After Israel released a tape purportedly showing passengers on the Mavi Marmara making inflammatory comments, many questioned the authenticity of the tapes and charged that they had been edited. Leaders on the ship said that they never radioed the IDF to tell them “Go back to Auschwitz” and that they are “helping Arabs go against the U.S., don’t forget 9/11.” Now, the IDF has issued an unedited tape and admitted that the earlier version was edited. It also admits that it is not clear that these comments came from the Mavi Marmara.
Continue reading “Israel Admits to Editing Flotilla Tapes and Issues “Clarification” on Offensive Comments Attributed to the Mavi Marmara”
Category: Society
An Egyptian court in Cairo has upheld a ruling that any Egyptian man who marries an Israeli woman should be barred from military service and stripped of their citizenship in order to rid the country of “disloyal” elements.
We have an interesting case here in my backyard in Fairfax County, Virginia. A Fairfax County jury deliberated only 10 minutes before acquitting Sean Lanigan, 43, a popular schoolteacher and coach of aggravated sexual battery and abduction. The jury’s reaction and the paucity of evidence in the case has led some to question why prosecutors brought the case in the first place. They were back within 47 minutes to find him innocent on all charges.
Continue reading “Jury Votes to Acquit Fairfax Coach of Molestation in Ten Minutes”
Ontario media are in a frenzy over a report that city employees in Mississauga were taped up, spanked and humiliated. The report indicated that the city’s transportation and works department employees were hazed and humiliated. It is not clear whether, during the spanking, workers were expected to chant Ontario’s motto “Loyal she began, loyal she remains”.
Continue reading “Loyal She Began, Loyal She Remains: City Department Officials Under Scrutiny for Allegedly Taping and Spanking Workers”
The Los Angeles Unified School District school board has announced that all public school students will be taught about Arizona’s new immigration law. Members, however, appear to want the law taught as an example of an un-American and racist law. In a unanimous vote, the board has asked schools to incorporate the lesson as part of their civics classes. I agree with the board that this is an appropriate subject for discussion some classes, but (even as a critic of the law) I have serious concerns over teaching students that such a law is “Un-American.”
Continue reading “The Los Angeles Board Calls For Teaching Students About the Arizona Law — Denounced As “Un-American””
There has been global criticism of a Chinese factory making Apple products after a rash of suicides and complaints that workers are paid little and worked hard. Finally, Foxconn International Holdings Ltd. has acted: it has had workers sign that they would not kill themselves. It is a major breakthrough since overworked employees may be willing to take their lives but they would think twice before breaking a contract in China.
Former President George W. Bush proudly proclaimed this week “Yeah, we water-boarded Khalid Sheikh Mohammed . . I’d do it again to save lives.” Fortunately, he will not be given another chance but, due to the actions of President Obama and Attorney General Holder to bar any investigation or prosecution of torture, future presidents may well indeed to do it again.
Continue reading “Bush: “I’d Do It Again””
With ongoing corruption in Washington and years of congressional scandals over free trips, gifts, and special dealing, many of us (here) have criticized the Senate and House Ethics rules as primarily serving to protect rather than prosecute members for wrongdoing. Yet, this week nearly half of the Congressional Black Caucus has moved to rollback on recent ethics changes after a number of its members, including high-ranking Charlie Rangel (D., NY) were investigated for violations. Rep. Marcia Fudge, D-Ohio, and 19 fellow caucus members have submitted a resolution reducing the powers of the new independent Office of Congressional Ethics.
Now this is an interesting case for statutory interpretation. Police were called this weekend to Rehoboth Beach in Delaware after a group of transgender males exposed their “acquired breasts” — leading to complaints. This must have been the missing episode from Bay Watch.
Continue reading “Bay Watch: Transgender Males Trigger Topless Debate on Rehoboth Beach”
There is an interesting economics column in the Wall Street Journal on the similarities between the Greek meltdown and our own fiscal policies. I have long been a critic of the wild spending of both Congress and President Obama, including the recent proposal to simply pay for an over $200 million short-range missile program for Israel (here). This article discusses the possible disaster awaiting the United States as our leaders blissfully assume that a recovering economy will pay for their various programs and pet projects.
Continue reading “Are We Heading Into an Economic Meltdown?”
Bruce Walston, 21, was playing a video game when his girlfriend, Bessie Hess’s kitten stepped on the computer cord and shut off the game. Walston allegedly proceeded to kill the kitten by throwing it against a wall in their apartment. He killed the kitten in front of Hess’s children.
Continue reading “Virginia Man Kills Kitten For Turning Off Computer Game”
The Saudi religious police have cracked down on a popular reality show on MTV that follows the lives of three Saudi youths. Saudi officials have alleged that the three are guilty of the crime of “openly declaring sin” by criticizing Saudi restrictions over the segregation of the men and women and other complaints.
Continue reading “All Too Real: Saudi Religious Police Crackdown on MTV Reality Show”
Just in case stroke, high blood pressure, and addiction were not enough for cocaine users, doctors are now warning that some cocaine is causing rotting flesh. That hardly fits with the perception of coke as the glamorous drug of the partying set.
Continue reading “Report: Cocaine Users Experiencing Flesh Rot”
I have written previously (here) on how both Republicans and Democrats, including President Obama (here), have continued to embrace faith-based politics. This week, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) added her own promise of pious policies -stating that she actively tries to legislate public policies “in keeping with the values [of Jesus Christ] . . . “The Word made Flesh.”
Continue reading “Word To Your Speaker: Pelosi Proclaims Her Commitment to Faith-Based Politics”
International outcry over the commando raid on a flotilla bringing food and medicine to Gaza continues to grow. Israel insists that its soldiers were merely defending themselves in the shootings that left 9 people dead. Human rights activists insist that the troops opened fire on civilians onboard the ships. Whatever the final facts, the tragedy has brought even greater scrutiny of the long-condemned blockade in Gaza that has led to a humanitarian crisis.
Continue reading “Gaza Raid Triggers International Outcry and Question of International Law”