bipity.bipity.bop

Nevada Supremes Consider Loose Justice Standards

2006-06-29T11:21:00.000-07:00

The fast and loose justice practiced by three Nevada Supreme Court appointed "Senior Judges" and exposed by the LA Times, has forced the apointers to take a second look at their appointees. No they haven't gone bop yet, but one can always hope that justice will prevail among the justices.

Dessert in the Desert: Jeffery Skilling Admits Eating Caterpillars and Worms during Trial Preparation

2006-06-18T12:12:00.000-07:00

Perhaps Enron's former President, Jeffrey Skilling, was trying to imitate Jesus when he headed into the desert. If so, Skilling apparently forgot that Jesus did not eat during his days and nights of soul searching. In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, Skilling reportedly said that when preparing for his trial, by going into the Utah Desert for 30 days, he ate caterpillars and worms.

Other vintage highlights of Skillings twisted thinking from the interview include his refering to the federal authorities as "Gestapo," and that he intends to survive his prison sentence because "At some point, people will ask what really happened. It would be good if they had someone there who could tell them."

PRWeb Contest Could Net You $1000.00

2006-06-15T07:30:00.001-07:00

If you're a press release junkie, today's your lucky day at PRWeb. You could win 1000.00 if I don't beat you to it. The folks at PRWeb are expiermenting with what they're calling the "First Consumer-Driven Press Release" a challenge to find their newest features since June 10, 2006. I noticed at least two changes over there. First they've added the ability to have break out quote. This appears in the upper left and based on it's placement will add some serious visibility. Secondly, they've added a View News because as they put it "(Search Engine Optimization) is great for search engines, I'm just not one." One company that is definitely taking advantage of the new feature is Kong Male Enhancment who seems to be trying to put the sexy in PR.
Good luck on the contest,
David

A Different First Amendment for Immigrants

2006-05-17T22:46:00.000-07:00

Apparently, the Citizenship and Immigration Services and the The Government Printing Office want immigrants coming from countries with restricted press freedom to feel right at home while working towards becoming citizens. Each offer documents to help immigrants working on becoming citizens learn the First Amendment, you know the one that goes like this:

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

Unfortunately, the government documents left out that part about freedom of the press. Actually, there is another explanation - given the anti-immigrant sentiments of the Gov. maybe they simply want immigrants to fail the test.
Link

West Point Law Professor Calls for War Crimes Prosecution of Filmmaker

2006-05-14T19:24:00.000-07:00

When most documentary filmmakers offer to shoot their subjects, they usually mean with a camera, cinematically. But Mike Shiley--whose film Inside Iraq: The Untold Stories has been touring college campuses and independent cinemas in the U.S.--thought it would be vastly more interesting to do it with a gun, literally.

“It was a pretty amazing experience, and I noticed that after we dropped the smoke grenades, that a number of those didn’t burn out like the way they were supposed to, and actually, I noticed two houses that caught on fire as we were pulling out of there that night. I guess that’s one of the casualties of war. And I certainly hope that that fire was put out.”

Gary D. Solis, professor of law at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, argues that Shiley’s actions likely violated the Geneva Convention and that Shiley “should be prosecuted” in federal court for war crimes in Iraq.
Link

It's Bop Bipity Bipity for Former Death Row Inmate

2006-05-14T09:20:00.001-07:00

In 1984 Earl Washington Jr. was wrongly convicted of a rape and murder he didn't commit. After spending 18 years in jail including nine on deathrow and coming within 9 days of execution he was eventually exonerated based on DNA evidence.

Washington sought damages against the estate of Virginia State Police Special Agent Curtis Reese Wilmore, who convinced him to mkae a false confession and then coached him on what to say. This past week Washington was awareded 2.5 million by the jury who heard the case.

Talk about heartless,"We are bitterly disappointed and have no further comment at this time" was the only comment of a lawyer representing Wilmore's estate.
Link

Christian Psychotherapist Teams up with Nigerian 419 Scam Team

2006-05-13T20:56:00.000-07:00

Ever wondered who falls for those Nigerian e-mails full of promises to make you rich off shady money stuck in a foreign bank account. The New Yorker carries the story of a Christian psycotherapist who not only fell for one, but even as he was heading to jail said he would do it all over again if the Nigerians would just contact him.

Of Politicians, Strip Clubs and Convictions

2006-05-13T20:51:00.000-07:00

Two former politicians were convicted of taking bribes from a strip club owner in a corruption scandal so laced with sex and money that it shocked a town where indulgence is an industry.
Link

College Days Catch Up to First Year Social Studies Teacher

2006-05-13T20:22:00.000-07:00

Chevillar is one of about 80 models featured on the Web site of the USA National Bikini team. The site lists calendars for sale featuring scantily clad models dressed in bathing suits, provocative outfits or lingerie. Using the name Erica Lee, she appears in cleavage-baring jackets and skimpy bikinis. Link

Bad Spy

2006-05-13T20:17:00.000-07:00

It is the scandal within the CIA scandal - a lurid tale of poker parties, booze and prostitutes involving congressmen, dodgy businessmen and senior officials from America's disaster-prone spy agency. Link

Priest Convicted of Murdering Nun

2006-05-13T20:02:00.000-07:00

Rev Gerald Robinson used his sword-shaped letter-opener to stab Sister Margaret Ann Pahl 31 times through an altar cloth, but only after he had strangled her.

According to prosecuting counsel, Dean Mandros "Robinson performed a bastardised version of the Last Rites on Sister Margaret Ann," "To degrade her, to mock her, to humiliate her." Link