Category: Society

Bizarre, Society, Torts

Thinning The Herd: Caribou Coffee Sues Small “Blue Caribou” Diner Under Trademark

Caribou_(PSF)We have another example of how copyright and trademark laws are being using to bully and stifle individuals or small businesses. In Beulah, Michigan, locals enjoy their Blue Caribou Cafe and its quirky dishes like Hypocrite Omelet (a vegetarian omelet with your choice of meat.) However, if Caribou Coffee Company has the final say, Blue Caribou may no more. You guessed it. Caribou Coffee appears to believe that it owns Caribou-themed restaurants.

Continue reading “Thinning The Herd: Caribou Coffee Sues Small “Blue Caribou” Diner Under Trademark” →

Bizarre, Criminal law, International, Society

English Taxi Driver Cleared Of False Sexual Assault Allegation By Videotape

1962_Austin_FX4_London_taxiA 48-year-old taxi driver in England was facing a long prison sentence after Claire Emma Carr, 20, accused him of sexual assaulting her. The driver however turned out to have a camera system or he could have been convicted based solely on the testimony of Carr. While she was prepared to send him away for years and ruin his life and the lives of his family, she will be jailed for only 12 weeks.

Continue reading “English Taxi Driver Cleared Of False Sexual Assault Allegation By Videotape” →

Media, Politics, Society

Poll: 58 Percent Of Voters Considering Someone Other Than Trump or Clinton

495px-Donald_Trump_by_Gage_SkidmoreHillary_Clinton_Testimony_to_House_Select_Committee_on_BenghaziWe have been discussing the bizarre situation of the two major parties nominating the two candidates with not just the highest, but unprecedented, negative numbers with voters. The presumptive nomination of Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton have renewed calls for reforms to challenge the control of a duopoly of power in the country. This week there are new polls showing not only that Trump and Clinton are roughly equal in the high rejection of the majority of the voters, but 58 percent say that they are considering voting for someone other than Trump and Clinton. That could be a huge boast to the Libertarian and Green candidates this election. It also may reflect the dangerous gamble of the establishment in the Democratic party in securing the nomination for Clinton.

Continue reading “Poll: 58 Percent Of Voters Considering Someone Other Than Trump or Clinton” →

Animals, Bizarre, Criminal law, Society, Torts

Man Strips Naked and Jumps Into Lion Cage . . . Zoo Kills Two Lions To Rescue Him

300px-Daniel_in_the_Lion's_Den_c1615_Peter_Paul_RubensDaniel in the Lion’s Den by Peter Paul Rubens is a painting that has inspired millions in capturing the moment of faith dedicated in the Bible. The same cannot be said about the scene this week in Santiago, Chile where a man stripped naked and jumped into the lion enclosure at the zoo in what is believed to be a bizarre suicide attempt. In order to save the man, the zoo was forced to shoot and kill the two lions. (Warning: disturbing video shot from YouTube below.)

Continue reading “Man Strips Naked and Jumps Into Lion Cage . . . Zoo Kills Two Lions To Rescue Him” →

Bizarre, Courts, Lawyering, Media, Society

Federal Judge Finds Justice Department Lawyers Knowingly Lied And Orders Team To Take Ethics Classes

US-DeptOfJustice-Seal_svgJudge_Andrew_S._HanenUnited States District Judge Andrew Hanen issued a remarkable opinion yesterday that found that Justice Department lawyers not only lied to him and opposing counsel but “it is hard to imagine a more serious, more calculated plan of unethical conduct.” What is even more remarkable however is that, after finding such calculated and unethical conduct, Hanen ordered the lawyers to simply take ethics classes rather than refer them to the bar for suspension or disbarment. Many attorneys object that government lawyers routinely escape serious punishment for false or misleading statements. In this case, the judge found that the Justice Department misled him and opposing counsel in a case by Texas and 25 other states that sought to block President Barack Obama’s controversial immigration programs. Hansen blocked the program. Notably, the Justice Department is even opposing ethical classes as a sanction.

Continue reading “Federal Judge Finds Justice Department Lawyers Knowingly Lied And Orders Team To Take Ethics Classes” →

Bizarre, Society, Torts

Health Officials Raise Alarm Over “Sex Roulette”

There is a bizarre story out of Barcelona where people are engaging in activity called “sex roulette” where people have unprotected sex knowing that one of the group is HIV positive. For some reason, this adds an element of danger for such people in not knowing if they will contract a lethal virus. Putting aside the deeply disturbing psychological element, there could be some interesting legal elements for anyone who wants to sue. Presumably, this is the ultimate case of an assumption of the risk and plaintiff’s conduct as a defense. However, the party organizers could also be viewed as creating a type of ultrahazardous or abnormally dangerous activity. While defenses could still apply, the question would be law suited from family members or third parties.

Continue reading “Health Officials Raise Alarm Over “Sex Roulette”” →

Bizarre, Constitutional Law, Politics, Society

Louisiana Legislator Under Fire For Jokingly Suggesting A Ban On Strippers Above The Age Of 28 Or Weighing More Than 160 Pounds

rep62350px-poledsc325Louisiana State Rep. Kenneth Havard is under fire this week for a measure that would have required strippers in Louisiana to be no older than 28 and weigh no more than 160 pounds. The amendment was . . . well . . . stripped from the bill after objections.

Continue reading “Louisiana Legislator Under Fire For Jokingly Suggesting A Ban On Strippers Above The Age Of 28 Or Weighing More Than 160 Pounds” →

Bizarre, International, Religion, Society

Iran Accuses Kim Kardashian Of Being Secret Western Agent

The Iranian Revolutionary Guards has denounced Kim Kardashian as being a Western agent. Of course, crazed fatwas and threats coming from the Islamic Republic is hardly news. However, in this case, a country is suggesting that Kim Kardashian has a job other than just being a Kardashian. The Kardashians are rightfully viewed as the death of American culture as a group of people without a single discernible talent. The Kardashians literally made being a celebrity as basis for celebrity status — without the need of actually being successful as a dancer, singer, or some other actual skill. The fact that the Iranians view Kim Kardashian as actively engaged in some substantive effort other than being Kim Kardashian shows how out of touch they really are with reality.

Continue reading “Iran Accuses Kim Kardashian Of Being Secret Western Agent” →

Bizarre, International, Society

Stacked Up Traffic In China: Driver Avoids The Cost Of Driving Trucks Individually By Stacking Them

160517113224-china-three-trucks-2-exlarge-169Anyone who has been China returns with hair-raising stories of people driving on the sidewalks and trucks careening around with massively overloaded beds. However, even for China, this truck driver had people shocked after he tried to save money in transporting trucks separately and instead stacked them on top of each other.

Continue reading “Stacked Up Traffic In China: Driver Avoids The Cost Of Driving Trucks Individually By Stacking Them” →

Bizarre, Congress, Society

Travelers At O’Hare and Other Airports Face Three Hour Delays While Thousands Miss Flights

We have been discussing the meltdown at airports due to the latest gross negligence by the Transportation Security Administration. At O’Hare, passengers are facing three hour delays with thousands missing flights and even having to rent hotel rooms when unable to make it to their gates in time. What is incredible is that Homeland Security Secretary not only denied that there was any crisis in grinding airports to a standstill but also seemed to blame passengers for failing to yield to the pressure to accept the expedited screening program called PreCheck. Many people object to the program as yielding privacy under coercion from TSA: share personal data or face hours of waiting as punishment. TSA admits that it assumed more passengers would yield to the pressure. They did not. It also admits to failing to properly staff security in a ten percent cut of screeners — a colossal blunder of under-estimating travel numbers. Yet, again, no one appears to be accountable for this massive failure that has left thousands stranded and airlines struggling to reschedule flights, including a separate TSA failure that resulted in the loss of thousands of bags.

Continue reading “Travelers At O’Hare and Other Airports Face Three Hour Delays While Thousands Miss Flights” →

Congress, Criminal law, Military, Politics, Society

Why Is The Iran Report On The Treatment Of U.S. Sailor’s Still Classified?

160113105251-01-iran-sailors-framegrab-large-169We previously discussed how the government has kept 28 pages classified in the 9-11 Report to protect Saudi Arabia from a public backlash of its alleged involvement (or at least the involvement of Saudi officials) in the attacks. Now, a report on the treatment of U.S. sailors by Iran in seizure of Navy boats earlier this year will reportedly remain classified for some time. That is rather curious since Iran already knows how it treated the sailors. Again, there is a suspicion that the Administration simply does not want the public to know the full details of the mistreatment, which Rep. Randy Forbes (R., Va.), a member of the House Armed Services Committee, says are far worse than has been made public. Recently, the Navy fired the commander in the incident.

Continue reading “Why Is The Iran Report On The Treatment Of U.S. Sailor’s Still Classified?” →

Bizarre, Politics, Religion, Society, Torts

The Whole (Food) Truth and Nothing But The Truth: Gay Pastor Admits That Gay Slur Cake Was A Hoax

imrs.phpWe previously discussed the suspicious claims made by a gay Texas pastor, Jordan Brown, who accused a Whole Foods store of changing his order for a cake reading “Love Wins” to “Love Wins Fag.” Various people seeing the cake immediately began raising questions over Brown’s claims and a videotape seemed to contradict his account. Whole Foods countersued Brown. Brown has now fessed up that he did alter the cake and made the whole thing up. After he dropped his lawsuit, Whole Foods has decided to drop the countersuit though a strong case could be made for seeking damages in such a hoax.

Continue reading “The Whole (Food) Truth and Nothing But The Truth: Gay Pastor Admits That Gay Slur Cake Was A Hoax” →

Bizarre, Politics, Society

Tangled Webb: Virginia Congressional Candidate Posts Screenshot Of Computer But Fails To Close Pornography Tabs [UPDATED]

Screen Shot 2016-05-16 at 7.04.00 PM5707_1709211369322741_8312701898792710250_nMike Webb is running for Virginia’s 8th District but has run into a bit of trouble. First, he ran for the Republican nomination but lost. He then ran as an independent but people noticed something a bit odd on this website. A screenshot showed open tabs to what appears to porn sites on his campaign Facebook site. I checked and it was still on the site after various sites reported the sighting. Whatever “Ivone” and “Layla Rivera” are offering, it is not the usual fare for campaign promises. Update: Webb has responded as discussed below.

Continue reading “Tangled Webb: Virginia Congressional Candidate Posts Screenshot Of Computer But Fails To Close Pornography Tabs [UPDATED]” →

Animals, Criminal law, Society

Taking a Bite Out Of Crime: Suspect Tells Pit Bull To Kill Police Officers . . . Pit Bull Bites Suspects In The Butt

rndr_670x300Avery Davis, 26, appears to believe that a dog is a man’s best friend but there are just some things a canine will not do: like attack police officers to protect a suspected felon. After Davis told his pit bull to attack police trying to arrest him, the pit bull instead turned around and attacked Davis.

Continue reading “Taking a Bite Out Of Crime: Suspect Tells Pit Bull To Kill Police Officers . . . Pit Bull Bites Suspects In The Butt” →

Academia, Bizarre, Free Speech, Politics, Society

Black Lives Matter Activists Tear Down Statement Supporting Police In The Name Of Not Being Silenced

220px-Dartmouth_College_shield.svgWe previously discussed the protest held by Black Lives Matter at the library of Dartmouth — and the relative lack of any punishment from the college. Now, Black Lives Matter activists have torn down a display honoring police officers and then reportedly stood guard over the board to prevent the College Republicans from re-posting their memorial . . . in the name of not being silenced.

Continue reading “Black Lives Matter Activists Tear Down Statement Supporting Police In The Name Of Not Being Silenced” →