Category: Politics

Bizarre, International, Media, Politics, Society

Report: ATF Bans French Wine Over Saucy Poem on Label

wine_1904741_searchtiny220px-Baudelaire_cropWhen I first read this story, I was sure it was a hoax, but now I am not sure. According to wine sites, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) has denied a permit to import Château Haut Gay (AOC Bordeaux Supérieur) because the label is “an incentive to debauchery.” The wine’s bright orange label featured two verses of the poem “L’Ame du Vin” (“The Soul of Wine”) by 19th-century poet Charles Baudelaire. While I have few remaining illusions as to government work, this one remains unbelievable. If this is a hoax, it is brilliant. If it is true, it is a national disgrace.

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Bizarre, International, Politics, Society

Wanted: Single Good, Democratically Elected African Leader to Collect $5 Million

200px-Africa_(orthographic_projection).svgThe Mo Ibrahim Foundation is famous for handing out $5 million each year as a prize for African good governance. This year it is keeping its money and prize for lack of anyone who could claim both democratic election and good government on the continent of Africa.
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Bizarre, Constitutional Law, Courts, Criminal law, International, Lawyering, Media, Politics, Society

Suicidal Speech: Minnesota Case Raises Difficult Questions Over Assisted Suicide and Free Speech

320px-ChattertonProsecutors in Minneapolis have a fascinating case involving assisted suicide and free speech. Nurse William Melchert-Dinkel, 47, is accused of using Internet chat rooms to convince people to commit suicide, giving them step-by-step instructions on how to kill themselves — preferably so he could watch. At least two people are believed to have fed Melchert-Dinkel’s fetish with their deaths: Nadia Kajouji, 18, and Mark Drybrough, 32 (shown here).
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Bizarre, Constitutional Law, Courts, International, Justice, Lawyering, Media, Politics, Society, Torts

Rights of the Rubenesque: London Considers Making Fatism a Form of Hate Speech

180px-Rubens_Venus_at_a_Mirror_c1615Today’s column on blasphemy laws may be too narrow. In San Francisco and London, activists are demanding that denigrating someone as fat should be treated as a hate crime like race, age, or faith. “Fatism” is already banned in San Franscisco in housing and workplaces.
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Bizarre, Criminal law, International, Media, Politics, Religion, Society

Father Kills 22-Year-Old Pregnant Daughter in Honor Killing

150px-muslim_woman_in_yemenWe have yet another “honor killing” in the Middle East. An unnamed Jordanian man was charged on Sunday with murdering his 22-year-old daughter after finding out that she was pregnant. He killed her and her unborn child with a sword to preserve the honor of his family.
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Bizarre, Lawyering, Media, Politics, Society, Torts

Polar Attraction: Sharpton Threatens Limbaugh With Lawsuit

225px-Rush_Limbaugh_at_CPAC_(2009)250px-al_sharpton_by_david_shankboneIn American politics there are few more polarizing figures than Al Sharpton and Rush Limbaugh. Now, in what will be a spasmodic moment of euphoria for many, Sharpton and Limbaugh may be going to court with the former suing the latter for defamation. Putting aside the sheer joy of the moment for many, the case could present some interesting questions over whether Limbaugh defamed Sharpton in a Wall Street Journal Op-ed.
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Academia, Bizarre, Politics, Society

Ivy League Clipping: Harvard Loses Half a Billion Dollars in Bad Investment Gamble

200px-harvard_wreath_logo_1svgHarvard University is reeling from a uniquely bad business gamble. The school lost at least $500 million when it bet that interest rates would rise. The money went to investment banks this year due to $1.1 billion of interest-rate swaps intended to hedge variable-rate debt for capital projects. The loss will likely grow considerably. It also agreed to pay $425 million over 30 to 40 years to offset an additional $764 million in swaps.
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Academia, Bizarre, Congress, Constitutional Law, Courts, Criminal law, International, Justice, Lawyering, Media, Politics, Religion, Society, Supreme Court

Just Say No To Blasphemy: U.S. Supports Egypt in Limiting Anti-Religious Speech

stone-1Here is today’s column in USA Today on the Obama Administration’s decision to join the U.N. Human Rights Council and support Egypt in recognizing limits on free speech for those who insult or denigrate religion. While the exception was included in a resolution heralding free speech, it was viewed as a major victory for Muslim countries seeking to establish an international blasphemy law.

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Constitutional Law, Courts, Criminal law, International, Media, Military, Politics, Society

How Obama Can Earn the Nobel Prize

225px-official_portrait_of_barack_obamanobel-medal_thumbnail_0Below is today’s brief column in the Los Angeles Times where I joined other writers on how each of us believes President Obama can earn the Nobel Prize, here. For civil libertarians, Obama’s selection is the ultimate triumph of hope over experience. My suggestion is probably predictable for people on this blog.

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Bizarre, Environment, International, Politics, Society

Bunny Briquettes: Stockholm Burns Rabbits to Heat City

260px-Bambi-thumper-adult City officials in Stockholm are feeling the heat over rabbit fuel. The city relies on green technology, including biofuel to reduce pollution and global warming. So, when thousands of rabbits had to be culled from Sweden’s parks and streets, they were used as fuel in the city heating plant. Now, people are hopping mad, but officials are having “burn, bunny, burn.”
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Bizarre, Constitutional Law, Courts, Lawyering, Politics, Society, Torts

Louisiana Justice of the Peace Refuses to Marry Interracial Couples

250px-OthellopaintingKeith Bardwell, justice of the peace in Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana has become an infamous figure overnight after he refused to marry an interracial couple out of concern for their possible children. However, he helpfully explained “I’m not a racist. I just don’t believe in mixing the races that way.”
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International, Media, Politics, Religion, Society

Meet Dr. Sima Samar — The Person Obama Beat Out for the Nobel Prize

225px-Sima_SamarIn light of the recent disclosure that President Obama was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize just 12 days after taking office and was initially opposed from the majority of the Committee (here), there is some interest on who was stepped over for the honor. The most striking “loser” in the competition was Dr. Sima Samar, an amazingly brave Afghan woman who has risked her life to fight for the rights of women and girls in both Afghanistan and Pakistan.
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