Politics

Umbrella-Gate

-Submitted by David Drumm (Nal), Guest Blogger

umbrella boForget about the IRS, AP, and Benghazi. They all pale in significance to umbrella spUmbrella-Gate. President Obama asked White House Marine guards to hold umbrellas for the President and the Turkish Prime Minister during an outdoor press conference. Male Marines are not allowed to use umbrellas while in uniform, except when they are “perform[ing] such other duties as the President may direct“. Female Marines are allowed to use umbrellas. Sarah Palin tweeted: “Mr. President, when it rains it pours, but most Americans hold their own umbrellas.”

Bizarre, Politics, Society

Detroit On Brink Of Bankruptcy . . . Sends Pension Fund Trustees To Hawaii For Conference

The City of Detroit has left whole areas without street lighting and even proposed allowing buildings to burn rather than spend the money on fire fighters. The mayor has called it quits and even an emergency manager appears close to throwing in the towel on the city. However, Detroit’s two public pension funds (long accused of gross mismanagement) are sending four trustees to Hawaii at the cost of $22,000 as an educational trip.

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Bizarre, Courts, Criminal law, Lawyering

Peerless: Oklahoma Man Repeatedly Shows Up Late For Jury Duty . . . And Then Misses Hearing On Contempt Of Court

w300-30b82aa492bc3fd1f4d83001853185e2Rickey Christopher, 23, obviously does not like jury duty. Many people feel the same but he is fast making jury duty into the worst chapter of his life. Christopher was previously dismissed from jury duty for repeatedly showing up late. Then when he was ordered to appear for possible contempt of court, stemming from his jury duty, he failed to appear. There is now a warrant out for his arrest from Oklahoma County District Judge Ray C. Elliott. It is a good thing that such charges are generally handled without a jury. It would be hard to find 12 peers of Christopher to appear on time to try the case.

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Academia, Politics, Society, Torts

Colorado Schools Sued By Custodians For Using English Instructions

230px-AurariacampusThere is an interesting lawsuit against an academic institution in Colorado. Spanish-speaking custodial workers at the Auraria Higher Education Center in Colorado are suing over the failure of the Center to give them instructions in Spanish — alleging that they have faced unsafe conditions over the use of English rather than Spanish. The case suggests that the use of Spanish can not only be legally required but that the use of English can constitute a type of unsafe workplace.

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Bizarre, Media, Society

Mickey Louse: New York Moms Hiring Disabled People To Skip Lines At Disney

220px-Pride_Jazzy_Select_power_chair_001300px-Cindyrella's_Castle_@_Magic_KingdomOne of the longest (and unresolved) complaints with Disney is that families pay an obscene amount to get into “The Happiest Place on Earth” only to face ridiculously long lines that severely limit the number of rides that they can enjoy. Disney actually makes money off the inconvenience by selling “guides” and offering fast passes. However, it is not the only one making money off its lines. New York City moms are reportedly hiring disabled people to pose as family members so that their kids can go to the front of lines. The cost: $1000 a day for your own personal line-cutting wheelchaired person.

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Bizarre, Constitutional Law, Criminal law, Society, Torts

Man Uses Private Drone To Spy On Neighbors

220px-Aeryon_Scout_In_FlightThere was an interesting confrontation in Seattle this week where a man flew a drone just feet away from a family home. The drone was camera-equipped and the mother called police. Before the man left, he insisted that he had a right to use a private drone to surveil his neighbors. No it is not John Ashcroft’s neighborhood. I wanted to clarify a couple of points before others take to the air for some private snooping.

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Constitutional Law, Criminal law, Society

Couple Refuses To Allow Police To Enter Home Without Warrant . . . Police Kick Down Door and Taser Couple

This video shows a confrontation between a couple in Cotati, California and police after the police were called to investigate a domestic violence complaint.  The couple tells the police that they were simply yelling in an argument and refused to allow the police to enter without a warrant.  The police respond by kicking down the door and tasering the couple.

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Bizarre, Criminal law, International

Sci-Fi Convention Erupts In Fight Between Star War and Dr. Who Fans

220px-Fourth_Doctor200px-Darth_MaulThe Norwich police was called to a public disturbance this week in a reported clash between Star Wars fans and Doctor Who fans at a Sci-Fi convention. The Sci Fi turf war reportedly erupted when Norwich Sci Fi Club treasurer, Jim Poole, a Star Wars fan, appeared at the rival club’s event at the University of East Anglia and tried to get an autograph from Doctor Who actor Graham Cole. It appears that there were no true Jedi masters who could use their Jedi mind control trick. Of course, this does not work on some species and Dr. Who is not human.

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Constitutional Law, Free Speech, Politics, Religion, Society

Satanic Tweets: Head of Saudi Religious Police Warns Citizens That Use of Twitter Destroys Chance For Heaven

640x392_46796_188122150px-Twitter_2012_logoSheikh Abdul Latif Abdul Aziz al-Sheikh, the head of Saudi Arabia’s religious police, has gone public with a renewed attack on the use of social media sites, particularly Twitter. He warned citizens that the use of sites like Twitter guarantees that the user “has lost this world and his afterlife.”

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Bizarre, Constitutional Law, Criminal law, Free Speech, International, Politics, Religion

Report: Chinese Police Beat Tibetan Monk To Death After Found With Dalia Lama Tapes

220px-Dalai_Lama_1430_Luca_Galuzzi_2007cropFlag_of_the_People's_Republic_of_ChinaA Tibetan monk named Kardo was reportedly beaten to death by Chinese police after they found him in possession of recordings of speeches by exiled spiritual leader the Dalai Lama.

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Criminal law, Lawyering, Society

Gosnell Agrees To Waive Appeal To Avoid Death Penalty

130422-kermit-gosnell-mug-1030a.photoblog600Convicted Philadelphia abortion doctor has reached an agreement with prosecutors to avoid the death penalty: he has waived his right to appeal in exchange for a sentence of life without parole. I have no problem with the conviction of Dr. Kermit Gosnell, 72, who performed late abortions in violation of state law under the most gruesome and horrific conditions. However, the use of the threat of the death penalty to waive appeal is a serious concern for civil libertarians.

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Uncategorized

The Grand Theft Auto Tax: Biden Calls For New Tax On Violent Video Games

225px-joe_biden_official_photo_portrait_2-croppedYesterday, Vice President Joe Biden stated publicly again that he wants violent video games to be taxed and sees “no legal reason” why we should not move forward with a new tax. The story was telling in two respects. First, there is no evidence that such games produce the type of attacks seen at the Boston bombing and school shootings. Yet, this was the first thing that various politicians grabbed to show a response to the killings — besides of course reducing our civil liberties further. Second, Biden again seems intent on fulfilling the stereotype of a liberal politician where the answer to every problem is a tax. There is no discussion of how such a tax would accomplish any economic or public policy objective beyond moving money from people Biden disfavors to people he favors.

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Congress, Criminal law, International, Military

Winning The Hearts and Minds? Video Shows Syrian Rebel Leader Cutting Out And Eating Heart Of Fallen Enemy Soldier

Syrian Cannibal RebelMany of us have raised concern over the same voices in Congress who called for attacking Iraq, Libya, and other countries are now calling for yet another intervention in Syria. While many of the Syrian rebels forces have been tied to extreme Islamic groups, senators like John McCain and others want us to send weapons to these forces. This could be a repeat of what we saw in Afghanistan where we trained and equipped radical groups that then turned on the United States. The video below captures just how strange our bedfellows in Syria may be with a leading commander filmed as he ate the heart cut out of a Syrian soldier. The video shows how little we know about many of these groups and the increased savagery on both sides of this civil war. The video shows Abu Sakkar – the prominent founder of rebel group Farouq Brigade.

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