Bizarre, Criminal law, International

German Pub Owner Arrested For Displaying Four Bottles of Führer Wine
Screen grab of website advertsing Hitler wine and Hitler Schnapps
Screen grab of website advertsing Hitler wine and Hitler Schnapps

We have previously discussed the alarming rollback on free speech rights in the West, particularly in France (here and here and here and here and here and here) and England ( here and here and here and here and here and here and here and here and here and here). Much of this trend is tied to the expansion of hate speech and non-discrimination laws. We have seen comedians targeted with such court orders under this expanding and worrisome trend. (here and here). The roots of these laws can be traced in part to the post-World War German law banning symbols and terms from Nazi Germany. None of the criminalization has stopped the rise of neo-Nazi groups of course. However, it does put the German government in the position of constantly prosecuting ridiculous cases. The latest is a pub owner who displayed four bottles with the picture of Hitler and one showing a Nazi salute.

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Bizarre, Constitutional Law, International, Media

Obama Administration Reportedly Bars Former British Ambassador From Entering Country To Honor National Security Whistleblower

220px-craig_murrayHe has no criminal record. He is an internationally followed author and human rights activists. He is also the former British British ambassador to Uzbekistan with 30 years of diplomatic experience. However, Craig Murray has reported that he was denied entry into the United States by the State Department when he was traveling to serve as Master of Ceremonies at an award ceremony honoring John Kiriakou, the CIA torture whistleblower.

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Constitutional Law, Criminal law, Free Speech, Media, Politics, Society

Planned Parenthood Law Criticized As Major Rollback on Free Speech and Press Freedoms

200px-Logo_plannedparenthoodCalifornia flagWe have often discussed how free speech is rapidly being curtailed on college campuses in the name of fighting intolerance and ill-defined “microaggressions.” California lawmakers are showing the same dismissive attitude in legislation that is a response to the recent scandal over secretly taped statements by Planned Parenthood officials. The videotapes by activists caused a national backlash against Planned Parenthood so liberal politicians are moving to stamp out future “gotcha” films by sharply curtailing free speech and press freedoms. Democratic state Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson, Assemblyman Jimmy Gomez, and other Democrats dismissed vehement objections from the ACLU, civil liberties, and press freedom groups. I understand the objections to the videotape of Planned Parenthood and the alleged unfairness in editing. However, the solution is not to further criminalize this area of free speech and press freedoms.

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Academia, Society

California State University’s “Halisi Scholars Black Living-Learning Community” Raises Controversy Over Racially “Themed” Housing

unknownWe have been discussing the increasing reintroduction of racially segregated spaces on college campuses as well as the reduction of free speech protections. The latest controversy has arisen at California State University Los Angeles where the school has created alternative housing for African American students. I have long been a critic of such segregated spaces — even voluntary — as inimical to the mission of universities to offer inclusive, pluralistic institutions. I recognize the good-faith concerns behind such housing but, in the end, I feel such spaces are a step back from the progress that we have made since the 1960s.

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Bizarre, Torts

Pain Clinic Leaves Hypodermic Needle In Back Of Patient For Seven Years

220px-syringe_and_hypodermicMost people go to pain clinics with the understanding that they are for the relieving rather than the causing of pain. However, Claudia Ball found out the hard way that that is not always true after being treated at the Breakthrough Pain Relief Clinic in Chesterfield. A jury found this week that Dr. Catherine Doty and the Allied Physicians Group LLC left a hypodermic needle in her back for nearly seven years and awarded Ball $507,000 in damages.

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Bizarre, Courts, Criminal law, Lawyering

The Curious Role Of Cheryl Mills As Both Witness and Lawyer In The FBI Investigation

cheryl_d-_mills136px-US-FBI-ShadedSeal_svgWe previously discussed the problematic role of all of the Clinton staffers speaking with FBI being represented by the same lawyer despite potential conflicts of interest. The release of material from the FBI has revealed an even more troubling role of a Clinton lawyer. In an accommodation that would have been refused in most criminal investigations, the FBI allowed Cheryl Mills to sit in on the interview of Hillary Clinton on the email scandal even though Mills is a witness and a key figure in the scandal. The FBI still allowed her to advise a witness who could have opposing or conflicting accounts to her own prior statements. It is a dual role that is frowned upon by bar rules and would likely draw intense objections in most cases. The accommodation reinforces the view that Clinton received extraordinary accommodations by the FBI in its consideration of criminal charges.

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Bizarre, Criminal law, Environment

Eight People In Oregon Shown Pushing Over Famed “Duckbill” Rock Formation

rock1We have previously discussed the shameful case of the men pushing over ancient hoodoos in Utah with their children and other acts of vandalism of national and state parks. Now we have another groups of destructive narcissists who are shown on YouTube celebrating their destruction of a natural feature. Various adults filmed themselves pushing over a popular sandstone rock formation known as the “Duckbill” on an Oregon beach. For the joy of destroying the beautiful formation, these people ensured that no one will be able to see it.

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Academia, Bizarre

Tenure, Tacos, and Trump: Lafayette College Professor Goes On Hunger Strike Over Tenure Denial

screen-shot-2016-08-31-at-5-06-08-pm150px-seal_of_lafayette_collegeLafayette College professor Juan Rojo found a rather unconventional way of protesting the denial of tenure at the small college this month. When College President Alison Byerly rejected a department recommendation for tenure, he announced that he was going on a hunger strike to force action from the college board. On August 30th, he swore that he would not take anything other than water and sports drinks until the board yielded. However, he announced a few days later that he had decided to break the fast with some tacos at a favorite restaurant. It was all a rather curious response for any academic but it seems to make sense to Rojo. He even brought Donald Trump into the mix of comments.

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Bizarre, Criminal law

Facebook Felon: Ohio Man Posted Wanted Poster As Facebook Picture . . . Police Immediately Friend Him

14202548_1015769851877489_4089395885883819036_nWe have previously discussed felons who use social media to highlight their crimes or even object to the use of mugshots as unflattering. Mack Yearwood did one better. He actually used his wanted poser as this Facebook profile picture. That led to a quick arrest from police who wanted to friend him.

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Congress, Criminal law, Politics

Newly Released FBI Records Raise Questions of Intentional Destruction of Evidence By Clinton Contractor

Hillary_Clinton_Testimony_to_House_Select_Committee_on_BenghaziOne of the most troubling aspects of the recently released documents from the FBI is a timeline established for when Clinton staffers used BleachBit to try to eradicate emails and prevent them from ever being recovered. It appears that staff may have deleted the email archive after the staff received a subpoena to preserve all such evidence. The staffer working for Platte River Networks (PRN) in Denver, Colorado reportedly had what was described as an “Oh Shit” moment when they realized that the archive could be used to uncover what the Clinton staff deleted.
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Bizarre, International, Politics, Society

Egyptian Member of Parliament Encourages Women To Undergo Female Genital Mutilation To “Reduce Their Sexual Desires” To Match “Sexually Weak” Egyptian Men

441px-Coat_of_arms_of_Egypt_(Official).svgWe have yet another story highlighting the horrific abuse faced by women in many Muslim countries. Egyptian member of parliament Elhamy Agina this month has reportedly encouraged women to undergo female genital mutilation (FGM) to “reduce their sexual desires.” His rationale for this primitive abuse is particularly bizarre: women must mutilate themselves to lower sexual desires to match that of Egypt’s “sexually weak” men.

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Academia, Bizarre, Media, Society

Gonzaga University Hires Fired Missouri Professor Melissa Click

screen-shot-2016-02-16-at-6-48-41-amWe have previously discussed the controversy surrounding University of Missouri Assistant Professor of Communication Melissa Click who was caught on videotape obstructing a student journalist and calling for “muscle” to prevent him from covering a protest. She was charged with assault in that case.  Eventually she was sacked by Missouri in what should have been one of the easiest decisions ever made by an educational institution.  Now however Gonzaga University has given Click another faculty position, a move that is likely to result  in considerable controversy. The effort to “muscle” a student journalist and keep him from reporting on a protest is viewed by many academics as unpardonable, particularly in a market filled with people trying to secure jobs in higher education.

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