Archive: OFF/beat Politics
No Pints for Chancellor of the Exchequer
British drinkers show distaste for beer tax.
By Emil Steiner | March 27, 2008; 11:00 AM ET | Comments (5)
Guinness Lobbies for St. Patrick's Day Holiday
Should the celebration of Ireland's patron saint be a national holiday?
By Emil Steiner | February 28, 2008; 10:15 AM ET | Comments (18)
Fouad Mourtada Gets Three Years for Phony Facebook Page
The story of a Moroccan man's imprisonment, and subsequent international outrage, over a Facebook tribute page.
By Emil Steiner | February 26, 2008; 10:00 AM ET | Comments (26)
Selling Sex Toys Now Legal In Texas
5th Circuit Court of Appeals picks privacy over morality, but should buying "obscene devices" be as easy as buying guns?
By Emil Steiner | February 14, 2008; 10:30 AM ET | Comments (122)
British Council Calls Ghostbusters On Taxpayer's Dime
It may have been wrong for the District of Easington to hire a psychic medium to cleanse a housing project of evil spirits, but it was also cost effective.
By Emil Steiner | February 13, 2008; 10:15 AM ET | Comments (7)
Voytek, the Soldier Bear of Poland Battles Obscurity
The beer-guzzling, chain-smoking bear of Poland's 22nd Transport Company may be honored in Scotland.
By Emil Steiner | January 28, 2008; 11:20 AM ET | Comments (16)
Turkmenistan Loses Absurdity, Keeps Tyranny
While legalizing opera and the circus, Turkmenistan tightens its grip on civil rights.
By Emil Steiner | January 23, 2008; 09:30 AM ET | Comments (14)
Medical Marijuana Users Seek $200K For Lost Stash
A Colorado couple could make it a lot more expensive for police to patrol pot.
By Emil Steiner | January 17, 2008; 09:30 AM ET | Comments (120)
Medical Marijuana Payback Burns Colorado Police
Medicinal pot farmers find refuge and relief under the state's constitution.
By Emil Steiner | January 9, 2008; 10:30 AM ET | Comments (91)
Australian Politician Promotes Hope & Clean Underwear
Words to live by from an Australian senator.
By Emil Steiner | December 13, 2007; 12:00 PM ET | Comments (5)
Evolution, Creationism and Civil Rights
Can a biologist be fired for not believing in evolution? An OFF/beat poll.
By Emil Steiner | December 12, 2007; 11:15 AM ET | Comments (39)
Westboro Baptist Church Sings Hate And Freedom
The single "God Hates the World" goes viral -- and free speech goes extreme.
By Emil Steiner | December 6, 2007; 09:30 AM ET | Comments (45)
Medical Marijuana Growers Payback
A pair of Colorado pot growers may sue the police -- for $100,000! -- for destroying their stash.
By Emil Steiner | December 5, 2007; 09:30 AM ET | Comments (90)
Ripon High Cheerleaders Show Their Spirit
Six cheerleaders who flashed their covered backsides during a halftime performance were suspended. Does the punishment fit the crime?
By Emil Steiner | November 21, 2007; 11:00 AM ET | Comments (10)
The Joys of Multi-Party Politics
Bored with America's two-party snooze-fest? Here is OFF/beat's list of political parties.
By Emil Steiner | November 19, 2007; 11:30 AM ET | Comments (4)
Has Sonny Perdue's Rain Prayer Been Answered?
Can a prayer -- or millions of them -- affect the weather?
By Emil Steiner | November 15, 2007; 09:00 AM ET | Comments (171)
Bara Bröst Reveals Feminism's Assets
From Sweden, a story of topless rebellion.
By Emil Steiner | November 14, 2007; 11:30 AM ET | Comments (21)
From Facebook Follies to MySpace "My Bads"
When you do something stupid online, you're stupid online forever.
By Emil Steiner | November 13, 2007; 11:30 AM ET | Comments (11)
Of GW, Jewish Humor and Antisemitism
Did freshman Sarah Marshak commit a hate crime against herself?
By Emil Steiner | November 8, 2007; 12:00 PM ET | Comments (23)
Extreme Makeover: Santa Claus
With St. Nick being encouraged to slim down to curb obesity, OFF/beat has some other suggestions to make him even more jolly and appropriate.
By Emil Steiner | November 7, 2007; 11:00 AM ET | Comments (20)
Judge Roy Pearson Fired, Pants Appeal Still Pending
Was there finally justice in D.C.'s infamous $54 million pants suit?
By Emil Steiner | November 1, 2007; 09:32 AM ET | Comments (33)
Second Life Players Bring Virtual Reality to Court
Six virtual merchants files suit against a virtual thief in a very real court. Where does the game end and the law begin?
By Emil Steiner | October 29, 2007; 11:00 AM ET | Comments (49)
Aussie MP Kevin Rudd Waxes Disgusting
Is a man with so little savvy for the cameras surrounding him fit to hold his nation's highest office?
By Emil Steiner | October 24, 2007; 10:27 AM ET | Comments (42)
Second-Grader Kyle Walker Suspended For Drawing a Gun
The story of a seven-year-old who got suspended for drawing a gun (on a sheet of paper).
By Emil Steiner | October 23, 2007; 10:30 AM ET | Comments (71)
Myanmar's Panty Protest, Rome's Reddest Fountain
The return of absurd protests, demonstrations and political gestures.
By Emil Steiner | October 22, 2007; 11:00 AM ET | Comments (4)
Hanging Free Expression Out To Die
Banning nooses may make a lot of us feel better, but will it erase racism?
By Emil Steiner | October 16, 2007; 12:29 PM ET | Comments (26)
Bohemian Baby Dilemma
If you discovered after 10 months that the hospital had accidentally given you the wrong baby, would you switch back or keep the one you have? OFF/beat readers decide.
By Emil Steiner | October 15, 2007; 10:00 AM ET | Comments (11)
Christian Clown Busted For Kiddie Porn
As if Coulrophobics didn't have enough to worry about! An Illinois "Christian clown" has been charged with possession of child pornography and sex tourism stemming from a trip to a Filipino orphanage.
By Emil Steiner | October 12, 2007; 12:49 PM ET | Comments (41)
New York Councilman Nails Norwegian 'Daily Show'
A Staten Island Republican erupts in a profanity-laced tirade that would make Andrew Dice Clay blush.
By Emil Steiner | October 10, 2007; 09:00 AM ET | Comments (68)
Romanian Freedom Fighter Stages Casino Hunger Strike
Can one man change history -- or at least the decision of a local casino to ban him from the roulette wheel?
By Emil Steiner | October 9, 2007; 10:00 AM ET | Comments (5)
Larry Craig Flip-Flops on Resignation Pledge
The Idaho Republican won't be coming out of Congress after all.
By Emil Steiner | October 5, 2007; 12:27 AM ET | Comments (58)
Middle School Shows Love By Banning Hugs
Who needs hugs, anyway?
By Emil Steiner | October 3, 2007; 10:00 AM ET | Comments (41)
Cavemen: Spinning Ads Into TV Gold
ABC's "Cavemen" sitcom raises a question: What other commercials could go prime-time with shows of their own?
By Emil Steiner | October 3, 2007; 01:40 AM ET | Comments (13)
Blackface-book: Should Whites Reenact Jena 6?
A college student's blackface rendition of the "Jena Six" stomping stirs Facebook controversy.
By Emil Steiner | October 2, 2007; 02:30 PM ET | Comments (87)
Attack of the Terrible Excuse
Sometimes even the best-intentioned reasoning can go terribly wrong. Here's the latest example.
By Emil Steiner | October 1, 2007; 10:00 AM ET | Comments (24)
Larry Craig: Pleading for Reconsideration
OFF/beat readers vote on whether the Idaho Republican is guilty of disorderly conduct, and whether he should resign.
By Emil Steiner | September 27, 2007; 11:50 AM ET | Comments (32)
The O.J. Simpson Verdict: Where Were You When?
With the prospect of another Simpson trial, readers submit their stories of where they were when the first verdict came down.
By Emil Steiner | September 21, 2007; 10:00 PM ET | Comments (6)
Pearson v. Chung The Latest Victim
The latest victim in the $54 million pants lawsuit is Custom Cleaners.
By Emil Steiner | September 19, 2007; 04:51 PM ET | Comments (35)
Andrew Meyer, Free Speech and the Joy of Tasers
How much Taser is too much Taser?
By Emil Steiner | September 19, 2007; 10:00 AM ET | Comments (160)
Florida Student Is Shocked at Kerry Forum
Does a student deserve to be arrested because his question went on too long?
By Emil Steiner | September 18, 2007; 09:15 AM ET | Comments (475)
Fighting Airborne Sartorial Terrorism
Has Southwest Airlines opened Pandora's lingerie hamper?
By Emil Steiner | September 17, 2007; 10:00 AM ET | Comments (24)
Who Are the Craziest Sports Fans?
Readers choose from six 'worthy' nominees.
By Emil Steiner | September 13, 2007; 01:00 PM ET | Comments (37)
Knut The Malingering Polar Bear
Do animals really fake injuries to get our sympathy?
By Emil Steiner | September 12, 2007; 10:15 AM ET | Comments (11)
The Upside of VeriChip's Potential Cancer Risks
Conspiracy theorists, ask yourself what might be gained by putting a carcinogenic tracking chip under your skin!
By Emil Steiner | September 11, 2007; 10:00 AM ET | Comments (27)
Art, Vegetation and the Birds & the Bees
There has been little protest as a performance artist creates the world's first porn theater for house plants. What would the Lorax say?
By Emil Steiner | September 10, 2007; 10:00 AM ET | Comments (14)
Does Sacrificing Goats Make More Sense Than TSA Procedures?
What is it about contemporary airport rules that make animal sacrifice seem logical?
By Emil Steiner | September 5, 2007; 10:30 AM ET | Comments (41)
Sen. Larry Craig's Image Make-Over To Do List
OFF/beat's six-step plan to re-build Sen. Larry Craig's tattered image.
By Emil Steiner | August 30, 2007; 10:00 AM ET | Comments (50)
Sen. Larry Craig Got 'Disorderly' in an Airport Bathroom
Another conservative Republican involved in a restroom sex scandal.
By Emil Steiner | August 29, 2007; 10:00 AM ET | Comments (160)
Sex, Drugs & Seniors: An OFF/beat Investigation
Is television behind the outburst in teenage judgment among senior citizens?
By Emil Steiner | August 27, 2007; 09:00 AM ET | Comments (13)
Man of Many Suits
Roy Pearson's title as most frivolous litigant may be in jeopardy: The challenger to his crown is a federal prisoner named Jonathan Lee Riches.
By Emil Steiner | August 23, 2007; 10:00 AM ET | Comments (24)
Is Russia Researching Mind Control?
Can the government use psychotronic weapons to control your mind, or is it all just a lot of crazy talk?
By Emil Steiner | August 22, 2007; 10:30 AM ET | Comments (49)
Transvestite Court Drama Stuns Nigeria
Another nominee for this year's wackiest trial.
By Emil Steiner | August 21, 2007; 02:00 PM ET | Comments (11)
Arkansas Law Opens Door For Really Young Love
If you're looking to marry a 5-year-old, Arkansas is the place to be.
By Emil Steiner | August 20, 2007; 02:00 PM ET | Comments (13)
Roy Pearson Appeals Custom Cleaners Decision
The case of Pearson v. Chung continues, despite the Chung's gracious and generous offer to end it.
By Emil Steiner | August 15, 2007; 09:00 AM ET | Comments (65)
Pearson v. Custom Cleaners The Saga Continues
The $54 million suit that just won't die!
By Emil Steiner | August 14, 2007; 02:50 PM ET | Comments (46)
Roy Pearson v. Custom Cleaners The Final Chapter?
Could this be the end of the $54 million pants suit? Don't bet on it.
By Emil Steiner | August 14, 2007; 02:30 PM ET | Comments (13)
China To Regulate Reincarnation
Government regulation can be overbearing sometimes, but once you're dead, shouldn't the state should let your soul, well, rest in peace?
By Emil Steiner | August 14, 2007; 11:30 AM ET | Comments (16)
My Surreal Summer Vacation
He was a wheelchair-bound art teacher who lost it all thanks to a shock jock, a porn star and Salvador Dali.
By Emil Steiner | August 13, 2007; 10:00 AM ET | Comments (8)
Man Cleared in 'Sleepwalking Rape' Trial
Is 'sexsomnia' a viable alibi for rape -- or a criminal's dream come true?
By Emil Steiner | August 9, 2007; 10:00 AM ET | Comments (20)
The First Hacker Hate Crime?
A hateful DoS attack shuts down GayGamer.net, but you can't keep a good gay gamer down.
By Emil Steiner | August 8, 2007; 11:30 AM ET | Comments (18)
Elected Official Blames His Arrest on Fear of Black People
A Florida lawmaker arrested for solicitation has a novel excuse.
By Emil Steiner | August 7, 2007; 10:00 AM ET | Comments (29)
No Sex Please, We're Vegans, That Is Vegansexual
New Zealand Researcher Identifies 'Vegansexualism' For some vegans, will zero tolerance equal zero fun? (TWP) In the ever-expanding world of sexual identity there are countless orientations, fetishes and predilections, but few as tasteless as this. According to a New Zealand study, some vegans will actually refuse to share a carnal embrace with carnivores. And you thought saying no to frozen yogurt and fur coats was a sacrifice! The University of Canterbury report, titled "Cruelty-Free Consumption in New Zealand," examined the perspectives and experiences of 157 vegetarians and other "ethical consumers" across the country. While 63 percent said they would want a "partner who was also concerned for animals in the way they were," some went further: They said they had no interest in a sexual relationship with a person who eats or uses animal products. Annie Potts, co-director of the New Zealand Centre for Human and Animal Studies at Canterbury,...
By Emil Steiner | August 1, 2007; 11:30 AM ET | Comments (28)
Offbeat's Definitive List Of America's Strangest Laws
Yes, yes, Zsa Zsa Gabor's husband, Prince Frederic von Anhalt, was found "tied to his steering wheel in his birthday suit," but did you know that it is illegal to peel an orange in a Los Angeles hotel room? If not, don't fret -- OFF/beat is here to set you straight with our definitive list of America's 20 strangest laws (compiled from various websites and legal tomes). Readers are encouraged to add their own as long as doing so doesn't violate any obscure statute in their locality ... this means you, readers in Turkmenistan and North Korea! It's Against the Law to: 20) Fish while wearing pajamas in Chicago. 19) Sell instruments in South Carolina on Sunday. 18) Be drunk in a Wyoming mine. 17) Have a goatee in Boston. 16) Serve margarine in a Wisconsin restaurant unless the customer specifically requests it. 15) Eat a hamburger on Sunday in...
By Emil Steiner | July 31, 2007; 11:20 AM ET | Comments (12)
Sacred Cows and Sick Ones
Shambo & Skanda Vale: Welsh Hindus Facing More Battles Over TB-Infected Bovines Don't have a cow, man! (AFP/Getty) A struggle in Great Britain over the fate of a number of sacred but diseased cattle kept by a Hindu monastery is the latest battle in the tug-of-war between church and state. Last week Shambo, a beloved and revered Friesen bull, was dragged from Skanda Vale Temple in western Wales and slaughtered by British health officials after testing confirmed he had a rare and infectious form of bovine tuberculosis. Before the bull could be removed, however, monks and nuns from the Hindu monastic community formed a human shield around his enclosure, inciting a day-long standoff, attracting 56 officers. The 100 or so protesters where forcibly removed, and Shambo killed, but that may just be the beginning. New tests confirm that at least two more animals, a water buffalo named Dakshini and a...
By Emil Steiner | July 30, 2007; 10:00 AM ET | Comments (27)
In Memoriam: Weekly World News Dies At 28
Here are my 10 favorite headlines from the paper version of the WWN over the years -- what are yours?
By Emil Steiner | July 26, 2007; 10:33 AM ET | Comments (87)
Zimbabwe Duped By Mystic
Mugabe Regime Hunts Spiritual Medium After Miracle Rock Comes Up Empty Do you believe in magic? (Reuters) Since taking control of Zimbabwe in 1980, President Robert Mugabe has piloted the once-prosperous south African nation into the kind of tailspin that makes "Leaving Las Vegas" appear upbeat. And yet despite a list of political and economic missteps longer than ODB's rap sheet, his latest move still seems admirably idiotic. With inflation hovering around 1.5 million percent and massive fuel shortages the de-facto dictator did what any sensible head of state would. According to a number of reports, he pinned his hopes on a witch doctor who claimed to be have a magic rock from which diesel fuel oozed. Rotina Mavhunga the "traditional healer" in question, made headlines in April when she announced the discovery of "hundreds of years" worth of the refined fuel within a boulder on top of a hilltop...
By Emil Steiner | July 25, 2007; 12:40 PM ET | Comments (8)
Lack of Gay Rights Causes Alimony Abuse
How California's Stance Against Same Sex Marriage Actually Helps Lesbians Can homosexuals have their cake and eat it too? Is it possible that laws defining marriage as a union between a man and a woman provide benefits to gays unavailable to married heterosexuals? Judging from a recent legal ruling in California, the answer would seem to be yes. In March, I wrote about the story of Julio Roberto Silverwolf (nee Julia), whose ex-husband was forced to continue to pay alimony even though Silverwolf's sex change operation made it impossible for them to reconcile. That was in Florida. Now there's a similar case in California: A judge in Orange County has ordered a man to continue paying alimony to his ex-wife despite the fact that she is now in a registered domestic partnership with another woman. According to the ruling, Ron Garber is legally bound to give Melinda Kirkwood (she took...
By Emil Steiner | July 24, 2007; 10:00 AM ET | Comments (23)
Making the Language Barrier Work for You
A court's inability to find an interpreter for a suspected child rapist may allow him to go free.
By Emil Steiner | July 23, 2007; 09:30 AM ET | Comments (42)
Independence Day Fun List: Conversation Starters For Your BBQ
Top 9 OFF/beat Facts About Our Founding Fathers "Well, I still think: 'Life, liberty and two horses in every barn,' reads better." (National Archives) 9) While George Washington was a well known hemp farmer, did you know his gardener at Mt. Vernon was a rampant alcoholic? In fact the guy was such a lush that, in return for the promise of the sober fulfillment of his duties, our first President would compensate him with "four dollars at Christmas, with which to be drunk four days and four nights; two dollars at Easter, to effect the same purpose; two dollars at Whitsuntide, to be drunk for two days, a dram in the morning, and a drink of grog at dinner and at noon." 8) Anyone who's read the Declaration of Independence can surmise that Thomas Jefferson believed some rules were meant to be broken, but were you aware that he extended...
By Emil Steiner | July 4, 2007; 05:26 AM ET | Comments (10)
Washington's Hottest Power Couple?
Nuclear Power and Climate Change Create The Perfect Environment For Love Could this be the solution to global warming? (AP) Right now environmentalists are just playing footsie with the Burnsian forces of nuclear power. But this relationship is heating up faster than the planet -- any minute now, I expect the lights of the Capitol to dim and a disco ball to descend from the dome. On one side of this dance hall is Ms. Environmentalism, burning with an urgency inspired by dire prognostications and "Inconvenient Truths." Across the room she spots Mr. Nuclear Power, the dangerous bad boy her polls have warned her about. "Maybe he isn't so bad," she thinks. "Maybe nuclear power is just misunderstood. Those rumors about his meltdowns -- they're blown out of proportion by the popular oil boys, who are just jealous. They know he could be more efficient than they are. If Mr....
By Emil Steiner | July 3, 2007; 10:42 AM ET | Comments (3)
Illinois Swinger Sues Over Broken Heart
Cook County Court Says 10 Years of Marriage Worth $4,802 Love may not cost a thing, but stealing it can be expensive. (Getty) It's a story as old as time. A man and a woman meet, fall in love and marry -- but after 10 years, they become bored. So the husband asks the wife to begin sleeping with other people in front of him. The wife obliges, then falls for one of her lovers. Heartbroken, the husband sues the lover under an arcane statute. OK, so maybe this story isn't exactly universal. German Blinov, of Cook County, Ill., has been ordered to cough up $4,802 for "stealing the affections" of Arthur Friedman's wife, Natalie. Using a little-known state law, Friedman successfully convinced a jury that he was entitled to compensation from Blinov because his wife no longer loved him. Natalie Friedman admitted to having multiple affairs at her husband's...
By Emil Steiner | July 2, 2007; 10:11 AM ET | Comments (6)
German Sex Ed = Homosexual Role Playing
Berlin Schools May Battle Homophobia by Teaching Students Gay Pick-Up Lines Field trips to gay pride parades? (Reuters) They say you can't understand someone until you walk a mile in his shoes. Perhaps with this in mind, Germany's Regional Institute for School and Media has introduced a series of exercises in which students pick up same-sex partners. Pupils 14 years old and up will participate by practicing homosexual wooing techniques -- and in the process, officials hope, break down age-old schoolyard prejudices. Not everybody in Germany is enamored of this approach. "I think having such topics on how to pick up gay men in role-playing games for youths is completely wrong," FDP Party education spokesman Mieke Senftleben was quoted saying. "We are talking about 14-year-old pupils," she added. (Was she implying that youngsters should wait until they have reached the age of consent, 16 years old in Germany, before participating?)...
By Emil Steiner | June 28, 2007; 10:35 AM ET | Comments (20)
Sweden, Sex Offenders & Pornography
Court Says Rapist Can Have Porn Absolut Rehabilitation? (Bloomberg) Should sex offenders have access to pornography? If you live in Sweden, the answer is a resounding yes. In fact, not only are they allowed to own it and read it, but prisons are also forbidden from taking it away -- for safety reasons. Fire escape? Check. First aid kit? Check. Penthouse? Double check! The decision handed down last week by the Supreme Administrative Court in Stockholm states that denying access to porn magazines to inmates serving time for rape could "jeopardize the security of the institution." And best of all for Sweden's diminutive prison population, the ruling cannot be appealed. Take that, Warden! Not surprisingly, officials from the Swedish Prison and Probation Service are perturbed. They say perusing porn can interfere with a prisoner's rehabilitation. They also make the argument that such literature excites inmates, who may then try to...
By Emil Steiner | June 27, 2007; 11:49 AM ET | Comments (14)
Bong Hits 4 Jesus: Supreme Court Rehash
Morse v. Frederick: Free Speech v. Half Baked Lawsuit Can Schools Censor "Non-Disruptive" Jokes? (Dudley M. Brooks) When high school senior Joseph Frederick unfurled a 14-foot banner reading "BONG HiTS 4 JESUS" during a class trip, he did it to get attention -- and it worked. His "sophomoric" prank not only got him the media spotlight, it also got him an audience at the Supreme Court, in what some legal experts have called the most important free speech case in 20 years. In yesterday's 5-to-4 ruling in Morse v. Frederick, the court held that schools have the right to censor non-disruptive student speech if it "can reasonably be regarded as encouraging illegal drug use." Writing for the majority, Chief Justice John Roberts stated that even though Frederick's message was "cryptic," teachers could reasonably determine the banner would be understood by other students as promoting recreational pot smoking. Dissenting, Justice John...
By Emil Steiner | June 26, 2007; 01:40 PM ET | Comments (48)
Pearson v. Custom Cleaners Press Conference
Before an audience of dozens of reporters from several countries that was crowded into a tiny parking lot in Northeast Washington, Jin Chung stood before his dry-cleaning shop and held before him the pair of slacks that created a worldwide media sensation. As cameramen jockeyed for position, the Chungs' lawyer, Christopher Manning, said it was a "great day for justice." With their daughter translating, the Jin and Soo Chung said they were "happy with the result" when asked what they thought of the American justice system. They also stated that they are no longer planning to move back to Korea, and even went so far as saying Roy Pearson was still welcome as customer. The Chungs' lawyers added that they were certain Pearson would appeal. They also stressed that court costs, which Pearson has been ordered to pay, are much smaller than legal costs, which he hasn't been ordered to...
By Emil Steiner | June 25, 2007; 02:06 PM ET | Comments (54)
More on the Verdict in Pearson v. Custom Cleaners
$54 million for a pair of pants???
By Emil Steiner | June 25, 2007; 11:55 AM ET | Comments (106)
Pearson v. Custom Cleaners Verdict
I have been inundated with requests for a full copy of the decision. Interested readers can find it here. Enjoy!...
By Emil Steiner | June 25, 2007; 11:37 AM ET | Comments (36)
Bong Hits 4 Jesus Supreme Court Ruling
"Morse v. Frederick: Free Speech or Half-Baked Lawsuit?" Schools Can Censor "Non-Disruptive" Jokes? (Dudley M. Brooks) This morning The Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that schools have the right to limit a student's speech when it advocates criminal activity. The case of Morse v. Frederick, which some legal experts have called the most important First Amendment test since Vietnam, came about after high school student Joseph Frederick was suspended for unfurling a 14-foot sign reading, "Bong Hits 4 Jesus" during a class field trip in 2002. MORE COMING SOON......
By Emil Steiner | June 25, 2007; 10:56 AM ET | Comments (70)
Roy Pearson v. Custom Cleaners, The Verdict
Talk About Being Taken to the Cleaners (AP) D.C. Superior Court Judge Judith Bartnoff today ruled that Roy "Pant-less" Pearson is entitled to nothing.: "The Court finds that the plaintiff is not entitled to any relief whatsoever on his claims under the CPPA, Counts One and Four of his Amended Complaint. The Court's analysis of the plaintiff's CPPA claims applies as well to his claims of common law fraud in Count Two of the Amended Complaint. The plaintiff acknowledges that he is required to prove those claims by clear, convincing and unequivocal evidence. He has not proven those claims by a preponderance of the evidence, let alone by that higher standard. Judgment therefore will be awarded to the defendants, as well as their costs." MORE COMING SHORTLY, STAY TUNED......
By Emil Steiner | June 25, 2007; 10:16 AM ET | Comments (209)
Roy Pearson v. Custom Cleaners Update
Keeping Tabs on This Year's Most Frivolous Lawsuit Talk About Being Taken to the Cleaners (AP) Sources close to the case have informed me that a verdict in Roy Pearson v. Custom Cleaners -- the $54 million pants suit -- is expected either Friday afternoon or Monday morning. Feel free to give your predictions now. And, in the spirit of Bob Barker, the reader who comes closest to the actual dollar amount rewarded to any party, without going over, will win fame and possibly fortune, with an OFF/beat entry in his or her honor. Stay tuned......
By Emil Steiner | June 22, 2007; 12:25 PM ET | Comments (146)
A Controversial Condom in the Land of the Kama Sutra
Does the 'Crezendo' Violate Indian Law? Multi-purpose contraception? (Reuters) Few medical ethics debates have the potential to touch so many people as the one now going on in India over a tiny plastic ring called the Crezendo. The Crezendo, a condom with a battery-powered vibrating ring attached, has sent shockwaves through the world's second-largest country, where contraception is encouraged but sex toys and pornography are forbidden. In the state of Madhya Pradesh, conservative Hindus are particularly disturbed by the device, which they say is nothing more than a vibrator. Adding to their outrage is the fact that a government-owned company is involved in marketing it. Madhya Pradesh's minister for road and energy, Kailash Vijayvargiya, told the BBC that the government's job "is to promote family planning and population control measures rather than market products for sexual pleasure." But a spokesman for Crezendo's manufacturer, Hindustan Latex Ltd., explained that the product...
By Emil Steiner | June 21, 2007; 10:56 AM ET | Comments (10)
Save a Life, Lose Your Job
One Man's Heroic Response Violated His Employer's Policies Did Superman have it so rough? (Reuters) If you risked your life to save a customer's, you'd think your employer would at least say thank you. But the heroism of Colin Bruley, a Florida leasing agent, cost him his job. The story begins at approximately 2 a.m. on June 12, when Bruley awoke to screams in his apartment complex near Jacksonville. The 24-year-old, who worked and lives in the complex, was on medical leave at the time and recuperating in his apartment. When he heard a female voice shout, "I've been shot," he grabbed his shotgun and rushed to the scene in only his boxer shorts. His neighbor, Tonnetta Lee, had been shot in the leg in a third-floor "breezeway." A former hospital attendant and nursing school student, Bruley began administering first aid. He located the exit wound at the back of...
By Emil Steiner | June 20, 2007; 10:55 AM ET | Comments (35)
Mike Gravel: Presidential Candidate Gets Metaphorical
Liberal Political Ad Challenges Americans To Think Symbolically! Come Again? Mike Gravel, not afraid to throw rocks. (By Robert A. Reeder -- The Washington Post) At a time when presidential candidates only seem to be getting louder, Democrat Mike Gravel has bucked the trend with a series of "metaphorical" campaign ads in which no words are spoken. Not only that, there are no catch phrases, no news clips, no bar graphs or polls, and no muckraking of any kind... seriously. In fact, the concept is so foreign and bizarre that it has left seasoned political analysts demanding an explanation, which, it seems, is just the point. In the first, and most widely circulated, video (thank you, YouTube!) the bespectacled former Alaska senator is shown chest up in tight shot, standing next to a pond in San Francisco. He stares directly into the camera, with a grandfatherly gaze, his head cocked...
By Emil Steiner | June 19, 2007; 10:11 AM ET | Comments (12)
Roy Pearson, Custom Cleaners & The $54 Million Pants
Note: Please upgrade your Flash plug-in to view our enhanced content. var thisObj = "flashObj1"; var so = new SWFObject("http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/mmedia/player/wpniplayer_454.swf", thisObj, "454", "279", "8", "#ffffff"); so.addParam("allowScriptAccess", "always"); so.addParam("swfliveconnect", true); so.addVariable("thisObj", thisObj); so.addVariable("vid","ms061407-2v_title"); so.addVariable("playads", "no"); so.addVariable("adserv",""); so.addVariable("autoStart", "no"); so.write("flashcontent"); Hey, I wanted to thank everyone for their support of my blogging of the $54 million pants suit. The coverage, as you probably know, has been absolutely crazy. Who knew a story about a pair of trousers could have such legs! I've made a number of appearances on MSNBC, BBC, NPR and WaPo Radio to discuss just how bizarre it is that a judge (of all people) is filing what must be the most frivolous lawsuit in recent memory. Above, there's a clip of my most recent MSNBC appearance for those who missed it, or who want to see a picture of me without those "OFF/beat" bubbles. And be sure to...
By Emil Steiner | June 14, 2007; 01:50 PM ET | Comments (62)
Louisiana Mayor Bans Sagging Pants
Delcambre To Punish Low-Rider Fashion With Jail Time The 'Battle of the Britches' Continues It seems like all I've been blogging about this week is pants, but this story -- like the $54 million pants suit -- is too strange to ignore. Still, I promise next week to drop my pants blogging entirely! That said, the droopy drawers détente has marched westward from Florida to Louisiana into the "Cajun-country town" of Delcambre. That's where Mayor Carol Broussard announced his plans to sign an ordinance making it illegal for folks "to let the waistband of [their] pants sag too low in public."The new law would carry strict penalties for violators, including fines up to $500 and jail terms of up to six months if underwear or private areas are visible. That second stipulation effectively closes the "commando" loophole left open by Florida's measure, which focused only on visible undergarments. Also, unlike...
By Emil Steiner | June 14, 2007; 11:30 AM ET | Comments (70)
Pearson v. Custom Cleaners, Day 2
Talk About Being Taken to the Cleaners (AP) Soo and Jin Chung came to the United States from South Korea to pursue the American dream -- only to have it torn asunder by that other famous American institution, the frivolous lawsuit. The Chungs came to Washington in 1992 and built a dry-cleaning business of their own. Then Roy Pearson, a lawyer, judge and dissatisfied customer, sued them for $54 million over a lost pair of pants. Now the Chungs are reportedly contemplating a move back to Korea, where Mr. Chung worked in a charcoal factory. Perhaps he prefers the charcoal pits of Seoul to the courtrooms of Washington. The saga continues this morning. My colleague, Metro columnist Marc Fisher -- he's the one who broke this story -- will be reporting from the trial today. You can check on the latest developments at his blog, Raw Fisher....
By Emil Steiner | June 13, 2007; 10:00 AM ET | Comments (118)
Pearson v. Custom Cleaners: Day 1 Wrap-Up
Well, Roy Pearson has mercifully wrapped up, and Day One of the trial is over. Tomorrow will begin with his cross-examination, which should prove interesting. After close to eight hours of courtroom antics, however, two things are clear: Pearson is a fastidious litigator, and Judith Bartnoff is a patient judge. But the temperaments of plaintiff and judge are not at issue here. The case is about a pair of lost pants. And from where I was sitting, it seemed pretty clear that no judge in his or her right mind -- with the possible exception of Pearson, who is a former administrative law judge -- could find that Pearson deserves $54 million for them. We'll know soon enough. One colorful courtroom personality I forgot to mention earlier was a flack for the the American Tort Reform Association, who showed up in a seersucker suit with a green lapel button reading:...
By Emil Steiner | June 12, 2007; 04:30 PM ET | Comments (65)
Pearson v. Custom Cleaners: The Plaintiff Testifies (Continued)
After a five-minute break to dry his eyes, Roy Pearson came back to the courtroom. A hush came over the crowd, though it was probably due more to fatigue than to suspense. When the trial resumed, Pearson continued to describe how this incident occurred. Then he began to break down again. Then he paused and collected himself. Then, clearly having difficulty speaking, he asked if he could submit this part in writing. Defense counsel objected, and the judge assured Pearson he was doing fine. Pulling himself together, Pearson continued with his exhaustive description of how he -- or, in his telling, Custom Cleaners -- lost his pants. He testified that he is not a person given to threats, and so gave a lot of thought to this lawsuit. He did not want to litigate, he said, but he felt that D.C. consumer protection laws gave him no choice. At 3:55...
By Emil Steiner | June 12, 2007; 03:35 PM ET | Comments (32)
Pearson v. Custom Cleaners: The Plaintiff Testifies (and Breaks Down!)
If I had $54 million in my pocket, I'd almost give it to Roy Pearson to end this thing. Pearson took the stand this afternoon in his trial against Custom Cleaners, and it wasn't exactly spellbinding. Pearson went into seemingly every minute detail of life: his history of community service, his weight gain as a middle-aged man, his financial woes and his painful divorce. Even the opposing defense counsel was rubbing his eyes and suppressing yawns. But the judge let Pearson tell his story, taking occasional notes, always with a somewhat bemused expression on her face. I could almost see the thought bubble over her head: Take as much time as you need to orchestrate your circus. (Though if circuses were this slow, Barnum & Bailey would be out of business.) Then, just before 3:30, Roy L. Pearson broke down, appeared to almost cry, and quickly requested a break. Would...
By Emil Steiner | June 12, 2007; 03:23 PM ET | Comments (47)
Pearson v. Custom Cleaners, Witnesses 7 & 8
The seventh and eighth witnesses gave fairly quick testimony. First was Samuel Adinew, a salesman at Nordstrom who confirmed that he sold the kind of Hickey Freeman suits that brought rise to this lawsuit in the first place. Befitting his position, Adinew was well appointed, wearing a dapper gray striped suit, white striped shirt with double button cuff and pink/purple tie. Under cross examination, he testified that the most expensive pair of pants he sold cost $395. Next was Lewis Burnett, who works with Pearson as a D.C. administrative court judge. Pearson was his mentor, he said, and they had similar interests. But he and Pearson had not been able to spend much time together on weekends lately, he said, because Pearson was too busy working on the case. We'll see what kind of questions defense counsel asks Burnett during cross. Stay tuned....
By Emil Steiner | June 12, 2007; 02:43 PM ET | Comments (28)
Pearson v. Custom Cleaners, Witness 6
Blogging Live From This Year's Most Frivolous Lawsuit After a one-hour lunch break, the trial resumed at approximately 2:15. For his sixth witness, Pearson called his son, a caterer. He testified that when he first started in the food-service industry, he didn't have enough money to buy a suit, so he often "shopped" in his father's closet, borrowing suits as necessary. He also testified that he was surprised when he heard his father was suing Custom Cleaners. "I know you don't like litigation," he told his father from the stand. "You had talked me out of one at one time."...
By Emil Steiner | June 12, 2007; 02:29 PM ET | Comments (7)
Pearson v. Custom Cleaners, Witness 4
Pearson's fourth witness, Grace Hewell, was the most entertaining thus far. Instead of taking the witness chair, the 89-year-old wheelchair-bound veteran of World War II was placed next to Pearson. When asked if she would tell the truth during her oath, she asked the court officer to please speak up, explaining she doesn't hear well in her left ear. She then briefly recounted how and when she lost her hearing. Pearson began his examination by asking her to give her background; she responded that it may be too long to fully enumerate. During her long career, she said, Hewell had worked on a congressional committee for education and labor during the Kennedy and Johnson administrations -- a point which she brought up repeatedly and in varying depth over the course of her testimony. Judge Bartnoff commended her on her service but explained that she had been called to testify about...
By Emil Steiner | June 12, 2007; 02:08 PM ET | Comments (28)
Pearson v. Custom Cleaners, Witness 3
Blogging Live From This Year's Most Frivolous Lawsuit For his third witness, Pearson called Rhonda Johnston, an employee of the Postal Service whose office was just a few storefronts from Custom Cleaners. She is the youngest witness thus far, with cornrows and a loud voice. During a long and colorful examination of her background, defense counsel objected that it was irrelevant. Discussion then moved on to her complaint, during which Ms. Johnston spoke in a vivid "Asian accent" and said she lost a $40 sweater. Custom Cleaners, Johnston said, claimed not to have damaged the sweater because it claimed never to have cleaned it. "'You not bring here,"' the Chungs told her, Johnston testified. "And I said, 'Yeah, I did bring."'...
By Emil Steiner | June 12, 2007; 01:44 PM ET | Comments (5)
Pearson v. Custom Cleaners, Witness 2
Blogging Live From This Year's Most Frivolous Lawsuit Pearson's second witness, Lisa Hutchins, M.D., seems reluctant and is soft spoken. But it could be the courtroom's terrible acoustics. She stopped patronizing Custom Cleaners, she said, when one of her dresses was damaged. Ms. Chung claimed it had been damaged beforehand, Hutchins said, and pretended not to understand her. She testified that she told the Chungs they might lose a customer and they appeared not to care. Under cross-examination, Hutchins testified that her interpretation of "satisfaction guaranteed" would be reimbursement for the dress: "Yes, that would satisfy me." She went on to say, however, that "I don't believe in bait-and-switch practices, which I feel happened here." Custom Cleaners, she said, "should be counted on to uphold the law."...
By Emil Steiner | June 12, 2007; 12:38 PM ET | Comments (4)
Pearson v. Custom Cleaners, Pearson Witness 1
Blogging Live From This Year's Most Frivolous Lawsuit Talk About Being Taken to the Cleaners (AP) After a break, Pearson called his first witness, Nora D. Faison. The rather stale testimony was punctuated by a moment of laughter when Pearson asked the senior citizen to hold up a 4-foot-by-4-foot map of the District of Columbia and describe her neighborhood of Fort Lincoln. The awkward dimensions made it difficult for her to do so while sitting and turning so the judge could see. Nevertheless, she managed to do so, taking several minutes to indicate in painstaking detail what several pins on the map indicated. After about 10 minutes of this, defense counsel objected, saying it was "a monumental waste of time."...
By Emil Steiner | June 12, 2007; 11:40 AM ET | Comments (1)
Pearson v. Custom Cleaners Opening Statements
Opening statements were a contrast in styles. Pearson, who is serving as his own lawyer (make your own joke here about about the mental capacity of his client), went into great detail about how, under the D.C. consumer protection act, every litigant becomes a private attorney general, fighting for fair business practices but with limited resources.The lead defense counsel, Christopher C.S. Manning, said the case is simple: It's about people. He said Pearson was coming off a rough divorce and was under financial hardship, and the result is "a terrible example of American litigiousness." Throughout the opening statements, the judge had a subtle smile. I took it to mean that she was well aware of the ridiculousness of the proceedings, but she was willing to hear this case out, either because it was the fair thing to do or because it would be fairly entertaining. Or perhaps both....
By Emil Steiner | June 12, 2007; 11:12 AM ET | Comments (2)
Pearson v. Custom Cleaners 2
Lawyers spent the first 40 minutes on pretrial clarification about whether the case should be about the pants or about the "Satisfaction Guaranteed" sign in Custom Cleaners. Although the defense, the judge and even Pearson seem to agree that this claim is not about the pants but about the sign, Pearson still wants to present evidence about the pants. Pearson has added so many complicated motions and such an intricately detailed pretrial brief that it appears he may be able to present evidence about the lost pants. Pearson goes through what the judge called "excruciating detail" to explain what seems blatantly obvious; it gets to the point where the Judge Bartnoff makes a wry joke that "hope springs eternal" that this case will wrap up today ... but it seems doubtful....
By Emil Steiner | June 12, 2007; 10:15 AM ET | Comments (22)
Pearson v. Custom Cleaners
9:40 a.m.: The trial kicks off. There are more press than family. Courtroom 415 of D.C. Superior Court is standing room only. Soo and Jin Chung arrived an hour ago, sitting to the left, both wearing glasses and headphones (presumably to get a translation). Roy Pearson showed up at 9:15 wearing a well-pressed blue pinstriped suit and purple tie. He greeted the press and joked: "A lot of you have wanted to speak with me."...
By Emil Steiner | June 12, 2007; 10:02 AM ET | Comments (8)
Justice Served (Finally): Genarlow Wilson Sentence Voided
Georgia Ends National Farce Over 10 Year Oral Sex Sentence Genarlow Wilson To Pick Up The Pieces Of His Life (AP) Unlike the final episode of The Sopranos, the tragedy of Genarlow Wilson has, at last, come to a very satisfying conclusion. The 17-year-old sentenced to a decade in prison because he had consensual oral sex with a 15-year-old, today was granted his freedom after almost 28 months behind bars. A Georgia appeals court judge called it "a grave miscarriage of justice," and reduced his aggravated child molestation charge to "a 12-month misdemeanor sentence with credit for time already served." For those who haven't been following the story, here is the background of the case: "In 2003, Wilson was a 17-year-old senior at Douglas County High with a 3.2 GPA and football skills that had caught the attention of a several Ivy League schools. He was popular among students and...
By Emil Steiner | June 12, 2007; 09:43 AM ET | Comments (299)
Sunshine Project Uncovers US Military "Gay Bomb"
Pentagon Examined Sexual Warfare Proposal From Air Force's Wright Laboratory The don't ask, don't smell bomb (twp) In my job I come across a lot of strange stories, but this is one is almost too wild to believe. In December 2004, The Sunshine Project, a watchdog group based in Austin, Tex., and Hamburg, Germany, that opposes biological weapons, uncovered a "U.S. military proposal to create a hormone bomb that could purportedly turn enemy soldiers into homosexuals and make them more interested in sex than fighting." The story got some press in early 2005, but quickly vanished into that great internet junkyard of forgotten URLs, the only memory being a lonely wikipedia entry. There it lay, all but dead until one week ago when The Huffington Post resuscitated the tale with a tongue-in-cheek entry asking: "[i]sn't it always the best ideas which fall by the wayside?" A CBS news affiliate in...
By Emil Steiner | June 12, 2007; 07:59 AM ET | Comments (48)
Friday Fun Poll: Should Amputee Oscar Pistorius Be Allowed To Sprint In The Olympics?
Can a Disability Give You Too Much Ability? Oscar Pistorius and his "Cheetah Flex Foot" blades (AP) South African Oscar Pistorius can run faster than just about anyone on earth which is pretty amazing considering that he doesn't have legs. Due to a congenital condition, the 20-year-old from Pretoria was born without any fibulae. Before his first birthday, his parents were faced with two choices: he could either spend the rest of his life in a wheel chair, or have both legs amputated from the knee down. They chose the latter, outfitting their son with prosthetic legs that allowed him to walk like anyone else, and it turns, to run even faster. Flash-forward to 2007 and Oscar Pistorius is training for the 2008 Olympics. Not the 2008 Special Olympics or a Paralymics, but the able-bodied 2008 Games in Beijing. Having already shattered the 100 and 200 meter world records for...
By Emil Steiner | June 8, 2007; 06:00 AM ET | Comments (18)
D.C. Judge Pearson Cuts $67 Million Pants Suit
Updating This Year's Most Frivolous Lawsuit Talk About Being Taken to the Cleaners (AP) Good news for the Chungs, owners of Custom Cleaners in Northeast Washington. Roy L. Pearson Jr., the D.C. Administrative Court judge who was suing them for $65 plus million over a pair of lost pants, has decided to reduce his claim. Now he only wants $54 million for the lower half of the suit, which cost him the sum total of $1,100. And you thought he was unreasonable! As I reported last month, Judge Pearson successfully took advantage of the District's bizarre consumer protection laws to unleash such a bevy of legal action against Custom Cleaners that they were virtually torted into bankruptcy. So vexed were they, in fact, by his punitive onslaught that the Chungs offered to settle for as much as $12,000 and contemplated a move back to Korea. Lucky for them, Pearson has...
By Emil Steiner | June 7, 2007; 11:44 AM ET | Comments (80)
Perverted Justice: Updating The Genarlow Wilson Tragedy
The Time Has Come For Georgia To End This National Farce Monroe County To Hears Genarlow's Appeal (AP) Though America's history is littered with tales of perverted justice, few have captured the national spotlight like that of Genarlow Wilson, the 17-year-old sentenced to ten years in prison because he had consensual oral sex with a 15-year-old. Today, amid intense criticism from human rights groups, the media, even former presidents, a Georgia appeals court is examining whether this promising young man, who has spent the last 27 months behind bars, deserves his freedom. And come Monday, if reason somehow manages a shocking comeback in the Peach state, he could be released, but I'm not holding my breath. Here is the background of the case: "In 2003, Wilson was a 17-year-old senior at Douglas County High with a 3.2 GPA and football skills that had caught the attention of a several Ivy...
By Emil Steiner | June 7, 2007; 12:25 AM ET | Comments (54)
Supermodel Gisele Slams Catholic Church
Gisele Dukes It Out With the Vatican at Brazil Fashion Week Victoria's Secret Angel, Gisele Bundchen (center) thinks virgin wives are so last century (AP) A supermodel is not going to change Vatican doctrine. But that didn't stop Gisele Bundchen from speaking out Tuesday against the Catholic Church's positions on abortion and contraception.The Brazilian supermodel told a Sao Paolo newspaper that the church's policies were concocted centuries ago, when women often were virgin brides, but that "[t]oday no one is a virgin when they get married." She went on to ridicule the church's ban on contraception, saying: "You only have to think of the diseases that are transmitted... I think it should be compulsory to use a contraceptive." And given that she has denied being pregnant with Tom Brady's baby, she's probably speaking from the heart.Not only is Gisele the world's most wealthy model, she also hails from the world's...
By Emil Steiner | June 6, 2007; 10:30 AM ET | Comments (17)
Singapore Radio 987FM Fined for FHM Bra Show
What's Worse: Women Removing Their Bras or the Suppression of Free Speech? "Two cups in the front, two loops in the back. How do they do it?" (Getty Images) In Singapore's latest battle to blot out obscenity, local radio station 987FM has been fined for hosting a contest in which models raced to remove their bras without taking off their shirts. The affluent southeast Asian city state felt such behavior was not merely inappropriate and offensive, but actually unfit for public consumption. As a result, MediaCorp Radio, the station's broadcaster, will have to fork over $9,800 for what Singapore's Media Development Authority characterized as "contravening a broadcast code." The rather juvenile three-part program, called "No Bra Day," on 987FM's Muttons in the Morning Show was sponsored by FHM Singapore and featured "Girl Next Door models" from a popular men's magazine. Further enraging officials was the video recording of that segment,...
By Emil Steiner | June 5, 2007; 10:26 AM ET | Comments (16)
Illinois School Denies Diplomas For Enthusiastic Cheering
Was Galesburg High Justified in Withholding Five Students' Diplomas Because of Parental Over-Exuberance? Honor Student's Achievement Superseded by Audience's Lack of Decorum (AP) When it comes to offbeat news topics few sources have been so rich as the American education system. The latest in what is already an embarrassingly long list of stories I've covered comes out Galesburg, a former factory town in northwestern Illinois, where five high-schoolers had their diplomas withheld because the audience cheered when their names were called during graduation. How could this be legal, you ask? Last month, Galesburg High School asked students and parents "to sign a contract promising to act in [a] dignified way. Violators were warned they could be denied their diplomas and barred from an after-graduation party." As a result, five students, including honors student Caisha Gayles, had what should have been a moment of celebration transformed into "one of the worst...
By Emil Steiner | June 4, 2007; 11:34 AM ET | Comments (73)
Friday Fun Poll: Is BNN's "Big Donor Show" Offensive?
Holland Tests the Limits of Ethics, Good Taste & Reality TV BNN Transplants Reality (Reuters) In just a few hours, Dutch TV network BNN is planning to air a reality show called "The Big Donor Show," in which a terminally ill woman will donate a kidney to one of three desperate contestants.Here's how it works: Lisa, the 37-year-old donor, will interview each potential recipient, review their histories and profiles, and speak with their family and friends over the course of an 80-minute show. Based on what she learns, she will decide which one gets a new lease on life, and which two go back on the seemingly endless donor list.Of course, no reality show could be complete without viewer interaction, and "Donor" is no different. Unlike "American Idol," fans can't affect the outcome by voting, but they can send in text messages to Lisa with advice on whom they like,...
By Emil Steiner | June 1, 2007; 09:00 AM ET | Comments (36)
Catholic Parish Cans Organist For Selling Sex Toys
Wisconsin Parish Says Sexual Consulting Inconsistent With Vatican Teaching This Organ Don't Bump Or Grind (Michael Temchine) From a teacher losing her job because of a Myspace photo to a professor being fired for discussing the Virginia Tech shooting, 2007 may become known as the year of wrongful termination. The latest victim appears to be a church organist from Wisconsin who lost her job for moonlighting as a sex toy sales rep. Linette Servais had played the organ and directed the choir at St. Joseph Catholic Parish in rural New Franken, near Green Bay. Much of that work she did as a volunteer, and she was by all accounts an active member in the church community. And so when Father Dean Dombroski called her into his office, Servais says, she had been expecting a "thank you," not an ultimatum. However, the 50-year-old organist was told to either quit working for...
By Emil Steiner | May 31, 2007; 11:40 AM ET | Comments (56)
Aussie Gay Pub Bans Heterosexuals
Is It Discriminatory for the Homosexual Peel Hotel to Exclude Straight People? Could Tom McFeely Be the Pioneer of "Heterophobia"? (AFP) In what may be the most ironic interpretation of anti-discrimination law since Plessy v. Ferguson, an Australian tribunal has granted a gay bar the right to ban heterosexual males and women under the country's equal opportunity act. The Peel Hotel in Melbourne won exemption from Victoria's state segregation prohibition by arguing that "it was needed to prevent 'sexually based insults and violence' aimed at the pub's patrons." According to hotel owner Tom McFeely, the ruling provided "gay men with a non-threatening atmosphere to freely express their sexuality." Beyond homophobic threats, the Peel was apparently also plagued by a zoo-like atmosphere where large groups of women, often on "hen" or bachelorette parties, would come to stare at the spectacle in a "dehumanizing" manner. In her opinion, deputy tribunal president Cate...
By Emil Steiner | May 30, 2007; 11:07 AM ET | Comments (25)
Ewa Sowinska Flip-Flops On Gay Tinky Winky Claim
Poland Retreats After Homosexual Teletubby Battle Tinky Winky, Dipsy, Laa-Laa & Po Dance To The Beat of a Different Drum (AP) Perhaps driven to reason by her "OFF/beat Idiot of the Year Nomination," Ewa Sowinska, Polish watchdog for children's rights, has backed off her previous contention that Tinky Winky of the BBC's "Teletubbies" could promote homosexuality, because he carries a purse. On Tuesday, her spokesperson announced that Sowinska "hasn't asked and won't ask" psychologists to investigate whether "Teletubbies" promote homosexuality in young viewers. Much like Jerry Falwell's 1999 battle against the colorful, rotund creatures, Sowinska was essentially laughed into defeat after suggesting mental health professionals should analyze the sexual orientation of what is essentially a puppet. As the roars of laughter and criticism, (even from her own party) poured in Sowinska was forced to make a hasty retreat which came in the following statement: "They are fictional characters, they have...
By Emil Steiner | May 29, 2007; 07:07 PM ET | Comments (12)
Poland To Examine Teletubby Homosexuality
Ewa Sowinska, Gay Children's Programing And Catholicism Tinky Winky, Dipsy, Laa-Laa & Po Dance To The Beat of a Different Drum (AP) Less than a fortnight after Jerry Falwell's death, a child-rights advocate in Poland has resurrected one of the evangelical leader's most controversial causes: Determining the sexual orientation of Teletubbies. Ewa Sowinska, a government-appointed "watchdog" over her nation's kiddie purity, has taken it upon herself to investigate the possibility of homosexuality in the BBC toddler show. Specifically, she is looking into the notion that one of the four colorful, rotund creatures (hint: purple Tinky Winky) could be a harbinger of a gay male lifestyle and, if so, what impact that may have on pre-pre-school viewers. Here's her thinking: Tinky Winky has a purse. Therefore she is a girl. But Tinky Winky is also the tallest character. Therefore he must be a boy. Something doesn't compute! As she told the...
By Emil Steiner | May 29, 2007; 11:23 AM ET | Comments (18)
BBC v Scientology: A YouTube Story Starring John Sweeney
When Reporters Attack L. Ron Hubbard Attention South Park writers looking for their next episode! (Comedy Central) While the verdict may still be out as to whether Scientology is a brainwashing cult or not, after a recent run-in with the BBC, two things are abundantly clear: Scientologists can't stand being called cult members, and they have the power to drive even seasoned journalists absolutely insane. BBC reporter John Sweeney, whose documentary "Scientology and Me" ends in a 40-second shouting match between him and Church spokesman Tommy Davis, has apologized repeatedly for his unprofessional outburst. But in this YouTube age, no mea culpa can undo an embarrassing viral video, which supporters of the Church were quick to excrete and smear across cyberspace. Still, a review of his documentary, which aired Monday on the British news show Panorama, reveals another side of what led up to the Springeresque moment. During the 30...
By Emil Steiner | May 25, 2007; 10:25 AM ET | Comments (474)
Free Speech, Employment Law and The Hooksett 4
Can You Be Fired For Gossiping About Your Boss? Sandra Piper, Joann Drewniak, Jessica Skorupski and Michelle Bonsteel Defend Our Right to Gossip (AP) Perhaps inspired by the Bush Administration's domestic privacy standards, officials in Hooksett, New Hampshire hired a "fact-finder" whose job was to "root out chatterboxes" within the town hall. As a result of that snooping, four female employees of the rural New England town were fired because they admitted to having a conversation about their boss's rumored affair. While on the surface, firing small-town workers for gossiping seems about as logical as expelling high school boys for telling fart jokes, sometimes it takes a shot of absurdity before people can see that logic... and in this case, several shots. According to the "fact-finding" report, it all began with whispers about a tryst involving Town Administrator David Jodoin and another employee identified only with the Kafkaesque moniker "A."...
By Emil Steiner | May 24, 2007; 11:00 AM ET | Comments (19)
Afternoon Teaser: Are U.S. Muslims Cool With Suicide Bombing?
Pew Detects "Hair-Raising" Islamic Ideology Within Our Borders Not Many U.S. Muslims Blame al Qaeda (AP) Forget fighting terror abroad, new research indicates there may be bigger problems in our own backyard! According to a study released today by The Pew Research Foundation, around 25% of U.S. Muslims under 30 say "suicide bombings to defend their religion are acceptable at least in some circumstances." About the same precentage of respondents feel that the U.S. war on terrorism is "a sincere attempt to curtail international terror."While this first-ever, nationwide, random sample survey of Muslim Americans found them to be largely assimilated and "happy with their lives," it also found that a majority of Muslim Americans believe it has "become more difficult to be a Muslim in the U.S. since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Most also believe that the government "singles out" Muslims for increased surveillance and monitoring." Still more bizarre...
By Emil Steiner | May 23, 2007; 03:13 AM ET | Comments (281)
NEE Party Attempts to Blow Belgian Election
Mysterious Mouthpiece Mocks Parliament With Sexy Ads Belgium: Where "No" Means "Oh Yeah!" (courtesy of NEE) There are campaign promises, there are dirty campaign promises and then there is Belgium's NEE party, which is offering voters something well beyond the bounds of decency, politics and, by some estimations, human capability. According to their Web site, Tania Derveaux, the "leading NEE party senate candidate in Belgium," is promising oral sex to 40,000 men in order to get voters to write the word "nee" ("no") on their ballots June 10th. The genesis of the 40k fellatio comes in response to ads by several of Belgium's more traditional parties promising "new job opportunities in ridiculous amounts." NEE, a self-proclaimed "impartial protest movement," responded with a parody campaign in which "candidate Tania" posed naked and promised voters "400,000 new jobs." As you might imagine, such provocative advertising "resulted in international media attention," and NEE...
By Emil Steiner | May 22, 2007; 10:18 AM ET | Comments (14)
Hong Kong Offended By Holy Bible?
China's Revelations of Religious Indecency Rock Judeo-Christian Belief Should Bibles Be Sold with a Warning Label? (iStockphoto) People have been debating what constitutes a racy book since before Moses was wearing short pants, but in its storied history the Bible has rarely been put on the "to be censored" list. Now, however, a decency watchdog group in Hong Kong has been "flooded with obscenity complaints" about its content, raising the question: Is "the greatest story ever told" appropriate for human consumption? Reports out of the former British colony confirm that "The Television and Entertainments Licensing Authority (Tela), which oversees the publishing industry," received "1,406 complaints" as of Wednesday that text within the holy book was "indecent." Those complaints cited instances of "violence, incest, rape and cannibalism" in both the Old and New Testaments. As a result, some municipal officials are contemplating the notion of regulating sales of the "Good Book"...
By Emil Steiner | May 18, 2007; 06:56 AM ET | Comments (38)
Richard Gere, Shilpa Shetty & India's Supreme Court
The Smooch Heard Round the World Hollywood and Bollywood meet in obscenity. (Reuters) In what might be the biggest no-brainer since Tyson v McNeely, India's high court today suspended all legal proceedings against Richard Gere and Shilpa Shetty for kissing in public. Despite outrage from hard-line Hindu groups, the pair's indecency charge, which had become the bane of many Indians' national pride and the butt of many comedians' jokes, may now, finally be put to bed. For those keeping score, it all began back on April 15th, when Gere appeared at an AIDS awareness rally in Jaipur, India. During his onstage plea to promote condom use among truck drivers, the American actor affectionately grabbed and pecked Bollywood superstar Shilpa Shetty three times on the cheek. As a result of that seemingly innocuous gesture, a local court ordered the arrest of Gere and Shetty, finding them in violation "public obscenity" laws....
By Emil Steiner | May 16, 2007; 05:29 AM ET | Comments (91)
Islam, Hijabs & Taekwondo
Commonsense vs. Political Correctness or Anti-Muslim Rhetoric? Which is More Dangerous? (AP) What started as a minor dispute over karate headgear has degenerated into an international incident that could tear apart an Olympic sport. On Monday, amid pugnacious rancor, the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) upheld a ban on Muslim hijabs during sanctioned matches, fueling cries of religious intolerance.The fashion feud started at a tournament in Quebec last month when "five Muslim girls, ages eight to 13... were told they could not compete... unless they removed their headscarves." Though the official rules state that "[w]earing any item on the head other than the head protector shall not be permitted," the ultimatum sparked a flurry of outrage across Canada with protesters claiming unfair treatment and inconsistent application. Taekwondo officials, however, maintained that the policy exists for safety concerns, not discrimination, since the WTF recognizes no religion. However, the debate over "reasonable accommodation"...
By Emil Steiner | May 15, 2007; 10:01 AM ET | Comments (16)
Al Sharpton, Mitt Romney & Bigotry
Is Hypocrisy Protected by the First Amendment? Hypocrisy: America's purest form of irony. (AP) When Al Sharpton publicly harpooned Don Imus for his "nappy-headed hos" remark, a lot of American's wondered: "is the pot calling the kettle black?" Confirmation of that question may have come during a debate, Monday, when the Reverend said the following about Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney: "As for the one Mormon running for office, those who really believe in God will defeat him anyways, so don't worry about that; that's a temporary situation." And a contented "I told you so" echoed from sea to shining sea. Why? Because let's face it, America loves catching a hypocrite, and never has there been one better positioned than Al Sharpton. The set up was perfect, the delivery impeccable. There he stood on high moral ground chastising a comedian for stepping over the line and then, less a month...
By Emil Steiner | May 10, 2007; 10:30 AM ET | Comments (278)
Cocaine, Marketing & The Food & Drug Administration
Energy Drink Pulled Because of Addictive Sounding Name The politics of branding fear(AFP) Under pressure from the Food and Drug Administration and local politicians, Redux Beverages LLC is pulling their energy drink Cocaine, from shelves nationwide. "Why?," you ask. . . Because regulators felt kids might be getting the wrong idea. In a letter sent to Redux last month, the FDA "issued a warning... that said Redux was illegally marketing the drink as a street drug alternative and a dietary supplement," a contention the company jokingly dismissed. "Of course, we intended for Cocaine energy drink to be a legal alternative the same way that celibacy is an alternative to premarital sex," partner Clegg Ivey mused. "It's not the same thing and no one thinks it is."Yet Attorneys General across America seem to believe the drink is far from safe and they have teamed up with judges and organizations like the...
By Emil Steiner | May 9, 2007; 12:47 PM ET | Comments (19)
Thailand to Sue YouTube for Insulting King Bhumibol
Google Searches Solutions Beyond Censorship King Bhumibol Aduly