Bizarre, Religion, Society, Torts

Former Senior Scientology Officer Testifies Against Church Head David Miscavige

The Church of Scientology is trying to dampen down another scandal from a former high-ranking member. Debbie Cook ran the church’s Flag Base in Clearwater, Florida for 17 years. A former “captain”, Cook has offered testimony and given interviews detailing alleged physical abuse by church leader David Miscavige as well as a hellish trailer known as “the hole” for bad scientologists. It has been a bad period of Scientology which recently saw a French court uphold its fraud conviction in France.

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Bizarre, Torts

The Negligent Heel: Professional Wrestler Sues After Losing Testicle In Bout

Something odd happened recently in professional wrestling — a real fight broke out. Former professional wrestler John Levi Miller, 23, has sued Clinton Woosley (who performed under the name Guido Andretti) for failing to take a fall as planned and actually kicking him in the groin — causing the loss of a testicle. Woosley was the designated “heel,” or loser in the bout. [Image shows Blue Demon, Jr. wrestles El Hijo Del Santo].

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Bizarre, Criminal law

Barnes Burner: Police Arrest Alleged Culprit In The Burning Of “The Senator”

We previously discussed the senseless burning of the oldest pond cypress tree in the world — “The Senator” at Big Tree Park in Longwood. Now police have arrested the woman who they say committed the destruction. She is Sara Barnes. Barnes has been charged with the third degree felony of intentional burning of land. It was an over 3,500-year-old cypress tree . . . until it encountered Barnes in 2011.

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Bizarre, Constitutional Law, Courts, Lawyering

The Judge Takes The Fifth: Tennessee Judge Invokes His Right To Remain Silent Over Allegations That He Stole Money From Ten Commandments Display

We previously read about the ethics charges and lawsuits leveled against Hawkins County (Tenn.) Judge James Taylor for various violations, including stealing money that he raised for a “Citizens Heritage Display” with the Ten Commandments to be placed in the lobby of the Hawkins County Justice Center. While Taylor announced he would still run for reelection and assured people that his name would be cleared, he has now asserted his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination in his answer to accusations of theft and misconduct in the judicial ethics investigation.

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Criminal law, Society

Former Top Narcotic Prosecutor Sentenced To Jail On Drug Charge

Former Deputy District Attorney David Schubert has been sentenced to nine months in jail for felony crack possession. We previously discussed the case, but Clark County District Judge Carolyn Ellsworth took the notable step of denouncing the plea deal with Schubert as something of a sweetheart deal for the former prosecutor.

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Lawyering

Feeling Sleepy? Lawyers Ranked As The Second Most Sleep Deprived Profession

This may not come as a surprise to many law students or lawyers, but lawyers were ranked second among the professions with the least sleep by the Health Interview Survey — averaging just seven hours. IF you want twenty more minutes, try applying for a position as a forest and logging worker.

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Bizarre, Society

A Man Of The People? New Study Suggests Gingrich Is Indeed In The Mainstream . . . Of Washington

A new study would indicate that, of all of the candidates this year, Newt Gingrich may come closest to the 99 percent . . . at least on the issue of adultery. Washington appears to be leading the nation in adultery.

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Politics, Society

African Americans For Obama: Is An Appeal To Race A Celebration or An Abdication of The Civil Rights Movement?

President Barack Obama this month launched “African Americans For Obama.” This video shows Obama with an articulate and moving message tied to African American month, but is it the right message? There is no question this is a direct appeal to race as a unifying theme with supporters — a move that would be denounced if tried by his white opponents. In the video, Obama states “I don’t think there’s a better time than Black History Month” for this effort, but some view this as the worst time for an open injection of race as a motivating factor in politics. I am frankly divided on the issue because I can see the justified pride of this community in President Obama. However, I remain uneasy over a direct appeal from the President on race — just as I have criticized past appeal to sectarian religious groups by presidential candidates.
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Bizarre, Courts, Criminal law

Atheist in “Zombie Mohammed” Case Responds

Exclusive: After running the earlier story on the “Zombie Mohammed” case, I had the opportunity to speak to the victim, Ernie Perce. We previously discussed the remarks of Judge Mark Martin of Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania in the dismissal of a charge against Talaag Elbayomy, a Muslim who attacked Perce for insulting the Prophet. Perce was parading as a zombie Mohammad in the Mechanicsburg Halloween parade when Elbayomy allegedly grabbed him. Elbayomy was at the parade with his family. Yet, it was Perce who ultimately came into a tongue lashing from Martin. Martin reportedly responded in a statement that I posted previously.

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Bizarre, Society

Reading On The Run: Woman Photographed Reading Nook and Drinking Coffee While Speeding Down Highway

I was on CNN this morning discussing the comments of the Pennsylvania judge on the assaulting of an atheist. On the way back, the CNN driver took I-66 and we passed this scene of a woman drinking coffee and reading her Nook . . . while moving over fifty miles an hour during rush hour.

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Bizarre, Criminal law

Fridge Felon: Houston Officer Criminally Charged With Stealing Food From Police Station Refrigerator

Officer Kevin Yang is a fridge felon who picked the wrong workplace to snarf his colleague’s snacks. The suburban Houston police officer was charged with theft and suspended without pay for 30 days after a hidden camera nailed him as the long-sought culprit who was stealing food and drinks from the employee refrigerator.

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