The brother of Muntadar al-Zaidi says that the journalist has been beaten in custody suffering a broken hand, broken ribs and internal bleeding, as well as an eye injury. In the meantime, al-Zaidi is now an international superstar and there is now even a couple of games for people who want to throw shoes at Bush, including some that appear to teach the physics of shoe throwing.
Continue reading “Shoe Thrower Al-Zaidi Reportedly Beaten in Iraqi Military Prison”
In a major ruling, the Supreme Court has ruled that litigation against light cigarettes may continue in a 5-4 decision. The ruling is not just a victory for anti-smokers, but also states rights advocates and common law advocates. The opinion reinforces the right of states to allow such lawsuits, which are not preempted by federal law.
Continue reading “Supreme Court Rules Against Tobacco Companies in Light Cigarette Litigation”
Richard Falk, the UN Human Rights Council’s special rapporteur on the situation of Palestinian human rights in the West Bank and Gaza, was denied entry to Israel. Falk, who is Jewish, has been very critical of Israeli policies and he was barred entry at Ben Gurion Airport on Sunday with his entourage.
Continue reading “Its All Your Falk: Israel Bars Entry of UN Human Rights Council Official”
President-elect Barack Obama’s nominee for attorney general, Eric H. Holder Jr., was viewed as a shoe-in for confirmation. Now, however, the GOP is closing in on Holder’s alleged role in three controversial nominations and have asked to delay the hearings. In the meantime, a grand jury is now looking into a donor of Bill Richardson, who has been nominated for Commerce Secretary.
Continue reading “A Hold on Holder: AG Nominee Hits a Snag in Senate”
In Las Vegas, you can have an Elvis impersonator or a Liberace look alike marry you. You can have a shotgun wedding or a drive through divorce. However, if you want an atheist to marry you, you better get out of town. Sin City has not tolerance for atheists who want to help people tie the knot. That may be the subject of a new lawsuit on behalf of jilted wedding guy, Michael Jacobson, 64, who was refused a license for not being affiliated with a formal religious congregation.
Baltimore is outraged over the video below showing two teenage girls laughing as a man is robbed and then shot at a Chinese carryout. After Darren Brown and David Jefferson (both 17) shot the man, the carryout reportedly did nothing to help him, refused to let him behind the counter for protection, and continued to take orders.
In a bizarre moment, President George Bushes surprise visit to the Green Zone was met with an even more surprising shoe attack from an Iraqi journalist, TV reporter Muntazer al-Zaidi . As shown on this video, the President proved pretty nimble in dodging the shoes (dodging congressional subpoenas may have been good training).
Continue reading “Shoe Bomber: Bush Attacked in Green Zone by Reporter”
Now, he tells us. After years to intermingling religion and politics, President George Bush has shocked his hard religious right base by admitting that he does not believe the Bible is literally true and that people can get to Heaven through other religions. His various recent statements have been assembled and presented as virtual sacrilege by his former supporters.
Continue reading “Evangelicals Outraged Over Bush’s Views That Non-Christians Can Get to Heaven and Bible Not Literally True”
The Sklar litigation relating to the Church of Scientology was delivered another blow by the Ninth Circuit. Marla and Michael Sklar have been waging a rather lonely battle for 15 years to claim tax deductions for a portion of the tuition they pay to Jewish schools attended by their children. They are relying on the fact that the Internal Revenue Service granted Scientologists deductions for 80% of fees they pay for auditing and training. The IRS decision was viewed as the government knuckling under after litigation from Scientology and has raised legitimate concerns over equal treatment.
Continue reading “Sklars Lose Case Involving Scientology Tax Exemptions”
Fair winds and following seas carried the Turley armada to victory yesterday in the Cub Scout Regata.
Continue reading “The Turley Armada Rules The Waves”
School officials continue to expand their oversight over non-school activities and speech of their students. Walla Walla Public Schools Superintendent Richard Carter and Walla Walla High School Principal Darcy Weisner have cracked down on a naughty bumper stickers by students. They suspended a student for an objectionable stick on her car. It appears, according to Walla Walla’s Weisner, that the “Blue Devils” have to be a bit more angelic in their exercise of free speech.
As a three-year-old with spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy, one would think that people might cut Sam Spiteri a bit of slack. But a neighbor still dropped a dime on Sam to tell them that he was keeping a miniature pony — his pride and joy — in violation of city rules. The city moved against Spiteri until the outcry forced them to back down.
Continue reading “Town Moves to Take Away Disabled Kids’ Pony — Then Backs Down”
It appears that officers of the Humane Society of the United States may be caged themselves at Gitmo. This week, the Center for Consumer Freedom ran a huge ad in the New York Times accusing the Humane Society of the United States of helping an animal-rights terrorism group raise money. The CCF represents the fast food, meat, diary and alcohol industries and has attacked such groups as Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (MADD).
During a very different decade, the Muslim community has at least not had to deal with religious extremists who deny evolution and seek to distort scientific courses. Indeed, Muslim countries have a good record on scientific training and research. Now, a creationist movement has formed among extreme Muslim that mirrors our own Evangelical crusade. Islamic extremists can look to George Bush for support after his recent endorsement of the creationist “Intelligent Design” theory being taught in schools.
The atheist billboard reading “Imagine No Religion” has been taken down shortly after it was put up in Rancho Cucamonga, California. There were 90 complaints and the city demanded its removal and the General Outdoor company was more than willing to comply. Yet, the billboard on the right a few years ago seems perfectly acceptable in West Virginia. 