There is a bizarre legal tiff between political operatives in Philadelphia over who came up with an attack strategy to save the career of Democratic Mayor John Street in 2003. Street was implicated in a “pay-to-play” scandal. While he was not charged, a slew of his associates and fundraisers were. Now, Philadelphia campaign consultant Frank Keel has sued Obama presidential campaign adviser David Axelrod over Axelrod’s claim that he came up with the attack strategy that saved Street. Keel insists that Axelrod is taking credit for the idea of attacking the George W. Bush Administration to spin the scandal. While that strikes me as a pretty obvious strategy, it appears a defining moment that both men want to claim. Keel also sued Penguin Random House.
Category: Bizarre
There is a bizarre criminal case in the making in Alabama where an aunt was having trouble speaking with her 19-year-old niece who had barred her from access to Facebook where she was connecting with strange men. The aunt proceeded to gain access by friending her as a fictional man. To her horror, her niece proceeded to try to get her (in her role as a man named Tre “Topdog” Ellis) to kill her and her family, including the family dog. The aunt went to the police and Marissa Williams is now in jail.
We have previously discussed how the social media craze of posting selfies seem to leave any room for . . . well . . . decency. The latest controversy concerns the East Village gas explosion that injured 25 people and collapsed three building — causing extensive physical and property injuries. While emergency personnel were still digging through rubble to try to find survivors, people started to show up to take selfies.
Continue reading “Social Media Sites Lash Out At Disaster Selfies In New York”
By Darren Smith, Weekend Contributor
The Washington State Patrol found a most interesting man in the HOV Lane. Unfortunately, he was made of cardboard.
A WSP Trooper, working traffic on Interstate 5 near Fife became suspicious of a vehicle traveling in the HOV Lane with a nearly two dimensional passenger.
We have previously discussed the issue of when it is appropriate to punishment people for conduct outside of the work place. We have followed cases where people have been fired after boorish or insulting conduct once their names and employers are made known. (here and YouTube videos and drunken scenes). Recently I spoke at Utah Valley University about the private regulation of speech, particularly in businesses curtailing not just workplace speech but speech outside of the workplace. The latest such scandal involves ESPN reporter Britt McHenry who was given a suspension after a video was posted on YouTube showing her raving at a towing company employee about her wait and lack of skills. People are now demanding that she be fired.
A video of D.C. Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton has gone viral this week of what is being deemed the worse parking job in recent memory. The video shows the non-voting member of the United States House of Representatives taking a rather novel view of the diagonal parking lines of the spot on Capitol Hill.
Continue reading “Video of Parking Disaster by D.C. Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton Goes Viral”
A French prosecutor has issued a statement that the co-pilot of Germanwings 9525, Andreas Lubitz, 28, locked out the pilot of the plane and then intentionally crashed the plane in the French Alps. The conclusion adds a new horrific detail to an already horrific crash. It was not an accident according to a review of the record from the black box found at the crash site.
There is a bizarre story out of Los Angeles where the Los Angeles Police Department spent $22,000 (and had 38 LAPD employees work 320 hours) to bring Rene “Boxer” Enriquez, the infamous ex-Mexican Mafia leader, to an exclusive dinner for private executives. He was featured as a secret, surprise speaker for the well-heeled group called the Young Presidents’ Organization, which describes itself as “the world’s premier peer network of chief executives and business leaders.” Making things worse was the use of an invalid prior order to justify the excursion of “Boxer” Enriquez to entertain the wealthy patrons.
Today we have been discussing the call for disbarment against a California attorney for seeking an anti-Gay measure for the state ballot. In Texas, you have another attorney who has attracted controversy over stickers on local businesses reading “exclusively for white people.” The shirtless Adam Reposa is seen in a video defending the campaign. [Warning this story contains foul language]
We have yet another motorcyclist who have gained Internet fame for his dangerous antics in a chase with police. The suspect even took selfies and slowed to taunt California highway patrol officers in pursuit.
Jose Antonio Santiago, 33, had a difficult time convincing police that he did not hit anyone with his car last week. First, there was the heavily damaged car sitting outside. Second, there was what police thought was human remains on his clothes. Finally, even if those facts could be dismissed, there was the human torso left on the passenger side floor of the car. Santiago is now charged with killing Anna Lewis (left), 62, and then fleeing the scene of the accident. Unless there was another driver, it would seem that a plea request might be the first priority for counsel.
Mexico appears to have found a solution to the aversion of tourists and businesses in going to the coutnry with rising drug-based violence, kidnappings, and corruption: they are bribing movie moguls to scrub the image of the country in major movies. MGM and Sony reportedly ordered changes to the new James Bond movie to give positive views of Mexico and drop the image of a Mexican villain. Now that is product placement.
Illinois Republican Rep. Aaron Schock has resigned after a rather bizarre few weeks. He caused something of a national sensation when his office was decked out like a study at Downton Abbey. He was then accused of spending like of Robert Crawley, Earl of Grantham. Schock resigned effective March 31 after weeks of controversy over his lavish spending from government and campaign accounts. It is a cautionary tale for other members. You might want to stick with those government issued desks and pictures of the Washington Monument at the office.
Continue reading “No Schock: Illinois Member Who Lavishly Spent Public and Campaign Resigns”
This couple in New Haven through that a dumpster fire was a good spot for a selfie. They were so wrong.
Continue reading “Taking a Soakie: Man Discovers Perils of Vanity Shots In Front Of Fire”
There is a bizarre case in North Carolina where Dorian Harper, 58, and Wanda Larson, 58, were arrested after police found an 11-year-old boy chained to a porch with a dead chicken around his neck as punishment for killing a chicken on the farm. What is interesting is that the couple turned down a plea agreement to felony child abuse, false imprisonment and maiming. It is not clear where the maiming charge comes from in the case, but a trial will expose both to years in jail.