Category: Bizarre

Bizarre, Constitutional Law, Society

Federal Court Enjoins Limitations on Student Religous Expression

A federal district court judge has issued an interesting decision in Miller v. Penn Manor School District, (ED PA, Sept. 30, 2008). This case originally captured national attention when a high school student, Donald Miller III, was prevented from wearing a T-shirt that said “Special Issue-Resident-Lifetime License, United States Terrorist Hunting Permit…” The Court upheld the ban on such messages including violent messages. However, it struck down a religious-related ban.

Continue reading “Federal Court Enjoins Limitations on Student Religous Expression” →

Bizarre, Religion, Society

Those Betty Davis Eyes: Saudi Cleric Calls for a One-Eye Naqib to Prevent Eye Flirting

Sheikh Muhammad al-Habadan in Saudi Arabia is calling for women to wear a niqab, or full veil, that covers all but one eye. Currently, women wear head to toe coverings that show two eyes. However, al-Habadan says women are wearing eye make-up and flirting with their two eyes.

Continue reading “Those Betty Davis Eyes: Saudi Cleric Calls for a One-Eye Naqib to Prevent Eye Flirting” →

Bizarre, Constitutional Law, Criminal law, Justice, Politics, Society

Delay and Conquer: GOP Politicians Appeal Troopergate Ruling

In a clear effort to simply delay an investigation until after the November election, Alaskan GOP politicians have appealed the recent ruling upholding the investigation of Gov. Sarah Palin. Anchorage Superior Court Judge Peter Michalski dismissed their lawsuit Thursday shortly before the debate. I discussed the ruling on the Rachael Maddow Show. This is precisely the same tactic used by Dick Cheney and the Bush Justice Department in filing motions and appeals to advance meritless claims for the sole purpose of delay. In political cases, justice delayed is justice.

Continue reading “Delay and Conquer: GOP Politicians Appeal Troopergate Ruling” →

Bizarre, Politics, Society

Addie Meets Fannie: 90-year-Old Woman Shoots Herself as Police Move to Evict Her from Foreclosed Home

As Congress was passing a bailout of $700 billion to rescue companies like Fannie Mae from their own poor decisions, Addie Polk in Akron, Ohio was being evicted after Fannie Mae foreclosed on her home. She was bailed out of her home when medics carried her out after she shot herself.

Continue reading “Addie Meets Fannie: 90-year-Old Woman Shoots Herself as Police Move to Evict Her from Foreclosed Home” →

Bizarre, Criminal law, Society, Torts

A & B For P & J: Washington State High School Student Accused of Assault with a Deadly Peanut Butter Sandwich

Joshua Hickson, 19, appears by any measure to be an idiot. When he found out that a student at Wenatchee High School was severely allergic to peanuts, he repeatedly smeared a peanut butter sandwich on the student’s forehead. However, some people are objecting that he is now charged with criminal assault despite the lack of any injury or allergic reaction. He faces a year in jail if convicted of the misdemeanor. It could be a new addition to our criminal lexicon: Assault and Battery (A & B) with P & J.

Continue reading “A & B For P & J: Washington State High School Student Accused of Assault with a Deadly Peanut Butter Sandwich” →

Bizarre, Criminal law, Politics, Society

Judge Upholds Troopergate Investigation of Gov. Sarah Palin

Shortly before the start of the Vice Presidential debate, Alaskan judge Peter Michalski handed down a major ruling threw out a challenge by Republican politicians seeking to block an investigation into Gov. Sarah Palin in the so-called Troopergate scandal. [Update: I discussed this last night on Rachael Maddow’s show, click here).

Continue reading “Judge Upholds Troopergate Investigation of Gov. Sarah Palin” →

Bizarre, Criminal law, Society, Torts

Jet[Black and]Blue: Airline Pilots Charged with Battery and a Flight Attendent Charged with Abuse in Two Separate Cases from Fort Lauderdale

JetBlue seems to have taken a bad turn this week. In Fort Lauderdale, two JetBlue pilots, Pilots William Hart Smith, 40, and Brad Leopard, 38,, went to a strip club and then allegedly attacked a taxi driver over a $9 fare to a Subway restaurant. In the meantime, a women has said that a flight from Fort Lauderdale became a nightmare when a JetBlue flight attendant allegedly harassed and groped her.

Continue reading “Jet[Black and]Blue: Airline Pilots Charged with Battery and a Flight Attendent Charged with Abuse in Two Separate Cases from Fort Lauderdale” →

Bizarre, Criminal law, Politics, Society

Possible Mistrial in Sen. Stevens’ Corruption Trial

Senator Ted Stevens may get a mistrial after the judge discovered that prosecutors withheld material evidence from his defense. It is a great irony for the Republican Senator who, like Sen. Larry Craig, spent careers stripping criminal defendants of rights, but soon found the value of those hated little “technicalities.”

Continue reading “Possible Mistrial in Sen. Stevens’ Corruption Trial” →

Bizarre, Criminal law, Society

Accused Police Officer in New York Taser Death Commits Suicide at Police Station

The tragic case of Iman Morales just got more tragic. Morales was found dancing naked on the top of a ledge. Police shot him with a taser, resulting in his fall and death. It was an obviously poor decision in violation of department guidelines. Now, the officer in charge who gave that order, Lt. Michael Pigott, has committed suicide in the police locker room after being stripped of his badge and gun.

Continue reading “Accused Police Officer in New York Taser Death Commits Suicide at Police Station” →

Bizarre, Constitutional Law, Politics, Religion, Society

Religious Controversy Grips the Hamptons

A major fight is brewing in the tranquil environs of the Hamptons. Rabbi Marc Schneier and Orthodox Jews want Westhampton Beach officials to approve the placement of an eruv, a religious boundary that allows observant Jews to perform minor tasks on their Sabbath or on religious holidays. Citizens have objected, including some more secular Jewish citizens and there is talk of a lawsuit.
Continue reading “Religious Controversy Grips the Hamptons” →

Bizarre, Politics, Religion, Society

Latest Biblical Beast Sighting: GOP Mayor Says that It Remains Unclear Whether Obama is the Anti-Christ

Republican politicians continue to explore the possibility that Barack Obama is the Anti-Christ. Recently, a Republican County Chairperson suggested that he was indeed the biblical beast foretold in the Book of Revelation. Now, Fort Mill, S.C. Mayor Danny Funderburk admits that he sent out an e-mail warning about the possibility, but insists that he was “just curious” about gathering evidence on the question. In the meantime, John McCain remains silent on allegations (first raised on this blog) that he is indeed the Aztec Demon God Itzcoliuhqui.
Continue reading “Latest Biblical Beast Sighting: GOP Mayor Says that It Remains Unclear Whether Obama is the Anti-Christ” →

Bizarre, Criminal law, Society

City Council Asks Tenants to Stop Locking Sheds to Allow Less Damage During Burglaries

The Bristol City Council has finally acted in response to a rash of burglaries of council-owned sheds: it has asked tenants to stop using locks because burglars often damage the doors to get inside. The National Criminal Association applauds the act as a needed reform where the government and burglars can work together in a productive fashion.

Continue reading “City Council Asks Tenants to Stop Locking Sheds to Allow Less Damage During Burglaries” →

Bizarre, Criminal law, Society, Torts

Police Officer Accused of Intentionally Hitting S.C. Man and Then Bragging Out It

A trooper in South Carolina is accused of intentionally hitting a suspect and then bragging out it on a police recording. Lance Cpl. Steven Garren is heard on a tape boasting about how he bagged the suspect, Marvin Grant, who is shown on a dash cam recording bouncing off the hood of his cruiser.
Continue reading “Police Officer Accused of Intentionally Hitting S.C. Man and Then Bragging Out It” →

Bizarre, Criminal law, Society

The Cow Did It: Ohio Woman Terrorizes Neighborhood Children While Dressed as Deranged Bovine

MIDDLETOWN — This could be the easiest line-up that the Middletown, Ohio police ever put on. Michelle Allen, 32, was arrested after allegedly chasing children and urinating on a front porch in her neighborhood. She was easy to spot. She was wearing a cow outfit.
Continue reading “The Cow Did It: Ohio Woman Terrorizes Neighborhood Children While Dressed as Deranged Bovine” →

Bizarre, Criminal law, Society

Amazing X-Ray of 15-Year-Old Knife Victim

The English police are seeking some thugs in a horrific stabbing crime near a bus stop. I am not going to try to invent some substantive reason for adding these x-ray images other than to note: THIS KID SURVIVED. A 15-year-old boy tried to stop a robbery in England and was stabbed in the head by the assailants. These are his x-rays in the criminal case. It is an amazing feat of medical science that he pulled through. [WARNING: GRAPHIC IMAGES]

Continue reading “Amazing X-Ray of 15-Year-Old Knife Victim” →