I have often used this blog (here) to complain about how teachers and administrators have used criminal charges to regulate routine instances of childish behavior. Now, we have the inverse situation of a teacher who has been confronted by police over the rattling of a desk due to an irate parent. The eighth-grade math teacher at Atherton’s Selby Lane School simply rattled a table to get his students’ attention — resulting in police being called to the classroom.
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Category: Bizarre
We all wait in our careers for that Perry Mason moment that never comes in a trial . . . when someone stands up in the court and screams “Yes, I did it!” One lawyer in the trial of Earl Berry, 40, came close in a real plot twist. On the second day of the trial, a juror announced she had previously seen the defendant . . . dragging the victim across a bridge.
Gas is always a concern at any cook-off with Bar-B-Que and beans but one Houston police officer is accused of supplying tear gas of his own. Mike Hamby, 51, has been suspended for allegedly tossing a tear gas canister into the booth of a competitor at the cook-off.
Continue reading “Gas Overwhelms Cook-Off: Texas Police Officer Suspended After Allegedly Throwing Tear Gas Canister Into Competitor’s Booth”
Some of us expressed alarm or disgust at the recent push by Ukrainian officials to bring tourists to Chernobyl (here and here). Now, it appears that these officials were likely aware that the reactor is in danger of leaking deadly radiation due to the potential collapse of part of the structure.
A New York school has suspended a 9-year-old boy in the fourth grade for putting a “kick me” sign on the back of a classmate. The suspension was handed down for “bullying.” While I have written about the need for greater efforts against bullying, I hope that this incident is not just limited to a classic school prank.
Continue reading “Fourth Grader in New York Suspended Over Kick Me Sign”
When you look at this image, what do you see? It turns out that the Iranian government sees a Zionist conspiracy bent on taking over the 2012 Olympics. The Iranian government has sent a formal letter of protest to the International Olympic Committee objecting that the logo for the 2012 London Olympics spells out “Zion.” This is something of real Rorschach test. When I look at it, I see Mahmoud Ahmadinejad beating a protester in Enghelab square.
Continue reading “Iran Protests Symbol for London Games As Hidden Zionist Message”
Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas has reportedly unleashed an attack on his critics for his violations of disclosure laws and alleged conflicts of interest. He warned law students that these critics are “undermining” the Court and endangering the country by weakening core institutions. As one of those critics, I am flabbergasted by Thomas’ remarks which show an implied disregard that seems to have now reached open contempt for certain principles of judicial ethics. There is not a hint of concern for his own conduct and how it has undermined the Supreme Court as an institution. For a prior column, click here
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It didn’t take long for religious fanatics in the United States to uncover a nugget of prejudicial hate in the ruins of the recent earthquake in New Zealand. Christchurch Quake is registered in Utah and claims that the earthquake was God’s judgment on the people of New Zealand for allowing “lesbians running loose on the South Island as if they own the place.”
Continue reading “U.S. Site Blames New Zealand Earthquake on . . . Gays”
I am always shocked by folks who fail for Nigerian Internet schemes or web cons. The saddest, however, are the ones (as we have seen) that prey upon people looking for companions. A 48-year-old Naperville man has added himself to that lonely hearts club after giving $200,000 to a fake “girlfriend” whom he only knew over the Internet.
Continue reading “Illinois Man Sends Over $200,000 To Fake Web “Girlfriend””
Submitted by Mark Esposito, Guest Blogger
Jet-setting canines have a new stop on the luxury hotel circuit. Hoteliers in Paris have opened a new dogs-only luxury hotel. To cater to their four-legged guests, Devi and Stan Burun, have included a heated pool, masseuse, televisions equipped with DVDs, and a doggie workout room with treadmills and a decor adorned with framed doggie prints.
Continue reading “Do The Rooms Come With Fire Hydrants: Paris Has Luxury Pet Hotel”
Submitted by Mark Esposito, Guest Blogger
Think reality is self-evident. Neuroscientists at Stockholm’s Karolinska Institutet aren’t so sure. Seems recent testing reveals it is quite easy to convince the human mind that it’s body has three arms.
There is an interesting case in Los Angeles where David Martin found an all-you-can-eat offer at a Sushi restaurant a bit fishy . . . or perhaps not fishy enough. Martin went to the Studio City restaurant to take advantage of the all you can eat deal for $28. However, because he is a diabetic, he proceeded to eat the fish and leave the rice. That led Restaurant owner Jay Oh to cry foul and demand that he either eat the rice with the fish or pay a la carte prices. That led Martin to file suit.
In one of the more awkward mug shots, Devra Oberlin, 48, has been arrested for DUI. Nothing strange there. Thousands are arrested under such charges every year. However, Oberlin is the former president of the local chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD).
Continue reading “Former MADD President in Florida Arrested for DUI”
As Jeff Foxworthy might say, you know you’re a Redneck if you actually write down “Redneck” on your booking form under religion. That stand-up (and line-up) line properly goes to Joshua Lee Joehlin, who has become the first religiously Redneck inmate in Florida.
Continue reading “Religiously Redneck: Florida Prisoners Lists Rednecks As His Religion on Booking Form”
State Sen. Bill Ketron, R-Murfreesboro, and state Rep. Judd Matheny, R-Tullahoma, have introduced a bill that would make it a felony to adhere to Sharia law in the state of Tennessee — punishable by 15 years in jail. The facially unconstitutional law would make Tennessee the leading state in the Union in the denial of freedom of religion.
Continue reading “Tennessee Legislators Move To Make Adherence to Sharia Law a Felony”