digimills

The Florida Senate today passed an amendment to impose a $60 fine for novelty nuts that often hang off of the trailer hitches of redneck pickup trucks.

Although lawmakers said they’re widespread in North Florida, the bill says that displaying reproductions of bull genitalia — one version has the brand name Truck Nutz — on a vehicle or trailer can lead to a $60 fine, charges of a moving violations, and points against a driver license.

I’m not a fan myself, but I have to agree with Senator Steve:

“I find it shocking we’d tell people with metallic testicles on their bumpers that this is a violation,” said Sen. Steve Geller, D-Hallandale.

Apparently these things started as two baseballs inside a pair of pantyhose, but damn have they come a long way!

link (thx matt)

Pretty slick looking machines.

“According to the plea agreement, LATHAM designed eight machines out of aluminum that looked like ferris wheels. Each machine held 24 rows of plants with eight plants in each row for a total of 192 plants per machine. The plants would rotate around the machine, passing by grow lights, dipping into a hydroponic grow solution at the bottom or passing under a hydroponic groTacomaw solution spray at the top. In 2003-2004, the grow operation was located in a garage in rural Pierce County in McKenna, Washington. A co-conspirator, DANIEL IRWIN, lived on the property and hung a deteriorating deer carcase near the door to the building so that the smell of the rotting deer would mask the smell of marijuana.

In March of 2004, someone discovered the grow operation and LATHAM determined it needed to be moved. In the middle of the night on March 8, 2004, LATHAM and others attempted to move the operation to a warehouse at S. Clement Street in Tacoma. Neighbors heard what they thought was suspicious activity in the alley and called Tacoma Police. LATHAM was arrested and 2,083 marijuana plants were seized.”

15 years for those mistakes. ouch.

link (via neatorama)

Todd Hollis, of Pittsburgh, filed a lawsuit last June against DontDateHimGirl.com and its creator, Tasha C. Cunningham, 34, of Miami. Hollis claimed Cunningham’s site is liable because it solicits negative comments but does not screen them for truthfulness. Hollis also is suing those who posted comments that questioned his sexuality and claimed he tried to dodge paying child support. A Pennsylvania judge said he had no jurisdiction since the site is based in FL.

An interesting case. I can see suing those who posted the comments, but he’s liking going to get nowhere with the site itself.

Surprisingly I’m still not on this site!

link (via techdirt)

A British motorcyclist posted a youtube video of himself going over 100mph. Police wanted to prosecute, but because they have to give notice of a traffic offense within 14 days and no date or time appeared on the video, the driver won’t be charged.

A man in Norway wasn’t so lucky. And of course be careful when raising hell and taping it in France.

link (via techdirt)

Well this will actually result in more court time….

“A 43-year-old German decided to settle his imminent divorce by chainsawing a family home in two and making off with his half in a forklift truck.”

link (thanks scottnyc)

This poor kid is going to have some issues. For some reason this reminds me of the South Park episode where Cartman’s mom wants an abort him.

“Raper claimed in the three-page medical malpractice suit that she found out she was pregnant in March 2004 and decided to have an abortion for financial reasons.

Dr. Allison Bryant, a physician working for Planned Parenthood at the time, performed the procedure on April 9, 2004, but it “was not done properly, causing the plaintiff to remain pregnant,” according to the complaint.”

link (thanks august west)

The paperback version of Game of Shadows comes out this week. It includes a new afterword which details Barry Bonds’ freakish growth, size changes include:

42 to size 52 jersey
10.5 to size 13 cleats
7 1/8 to 7 1/4 cap, even though he had taken to shaving his head

As Tom Verducci writes “baseball remains hostage to the ill will Bonds generates…the stench of stagnation is everywhere.” Progress may come in the form of Bonds be indicted for perjury in the next six months.

link

Labor and employment attorney Julie Elgar writes That’s What She Said, a blog that breaks down each episode of The Office from a corporate liability standpoint.

“If an executive learns that a regional manager has sponsored a bachelor party in the warehouse, hired a stripper, offered to ‘deflower’ the bride, taken an employee to a sex store, received a lap dance, and allowed a pervert dressed up like Benjamin Franklin to make a lewd statement to the receptionist, she should fire him. As soon as possible. Anything else and the company is looking at significant liability.”

link (via mental floss)

According to statistics recently released by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Statistics, American taxpayers are now spending more than a billion dollars per year to incarcerate its citizens for pot. Another 8 billion was spent in criminal justice costs to arrest 800,000 Americans on marijuana charges in 2005.

Screw you William Randolph Hearst.

link (thanks gregos)

Supposedly you can anonymously purchase these drug tax stamps from the Dept of Revenue. I’d like to see one true dealer have the balls to walk into the Revenue office and buy one, many are sold to collectors. Of the 726 stamps sold so far, none have turned up during a seizure.

“In April of 2005, Jeremy Robbins was arrested attempting to traffic two tons of marijuana from Arizona to East Tennessee. Indicted on federal drug conspiracy charges, Robbins was soon assessed a $1.1 million fine from Tennessee’s Department of Revenue. The reason: failure to comply with the state’s Unauthorized Substances Tax, which requires anyone in possession of a certain quantity of contraband — in the case of marijuana, more than 42.5 grams — to buy a tax stamp from the state government and affix it on the drug.”

Opponents argue that the tax penalties on top of criminal charges amounts to a second punishment, and thus a violation of double jeopardy law. For this reason, a Davidson County chancellor ruled the tax unconstitutional, and stopped the state from collecting Robbins’ $1.1 million. The Tennessee Dept of Revenue believes this decision will be overturned on appeal.

link (thanks slurp)

The Maine Bureau of Liquor Enforcement found 3 beer bottle labels ‘undignified’ and refuses to allow their sale. One shows Santa’s backside, another uses the Eugene Delacroix painting “Liberty leading the people,” which hangs in the Louvre.

“In the Maine suit, the Maine Civil Liberties Union argues that the “undignified or improper” standard is overly broad and vague. The lawsuit requests approval for the three labels, and also asks that the “undignified or improper” rule be invalidated.”

update: Maine OKs Santa, Breasts on Beer Labels

link (via siren)