The British police are investigation one of Rupert Murdoch’s newspaper subsidiaries over allegation of wiretapping of public figures. The Guardian has reported that Murdoch’s company paid $1.6 million to settle court cases involving hacking into cellphones.
Continue reading “Rupert Murdoch’s Company Accused of Wiretapping Public Figures”
In light of our recent cathartic blog on airlines, this video is not to be missed. Dave Carroll was traveling to Nebraska when he witnessed United employees throwing guitars out of the cargo hold — something we have all witnessed from time to time with our own luggage. The difference is Carroll has a band and could do something about. He wrote United a song.
Sarah Palin may have been unclear as to why she decided to quit early as governor, but her lawyer, Thomas Van Flein, is insisting that it is not because of an investigation of wrongdoing involving her house on Lake Lucille or the Wasilla Sports complex. The link was published in pieces by Alaska blogger Shannyn Moore, Huffpo, Washington Post, the NY Times and MSNBC.
Continue reading “Palin Threatens Washington Post, NY Times, MSNBC, and Other Publications With Defamation Lawsuit”
Happy Independence Day!
U.S. District Judge Deborah Batts in New York has enjoined the publication of a sequel to The Catcher in the Rye as a copyright infringement. She found that the sequel used the original work and was not a parody.
Continue reading “Caught in the Rye: Court Enjoins Sequel to Salinger Masterpiece”
The judicial council of the Philadelphia-based 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has cleared Chief Judge Alex Kozinski of the 9th Circuit of wrongdoing in the long investigation over sexually explicit materials on his personal website. However, the council found that he acted with “carelessness” and was “judicially imprudent.”
Continue reading “Judge Kozinski Cleared of Wrongdoing By Judicial Council — But Admonished Over Website”
The Washington Post is accused of arranging for meetings between power brokers, lobbyists, and politicians, including Post reporters and editors for $25,000 to $250,000. These meetings are billed as off the record, non-confrontational access to “those powerful few” in the Beltway. Called “Salons,” the entire program is raising eyebrows in both the media and business areas.
The Israeli High Court has ordered the Military Advocate General to file more serious charges against an Israel Defense Forces officer who ordered a soldier to shoot a bound Palestinian with a rubber-coated metal bullet. Lt. Col. Omri Burberg, the officer, and Staff Sgt. L., the soldier, were formally charged with “improper conduct” over the incident, a mere misdemeanor.
Karen Mulder has been accused of an almost stereotypical crime for a “supermodel.” Mulder, 39, was arrested in Paris today after allegedly threatening to attack her plastic surgeon. French police say that Mulder made “vicious telephone calls” over a recent cosmetic surgery.
Continue reading “From Catwalk to Perpwalk: Supermodel Arrested in Paris for Criminal Threats”
Boom! Studios is alleging that its comics writer Mark Sable was detaining by the TSA at Los Angeles International Airport because of his script for a new issue of his comic miniseries Unthinkable.
Continue reading “Doing the Unthinkable: TSA Accused of Detaining Comic Script Due to Script”
I just saw this video and wanted to share it of a Japanese boy who is rejected by a girl after finishing a piano performance. (He succeeded with the first two girls and struck out with the last one).
Continue reading “For the Love of God, Take the Flowers”
There are new reports of beatings and shootings as the Iranian government tries to crush protests by citizens demanding more freedoms and democratic rights. The violence is little surprise after it was disclosed this week that the person behind the crackdown is the notorious “Butcher” Saeed Mortazavi. He is a religious extremist previously called upon to do the dirty work of the mullahs.
Continue reading “Meet The Butcher: Iranian Mullahs Enlist Controversial Figure to Crackdown on Protesters”
It appears that the Connecticut Supreme Court has found a way to help spouses get rid of unsightly winkles in divorces. It ruled that the wife of wealthy skin and winkle cream doctor Nicholas V. Perricone may not speak of her divorce — forever. Thus, a private waiver signed before discovery is enforceable until death against Madeleine Perricone — presumably she is allowed to discuss the divorce in the afterlife as a matter beyond the jurisdiction of the court.
The respected newspaper Stars and Stripes has raised the alarm of censorship against the military. Stripes receives federal funding for the coverage of the military, but has long earned the respect of journalists for its independent reporting. An editorial raises a very disturbing incident involving the U.S. Army’s 1st Cavalry Division.
Continue reading “Newspaper Charges Military With Censorship Over Critical Reporting From Iraq”
Some of Iran’s most famous football (soccer) players have been banned for life due to their courageous show of solidarity with protesters in the recent World Cup games. The players wore green wrist bans and four refused to take off the bands at half-time when told to do so by the government or face punishment.