If you thought that Neapolitan pizza on your last vacation to Italy was to die for, you were more right. Italian prosecutors allege that pizzeria owners in Naples have been using coffin wood to make their pizzas and save on the cost of combustible material.
Continue reading “Pizza to Die For: Italian Prosecutors Allege Pizzerias in Naples Have Been Using Coffin Wood”
The U.S. Supreme Court has given the federal government sweeping new authority to hold people indefinitely — even after the completion of their sentences — if they find the individuals to be “sexually dangerous.” Notably, it is a reversal of the nation’s most conservative court of appeals — the Fourth Circuit — which ruled that Congress could not impose such an open-ended denial of liberty. Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan argued for such authority, here. In the decision below written by Justice Stephen Breyer in United States v. Comstock, only two conservative justices dissented: Thomas and Scalia.
Continue reading “Supreme Court Rules Government Can Hold Citizens Indefinitely If They Are Deemed Sexually Dangerous”
Miss Michigan Rima Fakih, 24, made history this week as the first Arab-American to win the Miss USA competition, here.
The extreme right has gone ballistic –painting Fakih as a mole for Hamas and part of some Islamic threat despite her appearing in a bikini and contradicting most conservative Islamic mores — including new allegations that she won a stripper contest, here.
Continue reading “Crowning of Arab-American As Miss USA Unleashes Torrent of Attacks From the Right”
Israeli authorities barred leading American intellectual Noam Chomsky entry into Israeli-controlled territory. Chomsky is a critic of Israeli policies and recently Israel has been denying entry to such critics, including United Nations officials, here..
Texas lawyer Carolyn Barnes, 53, allegedly did not want to answer the ten questions on the census form in a big way. She is accused of firing a gun at Kathleen Gittel, a census worker, five times when she came to her door. Barnes has had a rather lengthy history of run-ins with the law and I do not mean as an advocate.
Continue reading “Texas Lawyer Fires Gun At Census Worker Five Times”
This is something out of Clockwork Orange. Burt Te Manu Tangiata Rikihana, 27, was arrested in December after he forced his way into a home of a woman with a three-year-old child. He chased the mother down the street as she screamed. Despite a previous attempted murder conviction, the court gave him probation and community service which Rikihana correctly called “a joke.”
Continue reading “New Zealand Court Gives Probation to Man With Violent History Who Broke Into Home of Mother and Chased Her Down the Street”
Ryanair has long been condemned as leading the industry toward cattle car conditions in air travel. The budget airline headed by CEO Michael O’Leary has now been fined 3 million euro ($3.17 million) for abandoning its passengers.
Continue reading “Ryanair Fined 3 Million Euros for Abandoning Passengers”
While the Calvary Episcopal Church may be bringing pets into the flock of the faithful, it is important to note that many wild animals have shown faith without the need of special programs or chewy treats.
Continue reading “The Pious Prairie Dog”
Calvary Episcopal Church has started what is billed as the first service for animals: the “Perfect Paws Pet Ministry” to gain Heaven for pets that heed and heel upon hearing the word of God.
Continue reading “All Dogs Go To Heaven: Church Begins Pet Ministry”
President Barack Obama is moving to increase military aid to Israel to $3.15 billion, including $205 million for a short-range missile defense system. With cities and states in the United States selling off parks and closing programs (and the federal deficit reaching disastrous levels), it is astonishing that the Administration is still gushing out such money — particularly for one of the wealthiest nations on Earth.
Continue reading “Obama to Ask For $205 Million To Give To Israel for a Rocket Defense System as Part of a $3.15 Billion Aid Package”
Liberal Catholics are condemning the decision of a Catholic school to bar a girl from enrollment because her parents are lesbians. The eight-year-old was originally admitted but her acceptance was rescinded by the St. Paul Elementary School in Hingham, Massachusetts.
Continue reading “Heather Has Two Mommies . . . And No School: Catholic School Bars Entry to Girl Because Her Parents Are Lesbians”
I give you a dancing dog.
Continue reading “Dancing Dog”
Lili (the pet of Blogenfreude) is this week’s winner and our first feline as Pet of the Week. Adopted in 1997 by one of my former torts students, Lili personifies the dignity and a sense of justified superiority that fits our blog so well. I have some great nominations pending so please send in your own pets. The questions can be found here.
Continue reading “Pet of the Week: Meet Lili”
A jury in Ottawa Hills, Ohio has convicted Officer Thomas White of felonious assault in a trial where jurors watched a video of his shooting of Michael McCloskey, Jr. — an unarmed motorcyclist. The video is below.
Continue reading “Jury Convicted Ohio Officer in Videotaped Shooting of Unarmed Motorcyclist (Video)”
Pensacola, Florida (The Weekly Vice) – Ola Mae Agee, 87, in Pensacola, Florida made for a rather curious mug shot this week after being arrested for allegedly selling crack to an undercover officer.
Continue reading “Meet Ola Mae Agee — Alleged Crack Dealer”