Congressman Promises to Drive Liberals Crazy with Pledge of Allegiance and Then Stumbles on the Words

Rep. Todd Akin is under fire for claiming that saying the Pledge of Allegiance “drives liberals crazy.” However, the Missouri congressman seems to stumble on the words when he leads a group of teabaggers in Washington.
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Fighting the Biblical Beast in Texas: Evangelical Kindergarten Teacher Challenges Fingerprinting as a Sign of the Biblical Beast

180px-The_number_of_the_beast_is_666_Philadelphia,_Rosenbach_Museum_and_LibraryAn evangelical Christian kindergarten teacher has sued Texas to contest the state’s right to require her to submit to fingerprinting. Pam McLaurin, however, is not alleging privacy or contractual violations. She is alleging that fingerprinting is the Mark of the Beast foretold in the Book of Revelations and thus violates her religious beliefs. It turns out that the Beast has laid the foundations for its Kingdom on Earth in the Texas Education Agency.

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Step One: Drive By, Step Two . . . : Wisconsin Man Forgets to Roll Down Window in Drive-By Shooting — And Then Files Insurance Claim for Window

180px-Windshield-spiderwebIt appears that felons in the small town of Appleton, Wisconsin have to learn a bit about drive-by shootings if they are going to compete with nearby Milwaukee or Chicago. Andrew J. Burwitz, 20 will appear (aptly) in Outagamie County Court after being accused of an attempted drive-by shooting. The problem, police say, is that he forgot to roll down his window — leaving telltale glass all over the street and his car.
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The Sacking of Secularism: Chief Rabbi Denounces Secularism as Threat to Western Civilization

200px-SirjonathansacksSecularists are often blamed by religious figures for everything from hurricanes to teen pregnancies. Now, it appears that secularists are also responsible for religious extremism and, oh yes, the demise of Western Civilization and Europe as we know it. No, this is not the latest religious tirade from Tony Blair. It is Chief Rabbi, Lord Sacks of Aldgate, who clearly pinned the blame for the demise of Europe on those who hold secularist views. Lord Sacks, 61, is Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth since 1991.

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Bear Necessities of Law: Man Acquitted of Disturbing Bears in San Francisco Zoo

250px-Grizzlybear55Kenneth Herron may have picked the wrong cage but apparently the right counsel. Herron was acquitted of “disturbing dangerous animals” on a novel defense by deputy public defender James Conger. Conger argued that the bears were actually not that disturbed when Herron came into their cage after the San Francisco Zoo closed.
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Sign of the Times: Prosecutor Forces Mother and Daughter to Wear Humilitating Signs in His Own Forms of Punishment

bedfoord_330Another case is using the court system for entertaining justice. Evelyn Border, 55 and her daughter, Tina Griekspoor, in Bedford, Pa. have been sentenced to sit outside a courthouse with a sign saying that they stole a gift card from a 9-year-old girl on her birthday. I have previously opposed the use of such humiliation and public scorn punishments, here. It is trend of judges who are freelancing with their own forms of humiliating justice for citizens — an erosion of professionalism and continuity in our legal system.

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Lady’s Man: Italian Court Convicts Twenty-Three Americans in Kidnapping Case of Abu Omar

240px-Hassan_Mustafa_Osama_Nasr_CIATwenty-three suspects, including the former CIA station chief in Milan Robert Lady, were convicted of kidnapping by an Italian court for the CIA’s “extraordinary renditions.” It is the first such trial on the controversial practice.

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Ohio Police Taser Man After He Runs Into Burning Home to Save Sister and Friends

taser gun bart officer-218-85MIke Bartlett of Kent, Ohio probably thought that the worst thing that happened to him on Sunday was finding his house on fire at 4:30 am. He was wrong. After Bartlett ran in and out of the house to save people, he was tasered by officers standing outside and arrested.
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Praising the Dear One? Videos Raise Concerns Over Use of School Children To Praise the President

225px-official_portrait_of_barack_obama225px-Kim-jong-il_portraitWe have been discussing the propriety of public schools putting on worshipful performances about President Barack Obama. While I voted for him and support many of his policies, it does concern me to see children enlisted in such performances, which are not the norm in American education or politics. While some extreme conservatives have been campaigning on this issue, I do believe that there is a legitimate objection to the use of children to sing the praises of political leaders.
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Maine Voters Repeal Law Allowing Gays to Marry

100px-Seal_of_Maine.svg180px-New_York_City_Proposition_8_Protest_outside_LDS_temple_20The gay-rights movement has suffered a harsh defeat at the hands of voters in Maine. The voters repealed a law that allowed for same-sex marriage — reducing the states allowing same-sex marriage or civil unions. Maine is now the 31st state to reject same-sex marriage. [The two men on the state seal are now strictly prohibited from marrying each other in the State of Maine].
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Hanging Rascell: New York Man Arrested for Hanging Girlfriend’s Cat — and Videotaping Himself in the Act

3nf3k43m15O35P25Rd9b3df75c5522d8c1b5a180px-Olhos_de_um_gato-3In Syracuse, New York, Rascell Williams is looking at a curious charge for a horrible crime. Williams, 28, is charged with hanging his girlfriend’s four-month-old kitten with a belt and making a video of the animal struggling. It was discovered by the girlfriend, Joanne Cichy, the day after Halloween and turned over the police.

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Save Money, Live Shorter? Wal-Mart Accused of Violating CDC Guidelines in Policies that Spread Flu

225px-new_walmart_logosvgWhat would we do without Wal-Mart? When Wal-Mart is not destroying historic sites or abusing employees and customers (here) it is working hard to guarantee the efficient spread of swine flu or H1N1. The Center of Disease Control (CDC) is now intervening to address Wal-Mart draconian labor practices which violate the CDC guidelines, common sense, and human decency. The store imposes a “demerit” system that penalizes employees for staying home with flu-symptoms — preferring it appears for them to come to work to infect customers. It may require a slight change to the slogan “Save Money. Live Better” to reflect the shorter life expectancy for employees and customers alike.

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Massachusetts Officer Charged With Stealing Child Pornography From Evidence Vault

180px-Handcuffs01_2003-06-02Prosecutors in Adams, Massachusetts have a novel case involving evidence that will be used twice in separate unrelated trials, including for one crime after the evidence was put into the evidence vault itself. Adams Police Officer Alan C. Vigiard, 45, is accused of possession of child pornography. His first “possession” occurred in his review of child pornography in the evidence vault.
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Saudi Court Upholds Planned Beheading and Crucifixion of Convicted Rapist

Saudi Arabia flagA Saudi court has reviewed and upheld the sentence of a 22-year-old man to be beheaded and crucified for the raping of five children. It is the latest medieval measure from the Saudi Sharia courts.
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