There is another “gilded cage” story out of Tibet. This week, many people are talking about a Malaysian princess who fled a seemingly story tale life with a Royal family after alleged torture and abuse. Now, ,Tibetans are dealing with the flight of a man once worshiped as a God. Osel Hita Torres, 23, was selected by monks at five month old as the reincarnation of the recently deceased Lama Yeshe. At 14 months, he was taken from his parents and declared Lama Tenzin Osel Rinpoche. He fled and is now a film student in Spain who has denounced his treatment and stolen childhood. He can now be seen in his fully human glory in baggy pants, long hair, and loving life.
With the world still talking about UAE Crown Prince Sheik Issa bin Zayed al Nahyan and is torture videos, another royal family has been accused of torture and abuses. Teenage model Manohara Odelia Pinot was only 16 when she was married to Tengku Temenggong Muhammad Fakhry, a prince of Malaysia’s Kelantan State. While in Singapore, she was able to escape with the help of police and tell an incredible story of being drugged, tortured, and confined by the family.
Continue reading “Gilded Cage: Malaysian Royal Family Accused of Drugging and Torturing Princess”
With the virtual absence of any objective review of Sonia Sotomayor’s opinions or positions by members of Congress, the Senate Judiciary Committee appears to be gearing up for another confirmation process with little substantive content. As noted previously with regard to the Roberts and Alito hearings, confirmation hearings have become little more than extended photo ops for Senators.
Continue reading “Senate Prepares for the Sotomayor Confirmation Hearings”
The United Nations has released a new report on human rights that has found the record of the United states to be “deplorable.” With the continuing refusal of the Obama Administration to investigate war crimes and to support the Bush policies in court, we have lost an opportunity to show the country has committed itself to change these policies and demand accountability for those who implemented them.
Continue reading “United Nations: U.S. Human Rights Record “Deplorable” — Including the Continuing Failure to Investigate Torture By the Obama Administration”
This week saw the demise of a landmark case in the area of constitutional criminal procedure: Michigan v. Jackson. In a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court rolled back on the protection of defendants that guaranteed that they had the advice of counsel before speaking with police at critical stages of a prosecution. In Montejo v. Louisiana (07-1529), Justice Antonin Scalia said that the protection was not worth the loss of confessions and only caused confusion. The Obama Administration supported the rollback on protections for criminal defendants and argued for Michigan v. Jackson to be overturned.
Continue reading “Supreme Court Overturns Landmark Case Michigan v. Jackson — With The Support of the Obama Administration”
Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi has previously threatened to crackdown on the media for reporting his regular gaffes and notorious conduct. Now, the media mogul is reportedly trying to block publication of pictures with young women after the media pursues allegations of affairs. His wife, Veronica Lario, sought a divorce due to Berlusconi’s, 72, alleged fondness for girls, including a particular 18-year-old Neapolitan Noemi Letizia.
Continue reading “Italian Premier Accused For Trying to Suppress Photos With Young Girls”
Saudi Arabia has added to its macabre medieval tradition with what it called a “crucifixion” — the public display of a beheaded killed, Ahmed Al-Shamlani Al-Anzi. [Update: They did it again in 2013]
Continue reading “Saudi Arabia Beheads Killer and Then Displays His Body in “Crucifixion””
Philippe Padieu, who was described by his own lawyer as a “modern-day Casanova,” has been sentenced by a Texas jury to 45 years in prison for knowingly inflicting six women with the AIDS virus.
Continue reading “Casanova in a Can: Texas Man Gets 45 Years for Inflicting Six Women with AIDS”
Sen. Carl Levin, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, has issued a stinging rebuke to former Vice President Dick Cheney — saying that undisclosed memos do not support his claim that torture works and save lives.
Continue reading “Levin: Cheney Lied About Torture’s Success”
Scientology may believe that they can achieve control of time and space, but they are being denied control over Wikipedia entries. Wikipedia has blocked edits from Scientology computers due to a history of what it says are deceptive and abusive edits. They also banned individual Scientologists.
Continue reading “Wikipedia Blocks Edits by Church of Scientology”
The case of Lisa Strong is a tragedy at almost every level from her first encounter with the medical profession to her last encounter with the legal profession. Strong went to the emergency room with what she believed was kidney stones (she had a history of kidney stones). However, due to malpractice, she ultimately lost both legs and arms. Despite the admission of various mistakes by the medical staff, a jury ruled against her. In a rare move, Broward County Circuit Judge Charles M. Greene threw out the jury verdict and ordered a new trial.
Continue reading “Woman Goes to Hospital With Kidney Stones and Ultimately Loses Both Legs and Arms — and Lawsuit”
An Oklahoma jury will be asked to decided whether pharmacist Jerome Ersland, 57, is a hero or a murderer. A video camera captured Ersland pumping rounds into an unconscious and unarmed teenager who tried to rob his store on May 19th.
Continue reading “Oklahoma Pharmacist Charged With Murder for Coup de Grâce Killing of Robber”
As many on this site know, I am a bit of a history nut and I could not resist this story. There are many ancient accounts of the famed Damascus swords, particularly from Crusaders who described how the blades were so sharp that they could cut a failing piece of silk while strong enough to cut through rock. It now turns out the medieval Muslim sword-smiths learned how to create carbon nanotubes. The actual discovery was made a couple years ago, but I just came across some articles on the research in looking for some crusade background facts.
There is another controversy over police tasers leading to a death. Robert Mitchell, 16, died after being hit with a 50,000 volt taser shock after he ran from a traffic stop and allegedly resisted arrest. Mitchell had a learning disability and according to his family was merely scared.
Continue reading “Police Tase and Kill 16-Year-Old Boy After He Runs From Traffic Stop”
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has made a name for himself as a Holocaust-denying, gay-bashing, Israel-hating, religious nut. None of that appears to have made him particularly unpopular in Iran. However, he is now accused of buying votes with potatoes.
Continue reading “Potato Politics: Ahmadinejad Goes From Gross to Grocer”