Criminal law, International, Religion

Palmyra Falls: ISIS Reportedly Blows Up Ancient Temple of Baalshamin

220px-Temple_of_Baal-Shamin,_Palmyra We have been following the disgusting acts of the Islamic State in wiping out any culture, art, or education not directly advancing Islam. The Muslim extremists have bulldozed or dynamited ancient church and temples as well as museums under its twisted view of Islam. Now one of the greatest jewels of ancient Syria reportedly has called, at least in part. Reports state that ISIS has blown up the famed Baalshamin Temple at Syria’s ancient ruins of Palmyra. The 2,000-year-old Roman-era city was also the site of the beheading of one of the world’s leading archeologists.

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Criminal law, International, Society

“Dumbfounded”: French Suspect Allegedly Shocked That Anyone Thinks He Is A Terrorist After Violent Train Incident

Part-PAR-Par8253997-1-1-0Either Ayoub El-Khazzani is a terrorist or one of the unluckiest and most misunderstood men in the world. El-Khazzani is accused of wounding passengers on a French train in a foiled terrorist attack. He was in possession of an AK-47 assault rifle and hundreds of rounds of ammunition. His former lawyer, however, says that he is “dumbfounded” by the allegations and that he simply found the AK-47 assault rifle “by chance.” If the lawyer’s account is accurate, his defense appears that he was planning to hold up the train and then flee. He is simply a misunderstood wannabe bank robber.

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Animals, Criminal law, Torts

“It’s Just A Dog”: Philadelphia Police Officer Accused Of Speeding and Running Over Dog . . . And Then Preventing Owner From Taking Dog To Hospital

11039948_10205058915705437_1978381456_n8On August 9, a Philadelphia police officer Sgt. Chad Culbreath was allegedly speeding down a street and ran over a woman’s pet dog, Phoebe. Sidara D. Son says that Culbreath refused to let her take her dog to a hospital and allegedly said “it’s just a dog.”

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Bizarre, Courts, Criminal law, Lawyering

Texas Judge Resigns After Disclosure That She Texted Prosecutors To Help Them In Criminal Case

tumblr_inline_mv8r6oORVN1qij8k6We previously discussed the disturbing ethics cases against Texas district Judge Elizabeth E. Coker who was caught sending text messages to prosecutors to help them with a case. Coker is now stepping down in a voluntary agreement with the State Commission on Judicial Conduct, though some have objected that such a voluntary departure is not sufficient punishment for such an egregious lack of ethics.

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Bizarre, Torts

Texas Doctor Sent Email About Becoming “Cold Blooded Killer” Before Allegedly Killing One Patient and Injuring Four Patients

surgeonarrest_0723metDr. Christopher Duntsch is facing both civil and criminal charges over his injuring four patients and killing one patient, Floella Brown. He is also under investigation for at least 10 other botched surgeries. What is even more chilling however is the evidence in the case, including an email where Duntsch writes one of his employees that “I am ready to leave the love and kindness and goodness and patience that I mix with everything else that I am and become a cold blooded killer.”
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Criminal law, International, Politics, Religion, Society

Islamic State Bulldozes 1,500 Year Old Monastery

_85115479_85115478The Islamic State continued its campaign against civilization this week with the demolishment of a 1,500 year old monastery. ISIS views no religion but Islam as worthy of worship and kills non-believers as acts of true faith. ISIS has also abducted dozens of Christians and is known to sell girls as sex slaves — again claiming such rapes as acts of Islamic morality in its twisted reading of the Koran.

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Free Speech, Media, Politics, Uncategorized

Federal Court Rules That City of Inglewood Cannot Copyright City Council Meetings

297px-Seal_of_Inglewood,_California.svgWe have been discussing the ever-expanding copyright and trademarks claims on what seems every object and observation in modern life, including such things as pictures taken of public scenes in London, in Paris, and in New York. Now the Inglewood City Council has attempted to use copyright law to silence critics and control public information by invoking protection over Inglewood city council meeting footage used on YouTube videos. Fortunately, Joseph Teixeira prevailed in City of Inglewood v. Teixeira after a federal court ruled that it could not use copyright to silence him or others.

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Bizarre, Criminal law

Philadelphia Officer Under Investigation After Shown Threatening To Seize Car Unless Occupants Buy Police Fundraiser Tickets

Screen Shot 2015-08-22 at 2.32.49 PMPhiladelphia police officer Matthew Zagursky, 32, appears to believe there is no better time to close a sale than a traffic stop. Zagursky was selling tickets to the “Police and Fire Hero Thrill Show fundraiser” and decided to make a rather curious pitch: buy these tickets or I take your car.

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Academia, Bizarre, Criminal law

College President Faces Possible Criminal Charges After Violent Encounter With Mysterious Woman Named Luscious

Unknown-1200px-Keiser_University_seal.svgWe have another academic who has found himself in an embarrassing criminal case involving prostitutes. Keiser University’s President Matt McEnany, 60, was mugged and carjacked by two women on what the police say was a “sexual rendezvous.” McEnany was reportedly meeting with two women identified only as “Luscious” and “Brittany” and was struck from behind when he got out of his 2011 Toyota Venza Sunday night.

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Uncategorized

Thermal Imaging Cameras Might Be Used To Gather PIN Codes

By Darren Smith, Weekend Contributor

From YouTube Screen Shot
From YouTube Screen Shot

Another method comes forth that should serve as a reminder that extra measures should be taken to guard one’s electronic security. In an interview with IT News, an Australian news medium, Sec-Tec reported that relatively inexpensive devices attachable to iPhones and other handhelds can use thermal imaging to photograph latent heat signatures left on keypads after users enter their PIN on access devices. Coupling this with technology to receive RFID (Radio Frequency ID) signals that provide account information, hackers and thieves can then be able to gain access to funds and users’ accounts.

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Constitutional Law, Courts, Society

Washington Supreme Court Rules City Of SeaTac’s $15.00 Minimum Wage Applies To Port Of Seattle’s SeaTac Airport

By Darren Smith, Weekend Contributor

City of SeaTac LogoIn January of 2014 we featured an article about the City of SeaTac Washington, where the Seattle Tacoma International Airport (SEA) is situated, passed a set of labor codes that included a fifteen dollar per hour minimum wage. Immediately afterward opponents filed suit in Superior Court objecting to, among other issues, that the Port of Seattle was a separate legal entity not subject under state law to Proposition 1, granting these increased wage benefits and city oversight. The trial court partially ruled in favor but struck down parts of the law’s provisions. The judge however certified the case for direct appeal to the state supreme court.

Today, the Washington Supreme Court published its opinion, siding with defendants, the City of SeaTac and Its clerk in her official capacity, in a five to four decision.

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Courts, Lawyering, Media, Politics, Society

Federal Judge Says Hillary Clinton Violated Government Policy In Using Personal Server While Secretary of State

170px-Msc2011_dett-clinton_0298sullivanHillary Clinton has insisted throughout the ongoing email scandal on two points repeated as a virtual mantra: there was no classified material sent on her unsecured personal email system and she was in total compliance with the law. I have questioned both points and noted that she is really saying that no “marked” classified material was sent (a less than compelling argument) and she is speaking of federal criminal laws as opposed to the clear official policy not to use such personal servers. It appears clear that some of this material was indeed classified and, as I discussed this week on NPR, the policy against doing what she did was clear and strong at the time of her tenure at State. Now, United States District Court Judge Emmet Sullivan has weighed in with comments this week that Clinton clearly did violate State Department policy and that violation caused much of the difficulty in retrieving her communications while in office.

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Bizarre, Courts, Lawyering

Pennsylvania Judge Vacates Order and Apologizes After Anti-Greek Tirade

collJudge Michael Coll of Delaware, Pennsylvania has vacated a child support order and apologized after a bizarre exchange with a party and his lawyer. Coll seemed intent on commenting on the Greek heritage of Kostas “Gus” Hartas despite repeated objections by his lawyer. To the credit of his lawyer, he continued to object as Coll demanded to be able to establish that “Greeks never pay taxes.” No doubt he will now warn his colleagues to beware of Greeks bearing lawyers.

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Animals, Criminal law, Environment, International, Society

Fowl Attack: Spanish Woman Captured On Film Beating Animal Rights Activist With Duck

55d69d2ac461884c108b45a2For an animal rights activist, the only thing worse than being beaten by a deranged individual at a protest would be to be beaten by a deranged individual using one of the very animals you are trying to protect. That happened to a man in the Catalonian town of Roses when a woman hit him with one of the ducks that protesters were trying to protect from use in an annual festival. The video is below.

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