting dictators and even enemies of the United States, it will come as no surprise that (just as Duterte is pledging to support Russia and China and fighting the United States), our government just approved another $180 million in aid to someone widely viewed as blood-soaked, anti-American lunatic.
Bethlehem patrolman Glenn C. Woolard, 35, raised a curious defense recently after he was pulled over after a spotted him fondling himself while driving and “waiving it around.” After being caught literally with his pants down, Woolard did not deny the actions but rather insisted that he was doing it as a responsible driver to stay awake. Most of us just pull over to a Starbucks or Dunkin’ Donuts, but Woolard apparently requires something more carnal than caffeinated.
It often appears that no natural disaster can occur without some religious group claiming divine retribution. The latest example is Hurricane Matthew, which Andrew Bieszad, a contributor to the Christian website Shoebat.com, claimed as God’s retribution for this country tolerating homosexuality.
Continue reading “Fundamentalists Declare Hurricane Matthew To Be Divine Punishment”
During the Libertarian convention, I was asked how libertarians generally felt about Gary Johnson’s preferred running mate, former Massachusetts government William Weld. At the time, I said that Weld made for a remarkably strong ticket for the Libertarians and broadens the base for libertarians but that there was widespread suspicion that Weld did not have libertarian values in his DNA. Many resented the view that the Libertarian party is treated as a back stop for Republicans and others viewed Weld as a classic establishment figure, including his well-known friendship with Hillary Clinton. To make matters worse, Carl Bernstein and others who were quoted as saying that Weld was considering withdrawing because he did not want to hurt Clinton’s chances against Donald Trump. He denied that he was withdrawing. However, this week, those past suspicions are in full rage on libertarian sites after the Boston Globe reported that Weld had told reporters that he was going to focus on trashing Trump and again saying how he thought Hillary Clinton is remarkably well qualified to be president. Weld has again denied the stories, but he has repeatedly stated his admiration for Clinton. The result is a total mess for libertarians who hoped that this could be the year that the ticket could make it to one of the presidential debates.
An Ontario man may be reasonably confused this week after the 25-year-old fell out of his car while backing down his driveway and his car ran over his legs. He was taken to the hospital and then criminally charged with impaired driving.
Continue reading “Canadian Man Arrested For Running Over Himself”
James Madison University has issued a list of 35 things to instruct students on not saying “dumb” things, a list that reflects phrases considered to be “microaggressions” or insensitive comments. The students at the orientation were told never to say things like “love the sinner, hate the sin,” “we’re all part of the human race,” “I treat all people the same,” and “people just need to pick themselves up by their bootstraps.” among other expressions.
Continue reading “James Madison Students Instructed Not To Say Things Like “Picking People Up By Their Bootstraps””
It appears that the movement against “micro aggressions” and “cultural appropriation” has now targeted opera. In an act of artistic cowardice, the theater at the University of Bristol has cancelled the performance of Aida after students declared that the entire production was a cultural appropriation. It turns out that Giuseppe Verdi was culturally (and operatically) appropriating in 1871 and continues to do so with every performance of this classic opera.
The FBI investigation into the Clinton email scandal seems to grow more questionable by the day. As I discussed earlier, the five immunity deals handed out by the Justice Department were, in my view, largely unnecessary and undermined the development of any criminal case. Now, House investigators have learned that Justice Department officials, in addition to their immunity deals, cut a “side agreement” with Cheryl Mills and Heather Samuelson for agents to destroy their laptops after searching their hard drives for evidence. With Congress seeking the information, the side deal clearly would obstruct that investigation and the details of the side agreement make little sense if the FBI were pursuing any and all evidence of criminal conduct.
The only hint is that he certainly does have a leg to stand on in court . . . Continue reading “Can You Guess What This Person Was Charged With?”
We previously discussed the bizarre arrest of leading Gay YouTuber Calum McSwiggan in Los Angeles. Now McSwiggan has been charged with felony vandalism. It is a truly odd turn over events for the an online personality who allegedly filed a fake police report that he had been beaten and attacked by three men in West Hollywood last June. He originally said that the men also damaged a Lexus, which police now say that McSwiggan damaged.
Continue reading “Gay YouTuber Charged In Alleged Fake Attack”
Steven Cormier of Walnutport, Pennsylvania, has reached a very sad and unexpected conclusion to a once distinguished career. Cormier, 58, previously agreed to disbarment after his arrest for bank robbery in a truly heart-breaking story of a former general counsel who found himself in a free fall. He has now pleaded guilty to robbery, theft and receiving stolen property. He also pleaded no contest to making terroristic threats. He was sentenced to 18 to 36 months in prison
Continue reading “Former Corporate General Counsel Sentenced For Bank Robbery”
If you can guess what Willis Gene Burdette, 72, was just indicted for, you have a serious need for therapy. It involves orange juice and a truly disgusting alleged crime.
Continue reading “Can You Guess What This Person Was Charged With?”
Confronted about abuse at a Pueblo, Colorado special needs center, the staff had a novel defense: “paranormal activity.” That’s right, ghosts scratched words like “die” and “kill” into people with severe disabilities.
Continue reading “Staff At Colorado Special Needs Facility Blame Abuse On “Paranormal Activity””