June 2005

World Cup Organizers Fear Knife-Wielding Streakers

The organizing committee of next year’s World Cup, a tournament in which teams from around the world apparently compete in games of something the committee called “soccer,” stated today that they would seek heavy fines for anyone caught streaking during…


Muslim Cleric Bans “Annoying” Celebratory Shooting Into Air

On Wednesday, the Grand Ayatollah of Lebanon issued a fatwa banning the common local practice of shooting into the air in celebration, after three people were killed by stray bullets in Beirut. The gun-wielding celebrants were happy about the reelection…


Nintendo Unveils “Ace Attorney” Adventure Game

The computer-game website Gamespot reported recently on a new game for the Nintendo DS game system called “Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney,” in which players take the role of Phoenix Wright, “a nervous defense attorney who just recently passed the bar.”…



Public Defender Suspended For Nastygram About Pay Raise

Rarely has someone been less happy to get a raise than Linda Payne, a public defender in Kootenai County, Idaho. PDs there were told by county commissioners on June 5 that their pay would be going up from $45,500 to…


Lawyer’s Ketchup Email Circles the Globe

Yet another lesson taught by the internet on what not to write in an email. In 2005, a senior associate at Baker & McKenzie's London office became a bit irritated with a secretary who had allegedly spilled ketchup on his…


Human Cannonball to Sue After Being Fired for Fear of Flying

Todd the Human Cannonball told reporters Thursday that he is considering a lawsuit for wrongful termination against his employer, the Cottle and Austen Combined Circus. Cannonball claims he was fired after he told his employer that he was afraid to…


Disability-Benefits Fraud Ended by Unfortunate Photos

This week a British judge sentenced a 53-year-old man to a year in jail for fraudulently claiming to be disabled so he could collect state benefits. Crowson had told the government his disabilities were so severe he was “virtually unable to walk.” Police searching…


CNN: Michael Jackson: Does Anyone Care?

I don’t, which is why I have not been commenting on the trial in any way. But with it drawing to a close now, I thought it was interesting that it took CNN until yesterday to ask whether or not…


Buddhist Monks Fined After All-Out Monk Brawl

Thai newspapers reported this week that five Buddhist monks had been defrocked and fined after they got into a brawl with monks from another temple. Apparently, monks from the two temples had worked opposite sides of the same road for…