Category: Society

Bizarre, Criminal law, International, Politics, Society

Tanzanian Election Warning: No Witchcraft

180px-lassa_witch_doctorsWith the exception of the controversies involving involving Christine O’Donnell and Sarah Palin, witchcraft has not been a persistent problem in this country’s elections. The same cannot be said for Tanzania. Indeed, the problem is so great that the government has released a warning to candidates in the October elections not to engage in witchcraft in an attempt to improve their odds. The warning is primarily meant to protect the country’s 30,000 albinos who are often murdered so that people can use their body parts in witchcraft.

Continue reading “Tanzanian Election Warning: No Witchcraft” →

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

English Dame Proposes New Rule For Rape Cases That Women Cannot Consent When Intoxicated

elishangioliniThe English court system is considering a controversial new report by Dame Elish Angiolini that would establish a rule that women cannot be viewed as consenting to sex if they are found to be intoxicated. The report is pushing an amendment of the Sexual Offences Act to establish the rule.

Continue reading “English Dame Proposes New Rule For Rape Cases That Women Cannot Consent When Intoxicated” →

Bizarre, Criminal law, International, Religion, Society

ISIS Reportedly Executes Three Teenagers and Arrests Others For Raising Pigeons

180px-Blue_Rock_Pigeon_(Columba_livia)_in_Kolkata_I_IMG_9762AQMI_Flag.svgThe problem with ISIS and many Islamic extremists is that it is increasingly hard to tell what is a real story and what is an absurd Onion story. However, this appears a real story. When ISIS is not sledgehammering priceless artifacts and bulldozing ancient cities, it is arresting pigeon breeders and unIslamic. Why? Most articles report that the reason is that the breeding takes away time from worshipping Allah while some have reported that ISIS fanatics have also complaint that the sight of the birds’ genitals as they fly overhead is offensive to Islam. The latter rationale would seem to require exceptionally good eyesight or exceptionally well-endowed pigeons.

Continue reading “ISIS Reportedly Executes Three Teenagers and Arrests Others For Raising Pigeons” →

Bizarre, International, Media, Military, Politics, Religion, Society

Baloney: Israeli Soldier Brought Up On Charges For Eating a Pork Sandwich In Uniform

250px-Bolgona_sandwich150px-Badge_of_the_Israel_Defence_Forces.svgThe religious orthodoxy of some Israeli laws have long been a point of contention in the country, particularly with the large secular Jewish population over everything from dietary limitations to segregated buses. A U.S. born Israeli soldier found out about these pervasive laws when he was brought up on charges after being spotted eating a pork sandwich in uniform. His secular grandmother had made him the sandwich and it initially landed him in jail with a 11-day sentence. Continue reading “Baloney: Israeli Soldier Brought Up On Charges For Eating a Pork Sandwich In Uniform” →

Bizarre, Criminal law, International, Society

Un-Made Man: Blatter to Resign From FIFA

Sepp_Blatter_Nov_2013_ZurichFlag_of_FIFA.svgFacing an expanding scandal (including new information tracing an $10 million to one of his closest aides) FIFA President Sepp Blatter said Tuesday he will resign from FIFA. It is a long overdue action by Blatter that only took decades of corruption and scandal as well as international arrests. Many critics are still hopeful that Blatter (who has recently repeated his contempt for reformers and the investigation of corruption) will be the next to be indicted. Blatter however insists that he will remain in his position pending a new election that might not occur until December. Continue reading “Un-Made Man: Blatter to Resign From FIFA” →

Columns, Congress, Constitutional Law, Courts, Criminal law, Free Speech, Media, Politics, Society

ELONIS AND THE NEAR MISS FOR INTERNET FREE SPEECH

Supreme CourtBelow is my column today in USA Today on the decision of the Supreme Court to reject the Obama Administation’s argument for a low standard in criminalizing speech on the Internet and other forums. The Court did not have to directly deal with the free speech implications of the case since it ruled on the standard for criminalization. The Court rejected the lowest standard of a reasonable person in establishing a criminal threat. However, with the remand, the issue may come back to the Court under another effort to adopt an alternative standard of recklessness.

Continue reading “ELONIS AND THE NEAR MISS FOR INTERNET FREE SPEECH” →

Bizarre, Politics, Society

San Francisco Considers New Labeling Requirements and Advertising Bans On Sugary Drinks

sodaSeal_of_San_FranciscoIt is no secret on this blog that I am a critic of efforts to ban fatty foods and sugary drinks as with former Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s ill-considered campaign in New York. San Francisco attempted the same paternalistic legislation in imposing a tax on such drinks — only to have voters reject the measure. Undeterred, the Land Use Committee in San Francisco is considering a host of proposals to label sodas or bar advertisements. I remain opposed to such measures as punishing people for lifestyle choices. While the city would not oppose any number of life style choices, it will not tolerate citizens who disregard the city’s view of healthy living.

Continue reading “San Francisco Considers New Labeling Requirements and Advertising Bans On Sugary Drinks” →

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

Welcome to Painesville: Ohio Judge Orders Woman To Either Accept Jail Or Being Sprayed In Eyes With Pepper Spray

judge-01Welcome to Painesville. In this aptly named Ohio town, Painesville Municipal Court Judge Michael Cicconetti ordered Diamond Gaston, an assault suspect who pepper-sprayed someone in the face at a fast-food restaurant, that she could choose between 30 days in jail or be pepper-sprayed by her victim. Cicconetti then had the pepper-spray replaced with harmless saline spray without telling Gaston.

Continue reading “Welcome to Painesville: Ohio Judge Orders Woman To Either Accept Jail Or Being Sprayed In Eyes With Pepper Spray” →

Criminal law, International, Media, Politics, Society

Nothing But Blatter: FIFA President Issues Mocking Rebuke To Those Calling For Reform and Prosecution to End Corruption

Flag_of_FIFA.svgSepp_Blatter_Nov_2013_ZurichAs we discussed earlier, FIFA has responded to the arrests of soccer officials in its latest corruption scandal with open contempt for the public and prosecutors. Sepp Blatter, 79, was reelected as FIFA’s president for a fifth term by the world governing body’s 209 member associations. FIFA officials were still be processed as arrestees in the corruption investigation in the United States, but Blatter was reelected by a group that seems little more than made men in an international criminal organization. Now, Blatter has gone public with a mocking public rebuke of everyone who has tried to reform his organization and fight corruption.

Continue reading “Nothing But Blatter: FIFA President Issues Mocking Rebuke To Those Calling For Reform and Prosecution to End Corruption” →

Bizarre, Constitutional Law, Media, Politics, Society

Women Banned From Voting in Parts of Pakistan Under New Agreement

Pakistan flagIn parts of Pakistan, women are now banned from voting after an local politicians and religious elders came to an agreement. Obviously, they were all men in Hangu and parts of Malakand, districts of the north-western province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. It is all part of the Purdah traditions of the deeply conservative Islamic Pastun tribes in the area. Local mosques recently placed men with batons to beat any women who tried to vote in parliamentary elections. Now, all women are simply banned from voting.

Continue reading “Women Banned From Voting in Parts of Pakistan Under New Agreement” →

Congress, Courts, Criminal law, Free Speech, International, Justice, Lawyering, Media, Politics, Society, Uncategorized

Bankers Make a Mockery of the Law, and No One Goes to Jail

200px-Jamie_Dimon

Respectfully submitted by Lawrence E. Rafferty (rafflaw)-Weekend Contibutor

It has happened again.  Several big banks have been caught with their hands in the cookie jar and are paying billions in fines for their admitted transgressions.

“On Wednesday, four large global banks — Citigroup, JPMorgan Chase, Barclays and Royal Bank of Scotland — pleaded guilty to a series of federal crimes over a scheme to manipulate the value of the world’s currencies. The Justice Department accused the banks of collusion in one of the largest and yet least regulated markets, noting that at one bank one trader remarked “the less competition the better.”

That lack of oversight, coupled with the pressure to squeeze profits from a relatively middling business, set the stage for this scandal, one that unfolded nearly every day for five years. The crimes described on Wednesday also painted the portrait of something more systemic: a Wall Street culture that enabled many big banks to break the law even after years of regulatory black marks after the crisis.” New York Times Continue reading “Bankers Make a Mockery of the Law, and No One Goes to Jail” →

Bizarre, Society

Blackhawks Head To The Stanley Cup But Should The NHL Move To Deal With The Ducks

200px-ChicagoBlackhawksLogo.svgWe had a great party with friends to watch the seventh and final game of the Western Conference Championship last night. I was, of course, thrilled by the crushing win by the Hawks and the return of the team to the Stanley Cup. This is the third Stanley Cup appearance for the Blackhawks in five years. They have won five Stanley Cup championships since their founding in 1926 as part of the “Original Six” NHL teams with the Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens, Toronto Maple Leafs, Boston Bruins and New York Rangers.

Continue reading “Blackhawks Head To The Stanley Cup But Should The NHL Move To Deal With The Ducks” →

Academia, Environment, International, Science, Society

Creationist Finds 60 Million Year Old Fossils In His Basement But Maintains That It Proves Nothing

imrs.phpWe have previously discussed the struggle that creationists have with the daily disclosures of scientific research, particularly the discovery of fossils and other items that are dates in the millions rather than thousands of years. It is hard to maintain that the Earth is less than 6,000 years old given the overwhelming evidence to the contrary. However, Canadian Edgar Nernberg has shown just how easy it is to live in denial. Nernberg was not just confronted with a fossil from over 60 million years ago, but he actually found it in his basement. However, Nernberg does not think God is trying to tell him something. He maintains that “There’s no dates stamped on these things” and it proves nothing if you just reject isotopic dating and basic geology.

Continue reading “Creationist Finds 60 Million Year Old Fossils In His Basement But Maintains That It Proves Nothing” →

Congress, Constitutional Law, Courts, Politics, Society

FEDERAL COURT HEARS SEPARATION OF POWERS CHALLENGE

800px-Capitol_Building_Full_ViewThe hearing on the Administration’s motion to dismiss the House challenge was heard yesterday in Washington, D.C. as reported widely in the media. (Wall Street Journal, NBC, Daily Mail, Rollcall, New York Times,AP, The motion is now under advisement and the parties will wait for a decision on whether the House can be heard on the merits of this historic challenge. If the Court rules against the motion, the parties will then be able to present their arguments on the merits of the constitutional challenge. If the Court rules for the motion, the case can proceed to the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia for review. (Thanks to Claire Duggan for the photographs)

Continue reading “FEDERAL COURT HEARS SEPARATION OF POWERS CHALLENGE” →

Academia, Military, Society

Scientists Find Likely Identity of Intact Skeleton Unearthed at Waterloo Site

Battle_of_Waterloo_1815There is a remarkable story out of Belgium where researchers have not only identified a 200-year old skeleton discovered beneath a parking lot at the Battle of Waterloo site as a German soldier, but identified the soldier as 23-year old Friedrich Brandt, was a member of the King’s German Legion of British monarch George III. The pictures shown here actually reveal the minimal still lodged between Brandt from the wound that killed him.

Continue reading “Scientists Find Likely Identity of Intact Skeleton Unearthed at Waterloo Site” →