Society

Grace Under Pressure: Paralyzed Surfer Walks At High School Graduation

By Mark Esposito, Guest Blogger

Surfer Patrick Ivinson with sister, Samantha. See the inspiring video beneath the fold

Competitive surfer, 17-year-old Patrick Ivison walked to the podium at the Scripps Ranch High School graduation ceremony and received his diploma on Thursday. Since we’re in graduation season there’s not much surprising  there and a surfing teen in San Diego, California is about as newsworthy as a robin in spring. What makes Patrick unique is that he is paralyzed from the waist down. He has been since he was 14-months-old when a car accidentally back over him in a parking lot.

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Free Speech, International, Religion, Science

Indian Rationalist Arrested For Blasphemy

-Submitted by David Drumm (Nal), Guest Blogger

We have previously discussed how black magician Pandit Surinder Sharma repeated attempted to kill rationalist Sanal Edamaruku (the James Randi of India) with a death-causing tantra, here. The still very much alive Edamaruku recently went to an Irla (suburb of Mumbai) Catholic church where he debunked a “miracle” where water was seen trickling down Jesus’ feet. Edamaruku identified the source of the water as a leaky drainage pipe and explained that capillary action was the cause of the water reaching Jesus’ feet.

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Media, Politics

Game Of Thrones Uses Prosthetic Bush

-Submitted by David Drumm (Nal), Guest Blogger

HBO’s hit series Game of Thrones, full of nudity and gratuitous sex, uses a lot of prosthetic body parts on the show. On the season one DVD commentary, the show’s creators David Benioff and D.B. Weiss explained that one of the heads, decapitated and piked by King Joffrey, looks a lot like George W. Bush. Continue reading “Game Of Thrones Uses Prosthetic Bush” →

Bizarre, Criminal law, Politics, Society

Lawyer and Former West Virginia Candidate For Attorney General Claims Castle Doctrine Defense In Home Shooting

A West Virginia lawyer Hiram C. Lewis IV, 41, narrowly lost a race to become the state attorney general in 2008 but has now found himself on the other side of the courtroom charged with malicious wounding and wanton endangerment with a firearm. Lewis is accused of shooting a man at his home in Procious, West Virgina. He is invoking the Castle Doctrine, which allows citizens to use lethal force in defense of their homes. I have been a long critic of Castle Doctrine laws, which have spinned off various extensions for the work place, cars, and other locations. Called “Make My Day” laws in some states, we now have “Make My Day Better” laws allowing people to use lethal force in defense of other property like cars as well as laws like “Stand Your Ground” involved in the Zimmerman case and other cases in Florida.

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Criminal law, Religion, Society

“Get Rid Of An Evil Tick”: Florida Teacher Accused Of Cutting And Burning Students in Religious Rite

Police in St. Petersburg, Florida, have arrested a popular teacher in a bizarre alleged crime. Danielle Harkins, 35, is accused of telling students that they have demons inside them and that the only way to be rid of them is to cut themselves and then burn the wounds. They proceeded to do so and she is now charged with child abuse.

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Academia, Criminal law, International

It’s Official: Crime (At Least Bank Robbery) Doesn’t Pay

If only Butch Cassidy (left) and the Sundance Kid (right) went to an economics class. Economists at the Royal Statistical Society and American Statistical Association have published a study on the economics of bank robbery and determined that crime doesn’t pay after all . . . . at least not bank robbery.

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Bizarre, Politics

Meter Madness: Santa Monica Introduces New “Smart” Parking Meters

Santa Monica, California is introducing new technology to end the practice of drivers using minutes remaining on parking meters from the prior cars. New meters use internet connections and sensors buried in the asphalt to wipe out remaining time once a car leaves the parking space. It seems a bit unfair. The city was paid to rent the space and I think I should be allowed to hand over my time to another citizen — after all I paid for the rental and could remain in the spot for the full duration.

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Bizarre, Society, Torts

Miss Pennsylvania Sued Over Allegations that Pageant Is Rigged

There is an interesting defamation lawsuit announced this week by the Miss Universe Organization. The organization which runs the Miss Universe and Miss USA contests (and is co-owned by Donald Trump) is suing Sheena Monnin, who resigned recently as Miss Pennsylvania. Monnin, 27, charged that the competition is rigged and that a fellow contestant saw a list of the top five selectees in the Miss USA pageant before they were actually selected on the program.

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Things That Tick Me Off

Things That Tick Me Off: Water Billboards

It is time for another addition of “Things That Tick Me Off”– the category that allows me to regain my composure by venting at annoying things in life. (It is far cheaper than therapy). This week’s winner is water billboards. I am in Ocean City, Maryland to speak on the Supreme Court as part of the Maryland State Bar Association‘s annual meeting. The conference is being held at the Clarion Resort on the beach. I arrive last night and took the kids to the beach. It was an amazing scene with huge waves and blue skies. As we took in the beauty, we were suddenly on confronted by a massive water billboard that moves slowly across the beach front, blocking the view and destroying the enjoyment of the beach. I must confess that this is the first time I have seen one of these monstrosities up close and I was appalled.

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Criminal law, Lawyering, Politics

Justice Department Drops Remaining Counts Against John Edwards

The Justice Department announced Wednesday that it will not retry John Edwards. That ends a prosecution that seemed driven more by political than legal considerations. After spending years and millions of dollars, the Public Integrity Section accomplished nothing except to raise questions about its own priorities and function. It is not uncommon for prosecutors to yield to the temptation of bringing charges against high-profile defendants. However, the Justice Department stretched the campaign finance laws to the breaking point on this case. It seems intent on satisfying the public anger toward Edwards for his adultery and betrayal.

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Bizarre, Politics, Society

Uber-Nanny: Bloomberg Administration Now Moves Against Popcorn and Milk

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg has been justifiably ridiculed for his banning of large sugary drinks — refusing to allow adults to make such choices for themselves. Despite the overwhelming criticism of the soda ban, his health board appears emboldened rather than chagrined by the controversy. It is now moving to ban certain sizes of popcorn and milk.

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Constitutional Law, Free Speech, Religion, Society

NYPD Facing Religious Challenges From Jewish and Muslim Applicants

New York is facing a couple of religious challenges to barring recruits from the police academy. The first is a Jewish applicant who was fired for failing to cut his beard to a proscribed length. The second is a Muslim applicant who was fired for saying that he believed homosexuals should be locked up in answering a series of questions on a police form.

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