News & Media
Your New Job's "No Wussies" Health Plan
By Jessica Christensen, Employment Law Correspondent Who says the AFL-CIO doesn’t have a sense of humor? Joining the viral-video age, “big labor” brings you “Your New Job,” endorsing the Employee Free Choice Act (which I previously wrote about here). [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HlbfpzC_-I0]
Strip Club Coming Soon (Just Kidding – Local Pols Freak Out Anyway)
The town of Simsbury, CT woke up to find a sign in front of an abandoned Ford dealership announcing the arrival of a new adult entertainment establishment by the name of Titti City. The Hartford Courant reports that local police suspect that the sign was merely a practical joke. The Courant does not report why this was a police matter. Town officials, however, hinted that they will begin taking steps to try and ban adult entertainment in Simsbury. “[Z]oning commission Chairman Austin Barney II said the panel is discussing a moratorium on adult business applications until the town can write
Look Who is Against Proposition 8
The California Council of Churches has petitioned the California Supreme Court to invalidate Proposition 8 on the same grounds as gay rights groups have claimed — that Prop. 8 was not a constitutional amendment, but rather a constitutional revision — which requires more than a vote of the electorate. “Proposition 8 poses a grave threat to religious freedom,” said Rev. Rick Schlosser, Executive Director of the California Council of Churches. “If the Court permits gay men and lesbians to be deprived of equal protection by a simple majority vote, religious minorities could be denied equal protection as well—a terrible irony
Contest – Identify this Item
Yes, some organization is encouraging its members to ring in the holiday season with this lovely display. Who is it? [polldaddy poll=1120013] Answer here
Ted Stevens Loses
Convicted Felon Ted Stevens (R-AK) has apparently, finally, lost his bid for re-election to the Senate. The really good news? Had he been re-elected, he likely would have been expelled from the Senate, and then Bible Spice (a.k.a. Sarah Palin) would have either been allowed to appoint a successor, or there would have had to be a special election. Had there been such an election, Palin would certainly have done her best Suzanne Stone impersonation and likely would have been elected to the Senate.
Indiana Public School Offers Christianity Classes – Gets Sued
Horace Mann Elementary School in Huntington County, Indiana, allows a local church to provide an in-school religious indoctrination program to third- and fourth-grade students. Those who choose to participate in the program are released from school for one hour per week in order to attend the “By the Book Weekday Religious Instruction” provided by the Associated Churches of Huntington. “By the Book” classes take place in trailers on school property, use school electricity, and teachers lead participating students to the trailers for their hour of religious education. (source) A student known by the initials “J.S.” and the student’s mother, “H.S.”
Naked Bike Ride Protected by the First Amendment
Michael “Bobby” Hammond, 21, inspired by his recent participation in the annual World Naked Bike Ride — an event that protests against car culture, decided to take his vintage 10-speed bicycle for a spin through the streets of Portland, Oregon while wearing nothing but a bicycle helmet. Portland Police were not amused. Mr. Hammond was arrested for indecent exposure under Portland, Or., City Code § 14.24.060, which states that “it is unlawful for any person to expose his or her genitalia while in a public place, or a place visible from a public place, if the place is open or
Indiana's "In God We Trust" License Plate Upheld
In January, 2007, the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles began offering 75 different specialty license plates including an “In God We Trust” option. The first 74 plates required payment of a $15 administrative fee. The In God We Trust plate was free. The ACLU challenged the cost differential. However, the Marion (Indiana) county court dismissed the case — accepting the state’s argument that the “In God We Trust” plate is not a “specialty plate,” but rather just another “regular” plate. (Source). The Indiana Court of Appeals upheld the decision. Indiana’s BMV website lists a number of “standard” license plates including
No Communion For Obama Supporters
MSNBC reports: COLUMBIA, S.C. – A South Carolina Roman Catholic priest has told his parishioners that they should refrain from receiving Holy Communion if they voted for Barack Obama because the Democratic president-elect supports abortion, and supporting him “constitutes material cooperation with intrinsic evil.” Funny. But when Cardinal Bernard Law (former Cardinal of the Archdiocese of Boston) learned that his priests were molesting little boys, he just shifted them around so they could molest fresh crops of new boys. When Bernie Law was looking at being called to task for it, the Pope reassigned him to the Vatican (and out
Okay, I'm Convinced
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cheT8e8sz-8]
Top Ten Reasons Gay Marriage is Wrong
By Janelle Randazza, Special to the Legal Satyricon (Update, Janelle informs me that she did not author this, but merely adapted it from a previously-written list. Still, funny) 01) Being gay is not natural. Real Americans always reject unnatural things like eyeglasses, polyester, and air conditioning. 02) Gay marriage will encourage people to be gay, in the same way that hanging around tall people will make you tall (’cause it’s working for me, I tell ya) or hanging around Italians will turn you into a WOP. 03) Legalizing gay marriage will open the door to all kinds of crazy behavior.
Florida Appeals Court Declares: Camouflage Still In This Fall
By Sam Lea, Military Speech Correspondent Florida Statute Section 250.43 prohibits citizens from wearing military uniforms or insignia unless they are actually in the military. (When I first read this, my mind went straight to characters like Lieutenant Dan and Gary Busey in Tommy Boy). In a recent challenge to the Florida statute, a man was arrested at the Orlando International Airport under Section 250.43 after he stood in the “expedited security lane” that is set aside for military and security personnel. TSA officers approached him suspecting that he was not in the military due to the length of his
Petition to Invalidate Proposition 8
A coalition of gay rights groups have filed a petition to overturn California’s Proposition 8. The gist of the argument is that Proposition 8 revises the California Constitution rather than amends it. Petition here. Update: The City of San Francisco has filed its own petition.
President Elect, Barack Hussein Obama, You Have My Support… For the Moment
by Jason Fischer I stayed up late to hear our newly elected president, Barack Obama, address the crowd that had gathered in Chicago’s Grant Park. I had mixed feelings about the landslide victory that I had watched unfold on Fox News for the several hours preceding his speech. On the one hand, I was frustrated to see my government slide further down the path towards a welfare state, all too willing to prop up those who are unwilling to do their share. On the other, I was oddly pleased to see an election that was not contentiously close, breeding polarization
Thank you, America!
by Christopher Harbin My family has never been very political. As the typical dysfunctional white suburban family, we’ve been trained from birth to internalize divisive feelings so that the status quo can always be maintained. To this day, I don’t know my parents’ political views. Politics were simply never talked about. This all changed when a member of my extended family with whom I am very close revealed that they would be voting for John McCain. I should have known better, but I decided to press them on the motivations behind their choice. It was simple – John McCain is
Proud
I’m going to take a day or two off from blogging. I want to sit back, take care of my wife, get ready for my baby’s arrival on Friday, and just be proud.
Flori-duh: We vote for change but fail to do so
On behalf of myself and my fellow Satyriconistas: congratulations to PRESIDENT-ELECT BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Obama’s capacity to unite and inspire was proven today when millions of Americans chose hope and idealism over fear and negativism. May he lead our nation with the same intelligence, charisma, fortitude, and integrity he has shown during his campaign. As my best friend – a minority in this country for far too long – texted to me: “Its a new day.” Unfortunately, Flori-duh did not get the message. Yes, my state voted for Obama. But, we also voted to retain a bigoted, useless constitutional provision
YES WE DID!!!!
I am pleased to report that in the precinct I observed, precinct #21 in Seminole County, Fla., the election was CLEAN. There were some issues with the rolls, but the workers in that precinct were ethical, devoted to a clean election, and fair. And now… our long national nightmare is over. President Obama. Fuck yeah. FUCK YEAH!