Happy Birthday America. Once again, we gather to celebrate tossing out that preening, prancing Hanover prig George III.
With our electricity back, all is right again with the world and we are ready to do our annual fireworks display at the end of the block.
Continue reading “Happy Independence Day!!!”
We previously discussed the bizarre screaming tirade of Putnam Circuit Judge William Watkins in a divorce case. While the husband, Rev. Arthur D. Hage, 63, charged Watkins with misconduct, Steve Canterbury, the administrator of the West Virginia Supreme Court has announced that he will not seek charges in the case. It leaves some confusion over what it would take to get a charge out of the high court.
Detroit appears to have its own version of the Elizabeth Warren Cherokee controversy. Congressman Hansen Clarke, D-13th District, has been attacked by his opponents of not being black. Forced into an unusual position Wednesday, responding to allegations that he’s masquerading as black to get votes. A robocall is informing Detroit voters that Clarke is not really black in a clearly racist appeal. Clarke is running for the newly redrawn 14th Congressional District, which includes Detroit, against two black women, Mary Waters and Brenda Lawrence.
Continue reading “Black Like Us: Detroit Congressman Reportedly Outed As White”
In Arkansas, Flora Burkhart, 58, has a curious defense to hit and run. She was cited by police at her home after leaving the scene of an accident. When confronted about the flight, Burkhart explained that she did not think the damage was significant and could not stop because she had ice cream in the car that would melt.
French runner Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad achieved a new low for athletes this week when he slapped and then shoved a mascot costume after he won the 3,000m steeplechase in Helsinki. His attack on “Appy” and the 14-year-old girl inside has left people outraged around the world.
Continue reading “The Bad in Benabbad: French Runner Assaults Teenage Girl In Mascot Costume”
JetBlue is able to say categorically today that its former pilot Captain Clayton F. Obson was not a criminal assaulting passengers as widely suggested. He was just insane. Obson, 49, was found not guilty by reason of insanity due to a “severe mental disease or defect.” Osbon was earlier deemed mentally competent to stand trial.
Continue reading “JetBlue: Rest Assured Your Pilot Was Not Criminally Violent . . . Just Insane”
Despite our recent appearance as co-commentators last week, Chief Justice John Roberts has spoken against my proposal to expand the Supreme Court to 19 members. According to the Washington Post, Roberts said that he opposed the proposal and added “Well, I suppose it depends on who gets to pick them.” For prior columns on my proposal, click here, here and here and here. (See also Unpacking the Court: The Case for the Expansion of the United States Supreme Court in the Twenty-First Century.” 33 Perspectives on Political Science, no. 3, p. 155 (June 22, 2004)).
Continue reading “Chief Justice John Roberts Opposes Court Expansion Proposal: A Response”
Rev. Arthur D. Hage, 63, has posted the video below as part of his complaint to the state Judicial Investigation Commission about Putnam County Circuit Court Family Law Judge William M. “Chip” Watkins III. It shows Watkins, 58, going ballistic in a divorce case where he screams at Hage, including to tell him to “Shut up” and accusing him of telling a “damn lie.”
Continue reading “West Virginia Judge Charged With Abusive Conduct Depicted in Courtroom Video”
It appears that dogs have a new talking point in the eternal Dogs v. Cats debate. Researchers have found that women are more likely to commit suicide if they own cats because they can contract the Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) parasite from kitty litters. Researchers found about one third of the world’s population is infected with the parasite.
I had an interesting conversation about the health care ruling on Talk of the Nation yesterday on National Public Radio with Neil Conan. Here is the link: Talk of the Nation.
I am not sure whether the newest weapon against drunk driving will deter or compel men to drink. Across the country, men will use urinals only to have the urinal cakes suddenly start to speak to them. The talking urinal cakes say things like “Listen up. That’s right, I’m talking to you. Had a few drinks? Maybe a few too many? Then do yourself and everyone else a favor: Call a sober friend or a cab. Oh, and don’t forget to wash your hands.” When finding himself conversing with the urinal cake, the question is whether the subject will say “Man, I have had too much” or “Man, I need a drink.”
Continue reading “Hey, Buddy, Urine a Lot of Trouble: Talking Urinal Cakes To Converse With Men This Holiday”
Rupert Murdoch, News Corp. chief executive, has twitted on his views of evil. While various people of late have been citing Murdock with the same criticism after the eavesdropping scandal, Murdoch was moved to discuss evil with regard to recent complaints by Katie Holmes that she is being followed by what her friends call “Scientology goons” — reportedly raised fears that the Church might try to snatch the child of Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes. Murdoch responded with “Scientology back in news. Very weird cult, but big, big money involved with Tom Cruise either number two or three in [hierarchy].” That must make work a bit awkward since Greta Van Susteren, one of his leading hosts, has been a prominent member of Scientology for decades. Her show “On The Record” airs every weekday.
Continue reading “On The Record On Evil? Fox News Owner Calls Scientology a “Very Weird Cult””
There is a bizarre lawsuit shaping up in Manhattan. Lawyer Kenechukwu Okoli has filed a defamation and assault complaint against Paul Hastings partner Allan Bloom over an encounter at a 2011 deposition. During the deposition Okoli slapped Bloom and now claims that he was assaulted by accidental spittle and defamed when Bloom called him “uncivilized, ignorant and incompetent.” Remarkably, Bloom did not file for assault but in his Motion To Dismiss, Bloom (the accused spitter) says that there is no grounds for libel or assault by Okoli (the alleged spittee), who is seeking $1 million.
Michael Marin was the very image of a powerhouse lawyer: a Yale Law School graduate who went on to find success as a Wall Street trader who climbed Mount Everest, collected valuable art works and supported charities. The bon vivant seemed to be living the life of legend until he was charged with burning down his own Biltmore Estates mansion in Arizona. Shortly after being convicted of arson in court, Marin was seen putting something in his mouth. He promptly collapsed and died.
Continue reading “Lawyer Poisons Himself In Court After Being Found Guilty Of Arson”
Algerian writer Boualem Sansal have been stripped of his literary prize of 15,000 euros after the Arab sponsors of the award learned that he had visited Israel. Originally, the Editions Gallimard Arabic Novel prize was withdrawn entirely, but under pressure Sansal was given the prestigious French literary award but not the cash. The incident has tarnished the image of the award and undermined its commitment to artistic expression.