By Laurie Baron
After his concession speech, Anthony Weiner was stalked by the woman he exchanged intimate photos with and by reporters. Losing his patience, he ended up giving onlookers the finger as his parting shot. Soon thereafter, Bob Filner phoned Weiner and advised him “to use his words” the next time.
To protect second amendment rights, a new law in Iowa permits people to own guns regardless of their physical disabilities. Several blind people have purchased guns and threaten to shoot the first blur that approaches them with hostile intent.
The head of West Point’s History Department was dismissed for sexual harassment of female subordinates. When asked why he sexually abused the women in his classes, he replied that he merely wanted to prepare them for life in the military.
Despite attempts to ban the practice, ultra-Orthodox Jewish men annually swing chickens over their heads until they are dead to atone for their sins on Yom Kippur. While animal rights activists find the Kaparot ritual barbaric, some poultry companies are exploring the possibilities of hiring ultra-Orthodox Jews to work in its slaughtering division on a seasonal basis.
Colorado voters recalled two state senators who had supported the passage of the state’s new gun control law to demonstrate the political consequences of approving such measures. The NRA touted the outcome of the elections as a victory for second amendment rights and threatened to shoot politicians who failed to heed its lesson. Others worry that the repeal of the tougher gun laws might not be such a good idea after the state’s legalization of marijuana. Law authorities are bracing themselves for a rash of potshots.
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Baron is professor emeritus of history at San Diego State University. He may be contacted at lawrence.baron@sdjewishworld.com