Strollerderby : bad news

Wife Set Husband's Genitals On Fire, Charged With Murder, Endangering Life

Brett Singer — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 18:58:00 GMT

Rajini Narayan, the woman who lit her husband's penis on fire in December because she saw him hugging another woman (it's not alleged because she confessed), will now face murder charges because her husband died after the incident. The "endangering life" charges are because her three children were home when she poured "an alcohol-based solvent" on his genitals and then lit them on fire. That fire spread to the rest of the house, as well as the townhouse next door, causing over 1 million dollars (Australian, about $711,000 U.S.) in damage, according to MSNBC.

Narayan said that she wanted to burn her husband's penis, "so it belongs to me and no one else." Narayan and her attorney maintain that she did not want to set the house on fire or put anyone else in danger.

I have two thoughts whenever I hear about a story like this. (Not that I've ever heard a story with these exact details, but stories that are somewhat similar.) First, shouldn't she be entering a plea of insanity? How is it not insane to light someone's genitals on fire, especially if you then say that you didn't think the fire would spread? Are you unfamiliar with the way fire works? The second thought, clichéd though it may be, is for the kids. How can they move on after something like this? What do you say to them about how their father died?

Remember the Phil Hartman case, where his wife killed Phil and herself? They had kids. Every time I see an old SNL bit with Hartman I think about those kids. I've never looked up whatever happened to them, it's just… sad.

Source: MSNBC
Image: news.com.au

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Missing Girl Reunited With Father

Brett Singer — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 18:30:00 GMT

Here is a bit of mostly good news:

"A 5-year-old Wisconsin girl whose disappearance prompted an Amber Alert has been reunited with her father."

That's good, of course. I particularly like a story where Amber Alert works. Makes you feel good about emergency systems.

And here's the less good part:

"The girl's biological mother, Lori Eberle (EB'-er-lee), is being held on possible charges of interfering with custody of a child after the two were located in Paw Paw, Mich."

Basically, there's a custody dispute, and the mother took the kid. Which is a bummer. But she was found, and hopefully they'll be able to work everything out.

Oh, and "Paw Paw" is a funny name for a town. That doesn't mean anything but maybe it'll make you smile for a second or two.

Source: AP via Chicago Tribune

Image: maine.gov

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Bailout bill defeated because it sucks

Brett Singer — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 20:25:00 GMT

That's what the Rep. Paul Ryan, the ranking Republican on the House Budget Committee said about the bailout bill, according to ABC News. "It sucks."

Yes, it's government by 10 year olds.

They went on to report that Ryan thinks the bill "has to pass to preserve the free market system and stave off a financial collapse." Even though, you know, it sucks.

I guess we should get ready for the collapse, because the bill didn't pass. Interestingly, the bill failed largely because of Republican opposition, not Democratic, despite what right-wing rags like the New York Post have been trying to tell people. (I don't have a link but they had a political cartoon, and editorials, that tried to paint Dems as the party that blocked the bill.) I'm curious how Fox News, et al, are going to spin this one.

On another note, doesn't this mean everything is going to fall apart now? (Money under the mattress time!) Or not? I admit to feeling very dumb when it comes to matters of economics, especially this one.

Source: ABC News

Image: Wikipedia (interestingly, Ryan's official house.gov web site is not responding.)

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Ailing Companies as Bad Children

Dora the Conservative

Ailing Companies as Bad Children

Brett Singer — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 19:00:00 GMT

I always thought there was some childish behavior happening in the world of high finance. New York Magazine confirms my suspicions.

They also help to simplify an issue using pictures, which helps me out. A sample:

Bear Stearns is the little pyro—the kid who was always playing with matches. He could harm not only himself, but burns his own house down, and indeed, he could have burned down the entire neighborhood. The Fed stepped in not to protect him but the rest of the block.

See the "source" link below for Lehman Brothers ("the little kid pulling the tail of a dog") and AIG ("the kid who accidentally stumbles into a biotech- warfare lab … finds all these unlabeled vials…").

No word yet on what sort of child Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley are.

Source/image: NYMag (originally bigpicture)

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Baby survives tornado

Brett Singer — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 14:00:00 GMT

A tornado hit the town of Epsom, New Hampshire, destroying the home of Brenda and Harley Stevens. Also in the house was their 3-month-old grandson.

Harley was downstairs checking out the weather situation, and was blown into the front yard. Brenda and the baby were in the house when it collapsed.

Sadly, Brenda did not survive. But the baby did. Despite being stuck under a pile of tornado-smashed house, firefighters heard crying and were able to rescue him. Harley, his grandfather, also survived; he didn't even require hospitalization.

Obviously it's awful that anyone died, but it's amazing that the baby survived. That's one tough kid.

source: cnn, image: flickr

Strollerderby : bad news

Wife Set Husband's Genitals On Fire, Charged With Murder, Endangering Life

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Mississippi Students, Postal Worker, Punished For Wearing Obama Shirts

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Bailout bill defeated because it sucks

They say: keep your money under your mattress

Breaking News -- House Rejects Bailout; Stocks Plunge!

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Ailing Companies as Bad Children

Dora the Conservative

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Arkansas Evangelist's compound raided, six children removed

More stuff my 3 year old broke

Mom finds hairy Goldilocks in 2 year old's bed

Palin's Email Hacked and posted online; UPDATE: Anonymous Hacker Speaks

Red eye? Nope, eye cancer

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Mr. Rogers Talking Keychain (I find his voice soothing in times of stress)

Baby survives tornado

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