Category: Bizarre

Bizarre, Criminal law, Society

Meet Juror No. 4361: Denver Author Charged With Perjury After Faking PTSD

Susan Cole thought she had a clever way out of jury duty. The author and Denver cosmetologist dressed up as a mentally unstable homeless person suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder from military service and domestic violence. It worked . . . at least until Cole called a radio station to brag about her dubious success. Now, the former Juror No. 4361 has returned to court now as a criminal defendant.

Continue reading “Meet Juror No. 4361: Denver Author Charged With Perjury After Faking PTSD” →

Bizarre, Military, Society, Torts

Stolen Value: Former Seal Sues Fake Seals Over Selling Seal Experience

Former Navy SEAL Don Shipley is outraged. Barry “Bear” Silverman has been running a business called “Tactical Deterrence” in Broward County that allegedly sells SEAL training by people who falsely claim to be former SEALs. Such profiteering on the SEAL experience should go to . . . well . . . Shipley who runs his own faux SEAL training camp in Virginia. Shipley has filed a lawsuit that is basically Stolen Valor meets Stolen Value on who gets to sell the SEALS.

Continue reading “Stolen Value: Former Seal Sues Fake Seals Over Selling Seal Experience” →

Bizarre, Society, Torts

Fallen Saints: NFL Punishes The Team and Coaches of The New Orleans Saints Over Bounty System

New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton has been suspended without pay for the 2012 season by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and former Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams was banned indefinitely for the team’s infamous bounty system on opposing players. However, Goodell said that he will review Williams’ status after next season. While I used to live in New Orleans and often cheer on the team (when the Bears are not playing), I think Williams should have received a lifetime ban and I am not sure Payton did not also deserve such a ban over the disgraceful practice. I also do not understand why the defensive line players who took this money have not also been punished, but Goodell said that he will address them separately. Goodell did fine the Saints $500,000 and took away their second-round draft picks this year and next year — sending a clear message to all teams.

Continue reading “Fallen Saints: NFL Punishes The Team and Coaches of The New Orleans Saints Over Bounty System” →

Bizarre, International, Society, Things That Tick Me Off

Things That Tick Me Off: Excessive Celebration

It is time again for me to vent and add another item to my “Things That Tick Me Off” list. Today’s gripe is excessive celebration. I started thinking about this recently as the father to two fencers. In attending fencing competitions, I have been shocked by the practice of some to scream after scoring a point. I will return to that practice is a second. Then I saw this click of Pete Weber winning his fifth PBA U.S. open title — screaming at the crowd. I realize that this is (hopefully) an unguarded moment of someone caught in the euphoria of his win. However, it raised again for me the concept of excessive celebration in football (my favorite sport) and the need for such a rule in fencing (below). I believe all sports should have rules like the NFL’s, but fencing (with so many young players) should make it a priority to establish a rule against screaming celebrations as shown below.

Continue reading “Things That Tick Me Off: Excessive Celebration” →

Bizarre, Constitutional Law, International, Politics, Society

The Rubens Regulation: Knesset Tells Skinny Models To Eat Or Starve

The Israeli Knesset became the latest legislative body to ban skinny models. The new law prohibits both Israeli and foreign ads with “underweight” models and requires disclosure of when pictures have been manipulated to make the model look thinner.

Continue reading “The Rubens Regulation: Knesset Tells Skinny Models To Eat Or Starve” →

Bizarre, International, Media, Military, Politics, Religion, Society

Karzai: Americans Are “Demons”

We have previously discussed Afghan President Hamid Karzai stated inclinations toward the Taliban and harsh treatment of women. Then there was Karzai’s recent position that women are worth less than men — presumably even those American women keeping Karzai and his corrupt family and friends in power. This week Karzai has added that Americans are “demons” and no better than the Taliban. Karzai then called for divine intervention to defeat the Americans and the Taliban — a dangerous call in a nation known for religious fanaticism: “Let’s pray for God to rescue us from these two demons. There are two demons in our country now.”

Continue reading “Karzai: Americans Are “Demons”” →

Bizarre, Criminal law, Lawyering

Court Bars Representation By Counsel Who Offered His Own New York City Loft As Collateral On Bond For Accused Madam in Prostitution Case

A New York City lawyer has been removed from a case involving a high-end prostitution ring because the judge, Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan found his relationship with the accused “Madam” to be “murky.” Attorney Peter Gleason had put up his own $2.5 million New York City loft as collateral on the $2 million bond for Anna Gristina (shown here in a photo with her husband).

Continue reading “Court Bars Representation By Counsel Who Offered His Own New York City Loft As Collateral On Bond For Accused Madam in Prostitution Case” →

Academia, Bizarre, Politics

Professor “Defends” Sandra Fluke As Mere Extortionist or Prostitute Not Slut; Students React Creatively

 By Mark Esposito, Guest Blogger

Seems the far Right just can’t stay out of  – or quit throwing – the muck. The Huffington Post reports that  University of Rochester econ professor, Steve Landsburg, has launched his own attack on Georgetown law school student, Sandra Fluke, who had the temerity to speak her mind to a congressional committee discussing contraceptive services.  Landsburg apparently dabbles in English grammar when his dismal graphs Continue reading “Professor “Defends” Sandra Fluke As Mere Extortionist or Prostitute Not Slut; Students React Creatively” →

Bizarre, Congress, Constitutional Law, Courts, Criminal law, Politics, Religion, Society

Pornographic Politics: Santorum Pledges To Prosecute The Country Into a Better Moral State

Rick Santorum is continuing his faith-based campaign with a pledge to wipe out pornography in his Administration. The problem is that pornography is lawful and now a multi-billion dollar industry. It is obscenity that can be criminalized, but what is obscene remains exceptionally vague and ill-defined. Indeed, many may find parts of this presidential campaign to border on the obscene.

Continue reading “Pornographic Politics: Santorum Pledges To Prosecute The Country Into a Better Moral State” →

Academia, Bizarre, Environment, Politics, Science, Society

The Good News Is Jersey Shore Is Set To Be Cancelled, The Bad News Is . . .

. . . so is the entire actual Jersey shore. A Princeton study has found that global warming is causing a rise in sea levels that is far greater and more accelerated than previously thought. The report predicts that the Jersey shore could be underwater in a matter of decades and low-lying areas thrashed by increasing storm surges.

Continue reading “The Good News Is Jersey Shore Is Set To Be Cancelled, The Bad News Is . . .” →

Bizarre, Criminal law, Torts

Who Watches The Watchman? Florida Family Calls For The Arrest Of “Watch Captain” Who Sought Teen

In Sanford, Florida, a family has buried a teen killed by a “watch captain” in a gated community on February 26th. However, question remains not only about the killing of Trayvon Martin, 17, but why the shooter, George Zimmerman, 28, has not been charged. Zimmerman reported a suspicious character to 911 and was expressly told by the police not to confront the individual. Instead, he pursued Martin and shot him — claiming that the shooting was in self-defense. [UPDATE: A statement reportedly from the Zimmerman family denies that he confronted Martin].

Continue reading “Who Watches The Watchman? Florida Family Calls For The Arrest Of “Watch Captain” Who Sought Teen” →

Bizarre, Congress, Criminal law, Media, Politics, Society

Freeze, U.S. Congress! Rep. King Criticized For Video Of Raid Posted On YouTube

Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y., chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, is embroiled in another controversy. King has previously been criticized for anti-Muslim statements and his express support for the IRA, despite its listing as a terrorist organization. Now, King has triggered an investigation after he went along with U.S. Marshals on a raid of a home and gleefully filmed the arrest of a citizen, including what appears footage inside the person’s home. It is the perfect merging of entertainment, politics, and crime. In the land of the blind, the one-cameraed man is King.

Continue reading “Freeze, U.S. Congress! Rep. King Criticized For Video Of Raid Posted On YouTube” →