Truly Odd Planet » Strange Laws

What the heck is this vehicle?

Chris — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 00:27:48 +0000

Ok, what’s your best guess on what this vehicle is supposed to be?

It looks like it was once a tractor, but it’s been modified. I’d swear that seat belongs on a ride around lawn mower? I guess this might be someone’s attempt at making their own ATV, but that front left wheel doesn’t look very stable.

What do you think they were planning to use this for?

Janet Jackson’s ‘Nipplegate’ case could reach US high court

Chris — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 21:45:33 +0000

Did you hear that the US government has asked the Supreme Court to reimpose a half-million-dollar fine slapped on CBS television for a 2004 broadcast of live images of pop star Janet Jackson’s breast, court documents obtained by AFP show.

It is up to the Supreme Court to decide whether it will consider the request.

Prosecutors are asking the high court justices to weigh in on a case that raised eyebrows and stirred passions in the United States, where nudity on non-pay television is a no-no in advertising, while rare and limited to late-night hours in television series.

Jackson was performing live at the Superbowl when the attention-getting move took place, in a routine featuring her and fellow performer Justin Timberlake.

The performers shrugged off Jackson’s exposure level as a “wardrobe malfunction,” amid criticism from some quarters that it looked every bit as carefully choreographed as their routine, watched by 90 million viewers at home.

The Federal Communications Commission imposed a 550,000 dollar fine on CBS for breaking indecency rules.

But after a three-year court fight, a federal court in Philadelphia in July ruled that the network could not be held responsible for Janet Jackson’s actions.

The government asked the high court to consider “whether the court of appeals erred in holding that the federal communications commission acted arbitrarily and capriciously (…) in determining that the most widely viewed broadcast public nudity in television history fell within the federal prohibitions on broadcast indecency.”

Egyptian donkey jailed for theft

Chris — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 00:05:32 +0000

In an unusual twist an Egyptian donkey has been jailed for theft!

The donkey is said to have been stealing corn on the cob from a field belonging to an agricultural research institute in the Nile Delta.

The ass and its owner were apprehended at a police checkpoint that had been set up after the institute’s director complained that someone was stealing his crops.

The unnamed ungulate was found in possession of the institute’s corn and a local judge sentenced him to 24 hours in prison. The man who had his ass thrown in jail got off with a fine of 50 Egyptian pounds (nine dollars, six euros).

I can’t say that I’ve ever heard of an animal being jailed before – have you?

Israeli City uses DNA to fight dog poop?

Chris — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 22:38:49 +0000

An Israeli city is so fed up with dog droppings that it is now using DNA analysis of “found” dog droppings to reward or punish residential pet owners.

A six month trial program was launched last week in the city of petah Tikva, a suburb of Tel Aviv. The program is asking all dog owners to take their animals to a municipal veterinarian who will swab the dogs mouth and collect it’s DNA.

The city plans to use the DNA database to match found feces to registered dogs in order to identify it’s owner. Naturally this is a big effort on the cities part to get people to pick up after their dogs.

Good dog owners who scoop up their dogs droppings and place them in specially marked bins will be eligible for rewards that include pet food coupons and dog toys. However droppings found on the street will be matched to respective dog owners and those owners could get a municipal fine.

“My goal is to get the residents involved, and tell them that together, we can make our environment clean,” said Tika Bar-On, the city’s chief veterinarian who came up with the idea for the DNA experiment.

Bar-On said the DNA database could also help veterinarians research genetic diseases in dogs, investigate canine pedigree and identify stray animals, replacing the need for electronic chip identification.

“The sky is the limit on how far we can take this,” she said.

So far, Bar-On said, residents have “reacted positively to the program and are cooperating because they want their neighbourhood to be clean”.

She said Petah Tikva would consider making it mandatory for pet owners to provide DNA samples from their dogs if the trial program is successful.

Honestly … this city must have a budget surplus! Im sure there are cheaper way to get residents to clean up after their dogs!

California city is cuss free

Chris — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 15:06:45 +0000

Did you hear that South Pasadena California has declared itself a cuss free zone during the first week of March? That’s right.

That means that you’d better turn down your music as you drive through the town if it contains offensive lyrics and forget about even mild road rage! The city plans for this to be an annual event so every first week of March will be “cuss free” in the city.

“That’s one of the purposes of this,” Mayor Michael Cacciotti said of his city’s proclamation designating the first week of March as No Cussing Week. “It provides us a reminder to be more civil, to elevate the level of discourse.”

There are other cities across the States that have proposed similar actions.

Sherrif wants to ban deputies from smoking

Chris — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 09:24:14 +0000

Did you hear that the Volusia sheriff came up with an idea as to how to keep the deputies fit? Ban them from smoking.

sheriff Ben Johnson proposed barring new hires from lighting up while on the job or even at home! He said it’s important that his deputies be in good shape for their physically demanding job. He’s also proposing that deputies have regular fitness tests too.

The departments union representative, Jeff Candage, says that the level of personal intrusion is disturbing and he wonders how the agency would enforce the policy.

Union representative Jeff Candage says the level of personal intrusion is disturbing and wonders how the agency would enforce the policy.

Truly Odd Planet » Strange Laws

What the heck is this vehicle?

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