Video of NYPD's vain attempt to stop skateboarding event goes viral

Click here to see the full, uncut video. At nearly 14 minutes long it gets rather boring pretty quickly.

Spike Away: The Thorny Way to Protect Your Personal Space in Public (Photos)

Made of spiky plastic strips & cable ties. Created by Siew Ming Cheng of Singapore.

Awkward Moments Not Found In Your Average Children’s Bible

 

Awkward Moments Not Found In Your Average Children’s Bible

New York Police ask bars not to serve Santa

From New York City:

"He sees you when you’re barfing — and knows when you’re passed out.
"The impending arrival of SantaCon led an NYPD lieutenant to call humbug on the annual, pre-Chistmas pub crawl, urging bar owners in his Manhattan precinct to ban the cockeyed Kris Kringles. The pie-eyed naughty outnumbered the white-bearded nice at last year’s holiday bacchanal, said Lt. John Cocchi of the Midtown North Precinct.

 

“ 'Having thousands of intoxicated partygoers roam the streets urinating, littering, vomiting and vandalizing will not be tolerated in our neighborhood,' Cocchi wrote to the bar owners.

“ 'The negative impact that this event will bring to your community will far outweigh the short-term benefit to your establishment.'

"The ho-ho-hold-on-there letter went out to about 30 bars and clubs in Midtown and Hell’s Kitchen. Local residents had visions of stumblebums dance in their heads after the revelers descended on watering holes in Cocchi’s precinct during the 2012 SantaCon.

“ 'What do you tell a 5-year-old when they see a Santa passed out on the street, or carried by his buddies, or vomiting or defecating in front of the house?' asked Bob Miner, co-chair of the HK 50-51 Block Association. 'We all grow up, but there’s no reason kids have to learn the truth about Santa that way.' ”

Naked man in high heels, turban arrested

From Augusta, Georgia:

Deputies had to use force Sunday to subdue a naked man wearing only high heels and a turban after spotting him hiding behind a tree trying to put on pink women’s panties and pantyhose.
The man, identified as 28-year-old Jermaine Lloyd, fled from deputies while trying to pull on the undergarments and carrying a purple bag and sweatpants, according to a police report.
Police had been called to Lake Olmstead Park about 7:45 a.m. after the naked man was reported running in the area.
After cornering the suspect, Richmond County sheriff’s Deputy Jonathan Counts pulled his Taser and told Lloyd to get on the ground. Police said Lloyd ran “in a threatening manner” toward Deputy Austin Shepherd, who hit him below the knee with a baton.
After being handcuffed, Lloyd again tried to run from deputies, forcing them to use leg shackles.

Church elder suspended from parish for transporting rams on a Sunday

From Scotland:

Calum Macleod was rapped by fellow members of the Free Church of Scotland (Continuing) (FCC), who oppose Sabbath ferry sailings.
The ram breeder made the Sunday trip back to Stornoway, Isle of Lewis, after missing his Saturday boat home from a market in Ullapool.
The ram breeder reported himself to kirk bosses on his return.
The hardline FCC is among the few churches which claim using Sunday transport to the islands cannot ever be justified. When Sunday ferries to Stornoway began in July 2009, and Sunday flights back in July 2002, it was mainly the FCC which turned out to protest with banners and to sing psalms.
Stornoway FCC minister Rev Graeme Craig, who is also interim moderator for the Knock and Point congregation, confirmed: "After considering the matter carefully and sympathetically, Mr Macleod was suspended from office and membership for one month.

Gotta' draw the line somewhere.

Handcuffed man who stole then crashed police car still on the lam

A follow-up story from Syracuse, NY:

Forty-eight hours after he escaped police custody authorities are still looking for Daniel Kantak.
He disappeared around 2 a.m. Friday. Syracuse police said Kantak, 33, of Liverpool, stole a police car after he was handcuffed and placed in the back of that car.
Sgt. Tom Connellan said Kantak is still at large...
Police said the department is conducting an internal investigation to determine whether the officers followed appropriate rules and procedures.

Thief a magician, too? Handcuffed man locked in police car back seat manages to steal the vehicle

From Syracuse, NY:

[Daniel] Kantak, 33, of Liverpool, was taken into custody after police responded to a burglary in progress at 320 Ashdale Ave. just after 2 a.m.
When officers got to the home, they saw two men holding down Kantak, police said. The woman who lives in the house told police that Kantak broke into the home. Her brothers were holding him down.
The officers handcuffed Kantak, putting his arms behind his back. The press release notes that officers put Kantak in the back seat of the car. Both doors were locked and the shield between the front and back seats were closed, police said."Even though Kantak was cuffed behind his back and placed in the rear of a patrol car with the shield closed, he was somehow able to slip his cuffs to the front and climb through a small window between the back seat and the front seat and drive away in the car," reads the release...
Several minutes later, they found the police car crashed on Court Street near Assumption Cemetery. It was heavily damaged.
When Kantak crashed the car, he hit a utility pole and knocked out power in the area.
The car was empty. Kantak, police said, ran away from the scene..

Kantak, who is still at large, is wanted for second-degree escape, second-degree burglary, criminal mischief, unauthorized use of motor vehicle, fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property, and grand larceny.

He may be dangerous — and may still be wearing handcuffs.

Doves Released for Wedding Promptly Captured and Eaten by Residents of Chinese Town

Stomachs win out over sentiments.

A Chinese news site is reporting that on November 13 wedding photographers intending to take pictures of loving couples surrounded by doves had their plans disrupted by some hungry citizens in the town of Hefei. It seems nearly 100 white doves were purchased and released on the ironically named Swan Lake, in order to create a magical background for wedding photograps. However, the majority of the birds were quickly snapped up by locals, leaving only a few to serve as photo props. A resident explained, “This is an edible dove; it can be eaten."

Thieves steal chicken wings, get caught eating the evidence a few blocks away

Pennsylvania:

"A driver, who works for Italian Pizza Village in Belle Vernon, told police he was approached by three men who demanded money. The driver told detectives that the men searched his pants pockets and vehicle for money, but found nothing. The driver said the men took off with the his chicken wings, valued at almost $18, when he pulled out a gun. Police said the driver was able to give a detailed description of the suspects. Tyler Hall, 18, and Dorian Ellis, 18, were arrested a short time later while they were eating the wings on a street corner. The third suspect, a juvenile from Donora, fled the scene on foot. He was later arrested in Ohio, police said."

Iowa's Bacon Fest will offer weddings in a Chapel O’ Bacon

All the glitter – and kitsch – of Las Vegas comes to Des Moines:

Tickets for the seventh annual Blue Ribbon Bacon Festival go on sale at 12:12 p.m. Dec. 12. The event will be held Feb. 1 at the Elwell Family Food Center, William C. Knapp Varied Industries Building and the Richard O. Jacobson Exhibition Center at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines. This year’s theme is “Viva Las Bacon: What happens at baconfest …,” and, yes, some lucky couples will be able to get married in a Vegas-themed “Chapel O’ Bacon.”
“Vegas taught us that it’s OK to enjoy life’s guilty pleasures every now and then; and Elvis showed us that bacon goes particularly well with peanut butter and bananas,” festival co-founder Brooks Reynolds said.
General admission tickets will cost $45 and include a shirt, beverage koozie, $5 in Bacon Bucks and two beverage tickets along with unlimited bacon samples.

Perhaps they were inspired by this June 2013 wedding:

One San Diego couple tied the knot Sunday, united by their love for each other -- and bacon.  Adrienne Dunvan and Eddie Quinones won a contest to get married during the Big Bite Bacon Fest at the San Diego County Fair in a bacon-themed celebration.  The couple, who bonded over their love of Puerto Rican pork shoulder, walked down a bacon-printed carpet to the altar, where local radio station Star 94.1 DJ Jesse Lozano officiated the ceremony, according to a press release.

Cop fired after macing, shooting at squirrel in dollar store

CBS 5 - KPHO

Proposed Law Requires Protective Eyewear in Porno Shoots

In California, the porn producing capital of the world, that is:

In a recent amendment to a law regulating the porn industry, porn stars would be required to wear protective goggles.

The bill, which initially garnered attention by requiring the use of condoms in pornographic films, also requires that “personal protective equipment be visible in the final product of an adult film” so as to ”prevent contact of an employee’s eye; skin, mucous membranes, or genitals” with, well, most any kind of bodily fluid that might reasonably be present. The bill also mandates the use of gloves when touching contaminated laundry, plastic and disposable materials to clean up sets, and lubricants for use with condoms.

Facebook Nixes Talk of Faggots and Peas in the Black Country

First the terminology: the Black Country is an area of the English West Midlands, north and west of Birmingham and south and east of Wolverhampton.

As for fag and faggot, in England a fag is a cigarette, whereas faggot is a traditional dish made from pork, often pig's heart, liver, belly meat and/or bacon all minced together and served with peas.

Keeping that last bit in mind, perhaps Facebook's decision would be more understandable if nutritional concerns were behind it.

Regardless, here's the tale of a Facebook user in Britain who has been persecuted due to her waxing poetic online about Mr. Brain's Faggots and Peas:

Wendy Jones from Cradley Heath was one of the first people to learn that people were being banned for referring to ‘faggots’.
She said: “I couldn’t believe it when I heard people were being banned. We were only talking about the food we loved. I think it’s absolutely ridiculous.”
And she claimed members had also been banned for saying they were from the Black Country, as it contravenes the website’s policy on racist posts.
“All of my family love faggots and peas and we are always having them,” added the 45-year-old mother-of-six. “I think something needs to be done, as people will just keep getting banned.”
Another regular user who says she was banned was Janet Wilkinson, also from Tipton.
She said: “Faggots have been around for more than 100 years and while I appreciate it may have a different meaning in other countries, to us it’s just a type of food.”
A spokesman for Facebook claimed a single post had been removed due to an error, adding no-one should have been banned and all users should find their accounts back up.

If you are curious about how to prepare the cardiac arresting dish, here's a BBC video clip of the late chef Keith Floyd mincing away with the Faggot King in a kitchen full of lovely, hot faggots:

By the way, Keith Floyd was a chain smoking, hard drinking TV chef, who died from a heart attack on September 14, 2009 only a few hours after a lunch to celebrate being given the all clear from bowel cancer.

Bon appetit! 

Nude man arrested in park, claims woman stole his clothes

Seattle police reported this week that after receiving a report on Wednesday evening of a naked man running through a local park, they checked and found just that: a totally nude in Hiram M. Chittenden Locks park. The suspect told officers he was with a woman in the park, who ran away with his clothes after he had

Although the man later changed his story and told police his clothes were in some bushes nearby, officers were unable to find a thread of the man’s clothing.

The unidentified man was reportedly charged with indecent exposure and booked into the King County Jail.

Erotic werewolf romance writer bites hand that feeds

Werewolf creator from from Nebraska sues Siren:
Cass

County author Erin R. Flynn, who writes “gay erotic paranormal romance” under the pen name Joyee Flynn, is suing her Texas-based publisher in a contract dispute... The stories feature amorous encounters involving shapeshifters and werewolves, among other plot turns.

In an answering brief, Siren [Publishing] said Flynn's lawsuit is premature because her contracts require arbitration as the first step to settle a dispute. Siren has filed a separate lawsuit against Flynn in Texas.

Flynn started writing fiction in 2002 and has written 89 books for Siren since 2010, according to the lawsuit. She said she typically writes 15,000 words a day and can finish a book in a week or two.

Flynn submitted a manuscript for “Gideon” on June 1, but an editor at Siren wanted to market the book under a different imprint, so she withdrew it from consideration. On June 30, Flynn shipped the manuscript for “Trapped and Boiled.” But she objected to changes proposed by her editor, so she withdrew that one, too. Flynn said she never signed a contract for either book. Instead, she self-published the books on Amazon.com.

Siren's lawyers sent Flynn a notice that she had breached her contract. Then, after Flynn filed her lawsuit, Siren Publisher Diana DeBalko, who goes by Amanda Hilton, sent a takedown notice to Amazon.com asserting copyright over the books. The titles are no longer available online.

At issue is whether the two books are sequels to existing works that Flynn wrote under contract to Siren — in which case the publisher has the first right of refusal — or original works that stand alone in a series.

Siren's slogan is 'quality erotic romance for the sophisticated reader.' Here's the synopsis of Flynn's book, 'Two Wiggles and Some Fur: Unmated at Midnight:'

Jensen has wanted a mate for a long, long time. Picked on for his size and growing up in a time when being gay could get him killed, happiness was always out of reach for him. But then he found a role in a pack he was made for… Beta. Ever since, all he's done is protect people and keep his pack safe, and he is good at it. So when he meets two men eating out of the garbage, all his instincts kick in to help them.

Kyd and Redley have been on the run, and they’re tired, hurt, and desperate. When a huge wolf shifter shows up and offers help, they don’t know whether to trust him or run because he might eat them. As salamander shifters they have a few special gifts and realize they can trust him. But when they begin having trouble with the pack, who will Jensen listen to?

 Sounds scary.

Police thank Batman, Robin, David Hasselhoff, and a giant Smurf for their help nabbing suspect. Really.

From Scotland's East Lothian Police Twitter account:

No you didn't mis-read it:

"Thank you to Batman, Robin, Robin's Dad, a Smurf, and the Hoff for helping us on Friday night. #Tesco, sorry about the toilet roll aisle."

Then yesterday they clarified things – a little:

"Robin assaulted, police called, collective assisted our foot chase, minor upset to shelving in tescos during arrest, you couldn't script it!"

Turns out a man dressed as the Boy Wonder was assaulted on a street in the town of Musselburgh last Friday night. He called the cops and along with his father and a group of friends, who all were also in costume, chased his assailant, who ran into a Tesco market. There the masked crusaders and the men and women in blue cornered the attacker in the toilet paper aisle, where after a brief skirmish he was arrested...and all the disturbed products promptly re-shelved.

A police spokesperson told the BBC:

"A 21-year-old man was arrested and charged in connection with an assault in Eskview Road, Musselburgh, on Friday 1 November. He was remanded in custody until Monday 4th November, where he appeared in court and pled guilty to the offense."

Wiz! Bam! Pow!

Fury of a woman scorned: angry over break up, bashes ex-boyfriend’s jeep with canoe paddle

Ironically, this incident took place in the town of Unity, Maine:

Jessica Letellier, 25, of Biddeford was arrested later that night, according to Chief Deputy Jeff Trafton of the Waldo County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies responded to a report of a woman beating on the Jeep with the paddle and met with the vehicle’s owner. He told police that his relationship with Letellier had ended earlier that evening. They separated, and at some point Letellier went to the vehicle and started to hit it, he told officers...

Letellier was arrested and charged with criminal mischief and domestic violence reckless conduct. She was taken to Waldo County Jail in Belfast to be booked, and was released from jail on Monday after posting $2,500 unsecured bail.

I love the smile she's wearing in the mug shot.

Man reported for driving off with woman in duffle bag

I would have called the police, too. Where else but Florida?

Boca Raton police received a call from a man walking his dog Friday. He told police he saw a man hunched over a large duffel bag in a Walgreens parking lot, talking to it. He said the man started to lift the duffel bag into his car when a woman's arm poked out. The man then pushed the arm back inside the bag, put it in the car and drove off.

Turned out he was staying in a halfway house in order to dry out and since having overnight guests there was against the rules he and his girlfriend came up with a plan of sneaking her in via a duffel bag.

At the end of the video clip below (starting at about the 36 second mark) Mark Economou, Public Information Manager for the Boca Raton Police Department, explains how this oddly humorous incident capped off the force's weekend. 

As he said, you can't make this stuff up. Well worn phrase, but surely true in this case.

Law School Scholarship Available for Criminals Only

In what some might jokingly describe as a case of crooks wanting to help crooks become lawyers, a Minnesota law firm is offering a law school scholarship exclusively for people who have been in trouble with the law.

The Appelman Law Firm Criminal Defense Scholarship is designed to reward those who’ve made better choices after a conviction – those who have managed to turn their lives around and intend to pursue a career in criminal defense.

“There’s a real need for passionate attorneys in criminal defense,” said Avery Appelman, the firm’s founder. “Nothing instills a great passion for justice quite like having suffered through the process yourself.”

“There are just too many ways to run afoul of the law for anyone to think they are immune. A mistake can easily lead to an arrest or jail,” he said.

Appelman believes that with all the laws out there that avoiding a criminal record has become more a matter of luck than being a good citizen. He claims that an estimate from the U.S. government in the 1980′s put the number of federal criminal statutes at about 3,000 and that shortly afterward, a study by the American Bar Association said that was too low, but it couldn’t come up with a better number. Adding in state crimes only makes the situation worse, a press release from the firm declared.

“When a simple marijuana possession charge can ban someone from federal aid, there’s something wrong with the system,” said Appelman. “As a society, we need to rethink what it means when we slap on the label of criminal, how it adversely affects someone’s life.”
  
To apply for the scholarship, applicants have to write a short essay about their experience with the law and submit proof of a police record. Applications for the 2014 scholarship will be taken until May 31^st, and the award decision will be made in August.

Click here for more information.

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