Baltimore is outraged over the video below showing two teenage girls laughing as a man is robbed and then shot at a Chinese carryout. After Darren Brown and David Jefferson (both 17) shot the man, the carryout reportedly did nothing to help him, refused to let him behind the counter for protection, and continued to take orders.
In a bizarre moment, President George Bushes surprise visit to the Green Zone was met with an even more surprising shoe attack from an Iraqi journalist, TV reporter Muntazer al-Zaidi . As shown on this video, the President proved pretty nimble in dodging the shoes (dodging congressional subpoenas may have been good training).
Continue reading “Shoe Bomber: Bush Attacked in Green Zone by Reporter”
There is an interesting defamation case developing in New York where John F. Singer is suing Centropa (the Central Europe Center for Research and Documentation), an oral history project based in Europe. Centropa published a study in 2005 that quoted Singer’s mother as saying that he was not circumcised as an infant. Singer insists that this is defamatory for a Jewish male and is seeking damages.
Continue reading “The Deepest Cut of All: New York Man Sues Over Publication Saying That He Was Not Circumcised”
Now, he tells us. After years to intermingling religion and politics, President George Bush has shocked his hard religious right base by admitting that he does not believe the Bible is literally true and that people can get to Heaven through other religions. His various recent statements have been assembled and presented as virtual sacrilege by his former supporters.
Continue reading “Evangelicals Outraged Over Bush’s Views That Non-Christians Can Get to Heaven and Bible Not Literally True”
The Sklar litigation relating to the Church of Scientology was delivered another blow by the Ninth Circuit. Marla and Michael Sklar have been waging a rather lonely battle for 15 years to claim tax deductions for a portion of the tuition they pay to Jewish schools attended by their children. They are relying on the fact that the Internal Revenue Service granted Scientologists deductions for 80% of fees they pay for auditing and training. The IRS decision was viewed as the government knuckling under after litigation from Scientology and has raised legitimate concerns over equal treatment.
Continue reading “Sklars Lose Case Involving Scientology Tax Exemptions”
Fair winds and following seas carried the Turley armada to victory yesterday in the Cub Scout Regata.
Continue reading “The Turley Armada Rules The Waves”
School officials continue to expand their oversight over non-school activities and speech of their students. Walla Walla Public Schools Superintendent Richard Carter and Walla Walla High School Principal Darcy Weisner have cracked down on a naughty bumper stickers by students. They suspended a student for an objectionable stick on her car. It appears, according to Walla Walla’s Weisner, that the “Blue Devils” have to be a bit more angelic in their exercise of free speech.
As a three-year-old with spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy, one would think that people might cut Sam Spiteri a bit of slack. But a neighbor still dropped a dime on Sam to tell them that he was keeping a miniature pony — his pride and joy — in violation of city rules. The city moved against Spiteri until the outcry forced them to back down.
Continue reading “Town Moves to Take Away Disabled Kids’ Pony — Then Backs Down”
Now, this is what you call a case of first impression. In Willmar, Minnnesota, Scott Wagar, 50, was upset with kids toilet-papering his house in that common homecoming adolescent practice. He decided, therefore, to spray them with . . . . fox urine.
Continue reading “Urine A Lot of Trouble: Minnesota Man Sprays Teens with Fox Urine”
Like any home owner, Kirk Taggert may have expected a wayward cat or nesting sparrows on the roof of his home in Fort Pierce, Florida. Indeed, he came home Wednesday night to find Amber Smith, 28, on his roof drunk. When he confronted her, she reportedly said that she would only leave if he gave her more beer.
Continue reading “Amber Alert: Homeowner Finds Woman Plastered on Roof”
The audience were thrilled and applauded loudly at the life-like scene of Daniel Hoevels, 30, slitting his throat during the performance of Mary Stuart at Vienna’s acclaimed Burgtheater theater. The problem is that it was real. Hoevels, who staggered around the stage and then collapsed, had used a real knife by mistake. Given that Mary Stuart’s decapitation, Hoevels’ accident may be the curse of the Queen of Scots.
It appears that officers of the Humane Society of the United States may be caged themselves at Gitmo. This week, the Center for Consumer Freedom ran a huge ad in the New York Times accusing the Humane Society of the United States of helping an animal-rights terrorism group raise money. The CCF represents the fast food, meat, diary and alcohol industries and has attacked such groups as Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (MADD).
During a very different decade, the Muslim community has at least not had to deal with religious extremists who deny evolution and seek to distort scientific courses. Indeed, Muslim countries have a good record on scientific training and research. Now, a creationist movement has formed among extreme Muslim that mirrors our own Evangelical crusade. Islamic extremists can look to George Bush for support after his recent endorsement of the creationist “Intelligent Design” theory being taught in schools.
Superior Court Judge James Orlando of Pierce County, Washington has ruled that a 91-year-old man with proven dementia and a delusion disorder is still competent to stand trial for murder. Orlando held that competency is a “fairly low standard” that does not appear to exclude demented defendants like Joe Conway Elder.
Continue reading “Elder’s Law: Demented 91-Year Old Found Competent to Stand Trial”
New York Judge Thomas Spargo has been indicted for attempted extortion and attempted bribery. A former Albany County Judge, Spargo is accused of pressuring an Ulster County lawyer to give him $10,000 in 2003 and he was forced from the bench in 2006.