Category: Bizarre

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” →

Bizarre, Columns, Congress, Criminal law, Justice

The Justice Department Faces Questions After Effectively Preventing Bankman-Fried from Testifying in Congress

The arrest of Sam Bankman-Fried yesterday was sudden and unexpected in light of Bankman-Fried’s plan to testify before Congress. As a criminal defense attorney, my reaction to the arrest last night remains unchanged: this is the first time that I can recall where prosecutors moved aggressively to stop a defendant from making self-incriminating statements. His testimony would have been entirely admissible and likely devastating at trial.

Continue reading “The Justice Department Faces Questions After Effectively Preventing Bankman-Fried from Testifying in Congress” →

Bizarre

Hunter’s Haiku: The Poetic Side to Influence Peddling

The latest sale of Hunter Biden’s over-priced art is being featured at the Georges Bergès Gallery in New York City. His much maligned pieces will be sold for as much as $225,000 and there appears no shortage of buyers. This is only the latest such sale, which has raised the concern of ethics experts over the use of art for parties to influence President Joe Biden by buying his son’s paintings.  Hunter is known to have both high expenses and limited funds. Indeed, a friend and lawyer reportedly had to pay off his overdue taxes. While foreign parties lined up previously to give Hunter millions in dubious deals, they can now just write a check and walk away with a virtual certification of support to hang on the wall of their office or home. What is different is that this sale comes with a Haiku from Hunter. Continue reading “Hunter’s Haiku: The Poetic Side to Influence Peddling” →

Academia, Bizarre

“Decolonize a Classroom”: Ex-UCSD Professor Defends Course with Guaranteed As and No Homework

As many of us gear up for our final exams and the long slog of grading, the approach of a former University of California (San Diego) teacher is particularly enticing. Libs of Tik Tok, the previously banned group on Twitter, posted a video of Chandler Puritty where she explained that one way that she has found to “decolonize a classroom” has been to guarantee all students As and no homework.  She also said that she built in “weeks of excused absences” for those who need to skip classes entirely. Continue reading ““Decolonize a Classroom”: Ex-UCSD Professor Defends Course with Guaranteed As and No Homework” →

Bizarre, Society, Supreme Court, Torts

Balenciaga’s Bondage Bears: Company Sues Over the Inclusion of Supreme Court Opinion in Ad Campaign
Bizarre

Fowl Facts: Biden Uses Pardon Ceremony as Platform to Talk Turkey with Some Curious “Facts”
Official White House Photo by Adam Schultz

We have followed a long line of false claims by President Joe Biden, some of which recently earned him a “bottomless Pinocchio” from the Washington Post. Some of these claims raise serious concerns over their use to change policies or law about election law, border agents, Second Amendment, gun capacity. Others are more trivial but bizarre like accounts of his Amtrak conductor, truck driving past, and other stories have long been the subject of jokes in Washington. Yesterday, added to the latter category with odd claims about poultry in Delaware. Continue reading “Fowl Facts: Biden Uses Pardon Ceremony as Platform to Talk Turkey with Some Curious “Facts”” →

Bizarre, Criminal law

Missouri Man Robs Bank Using Back of Birth Certificate While Wearing Ankle Monitor

We have come a long way since the heady days of Professor James Moriarty.

In Missouri, Michael Conley Loyd, 30, pleaded guilty last week to bank robbery.  That is not particularly notable, but Loyd wrote his demand note to the teller on the back of his birth certificate and robbed the bank while wearing an ankle monitor. It only got more bizarre from there.

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Bizarre, Constitutional Law, Media

Rob Reiner: Republicans Will Kill for Power and This may be our Last Election

I have a column out this morning on the widespread claim by media and political figures that democracy may be lost if the GOP prevails in the midterm elections. The over-the-top rhetoric was recently captured in the unhinged claim of historian Michael Beschloss on MSNBC that a Republican win could lead not only to the end of history books and democracy but lead to the killing of our children. MSNBC later followed up with an interview with  actor and Director Rob Reiner who seemed to struggle to outdo Beschloss in the apocalyptic predictions. Continue reading “Rob Reiner: Republicans Will Kill for Power and This may be our Last Election” →

Bizarre, Criminal law

“Letting Your Wildest Dreams Come True”: California Man Dressed as Fireball Whiskey Arrested for Disorderly Conduct

 

Dominic Salazar, 31, had a Halloween to remember (or not) after he was arrested for drunken disorderly conduct, domestic battery, and other charges. That was unfortunately not particularly notable given the common crimes and torts that marks All Hallow’s Eve. It was Salazar’s outfit that could make this a particularly challenging defense case.

Continue reading ““Letting Your Wildest Dreams Come True”: California Man Dressed as Fireball Whiskey Arrested for Disorderly Conduct” →

Bizarre, Constitutional Law, Free Speech, Media, Politics

“The Gates of Hell Opened”: A Media Panic Ensues As Musk Takes Over Twitter and Fires Chief Censors

Twitter Logo

Last night I wrote a column on the challenges faced by Elon Musk in taking over Twitter and suggested steps to “hit the ground running.” One of those obvious steps discussed in earlier columns was to fire CEO Parag Agrawal, CFO Ned Segal and head of legal policy, trust, and safety Vijaya Gadde, the primary figures responsible for creating one of the largest censorship systems in history. He did so within minutes of taking over and their removal constitutes as singular advances in the cause of free speech around the world. As expected, this morning media figures are in full panic at the thought that one social media platform may restore free speech protections after years of biased and aggressive censorship. The controversial Washington Post columnist Taylor Lorenz lamented, “It’s like the gates of hell opened on this site tonight.”  That’s right, the prospect of others having access to Twitter to express their own views is a hellish prospect for many in the media.

Continue reading ““The Gates of Hell Opened”: A Media Panic Ensues As Musk Takes Over Twitter and Fires Chief Censors” →