The Irish are running low on Catholic bishops after two more bishops resigned on Christmas Eve in the wake of a report on the cover-up of sexual abuse. Two bishops previously resigned. Bishops Eamonn Walsh and Raymond Field offered their resignations to Pope Benedict on December 24th.
Continue reading “Four Irish Bishops Resign in Wake of Abuse Report”
Ok, I admit I find this really cool despite the promise of a host of injuries. This guy mounted a camera on his RC plane and filmed as his kids tried to shoot it down with fireworks.
Continue reading “Into the Air Junior Birdman . . .”
China is moving forward with the execution of a mentally ill British man for trafficking drugs. The British government has been protesting the treatment of Akmal Shaikh, whose family insists that he was duped into going to China by promises of becoming a singer and star. A Chinese gang used him to smuggle drugs.
Continue reading “China Set To Execute Mentally Ill British Man for Drug Smuggling”
This one seems to have escaped us . . .
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has insisted that the Obama Administration will not fight with China over human rights and instead seek a “more practical” approach that emphasizes trade issues, here. Yesterday, China showed the world that it doesn’t feel any pressure to allow free speech or basic rights to its citizens. It sentenced leading human rights advocate Liu Xiaobo to 11 years in prison for calling for the rule of law and democracy in China.
Continue reading “China Sentences Human Rights Leader to 11 Years in Jail For Drafting Pro-Democracy Paper”
There is a horrible case out of India where a former senior police officer has been able to openly flaunt and manipulate the legal system after molesting a 14-year-old girl. SPS Rathore allegedly used his authority to harass the family of Ruchika Girhotra and obstruct the investigation into the assault of the promising tennis player. Now, the outrage has grown after Rathore was given a mere six months sentence and told to pay 1,000 rupees ($20). Ruckika was not in the court room when Rathore reportedly laughed at the sentence. She committed suicide after years of harassment by the police.
Best wishes to everyone celebrating Christmas and Hanukkah. To paraphrase Tiny Tim, “And God bless us, everyone . . . even Legal Satyricon.” Continue reading “MERRY CHRISTMAS”
I thought that I could get through this day without an actual Christmas tort worth noting. However, an astonishing breach of security occurred Thursday night in the Vatican. Somehow a mentally unstable woman was able to jump the barriers in St. Peter’s Basilica and knock down Pope Benedict XVI as he walked down the main aisle to begin Christmas Eve Mass at the Vatican.
Continue reading “Woman Knocks Down the Pope At Christmas Mass”
The good people of Norad are tracking the jolly fat man and spotted him in Micronesia, here.
Continue reading “Santa Spotted In Micronesia”
An Egyptian court has affirmed the four-year jail sentence imposed on blogger Abdel Kareem Nabil Suleiman for posting writings critical of Islam and the government. The sentencing comes after the Obama Administration caved into pressure from Egypt to support a resolution that recognizes the basis for such blasphemy prosecutions, here.
Rex Rammell may be running for Idaho’s governorship, but he is clearly preparing for (or at least thinking of) something more grand. The Mormon candidate will be holding closed door meetings with elders from the Church of the Latter Day Saints (LDS) on the rather apocalyptic predictions by Joseph Smith called the “White Horse” prophesy that leads to Mormons saving the nation by taking over the government.
Continue reading “Man on a White Horse: Idaho Gubernatorial Candidate Rex Rammell Holds Closed Meetings with LDS Elders on the “White Horse” Prophecy”
PETA has released photos taken by a former elephant trainer with the circus of a baby elephant being taught to perform — and hit with sharp metal hooks when it fails to do so. The photos were reportedly taken by trainer who died recently and wanted them published.
Continue reading “PETA Publishes Photos of Elephant Abuse Taken By Late Trainer”
The Taliban gave the world another example of why its educational programs are so low cost and effective. In the Khyber District of Pakistan the Taliban blew up a girls’ school. This was a moderate response for the organization, which is known to throw acid in the faces of girls trying to go to school.
Continue reading “No School Left Behind: Taliban Blows Up School for Girls in Pakistan”
In Chilliwack, B.C., the Mounties are facing heavy criticism after they decided to use the backyards of citizens for an exercise without either notice or permission. Fendi, a six-year-old pit bull, was not happy when armed men and tracking dogs appeared around his yard. When he attacked one of the police dogs, the Mounties shot him — leaving his owner Brian Hackner with a great deal of questions and one dead dog.
A man walks into a diner with a knife stuck in his chest and orders coffee . . .
No, this is not a lead up for a joke.
Continue reading “A Place to Hang His Hat: Man Walks Into Diner With Knife Stuck in His Chest”