Category: Society

Congress, Military, Politics, Society

Where Do We Get The Jobs Needed To Ignite The Economy?

Respectfully Submitted by Lawrence Rafferty (rafflaw) – Guest Blogger

 

In light of the news yesterday that the economy created zero net new jobs in the month of August, I began to think of ways that jobs could be created.  I know a little thinking on my part is dangerous, but I came across an article that, in my opinion, really hit the nail on the head.  The article discusses a study by professors at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst that suggests that more good paying jobs are created by the government when the money is put towards health care, education and clean energy and even tax cuts as opposed to runaway military spending. Continue reading “Where Do We Get The Jobs Needed To Ignite The Economy?” →

Columns, Congress, Constitutional Law, Environment, Free Speech, Justice, Media, Politics, Society, Uncategorized

The Real Tea Party, Not Today’s Tea Party Fakes

Submitted by: Mike Spindell, guest blogger

Today I came across this fascinating exposition on a facet of American History often overlooked in our educational syllabus. The Boston Tea Party, from which today’s Tea Party takes its’ name, was actually a revolt against the dominance of the largest Multi-national Corporation of its’ time and its’ monopoly of the ubiquitous tea trade. The power of this entity came through its political dominance of the British Monarchy and with its’ compliance and enforcement of this Corporation’s needs. Contrast the actual positions of today’s “Tea Partier’s” with those whose names they usurp. I think you will find this a fascinating video and I will comment after the fold.

Continue reading “The Real Tea Party, Not Today’s Tea Party Fakes” →

Academia, Columns, Politics, Religion, Society, Uncategorized

The Best of All Possible Worlds?

Submitted by: Mike Spindell, guest blogger

I don’t know about you but I’ve had a bad month. I’m not talking about personal issues in my life because those are fine. I’m talking about the awful political and economic situations in this country, and I’m talking about the pain and misery felt by so many in the rest of our world. Each day it seems the news gets more depressing and I glean few hopeful signs from the news indicating that things will soon start to improve. As many here know, I am talking from the perspective of someone saved from the brink of death last year, so in a personal sense I have little complaint.

 Taking it away from the deeply personal though, I see a country and a world in apocalyptic turmoil. Not only are we overwhelmed with seeming insoluble problems, but also from my perspective, we are beset with a host of irrational political leaders and those who follow them blindly. Added to the cacophony of these politicians, of all sides may I say, we have religious leaders who have twisted their religion to fit their own emotional needs. We also have CEO’s who will put profit above all other considerations. Finally, we have a general population so absorbed in a cult of celebrity, that civic understanding and action are mere afterthoughts. Is there no hope? Continue reading “The Best of All Possible Worlds?” →

Bizarre, Society

Company Tells Kid To Puck Off: 11-Year-Old Denied Prize for 89-Foot Shot

This month, Nate Smith, 11, had a dream come true for a little boy. He made an 89-foot shot at a charity hockey event in Fairbault, Minnesota for a $50,000 prize. He had taken his twin brother Nick’s place when Nick went outside shortly before his name was called. Now the company, Odds on Promotion, is saying that he cannot receive the prize because it was not his ticket.
Continue reading “Company Tells Kid To Puck Off: 11-Year-Old Denied Prize for 89-Foot Shot” →

Bizarre, International, Politics, Religion, Society

Beck Travels to Jerusalem To Denounce Human Rights Organizations

Glenn Beck has brought his unique message to Israel as part of his “Restoring Courage” world tour. The born-again Mormon and former Fox anchor addressed a huge group of American Evangelical and Israelis in Jerusalem under the shadow of dome of the al-Aqsa mosque to denounce the United Nations, Arabs, and human rights organizations. That’s right, human rights organizations.
Continue reading “Beck Travels to Jerusalem To Denounce Human Rights Organizations” →

Bizarre, Criminal law, Politics, Society

On Deadly Ground: Steven Seagal Bags Puppy and Busts Jesus

We have been following the alliance of one of the world’s worst actor (Steven Seagal)with one of the world’s most abusive sheriffs (Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio). Seagal has been riding around in a tank supplied by Arpaio and raiding the home of citizens as part of a reality show — effectively turning Arizona citizens in extras and police personnel into cast members for his egocentric show, “Steven Seagal Lawman.” The recent assault with tanks and SWAT members of a ranch suspected of cockfighting attracted our attention since it was launched with roughly equal forces as the Normandy invasion with Seagal leading the way in his county-supplied tank like an over-stuffed George Patton. Now, Jesus Sanchez Llovera is taking the first steps toward a lawsuit.
Continue reading “On Deadly Ground: Steven Seagal Bags Puppy and Busts Jesus” →

Bizarre, Politics, Society

Anti-Gay State Senator Resigns In Nude Photo Scandal in Puerto Rico

We have yet another politician who has resigned in the wake of the disclosure of Weineresque photos of himself. Puerto Rico Sen. Roberto Arango (Republican, San Juan) posted explicit photos of himself on what has been described as “an iPhone application for gays and bisexuals.” What makes this particularly notable is that Arango has a history of strong anti-homosexual politics.

Continue reading “Anti-Gay State Senator Resigns In Nude Photo Scandal in Puerto Rico” →

Politics, Religion, Society

Beer Burkas: Utah Legislators Require Restaurants To Install “Zion Curtains” To Prevent Customers From Seeing Beers Being Opened or Poured

If you are going to Utah, you may be seeing the return of the restaurant equivalent of a beer burka. Legislators in the heavily Mormon state have reinstated the required use of Zion curtains to separate diners from bartenders. In beer-only restaurants, bartenders will now have to be shielded from public eye.
Continue reading “Beer Burkas: Utah Legislators Require Restaurants To Install “Zion Curtains” To Prevent Customers From Seeing Beers Being Opened or Poured” →

Bizarre, Constitutional Law, Criminal law, Society

Indelible Ruling: Federal Judge Allows Case of Free Speech Protester To Go Forward Against TSA

Aaron Tobey attained a degree of fame in carrying out a rather novel form of protest for civil liberties at an airport security point. Tobey stripped down and used a black marker to display a quote from of the Fourth Amendment on his bare chest reading “The right of the people to be secure … against unreasonable searches and seizures shall not be violated.” He was arrested for his conduct, but now federal District Judge Henry Hudson had ruled that part of his lawsuit against the TSA can go forward to trial.
Continue reading “Indelible Ruling: Federal Judge Allows Case of Free Speech Protester To Go Forward Against TSA” →

Bizarre, Religion, Society

Pastor Proposes National Atheist Registry To Better Track Godless Citizens

Pastor Mike Stahl is the head of an “internet church” called the Church of the Living Water and has drawn national attention due to a proposal he made a year ago: a national registry for atheists. We have seen religious and political leaders in the last year attacking atheists and even comparing them to terrorists. Stahl’s proposed national registry is the natural outgrowth of such demagoguery.
Continue reading “Pastor Proposes National Atheist Registry To Better Track Godless Citizens” →

Bizarre, Criminal law, Society

D.C. Police Officer Who Attacked Transgender Citizens Had Prior Alcohol Related Offenses

D.C. police officer Kenneth Furr was recently arrested having shot transgender citizens in a drunken rage. It now appears that the D.C. Metropolitan Police was aware of prior alcohol-related incidents by Furr. We previously followed a detective who brandished his gun to threaten people who hit his private Hummer with a snowball. In that incident, Assistant Chief Peter Newsham told the media that the gun in his hand (and clearly shown on videotape) was really just a cellphone.
Continue reading “D.C. Police Officer Who Attacked Transgender Citizens Had Prior Alcohol Related Offenses” →

Society, Torts

Negligence or Assumption of the Risk? Paintball Causes British Woman’s Breast Implant to Rupture

Now this is a bizarre potential tort case out of Britain. A 26-year-old woman’s gel breast implant exploded when hit by a paintball traveling at 190mph. The question is whether Paintzone Park near Croydon, or the paintball gun manufacturers, should be liable under a strict liability or negligence theory.
Continue reading “Negligence or Assumption of the Risk? Paintball Causes British Woman’s Breast Implant to Rupture” →

Bizarre, Society

Florida Driver Sues After Being Ticketed For Flashing Lights To Warn Other Drivers Of Speed Trap

The Florida Highway Patrol is the defendant in an interesting class action by Eric Campbell, who was ticketed for warning other drivers of a speed trap. Drivers will sometimes flash their lights to warn approaching cars in the opposite lane of the speed trap. However, the Florida Highway Patrol insists that that is illegal and gave Campbell a ticket for improper use of high beams.
Continue reading “Florida Driver Sues After Being Ticketed For Flashing Lights To Warn Other Drivers Of Speed Trap” →

Bizarre, Politics, Religion, Society

Giving Mercy A Bad Name? Catholic School Cancels Goodwill Ramadan Dinner

A goodwill dinner planned for Ramadan at the Catholic Mother of Mercy High School in Cincinnati has been cancelled after an outcry from parents. The wonderful interfaith gesture to the Muslim community ended in sectarian prejudices as parents objected it was too close to the 9-11 anniversary and “sent the wrong message.” My favorite quote came from one parent who said “I’m glad it’s canceled; it wasn’t a good thing . . . It would have really given Mercy a bad name.” Yes, Mercy now stands for something entirely different.
Continue reading “Giving Mercy A Bad Name? Catholic School Cancels Goodwill Ramadan Dinner” →

Society, Torts

El Paso County Jury Rules In Favor Of Family Of Burglar Killed By Business Owner

A Colorado jury has rendered a rare award to the family of a burglar killed in the course of a crime. Verdicts like this one are likely to be used by advocates of Castle Doctrine or “Make-My-Day laws — laws designed to protect citizens from criminal liability in the protection of their homes, or in some cases, their businesses. The El Paso jury awarded roughly $300,000 to the family of Robert Johnson Fox, who was shot in the course of an attempted burglary of a car lot.
Continue reading “El Paso County Jury Rules In Favor Of Family Of Burglar Killed By Business Owner” →