Constitutional Law, Courts, Justice, Military

Federal Appeals Court Blocks Order to End DADT Policy

On Monday, a panel of the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals extended the freeze on an order by U. S. District Judge Virginia Phillips halting the enforcement of DADT.  The panel of judges was persuaded by the government’s argument that suddenly ending the prohibition on gays and lesbians serving openly in the military could have a deleterious effect. In their majority order, Judges Diarmuid F. O’Scannlain and Stephen S. Trott wrote the following:

– “The public interest in enduring orderly change of this magnitude in the military – if that is what is to happen – strongly militates in favor of a stay.”

– “Furthermore, if the administration is successful in persuading Congress to eliminate (the policy), this case and controversy will become moot.”

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Bizarre, Military, Science, Testimony

Independence Day: Real?

Actor Will Smith plays a fictional fighter pilot confronted by an alien UFO capable of fending off nuclear weapons and disabling large parts of the U.S. arsenal in the 1996 blockbuster film, Independence Day. Wild science fiction? Not according to seven former US Air Force officers who held a press conference in Washington, D.C. at the National Press Club to discuss UFO encounters. According to the airmen stationed at different bases throughout the Country, all witnessed UFO’s and some even experienced loss of use of nuclear weapons under their care. One airman described red orbs disabling nuclear weapons for two days.

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Uncategorized

Look! Put That Cash In The Bag And I Won’t Slather You!

Crooks are always looking for new ways to rob, but a Florida high school kid is truly cutting edge. Unable to secure gun, knife, or even billy club to instill fear in his victim, Larry Franklin seized the moment at a local convenience store and brandished what else — a bottle of salad dressing. Immediately successful, our “zesty” thief attempted the ploy yet a second time at another store but fled after the clerk proved himself a meat and potatoes kind of guy and produced a gun in response. Cops arrived to find the health conscious robber making a run for it. The clerk was heard to wonder aloud, why “the kid would bring a Wishbone to a gun fight?”

Source: TruTV

Mark Esposito, Guest Blogger

Criminal law, Society

Running Bare: Man Found Naked in Park after Allegedly Killing His Wife on Halloween

Ah, the bloom is too soon off the marriage rose as far as some men are concerned! At least that’s how it would appear for Minchillo McLester who was married just three weeks ago.  McLester’s wife Madison was found dead on the floor of their home. She had apparently been shot several times. McLester was taken into custody after witnesses told police that they saw a naked man walking in a nearby Atlanta park early yesterday morning.

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Uncategorized

Death by Fire

On February 16, 2004 Gov. Rick Perry (Texas) executed an innocent man. His name was Cameron Todd Willingham and he was convicted of murder via arson for the deaths of his three young children. Perry also impeded the investigation of the incident by the Texas Forensic Science Commission when he replaced four of the nine members in an attempt to change the report showing there no evidence of arson.

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Society

Alcohol More Dangerous Than Heroin: Irish Unfazed

The London-based Centre for Crime and Justice Studies is reporting on research suggesting alcohol is more dangerous to society than crack cocaine and heroin. Published in the British medical journal Lancet, a panel of experts evaluated the psychological and social problems associated with alcohol using a new scale. Alcohol received a score of 72 on a 100 scale besting the more well-known illegal culprits. Crack and Heroin were still the most dangerous drugs to individuals, however.

Irish pub owners were not impressed pointing out the study was co-authored by a Dr. Nutt, who also opined that horseback riding was more dangerous than ecstasy. Nutt rated ecstasy a “9” on his scale, by the way.

Pay no attention to this tea-totaling drivel there, JT.  The Chablis Grands Cru tastes amazing while sitting along the Champs–Élysées.

Source: CNN

– Mark Esposito, Guest Blogger

Criminal law, Society

Man Charged with Domestic Assault for Waterboarding Girlfriend

A 22-year-old Nebraska man named Trevor Case suspected that his girlfriend Danielle Stallworth might be cheating on him. In order to elicit information from Stallworth, the mother of his child, Case decided to employ an “enhanced interrogation technique” on her. He waterboarded Stallworth to find out if she had been unfaithful!

Police in Lincoln, Nebraska, allege that Case bound Stallworth’s wrists and ankles, stuffed “hospital socks” in her mouth, and put a t-shirt over her head. Case then allegedly poured a pitcher of water over her head. When the victim felt she couldn’t breathe, she began “freaking out.”

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Courts, Justice, Lawyering, Torts

I Thought That I Should Never See An Opinion As Lovely As a Tree–Wrong!!

Who says appellate judges can’t be literate — and hilarious.

Fisher v. Lowe
122 Mich.App. 418, 33 N.W.2d 67 (1983)

Syllabus

Bizarre, Science, Society

Columbus Exonerated: Did Not Discover Syphilis
Columbus Not Bringing Syphillis To the Queen

Explorer, conqueror, and, to some, the carrier of syphilis back to Europe from the New World, Columbus’ reputation seemed set in stone for eternity. Now some nifty forensic archeology may have exonerated the Admiral of the Ocean Sea from responsibility for the scourge that was first documented in Europe two years after his return from the West Indies. Researchers digging in an old church cemetery in East London say they’ve discovered bodies from the 13th and 14th Centuries which show tell-tale signs of syphilis like rough patches on the limbs and skulls of the corpses. Bodies interred with the disease two centuries before Columbus’ voyage would seem like exciting proof to Anglo scientists. However, the Brits managed to contain themselves: “We’re confident that Christopher Columbus is simply not a feature of the emergence and timing of the disease in Europe,” Brian Connell of the Museum of London said.

Now all that we know for sure is that the Europeans gifted diseases like smallpox and measles to the native populations but got precious little in return, that little island at the mouth of the Hudson River notwithstanding. Vikings are now the chief suspects for bringing the epidemic.

Source: AOLNews

Mark Esposito, Guest Blogger

Uncategorized

God Hates Figs

No, really: “Mark 11:12-14 The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. 14Then he said to the tree, ‘May no one ever eat fruit from you again.’ And his disciples heard him say it.”

H/T boingboing

-David Drumm (Nal)

Animals, Bizarre

IRISH SHOPPERS CONSIDER “SHOOTING THE BULL”: OWNER CUTS OFF DEBATE

Cummins’s SuperValu in Ballinrobe, County Mayo enjoys a well-deserved reputation for fresh beef. Now we know why. Stunned shoppers watched helplessly as a bull methodically walked the aisles. “The bull ran down one aisle, and into the store area, where he had a good look around and came back out again. He then charged down another aisle, and out the front door again,” said owner, John Cummings. The only damage sustained was to – you guessed it- the fruit and vegetable stand.

Source: Digital Spy

Ok, Ok, I only posted it so you could hear this beautiful rendition of “Song for Ireland” by the bonnie Mary Black:

-Mark Esposito, Guest Blogger