For those who advocate a “big tent Republican party” of different views, the tent may be slightly too big in Indiana where a candidate for the 2nd congressional district values not just low taxes and a strong defense but Adolph Hitler. Tony Zirkle has a resume that makes him the perfect candidate from being a top prosecutor to his attendance (for two years) at the Naval Academy. It is just that little Nazi thing that tends to jump out from his resume. Continue reading “Too Big a Tent: Indiana Republicans Struggle with Nazi Sympathizer Running for Congress”
Lesbians in Greece have gone to court to establish that they are not lesbians. Natives of the island of Lesbos are asking a court in Athens to establish that homosexual women are not lesbians — unless presumably they live on the island of Lesbos. Continue reading “What will the Isle of Man Say? Lesbians Sue Over Name”
In Memphis, Tenn., people are shaking their heads over the decision of Daphne Beasley, the principal of Hollis F. Price Middle College High School in South Memphis, who published the names of gay students who were “couples” on a list with heterosexual couples. The result was to “out” the students — a potentially dangerous course. Continue reading “Public Affection (No), Public Beating (Yes): Memphis Prinicipal Outs Two Gay Students”
Oklahoma has again tinkered with the decision process leading to an abortion. Under a new law, a woman would be required to go through an ultrasound procedure and given the chance to see the fetus that she is aborting. Continue reading “Oklahoma Passes Mandatory Ultrasound Law for Abortion Patients”
Ginnah Muhammad is a Muslim woman in Michigan who was forced to decide whether to violate her religious principles (in removing a veil before testifying) or to lose her small-claims lawsuit. Muhammad wears a full hijab as well as a niqab, a veil that covers all but a 2-inch space for her eyes.When she refused, Hamtramck district court in 2006 dismissed her case. She has not appealed to the federal court. Continue reading “Not-So-Blind Justice: Muslim Woman Appeals Ruling Over Wearing of the Veil in Court”
Just when it seemed that things could not be worse for Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick and his former aide Crhistine Beatty, it did. Now emails released this week further establish a very compelling case that both lied under oath and spent millions in public funds to try to hide their role in the firing of a police officer as well as their affair. Continue reading “New E-Mails Strengthens Criminal Case Against Detriot Mayor and Aide”
Albert Hofmann, the father of the mind-altering drug LSD, died in Basel, Switzerland at the age of 102. He discovered the effect of lysergic acid diethylamide-25 by accident and used himself as the first test case. Continue reading “Albert Hofman — Father of LSD — Takes The Ultimate Trip”
A Dartmouth lecturer Priya Venkatesan appears to have some unresolved teaching issues with her Winter ’08 Writing 5 class. Most professors deal with a rude class with stern lectures, implied grading threats, and more homework. Venkatesan reportedly took a different tack: she informed the class that she is going to sue them for discrimination under Title VII. This appears genuine, though it remains hard to believe that any rationale academic would threaten such legal action. Continue reading “Dartmouth Professor Announces Intention to Sue Students for Being Mean to Her”
Once again, one has to wonder where we find some of the bureaucrats who run agencies like child protective services. University of Michigan Christopher Ratte, 47, made an innocent and understandable mistake at a Detroit Tiger’s game at Comerica Park. He bought his 7-year-old son a lemonade without understanding that it had alcohol. The result? The boy was taken from his parents for two days and Ratte had to move out of the home as subintelligent bureaucrats debated the matter. Continue reading “Michigan Professor Temporarily Loses Custody of Son Over Oversight at Baseball Game”
While many of us have continued to call for a ban on earmarks as a core area of corruption and abuse, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) appears unrepentent — even after years of criticism directed against her for earmarks. In 2009, Clinton has demanded nearly $2.3 billion in federal earmarks — 300% received by any other senator. Continue reading “Clinton Seeks $2.3 Billion in Earmarks”
Ashley Alexandra Dupre is outraged. Outraged. After working as a high-priced prostitute and been advertised on the Internet for shopping Johns, Dupre was shocked to learn that an earlier video that she made with Girls Gone Wild is being marketed by the company. Unfortunately, it may not be possible for both Dupre and GGW founder Joe Francis to lose, but here’s hoping . . . Continue reading “Spitzer Prostitute Sues Girls Gone Wild”
The Supreme Court has taken the case of a breakthrough case where the Ninth Circuit had held that a wrongly convicted man could sue the prosecutor who was allegedly responsible for injustice. The expectation is that the Court will carve out an exception for prosecutors — further insulating abusive prosecutors from responsibility for their acts. Continue reading “Supreme Court Takes Prosecutorial Abuse Case”
It may be the longest false imprisonment case in history. A 73-year-old man known only for now as Mr. F., has confessed in Amstetten, Austria to keeping his daughter (known as Elisabeth F) in a prison in his cellar for 24 years while he raped her and had children with her. They had a total of seven children and further confessed that one of the children (a twin) died and was burned in his oven. It is without question one of the most disgusting and disturbing crimes of the century. Continue reading “Austrian Father Confesses to Imprisoning and Raping Daughter for 24 Years”
It appears that, while U.S. courts are jettisoning privacy rights and expanding the powers of the police in various areas, the Supreme Court of Canada is moving in the opposite direction: actually fighting to preserve privacy. In an important ruling, the Court held that police cannot use dogs to randomly sniff briefcases, book bags etc. They will have to show reasonable suspicion for such searches. Continue reading “Canada Puts Leash on Use of Drug-Sniffing Dogs”
The Bush Administration is continuing to claim that it can torture prisoners in violation of international law despite the so-called “torture bill” and pledge of the President to comply with international rules. Congress, which has protected the president from any criminal investigation, is again professing shock and outrage in the longest institutional imitation of Claude Rains in history. Continue reading “Bush Administration Re-Asserts Right to Torture”