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That’s the allegation, anyway. The plaintiffs allege that certain sodas contain unsafe levels of benzene, which can form in drinks containing vitamin C, also called ascorbic acid, and either sodium benzoate or potassium benzoate. (Scientists say factors such as heat or light exposure can trigger a reaction that forms benzene in the beverages.)
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So what did the judge do when the soda folks asked him to toss the suit? She declined, and the case moves forward. (Coca Cola settled with the plaintiffs, and agreed to reforumlate the sodas in questions.

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Now you all know how I dislike the term “frivolous lawsuit.” But prosecutor Karen Richards is knee-deep in frivolity. karen%20richards.jpg In Allen County, Indiana, law professor Joel Schumm was ticketed for an “improper taillight.” jschumm.jpg He fought the ticket, arguing that police department guidelines called for a warning. Oh, and the officer who wrote the ticket was on drunken-driving patrol, and was required to write at least one ticket per hour.

So what happened at trial? Schumm lost, and the Judge fined him $100. And he paid the $100? Please. You know he appealed. And what happened on appeal?

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“Be creative,” the creative writing teacher instructed her students. “There will be no judgment and no censorship.” But when 18-year-old Allen Lee—a student with a 4.2 grade-point average who never got in trouble at school—submitted his essay, he ended up being charged with two misdemeanor counts of disorderly conduct.

Here’s an excerpt from the essay:

Blood, sex and booze. Drugs, drugs, drugs are fun. Stab, stab, stab, stab, stab, s..t…a…b…puke. So I had this dream last night where I went into a building, pulled out two P90s and started shooting everyone, then had sex with the dead bodies. Well, not really, but it would be funny if I did.

Exquisite prose? No, but as Lee’s lawyer observed, “There was never any warning from the teacher that if she determined the paper to be offensive, she would then pass it along to the authorities.” He denounced the charges as a product of paranoia born from the Virginia Tech massacre. Writing-Rules-You-ll-Ever-Need-Posters.jpg
The pending criminal charges would not only prevent Lee from returning to school, but also jeopardize—if not ruin—his chances of joining the Marines Corps. Lee had already completed military entrance exams, which included a psychiatric evaluation. After being criminally charged, however, he was discharged from his contract with the Marine Corps, and a Marine Corps Recruiting Station spokesman says Lee “is no longer an applicant to become a Marine.”
Given the military’s emphasis on the chain of command and following orders, it is surprising that the Marines didn’t want Lee! Wasn’t he simply following his teacher’s instructions?

So what happened?

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Especially if she’s 77, and you’re 48. Otis Freshwater, of Marion, Indiana, was convicted of robbing his mother at knifepoint – of $107.00. mommy-boy-blond.jpg He faces 10 years for armed robbery, and 18 months for breaking into his mother’s house. I’m thinking the other inmates won’t take to kindly to a guy who robs his own mom.knife.bmp

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green%20hair%202.jpgOkay, so I hate dress codes. I especially hate vague dress codes. How are students supposed to know if they are complying with “etc?” The folks who drafted the new dress code for Neosho High School (in Missouri) might want to take another look at this thang. Here are a few “specific examples of articles that are inappropriate for all students:”

Clothing and/or appearance that disrupts the educational process or poses a threat to the safety of others (chains, sharp objects, excessive jewelry, cut gloves, etc.

Unnatural hair color (fuchsia, green, blue etc.) is not acceptable.

Hey school board, you call these “specific?” And how the hell is one supposed to know when jewelry is “excessive?” I guess when the principal says so. Oh, and it’s okay to change your hair color, as long as you change it to something “natural,” and not to “etc.” mannequin.jpg

EDUCATE, PEOPLE. School board, do you honestly think this is going to change anything? Address the underlying problem, not the appearance!!! Aaaargh.

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Yup. When Rachel Monk, a 24-year-old Scottish woman with cerebal palsy, wanted to get a tattoo, the first establishment she and her family tried was up a flight of steps. Since Ms. Monk is in a wheelchair, she was referred to another tattoo parlor. At that establishment, called Body Creation, the owner told her

We don’t do people like you.

Me thinks they will now. A discrimination claim was filed. The Disability Rights Commision awarded Ms. Monk £2,500 ($5,000), stating

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FbombTHfinal.jpgCook County, Illinois Judge Stanley Sacks, during the trial of a Chicago police officer convicted of reckless driving, said:

Pardon my language, but big fucking deal.

So… judicial. For this little doozy, Chief Judge Timothy Evans re-assigned Sacks to non-judicial duties for four months.

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Yes indeed. Washington [state] resident Roy “Billy” Day did not appreciate being dumped. So he camped out (literally) in his ex-girlfriend’s attic. (He had a sleeping bag and a fan up there!) He then cut a hole in the ceiling, jumped down and assaulted his ex and her daughter. He hit his ex more than 20 times.And he punched her daughter too. Mr. Day is being held on $500,00 bail. Click here to read the entire story.

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True enough. Former Iowa Judge James A. Weaver swore in an affidavitthat he was permanently disabled. He’s been receiving disability benefits from Iowa for more than 2 years. Yet he is running a private law firm and doing court-appointed work (paid for by the state of Iowa!) for indigent defendants. Crazy.